The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-04

earth, meTcifully hear our prayers and
grant to this parish all things that are
needful for its spiritual welfare;
strengthen and confirm the faithful;
visit and relieve the sick; turn and
soften the wicked; arouse the care
less; recover the fallen; restore the
penitent; remove all hindrances to the
advancement Of thy truth, and bring all
10 be Of one heart and mind within
the fold of thy holy church; to the hon
or and glory Of thy ever blessed name;
through Jesus Christ. our Lord. Amen.
Such is the prayer for the parish"
which occupies the first page of the
Year book" issued annually by the
All Saints Episcopal church. What
few words could tell of more interest,
more sympathy, more tenderness, more
patience, more care or more love for
Christs extraordinarily? What
could be more expressive of what All
Saints stands for in the community?
With the help of him who rules the
world, and deVout, earnest work by
members Of the church, the prayer has
been answered, and thousands have
been blessed, doubly blessed, in conse-
Cuence.
All Saints stands in the front ranks
with the churches of the city in prom
inence, the personnel of its members is
second to none, embracing, as it does,
people of wealth, influence, educatiod
and refinement, and, besides, it stands
as humanity's church. 1t keeps in
touch with the people, reaches out its
ministering arms to the sick, offers
comforting words to the sorrowing and
dependent, and clothes and feeds the
hungry. No local church does more, in
This way. A score or more of societies
. working through the rector, who stands
at the head wisely guiding ALL eXpend
yearly over $4,000 in beneVolences
This money has nearly all been distr
buted in the city, not alone among
those members under the especial no.
tice of the parish, but throughout the
cit.
And besides, this does not represent
all that the church does. Fortunate
sindeed is the church in its members.
Wealth has blessed many of them, and
out of their abundance they have Civ
en-, given freely, Outlines modestly,
and no record of much that has been
given, the many kindly acts and I'M
ending help that has been offered, ap-
pears on earthly books. 1t is recorded
in the hearts of grateful people, who
in turn have tried to repay the kind
ness by doing good unto others. Not
alone has this benevOlence been mate
.lial. 1t has gone farther. With the
material gifts to the needy have come
good friends who stood by to help the
struggle upward, ever ready to do
things which money cannot.
Many people in Worcester today are
comfortable, happy and prosperous be-
cause of the assistance which has come
through All Saints and its members.
Within the sumptuous church all
classes assemble. All who come with
sincerity and love in the heart are
welcome and made to feel that in the
light of his grace all men are broth
ers.
Fortunate indeed is the church in
its rector, Rev. Alexander H. Ninton,
d. D. With rare skill and wisdom does
he stand at the head of the great in
stitution; with quiet modest, earnest
grace does he meet his people and come
into fellowship with them: with dig
nifty, earnestness and God-given power
does he lead them along the spiritual
paths towards the light He is a man
of refinement, culture. education and
brilliancy, whose heart is large, sym
pathies broad and purpose steadfast
and unwaVering.
Repeated attempts to draw him from
his chosen field into others of more
prominence have failed. His heart is
here with his people, and in return
they give their devoted love and loyal
answering support. For IA years the
rector and parish have been in closest
harmony, and passing time only draws
the golden cord OF love and friendship
more tightly. During this time it has
grown in numbers, in influence and in
spiritual power; its beneVolences and
deeds increasing as the field broad
ened. Nearly $20G00 q year is raised
for all purposes.
Rev DR. Vinton's collegiate educa-
tfon was received at St. Stevens, Ge-
neva seminary end the University OF
Leipsic His first passionate was al
Norwood, n. j.. in 1917. He next spell'
six years at Philadelphia, coming tC
Worcester in 1884 His tastes are art
istic His home is filled with rare and
beautiful books. exquisite bric-a-braC
and valuable pictures While his timt
is completely filled with manifold du
ties. he is never too busy to answer
any call upon his time or sympathies
and helpful suggestions to the many
who are constantly coming to him
His life lies within the church anC
among the people, and though he some
times appears in public, it is not a fire
quent occurrence. Several trips abroad
have been well occupied, and he has
gathered a wealth of experience tina
makes him a charming conversational
ias
Among the organizations connected
Nth the church are the Children''
Charity Foundation Fund, the depart
ments of Women's work, including dis
trict visiting, clothing the destitute
caring for the sick, sewing school, fine
needlework, and hospitality; commit
tees of men, including church hospital
ity, festival and church decorations
and the standing committee; the
Woman's Missionary Society, the Junior
Auxiliary to the board of missions; tn,
Wednesday Club; Church Periodical
Club; the woman's meetings; the Al
Saints branch of the Girls Friendly
Society; the Church Temperance So
ciety; the parish paper; the parish lib
rary; the parish reading ROOM tht
kitchen garden the cooking school; tn,
Church Musical Club the girls choir
and the Altar Society. -.
The history of the church dates from
the winter of 1856 when the Rev
Thomas H. Vail, then % young man Ii
deacon's orders, was sent to Worcester
to see what could be done towards the
establishment of the Episcopal Church
Seven years after the first and unsuc-
oessful attempt TO plant a church here
a movement was begun which became
permanent On Christmas day, 1912, the
Rev. Fernando G. Putnam held service
in the chapel on Thomas street, Their
owned by the Central Congregational
Society and continued to officiate
regularly until he was succeeded by the
Rev Henry Blackaller, during whose
ministry the parish of All Saints was
regularly organized under the laws OF
the commonwealth
Thomas Bottomly and Charles S
Ellis were the first church wardens
afid Edwin Eaton the first parish clerk
On Easter day, 1874, Dr. George r
Chapman took charge Of the young