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Bishop White

A SKETCH

ST. JAMES'S PARISH

FROM

Its Foundation in 1807
TO 1899 : : ;

Compiled from Various Sources
BY A. E. BROWNE

rUE ^EW YORK

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ff)reface.

AS THE years pass, crowding out in their busy
rush the memories of bygone days, it seems
well that an effort should be made, while some
members of Old St. James's Church still survive,
to write out a short sketch of that parish from
records still existing and also taken from sermons
and papers left by the Rev. Dr. Morton. Dr. Mor-
ton's history is so bound up with that of St. James's
Church for a period of nearly sixty years, that writ-
ing of one, forces me almost unconsciously into
introducing him also as a central figure in the story.
Having been requested by the vestry of St.
James's to prepare this paper, I have done the best
I could with such records as I have been able to
command, added to my own early recollections,
trusting that it may prove of some interest to the
few members of the congregation of " Old St.
James " who still survive, and perhaps to the new
generation also who have arisen since then.

A. E, Browne.

a QMtcb of St. 3amc0'9 Cburcb

3from IS07 to 1899

N THE twenty-third of June, in the year iSo?

Laying of

1807, the corner-stone of St. James's Church comer-stone.

was laid by the Rt. Rev. William White, D.D.,
first Bishop of Pennsylvania, on a plot of ground
situated on Seventh and St. James streets, now
called Commerce street. Three months later a
child was born in New York, the seventh son
of General Jacob and Katherine Morton, who
was destined, when he reached man's estate, to
become connected with this newly-founded parish
for a period of nearly sixty years. The Act of
Legislature of 1810, by which St. James's Church
came into corporate existence, was an enlarge-
ment of the charter granted in 1765 by Thomas
and Richard Penn, "true and absolute proprietors
of the Province of Pennsylvania," to the united
churches of Christ Church and St. Peter's.

At this time there were only three Episcopal
churches within the city limits, namely, Christ

a sftctcb of

Church, St. Peter's, and St. Paul's, none having
been erected since 1761, when St. Peter's was con-
secrated— a period of forty-five years.

The lot on Seventh street, 79 by 1 10 feet, was
purchased from Mrs. Mary Muhlenberg for ;$8, 500
as a suitable site for the new church. Besides this
payment, the vestry gave Mrs. Muhlenberg the use
of a large double pew in the middle aisle of the
church. Mrs. Muhlenberg was the mother of
Rev. William A. Muhlenberg, who was ordained
deacon by Bishop White on his twenty-first birth-
day, September 16, 18 17, and afterwards became
assistant to the Rector of St. James's Church.
Committee A committcc was appointed from Christ and

in Charge of

Building. St. Peter's churches to procure plans and esti-
mates for building, namely, Peter Browne, Samuel
Wheeler, John Morell, Francis Gurney, Joseph
Sims and Henry Hawkins.

The estimated expense of erecting the proposed

building without any inside work was ;^i 1,560.

"A motion was made, and unanimously agreed to,

Bishop that the Rector be requested to give a name to

urc .^j^^ contemplated church, which he accordingly

designated St. James's."

St. James's Cburcb

This building was projected in the year 1806 to
supply the want of church accommodation in what
was then the western part of the city. At that
time Seventh street was as far from the business
centre of the town as it is now in the eastern por-
tion of this great metropohs. Christ Church and
St. Peter's were united under one Rector, the ven-
erated and beloved Bishop White, and St. James's
was looked upon as a sort of " Chapel of Ease,"
the Bishop preaching there every third Sunday,
dividing the rest of the time between the other
two churches. It was consecrated on St, Philip's consecration

i8og.

and St. James's Day, May i, 1809, by Bishop
White, and a sermon was preached by him from
the text " The Lord is in His Holy Temple : Let
all the earth keep silence before Him." — Habak-
kuk ii : 20. The Bishop still continued to preside
over the three churches until 1828, when St.
James's Church became an independent parish.
Bishop White still remaining the Rector. In 1832
Christ Church and St. Peter's became separate churches
congregations, with Bishop White still holding the
position of Rector in each parish, the Rev. John W.
James being his assistant in the former, and the

Separated.

a Sftctcb of

Rev. Dr. William H. DeLancey filling the same
office in the latter.

Previous to the separation of the united churches,
Assistants for the following assistant ministers of the corpora-

1809 to i38o.

tion officiated in that capacity in St. James's
Church between the years 1809 and 1830: Rev.
Robert Blackwell,D.D.; Rev. James Abercrombie,
D. D. ; Rev. Jackson Kemper, D. D., afterwards
first Bishop of Wisconsin; Rev. James Milnor, D.D.,
in later life Rector of St. George's Church, New
York ; Rev. William A. Muhlenberg, D. D., after-
wards Rector of the Church of the Holy Commu-
nion, New York, and the Rev. William H. De
Lancey, D. D., subsequeutly and for many years
Bishop of the Diocese of Western New York. In
September, 1829, Dr. Francis L, Hawks was
elected assistant minister of St. James's Church.
He resigned in 1830, and his earnest and eloquent
discourses were long remembered by those so
fortunate as to be members of the congregation at
that period. In November, 1830, the Rev. Henry
Rev. J. Morton was elected assistant minister to fill the

H. J. Morton

Called place left vacant by Dr. Hawks, Dr. De Lancey

as Assistant. , . ,, . , , . . ,

kmdly consentmg to assume the duties of the posi-

Rev. Henry J. Morton

St. James's Cburcb

tion until the health of the young deacon had
had time to recruit after the fatigue of his semi-
nary studies.

Mr. Morton was still too young to receive
priest's orders, but he was ordained to that office Dr. Monon

„ , -r.. 1 tTTi • Ordained Priest.

m 1832 by Bishop White.

On the nineteenth of November, 1834, a report of
the finances of the church was submitted to the
Rector and vestry by the committee in charge.
From these statements it appeared that the church
carried a debt at that time of about ;$3 156.67.
Part of this was the church's share of the joint
debt when the separation of the three parishes
took place ; and part was afterwards incurred in
building the school rooms and galleries for the
Sunday school, and furnishing the church with
lamps, repair of organ, etc. It was resolved that
this report be printed and a copy sent to each
pew holder in the church and their attention
earnestly solicited to the present condition of
affairs. It was further resolved that a subscrip-
tion be opened for the purpose of relieving the
church from its existing pecuniary embarrass-
ments. Signed, W. White, Rector; John Read,

10 B Sftctcb of

D. B. Carter, church wardens ; Daniel Knight,
Jno. Markland, Thos. Hale, William Rawle, Jr.,
John M. Scott, J. P. Norris, Jun., James C. Biddle,
vestrymen.

Two minutes of a meeting held in the church,
December i6, 1836, Mr. G. Colhoun in the chair,
were also enclosed in the envelope containing the
foregoing. They were as follows :

" Resolved, That a subscription be opened
among the members of this Church to raise
a sum of money to be applied under the
direction of the Vestrymen of the said Church
to completing the interior of the building and
to such other improvements within and without,
as the said Vestrymen may deem expedient."

" Resolved, That a committee of six be ap-
pointed to call on the members of the Church
with a subscription paper for the purpose above
expressed."

On another slip of paper, without date, was the
following :

" Resolved, That the committee to be appointed
this evening be instructed to ascertain what mem-
bers of this congregation are willing to contribute

St. James's Cburcb "

one dollar each annually towards the support of
the Choir of this Church and to obtain subscrip-
tions for that purpose."

This seems to us a very small amount to be
raised for such a purpose, when the musical part
of the service now costs thousands of dollars
yearly ; but the salaries at that time were much
smaller than at present, for at a vestry meeting
held in 1829 the compensation of the organist was
fixed at ;^i6o per annum, that of the bellringer
and bellows-blower at ;$20, and the sexton at $150
yearly.

On the seventeenth day of July, 1836, Bishop Death of

Bishop White,

White died, in the eighty-ninth year of his age. 1836.
He retained his mental faculties to the last, and
his loss was looked upon as a public calamity.
When it became known, the bells of the several
churches were muffled and tolled, and throughout
the day and evening a general gloom pervaded the
community. In the National Gazette, published
the following day, with deep black lines bordering
the columns of the paper, the editor says : " His
piety was deep and unfeigned, his walking humble
yet dignified, his acquirements profound ; in his

12 B Shetcb of

mind the welfare of the Christian Church was
always the prominent consideration."

"The Christian world is much indebted to his
example, precept and steady adherence to his prin-
ciples, and in his death the Church mourns one of
her great Apostles."

Bishop White's death occurred during the
absence of Mr. Morton in Europe, whither he had
kindly been sent by his congregation, his health
having again failed. His place was filled for that
period by the Rev. A. Provost, subsequently Rector
of a church in Canandaigua, New York. Upon Mr.
Morton's return in 1836 he was elected Rector to
succeed Bishop White.

In a sermon preached many years afterwards on
the occasion of the last services held in the old
church previous to its demolition, Dr. Morton
writes : '* It is hardly necessary for me to speak
here of that venerable man whose praise is in all
the churches, and whose words, now that he has
departed from among us, are regarded with the
reverence which belongs to few. Yet I cannot
refrain from expressing my profound regard for
his memory and acknowledging gratefully his gen-

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St. 5ames*s Cburcb 13

tie, affectionate and fatherly treatment. I felt to
him as a child to a parent, and he never allowed
me to doubt that I was to him as a beloved son.
Six years of intimate intercourse leave behind them
the impression of six years of perfect peace. His
wisdom, his gentleness, his urbanity, combined with
his noble, dignified and apostolic presence, have
left an image on my heart which will only fade
when death shall obliterate all earthly forms.
When I recall his walk and bearing among us, I
seem to see a great white cloud floating over the
earth, cooling with its shadow the heats of the
surrounding soil and refreshing with its soft winds
and gentle showers the herbage that was parched
by hotter air currents and untempered rays.
' Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.' "

The external appearance of St. James's Church External

, . , ... , . , ..^ Appearance of

was plam and wantmg m the architectural effects st. james-s.
noticeable in both Christ Church and St. Peter's.

A massive tower rose on the eastern end, the
walls of which were three feet thick, and it pro-
jected into the body of the church for some
distance. A bell was hung in it bearing the fol-
lowing inscription :

14 B Shetcb ot

" Presented by the Union and Hand in Hand
Fire Companies, 1752. Thomas Lester made me."

This bell had been presented by these companies
to the College of Philadelphia (now the University
of Pennsylvania), of which Dr. Franklin was a
principal patron, and when no longer needed by
that institution was transferred to St. James's Church
with the stipulation, I have been told by an old
member of the congregation, that it should always
be rung in case of fires. This bell still hangs in
the belfry of the school building at Twenty-second
and Walnut streets. Against the face of the tower
wall inside the church and at a considerable eleva-
tion was the pulpit. Beneath it was the reading
desk, reached by steps on the south side, and in
front of the reading desk stood the Communion
table, surrounded by a semi-circular chancel rail.
The font, the gift of Mr. Charles N. Bancker, an
old parishioner, stood directly in front and in the
middle of the chancel rail until the alteration of the
church took place in 1853, when it was moved to
the south aisle close to the reading lectern. It
was of white marble and of a graceful shape, but
the water had to be carried to fill it and dipped out

St. James's Cburcb is

afterwards, as it had no escape pipe. It was brought
up to the chapel on Twenty-second street when
the congregation worshipped there, while the new
church was in course of erection, and was then
presented to St. David's Church, Radnor, Penna.
Both pulpit and chancel were entered by doors
from the rear, the base of the tower serving as a
vestry room, in which a double flight of steps led
up to the door which admitted to the pulpit. This
rear wall was artistically painted, representing a
very large red curtain, looped up on one side with
a gold cord and tassel and bordered with heavy
fringe. In the centre was a " Glory " so well
executed that it elicited the praise of Henry
Inman, the distinguished painter. Beneath were
two tablets containing the Creed, Lord's Prayer,
and the Ten Commandments, which are now pre-
served upon the walls of the present Sunday
school building, in what is now known as the choir
room.

A gallery ran along three sides of the church,
and in the western end was placed the organ.
Across this end were two other galleries, almost
on a level with the top of the organ pipes, which

i6 H Sftetcb of

were originally intended to accommodate the
children of the Sunday schools, but I cannot
remember to have seen them used for that purpose,
and when the church was altered in 1853 and the
organ moved to the gallery on the north side of
the chancel they were taken down. The windows
were large and square, with rounded tops, the
sashes filled with many panes of glass ; and green
Venetian blinds, which were raised and lowered at
will by a cord, shaded them from the sunlight.

A curious paper has just come to my notice. It
bears no date and is as follows :

"The pewholders under mentioned are invited to
subscribe for discharge of the following bill in
equal proportion for their pews which have six
seats each and are on the south side of St. James
Church. Window curtains for the south side of
St. James Church of green Moreen with fringe,
rings and hooks complete and making by Mr. John
Rea, Upholsterer.

Bill ^52.22.
William Poyntell, Walnut Paid ;^5 00

Tench Coxe, No. 196 Spruce Paid 5 00

H. L. Waddle, No. 182 Chestnut Paid 5 00

St. James's Gburcb 17

Isaac Wykoff, No. 34 Sansom Paid ;^5 00

Edward Shoemaker, 413 Market Paid 5 00

Mrs. Smith, 328 Market Paid 5 00

John D. Coxe, No. yd Wahiut Paid 5 00

Jos. Carson, No. 173 Walnut Paid 5 00

John Coulter, Cor. Front and Union Paid 5 00
Jos. Hemphill, Chestnut Paid 5 00

Edvvd. Pennington, No. 155 Race St. 5 00

T. Coxe's compts to Mr. Pennington and
would thank him for a subscription if he thinks
proper, to the above which is all made up but ^lO."

These curtains must have preceded the Venetian
blinds by some years.

The pews in the middle aisle were all square at
first, as were also those against the north and
south sides of the building, but were gradually
divided into two, both for convenience and com-
fort, as well as to afford more sittings, so that when
the building was at last torn down in 1869 but few
still remained of those in the middle aisle. The
backs of the pews were straight and very uncom-
fortable according to modern ideas, but were never
as high as those which can be seen in St. Peter's
Church to this day. At the northeast corner of

i8 21 Sftctcb of

the lot there was erected a building for the accom-
modation of the Sunday and parish schools. It
reached from the tower to the extreme limits of
the yard on that side of the church, covering it at
that end, and was supported on two arches. Pass-
ing through one of these the vestry room was
reached, and near the door a stairway led up to
the school room on the left and on the right to
another door which opened into the second story
of the tower.
Schools A classical school under the Rev. James Bonner

of Church.

and an English school under Mr. Murphy, then
organist of the church, was located in these rooms
for some years and formed part of the educational
efforts of the parish. In a life of Bishop White,
published in the "Makers of America," we read
that " St. James Sunday School was one of the
very first started in this country, that it had
Rev. William A. Muhlenberg for one of its
earliest teachers, and that here at the request of
Bishop White he trained the first boy choir in
America."

Increased accommodations for the Sunday
schools being required, a door was cut through

St. James's Cburcb 19

the wall adjacent to the east, which gave access to
a large double room in a factory, which was rented
for school purposes. The Rev. T. J, Davis, Rev. Assistants for

'^ ^ "^ 1836 to 1861.

James Bonner, Rev. John K. Murphy were all
assistant ministers in the parish subsequent to the
time when Dr. Morton had officiated in that capa-
city. In 1843-4 the Rev. G. Emlen Hare D.D.,
supplied the pulpit during the absence of
the Rector in the West Indies. In 1854 ^^e Rev.
John T. Huntington (afterwards Professor of Greek
in Trinity College, Hartford) acted as assistant
minister and remained in that capacity for nearly
two years. To his energy the parish was indebted
for a night school numbering at one time over one
hundred and fifty young men, which was held in
the hall of an engine house just north of the
church. This school was continued by his suc-
cessor, the Rev. George B. Allinson, whose faithful
life and untimely death may still be remembered
by some of the present congregation. He filled
the position of assistant minister for five years until
failing health obliged him to resign. He was suc-
ceeded by the Rev. G. T. Bowen, of Barbados,
West Indies, who remained in that position until

21 Shctcb ot

1853

Altering
Church.

Missionary
Society

the breaking out of the Rebellion in 1 861, when he
returned to his native island.

In ,1853, t^^^ massive tower, the walls of which
projected into the body of the church, was removed,
giving place to a recess chancel, and the arched
space under the school rooms was converted into
the vestry room. It was at this time that the
organ was moved from the gallery at the west end
of the church to the northeast corner over the
vestry. This necessitated new accommodations for
the schools, and the room in the factory being in-
convenient, and access thereto being cut off by the
alterations, a large room was hired in the building
on the northwest corner of Seventh and Market
streets. This proving inconvenient and insufficient,
in 1855 the house adjoining the church on the
north was purchased for the accommodation of the
Sunday and parish schools, the Dorcas Society,
and for the residence of the sexton.

The Missionary Society of St. James's Church was

Organized, organized at a meeting held on the twenty-second of
May, 1832, and a committee consisting of Dr. S.
Littell, Jr., Caspar Morris, M. D., and William H.
Newbold were appointed to solicit subscriptions

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St. James's Cbuvcb 21

for the purpose. A sermon preached by the Rev,
H. J. Moi'ton on the previous Sunday in aid of
this object was printed and a copy sent to each
holder of a pew or sitting in the church, together
with a circular recommending it to their perusal.

The parish school was organized in 1842, and Parish School.
as soon as it was established Miss Elizabeth Fisher,
who had been most active in arranging for its start,
was elected one of the managers and shortly after-
wards as president, a post which she continued to
fill until her death, in 1885,

The Dorcas Society was also started during an Dorcas Society..
early period of Dr. Morton's rectorship, but in the
absence of all records I am unable to give the
exact date.

There was also a sewing society, called the Bee Bee Hive
Hive, composed of ladies of the parish who met at
stated periods at their various houses to make
useful and fancy articles, which were afterwards sold
at a fair held just before Christmas each year in
the school rooms, and the proceeds appropriated
to the needs of the parish. When it came to an
end I do not know, but I think it was between the
years 1849 ^"d 1852.

B SRetcb of

War of

Rebellion

When the war of the Rebellion broke out, be-
iS6i. tween the years of 1861-65 the whole strength of
the Dorcas and Missionary Society of the church
was turned towards aiding and working for the Sani-
tary Commission, preparing boxes of clothing and
other necessaries for the use of the soldiers in the
field and also for the military hospitals. Every Mon-
day morning for nearly four years a band of ladies
met for work. A sewing machine company lent a
machine each week which was run by one
of the party, while others cut, basted and pre-
pared work for the busy needle. Large quan-
tities of garments to be made were given to
the poor women of the parish, for which they were
paid from the funds of the society or by special
contributions, one lady sending five dollars
each week and taking besides a large number of
pieces to be made by her own beneficiaries. The
money thus donated and obtained from other
sources was used in purchasing delicacies for the
sick, lint, bandages and other necessaries asked for
by the Sanitary Commission, with whose head a
constant communication was kept up.

For many years after the church was built it was

St. 3amc3'B Cburcb 23

well filled by the congregation who worshipped
there, the pews in the galleries as well as those
on the ground floor being all occupied. The great
mass of the congregation lived in the vicinity. As
population began to drift westward, and stores and Peopi=j^^°"°g
factories replaced dwelling houses, the pews in the Neighborhood.
gallery were vacated and the general attendance
was diminished. When at last it was finally de-
termined to sell the old building and move to the
present location, at Twenty-second and Walnut
streets, scarcely a family continued to reside in
their old homes, and had to depend on their own
carriages and ultimately on the street cars for
reaching their place of worship.

On Sunday, November 22, 1869, the last ser- Last Service,

Nov. 22nd, iS6g.

vice was held within the walls of old St. James's.
The church was crowded, and numbers who had at
various periods been connected with the parish, as
well as strangers, were present to take part in the
final service, and when, after the sermon, the Holy
Communion was administered, the body of the
church was filled by those who participated in the
sacred rite. The sermon was preached by the Sermon.
Rector, Dr. Morton, from the text, " And when

24 a Shetcb of

they had sung a hymn they went out." — St. Mat-
thew xxvi : 30.

I will give the opening paragraph and a few
selections :

" A little band of Christian disciples, with
Christ in their midst, celebrating the Last Supper
in a place which was no more to be the scene of
such holy solemnity. This is the spectacle called
up to our minds by the words of the text, and
only so far as these particulars offer an analogy to
our present duties and the place where we perform
them do I desire to employ the words as appro-
priate to the occasion which has called us together
to-day in this house of prayer. We, too, are a
little band of Christian disciples. Christ, accord-
ing to His promise — " Where two or three are
gathered together in my name " — is in the midst
of us. We are about to celebrate the Last Sup-
per, We shall celebrate it here no more. When
we have concluded our service and sung a hymn
we too "shall go out." * * * Alluding to the
changes in the congregation since he first took
charge in 1830 he says: "Of the parishioners
belonging to St. James's I cannot count more than

St. 5amc6'5 Gburcb 25

five or six families and individuals who are now
with us and who date their connection with the
church as far back as 1830. All the original
vestry are gone and but few of their descendants
are among our number * * * When I recall
and count up the numbers whom I have baptized,
prepared for confirmation, received as communi-
cants and united in the bonds of holy matrimony,
it seems to me as though I were standing in the
midst of a vast crowd of people. My record
shows a list of adults and infants baptized, num-
bering one thousand two hundred and fifty-six, of
candidates prepared for confirmation numbering
four hundred and ninety-one, of six hundred and
forty-five admitted to the Holy Communion, and
of six hundred and thirty united together by the
marriage bond. How pleasant, how cheering the
thought that of this great concourse there is not (so
far as I know) one whom I cannot recall as a well-
wisher and friend, that if all could now be assem-
bled to-day in this house of prayer every greeting
that would be offered would be affectionately ten-
dered, that no alienations could be recalled, no
strifes recounted, that the office of memory at

26 B Shetcb of

such a mseting would only be to review pleasant
and friendly interchanges of respectful words and
kindly acts. I thank my God for this great
mercy. * * * And now, brethren, having
concluded this brief review, let us celebrate once
more within these consecrated walls the Holy
Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and when we
have sung a hymn, go out. It is a glad hymn
that will close our service, the " Gloria in Excel-
sis," a hymn which sings of glory to God in the
highest and on earth peace, goodwill to men, a
hymn full of praise and full of prayer, a hymn full
of Christ, ' the Lamb of God,' abounding in
mercy, and on ' High ' with the * Holy Ghost ' in
the glory of ' God the Father.' With this hymn on
our lips and in our hearts let us go forth to our new
place of worship, trusting that the goodness which
has followed us through so many years will not for-
sake us in a fresh field of labor ; that the mutual
forbearance and kindness, the liberality and court-
esy, the peacefulness and pleasantness of the past,
will characterize the future, and that those who,
in after years, shall rise up to recount the sub-
sequent history of our parish will be able to say.

St. James's Cburcb 27

* Behold how good and pleasant it is for brethren
to dwell together in unity. * * * It is as the
dew of Hermon and as the dew that descended
upon the Mountain of Zion.' "

The very next morning, after the final service,
the demolition of the building was begun, and the
walls of the structure were so strongly built and
the mortar had become so hard with time that it
was found to be no easy task. Just under the
chancel a piece of masonry about twenty feet
square, with walls four or five feet thick and with a
doorway opening through one side was discovered.
It was massive enough for a fortification, and there
was much speculation as to its use, as it did not
seem to form part of the main structure. It was
decided, however, that it had been built as a foun-
dation for the tower, which the architect intended
should be finished with a spire and chime of bells,
but as the necessary funds could not be raised for
the purpose, the project was abandoned.

For a short time previous to the completion of
the school buildings of the new church at Twenty-
second and Walnut streets and after the demolition
of the old church had begun, services were held in

28 B Sftetcb of

the chapel of the Episcopal Academy on Locust
street below Broad, but the accommodations
there were very limited, and all rejoiced when
during the winter of 1870 the congregation was
able to occupy the larger, though still inadequate,
space in the building which was to serve for school
purposes when the church was finished.
Corner-stone -pj^o comcr stouc of the ucw St. Jamcs's Church

of St. James's

Laid, 1870. was laid on Monday, May 2, 1870. About a
year and a half was occupied in its erection, and
on the fifteenth of October, 1871, it was opened
for divine service.

When the old church on Seventh street was
sold, and, in accordance with the terms of sale, de-
molished, the original corner stone, laid nearly
sixty-two years before, was found, and removed to
the new building, where it was built into the wall
below a window in the vestibule under the tower.

There was much curiosity expressed as to what
this stone would be found to contain when once
more exposed to view, but it proved to consist of
a solid block of marble, with this inscription cut
upon it :

Inscription

on Original "St. Jamcs's Churcli. June 23rd, 1807. This

Conier-Stone.

St. 5amc3's Cburcb 29

stone was laid by the Rt. Rev. Dr. Wm. White,
first Protestant Episcopal Bishop of Pennsylvania."

Having no interior cavity, no records or papers
of any kind were discovered.

The wisdom of moving St. James's Church to wisdom

.... . ^ , . of Change.

its new location, m the western section of the city,
was soon made manifest by the number of new
families who at once became members of the
parish; and in 1883 the schools had so outgrown Enlarging

1 . • 1 1 -1 1- 1-1111 School Building.

their quarters in the building which had been
erected for their use, that it was necessary to
double the accommodation it had furnished, and
an extension was added upon an adjoining lot
running to Sansom street, which had been previ-
ously purchased and generously donated to the
church by Mr. George H. Kirkham, one of the
vestrymen at that time, in anticipation of the need
which had now arisen. The stairway which had
afforded access to the second story room was
torn down and a new one constructed in another
part of the building. This additional space, with
that over the new wing, formed a large hall cap-
able of holding all who attended the schools.
The new room on the ground floor was used as an

30 B Bhctcb of

infant school on Sundays, and by the ladies of the
Dorcas Missionary Society for their work during
the week.

I have said that the first service in the church
was held on Sunday, October 15, 1871, but, as
there still remained a considerable ground rent
upon the lot, it was not consecrated until the spring
of 1S80.

During the winter previous to this date, a united
effort had been made by the vestry and members
of the congregation to raise the funds necessary
to pay off the debt of $37,500 still remaining on
ground rent, and on April 4, 1880, Dr. Morton
was able to announce from the chancel that the
necessary funds to meet this indebtedness had
been raised. In communicating this good news to
his people. Dr. Morton said :
Announcement " I am privilesfed to anuounce to the coneresfa-

of Debt

Being Raised, tiou tlic gratifying fact that funds sufficient to cover
the remaining amount due on the ground rent of
this church have been received and steps taken to
have the burden of indebtedness removed. On
the first day of May, the festival of St. Philip and
St. James, the Bishop proposes to consecrate the

St. James's Cburcb 31

church. That festival is the anniversary of the
consecration of the former building of the old St
James, which more than seventy years ago was
set apart by Bishop White for the worship of
Almighty God according to the order of the Pro-
testant Episcopal Church in the United States of
America. May I not share in the joy which will
animate all hearts that have so long hoped for this
consummation, and so long labored to secure it ?
To all who at any period have provided funds to
help the work, and especially to those who have
recently made earnest, liberal and, in some cases,
self-denying efforts for the same object, many
thanks are due and are rendered. But it is God
who has put into our hearts good desires, and by
His help those desires have been brought to good
effect. To Him, therefore, be the praise and glor>'
now and forever."

Immediately after the announcement, Mr. Giles,
the choir master, caused the choir to join in sing-
ing " Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow,"
with most impressive effect.

Three weeks after this, on the feast of St. Consecration of

St. James's

Philip and St. James, May i, 1880, the service of church, isso.

j2 21 Sftetcb of

consecration took place. The church was beauti-
fully decorated with flowers and palms. In the
centre, surmounting the reredos, was a magnificent
floral cross, at least five feet in height, composed
of the choicest flowers ; and extending along the
upper border of the reredos was a fringe of roses
and green leaves. Every panel was filled with
flowers, on one being a cross, and on the next the
Greek letter P. At eleven o'clock, the procession,
consisting of the bishops and clergy, entered the
church from the school building and were received
by the vestries of Christ Church, St. Peter's, and
St. James's.

They then proceeded up the aisle to the chancel,
repeating the twenty-fourth Psalm alternately with
the officiating Bishop. The Rt. Rev. Dr. Stevens
then went within the rails of the chancel and, sitting
in his chair, the instrument of donation was presented
to him by Mr. Cadwalader Biddle, Rector's warden.

A very large number of clergymen were present,
sixty-seven being in surplices and several others
sitting in the body of the church. The sermon was
preiched by the Rector, Dr. Morton, from the texts :

" A house not made with hands, eternal in the

THE NE"
IPUBLICLIBaARYI

Dr. Morton

St. 5amc6'0 Cburcb 33

heavens." — 2nd Corinthians v: i; and "A city
which hath foundations, whose maker and builder
is God." — Hebrews xi : lo.

At its conclusion, a collection was taken up,
amounting to $1,015.24, in behalf of the endow-
ment fund of Christ Church.

After the service, the clergy and vestry, with the
choir, repaired to the Aldine Hotel, where a colla-
tion was served.

The next event of interest which occurred in Dr. Morton's

Semi-centennial,

the parish was the celebration of the semi-centen- Dec. 12, isso.
nial anniversary of Dr. Morton's connection with
St. James's Church, which took place on Decem-
ber 12, 1880, a few months after the consecration
of the building. The church was beautifully
decorated with flowers, and many clergymen were
in the chancel. Dr. Morton delivered the sermon,
from the text, " I remember the days of old ; I
meditate on Thy works ; I muse on the work of
Thy hands." — Psalm cxliii : 5. It contained recol-
lections of various events and people connected
with his long association with the parish, and
ended as follows :

" For many years God's love has surrounded my

34 B Shetcb of

path with the protection of my people's affection-
ate rcfjard — a kindness and confidence which I
have tried, however imperfectly, to deserve, and
which, I hope to leave as a legacy to my children.
But though God, in His goodness, has blessed
me of late with a degree of health and strength
denied me in earlier years, I know that the day of
my earthly pilgrimage is hastening towards its
close. Its sun is rapidly approaching the western
horizon where the dark mountain waits to receive
and hide it. But a "review of the years of my
life" encourages me to hope that God's goodness
will continue unto the end, and that, when amid
the twilight of eventide, I shall " look on the days
of old" and "meditate on all the works of God's -
hand," I shall behold the confidence of my people
unshaken, their affection unchilled, and their
charity "covering the multitude of sins" which
censoriousness would have carefully noted and
human mahce magnified."
Bishop's At the conclusion of the sermon the Bishop

Address.

came forward and made an address, begmnmg ::;
" Fifty years of uninterrupted service in the min-
istry of Christ ; fifty years of uninterrupted ministry..

St. James's Gburcb 35

in one parish ; fifty years of unsullied official
character in the midst of one community rarely
meet and blend in one person. Yet they meet
and blend in your revered Rector whom this
parish, this community, this diocese delights this
day to honor. There are many who have served
at the altar of God half a century, but that half
century has been broken up into varying terms of
service in divers parishes ; but with your Rector,
this is his first, his only parochial love ; his first,
his only parochial charge ; and it will be his last
love, and his last charge. And so his ministerial
life, from its beginning to its close, will be but
another name for the life of St. James's Parish
during that period. * * * Your Rector is
to-day the visible and the only clerical tie which
unites you people of St. James's to its first Rector,
the venerable Bishop White. He is the only living
clergyman who held official relations to Bishop
White as Rector of the united parishes of Christ
Church, St. Peter's, and St. James's, and hence
he is the only personal living link between the St.
James's Church of the present and the St. James's
Church of the past."

36 a Sftetcb ot

The bishop then gave a short summary of Dr.
Morton's work in the parish during this long period,
then, turning, he addressed him personally, when
Dr. Morton arose and remained standing until the
end.

" Dear brother : This jubilee is monitory, as
well as gladsome. It has a forward, as well as a
backward look. While it brings you before us as
an aged soldier who has long fought faith's fight,
it also points you to the future conflicts which re-
quire that you shall still keep on ' the armor of
God,' and says to you :

" Stand, therefore, girt about with faith,
Your burning lamp in hand,
And standing, listen for your Lord,
And, till His coming, stand."

Yes, brother beloved, wait and watch and
pray, till the Lord comes, and till the morning
breaketh, and when the morning of your eternal
day shall break, and the voice of your Lord say
to you, ' Friend, go up higher,' may then your
long and happy life, set to us on earth, not, as
you said just now in your sermon, ' behind the

St. James's Cburcb 37

dark mountains of the western horizon,' but
rather

' As sets the Morning Star,

Which goes not down behind the darkened West,
Nor hides obscured midst tempests of the day,
But melts away into the light of Heaven.'

The evening after the semi-centennial cele- Reception

to Dr. Morton.

bration of the Church the vestry tendered Dr.
Morton a reception, which was held at the resi-
dence of the Bishop of the diocese, and which was
largely attended by his many friends. He also was
the recipient of a munificent cheque tendered by
members of his congregation in loving memory of
the occasion. During the next six years the parish
continued to grow and flourish. A choir vestry
was added on the north side of the chancel to
accommodate the members of the choir, who about
this period were vested, and seats in the chancel pro-
vided for their use. During the summer of 18S6
Mr. Edward Giles, who had been choir master for
over twelve years, died, and his place was filled by
Mr. Charles M. Schmitz.

In 1887 Dr. Morton, feeling it to be his duty on Dr. Monon

r 1 • 1 1 • r • • Resigns.

account of advancmg years and other mnrmities,

38 B Sftetcb of

tendered his resignation as Rector to the vestry of
St. James's Church, which was accepted with heart-
felt expressions of regret, and he was appointed to
Rector ^^^ position of Rector Emeritus with the under-
Ementus. standing " that the salary heretofore received by
him as Rector be continued durincr his life." This
position he retained until his death in 1890.

After Dr. Morton's resignation of the rector-
w F^ichois ^^^P o^St. James's Church the Rev. W. F. Nichols,
Elected Rector. q|- Christ Church, Hartford, was called to fill the
place, and began his duties June, 1887. This con-
nection continued until he was elected Assistant
Bishop of California, when he resigned his position
as Rector, and was consecrated to that high office
in St. James's Church June 25, 1890.

During the rectorship of Dr. Nichols the vestry-
men of St. James's Church on December i, 1889,
leased old St. Paul's Church on Third street, below
Walnut street, as a mission for two years. The
lease was drawn for that period with privilege of a
renewal for two years, and after that it was to con-
tinue in force from year to year until one party
gave the other a year's notice that the arrangement
would terminate. Various members of St. James's

Bishop Nichols

■=^5 „EXN VORK 1

St. James's Cburcb 39

Church subscribed funds for the support of this
experiment, but in 1S93 the attempts to keep up
the church as a mission was abandoned, and it was
returned into the hands of the original holders.

During this period also the corner stone of the Comer-stone of

Guild House

Henry J. Morton Guild House was laid on Wed- Laid.
nesday, November 20, 1889, Bishop Whitaker,
Dr. Nichols, and the venerable Rector Emeritus
officiating, while a large number of clergy in their
vestments were also present. The corner stone
■contained a glass jar tightly sealed, and in it was
deposited a Bible, Book of Common Prayer, copies
•of the papers of the day, the Ledger Almanac for
1889, an account of the consecration of St. James's
Church, Journal of the Diocesan Convention, photo-
graphs of Dr. Morton and Bishop Whitaker and an
engraved portrait of Bishop White, a phototype
of St. James's Church, and the manuscript of the
first sermon preached by Dr. Morton at his ordina-
tion in Trinity Church, New York, and also various
books and papers connected with the work of the
parish. The mortar was spread under the stone
with the trowel used in breaking the ground for
the building, and then, when it was lowered into its

40 H Sftctcb of

place and pronounced true, Dr. Morton struck it
three times in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Ghost. Then ascending ta
the platform he said :
DT.Yonon's "My friends: When the great Jewish law-
giver led the people of Israel from the bondage of
Egypt into the wilderness he found them at one
time in great distress for want of water. Then he
struck the great rock in Horeb and springs flowed
forth and refreshed the weary wanderers. In very
humble imitation of this act, we to-day strike the
rock which is to be the corner stone of a building
erected to the glory of God and for the benefit of
mankind, and we hope that by the blessing of God
there will flow forth from this centre, streams of
spiritual refreshment, consolation and instruction
to the present generation and to all succeeding
times. May God in His mercy, grant this prayer
for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen."

These words were carefully taken down, as it
was thought that they might prove to be his
last public utterance, which was, indeed, true,
as he never again took part in any services
except to pronounce the Benediction. The

THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY

A8TO»». Lf NCX
TILD* N FOUNO-A'IONi

Dr. Blanchard

St. James's Cburcb 41

Guild House was erected on a lot adjoining
that of the school buildings on the west with
a frontage of 65 feet on Sansom street and
106 feet in depth. The desirability of the lot for
the purposes of enlarging the accommodations of
the schools and guilds had long been seen, and
Mr, George T. Lewis kindly purchased it in 1887,
and held it until such time as the parish was able
to build upon it. The estimated cost of the lot
and building together was ;^6o,ooo, but this sum
was not raised until after the death of Dr. Morton,
in 1890.

After the consecration of Dr. Nichols to the
Assistant Bishopric of California, on June 24,
1 890, Rev. Joseph N. Blanchard, formerly Rector Dr. BUnchard

Called.

of St. John's Church, Detroit, accepted a call to
the position, which he now holds, and which had
been tendered to him by a committee of the vestry
shortly before this date, not assuming, however,
his official duties until October i, 1890.

The death of Dr. Morton occurred just one Dr. Morton's

Death.

month later, for he passed to his rest on All Saints'
Day, November 1,1890, in the eighty-fourth year of
his age, and after a continuous service of nearly sixty

42 B Sftctcb ot

years in one parish. His funeral was largely at-
tended, for old and young-, rich and poor alike,
loved and reverenced him as a father. He was
laid to rest in ths burial ground of St. James the
Less, where he lies surrounded by those whom he
had laid away for their last sleep, during his many
years of service in the church, a shepherd sur-
rounded by his folded flock sleeping together until
the light of the eternal day when they shall enter
the "green pastures and walk beside the still
waters" of Paradise.

Year Books. In 1 886 tlic first Year Book containing an ac-
count of the work of the parish was published, and
liAS been continued in that form, or later in the
pages of the Parish Echo ever since. A glance
at this record will give the best idea of the amount
of work done by the various schools and guilds
connected with the parish of St. James's Church.

Guild House ^^^gj. j3^_ Morton's death the work of raising

■completed, 1392. o

funds for the completion of the Guild House was
energetically carried on, and on October 8, 1892,
it was formally opened for the use of the various
guilds of boys and girls, Bishop Nichols being
present and able to witness the completion of the

St. 3amc0'6 Cburcb 43

building, the corner stone of which he had assisted
to lay three years before. With these commodious
quarters at their disposal, the various branches of
the guilds quickly increased in numbers and so
enlarged their sphere of usefulness. The Girls'
Guild had been holding its meetings from its start
in 1S85 in the rooms of the school building, but
they were not suited for the night sessions which
were necessary and the work was much ha'.npered
in consequence.

The Boys' Guild had had no settled abiding Boys' Guild,
place before that time, but had occupied rooms
rented, at much expense, wherever they could be
■ obtained.

In the new building, in fine rooms exoresslv
planned for the purpose, the school at once in-
creased in numbers until, by the next season, over
two hundred nimes were on the rolls, and large
classes of boys were to be seen each week learning
wood carving, clay modeling, free-h.ind drawing,
bookkeeping, etc.

In the Girls' Guild, sewing, embroidery, knit- ^''•'^' G"''^-
ting, crocheting are taught to large classes, as
well as dressmaking, millinery, bookkeeping, type-

44 H Shetcb of

writing, shorthand, cooking, and music to these
who desire it. A large gymnasium was soon fit-
ted up, with bath and dressing rooms attached,
and used by both boys and girls on different even-
ings of each week.

A glance at the list of the various societies and

mission works connected with the parish serves to

show the large amount of energy which had been

developed in the old church organization after its

Industrial movc wcstward. The Industrial School and Mis-

School Started.

sion was started in 1875, in a small house on
Sansom street below Twenty-second, with about
four little girls, taken literally from the streets. It
was at first called St. James's Ragged School, but
the improved condition of the children, after a
few months or even weeks of care and instruction,
soon made this a misnomer, and it was then called
St. James's Industrial School and Mission, which
name it still retains. Having outgrown its first
quarters, in 1876 the building at the corner of
Twenty-fourth and Walnut streets was purcliased
by the managers for its accommodation, and there
it remained until the widening of Walnut street and
the erection of the bridge, in 1892, cutting awa}' a

St. James's Cburcb 45

third of the house, obliged them to seek other
quarters. These were secured on Fitzwater street
below Twenty-second, where it is now established
and where ninety-four children are daily received,
given the rudiments of a good school education,
taught sewing and housework, and are provided
with a good dinner, which the older girls assist in
preparing,

Besides these schools just mentioned, the Guild Present work

•' of Parish.

House and parish buildings contain a large Sewing
School, Altar Society, Ecclesiastical Embroidery
Class, since named St. Mary's Guild, and a White-
work Department of same, where all the surplices
and cottas used by clergy and choir are made ; two
Mothers' Meetings, Brotherhood of St. Andrew,
Ministering Children's League, Circle of the King's
Daughters, a Maternity Society, Hospital Aid Asso-
ciation, a Church Periodical Club, St. James's Bene-
ficial Aid Society, The Communicants' Guild, Guild
of Soldiers of Christfor choir-boy communicants, also
the Summer Outing Association, the object of which,
as its name denotes, is to give a little needed rest
and change of air to the poor and sick in the par-
ish. There is also a Vacation School held during

46 B Sftetcb of

Memorials.

the summer months, giving pleasant occupation to
both boys and girls, thus keeping them out of the
hot streets or overheated rooms of their own homes.
Many memorials have been given to the church
from time to time. The east window was erected
to the memory of Bishop White, the first rector.
The brass altar cross is a memorial of the Rev.
Algernon Morton, presented by his widow. Two
vases are the gift of Miss M. M. Green, an old
member of the parish ; the other pair were pre-
sented by Mrs. G. W. Childs. The brass altar rail,
was put up by Mrs. Francis Gurney Smith in
memory of her husband, who was for some years
a vestryman of the church. The carved pulpit
was presented by Mr. John Struthers in memory of
his child, and the brass lectern was the gift of Mr.
and Mrs. George T. Lewis as a memorial of their
daughter. The two marble pilasters, with deli-
cately carved capitals, which terminate the arches
separating the aisles from the nave at the eastern
end of the church were erected by Mr. Warburton,
a member of the congregation, in memory of two
children. All the windows in the body of the
church are memorials of various persons at differ-

St. James's Gburcb 47

ent times connected with the parish, and those in
the clerestory were placed there in memory of
Bishops DeLancey and Kemper, one to Mr. Fred-
eric Graff, the gift of his widow, and lately a fourth
window has been added in memory of Mrs. Graff.

The three beautiful windows in the porch on
Walnut street filled with stained glass are memo-
rials of two beloved children, and the two on the
west side were given as memorial of Mrs. Hicks
Graham, a member of the church and for many
years entirely blind, by her devoted companion
and attendant. In the rear of the church over the
font is a bas-relief in white marble, made in Flor-
ence, Italy. It is the figure of an angel scattering
flowers. This was given in 1891 by Mrs. Anna
D. Scott in memory of her mother, Mrs. Riddle.
The great west window was placed there in 1893
by Mr. George W. Childs in memory of Dr.
Morton, his friend for many years.

The stone font in present use was given by Dr.
Littell as a memorial to his wife. A beautiful
flagon for the Holy Communion set with precious
jewels was given in memory of Hannah Cordelia
Miles by her children, and two chaHces were

a Shetcb ot

Mosaics.

Music of
the Church.

presented by Mrs. Eckert in memorial of her two
sons. The large alms basin was the gift of the
Misses Cabot in memory of a deceased sister. The
twelve Mosaics, measuring three feet in diameter,
over the pillars separating the nave of the church
from the side aisles, the gift of Mr. Henry C. Gib-
son, were placed in position shortly after the church
was built. They were made in Italy and are much
the same in design as those at present to be seen
in "St. Paul's without the walls" near Rome, the
difference being that those are portraits of various
popes of the Roman Church while these in St.
James's represent the twelve Apostles.

The walls of the church are also adorned by two
brass commemorative tablets, one erected by the
vestry in memory of Mrs. Eckert ; the other bears
the name of Captain William Whitehead, U. S. N.,
erected to his memory by his brother officers in
1893.

The music of the church, until within a year of
its removal to Twenty-second street, was furnished
by a quartet choir, supplemented at times by vol-
unteer members of the congregation. During the
last year in the old church a choir of boys was

I
o
cr

z
111

or
o

DC
UJ

>«c1»

St. James's Cbiircb 49

started under the leadership of Mr. Chase, and
they also sang in the chapel with the addition of
other voices. When the new church was opened
for service in 1871 a regular boy choir, not vested,
was instituted. The choirmaster was Mr. Edward
Giles, and for a short period the organ was in
charge of Mr. F. K. Hewett, who upon his resig-
nation was succeeded by Mr. James M. Dickinson,
who retained that office for a period of twenty-five
years.

The choir at fir.st consisted of about sixteen
boys and eight men, who occupied the four front
pews of the middle aisle in the church, the place
originally planned to accommodate them in the
alcove on the left of the chancel and under the
organ on the right-hand side not proving suitable
for the purpose. In 1886 seats were arranged for
them in the chancel, when they were vested, and vesting

of Chcir.

the room in the porch of the tower, with the one
over it, were utilized as robing rooms. This
arrangement, however, was found to be very
inconvenient, and shortly afterwards the new choir New choir
vestry on the north side of the church was built ^^ '^^'
for their use, at a cost of $478 5.10. After Mr. Giles'

so B Shctcb of

death in iSSo, Mr. Charles M. Schmitz succeeded
him as choirmaster and continued in that position
until 1895, when he resigned, and Mr. Lacey
Baker was appointed choirmaster in his place and
in 1896 organist in place of Mr. Dickinson, Mr.
Baker combining the two offices in one. Under
his management the choir has been much enlarged
and is said to be one of the finest in the
city.

In 1899 Mr. Baker removed to New York and
Mr. Wm. Stansfield, of Boston, succeeded him.
During the period Mr. Dickinson was in charge of
the organ a vox hiimana stop was introduced, and
it was largely through his exertions that the neces-
sary funds were raised for the purpose. He also
arranged for the placing of an electrical attach-
ment with the organ in the choir vestry. This was
the only one at that time to be found in the
city.
Spire The Spire on the tower of the church was erected

and Chimes,

1893. in 1893 by the family of Mr. Henry C. Gibson, in
his memory, and in it was hung a chime of ten
bells. On the wall of the porch is placed a brass
tablet with this inscription :

Exterior of Present St. James's Church

THE NEW YORK
PQBLIC LIBRARY^

A8TOW. LFNOX
TILD' N FOU'JD* ' i'^*'* i

St. James's Cburcb si

" This Spire and Chimes were erected in

1893 and dedicated in 1896 as

a Memorial by his

Family to

HENRY C. GIBSON,

a life-long member of this parish.

The Rector, Wardens and Vestrymen have placed

this tablet to record their appreciation of him as a

Citizen and Parishioner."

In the early days of the old St. James's Church
the services upon weekdays consisted of Morning
Prayer, which was said, each Thursday at ii
o'clock. This w^s changed between the years of
1849 and 1852, when services were held at the
same hour, except during the summer months, on
Wednesday and Friday, and on all Saints' days.
During the Lenten season Evening Prayer was read
every afternoon except Wednesday and Friday
a.nd during Holy week services were held every
morning. After the removal to Twenty-second
and Walnut streets in 1871 the same services were
continued for some years. While Dr. Christian was
assistant, daily Morning Prayer was read at 10
■o'clock, and this service was continued until the

Week-day
Services.

52 B Shctcb of

resignation of Dr. Morton and election of Dr. Nich-
ols to the rectorship, at which time he instituted
daily Morning and Evening Prayer at 9 a. m. and 5
p. M., which has been continued ever since that date.
The early Sunday celebrations v/ere begun in 1S87
and the Thursday celebration in 1894.

St. James's Parish has sent out many offshoots in
various other sections of the country. Very earl\- in
its existence the beautiful little church situated at
the Falls of Schuylkill, was built through the exer-
tions of Mr. Robert Ralston, one of the vestrymen
of St. James's at that time, who had been accus-
tomed to drive into town from his country place to
attend service each Sundav. This church received
the name of St. James the Less, and was always
looked upon as an offshoot of the older parish. St.
James the Less, in Scarsdale, New York, was built
about 1850 by relatives of Dr. Morton residing in
that place, and received its name from St. James's.

Li later years St. James, Atlantic City ; St, James,
Downingtown ; St. James, Elberon, and if I mistake
not several other churches throughout the country
owe their stait and received their names through the
exertions of various members of the parent church.

St. James's Cburcb 53

It was the quaint custom of Bishop White to vestments,
■wear black gloves when preaching, and in the
early days of the parish the rector always changed
his surplice for the black Geneva gown and bands
before entering the pulpit for the sermon, changing
again to the surplice after preaching if the Com-
munion service was to follow. About 1854 Dr. Mor-
ton introduced the custom of preaching in the sur-
plice when the Communion was to be celebrated to
avoid the necessity of such constant change of
dress, and this innovation, as it was considered, was
a subject of much comment. The bands he had
discarded several years before on account of their
inconvenience.

The surplices of those days were massive affairs, SurpUces.
being very full and shirred into a deep yoke fitting
closely to the throat. The first surplice of the
shape in use at the present time was imported
from Oxford, England, about the year 1853 at a
cost, if I remember rightly, of ^$25.00, without
duty, and was presented to Dr. Morton by mem-
bers of his family. The black gown continued to
be used occasionally in the church and at funerals
for some years longer, but before the demolition

54 B Sftctcb Of

Flowers.

of the old church, and when the one in use, which
was of heavy silk, and had also been imported
from England at a cost of nearly $iOO, was worn
out it was laid aside and never renewed.

The introduction of flowers for decorating the
church at Easter took place about the year 1863
or '64. It was in the shape of a small bouquet
which was placed in the white marble font, which,
as was before mentioned, stood in the side aisle
behind the reading desk ; but its presence there
caused such offence to two old members of the
congregation that they talked of leaving the church
in consequence. Wiser thoughts, however, pre-
vailed, and in later years they became among the
most enthusiastic advocates of church decorations
The occasional use of flowers for decoration con-
tinued from that time on, but it was not until the
new church was opened that they were introduced
into the chancel at each celebration of the Holy
Communion instead of only appearing at Easter,

I have been unable to find any record as to the
presentation of the silver flagon, paten and chalices,
which were formerly always used in the church,
and from the absence of all inscription on the ves-

St. James's Cburcb 55

sels it is to be presumed that they were purchased
by the vestry when the church was built. The
alms basins were very massive, consisting of three
deep bowls and three plates. These had long
been found inconvenient, as unless they were care-
full}' arranged when presenting them on the altar
the top plate was liable to fall off the pile, and
so about 1870, just before the new church was
finished, the vestry decided to have them melted
up and remade into the six flat plates now in use.

In the early years of the parish the collections Aims Boxes,
on week days and on Sundays when the Com-
munion service v/as not celebrated were taken up
in oblong wooden boxes about eight inches in
length with a handle on one end for convenience
in passing them into the pews and a sliding lid in
which a hole was cut to receive the offerings.
These boxes were distributed by the sexton to the
members of the vestry, who made the collection
and who took them back to their pews afterwards
till the service was concluded,

I must notomitto mention Alexander Furguson,
for many years sexton of old St. James's, how
many I cannot say, but certainly he officiated in

55 S Shetcb of

that capacity in 1847, succeeding a Mr. Hoyland,
appointed in 1829, whom lean dimly remember.
No one who recalls those days can forget that old
white-haired man as he moved about the church
showing strangers to seats, lighting the gas by the
pulpit before the sermon, and attending to the
other duties of his office. He died soon after the
new church was built, and Dr. Morton gave a warm
and grateful tribute to his long and faithful services
in the sermon preached the Sunday following his
death.

Andrew McEwan has been another faithful ser-
vant of the church for many years. He filled the
office of bell ringer and organ blower in the old
church as long as I can remember, and has con-
tinued in the same capacity in the new building,
until a few years ago, when a water motor was
introduced into the organ, and the ringing of the
new chimes in the tower by an electrical keyboard
in the chancel ended his work and silenced forever
the voice of the old bell.
Assistant The list of assistant ministers of St. James's

Ministers. ^, , . , , . , r

Church is a long one and comprises the names 01
many who are still living and occupying parishes

St. James's GF)urcb 57

of their own in various parts of the country. The
names of some of those who officiated in that
capacity previous to iS6i have ah-eady been
given. The following Hst dates from that
period :

In 1867, Dr. Morton spent the winter in Florida, ^^^7-
and during that period the Rev. Jas. W. Robins
filled the pulpit, Dr. G. A. Crook having charge of
the other services, as assistant minister.

On July 5, 1868, the Rev. Henry J. Rowland ^^es.
became assistant minister, succeeding Dr. Crook,
and continued in that position until June, 1870, '^^o.
when he was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Gibson until
1873, when the Rev. Mr. Graff filled the place for 1873-
about six months. He was succeeded by

Rev. George M. Christian. 1874-

Rev. William C. Starr. '876.

1S77.

Rev, Charles Morison, September i, 1878, to ^§78.
October i, 1880.

Rev. A. A. Rickert. ^ssa.

Rev. Mr. Roberts. 1883.

The Rev. Mr. McCurdy and the Rev. D. Lewis, 1834.
U. S. N., also assisted Dr. Morton during several

58 n ShCtCb of

years, and Dr. Meier-Smith filled the pulpit once
each Sunday during the year before Dr. Morton
resigned the rectorship of St. James's, and his
scholarly, thoughtful sermons will long be remem-
bered by all who heard them.

1885. Rev. W. H. liurr, assistant to Dr. Morton.

1887. Rev. G. Ernest Magill, assistant to Dr. Nichols.

1889. Rev. Chas. J. Mason, assistant to Dr. Nichols.
Rev. Frederick D. Lobdell, assistant to Dr.

Nichols.

1890. Rev. Charles K. Penny, assistant to Dr. Blan-
chard, 1 890-1 891.

1890. Rev. Benjamin J. Davis, assistant to Dr. Blan-

chard, 1 890-1 892.
1892. Rev. Chas. N. Morris, assistant to Dr. Blanchard,

1892-3.

Rev. Arnold H. Hord, assistant to Dr. Blanchard,

1892-4.

Rev. E. Stanley Welles, assistant to Dr. Blan-

chard, 1892-3.
1893- Rev. Horace A. Walton, assistant to Dr. Blan-

chard, 1893, still serving.
1854- Rev. Samuel R. Colladay, assistant to Dr. Blan-

chard, 1894-6.

St. James's Cburcb S9

Rev. Walter Lowry, assistant to Dr. Blanchard, 1896-
1896-8.

Rev. Chas. B. Carpenter, assistant to Dr. Blan- 189?-
chard, 1898-9.

Rev. John Dows Hills, assistant to Dr. Blan- iSgg^
chard, 1899.

i K^1^\J\J' "-^

6o B Shetcb ot

A List of Vestrymen of St. Jameses Church, and
Their Terms of Office.

Ashhurst, Lewis R 1S29 to 1832

Burd, Edward 1829 to 1834

Biddle, James C 1834 to 1839

Bradford, James H 1842 to 185 1

Biddle, Cadwalader 1869 to 1883

Brinley, Charles A 1S90 to 1895

Brock, Robert C. H 1896 —

c. Comegys, Cornelius 1829 to 1838

Carter, Burden B 1829 to 1844

Coxe, William T., M.D 1835 to 1838

Campbell, James M 1836 to 1838

Cox, James 1837 to 1850

Cabot, Joseph 1839 to 1871

St. 5amcs's Gburcb 6i

Calhoun, William H 1840 to 1842 c.

Carson, Joseph, M. D 1842 to 1870

Clark, Ephraim i859 to 1S69

Cope, John C 1879 to 1889

Childs, George W 1879 ^o 1894

Corson, Robert R 1880 to 1895

Coxe, Henry B 1891 to 1895

Cadwalader, Richard M 1 881 to 1895

Cooke, Jay, Jr 1895 —

Coxe, Justice, Jr 1895 to 1898

Cochran, Travis 1895 —

Clapp, B. Frank 1898 —

Dunlap, Thomas 1840 to 1842 d.

Drayton, W. Heyward 1868 to 1 879

Duane, James May 1895 to 1898

Drayton, Robert C 1895 to 1899

Ewing, Maskell 1880 to 1895 e.

Evans, Allen 1883 to 1884

Fisher, William 1843 to 1848 f.

Fraley, Frederick 1865 to 1879

Frazier, W. W., Jr 1896 —

Flagg, Stanley G., ]y 1898 —

62 B Sftetcb ot

^- Griffitts, William F 1848 to 1879

Gerhard, Benjamin 1851 to 1865

Gibson, Henry C 1879 to 1881

Gibson, J. Howard 1 881 to 1894

^- Hale, Thomas 1829 to 1836

Hemphill, Joseph 1829 to 1832

Haskins, Francis 1835 to 1836

Hunter, George W 1849 to 1879

Hall, A. Douglas, M. D 1869 to 1874

Hand, Thomas C 1879 to 1891

Hutchinson, James H., M. D. . . . 1876 to 1890

Heyl, George A 1895 to 1896

Hutchinson, S. Pemberton .... 1895 to 1899

I. Ingham, William H 1883 to 1895

J. Johnston, Alex. W 1833 to 1835

K. Knight, Daniel 1829 to 1838

Kirkham, George H 1850 to 1879

L. Lowber, John C 1829 to 1835

Lewis, John T 1854 to 1879

Lewis, Henry 1879 to 1880

St. James's Cburcb 63

Lewis, W. F 1884 to 1894 l.

Lea, J. Tatnall 1883 to 1895

Markland, John 1829 to 1836 m.

Morris, Caspar, M. D 1833 to 1835

Montgomery, John C 1836 to 1837

Mutter, Thomas D., M. D 1840 to 1844

Massey, Robert, Jr 1880 to 188 1

McCay, S. Kingston 1895 —

Merritt, James S 1895 —

Norris, Joseph P., Jr 1829 to 1836 n.

Nancrede, Charles B., M. D. . . . 1878 to 1879

Pettit, Thomas M 1843 to 1854 p.

Phillips, Clement S., Jr 1869 to 1879

Pugh, Edward F 1875 to 1879

Piatt, Charles 1895 to 1898

Read, John 1829 to 1842 r.

Rawle, William J 1829 to 1842

Ralston, Robert 1838 to 185 1

Ritchie, Arthur i860 to 1872

Ritter, James D 1862 to 1869

Roberts, Percival 1870 to 1879

Roberts, G. Theodore 1874 to 1879

H a Sketcb ot

R- Rawle, Francis 1895 —

Robinson, V. Gilpin 1899 —

s. Scott, John M 1833 to 1S36

Shackleford, Henry A 1847 to 1859

Stone, Charles H 1 8 50 to 1862

Sparks, Thomas 1872 to 1875

Smith, Francis G., M. D 1874 to 1878

Shippen, Edward, M. D 1879 to 1895

Struthers, John 1879 to 1883

Stone, James N 1880 to 1881

Sinkler, Wharton, M. D 1898 —

T. Tanner, Henry S 1836 to 1843

Toland, Robert 1836 to 1849

w. Wharton, George M 1835 to 1870

Wucherer, John R 1842 to 1850

Wallace, Ellerslie, M. D 1 851 to 1869

Wilson, Joseph M 1879 to 1895

Wood, George A 1879 to 1883

Wilson, Henry W 1894 to 1895

Watts, Ethelbert 1895 to 1896

V. Yarnall, Ellis, Jr 1844 to i860

St. James's Cburcb 65

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Full text of "A sketch of St. James's Parish : from its foundation in 1807 to 1899"

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