Segment I of Centennial History Manual
In the beginning, a short 100 years ago, there was no Wauwatosa Congregational Church. There were only six men and five women, who had brought with them from Massachusetts and New York the courage, vigorous piety and forward-looking devotion, which moved them to envision a Congregational Church in the midst of the wilderness.
Every backward look to the birth of our church tells of that historic meeting on March 1, 1842, "for the purpose of organizing a church." Elsewhere in this account you may read the "Sketch of the Church" written by J. M. Wheeler for the semi-centennial services in 1892 and "Historical Sketch of the Church" prepared by C. D. Waugh for the 75th Anniversary in 1917. Both give the minutes of that first meeting, with the names of the eleven founders of the church.
Although itinerant preachers of various faiths had preached intermittently to meetings of the pioneers in their scattered cabins since 1835, this meeting signalized the first attempt at an organized church in Wauwatosa.
How can we picture as living personalities these eleven persons and the fifteen others who joined them before this year was out? The Rev. Luther Clapp in a series of pen pictures at the end of the 50th anniversary volume, has made them live for all who have access to the book. With moving simplicity and beauty, born, one feels, of his deep devotion to, and knowledge of his people, he makes them real to us. As we read, we know why he was called the beloved "Father Clapp." Deacon Gilbert, Jonathan and Joseph Warren, More Spears, David and Fanny Morgan, Nathaniel Swan, Nathan Wesson and others, with their families; --- their strengths and weaknesses, piety, courage --- even grandeur are all portrayed with a father's loving concern.
We read of Deacon Gilbert, "During all his life with us, my deep respect and affection for him never abated, even though he diminished his subscriptions because the church did not carry out his plans." Of David Morgan, "On one occasion, during a sermon on self denial, he made a vow that he would quit the use of tobacco, to which he had always been addicted. He proved himself a victorious soldier in the hard battle with this powerful foe." Of Levi Potter, "When grace seemed to be somewhat lacking, grit (often a product of grace) supplied its place." Of Lydia Blanchard, "Her words in prayer meeting were remarkably original and quickening." Of Nathan Wesson, "On stormy, very cold nights, often has he and the pastor held the prayer meeting together sure that Jesus also was there." Of Oliver Damon, "Our intercourse was always exceptional, pleasant and yet he was a man who advised and criticised the young pastor." Of Mrs. Harriet De Graf, "Her social gifts were of a high order." Surely a powerful and sympathetic spiritual bond united the young pastor to his flock.
Mr. Wheeler's and Mr. Waugh's historical sketches noted above, tell of the various pastorates of the church prior to the coming of Rev. Howell D. Davies in 1912. It was during Mr. Davies' ministry that the 75th Anniversary was observed in 1917. Saturday and Sunday, March 17th and 18th of that year were the days of the celebration. Mrs. Emma Clapp Watner, Mr. E. W. Lyman and Mr. Davies were a committee chosen from the Prudential Committee to perfect arrangements. Saturday afternoon and evening were given over to reminiscences of former days, and Sunday morning the anniversary service was held. Dr. William W. Newell of Chicago preached, and, toward the end of his sermon, led up to the matter of a new church building, and appealed for subscriptions to start the building fund. Great was the rejoicing when, at the close of the service, it was announced that the total was $25,128. The Sunday evening service, devoted to "Looking to the Future," concluded the 75th Anniversary celebration. The account in the anniversary booklet ends with these words, "The 75th Anniversary was a large stepping stone between the Jubilee of the church and its Centennial, which, let it be hoped, in the providence of God, may be reached by the path of loving fidelity to its Lord and constantly broadening services in His Kingdom."
Now began a period of untiring devotion and masterful planning on the part of Mr. Davies and the building and finance committees. The building committee was as follows: C. D. Waugh, Chairman, Dr. H. G. Morton, Thomas De Swarte, E. L. Walker, Mrs. C. B. Perry, H. D. Davies. The finance committee included: T. M. Hammond, Chairman, E. L. Walker, Treasurer, E. R. Godfrey, Sr., W. H. Perry, H. D. Davies. Mr. Davies seemed to be given strength during these years to carry burdens beyond the capacity of one man. The widening activities of the growing congregation, and his devotion, both to his parish duties and to community welfare, together with his close touch with every detail connected with the planning and financing of the new building, kept him busy literally from dawn till night. It is also to be remembered that these were war years, and the church carried its full share of the war time responsibilities.
The new edifice was erected on the site of the old church. The final services in the old building were held July 20, 1919. Through the kindness of the Masonic Lodge and the Methodist Church, joint services were held with the Methodists, who were also rebuilding, in the Masonic Temple from July 27 through August 17. In the fall, through the courtesy of the Underwood Baptist Church, services were held in their edifice Sunday afternoons from September 7 through October 19. It was then decided that the church could better carry on its work in a temporary structure of its own. A lot on the southeast corner of Church St. and West Milwaukee Ave. was leased and there "The Tabernacle," a one-story frame structure, was built. Much of the material was donated, and Mr. Davies and a crew of volunteer helpers did a great part of the actual labor. Schoolboys lent a helping hand after school hours; Mr. Davies and two or three of the older members, notably M. B. Potter, Rev. S. M. MacNeill, and J. 0. Myers, then in his 80th year, could be seen working there daily; and on Saturday afternoons, business men of all ages and professions wielded hammers and saws and climbed ladders or measured and planed. The plan for the building was drawn and donated by Mr. E. 0. Kuenzli. The total cost was about $2,000. The Tabernacle was used for all church services from November, 1919 to May, 1921.
The cornerstone of the new building at 1511 Church Street was laid on Sunday, May 20, 1920—a lovely balmy day. Many who recall that spring afternoon may be interested in the order of service of that beautiful and impressive ceremony.
A copper box measuring 17 3/4 " x 5" x 3 1/4 " was sealed into the
cornerstone and contains the following articles:
The "demobilization" of the Wauwatosa Congregational Tabernacle was observed by the meeting of the congregation in a service of prayer and thanksgiving on Sunday, May 15, 1921. During the period of meeting in the tabernacle the "Daughters of the Tabernacle" was organized. In the demobilization exercises they are mentioned as "a new organization of younger women who are loyal to the church and active in good work for the Kingdom. They wish the name of their society to be a permanent memorial of our tabernacle experience."
The Dedication services of the new church building were held Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 20-23, 1921. On Friday and Saturday evenings, musical and dramatic entertainments were presented in the gymnasium by members of the Church School. On May 22nd, the Service of Dedication was held in the church auditorium. Rev. W. C. Stinson, D.D., of New York, a former minister, preached on "The Mission of the Church in this Crucial Period." Dr. George T. McCollum, Field Secretary of the Congregational Church Building Society, spoke on "The Second Mile." Mr. C. D. Waugh, Chairman of the Building Committee, then presented the keys of the church to Mr. T. M. Hammond, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, who accepted them in the name of the church. Six hundred people attended this service. On Sunday afternoon the Christian Endeavor Society held an informal meeting with supper at six, and the day closed with a Community Service in the evening. The Rev. C. H. Beale, D. D., of Milwaukee preached, the subject of his sermon being, "Returning to Zion." Seven thousand seven hundred and fifty ($7750) dollars were raised in the morning and evening collections. Monday, May 23rd, President Silas Evans of Ripon College spoke on "The Redefining of Spirituality" to a meeting of the ministers of the Milwaukee Association in the church parlor. He spoke again that evening to a dinner meeting of the Milwaukee Congregational Club on "The Place and Need of the Church in Modern Life." A memorable week was closed with an open house for the people of the community on the following Friday evening.
The next four years saw a uniform growth in the Church and Sunday School and a like growth in the ties which bound the pastor, who had labored so greatly for the church, to his growing congregation.
In the fall of 1923, the Week Day Bible School was organized with 3 teachers and 60 pupils. Today it has an enrollment of 125 with a staff of 7 teachers. The Week Day Bible School teaches a three-year course to boys and girls in grades 4, 5 and 6. "The Content and Message of the Old and New Testaments" is the subject. Mr. Wade was its first Principal. Mrs. L. S. Brodd has been its Principal for many years. For years all lesson outlines have been prepared by Mr. Lee, and have been used by most of the Protestant Week Day Bible Schools in the city.
In 1925, Mr. Davies resigned to become pastor of the First Congregational Church of The Dalles, Oregon. He and Mrs. Davies and their splendid family of four sons and two daughter are still remembered with respect, admiration and affection by those who worked with him and were helped by him during his thirteen years with the church. Dr. Davies has for some years past been Mid-West Regional Secretary of Missions Council of Congregational Christian Churches, with offices in Chicago.
At a special meeting following the regular church service, August 16, 1925, it was unanimously voted to invite the Rev. Henry James Lee, then pastor of the First Congregational Church of Woburn, Mass., to the pastorate of this church. Mr. Lee with Mrs. Lee and their young daughter, Henrietta, arrived in Wauwatosa in October. Mr. Lee preached his first sermon in the church on October 11, 1925, his subject being, "The Invincible Church." On February 15, 1926, Mr. Lee was formally installed as minister by a Council of Wisconsin Congregational Churches, congregations of sixteen Wisconsin cities being represented.
At the time Mr. Lee began his ministry in Wauwatosa, the church numbered 505 members. By 1942, the year of the centennial celebration, this number had risen to 780. The Sunday School, Woman's League and other church organizations showed a corresponding growth. Mr. Lee's devotion to his work, his contribution to community welfare, and the comfort of his rock-like faith in times of trial or sorrow are known to all. Mrs. Lee has been an active participant in this ministry.
A bird's eye view of the 17 years between 1925 and 1942 reveal the following milestones: In May 1926, Mrs. Grace Watner Spalding took office, first as a part time secretary and later as full time financial secretary, clerk and pastor's secretary. She is still serving the church. Mrs. Spalding is a granddaughter of the Rev. Luther Clapp, but it is not alone for this reason that she is held in esteem and affection by the entire church congregation. Her calm good humor, genuine thoughtfulness, industry and ability have won for her a place of her own in the church.
In January 1926, the White-robed Junior Choir was organized by Mrs. Lee, who continued to give of her time and talents in carrying on its direction for ten years. This charming part of our Sunday morning service has for some years past been trained by a paid director. However, devoted service to the Junior Choir through the years has been given by many, including Mrs. L. S. Brodd, Mrs. Clyde Chapelle, Mrs. H. L. Jackson, Mrs. Henry Patzke, Mrs. Loring Hammond and Mrs. P. C. Dimberg.
This same year, on April 14, 1927, the first special Holy Thursday Communion was held. A very beautiful service was attended by some 400 persons. This deeply spiritual service has been held each year since.
In the summer of 1931 the custom was inaugurated of the Congregational and Methodist churches uniting for 8 weeks of union services, one month in each church.
On December 9, 1932, over 300 people gathered for dinner to celebrate the 90th Anniversary of the church. The theme of the celebration was "Ninety Years of Service." This was a most enthusiastic and successful gathering. Mr. G. D. Waugh gave a short but interesting resume of the church's history. President Silas Evans of Ripon College gave a splendid address on "The Church, An Enduring Institution." The various ministers were mentioned, especially Rev. Clapp, who served the church for 27 years. His son, Wardlaw A. Clapp, was present and was asked to rise to receive the applause of the group. A floral tribute was sent to Rev. Clapp's daughter, Mrs. Emma Clapp Watner, who was confined to her home. (Mrs. Watner died six days later.) The pastors of the Baptist, Methodist, and Roman Catholic churches and Mayor A. C. Hanson took part in the program.
On New Year's Day, 1926, Rev. and Mrs. Lee held open house in their home for all their friends in the parish. This expression of gracious hospitality has been repeated by the Lees each New Year's Day since.
In 1934, a Christmas Eve midnight service was held for the first, time. This beautiful service was the beginning of a tradition. To many, the Christmas season would not be complete without it; --- the feeling of quietly joyful expectation, as eleven o'clock draws near and Christian friends, on foot and in cars, converge through the snow toward the church; the crowded candlelit sanctuary, ---the singing of the choir, as, carrying lighted candles, they wend their way toward the altar; the prayerful hush as midnight draws near, the joyful pealing of the bells as the hour strikes, and the happy exchange of greetings as Christmas Day dawns --- these will form life-long memories for many.
On June 24, 1939, Mr. and Mrs. Lee's only child, their talented and beautiful daughter, Henrietta, was married, her father officiating. The entire parish was invited to the wedding, and the wedding reception was held in the church parlor with the ladies of the church in charge. The advent of the Second World War in Europe, in the fall of 1939, with its inevitable portent of sorrow, loss and anxiety to many in the church, brought with it also a lightening of the burden of financial depression, under which it had struggled so long. This struggle can be traced in the financial reports to the annual church meetings. In 1932 we see the first evidence in the cutting of the estimates for running expenses for the ensuing year. In 1933, there is a report of considerable discussion of ways and means, with further reductions in the budget. In 1935, the treasurer, Lewis Hammond, reported for the first time a few unpaid bills, and that only $500 had been paid out of $1,500 nominated in the budget for benevolences. Apprehension of continued struggle during the coming year is evidenced by the decision that "the budget as submitted be approved, and that the Board of Trustees take care of the items as listed in so far as it is possible for them to do so, as monies are furnished them." Can we vision the harassed Trustees drawing a sigh of relief at the last qualifying phrase? It was at this time that the beginning of the fiscal year was changed from January 1st to May 1st. In 1936, Mr. Hammond tells us that all bills except a coal bill of $200 had been paid. However, by May, 1941, we find him, for the first time in several years, proudly reporting, "all bills paid and money in the bank."
No resume of the church's life would be complete without mention of two other departments, which are not treated in separate chapters --- the work with the young people and the music. Of the young people in the earliest days of the church, one of their number said, sixty years later, "Our only entertainments were: the singing school, held in the evenings, where we were taught by our much loved and respected Mr. James Stickney, who taught us to sing in the proper way and made good singers of most of us with his tuning fork and scales. Our spelling school was another form of entertainment for those who could spell and those who could not speedily learned --- and how we enjoyed our young people's prayer meetings, held at different homes in the neighborhood. We were quite devotional, and loved to sing and enjoyed the pleasure of good company to and from the meeting. The young people had their share of service and fun at the donation parties held once a year, where young and old had a good time together." The young people's meetings mentioned above were started by Father Clapp early in his ministry and continued by him for 25 years.
In the spring of 1887, a Christian Endeavor Society was organized and continued as the church young people's organization until 1925. Young people's groups under various names have been continuously active since that time. At .present, the Pilgrim Fellowship Group under the very able leadership of Mr. J. Paul Michael is an active and dynamic part of the church life and work. The church has been fortunate in the various young men who have given part-time service as young people's leaders.
Children's and young people's mission bands were active from the founding of the church to the mid-thirties, when their work became a part of the Church School program. One of the most active and best loved of these groups was the "Penelope Girls," a group of High School girls. Mrs. Helen Nethercut, a grand daughter of Jonathan Warren, and one of the beloved saints of the church, organized the Penelopes in 1907 and continued to lead them until shortly before her death in 1923.
The church has for some years sponsored Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops, a Brownie troop and a Cub Pack, and the gymnasium has been continuously made available to community groups of young people during the past twenty-five years.
Mention must be made here of the peculiar abilities of Mr. and Mrs. Lee in the leadership of young people, who instinctively recognize and respect their sound and extensive equipment in the field of religious education and the deep and sincere faith which motivates this teaching.
The young people have also contributed regularly to the work of the choir in the church services. Mrs. Milton Potter, an early member says, "Music has always been a recognized part of the worship of God. I agree with Mr. Oliver Damon, who is quoted as saying, 'I think the singing is about as important as the preaching.' " Mr. Damon was the first leader of the choir in this church. It is said he had a very emphatic way of instructing the singer to "speak, the words plain and keep the time good." James Stickney, for twenty years leader of the church choir, says, "My first introduction to the Congregational Choir in November, 1848 is indelibly impressed on my mind by two incidents. It was in the school room --- the room had two entrance doors, and instead of entering the gentlemen's door as I ought, I entered amongst the ladies. The room was nearly filled --- all facing me and from elevated brows and covert smiles, I saw at once that something was amiss. However, Mr. Mower, the chorister, motioned me to the back seat and being out of eye-shot, I soon regained my composure. After service, Father Damon, then an entire stranger, touched me on the shoulder and said, I am glad to see you here for I see you have somewhere learned to speak your words plain.' This was my adoption into that choir and for twenty years I can say that all its members were uniformly amiable and pleasant and we always did our level best."
A host of talented boys and girls, men and women, some volunteers, some professional, have added beauty and reverence to the church service down through the years since that bygone day. For some years past, Mr. Charles Borgwardt has been the Organist and choir director. He is an able director and has filled many with wonder at the quality of music he is able to coax from a tired and temperamental organ.
Earlier anniversary volumes tell of the militant stand taken by the church in the fights against slavery and for temperance. The church should ever nourish a purposeful dynamic working interest in the current vital problems of its day. Can it be that we, like other churches, have during the past quarter of a century lacked some of our forefathers' fearless will to fight as Christian soldiers in the great battles for a peaceful Christian world for all nations and races?
And last but not least, we look back over our church's part in the great field of missions. One of Rev. Clapp's daughters, Sarah Clapp Goodrich, gave her life to missions in China. The church fathers considered the support of missions as an integral part of Christian living. During her first fifty years, benevolences were reported as $23,527. During the next 25 years the church gave just short of $40,000. In the last 25 years we have given $59,693. In common with the majority of churches, we had to curtail to an alarming measure our support of missions during the depression years. A new and encouraging upsurge of interest in the results of missionary endeavors and the necessity for strengthening this work is now apparent. Mr. J. 0. Myers in concluding his comments on missions in the 75th Anniversary Book, makes this interesting and forthright conclusion: "The number of men who are intelligent on missionary matters is not equal to the number of our women who are: and the men cannot plead other interests, for the Wauwatosa women are noted for the variety of their interests."
And so we approach our 100th Anniversary celebration. In the beginning there was no Wauwatosa Congregational Church. And now the church has worked and prayed and struggled and suffered and grown, and trod the pathway to God for a full century. Nothing is finished. Much is now at hand to be done. We must look forward. "Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and perfector of our faith."