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October 2, 1926 WINNETKA TALK - 5 Christ Church EPISCOPAL PRELATES TO ATTEND SERVICES Anniversary Services to Be Held Tomorrow; Parish Recep- tion Tuesday Night By E. T. SELBY Fifty years in the Master's work and throughout that half-century of active years always in the forefront of achievements which have made of Winnetka and the north shore one of the most ideal home sections in this great universe, is the proud distinction of Christ church of this village. In commemoration of the organiza- tion of Christ church Mission, on Oc- tober 3, 1876, on next Sunday, the fiftieth anniversary to a day, the rec- tor, the Rev. E. Ashley Gerhard, will preach a sermon appropriate to this auspicious occasion. This service, a corporate communion of the parish, will be at 11 o'clock. Various other ap- propriate services throughout the an- niversary week have been arranged, during which time many former parish- ioners and rectors, whose homes are now elsewhere, are planning to return for the joyful reunion and praise- giving epoch. Fifty years is a long time in the life of man, during which many men are born, fulfill their mission on this earth and are returned to their Maker. Likewise, fifty years is a long time in the life of Christ church, and yet, in a retrospective from its present zenith of growth and development, the span of years through which it has passed are as but a day. Born of Pioneers Starting as it did in a then obscure village on the lake, in a sparsely set- tled section and without special prom- ise of its present day fulfillment, every hardship was overcome as the brave- hearted parishioners of those early days cheerfully marched forward, mak- ing possible the splendid church home of the present day. Thus it is, at this first half-century mile stone, as a brief pause is taken to look backward over the past achieve- ments, that Christ church finds itself in the forefront of still greater activi- ties, but enriched from its past ex- perience and blessed with enlarged numbers and modern church home and school, and inspired to ever press on- ward. Hear Chicago Rector Following the anniversary sermon by Mr. Gerhard in the morning, the Young People's Fellowship meeting in 'the evening will be given over to the spirit and message of the anniversary. The principal speaker at this Fellowship meeting, beginning at 6:30 o'clock, will be the Rev. Gerald G. Moore, rector of the Church of the Advent, Chicago. Special significance is attached to this address by Mr. Moore, owing to the fact that his father, the Rev. Henry G. Moore, was for ten years rector of Christ church. From the year 1897 to 1907 was an important epoch in the history of the church. It was during this time that the beautiful church home on Sheridan road was built, the memorial from Mr. and Mrs. William M. Hoyt. - Especially appropriate is the occasion thus offered to the Rev. Gerald G. Moore, who grew up here, to speak to the Young People's Fellow- ship upon this golden anniversary. Family Reunion Tuesday A family reunion will be held at the Parish House on Tuesday evening, at 8:15 o'clock. This will be an informal meeting at which many of the former residents of Winnetka, who- have es- tablished homés elsewhere, w rn to meet and celebrate with those now in S0th Anniversary This Sunday Touch of Old England Talk Photo by Lehle Nestled in its shady cloister--mindful of a church of old England--Christ church has for many years been one of the most pleasing views for the mo- torists along Sheridan road. Here we have a glimpse that claimed the photog- rapher's fancy. here, at this golden jublilee. Among those who are coming back for this occasion are, Mrs. Henry G. Moore, her son and daughter, Miss Kathleen, of Chicago and Mr. and Mrs. James G. Weart of Oconomowoc, Wis. Mr. Weart was senior warden of the parish for thirty years. Rev. H. R. Neely, present rector of Calvary church, Chi- cago, who was rector of Christ church from June 23, 1891 to 1895, will also be here. Bishop and Mrs. Charles P. An- derson of Chicago, are coming and the Rev. James Austin Richards, pastor of Winnetka Congregational church, will be numbered among the guests. The Women's guild will have charge of the arrangement of the rooms and the serving of refreshments. Choir Reunion Wednesday evening will be given over to a choir reunion, at which Ellis E. Chase, choir master, is planning to bring together as many as possible of former members of the Christ church choir. These will include Charles Lewis Day, now of Chicago, who was a member of the choir from the time of its organization fourteen years ago, until his removal to Chicago last year. Supper will be served at the Parish House Wednesday evening by the Evening guild. Rev. Ashley Gerhard came to Christ church as its rector, ten years ago last July, and has since been con- tinuously a resident and rector of the parish, with the exception of a brief period from August, 1918 to February, 1919 'during which he was away on leave of absence to serve as army chaplain in the World war. Remarkable Growth Ten years ago Winnetka was a vil- lage of only 4,500 people, while today it has a population of more than 10,000. With this growth the Parish has main- tained an equal pace, ever assisting, assimilating and working its share of newcomers into the life of the parish and the village. The total number of baptisms during Mr. Gerhard's rectorate has been 302; total confirmations, 236; total funerals, 93: total marriages 106. The Church school has increased to a membership of 350. The foundation of the Church school was laid by the late Mrs. William S. Bishop, whose death occurred February 20, 1925. The school now is in charge of Miss Mabel V. Holgate, Director of Religious Ed- ucation. Leader in Di Christ church of Winnetka last year contributed $12,810 toward the various departments of work of the Episcopal church, which was the third largest donation of the various churches in the diocese of Chicago. The two churches contributing more, were St. Luke's of Evanston, and the Church of the Re- deemer of Chicago. The present officers of the church are: William B. McIlvaine, senior war- den; R. Floyd Clinch, junior warden; Godfrey H. Atkin, Ernest S. Ballard, Francis P. Butler, C. Colton Daugha- day, Frederic A. de Peyster, Victor Elting, John B. Guthrie, Robert S. Laird, Benjamin K. Smith and Erskine Wilder, Vestrymen. Early Church History In 1835 Moses Patterson, with his wife and five children, came from Vermont, settled on the hill where Christ church now stands and built a log house. The remains of an English friend, Mrs. Stansbury, Mr. Patterson and one daughter, were buried in the yard. Mrs. Patterson sold the proper- tv to Lucas Miller and he to Marcus D. Tillman, who sold it in 1847 to John Garland, who buried in the yard the remains of his wife, a son and a daugh- ter. Some others, also, were buried there. In 1869 Mr. Garland erected a church on the property which he equip- ped with all the necessary furniture and books, and permitted its use for wor- ship by any Christian body. Later he deeded the property to the then Bishop of Illinois, the Rt. Rev. W. E. McLaren, D. D., and his successors. The church was consecrated on Sep- tember 21, 1876 and Christ church Mis- sion was organized October 3, 1876. The first recorded meeting of the Bishop's committee with the Rev. "| George A. Whitney, priest in charge, are dated July 30, 1883. Watched Expenses These were the days of small things out of which grew the splendid parish now existing. The minutes record the purchase of a chancel rail for the church and changes ordered in the chancel steps, "if the whole expense does not exceed $10." Arrangement was made to pay for one gallon of oil per month, and two-fifths of the cost of wood for fuel to heat the school house on Elm street, which was shared with the Library board. Six copies of the hymnal with music were ordered for use of the choir. Rent for the school house of $2 per month, it is recorded, was solemnly contracted for, and a bill of $1 ordered paid to Mr. Richardson, in January, 1884, for moving the stove from the church to the school house. Arrangements were made at $1 per Sunday for a horse and carriage to take the priest in charge to and from North Evanston for services on two Sundays each month. j In December, 1884, the Ladies' soci- ety started a building fund with $115.53, the proceeds of a lawn party. On February 11, 1886, a meeting au- thorized arrangements with Rev. Mar- cus Lane to conduct services the third Sunday of each month, he to accept the offering on that day as payment for said services. The records show he received $7. On October 12, 1886, just ten years after Christ church Mission was or- ganized, Rev. T. B. Townsend, a dea- con, was secured, with the Bishop's permission, as resident clergyman, at 1 salary of $500 per annum, and it is recorded, "that owing to the difficulty of getting so far from the center of the village to the church on the hill, during the winter months, services were held in the school house on Elm street." Have Supply Rectors Mr. Townsend was ordained priest on February 2, 1887, and continued in charge of the mission until January 22, 1888, when ill health compelled his resignation. William Nethercot con- ducted the services as Lay Reader un- til Easter, 1888, when services were discontinued until July 21, at which time Archdeacon Bishop arranged to provide for the services, the Rev. Drs. Scaife and Lauderback and the Rev. Messrs. Morton Stone, Henderson Judd, Clarence Brandt and Canon Street officiated at various times. From October 7, 1888 to December 23, the same year, Rev. Henderson Judd was priest in charge and the Rev. A. Lechner from February 3, 1889 to October 30, 1889. The Rev. Dr. Elmen- dorf had the services on October 27, 1889, and Mr. J. C. Sage of the Western Theological 'seminary, became Lay Reader, in charge, on November 3, 1889. The Rev. H. R. Neely was in charge from June 23, 1891 until May 1, 1895, when the Rev. S. J. French was ap- pointed priest in charge, and the parish rented a furnished house on Cherry street for his use for five months. But on the following March, the Bishop's committee decided, that "owing to a shortage in funds it cannot continue to have a resident clergyman," and the church was closed until June 21, from which time to October 1897, the date of the coming of Rev. H. G. Moore, services were conducted, at irregular periods, by various ministers. Vested Choir in 1898 The first notice of a vested choir appears in the minutes of March 17, (Continued on page 41)