Rog Hiemstra’s Blog

This is the time of year when we grab a chance to stand in front of the fireplace in our church foyer if there is a blazing fire. The next time you stand there or even pass by, look up at the lovely sculptured marble medallion under glass and in the wooden frame that is just above it. It honors Rev. Samuel May and has a wonderful history.

On Wednesday, October 20, 1898, there was a celebration in our James Street church in memory and honor of the one hundredth anniversary of Sam May’s birth. During the afternoon service there were several things of note. One was an address by Susan B. Anthony that will serve as the focus of a later History Corner article. Another was the presentation of that beautiful work of art over our fireplace.

Rev. Ezekiel W. Mundy (initially a Baptist minister who was befriended by Sam May and who later became head librarian of the Syracuse Public Library) presented the medallion during the last part of the celebration. During the earlier part of the celebration, it was covered on an easel. I can only imagine the gasps of wonder as Rev. Mundy uncovered it and described its origin. The medallion was a gift from John J. May, Sam May’s cousin. It was the work of Mr. Alexander Pope, Jr., a famous sporting artist who specialized in animal and still life paintings but who also produced sculptures throughout much of his career. He made two copies; one that went to the American Unitarian Association in Boston and one that came to us.

Some may know where the medallion resided in the James Street church, but that is not recorded in our archives. We are fortunate, however, to have it in a place of honor over the flames that keep us warm in our cold months. I believe Sam would be pleased, if not humbled, to know he looks out at the entrance to our sanctuary. So, the next time you pass by, give him a glance and say “hi.”

On another topic, former member Joanne Ashley sends this interesting suggestion from her home in Bismarck, North Dakota. Those interested in early church history might want to consider a self-study course on Emerson, Thoreau, and the Transcendentalist Movement from “The Teaching Company,” including lectures on Sam May’s brother-in-law and niece, Amos Bronson Alcott and Louise May Alcott. Check out their web page at http://www.TEACH12.com. Look under Philosophy and Intellectual Courses.

Rog Hiemstra, Archivist

Written December 4, 2007

Rev. Sam May and his family lived at 941 James Street. During this time in the 1800s, that part of James Street was considered out in the country. Dr. May collected wood in a nearby forest to build a summer house in the back of the property and a porch at the front of the house. It was under this porch, a regular stop on the Underground Railroad, that escaped slaves from the south found shelter in their travels toward freedom in Canada. Because of his many actions to shelter, save, and even help break slaves out of jail, many in the Sound reviled our Sam.

Keep this sentiment in mind when you read about the romance and the marriage that could have been. Winnie Davis, daughter of Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War, came to visit friends in Syracuse during the summer after the war ended. She met Fred Wilkinson, the grandson of Sam May. He was described as tall and handsome.

He wooed her that summer and they fell in love. Unfortunately, what could have been a wonderful and even ironic love story was put to a screeching stop. When Winnie returned home and her father and her friends, actually many in the south, found out about the romance, there was a rebellion once again between the North and South in terms of feelings. Very quickly all thoughts of a wedding had to be forgotten.

Can’t you just imagine the possibilities? Fred and Winnie walking down the aisle of our Church of the Messiah, Jefferson in his old West Point uniform giving her away, Sam conducting the wedding, and years later the progeny–possibly a young Jefferson May Wilkinson–being ordained a Unitarian minister…………. Oh well, we can dream can’t we?

Rog Hiemstra, Archivist

Written November 23, 2007

Sam May’s influence was wide and long-lasting. You probably know this well in terms of our church name and various physical objects we have honoring Sam. However, he influenced people outside our church and community in many ways. Betsy Fuller recently loaned me a book that illustrates this. The book is about Walter D. Edmonds: Storeteller by Lionel D. Wyld. Edmond’s mother descended from the May family, with his great grandfather being Rev. May. He introduced Sam in one of his early novels as “a Reverend Mr. May from Syracuse,” a liberal minister who runs a branch of the Underground Railroad and who preaches sermons about “Universal Brotherhood.” Sam no doubt influenced his niece, author Louisa May Alcott (Little Women), too, as she became an abolitionist and supporter of women’s rights in her later years.

Even though Sam influenced many people during his lifetime, throughout it he was simply a wonderful person who truly believed in universal brother and sisterhood. Just before his death he donated over 10,000 items from his personal library to Cornell University for what is now known as the Samuel J. May Anti-Slavery Collection. When Sam died, his friend Andrew D. White, then president of Cornell, spoke of him as “the best man, the most truly Christian man, I have ever known.”

Here is a section for young people so, parents, please read this part to your young children or ask the older ones to read it themselves. A few weeks ago RE Director, Jennifer Hamlin-Navias, during the first part of a church service, gathered our youth around her and told the interesting history of Sunday Schools. Many years ago they served to help young people, often children from nearby neighborhoods who did not have many opportunities to attend regular schools, come to a safe place, at least on Sundays, and learn something about reading and writing. This helped me to remember one way that Rev. Samuel May worked with young people in his church and community.

When Rev. May was minister of the South Scituate (Massachusetts) Unitarian church (his second church as minister) in 1838 he was very much against the use of liquor because he believed it ruined peoples’ lives. He recruited the youth in his church and community into what he called the Cold Water Army. He sometimes would lead as many as 500 area children in parades throughout the community in which banners were flown and chants were chanted and even barrels of liquor were smashed open with an axe. He and the children’s actions were successful as all the liquor shops in the community eventually closed. Now that is Kid Power and shows what you can do when gathering old batteries, collecting money for good causes, helping to feed adults in community and church events, and in many other ways. Keep up your great work!

Rog Hiemstra, Archivist

Written November 5, 2007

Our district Executive, Rev. Dr. Thomas Chulak, took many of us through an interesting exercise Friday evening, October 27. He helped us recall and reflect on how we came to be who we are as a church community. For example, after several Unitarian families had moved to Syracuse in the 1830s, they invited Unitarian ministers from the east to come for rare but welcome visits. After formally organizing in 1838, a small chapel was built in time for our first minister, Rev. John Storer, who was called and arrived in 1839. The congregation immediately began to outgrow the chapel and Rev. Storer worked tirelessly to raise funds for a larger building. His success led to construction of the Church of the Messiah on Burnett Street in 1843.

The arrival of our second minister, Rev. Samuel May, in 1845, resulted in the strong ministry known by many of us that lasted until 1868. Rev. May’s various efforts in abolition, women’s rights, education, and other areas began the commitment to social justice that continues as a hallmark today. He was followed by Rev. Sam Calthrop, who was our minister for 43 years. An intellect, scientist, athlete, and educator, Rev. Calthrop set a standard for a commitment to a church and community that also has continued within our church. During these initial years, church leaders were mainly men of wealth who made patriarchal decisions.

In more recent times, our ninth minister, Rev. John Fuller (1961-1973), brought a strong sense of involvement within the Syracuse community, a commitment to social justice, and an ability to create invigorating Sunday services. Church leadership was changing, too, reflecting the times, as women became more involved and decisions were made more democratically. He was followed by Rev. Nick Cardell (1974-1995), who became involved within the Syracuse community, facilitated new energy and excitement among church members, served the UUA in various ways, and made personal commitments to social justice that resulted in personal hardships.

During Rev. Cardell’s ministry, our first settled female minister, Rev. Elizabeth Strong, was called as our Minister of Religious Education. She served from 1988 to 2001, bringing a professional sense to May Memorial’s educational efforts for youth and adults. Rev. Scott Tayler’s ministry (1997-2004) brought a stress on personal spiritual development and changes in ministerial style characteristic of the times.

Better understanding this history and how we came to be who we are today through the skill of Rev. Chulak’s facilitation was a helpful exercise. He ended by asking us to reflect on how the nature of church leadership and ministry have changed during the past 170 years, how females have played an increasingly larger role, and on why we called Rev. Jean Wahlstrom. The overall impact of the evening was an opportunity for everyone to understand how history informs us as we move to our future.

Rog Hiemstra, Archivist

Written October 28, 2007

I could write every newsletter article about Sam May for years to come and only begin to scratch the surface of his complexity. I anticipate that in many ways he thought of himself as no one unusual, just committed to things in which he believed. But, oh, there were so many things! In this article I provide a brief chronology of just his first three years in Syracuse where only a few of his many activities, endeavors, and interests give some insight into his varied life.

• 1845: April, arrives in Syracuse; July, delivers a speech on the evils of war; July, delivers a principal address at the Sons of Temperance celebration; October, among 170 Unitarian ministers to sign a protest to American Slavery; November, preaches a sermon in our church on what will become his famous “Rights and Conditions of Women” (http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?naw:3:./temp/~ammem_33Hy::)
• 1846: June 1, writes an anti-war (Mexican-American war) letter to be published in the Syracuse Star and is publically called a traitor by the editor; June 18, petition of protest in Syracuse Star has 110 names (including many from our church); June 24, Sam’s letter appear in the Star; August, delivers a lecture “The Education of the Faculties and Proper Employment of Young Children” (it is published the following year); chosen a member of the Board of Managers of the State Temperance Society
• 1847: August, present at the founding of the Free Soil party (opposed to an extension of slavery into the U.S. territories newly acquired from Mexico) in Buffalo; September, Sam May and Frederick Douglas are leading speakers in a Syracuse abolition meeting; September, Sam attends the Syracuse meeting of the Liberty Party (anti-slavery in focus) and is selected as a delegate to the national meeting.

Sam also was devoted to our church and seldom missed a Sunday service. He also found the time and means to minister to his “flock,” even though he frequently had to travel within New York and beyond. No doubt his time with his family was not what he wanted it to be, but Lucretia bravely kept the home fires burning. What little time he could spend with her and his children was precious indeed as he noted in his diary and in letters home.

For those who want more insight into his hectic but important life, and he kept up the pace hinted at above throughout his adult years, here are some selected web sites:

Heretic in Syracuse (http://www.mmuus.org/who-we-are/history/may-heretic-in-syracuse.html); Saint Before His Time (http://www.mmuus.org/who-we-are/history/covert-may-thesis.html); and God’s Chore Boy (http://history.mmuus.org/galpin-may.html).

Rog Hiemstra, Archivist

Written October 3, 2007

MMUUS will host the Samuel Calthrop Chess Championship on December 1. It is a chance for us to showcase Rev. Calthrop and an opportunity for chess players in the area to become acquainted with our church. Perhaps some readers of this newsletter will consider participating. At Anton Ninno’s urging, I developed an informational piece for the media and any others who may want to know more. Here are some of the highlights.

Our beloved minister for 43 years, the longest pastorate in our history and one of the longest in the history of Unitarianism, Sam made many contributions to Syracuse. He started the Syracuse Boy’s Club and gave lectures and offered classes to church members as well as others on a wide range of subjects, including botany, philosophy, poetry, geology, and astronomy. His skill in predicting the weather by studying sun spots led Syracuse newspapers to rely on his forecasts. He even grew the first tomatoes ever shown at the State Fair.

Rev. Calthrop was a gifted athlete, too, excelling in numerous sports during his lifetime, including billiards, cricket, crew, tennis, rugby, and boxing. He made local news when one night he discovered a prowler in his house and dropped the poor man to the floor with a left to the chin. When he awoke, the burglar found the police ready to take him to jail. Sam Calthrop’s athletic prowess made him much desired as the person to teach others and during his time in the U.S. he coached crew teams for Yale, Cornell, and Syracuse Universities. He also coached the West Point cadet cricket team.

One of his biggest loves, however, was chess. Having learned as a youngster, he grew in skill and began playing some of England’s best in his teens. He continued his passion for chess in the U.S. He was one of 16 players invited to the first American Chess Congress held in New York City in 1857. After moving to Syracuse he accomplished more chess feats, winning the New York State Championship in 1880 and 1883.  When chess genius Harry N. Pillsbury once played ten simultaneous games of chess while blindfolded, his only loss was to Sam Calthrop. Sam, too, loved to play blindfolded and also play several games simultaneous. Among Syracuse friends with whom he played regularly were a rabbi, priest, and Presbyterian minister. Ah, Sam, our ecumenical pastor.

Rog Hiemstra, Archivist

Written September 20, 2007

Janet and I recently visited the John Brown farm and grave in North Alba, New York (http://www.nyhistory.com/gerritsmith/nelba.htm), near the Lake Placid Olympic ski jumping complex. We are both reading Russell Bank’s Cloudsplitter, a recounting of abolitionist John Brown’s life, including the legendary raid on the Harpers Ferry armory, so the visit seemed appropriate. It was a wonderful experience and I highly recommend both the visit and the book.

We had a wonderful guide, whose great, great grandmother helped John’s wife, Mary Ann, when John was gone because of his abolitionist activities. The guide provided an excellent tour of the home and regaled us with many facts and stories. It was clear that Mary Ann, like many spouses of abolitionists, had to carry a very heavy load just to keep the family afloat, as John was away from home more than he was there. John’s death, as well of the deaths of several sons during the raid, was a tremendous blow to be endured throughout the remainder of her life.

It reminded me of the huge load Lucretia May had to carry when Sam was so heavily involved in abolitionist activities and away from his family for many weeks at a time. In one letter Lucretia said, “I have counted the days and shall begin to count the hours till your longed for return; don’t disappoint us, but come, come speedily to warm hearts if not wise heads.” A more telling lament was in a later letter: “You have been gone four weeks tomorrow and perhaps are beginning to be weaned from us. I should not be at all surprised if you were, you must have so much more peace and quietness than when subjected to the . . . interruptions caused by wife and children. But my greater wonder is that we ever marry at all, especially those who intend to be world reformers and pass their time at a distance from the families. It would seem to me more wise and more judicious as well as more kind to avoid such entanglements and such burdens altogether.” Wow! (See http://history.mmuus.org/galpin-may.html for more insight into Sam and Lucretia’s lives.)

No doubt John Brown, Sam May, and the many others who chose to be away from family for long stretches of time thought about what was being left behind and lamented, too, about the sacrifices. Obviously, this still happens today and those of us fortunate enough to be able to spend quality time with family can count our blessings.

Rog Hiemstra, Archivist

Written September 5, 2007

Harsey Leonard and I, assisted by other History Committee members conducted the August 12 Sunday Service (see http://history.mmuus.org/aug12oos.pdf for the Order of Service). Slide shows supplemented the “sermon” presentations (see http://history.mmuus.org/churchbuildings.pdf) as well as a handout (see http://history.mmuus.org/buildinghistory.pdf). We were gratified by a large summer attendance and appreciated the support of Doug Aird, Malcolm Clark, Hank Manwell, and Al Obrist as they shared some memories. This was followed by a dedication service for our past ministers’ photos now hanging in a permanent “memories” display on the east wall of the Memorial Room. See http://history.mmuus.org/dedicationprogram.pdf to examine the related material and see the photos when next you are in church.

A few weeks ago I learned that the SU Special Collections had purchased 12 letters (eight by Sam May), written 1852-1858, on Sam’s efforts to develop a school for youth on the Onondaga Reservation. Reading them was enjoyable and I’d recommend the experience. See http://history.mmuus.org/sammayletters.pdf for more information. About the same time President Fred Fiske shared with me a new Beacon Press book. Titled Beacon Press and the Pentagon Papers, it is a fairly quick read but excellent discussion of Beacon Press’ courageous decision to publish the Pentagon Papers in the early 1970s and the legal entanglements that followed. The book is chilling in many ways and as one reviewer noted, it is a message for our own time.

I was recently doing research on Sam Calthrop and came across a fascinating description of him in The Craftsman, an October, 1905, publication by Gustov Stickley. It is worth examining just to see the neat ads of Stickley furniture. You can read it at http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/DLDecArts/DLDecArts-idx?id=DLDecArts.hdv09n01 .

Finally, here is a bit of MMUUS history trivia. Why did Rev. W. W. W. Argow have so many names? He was a fifth generation minister and his parents may have expected he, too, would go into the ministry. His first name, Wendelin, was for the father of Transcendental philosophy, German scholar Wendelin Meyer. The second name, Waldemar, was for the bishop of West Goths, who in 390 A.D. brought Christianity to the pagans of the Teutonic woods. His third name, Weiland, stood for the father of spiritualistic or idealistic poetry as noted in our early church history, A Backward Glance O’er Traveled Roads.

Rog Hiemstra, Archivist

Written August 19, 2007

I’ve recently read what has been on my “to do” list for some time, a sermon preached by Sam May to our predecessors on Sunday, September 15, 1867. By my reckoning, it must have been nearly two hours in length, but, wow, was it revealing. Entitled “A Discourse,” it turned out to be Rev. May’s resignation sermon. It no doubt caught many parishioners by surprise, but the energy, compassion, and retrospective insights he packed into what was eventually labeled as “A Brief Account of His Ministry,” must have kept the audience captivated throughout.

Fortunately, as often happened during that time period, a power packed sermon deemed worthy of historical capture immediately resulted in several church leaders formally requesting by letter that Rev. May make his copy available. Then a group placed his hand written message into a publishable form and disseminated it. A copy survived and was included with Sam’s papers donated to Cornell University after his death. You can read this fascinating account of his life as a minister at http://dlxs.library.cornell.edu/m/mayantislavery/index.htm Then click on “Search the Collection,” next click on “Search” within the text description of the collection, and, finally, type in “a brief account of his ministry” within the “Find” box and hit “Search.”

Read about Sam’s views on the rise of Unitarianism, how he became involved with abolition, education, intemperance, Native American conditions, pacifism, the deplorable conditions of “canal boys” and other orphans, and women’s rights. Sam was revered throughout his life and after his death as a person consistent in his beliefs and one who truly lived by a firm mental and moral discipline. He was referred to by many as God’s Chore boy and reading this discourse you really come to understand why. I heartily recommend this moving sermon and am confident you will obtain a greater understanding of our namesake. (The biography of Sam entitled God’s Chore Boy, by W. Freeman Galpin, is being added to in the simulation web page as chapters are typed. It, too, makes for great reading: http://history.mmuus.org/galpin-may.html)

Finally, the History Committee will be coordinating the Sunday Service on August 12. We’ll take a walk down memory lane regarding our past church buildings with slides, narration, and reflections by several church members who were part of our church community bridging across the former James St. church to our current site. We hope you can join us. Immediately following the service there will be a formal dedication of permanent photos of our past ministers in the Memorial Room. Join us there, too.

Rog Hiemstra, Archivist

Written July 16, 2007

Several things came together compelling this article: (a) Feeling so gladdened by Paul Darmody-Latham’s safe return from Afghanistan; (b) hearing John’s powerful Memorial Day sermon; (c) our weekly anti-war vigiling efforts; (d) viewing The Ground Truth, about the struggles many U.S. men and women face after returning from Iraq; and (e) thinking about Michael and Mariah Dillon’s daughter currently in the military as we all hope she stays out of harm’s way.

The angst many of us feel about war, patriotism, and political wrangling is  real, but not new in our church history. Sam May experienced much personal conflict throughout life regarding people’s suffering because of war, slavery, gender discrimination, and many other issues. He was especially torn as the Civil War approached. Sam felt deeply that war was a sin but also believed that any peace built on continuing slavery was a bigger sin. From his diary in July, 1862: “Nothing but slavery seems to be so bad as war.” He finally came to the agonizing decision that the war must be fought to end slavery.

This type of agonizing has existed for May Memorial parishioners and leaders for decades. Several of our past church members served in the military, with many war-related deaths in World Wars I and II. Rev. John Applebee (minister from 1911-1929) so agonized over WWI that he received a leave of absence to work with the Red Cross overseas for several months. Rev. Nick Cardell (minister from 1974-1995) was a prisoner-of-war during the second world war. Nick Cardell, Dan and Doris Sage, and others in the Syracuse community even served prison time after protesting this government’s training of South American military leaders who, in turn, brutally suppress people in their own country.

It is, of course, naïve to assume that such agonizing will ever cease. Our inability to get along with others seems a constant, and new generations usually repeat the errors of the past. Perhaps the cries for peace, justice, and good will that reach us down through the history of May Memorial will sustain us in our own efforts to work together even more successfully through our new Covenant of Right Relations.

Ending on a brighter note, June Card was pleasantly surprised in leafing through 1947 Beacon Press The Church Across the Street by Reginald Manwell and Sophia Fahs to find a photo (p. 285) of the minister in the church where she attended as a young person. He also came out of retirement to officiate at her wedding to Howard. Finally, two new web page tributes are available: one to Sam May at http://history.mmuus.org/maytribute.pdf and one to our church buildings at http://history.mmuus.org/churchtribute.pdf

Rog Hiemstra, Archivist

Written June 4, 2007