USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Providence > A history of Grace Church in Providence, Rhode Island, 1829-1929 > Part 12
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The Sunday School, which had fallen off very considerably im- mediately after Dr. Greer's departure, rose to over six hundred (teachers and scholars) in 1889-90,-the maximum up to that time-and doubtless taxed to an embarrassing extent the very limited facilities of the Chapel and the hired rooms across West- minster Street. George A. Buffum was Superintendent, being succeeded in 1893 by John W. Angell, who continued into Mr. Tomkins' rectorship. Percy A. Harden, as secretary of the Sunday School, began at this time a period of service to Grace Church which, with his many years as usher, has lasted to the present.
The first enlargement in the permanent accommodations of Grace Church since the building of the Chapel in 1854 dates from
1 Now the beloved Suffragan Bishop of Massachusetts.
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A History of Grace Church
1892. To someone there came the bright idea, apparently with the flash of a discovery, that a second story could readily be added to the Chapel to serve as a place of worship and also a meeting place for the Sunday School. This would allow the lower floor to be converted into a parish house of four rooms in which to hold meetings of the numerous societies and other activities. Such a change would furnish quarters incomparably more appropriate and convenient than the rooms which for many years had been hired in the Conrad Building, 385 Westminster Street, and proved possible at an expense of less than twenty thousand dollars. This enlarged Chapel was occupied before Easter, 1892.
A further provision for the important work of the Sunday School and a venture which played a not inconsiderable part in the lives of many boys and girls of the parish for the next twenty years or more was the establishment of an East Side Sunday School in the fall of 1892 under the able leadership of Mr. Rath- bone Gardner, who, since his election to the vestry in 1887, had taken an increasingly active part in the life of the parish. Suit- able rooms for the forty young people1 enrolled were secured, through the kindness of the Lincoln School, on the corner of Waterman and Brook Streets. There sessions were held at three o'clock on Sunday afternoons, the same hour that prevailed down town well into Dr. Rousmaniere's rectorship.
It is to this period that we owe a considerable number of the stained glass windows of the present church. The report of 1891 mentions five such,-Carlisle, Barnaby, Arnold, Nicholson and Prentice,-one already in place and four more to be shortly expected. At Easter, 1892, the Corporation lost the devoted services as secretary of Wm. W. Paine, who felt obliged to decline re-election. Though never a member of the Vestry, Mr. Paine kept its records and those of the Corporation with most pains- taking care for twenty-three years-a term of office not even ap- proached by any other of the twenty-three who have served Grace Church in that capacity. His place was taken by George A. Buffum, a newly elected member of the Vestry, who served from '92-'94 and from '96-1902; in the years '94-'96, Henry T. Grant, Jr. and George M. Smith held the office.
Under the vigorous leadership of Rathbone Gardner and Charles C. Mumford, a Chapter of the Brotherhood of St. An- drew was organized in 1893, which grew rapidly in numbers and
1 This school rapidly increased until in a few years 100 children were recorded.
CHRISTMAS TREE IN FORMER CHANCEL, CIRCA, 1900
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activity and continued for nearly twenty years. In Mr. Tom- kins' rectorship especially, this Chapter exerted a wide and stimulating influence over young men in Grace Church and beyond its borders. Boys' Clubs, Bible classes, and the bringing in of strangers, especially to the Sunday evening services, were some of its many helpful functions.
Dr. Babcock's health had begun to occasion some concern as he advanced in middle life. In the fall of 1893, suffering from a stubborn gastric ailment, he sought leave of absence to hasten his recovery. As the fifth year of his rectorship drew to a close late in November, 1893, he wrote from Lakewood, N. J., that complete rest seemed so imperative that he felt it his duty to send in his resignation to take effect on January 1, 1894.
It was clear that Dr. Babcock found the rigid routine of the Sunday services and the increasing demands on his time, in- evitable in the work of the rector of an active city parish, an excessive tax on his nervous energy and a disturbing and almost unbearable interruption of the scholarly studies for which he was particularly fitted. Under this twofold strain his health was seriously endangered and resignation seemed the wise course to avert a permanent breakdown.
Indeed after Dr. Babcock left Grace Church he never under- took another rectorship,1 though he had for some twenty years a rather eminent career as preacher for important parishes during emergencies caused by illness or vacancy. He was also one of the chief moving spirits in the Church Congress, which as an insti- tution owes much to his breadth of mind and intellectual force. He was active besides in the management of the Society for the Promotion of Evangelical Knowledge and was chairman of its committee on publications.
Immediately on the acceptance of Dr. Babcock's resignation the Vestry appointed the Rev. Francis G. Williams as minister-in- charge and soon notified the missions at East Providence, Paw- tuxet, and Cranston that the arrangements between these churches and Grace Church would cease on January 1, 1894. There ensued a few weeks of diligent investigation and inquiry as to possible rectors. Before the end of January it was voted to request Rath- bone Gardner "to visit Chicago, St. Louis, and Kansas City, to learn of Rev. Floyd W. Tomkins, Jr., Rev. Robert A. Holland, and Rev. Cameron Mann." As matters turned out Mr. Gardner
1 It was doubtless on this account that Dr. Babcock was often erroneously called "rector-emeritus of Grace Church."
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A History of Grace Church
seems only to have visited Cincinnati and Chicago. In April Mr. Tomkins, who was winning large renown by his vigorous rectorship of St. James' Church, Chicago, came to Providence to preach at an anniversary service at St. James' on Broadway, the invitation for which had quite likely been "inspired." Mr. Anthony, in his reminiscences at the seventy-fifth anniversary, continues thus: "The clergyman we expected at Grace Church that Sunday evening was ill and could not come. Mr. Tomkins kindly took his place and the result was Mr. Tomkins became our next Rector." Mr. Anthony omits to state how the convenient "illness" was arranged for, but we know from the records that before Mr. Tomkins left Providence Mr. Gardner had an author- ized conference with him in regard to accepting the rectorship and that on April 27th, Mr. Tomkins telegraphed from Chicago: "I am ready to accept call. Letter follows."
The next day the official call was voted. Quite likely Bishop Clark had not a little to do with the selection and it is interesting to note that Mr. Tomkins had from 1888-1891 been rector of Christ Church, Hartford, the church from which Bishop Clark more than thirty years before had come to Rhode Island.
The Vestry's eagerness to secure Mr. Tomkins is attested by the fact that, although the current appropriation for the rector's salary was only $5,000, members of the Vestry pledged them- selves to furnish the additional $1,000 needed for the next five years. Mr. Tomkins entered upon his duties on June 1, 1894, preaching for the first time as Rector on the following day.
In the Vestry report to the Corporation in 1895, Mr. Anthony, after stating that the parish had been without a rector for some time, wrote as follows: ". . . there was great need of a perma- nent rector who could reunite the scattered constituency of a large parish, and who, by reason of experience and spiritual gifts would be able to bring the people together, a strengthened working force. For various reasons some of our number had withdrawn, and our income had diminished. There were doubts in the minds of some as to our future, but those best acquainted with Grace Church believed that continued prosperity was still in store for it." In this same report less than a year after Mr. Tomkins entered upon his rectorship, the Vestry further stated, "It is a matter for earnest thanksgiving and congratulation that the parish of Grace Church (now becoming venerable) has secured the services of a rector whose zeal and devotion to his work, and Christian example, as well as his rare gift as a preacher, make his
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Babcock-Tomkins-Rousmaniere
ministrations acceptable everywhere, and to everybody." The outstanding qualities here noted furnish the key-note of Mr. Tomkins' entire rectorship. Yearning intensely to win souls and to serve all men, he directed unsparing energies toward those ends.
The only important changes in the church buildings during these years were those made in the heating and lighting of the church. In 1895 it seemed desirable to replace by electricity the old gas- lights, which created a serious ventilating problem, as a consider- able amount of gas escaped every time the church was lit. This change was formally authorized in May of that year, a special tax of 2% of the valuation of the pews being assessed to cover the cost which amounted to something over $700. A new heating system became imperative in 1897 and, after much discussion and some consideration of the possibility of buying heat from out- side, it was decided to install four new furnaces.
The investigation of this difficult and important matter was en- trusted to a committee consisting of H. N. Campbell, Jr., and the two newly elected vestrymen, Albert Babcock and Frank P. Com- stock. These two were also placed on the Committee on Repairs under the chairmanship of the veteran Robert Knight. In view of Mr. Babcock's distinguished and utterly devoted connection with this committee for over a quarter of a century this arduous initia- tion is noteworthy, for it was to the Committee on Repairs that the execution of the improvement was referred. The cost of this change, approximately $1500, remained as a debt upon the parish until after the annual meeting of 1898, when the Vestry urged that it be met by voluntary subscriptions.
Financially the parish made a steady, although not startling, advance. At Easter, 1895, the total appropriation of the Vestry for current expenses was $11,200. At the next annual meeting, however, it was reported that $14,831.73 had been spent. A serious problem had confronted the Vestry as this annual meeting of 1896 drew near. It was painfully evident to all who knew the situation that if Grace Church was to progress as the Rector planned and as a host of willing workers were at hand to accom- plish, a larger regular revenue was absolutely necessary. The tax rate had been at 18% for many years and it was fully recog- nized that an increase would be hard on not a few very loyal supporters of the parish whose means were moderate. The root of the difficulty was in the valuation of the pews but that was legally immutable. Those who knew the parish best felt that if these persons understood the situation fully even they would gladly
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A History of Grace Church
bear the additional burden. At this crisis Rathbone Gardner, who had perhaps the most intimate knowledge of the Rector's plans and was also at the front in the activities of the parish, was commissioned to write the annual report of Vestry to Corporation --- a task hitherto regularly performed by one of the Wardens. Mr. Gardner, in notably clear and inspiring fashion, analyzed the whole situtation, describing vividly the unique work of Grace Church and the importance of all its expenditures. In referring to their leader, he said,-"His tireless energy and absolute devotion shame us when we even think of curtailing our work. The Vestry therefore cannot recommend that the expenditures of the parish be decreased." He continued,-"to sacrifice ourselves that in our own city and through our own Church God's word may be spoken to the multitudes who are waiting to receive it, is not to perform a duty, but to exercise a blessed privilege." And he closed,-"The records of the past year show that the members of the corporation and of the congregation are equally resolved that the work of the parish shall go on unhampered, and that our devoted rector shall feel that he has beside him, supporting him in his work for God and man, an equally devoted parish."
Mr. Gardner later wrote, though not in unbroken series, more than a score of annual reports but none rings out in more earnest and stimulating fashion than this first one. Needless to say the increase of the tax to 20% was immediately voted. By Easter, 1898, the annual expenditures had risen from the $14,500 of 1895 to between $19,000 and $20,000, the increase in the income coming from part of the Easter offering and the Sunday evening collections but mainly from the guarantors of the deficiency fund.
Benevolent objects were supported by offerings collected under a system of pledges made in January of each year. In 1894 these pledges totaled $4,985.76; by 1898 this fund had increased by less than $1,000 and the statement is made that "some of our parishioners upon whom we have the right to rely have made no pledges." It is interesting in this connection to note that many things now considered a legitimate part of the support of the church, such as expenses for weekly calendar, Sunday evening leaflets, and the expense of maintaining the Sunday School were then listed as benevolent objects and so dependent on voluntary pledges rather than on the more certain income from pew-rents and taxes.
During Mr. Tomkins' rectorship there were but few changes in the Vestry, and the two wardens in office when he came, namely
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Babcock-Tomkins-Rousmaniere
John B. Anthony and Charles Morris Smith, were still serving at the time of his resignation. Mr. Tomkins' numerous activities and his remarkable personal magnetism had attracted many worshippers to Grace Church and drawn out the latent powers of scores of former parishioners. It seemed to him and to the Vestry that some of these should have representation on that body. Moreover he had proposed with glowing enthusiasm numerous plans for a more stirring service, for a new parish house, and for what would now perhaps be termed an "institutional church"- plans that, now and then, some of the older members of the Vestry could accept out of confidence in their leader, but could not heartily enter into themselves. The Rector was thus eager for some new blood in the Vestry. Shortly before the annual meeting of 1897 the Vestry, acceding to his wishes, voted to recommend to the Corporation the increase of the number of vestrymen to fifteen. As Peleg W. Lippitt, who had been vestryman since 1883 con- sidered this an opportune time to retire, five new vestrymen were contemplated. George A. Buffum concurred in this vote and as Clerk kept the records; but like a vigilant secretary of the Corpora- tion he bethought himself of the Charter. The conference in which he informed the Rector that he had found that that docu- ment prohibited more than thirteen vestrymen is said to have been an interesting one. It is reported that Mr. Tomkins' remarks were most uncomplimentary to the Charter. The Vestry held a hurried meeting just before the Corporation met and perforce amended their report so as to recommend thirteen instead of fifteen, as the number of vestrymen.
As a matter of fact the increase practically was only to twelve, until after Mr. Tomkins had resigned in 1899. As progressives, Albert Babcock, Frank P. Comstock, and Ira R. Wilbur were elected in 1897. The last named, however, declined to serve and his place was not filled until Easter, 1898, when Frederick H. Hull was elected. But as George Edward Allen died that summer the number became twelve again until the election of George W. Parks, after Mr. Tomkins' resignation had been accepted.
With this same general purpose to increase the interest of the congregation in all aspects of the work of Grace Church a series of annual parish meetings was devised, coming generally on Easter Tuesday, the day after the annual meeting, and including the report of the Vestry, an abstract of the Treasurer's report, a report from the Rector, and reports from all the organizations and societies. This meeting was held in the church and was followed
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by an "informal reception and hand-shaking" in the parish house. The meeting held on April 16, 1895, was apparently the first meeting of the sort in the history of Grace Church and was the occasion of the extension of the pledge system to provide for the support of the parish in addition to the contributions for "benev- olences" previously subscribed for. As a result the number con- tributing regularly to Grace Church was considerably increased and over two thousand dollars added to the total income.
In accordance with another design of Mr. Tomkins to foster a more widespread interest the Vestry in 1898 decided to endeavor to devise some means of changing the charter to secure more general participation in the administration of the Church by members of the parish, and to make the charter more nearly con- form to modern methods of administration in the Episcopal Church. There is no record, however, that definite action to this effect was taken at that time or even shortly after. In April, 1898, the Vestry voted to hold regular meetings monthly. As, however, during the summer months the meetings were not held, and in November and December no quorum was present, this attempt to keep the Vestry more constantly in touch with the activities of the Church seems to have been of rather dubious success.
Among all the rectorships of Grace Church, that of Mr. Tomkins was perhaps unique in the opportunities for worship and work which were offered to all. With unbounded zeal to reach every one to whom the Church could in any way minister, Mr. Tomkins, in less than six months from the time of his installation, had thrown the church open every day from 8.30 to 5.30, and had instituted daily Morning Prayer at 9.00 and Evening Prayer at 5.00, ser- vices which continued even through the summer months. In those years there were but two slight concessions to the summer, a change in the hour of Sunday School and the omission of the musical service on Sunday afternoons, Evening Prayer, however, being said at 5.00.
The Rector's eagerness to make Grace Church a "people's church" was so contagious that it could not but affect the Vestry, who, by their report to the Corporation in 1897, put themselves on record as realizing the obligation upon Grace Church to live for others and the responsibility resting upon the Vestry and the members of the parish to sacrifice, if need be, their own preferences in order to reach this ideal. The Sunday morning services were, as always, largely attended, but the congregations in the evening regularly taxed the seating capacity of the church almost to the utmost. Every effort was made to bring strangers and especially
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men to these services. Members of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew, then at the height of its activity, were stationed outside the church and personally invited passers-by to come in. So strong was the feeling of many of these Sunday-night worshippers that they were members of the parish, that it is recorded that at a special service, when members of the parish had been asked to present themselves for admission at a certain door, a woman seeking entrance, when asked if she were a member of the parish said, "Of course I am; I come here every Sunday evening." A service of intercessory prayer was held after the regular Sunday evening service, and also a devotional meeting for men, conducted by the Brotherhood of St. Andrew. At this meeting members of the Brotherhood made it a point to get into personal touch with any strangers.
In an unusually detailed and appealing annual letter to the parish, printed in the Year Book at Advent, 1897, Mr. Tomkins reported that during the past church year 1093 services had been held in the church, besides many in private houses, an average of three a day for the entire year. In this same Year Book, there are reports from ten women's societies, of which all except the Chancel Committee were engaged in missionary, philanthropic or educational work of one sort or another; from one men's and two boys' organizations. In addition to these, there was a Christian Endeavor Society for both boys and girls, and various Bible classes in addition to the two Sunday Schools, the main one, and the East Side School. It is perhaps worth while, as a telling commentary on Mr. Tomkins' rectorship, to insert here a list of activities copied from the Year Book of 1897, when the Rector was making a special effort to arouse interest in the building of a large parish house.
"WHAT GOES ON IN THE CHURCH AND PARISH HOUSE "
"This schedule is printed, not to make a show of our work, but as a guide to workers, to stir up the inactive, and to make it clear how crowded we are in our accommodations."
SUNDAY
10.00 A.M. Holy Communion in the Church.
10.45
Morning Service and Sermon.
2.45 P.M. Main Sunday School, Parish House, up stairs.
2.45 Primary Sunday School, Parish House, down stairs.
2.45 Young Men's Bible class in Church.
3.30
Evening Prayer and Address, in the Church.
Instruction to Sunday School Teachers, in the Church.
4.15 6.30
Christian Endeavor in the Parish House.
7.00 Organ Recital in the Church.
7.30
Evening Prayer and Sermon, in the Church.
9.00 Service of Prayer in the Church.
9.00 After meeting for men in the Parish House.
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A History of Grace Church
MONDAY
9.00 A.M. Morning Prayer in the Church.
9.30 Conference of Clergy of the Parish, in Vestry Room.
11.00
Day Nursery Managers, in Parish House, (Second Monday in each month)
12-I
Rector's Office Hour, in Vestry Room, the year round.
5.00 P.M.
Evening Prayer in the Church.
8.00 Brotherhood of St. Andrew, in Parish House.
TUESDAY
9.00 A.M. Morning Prayer, in Church.
12-I
Rector's Office Hour.
3.30 P.M. Managers of St. Elizabeth Home, in Parish House, (First Tuesday in each month)
5.00
Evening Prayer, in Church.
7.00
Junior Brotherhood of St. Andrew, in Parish House.
7.45 Girl's Friendly Society, Senior Branch, in Parish House.
8.00 Teachers' Meeting, (First Tuesday in each month.)
WEDNESDAY
9.00 A.M. Morning Prayer and Litany, in Church.
10.30 Grace Church Missionary Society, in Parish House.
12-I Rector's Office Hour.
2.30 P.M. Mothers' Meeting in Parish House.
5.00 Evening Prayer in Church.
8.00 St. George's Brotherhood, in Parish House.
THURSDAY
9.00 A.M. Morning Prayer, in Church.
10.30 Employment Bureau, in Parish House.
12-I Rector's Office Hour.
5.00 P.M. Evening Prayer.
7.30 St. Elizabeth Society, in Parish House.
FRIDAY
9.00 A.M. Morning Prayer and Litany, in Church.
10.30 St. Margaret Society, in Parish House.
12-I
Rector's Office Hour.
3.30 P.M. Rector's Bible Lecture, in Church. (Advent to Easter)
5.00 Evening Prayer, in Church.
7.30 King's Daughters, in Parish House.
SATURDAY
9.00 A.M. Morning Prayer, in Church.
10.30 St. Agnes Society, in Parish House.
12-I Rector's Office Hour.
2.30 P.M. Girl's Friendly Society, Junior Branch, in Parish House.
5.00 Evening Prayer, in Church.
7.30 Rehearsal of Church Choir.
8.00 Devotional Meeting for Communicants, (Saturday before first Sunday in the month.)"
In addition to the services noted above, on all Holy Days the Holy Communion was celebrated, and during Lent noon-day and evening services were added to the regular schedule.
南
GuteKust Philes
REV. FLOYD W. TOMKINS, JR., D.D.
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There is little wonder that with these activities Mr. Tomkins repeatedly urged the necessity of an adequate parish house. Ten- tative plans were drawn up and printed in the 1897 Year Book, but failed to meet with unanimous approval even among members of the Vestry, and met with no encouraging monetary response from the parish in general. The hope for a rectory owned by the parish Mr. Tomkins abandoned as less necessary than many other things, when he found that the Vestry were not in favor; but he never ceased importuning for a parish house. In one of his frequent references to this need Mr. Tomkins wrote: "Pray hard, pray hard for the new Parish House. Our work is being re- tarded." Two other projects dear to his heart, an endowment and the establishment of a free church, he was also never to realize, though he has happily lived to rejoice in their accomplishment.
In connection with this matter of a free church it is interesting to note a wisely prophetic communication from Mr. Cyrus M. Van Slyck in May, 1895, to the Treasurer of Grace Church. In the course of his letter in regard to the family pew he wrote: "We all have the kindliest feelings and great affection for Grace Church, although personal convenience practically forbids us to continue in attendance, and we have agreed that, situated as Grace Church is, there is no church in the city which more properly should be a free church, and we believe that the time will come when that will be the character of the church. We therefore offer to deed Pew No. 78 to the Corporation, but upon condition that the pew shall be kept and maintained as a free pew forever. Personally I dis- like very much that the door of the pew should be so labelled, as I am aware that such a label makes the occupants feel that they are subjects of charity."
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