Rog Hiemstra’s Blog

Information in this article was inspired from the material written by Rev. Armida Alexander, the UU minister mentioned last time. We all can be proud to know that when the infamous Fugitive Slave Act was signed into law in September of 1850, many people in Syracuse were outraged. As news about the Act and its implications became known, concerned people in our community gathered in City Hall with the Mayor even presiding. Several resolutions denouncing the law were passed and protection was promised for anyone who might be affected. Sam May quickly organized a group (including several in our own church) who pledged to help financially anyone arrested for opposing the law. Perhaps most important, a Vigilance Committee was formed (including Sam) and they quickly established a rendezvous location and a signal (church bells ringing – including our own) for whenever action was needed.

About a year later in October, 1851, the clarion call came when William (Jerry) McHenry, a cooper (maker of barrels, tubs, etc.), was detained by slave hunters and some federal marshals. Sam, already seasoned in facing much opposition pertaining to abolitionism, was ready for this incident. He had long preached on the evils of slavery, had faced angry mobs of people in various locations when he talked about such evil, and counseled resistance to the Law. In one of his sermons at our church in late October, 1850, he noted the following:

A law of the land requiring you, as the Fugitive Slave Law does, to disobey the Golden Rule is, indeed, a far more grievous encroachment upon your liberty of conscience than a law prescribing to your faith any creed, or any rites and ceremonies by which you must worship God. . . . I declare that you are, every one of you, under the highest obligation to disobey this law, – nay, oppose to utmost the execution of it. (May, Recollections, 1869)

So typical of Sam, those fiery words with which he challenged our May Memorial ancestors were put to personal action when he was part of the group that helped Jerry escape from jail and eventually arrive safely in Canada through the Underground Railroad. Most readers of this newsletter know the Jerry Rescue story. More about it can be found on our web page. Suffice to say, Sam personified the selfless courage so needed to resist those who practiced injustice. We all need to find ways of embracing such courage in resisting the injustices we still see today.

Rog Hiemstra, Archivist

Written March 1, 2008

To begin with, I had a delightful interview with Mr. and Mrs. Charles “Ted” Tracy at the Nottingham recently. Ted turns 97 soon and is the youngest son of James and Florida Tracy. James was church president from 1929-1931 and Florida was involved in maintaining our church history for many years. I have mentioned Florida several times in past articles. Ted had many delightful memories and remembered Rev. Applebee and Rev. Argow quite well. At some future point we will make several of our interviews available so that interested people can also delight in such wonderful recollections. Speaking of past newsletter articles on our history, you can now read them online at http://history.mmuus.org/newsletterarchives.pdf.

Now to that notion of turmoil mentioned above. Sam May was among a few leading Unitarian ministers more than 150 years ago who worked diligently to convince leaders of the American Unitarian Association (AUA) to take a strong and decisive stance in support of abolition, but in vain. In his Recollections book he stated the following: “The Unitarians as a body dealt with the question of slavery in any but an impartial, courageous, and Christian way” (p. 336). Dr. Henry Ingersoll Bowditch, a leading abolitionist of the time, noted that Unitarians as a body were “as rotten as ever” on the topic of slavery (this comes from a paper entitled “Abolitionist Minister: Samuel J. May Opposes the Fugitive Slave Law” written by Rev. Armida Alexander, minister of the Glacier Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Kalispell, Montana). A number of Unitarian ministers actually lost their positions due to their antislavery activities, including our Sam May’s nephew, Rev. Samuel May, Jr.

It was mainly through the efforts of abolitionists like Samuel Joseph May that the AUA was forced to redefine its relationship to all Unitarian ministers. But in Sam’s mind, the change was very slow to come as most Unitarian ministers wanted calm and stability in their churches because, after all, many leading politicians, business owners, and community leaders were often in their pews and they did not want to rock the boat. Sam expected more of his colleagues and in his Recollections he said this about the power and duty of the pulpit to effect change: “The pulpit has no higher function than to expound, assert, and maintain the rights of man” (p. 358). He believed that when the pulpit was “false to its charge,” there were horrible consequences throughout society. He was very disappointed, too, in national leaders like former friend, Daniel Webster, and President Millard Fillmore, a Unitarian, who supported the Fugitive Slave Law.

But Sam, like a few other Unitarian ministers, kept up the fight. After the President of the Syracuse and Utica Railroad heard one of Sam’s antislavery sermons, he ordered his employees that if they ever saw any recaptured fugitive slave on his train they were to stop it, remove the irons, and set the person free. And, of course, the famous Jerry Rescue helped to mobilize people in New York and beyond, beginning a true wave of repulsion against the Fugitive Slave Act. Unfortunately, it wasn’t until 1889 that the AUA began efforts to reconcile the many differences among its members. I’m sure that Sam would have been happy to know it eventually happened.

Rog Hiemstra, Archivist

Written February 11, 2008

Rev. Wahlstrom loaned me a brief history of the Fraters of the Wayside Inn after 1971 written by Rev. Charles Howe, former FUUS minister. The Fraters actually began in 1903 as an annual retreat for Universalist ministers in the Boston area to promote spiritual growth, intellectual stimulation, and interpersonal bonding. “Unitarians” were admitted into membership in the late 1970s and female ministers began attending in the late 1980s. Nick Cardell first attended in 1979, even served as Prior (annual organizer) in 1998. Jean Wahlstrom became a member in 2003, and presented papers on more than one occasion, including 2008.

In 1990, Rev. Cardell presented a paper at the Frater’s annual meeting that resides in our archives. It is entitled, The Ministry: What Keeps Us In It and At It? Nick noted that one factor for him was our Flaming Chalice as it symbolized a search for truths, a freedom to be one’s self, a challenge to grow, a welcoming inclusiveness, and a caring community. It is easy to see how the opening words he used each Sunday Service evolved. These are words Jean repeated on a recent Sunday.

Later in the paper, Nick talked about a need to be involved in creative contributions to a civilized and humane world as part of his reasons for remaining in the ministry: “I suspect it is a need, at least similar to that, that leads people into all of the helping professions. But I discovered that there were more specific and personal needs finding expression in my ministry. Emerson once said something to the effect that ‘The preacher deals out his life to the people, life passed through the fires of thoughts.’ To the extent that I have been able to do that, I have learned much about myself. And that must be listed as one of the things that keeps me at it.”

As Rev. Wahlstrom passes through the installation formalities into years of service with us at May Memorial, it is as though through the bonds of Frater comradeship, Nick provides those words above to help guide her efforts. I believe I can speak for all MMUUS members in saying that through love and fellowship we will do all we can, Jean, to keep you “at it” here in Syracuse for many years to come.

Rog Hiemstra, Archivist

Written February 3, 2008

It has been a history filled past several weeks. Mariah Dillon and Jennifer Hamlin-Navias provided me with the names of two people who know much about MMUUS’ past and I am in the process of gathering some of those memories. Mariah and Jill Evans gave me photocopies of different items about our history. I also had five wonderful weeks as an RE guide conducting, with the help of other guides, history scavenger hunts around our church. Ask your children who participated about some of the history facts they remember.

Speaking of history facts, it is always fun for me to gather little factoids about our church and past ministers or leaders. Here are a few of them. Many of you know about the Franklin cars and may even have seen Hank Manwell drive to church in his Franklin on some warm day. What you may not know, though, is that John Wilkinson, grandson of the John Wilkinson who came up with the name of Syracuse for our community in 1819 (it had been called Cossit’s Corners until then) designed the first Franklin motor car with an air-cooled engine in 1901. All the Wilkinsons were stalwart members of May Memorial.

That first John, also the first postmaster of Syracuse, was a member of the committee that traveled to Lexington, Massachusetts, to call Sam May to our church. Therefore, it was fitting that when Sam and his family moved to Syracuse, John and his young son, Alfred, met that train. Thus, one of the first people Sam’s only daughter, Charlotte, met when she disembarked was Alfred, her future husband.

Many years later Sam May joined in efforts to establish what became St. Joseph Hospital. A gold headed, ebony cane was to be raffled off and given to the most popular clergyman in Syracuse as one of the fund raising activities. Sam coaxed many in his congregation to buy raffle tickets and vote for his good friend Father O’Hara of St. Mary’s. However, Father O’Hara had a similar idea and convinced many in his much larger congregation to vote for Sam. That cane was one of Sam’s prized possessions for the remainder of his life.

Back to his daughter, Charlotte. After Lucretia died and as his health began to wane, he spent his remaining years living with Charlotte and Alfred. The night before he died on July 1, 1871, Charlotte came into his bedroom and gave him a kiss and good night wishes. That kiss was his last contact with life.

Rog Hiemstra, Archivist

Written January 19, 2008

As was mentioned in the last newsletter, Susan B. Anthony was part of the ceremonies in 1898 at our former church celebrating the 100^th anniversary of Sam May’s birth. Susan had first become acquainted with Sam when she was a youth and Rev. May would occasionally travel to Rochester to exchange pulpits in the Universalist church. Susan and her family, who were Quakers, would travel to hear Sam as Susan’s father believed he was an inspired minister.

Her first involvement with Sam as an adult was at an anti-slavery meeting in 1851. The following year she was part of the Daughters of Temperance delegation in Albany that attempted to participate in the Sons of Temperance meeting. All women were blocked from speaking as the chairman said that women were to look, listen, but not speak. All women then left and found a place to meet by themselves. Soon Sam May came to their meeting to counsel them on how to organize themselves. He was the only man there.

Then in the fall there was a Woman’s Rights Convention in Syracuse. Susan was there, as were other women leaders like Matilda Gage and Lucretia Mott. However, Susan noted that women were still unused to running meetings and speaking in front of a large group. She said that many women would read a paper in voices that were hardly audible even three seats away. At that point Rev. May rose to the occasion and said to all delegates that every person there could make themselves heard if they were asking children who were outside to come in for a meal. He noted “Now what you want to do here, my dear sisters, is to feel and act as you would if you were at the front door of your own home.” He said to fix their eyes on the remotest person in the audience and “your voice will adjust itself to the distance.”

At the 100^th anniversary ceremonies, Susan said, “Was that not beautiful? I shall always remember Mr. May for giving us that lesson as to how to be heard. And that is a sample of the way he helped us women to grow into a knowledge of how to do and how not to do. He would take us by the hand and lift us up.”

Rog Hiemstra, Archivist

Written December 17, 2007

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