Rog Hiemstra’s Blog

The dedication service on October 1 was wonderful and the rains stayed away. The choir sang, we all sang, and several people spoke, including former member and Historian, Jean Hoefer. She and Bill traveled from afar to be with us for the dedication. In addition, Professor Ron DeRutte from SU described how he will repair and mount the tablet this fall.

Here is a bit about the tablet’s history. It was installed below a stained glass window in the James Street church in 1886 as a memorial to Sam May. The sermon delivered at its unveiling was by a good friend, Rev. William P. Tilden, who had been influenced by Sam during Sam’s ministry at South Scituate, Massachusetts. Rev. Tilden described Sam this way in words so consistent with what we have come to know about Sam May: “Calm as a June morning, but firm as Gibraltar, he was a Moral hero” (from this document found by Betsy Fuller – Vinal, W. G., 1954, Old Scituate churches in a changing world, Norwell, MA: Ladies Alliance of The First Parish Church, p. 34). Click here for a look at all the stained glass creations in that church and click on the name being honored shown at the bottom of each window to read a description. The tablet was broken while being removed from the church in 1963 before its razing, transported to the Onondaga Historical Society, then lost. Fortunately, it was rediscovered last summer, transported to May Memorial, and soon will adorn our outside southwest wall. Somehow it feels fitting that it will look out on the Memorial Garden and Pavilion. Go here for a color photo story of the repairing and hanging of the tablet. The inscribed words are difficult to read in the photo, so here they are as they were written one hundred and twenty years ago:

In memory of Samuel Joseph May, born in Boston September 12, 1797, died in Syracuse July 1, 1871. The beloved minister of this church during twenty-four years, his life diffused the radiance of piety and charity throughout this community. A loyal follower of Jesus, he loved God supremely and his fellow-men as himself. He helped the erring and sorrowful and uplifted the downtrodden. In the struggle against slavery he was among the earliest, most fearless and most constant. A fervent, devout preacher, an assiduous, loving pastor, an untiring apostle of education, temperance and peace, a steadfast defender of spiritual liberty. Trusting wholly in the ideal right he labored from youth to age to bring in the kingdom of God. When death was near he said: “I  may have hereafter a clearer vision, I can hardly have a surer faith.”

I close with the words read by President, Fred Fiske, as the official dedication of the tablet and pavilion: “We have gathered here today to remember Ernie Archambault as a representative of the many MMUUS parishioners over our history who have stood for selfless commitment to May Memorial and to remember Samuel J. May as a representative of the many ministers and others throughout our history who have provided leadership for May Memorial to maintain an important place in the greater Syracuse Community. May this pavilion and this marble tablet stand as symbols of such devotion for many generations to come. We so dedicate these symbols.”

Rog Hiemstra, Archivist

Written October 3, 2006

I just love it when an article sort of writes itself. On September 12 Janet and I were election inspectors for the primary. Where I was assigned, one of my fellow inspectors was an 81 year old man by the name of Walt Slagle. I thought nothing of the name, but during our nine hours together I mentioned my involvement with May Memorial. He then proceeded to tell me that he used to attend May Memorial at the former James Street church. He taught Sunday School as soon as he was old enough and he fondly remembers riding in 1941 with a carload of May Memorial boys driven by Reginald Manwell (Hank’s dad) to a Rowe, Vermont, Unitarian church for a youth conference. He remembers most fondly Rev. Robert Romig (our minister from 1941 to 1946) who he said was a wonderful man.

But here is where the fun began. I knew I should know that name. Then he told me that his Mom was May Slagle and it all “clicked.” I remember her name from pouring over old documents, but some who read this newsletter will remember May as a long time and indispensable office manager of May Memorial. As noted in May No One Be A Stranger (p. 45) “in the minds of many church school children who heard their parents mention May Slagle, she, not the minister from 100 years ago, was the source of the church name.”

May was one of the most active of all our volunteers in the school lunch program the church sponsored and ran during WWII. She edited the church newsletter for many years, too. She retired in 1974 and died in May (what other month could it be) of 1978 at the age of 85. Walt remembers that Nick Cardell did a beautiful memorial service for his Mom.

Incidentally, his brother Eugene went to our church and his Dad ran a woodworking center for youth in the James Street basement. His aunt, May’s sister, Helen McKnight, was an active church member and served as church historian for several years (thanks, Helen). So this article is dedicated not only to May Slagle, but to all the wonderful people who have served as office manager, treasurer, sextant, custodian, and many other important staff positions during our 168 year history down to people such as Karen and Leslie today. This church could not have happened without you. We send a big thanks and salute back through the ages.

Rog Hiemstra, Archivist (written September 17, 2006)

History Committee members have been involved in various preservation activities this summer. For example, George Adams is inventorying our many files, folders, and boxes; Harsey Leonard is retrieving images from slides and other media. Mary Louise Edwards and I are removing acid from old papers and preparing material to be stored at Syracuse University. It is hard work at times, but most enjoyable, and we keep learning more about our wonderful history.

I can’t resist sharing one of the items Harsey retrieved from an old microfilm. Someone photographed old scrapbooks years ago and many delightful items have come alive. Let me take you back to yesteryear, near the birth of our beloved church. The year is 1862 and this delightful piece showed up in the local newspaper:

The Ladies of the UNITARIAN SOCIETY, will repeat their entertainment “An Evening with Dickens,” In Wieting Hall On Monday Evening, Feb. 3, 1862

PROGRAMME:

1. Tableau – The Soldiers Dream.
2. Pantomime Ballad – Mistletoe Bough.
3. From Dombey & Son – [and it goes on from there for 13 acts]

Admission 25 cents – Children 15 cents

Can’t you just picture people from throughout Syracuse coming out to watch the Unitarian ladies and their entertainment activities? What a city where Unitarians could entertain people of varying faiths with material from Dickens. It must have been something!

Rog Hiemstra, Archivist (written August 9, 2006)

Our third minister was Rev. Dr. Samuel Robert Calthrop, a minister for 43 years (1868-1911) and pastor emeritus after that. Rev. Calthrop was truly a renaissance man. Click here and here for more information. A marble bust of Sam stands in the Memorial room of our church.

Born in England, he entered Cambridge at the age of 19 where he excelled. However, he refused to sign 39 Articles of the Anglican church faith required by the university which prevented his graduation and eventually led him to the United States and Unitarianism. He was an excellent scientist having patented a streamlined train, discovered numerous sunspots, and learned to predict the weather. He lectured in our church and elsewhere on a wide variety of topics beyond religion such as astronomy, botany, financial management, flowers, geology, physical training needs, and even raising tomatoes. He was a personal friend of Sir Isaac Newton and Susan B. Anthony.

Like his predecessor, Sam May, he was very interested in education and youth. A teacher prior to becoming a pastor, he organized the Syracuse Boys’ Club, established the first playgrounds in Syracuse, and even taught at Syracuse University. Dr. Calthrop also was a very physically fit individual most of his life. Tall, with a big frame, and a great white beard, he was an expert boxer in his younger days, and skilled at billiards, crew, cricket, hockey, rowing, and tennis. His true passion was chess where he was known as one of the best in the country by winning local and state championships. He beat opponents while playing blindfolded and by playing several at the same time.

Able to quote verbatim from Greek and Latin Classics, he was widely published, a gifted poet, and a sought after orator. All of this while maintaining his pastorate here and being well loved and respected by both May Memorial church members and people throughout Syracuse. Renaissance man, indeed!

Rog Hiemstra, Archivist (written on June 6, 2006)

Florida Tracy, an active member of May Memorial during much of the first half of the 20th Century, was a fount of information about our church. Her involvement, observations, and memories are recorded in many places throughout the archives. Here are some of her remembrances.

During WWI, May Memorial was the first church in Syracuse to provide recreational activities for soldiers of the U.S. Army’s Rainbow Division (part of the New York National Guard and 42nd Division, the first Division sent to Europe in 1918 to support French troops). They were being trained in the Syracuse area and camped at the State Fair grounds, known as “Camp Syracuse.” Six days a week in the church dining room from noon to the evening we provided a free cafeteria service with church women serving as hostesses. Showers for the men were installed in the cellar and our church President at that time, Irving Merrill, taught literacy classes in arithmetic.

WWI affected us in other ways, too. Our minister during the time period, Rev. Dr. John Henry Applebee, took a leave to serve as a Red Cross Chaplin. This war service on battlefields and in hospitals undermined his health. On his return he found that his wife, Alice, was suffering from cancer and died after much suffering. He never really recovered and died soon after.

The Women’s Alliance, an active church women’s group during this time period and up into the 60s, carried out a number of community service activities. For example, each year the Alliance provided a noontime Christmas dinner and entertainment on the last day of school before the holiday for 75 to 100 of the poorest first and second graders in two nearby public schools. Eventually as the need for a meal lessened, it morphed into the “Mitten Tree” (providing warm clothing for those in need at the holiday time), a traditional still carried on today.

Church sewing groups also provided clothes and bandages for the Red Cross to use and after both world wars this energy went to producing clothing for refugee babies. As can be expected, and I am talking to the men of the church now, where would we all be without the tireless efforts, great energy, and super leadership of May Memorial women.

Rog Hiemstra, Archivist (written on May, 10, 2006)