USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > History of the Parish of the Holy Apostles, Philadelphia : 1868-1918 > Part 3
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The wisdom as well as the tenderness of this simple but beautiful tribute of remembrance has been abundantly shown to me, as I have followed him on his errands and messages of love, in the glistening eye and repressed feelings of those whose faces, usually stern and unyielding through want and adversity, suddenly changed when I spoke of the flowers. "Oh, yes, Mr. Thomas sent the flowers. Just think of his re- membering me!"
Mr. Thomas's desire to serve was equaled by his ability to do. As a speaker he was forceful and versatile. His utterances, full of rare com- mon sense, and marvelously attuned to every occasion, hid behind them the force of personal conviction, which endowed them with magnetic powers. This personal conviction convinced others. So conspicuous was this that I have fre- quently heard it said, "Mr. Thomas transcends argument. He has no need for it, and why should he use it?" That he believed this or that to be so, was enough; others thought so, too.
Of his immense benefactions no one but his God will ever know. The number of young men that he has started in business, the number of destitute families he has succored, the number of pensioners who looked to him alone for support, would roll up into the hundreds. I have been his almoner to large amounts, though I am but one
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of many whom he has seen fit to entrust with the administration of his gifts.
Like the fountains of Versailles, he poured forth his benefactions through a hundred chan- nels, but unlike these periodic streams he never seemed to exhaust his capacity. His interests were so varied and his helpfulness so general, that I could not particularize if I would. A few instances will suffice for illustration. For many years it has been his custom to provide tickets from the railroads, surface roads and steam- boats, to be used for the benefit of such sick per- sons of our parish as needed a change, at the same time making provision for them at the end of their journey. During the winter he has fur- nished coal, and during the summer ice, for all whom his almoners esteemed worthy. At the time of the coal strike in 1902, when coal reached an almost prohibitive price, he filled the base- ment of the church with a huge supply, in antici- pation of distress he felt sure would follow. During the famine, this coal was sold in small lots at a price sufficiently ample to reimburse him for his outlay. "I would have it no charity," he said, and so he considered it. Though by no means confining himself to a rule, it was Mr. Thomas's endeavor to assist persons to help themselves. Thus he never haggled over a bar- gain with persons in a different station in life.
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In the purchase of the innumerable small houses in the southern part of the city which he bought for the charitable purpose of improving the neighborhood of the church, and of providing a really comfortable home for the poor at a rea- sonable price, men say he was imposed upon, and was forced to pay double what the property was worth. Mr. Thomas was not imposed upon, but paid his own price, when on inquiry he found the owners needed the money he chose to pay.
In the expenditure of money, he followed the same practice as governed his charities. I have heard him say, "If men who can, do not purchase costly and beautiful things, society would be the worse, in that there would be no premium set upon excellence, and the world's work would de- generate." For really good work Mr. Thomas seemed rather to enjoy, than otherwise, paying a good price.
At one of the famous exhibitions of water colors, one picture struck Mr. Thomas's fancy. On asking the price he was told that the artist's price was two hundred dollars. Upon his accept- ing the price, he was told that a certain gentle- man had offered one hundred and fifty, with the understanding, however, that should anyone else offer the full price, he should be informed before the sale was made. This was the last Mr. Thomas saw of the picture, but on the following Christ-
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mas a picture wondrously similar was presented Mr. Thomas with a note from the artist thank- ing him for his helpfulness in keeping up the price of a picture, which a poor artist had made as low as, in his need, he was able. Mr. Thomas accepted the picture, expressing the hope that the artist would exhibit again. He said to me in relating that occurrence that he intended to purchase the next picture of merit exhibited by that artist, for which he purposed to pay a price of sufficient amount to give the man a national reputation.
In the giving of money most men are af- fected by considerations purely personal. Mr. Thomas was by nature no exception to this rule. His intense loyalty to his friends and their mem- ory is in keeping with the strength of his per- sonal interests, likes and dislikes. And yet in opposition to this natural bent, he held himself in check and sought to fashion his giving other- wise. It has never been my fortune to meet a man so ready to help those who failed to com- mend themselves to his personal interest. This case stands out clearly in my memory. One of the missionaries of our Church (never a favorite with Mr. Thomas), made an appeal for his dis- trict before our Sunday evening congregation with so little effect that he not only failed to interest his hearers in his work, but prejudiced
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their minds as to his own fitness for leadership. I could plainly see that Mr. Thomas was quite as discomfited as I was myself, and I was not surprised later in the evening to be called up over the telephone with a very decided, "What did you think of that? What do you think of that?" Only one reply came to me at the time which was simply that it was a great pity any district so needy of help should be so unfortun- ately represented. Mr. Thomas said nothing, but the next morning, earlier than was his wont, he again called me up over the telephone to tell me what he said he thought might interest me, that he had just sent off a check to for the
sum of $3000. Thus little did Mr. Thomas's strong personal feeling affect his giving to what his judgment told him was worthy of his help.
Of his larger benefactions to the General Church, to hospitals, to institutions, I know very little save in a general way, as Mr. Thomas never spoke of his charities to those not immediately concerned. But of his gifts to the parish I write with appreciation and thankfulness. He was largely instrumental in building the church. In 1893 he erected the commodious building known as the Phillips Brooks Memorial Guild House as a memorial to Phillips Brooks. In 1888 he built the beautiful chapel at Twenty- seventh and Wharton Streets as a thank offer-
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+ +333
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RICHARD NEWTON MEMORIAL SUNDAY-SCHOOL AND ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
ing for the safe recovery of his son from an at- tack of appendicitis at sea. In 1891 he and his wife completed the group of buildings at Twen- ty-seventh and Wharton as a memorial to their parents, thus giving the Chapel one of the most completely appointed mission's foundations in this country. In 1902 he built the Cooper Bat- talion Hall and Gymnasium at the corner of Twenty-third and Christian Streets as a mem- orial to his old friend and pastor, Dr. Charles D. Cooper, of which it has been frequently said that it is the most complete and perfect building of its kind in the country. In 1903 he built as a memorial to his former friend and pastor, the Rev. Richard Newton, D. D., the magnificent Sunday-school building which marked a new era in Sunday-school architecture, it having been pronounced by various magazines and reviews the most successful building for Sunday-school purposes ever erected.
In 1905 he gave the sum of $30,000 to build a church at Fifteenth and Porter Streets. This building has been named St. Paul's to perpetu- ate the name of the church in which Mr. Thomas had been brought up. In addition to these large gifts Mr. Thomas has from time to time been adding to the endowment fund of the parish until now it has reached the sum of $132,000.
Moreover, he has practically sustained the
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burden of the current expenses of the parish from its very beginning, and the gross receipts of the parish which since 1900 have never fallen below $100,000 a year and more nearly averaged $125,000, represent in very large measure his own personal contributions.
I have referred to his improvement of the property in the neighborhood of the church. Six years ago Twenty-first street between Pine and Christian was one of the most neglected and disreputable in the southern section of the city. Where then speakeasys, saloons, stables and disreputable and broken down dwelling houses sheltered a debased population, comfort- able dwellings, with the latest modern improve- ments now attract a most respectable and home- loving people.
There is no one in our parish who is ignor- ant of the fact that even the services of the sanctuary as well as the many activities of a large institutional church depended for their very existence upon the liberality of Mr. Thomas, yet such has been the character of his loving and earnest ministration that all are prone to for- get it. Every one assumed, as a matter of course, that he would ever do as he had been accustomed to do; that he would forgive every offense of indiscretion; allow any trespass upon his time; respond to every call for help, and in
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return, brook any opposition to his views, which a grateful but often inconsiderate people might see fit to offer. In short, he has been the father of a generation, and the generation consequently presumed upon the familiarity of the child to the parent. A simple illustration will suffice. With Mr. Thomas presiding a Chapel committee was considering Mr. Thomas's determination to plow up a tennis court and plant the same with flowers because the privileges of the court had been seriously abused by those over whom the Chapel could exercise no authority. This wise decision was bitterly opposed by a young strip- ling whose habit it was to resent any other opinion than his own. Mr. Thomas rebuked him rather sharply, but no more so than his obstinacy deserved. A day passed and the young gentleman on meeting me drew a letter from his pocket and handed it to me to read. It was from Mr. Thomas expressing his regret at having spoken so sharply the evening before and assuring him of his appreciation for his interest and work at the Chapel, notwithstanding his disagreement in the matter under discussion. The young man seemed to be somewhat elated over the letter until I asked him if he had written Mr. Thomas apologizing for his disrespect. "Disrespect," said he, "I was not disrespectful, I just talked up as I do to any other fellow."
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No one could be more considerate than he of others' rights. No one could be more tender of others' feelings. And thus it has come about that Mr. Thomas, though supreme, has sought no supremacy other than the supremacy of dis- tinguished service. He has sought none other, but he has gained much more, including the supremacy of spiritual leadership and the su- premacy of personal devotion unequaled, nay unapproached.
MINUTE OF THE VESTRY
With deepest sorrow the Vestry of the Church of the Holy Apostles record the death of Mr. George C. Thomas, who for more than forty years, was the bene- connected with it. But mingled with our keen sense of factor of the parish and the personal friend of all the irreparable loss, which has come to us in this sud- den bereavement, is the profound gratitude to Almighty God, which all must feel for the personal character, the deeds of beneficence, and the shining example of one who belonged not only to this parish, but to the city, the diocese and the whole Church. For the good man does good by living as well as by what he is permitted to accomplish. Benefactions, wisely dispensed, are in- estimable blessings, but who can measure either the power or the limit of a wholly consecrated life? Such indeed was the life of George C. Thomas.
Some of the words of one of his favorite hymns, are an expression, true and beautiful of the spirit, and the motive of his whole career.
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"All we have we offer; All we hope to be, Body, soul and spirit, All we yield to Thee."
And so like the Master Whom he loved, and in Whose footsteps he walked, Mr. Thomas went about doing good. Cultured and broad-minded, of wonderful business capacity, and spotless integrity, modest and unassuming, he was an illustrious example of Christian manhood.
What he was to his rector, and to us, his asso- ciates, can never be told. Always in his place at the time of divine service on week days, as well as Sundays; he was also most punctual and efficient at every meet- ing of vestry or committee held in the interests of the Church he loved so well. The same fidelity was mani- fested in the work of the Church Club, the Brotherhood of St. Andrew, the diocese and the Board of Missions.
The first service of this parish was held on Sunday evening, January 26, 1868, the Rev. Phillips Brooks, then Rector of Holy Trinity Church, being the preacher. Mr. Thomas and a few others had already gathered a nucleus of what was destined to be one of the largest and best equipped Sunday schools in the whole Church. To the work of the parish, and especially to the Sunday- school, Mr. Thomas consecrated his life. From that early day until he entered into rest, he gave constantly and without limit of his time, strength and means for the accomplishment of a truly grand result; a result in the attainment of which he would have been the last to claim the pre-eminence which rightfully belonged to him. It was always a marked characteristic of the
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man to give all credit to his pastors and fellow workers in the Church.
The superintendency of the Sunday-school and the training of its teachers was the joy of his life. It was a loving ministry, freely given. He knew the teachers and pupils by name, and it was a lifelong habit to visit them personally, when sick or in trouble. His purse was always open to every need, and his special delight was to help others to help themselves. Many of these are to rise up and call him blessed, not for his material gifts, but for personal love and sympathy given without stint, when there was a pressing need of both. This was his life. His goodness always found expression in ser- vice, unselfish service which was wise as well as gen- erous. This thought for others became more and more the dominant note in a beneficent life. Among his last words were these to his pastor, "I wonder if anybody knows how hard I have tried to help people?" In a sense, everybody knows, and most of all, we know who were closely associated with him, and were daily wit- nesses of his good deeds. But in the highest sense, only God knows the whole story of his wonderful life.
In the growth and development of the parish, with its parish church and three chapels, with its fifteen buildings and its three thousand communicants, Mr. Thomas has ever been the leading spirit, and a prime factor. The Sunday-school is known everywhere, and the Church of the Holy Apostles, largely through his personality and influence, justifies its name as a great missionary parish.
The same careful business methods and devotion which characterized parochial administration, were brought to the work of the diocese and the Church at
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INTERIOR OF THE RICHARD NEWTON MEMORIAL BUILDING
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large. Mr. Thomas was a man of versatile gifts. He was a forceful and convincing speaker; often heard when there was occasion, never otherwise, in diocesan and general conventions, and in Brotherhood and mis- sionary gatherings. Without seeming to argue, his addresses were terse, cogent and eloquent.
We regard it a great privilege to have been asso- ciated with a man of such gifts and such consecration as George C. Thomas in the work of our common Lord and Master. His death makes a vacancy which we hardly dare to think of, in the church to which he was devoted, and in all our councils. A devout Christian in private life, in the home and in the parish, a factor in the forward movement of the Church of God, a high type of Christian citizenship, Mr. Thomas has left an example, which we all might emulate.
In his death, we feel personally bereaved, and we extend our profound sympathy to his bereaved family, praying that God will bless and comfort them in this time of sorrow and trouble.
"The righteous live for evermore, their reward also, is with the Lord, and the care of them is with the most High."
MINUTE OF THE OFFICERS AND TEACHERS OF THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL
We meet to-day in the shadow of a great sorrow; one who since the foundation of this Sunday-school has been an inspiration to cheerful, earnest service has been called from us. George C. Thomas was the first and only superintendent of this school, and from the very beginning maintained his active interest in it; ever ready with his wise counsel, and words of cheer, he was the life and joy of our school; wherever he
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entered doubt and darkness departed, and we all took new courage and went forward with glad hearts to serve the Master; many times his encouragement and sound advice have put new life and vigor into those who were discouraged, and above all his living example of the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the lives of men has been a continual inspiration to all.
He ever held up the glorious liberty of the children of God and the joy of walking in His light; while know- ing the dark side of life, he strove always to hold up before men Him who was the light of the world and in whom was no darkness.
To particularize as to his labors, generosity and influence in the parish, through these many years of devoted service, would be impossible, for none but his Heavenly Father knoweth their beginning and end; but we know that throughout the length and breadth of this parish the voices of those who have reason to rise up and call him blessed would be as the sound of many waters.
Though a busy man in the world, he always found time for church work, and no matter how arduous the duty, that which he undertook was always well done. In this respect he was an example to all men of this remarkable and hopeful age.
We are deeply thankful for his noble generosity, which did so much to create and then maintain this par- ish, until it has reached its present position of per- manence. We praise God for his life and example, a life of devoted, consecrated labor, as well as of generous deeds, which will speak to us and those who come after us, continually of him through the foundations which he so wisely laid.
His strong personality, integrity and justice; his
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never-failing sympathy and courteous bearing toward all with whom he was associated; his faithful and con- sistent attention to whatever he undertook, justly won for him the respect and admiration with which he was regarded in business and social circles, and the reverent honor and affection of those whose privilege it was to know him intimately.
His memory will be held by us in high and reverent esteem, as a wise counsellor and honorable, upright courteous gentleman, whose blameless life has been a blessing to the community in which he lived.
MINUTE OF THE DIOCESE OF PENNSYLVANIA
The departure from this life of George C. Thomas -an irreparable loss to Christ's Church here upon earth-is an especially severe bereavement to the Dio- cese of Pennsylvania.
It has been well said of him "that he gave himself with his alms," and in giving himself he gave not only an earnest, devoted and untiring service, but also an excellent judgment founded on a wide experience in affairs both ecclesiastical and secular, which was of the greatest value; so that large and generous as was his bounty, it was excelled in worth by his counsel and his service.
His range of activity in the work of the Church extended from the parochial Sunday-school to the Gen- eral Convention. He was warden of his parish, he was treasurer of the Board of Missions. He was equally active in the management of the Boys' Club at Ken- sington, and in the management of the entire mission- ary work of this Church. He was part of the organic life of the Church in innumerable capacities; he was foremost among the laity, and in the councils of the
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Church no voice commanded more attention and respect than his.
His service in the Diocese of Pennsylvania, as we all know, cannot be valued, for the seed which he plant- ed will continue to bring forth fruit in all the years to come. His benefactions cannot be counted, for they were never all known. He responded loyally and heart- ily to every call of the Church; no duty was too small or too humble for his undertaking, and everything undertaken was performed with the greatest diligence and with the greatest thoroughness. To record his work would be to write a history of the diocese for the past thirty years.
Everything he did was done with the single-minded purpose of rendering to his Master the best he could give; his was the highest sense of stewardship which brought the largest increase to the talents which had been committed to his charge.
"His delight was in the Law of the Lord, and in His Law did he exercise himself day and night."
SUNDAY-SCHOOL
The Church leaflet contained the following notice :-
By reason of the death of George C. Thomas, for forty-one years the Superintendent of this Sunday- school, in place of the lesson for this day a short me- morial service will be said, after which the School will be dismissed. All are requested to retire as quietly as possible.
After opening the school, the rector spoke as follows :-
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At this point of forty-one years it has been the cus- tom of this school at the beginning of the lesson study to say that Collect which we all know, that of the Sec- ond Sunday in Advent. We shall not say that Collect to-day; we shall say it next Sunday, and I trust every Sunday thereafter. But to-day we will not say it be- cause we are going to have no study of the lesson. I believe for forty-one years the study of the lesson has never been omitted. No matter who was to address the school; no matter how short the lesson was. It seems to me we can in no way mark this day in a more emphatic manner than to omit the lesson and this Collect.
I will give the classes ten minutes in which to mark their attendance and take up the offering, and after a brief memorial service I will ask the school to withdraw as quietly as possible.
The two Collects which Mr. Thomas himself has chosen as the Collects to be placed in the book which he gives to those who are confirmed, singularly enough, if anything in God's working can be singular, are the Collects for the second and third Sundays after Easter. The Collects for to-day and next Sunday, and so let us use these Collects, and as we use them let us think of our Superintendent.
I hold in my hand a letter which Mr. Thomas sent out the week before he came to church for the last time, to the officers and teachers of the Bible Classes. He was so proud of the Easter offering he could not wait until the next issue of the Parish Intelligence in order that you might know what the work that you had been doing amounted to.
In a letter which Mr. Thomas addressed to his wife and children to be opened after his death and before
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his burial, are these words, "Keep up the traditions of the past." Let us make a resolution that in remem- brance of this Easter offering, the Easter traditions prevail. This is, we have always given this money to the cause of the Church. Such a cause will always keep our hearts to the work. The great danger we are all in is in thinking of ourselves; of the man we like; of the bishop we particularly admire; some one to whom we are particularly devoted. Never let it so be, "Keep up the traditions of the past," and let our Easter offering, be it large or small, as the years go by, be given to the Board without discrimination.
I am glad that this last year Mr. Thomas was with us it showed no decrease. The time must ever come in every work where there is a setback; when the day of the climax has been reached. Whether it has been reached with us God only knows, but I am thankful that Mr. Thomas saw no decrease, but lived to see his work fructified to the end.
At the meeting of the Teachers' Lesson Study on Friday night, it was decided to adopt a resolution, and Mr. Neill was chosen as chairman of a committee ap- pointed to adopt such a resolution.
I have no speech to make to-day. As I said this morning, one cannot make a speech regarding one's father. We are surrounded here to-day with his love and devotion; we are thinking of him. I have before me his things; his prayer book; the book that he used at the Teachers' Lesson Study, and the last words he wrote there :-
"Friday evening, April 23, 1909. Lesson for the second Sunday after Easter. The cleansing of the lepers. St. Luke 17 : 12-19; Ps. 51 : 10." In everything that he did he closes with a commencement. In every-
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