The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-05-22

secret. She is now superintendent of
the Coulter Zone for Girls.
In 1891, the Rev. James Otis Lin
coin took up the work in North To-
peka. The Rev. Mr.. Lincoln was a
cultured scholar, a fine musician, a
man of pleasing. personality and uni
few years, during which time the
church held her own. the Rev. DR..
Lincoln resigned to take up work in
California.
In September, 1898, the Rev. N. s.
Thomas, son of Bishop E. S. Thomas
of Kansas, assumed the work and was
in charge until the following N-arch,
when he left to become rector of ST.
Paufs, Leavenworth Under the
forceful work of the Rev. Mr.. Thomas
the church prospered. A wide awake
guild was maintained and the Sunday
school increased in numbers. After
leaving Leavenworth the Rev. Mr..
Thomas later went to Philadelphia,
resigning his rectorship of the Church
of the Ascension to become bishop of
Wyoming.
1.-The Coming Woman
In September, 1894, the Rev. Guy
Wilbur Miner of Massachusetts be-
came priest in charge of the Good
Shepherd and canon of Grace cathe-
dral Canon Miner was energetic and
the church made considerable head
nected with the Good Shepherd he
married Miss Helen May Smiley,
teacher of elocution at Bethany col
lege. In the fall of 1896 play THE
benefit of the church. Those taking
part were the late Mrs. A. J. Arnold,
the late Professor Black, George
Stone, the artist, Mrs. Fred lies, Miss
Florence Kimball and Miss Bertha
Rowley. A chapter of the Daughters
of the King was organized during the
Rev, Mr.. Miners ministry. There
were also several combinations.
Canon Miner returned to the east
in 1897 and was succeeded by the Rev.
Maurice J. Bywater, who came to To-
peka from Pittsburg, Kan, and was
also identified with the Cathedral as
churchman of the broad school, and
an excellent musician. He was of
Welsh birth, but reared in England,
and as he said had sung in the chofrs
of the larger English churches since
old enough to hold a hymnal." Canon
Bywater was the possessor of a fine
tenor voice and was composer of
ability, also an exceptionally fine choir
master and organist. Und 81 his care
full training the music was raised to a
higher standard than it had had for
years. In the choir at that time was
Miss Alice Stafford (now Mrs. Harry
Jameson of Los Angeles), daughter OF
the late Henry c. Stafford. She had a
soprano voice of wonderful sweetness
and range. Miss Jessie Campbell
(now Mrs. Edwin Davis) was the or
ganist. Canon Bywater introduced
the choral communion service in this
church, and this beautiful rendition of
the service has been used ever since
whenever possible. The Rev. Mr.. By
water was a forcefu1 worker and d
strong preacher. In his work he had
who identified herself with all the
parish organizations. There were
many combinations while he was in
charge. One of the later classes had
as a member Paul Sorenson, who has
served on the vestry ever since his
confirmation. For a number of years
he was junior warden and upon the
resignation of G. F. kimball as senior
warden a few years ago he was elected
to fill that office and has held 1t con-
tinuous1y ever since.
Some Church History.
In 1902 Canon Bywater left Kansas
for work in the west and was sue
ceeded by the Rev. DeLou Burke,
graduate of the NashOtah Theological
seminary, Nashotah, Wis, a man OF
interests. The Rev. Mr.. Burke came
to the diocese from Indiana, where he
had been rector of the church at Vim
cennes and also professor of philoso-
ply and pedagogy in the Vincennes
university. He was made canon of
Grace Cathedral and priest in charge
of the Good Shepherd and he also held
the chair of apologetics and Christian
ethics in the Kansas Theological
school. While Canon Burke was with
the Good Shepherd the music was
ably sustained by choir composed of
Miss Lima Pliley (Mrs. E. c. Arnold),
soprano; Mrs. l.. p. Coultis, alto; Mr..
Rundell Congdon, tenor; Mr.. Leon
Gleason, bass, with Miss Lily Davies
as organist.
Church Was in Danger.
In the spring of 1903 the big flood
swept over the Kaw valley and mum
dated North Topeka. Although the
church did not suffer so severely from
the water as many other churches, she
was threatened with a great danger
after the waters had subsidized. There
were quicksandS in many parts of
North Topeka and in many places
holes large enough to engulf a mod
crate size building would be washed
in the street. One of these places was
on Laurent street south of the church
and for a time it looked as though the
building could not be saved. Finally,
after the hole, which was many feet
deep. had reached within a short dis
lance of the church, and after a hand
some elm tree in the churchyard had
been swallowed up, the crumbling of
the earth ceased, and the danger was
over. In the weeks which followed
this distressing flood Canon Burke NOT
only looked after the spiritual welfare
of his people, but their material COM
fort as well, and proved himself a par
iSh priest in every sense of the word.
Church Out of Debt.
AS q result of the flood the church
was crippled numerically, as many of
her COMMITMENTS were forced to
move ayvay but from a financial Doint