USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > History of the Parish of the Holy Apostles, Philadelphia : 1868-1918 > Part 8
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
CHAPEL OF THE HOLY COMMUNION
When the need arose for further church extension to the southwest, the Church of the Holy Apostles responded by building the Chapel of the Holy Commun- ion, at Twenty-seventh and Wharton Streets, which to- day is one of the active and most vitally needed centers of church life in the diocese.
CHAPEL OF ST. SIMON THE CYRENIAN
When the trend of immigration brought colored people in ever increasing numbers into South Philadel- phia, again the Church of the Holy Apostles answered the challenge, and built at Twenty-second and Reed Streets the Chapel of St. Simon the Cyrenian, which is to-day confessedly the largest and best work done among colored folk in the whole diocese.
147
CHAPEL OF THE MEDIATOR
Again, when in West Philadelphia there was dem- onstrated a need for such a work as the Church of the Holy Apostles could do, a weak parish there, the Church of the Reconciliation, and the Church of the Mediator in South Philadelphia were combined, and the Chapel of the Mediator, at Fifty-first and Spruce Streets, effected from the combination.
That work promises to become, in the very near future, one of the best assets and truest elements of strength in the Church's life in the whole city.
The new chapel, the George C. Thomas Memorial, which is rearing aloft its noble pile there, challenges comparison with any about it for architectural beauty and fair proportions.
Every day it adds to its membership strength, and every day it carries on a useful and needed ministry in its community.
Again all this is set down not in boasting, for we need not to boast, but in simple chronicle of fact. The work of the parish speaks for itself, and is its own best interpretation and sufficient justification.
At this fiftieth anniversary time, however, we must celebrate the work done here, not for our own praise or gratification, but only in order that we may gather strength from consideration of past efforts for the still greater accomplishments which lie in the lap of the future.
There have been great men who have companied with us in this place. Princes in Israel, who have testi- fied by their words and lives that God is true, and have gone to their rest and await us in that place where "everlasting light its glory throws around."
148
To mention only three-Phillips Brooks, Charles De Kay Cooper, George Clifford Thomas. What a trio! We shall not look upon their like again. God evidently meant the parish to do great things when He gave it such sponsors.
And splendidly has His expectation been fulfilled.
It is but meet that we should celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the parish with unusual solemnities and rejoicing.
Many, many others, less conspicuous in the public eye, have made their contributions to the life of the parish, and have ably and with high consecration of self supported and furthered the efforts of their leaders in this great work. While their deeds are not set forth before men, we know that their names, too, are recorded in the Lamb's Book of Life, and that they are counted as jewels in His Crown of Rejoicing.
I scarcely know how much or how little I ought to say, just here, of one, who has been a Mother in Israel, indeed, to this parish. Of one thing I am confident, and that is that this word about the fiftieth anniversary would not be complete or adequate unless some place were found in it for mention of her. True help-meet was she to him, to whom, under God, this parish owes most. If the life-story of Mr. George C. Thomas be ever written (and it will be some day) it will occupy itself in no inconsiderable degree with his work at the Church of the Holy Apostles, and on the other hand, the history of the Church of the Holy Apostles must also be in considerable measure a story of his life. For time and eternity the two are entwined. And like a golden thread running through the life-story of these two there is to be found the presence of another, whose
149
sincere faith, gentle personal influence and unbounded generosity has been a benediction to all.
When the death of her husband laid upon her shoulders the heavy burden of caring for all the many extra-personal interests, which before they had shared, she bravely and gallantly took up the task, finding strength for it where alone strength may be found.
Figures are interesting only to the person with imagination-to him they are vitally, absorbingly inter- esting-for he reads between the lines and under and about and over them. To him the records of baptisms and confirmations, marriages and burials, tell tales of life deep with love and rich with meaning. Love and money, children and worship, about these cluster the fullest expression of being, and in a church record they are all to be found. So we set down the figures rev- erently and with something of awe for all they repre- sent to you and your dear ones-those who are with you now and those who are away.
During the fifty years of the church's existence the record is as follows :-
Baptisms 3074
Confirmations 2294
Marriages 901
Burials .2295
This does not include the records from the chapels.
It has not been possible, without a greater volume of work than the result would justify, to set down the amount of money raised by the church during the fifty years, and none but God knows the exact sum, so much was given quietly and not recorded. In any event, the exact amount is vital only to the merely curious. The
150
spirit of its giving is the essential thing, and that has been informed by a sense of stewardship almost with- out equal.
A WEEK OF CELEBRATION
The suggestions for the celebration have so far taken the following form:
Monday evening, 8 o'clock, at the Church of the Holy Apostles-Entertainment provided by the Parish Association for the whole parish.
Tuesday evening, at 8 o'clock, at the Chapel of the Holy Communion-Entertainment provided by the chapel for the whole parish.
Wednesday afternoon, at 4 o'clock-Entertainment for the young folks in church and chapels-each for its own.
Wednesday evening, at 8 o'clock, at the Chapel of St. Simon the Cyrenian-Entertainment provided by the chapel for the whole parish.
Thursday evening, at 8 o'clock, at the Chapel of the Mediator-Entertainment provided by the chapel for the whole parish.
Friday evening, at 8 o'clock, at the Church of the Holy Apostles-Reception given by the clergy, the vestry, the Advisory Boards, and their wives to the whole parish.
Saturday evening, at 8 o'clock, in the Church of the Holy Apostles-Preparatory Service for Holy Com- munion.
Sunday morning, at 10 o'clock, at the Church of the Holy Apostles-Corporate Communion, Confirma- tion and Sermon, Bishop Stearly being the officiant and preacher.
Sunday afternoon, at 3 o'clock, at the Church of
151
the Holy Apostles-Sunday-school rally. At this time Mr. Edward J. Cattell, a life-long friend, will deliver a eulogy on Mr. George C. Thomas.
Sunday evening, at 8 o'clock-Parish Anniversary Service. All the clergy and choirs of the parish to be present and vested. The sermon to be preached by the Rt. Rev. Wilson R. Stearly, D. D., Bishop Co- adjutor of Newark.
(While the copy for this history was being cor- rected there was issued an order by the Fuel Adminis- trator in Washington, shutting up all manufacturing plants (except those employed on government work), places of entertainment, office buildings, stores, etc., for a period of five days from January 17th, and for ten successive Mondays thereafter. This is a war meas- ure and put in force, so says the Administrator, both to conserve the coal supply, now so far below normal that there is much suffering in the country, and also to relieve the congestion of traffic.
As good citizens and patriots the rector and vestrymen decided to give up all the above pro- gram, except Sunday, January 27th, as being in part festive in character and so out of consonance with the time.)
The order of services for Sunday, January 27th, follows :
8.45 A. M .- Corporate celebration of the Holy Communion for the parish clergy, the vestry, the advisory boards, the officers and teachers of the Sunday-school and the officers of the parish organiza- tions. Celebrant, the rector.
10.00 A. M .- Service of Confirmation and Corpo- rate Communion. The Rt. Rev. Wilson R. Stearly, D. D., officiant and preacher.
152
1
2.30 P. M .- Rally of the Sunday-schools of the parish. Mr. Edward J. Cattell delivered an eulogy of Mr. George C. Thomas, and Bishop Stearly spoke of "The School in the Past." This is the first time in the history of the parish the Sunday-schools had been brought together.
8.00 P. M .- Parish Anniversary Service. Preacher, the Rt. Rev. Wilson R. Stearly, D. D.
One cannot write of the fiftieth anniversary without a reference to the events amidst which it is celebrated, and particularly of the parish's participation in those events.
The rector has written of that participation as follows :-
"The armed forces of the United States are going forth to share in the mightiest conflict in the history of the world. Our bravest and best are going from home and kindred to endure privation and hardship, and may-hap to die. No man hath more to offer than they are giving. Rank upon rank, army upon army, out they go at our bidding, upon our errand, to attest to all the world that America is true to the heritage of her past.
We stay behind-we older men, the women, the unfit, the children, and the home indispensables, stay behind only because, either we are more useful here or are not allowed to go. But we, too, can be useful, vitally, splendidly useful.
The armies in the field need great multitudes of things which they themselves cannot provide. There is a chance for everyone, to prove his worth, to show himself a true soldier of the common good, to demon- strate to himself and others the measure of his man-
153
hood. One of time's great hours has struck. It is no time for shirkers or slackers. There is a task for all to perform. Every woman of the parish should be at Red Cross work. Talk for a moment with Mrs. Gray, if you are not already in this work, and you will be set on fire by her fine enthusiasm, and join her and all the others who are doing so notable a service that our Red Cross is considered a model for all the churches. Three hundred women are already enrolled; we should have six hundred. Fifty per cent is not enough by fifty per cent.
(Since the above was written the government issued an appeal for ten million new members of the Red Cross Society. Two hundred and fifty was the allot- ment made to the unit at Holy Apostles. Six hundred and forty-four names were secured. This means that our unit has sent in nearly a thousand names alto- gether. It is almost, if not quite, without equal among church units in Philadelphia.)
The children of the parish are already doing all they can in the Sunday-school and in all the Red Cross finds possible for them to do, and they are to do more if new ways of usefulness open up for them.
The men are already organized and doing splendid work in the Red Cross, in the "Big Brothers Back Home" committee, the class in First Aid, the Home Defense Guard, the work of the Men's Club at the Ship and Tent Club at Cooper Hall, and the Prayer- Book and Pocket Testament and other kindred work of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew.
There are still other avenues of usefulness open- ing up for the men. Every man of the parish, who is not able to go to the front should be in the Trenches
154
1
Back Home, bearing his share of the burden of the hour.
Let us all economize time and strength and money elsewhere in order to spend them in this work.
The selfish man is out of date to-day.
It is a joy to me to see the spirit in which this great parish is responding to the challenge of the hour.
There is life and activity everywhere. The parish is being born anew. It has always been an unselfish parish, to-day it is gloriously, magnificently unselfish.
Praise God for it-Thank God for it.
Below may be found, brought together, the lists of names of those who compose the Roll of Honor of our whole great parish. It is a worthy list of a mother full worthy of these her sons. They are a considerable part of our young manhood at its prime. They go forth to wage the world's age-old fight for freedom. There is no doubt about that to-day. When the war began there were many among us who thought of it as part of an old-time wrangle among discordant European neighbors, with very likely an ambition for commercial supremacy at its base. To-day our vision has cleared and we see in it one of those great world upheavals which periodically occurs, when an old phase of civilization is outworn, and a new one is coming to its birth. And more than any other this struggle has spiritual forces at its base. To share in this conflict for a new world's new life our boys go forth. They represent themselves and us, they are us, our very selves, for they bear with them not alone their own spiritual significance for life, but also ours. They are the sacrificial price we pay, we jointly pay, for man- kind's good. When they suffer we suffer, when they are wounded so are we, when they die so do we, in
155
life's most vital self. And we at home must bear the waiting part, the weary, wasting, waiting part, and if need be bear our load of grief into the valley of the shadow, and live with it through all the years to come, in loneliness, in utter desolating loneliness.
It is hard to be the victim of sacrifice, but it is harder not to be to-day. Life, true and strong life, is sacrificial. Courage then! It is a time which calls for men. Let us be men. Life demands that we throw life away, waste it, pour it forth, that we may receive it again with joy. Keep it to-day and it is not worth the keeping.
The cross is at the heart of thought and purpose as never before in our time. In its presence, close beside it, the human soul learns life's deepest lesson and finds its peace."
Following are the names of those who have gone from the parish into their country's service :
ROLL OF HONOR OF THE PARISH
181 NAMES
CHURCH OF THE HOLY APOSTLES
Adams, Thomas H.
Boyd, John Winfield
Barclay, Clinton H.
Britton, William Nelson
Cross, Raymond
Barlow, Elmer H., Yeoman
Davis, Robert H.
Barlow, Walter
Deaver, Dr. G. Gilbert
Barr, Charles R., Lieutenant
Diamond, James A.
Bendell, William I., Corporal
Donaldson, William N., Lieutenant
Ebner, Charles F.
Blair, George, Major
Boyd, Harold Scott
Foell, Louis Fortin, Edward L.
156
Fortin, Fred V. Fresh, William Gemberling, Laura M., Nurse Graves, F. Mortimer Hill, George W. Hipwell, John B. Hughes, George H.
McNally, Arthur Naye, Jack C. Noel, William Leslie O'Neill, Thomas Lincoln Pickwell, Harry H.
Robinson, Howard West
Royle, Elmer
Royle, Herbert B., Corporal Royle, Philip A., Q. M. Sergeant Scott, Wesley E.
Seymour, Frank E.
Smallwood, Clarence
Smith, S. Annabelle, Nurse
Smith, Lorentza
Thomas, George C., Jr.,
Moore, Robert B., Q. M. Sergeant Moore, Samuel S.
Captain Thomas, Leonard M., Lieutenant Van Vranken, J. Schuyler, Sergeant
Moore, William J., No. 1
Moore, William J., No. 2, Corporal Murphy, Joseph B.
Wilson, Henry T., Rear Admiral
McClenaghan, Herbert E.
McFarland, David M.
Mckenzie, Alfred
McMeekin, Robert C.
Young, John W., Commissary Sergeant Young, Robert J.
Total, 65
MEMORIAL CHAPEL OF THE HOLY COMMUNION
Army
Charles, Joseph
McElhenny, John McFarland, Alfred
Charles, William Graham, Robert Franz, Joseph
MacWilliams, George
Mackey, James
Hill, Elwood Hill, George
Mooney, Elmer
Norton, John
Kirst, Earl Knorr, Vinton
Parks, Robert
Pische, Otto
McAnally, Andrew
Robinson, Moncure
157
Jackson, Joseph Jacobs, Howard M., Corporal Johnson, Marion F. Keenan, James Hudson
Kidwell, Orville
Louis Knudson
Lawhorne, William M.
Leeper, Thomas P.
Michart, Harry H. Yeoman
Weideman, Frank
Wilson, George
Russell, George Russell, Joseph Schiller, William Scott, William Sines, Charles
Wallace, Frank A. White, Edward Wilson, Robert Young, Samuel
Navy
Kniland, John
Reese, Thomas
McConachie, Andrew
Reese, William
Macool, Elwood
Schreiber, James
Macool, Ormund
Taylor, Ray
McLatchey, Robert
Taylor, Thomas
Perry, James
Total. 38
CHAPEL OF ST. SIMON THE CYRENIAN
Aylor, Alphonso
Matthews, Harry M.
Carter, Thomas
Moore, Walker
Draper, Edward A., Lieutenant Harbison, P. Leroy
Pettis, Arthur
Reed, William
Thomas, Eugene
Johnson, Everett W., Lieutenant Johnson, Joseph L., Lieutenant
Watson, William
Total, 12
CHAPEL OF THE MEDIATOR
Army
Ashton, Charles M., Jr. (Croix de Guerre)
Austin, William, Jr.
Balbirnie, Arthur A., Sergeant Bonsall, Henry H., Jr.
Cobb, Horace W. Curtin, F. Walton Davidheiser, Horace R.
Davidson, Russell T. Derick, George C. Elsner, Bertel
Epler, Ralston Fields, Robert Nelson
Ford, R. Morris, Corporal
Fleming, James C. Gibson, Oliver W. Glasgow, Charles John Hansen, William J. Henderson, Alfred
Huling, Warren R.
Imhof, Charles, Corporal Kelly, Edward
158
Keplinger, William M., Captain Knights, Frank M., Corporal Lack, Howard E. Lawrence, William, Corporal Luce, Thomas Russell Lunn, James R. Lunn, William
Moore, Henry McKnight
Moore, James S., Corporal Motherwell, Frank S.
Umstead, Walter R.
Umstead, Harry F.
McFarland, George
Neill, William A., Lieutenant Osgood, Phillips E.
Patterson, George Howell, Ensign
Waters, Thomas John Wilson, George, M. D., Lieutenant
Woolley, Chandler S. Zearfoss, Charles H., Lieutenant
1
Navy
Brewer, Scott
Cleeland, Robert M.
Lyons, Frank Russell Mills, Stanley
Dudley, Oscar Edmunds
Richardson, Frank
Fitzgerald, Leonard H.
Sutton, William
Jones, Hilton E.
Young, Allan Dayton
Knowles, John Edward
Total, 66
Guide them, guard them, gird them, God!
.
159
Wallworth, Foster
Patterson, Robert Wilson
Pierce, Warren G. Pitts, Edmund M., Sergeant Powell, Roger
Rae, Alexander M. Robinson, Frank H. Rodgers, A. Steven Shaw, William Smith, William E. Snowden, Frank, P. O. Stevens, Ernest C. M. Stevens, Reginald W. H., Sergeant Thomas, Alfred B., Corporal
Cooper Battalion Hall and Gymnasium
CHARLES D. COOPER BATTALION AND COOPER BATTALION HALL
-
COOPER BATTALION HALL AND GYMNASIUM
In 1898 the United States was at war with Spain, and Mr. George C. Thomas was greatly impressed with the importance of affording the young men who might desire to avail them- selves of it, an opportunity of being instructed in the manual of arms. He therefore invited the members of the men's Bible classes and some of the older scholars of the school to meet him on Sunday afternoon, May 22, 1898, after the Sunday-school session. About one hundred re- sponded, and after a meeting full of interest, eighty-eight handed in their names, signifying their desire to avail themselves of the privilege. Subsequent meetings resulted in the formation of the Charles D. Cooper Battalion, which had two companies.
A military instructor was obtained and the companies drilled on alternate nights in the gymnasium, as there was not room for both companies to drill at the same time.
Soon after, however, the use of the First Regiment Armory, N. G. P., was secured for drill, and both companies were trained at the same time. By September the battalion num-
163
bered one hundred and fifty men, completely uniformed and equipped.
In September, 1899, the battalion held its first encampment in Fairmount Park, near Bel- mont Mansion.
October 16, 1899, was the date on which the drill floor of the Odd Fellows' Temple, Broad and Cherry Streets, was used for the first time. The battalion, improving rapidly, held its second encampment outside the city, at Milmont, Pennsylvania.
In October, 1900, the battalion returned to the gymnasium in the parish building for drill. At the meeting of May 6, 1901, Mr. Thomas stated that he had purchased a piece of ground on Christian Street below 23rd Street, having a frontage of 152 feet and a depth of 75 feet, and that he proposed erecting thereon dur- ing the summer a building suitable for gym- nasium and drill purposes, entirely for the use of the men and boys of the parish, with the pro- vision that the building be used as a hall for en- tertainments and other purposes.
Messrs. Duhring, Okie and Ziegler were the architects, designing a building with a large auditorium or drill room, galleries, stage and anterooms on the first floor, with billiard, locker and other rooms on the basement level.
The hall was used for the first time for hold-
164
ing the Christmas exercises of the Sunday- school December 29, 1901, on an exceedingly stormy night, when nearly one thousand persons were present.
Mr. Thomas retained the ownership, but provided for the maintenance of the hall, which the battalion began to use regularly on Janu- ary 27, 1902.
That the hall was of immense value to the community is shown from the fact that between December 29, 1901, when first used, until March 1, 1903, sixty-eight thousand three hundred and nine persons had entered the doors.
The battalion continued to use the hall for drill and social functions and held their encamp- ments for several years at the seaside resorts of Cape May and Wildwood, New Jersey, providing not only familiarity with camp life, but splen- did outings during the summer vacation time.
So that out of the inspiration born of pa- triotism came also opportunities for recreation, health and amusement, which reached out in many forms, not only to the members of the Church of the Holy Apostles, but to the com- munity in the southwest section of Philadelphia.
In May, 1910, the church received from the trustees of the Estate of Mr. George C. Thomas the deed for the property and also a generous contribution from the trustees for the support
165
of the hall during that year, and on May 10, 1911, the managers of the hall reported that they had closed the year entirely free of debt.
On September 10, 1913, the directors of the hall, under whose direction the institution had been managed from its beginning, tendered their resignations, and the rector, the Rev. Mr. Capers, took over the entire responsibility for the management and finances, but at his request a treasurer was elected.
When war with Germany was declared the vestry, with fine patriotism, voted to place at the disposal of the government any or all of its buildings for any purpose whatever. Before long Cooper Hall was requested for recruiting purposes, and was so used for some months. In the spring of 1917 the Canteen Committee of the Red Cross Society asked that it might use the hall as a clubhouse exclusively for enlisted men. This request was granted, and a work started under the name of "The Ship and Tent Club," which has presented rest and recreation facilities to thousands of enlisted men tempo- rarily sojourning in Philadelphia. There, when off duty, they have found asylum from the many temptations of a large city; quiet for reading and writing; and established pleasant friend- ships through the medium of the entertainments
166
provided by the members of the committee in charge.
The rector, in the "Monthly Message" for November, 1917, said of the work being done there :-
"Perhaps the biggest and most interesting piece of war work being done within the limits of the parish is that at Cooper Hall.
The activities at "The Ship and Tent Club" are varied. Each day the gymnasium, pool rooms, bowl- ing alleys, restaurant, reading and writing rooms and shower baths are used by the enlisted men. Frequently at night there are large attendances at the dances, the entertainments under the auspices of the Men's Club of Holy Apostles, the athletic exhibitions, moving pic- ture shows and basketball games. The enlisted men are made to feel that the place is theirs. In the house adjoining there are fifty beds which the enlisted men use on the nights when they have leave from the Navy Yard or other stations.
It is an interesting and vitally useful work. Mrs. Drexel and the other members of her committee de- serve all credit for their unselfish and sane efforts for the good of the enlisted men temporarily the city's guests.
Well may the parish feel proud that it had it within its power to make so big and useful a contribu- tion to the welfare of the Nation's active forces when suddenly the need arose. One feels sure that this present use of the building would be the will of him who built it at the time of the Spanish War to foster the spirit of patriotism."
167
Memorial Chapel of the Holy Communion
CHAPEL OF THE HOLY COMMUNION, PARISH HOUSE AND VICARAGE
-
MEMORIAL CHAPEL OF THE HOLY COMMUNION
27TH AND WHARTON STREETS
At the Diocesan Convention of 1885, a new departure was made in the matter of planting and maintenance of new church organizations; viz .: the Convocation System. All the territory south of Walnut Street and west of Broad Street was denominated "The Southwest Convocation."
At the meeting of June 1st, 1885, the Rev. Henry S. Getz called attention to the need of mis- sionary work in the southwest corner of the Convocation, and a committee was appointed to investigate the situation. As a result of its re- port, it was resolved that a Sunday-school and Mission Station, under the charge of the rector of the Church of the Holy Apostles, should be established.
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.