The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1876-01-20
A SEXTON'S EXPERIENCE.
From the New York Graphic.

know the Episcopal Church of the Trans
figuration by this, its proper name; but
when we speak Of it as 1.-The Little Church
Around the Corner" it is familiar to
every one, for its reputation has crossed
the sea. Located on the north side of
Twenty.ninth street, between Fifth and
Madison avenue, its exterior presents
picturesque attractions unsurpassed.
While its architectural altitude is far be-
low that of scores of other churches
around Is many corners, as synonym Of
a humanity Of sentiment towards oil men
it reaches an upper atmosphere far above
many of the houses dedicated to worship,
in which the creed and the people arc as
stilf-necked and intlexible as the steeple
over their heads.
James c. Rappleyea, the sexton, does
not advertise himself and his funeral
wares, IS is the wont of other sections, by
tin ':shingle' nailed to the house of God !;
with dellcacy that does him the highest
credit, he allows his works to praise him.
Neither does he like to talk of himself or
his great success as 'Scxton and funeral
furnisher" TO quote from the city direct.
ory.) The writer recently conversed
with him at length concerning sections
and undertakers in particular, and many
other things in general, and he furnished
many interesting facts. ''pr. iloughton
is very particular what goes in the papers,
and what don't 90 in, don't you see 2"
was his satisfactory reason for his guard
ed statements.
mo I don't have no sign on the church,"
said Mr.. Rappleyea; ut makes the
church look like place Of business-that
is just the reason I don't have sign.
People coming to. church don't want to
have sign stuck in their faces to remind
them of what they are coming to and
then perhaps the very next thing they
see after they get inside is me, and every
thing comes up. And I don't have any
collins in my windows" he continued. re.
ferring to his place OF business as under
taker, at No 654 Sixth avenue.
II have been sexton of the Little Church
Around the Corner" or the Church of
the Holy Cucumber.yinc,' as it was once
styled, since Nov l, 1860. l was with
DR.. Houghten when he was little young
boy, over in Twenty fourth street near
Fourth avenue. was assistant with my
brother-in.law, Mr.. Samuel Deare, who
was sexton Of Calvary Episcopal Church.
From there went to the House OF Prayer,
in Newark, with DR.. Southland, where he
was rector and was sexton. I've known
great many men, but he was a gentle
man in every respect. never knew one
like him-a friend to every one who is a
friend to HIMSELF
Hollands funeral ooh yes, I managed
that at the church, but the things were
furnished by two or three different per-
sons. You know that wasn't the first
trouble. John j. Eckel, the man who
was sentenced for killing Burdell, died
at Albany, and his body was brought
down here. He was member1of Rutgers
Presbyterian Church. Queer, wasn't it,
that both the big churches right around
the corner on Madison avenue should do
tho same thing? But they1wouldn't let
his body in, and it was taken over to my
store on Fourth avenue-I used to be
there and prayer was said by Mr.. Me-
Al!,ster, Methodist clergyman. Yes,
Eckel's was the first case. but Hollands
funeral is what gave the church the name
everybody knows it by now. DR.. Sabine
was the man who called it so.''
mo don't keep no record of weddings;
| just take my fee an let 'cm go. But
keep = book Of all my funerals. Talk Of
real, genuine men-there are other under.
takers in the city who have great funerals
sometlmes-but come to the real thing. I
have probably buried more private gen.
tleman than any other undertaken in
New York. I've had close along towards
a hundred funerals this year-twenty five
or thirty at the church. What prom.
inent men have l buried! Why, great
many of 'em. Mark Smith was quite a
famous great actor, you know, and his
body was brought here. Their had
DR.. Mott, the old gentleman himself; Mr..
Squires. that was killed on the Erie Rail.
road-he was quite man, and belonged
to General Sicklcs' brigade; Maior.Gen.
cral Hamblin, at which Jim Fisk was so
prominent, and great many more.
Here they oil are, and you can see Tor
yourself and Mr.: Rappleyea passed the
book over containing the entries Of all
his funerals, with the items of expense.
Accidentally the first page opened con
tanned the name Of Giuseppe Guidicini,
VINO frescoed the Grand Opera-house, but
died the night it was opened. His last
wish had been to see the effect by gas.
light. "Fisk paid the bill for his funeral
without looking At the items,'' said Mr..
Rapp'eyea. The items which Fisk did
not look at are as follows:
lce"box AMI porter .................. sla on
| Merino.liped coffin, silver holdings. :. 200 co
Eight silver handles, at S2............ l6 O0
IlaVe '..... -. ...... ...... ....... IL 90
| Gu1ssPPI GUID1c1N1
Died January 7, 1868,
| Aged 81 years - days.
Hearse to Greenwood ......... ......... 10 OC
Twelve coaches, at ST.. ..... 80. go. 81 Oh
Seven pairs best kid gloves, 1t g.. IA OC
One linen scarf.... ...... .... 49,. 90. 8 q
Four porters TO Eo1se-swo to Green
Z WOOD ..... q TX
Case for casket 80. 80. go. 80. -. 80. N
Best velvet pail 80. $500. ..... 80. .... 3O(
Cash paid for graye $500. ..... q
fefIy1ng.. -. $500. 1900. ....s d