Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-11-19
HOUSE OF PRAYER,
SIXTY TOMORROW,
HAS ODD HISTORY
Began With Rooster on Spire,
Now Follows Catholic Ritual
in High Church Service.

The altar that adorns the House OF
Prayer, of this city, which celebrates
its sixtieth anniversary tomorrow, as
told in Wednesday evenings STAR,
possesses a most interesting local his
tory. On December IL. 1896, just four
teen years ago.. the altar and reredos
were consecrated by the bishop of the
diocese, having been presented to the
church by Miss Sarah A. Fawcett to
commemorate the memory of her de-
voted friend, DR.. Emma W. Edwards.
The altar, through a striking coinci-
dence, was constructed from plans
drawn by the late William Halsey
Wood, who rose from choir-boy to be-
come choirmaster. serving in the last
capacity for a period of eight years. He
lived to see his dream realized, an
altar built after his plans, in the
church where he had served so faith
fully from boyhood. Miss Fawcett,
in her will, bequeathed to the church
1880 for the purpose of keeping the
altar IN repair. She also founded the.
Guild of st. Genevieve. in 1890. and
after her death in 1899, the guild placed
a commemorative memorial window in
the church.
Church Follows Catholic Ceremonial.
The House of Prayer, it may be said,
adheres strictly to the high-church
Catholic ceremonial. The daily morn
ing and evening prayer and daily eu-
charist having been established for
q
Lights, incense and vestments were
first used here in the diocese. n 1T
was one of the first Episcopal parishes
to promote parochial missions and Sc
sure the aid Of the Mission S~isterhood,
in f%urthering its religious work
The list Of rectors who have officiated
at the church during the past sixty
years is a notable one. and included
the Rev. Samuel L. Southland, 1s49; the
Rev. John wragg Shackelford, 1855;
the Rev. William A. Mabin, 1866: the
Rev. Hannibal Goodwin, 1867, and the
present rector, the Rev. DR.. Miller, in
1883.
The old stone altar which had been in
service In the church since 1850 on the
ACQUISITION of the new one was pre-
scented to st. Johns Church, Dover,
where 1t is still in service. The walls
Of the present sanctuary and the steps
are constructed of Caru stone, and the
floor is laid with light-colored tile.
The sanctuary lamp was given as a
memorial to the late Hon. Theodore
Runyon former ambassador to Ger
many. who was intimately connected
with the parish.
The, music at the services is rem
dered by q vested choir of men and
boys stationed near thhe n The
singing is of a high standard and equal
to any church chorus in the city.
The first service of the congregation
was held in the present stone rectory,
at Broad and State streets on Novem-
Der Z, 1S49. On Tuesday, November 20,
1850. the first hurch was completed
and oonsecrated by Bishop Doane. On
November IL. 1851, a bell costing $e66.68
was placed in the tower.
The present brick parish-house that
stands in the rear of the rectory was
erected in 1861, and in 1866, a new or
gan was placed in the church costing
So, 400. The bell at this time, becom-
ing cracked and useless, was sold and
the amount realized was applied to the
organ fund. On Easter Day, 1870, a
new bell, weighing 1000 pounds and
costing $3.50, was rung for the first
time, 1t having been purchased by the
Sunday school. In 1896 the organ was
entirely rebuilt and improvements were
made to the interior Of the church. The
present bell, which now hangs in the
tower, was bought on May 6, 1875, and
weighs $500 pounds. having replaced
the one used in 1870, which had also
become useless.
The parish today has a beautiful
L---L 81 11ra1on1sO.,, ro1fCrxy thaf 10 ]
free from incumbrance.
The sisters of the parish are extend
ing their field for missionary work,
and h future outlook for the contin-
tfed success of the church is exception
allv promising.