- THE OPEN DOOR -

       I have already made mention of the angels of the churches and I feel it appropriate to do so again. In addressing the Angel of the Church of Philadelphia (Revelations 3:7-13) John is told to write, "I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut; I know you have little power, and yet you have kept my word.... hold fast to what you have, so that no one may seize your crown." Philadelphia means the city of brotherly love and it was that kind of affection, which seems to have been operative during the earliest days of St. Bartholomew's as a mission and as a church. Perhaps that is why its door was kept open and could not be shut though it had little power, and why, after a time, it was crowned with some glory.

       The doors of St. Bartholomew's could well have been shut in the period following the death of Mr. Thomson. Two months after his death the Reverend Albert Chillson was called to be the second Rector. He accepted this call with the understanding that he would also serve St. John's, Ramsey, which was then a mission church. During his tenure Mr. Chillson, "Hap" as he was called, served either at St. John's or as a Diocesan Missioner. In fact, for the next twelve years St. Bartholomew's would share its clergy with other congregations. St. Bartholomew's was never a mission during this period, but the Church was not able to support a Rector entirely on its own.

       One of the more interesting tasks "Hap" undertook, as Diocesan Missioner while at St. Bartholomew's was to develop a work among the Jackson Whites in the Ramapo Mountains. About the year 1800 the Jackson Whites, a people of mixed race, began to settle in that region. Some say they were the descendants of white Dutch settlers and their black slaves. Others say they were descendants of women a man named Jackson is supposed to have rounded up by force, or pretense, in London and the West Indies, under contract with the Crown to serve as prostitutes for the Hessian soldiers fighting the Revolutionary War. Still others claim the name is derived from the slang word Jacko for a freed Negro slave. When such freed slaves then married whites their descendants were known as Jacko Whites, which soon was corrupted into Jackson Whites. Whatever the truth of their origin, Mr. Chillson began a work among them which no doubt would have pleased those two gracious ladies so instrumental in the founding of St. Bartholomew's, Amanda Hawes and Hope Winans, whose work among the mill hands was of a similar nature. "Hap" had great zeal for all of his missions and was constantly traveling to the Diocesan office to see what goods and furnishings he might acquire for them. Once the Bishop, not so much annoyed as amused, said to him: "When you die we will write this on your tombstone: 'At last the beggar is dead!'"

       About the time Mr. Chillson arrived in town another man, Charles Millett, also arrived. He was soon recommended to fill an unexpired Vestry term and thus began a long and fruitful ministry. Charles Millett exemplifies the kind of stalwart lay leadership that guided St. Bartholomew's during some difficult days. Rea, as he was typically called, continued to serve on the Vestry until 1941 when he was inducted into the Navy. Even then the Vestry did not accept his letter of resignation but granted him a leave of absence with the expectation that he would resume his duties again after the war. His son, Robert, has also been an active member and has served on the Vestry in recent years. His grandson, Thomas, was confirmed on April 2 in this Anniversary year.

       In 1930 the Vestry together with Mr. Chillson began to address the pressing issue of the gift of land on Sheridan Avenue. Building on the property would have to begin by January 1st, 1931 in order for the gift to be claimed. It was decided that it would be more expedient to build a Parish House rather than a church on the property. To this point St. Bartholomew's never had a Parish House and this lack was sorely felt. In those days more so than now the church was the center of social activities and without a Parish Hall social functions were greatly hampered. Consider, for example, that at some gatherings the meal was cooked on open fires built on the lawn beside the church. Mrs. Howland agreed that such a building would meet her terms. In of $16,000 was secured by the Vestry and work on the new Parish House was begun. The building was completed by April 1931 and dedication services were held on the 11th of that month. The entire project cost $12,051 and so an additional $2,500 of the mortgage money was used to pay off the outstanding indebtedness on the Franklin Turnpike property. The Parish now owned a Church on Hollywood Avenue, a Parish House on Sheridan Avenue, and a Rectory on Franklin Turnpike. It was not the most convenient arrangement but in terms of facilities St. Bartholomew's was better off than it had ever been.

       These were not the best of times to be in debt, however. The Great Depression had arrived and many were experiencing hard times. Contributions to the Church were inevitably affected. In February 1937 Mr. Chillson resigned in order to take up new duties in Pompton Lakes. By April of that year the bank was threatening to foreclose on the new Parish House since the mortgage payments were in arrears. Charles Millett, in the absence of a Rector, had the unpleasant task of presiding over a Vestry meeting at which the entire Franklin Turnpike property including the Rectory was turned over to the bank for the sum of one dollar in exchange for release from the debt which at the time was $10,000. As difficult as this decision must have been for all concerned it guaranteed the Parish would continue. Its door would not be shut.

       In June of that year the Vestry extended an invitation to the Reverend C. Alfred Voegeli to become the third Rector. This he agreed to do while retaining at the same time his position as Vicar of St. Andrew's in Harrington Park. Mr. Voegeli served St. Bartholomew's for slightly over one year before resigning in order to become the Dean of the Cathedral at Ancon in the Canal Zone. Five years later he was consecrated Bishop and served as the Missionary Bishop of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Mr. Voegeli thus became the first former Rector to be elevated to the office of Bishop.

       With Mr. Voegeli's departure the Parish hit a low point. For nine months the Church was serviced by neighboring Rectors and supply priests. The Diocese was supportive during this period and Bishop Stearly sent Canon W. O. Leslie to pay frequent visits in an attempt to provide encouragement. But at the end of the decade of the 1930's the future of St. Bartholomew's must have looked uncertain at best.

Daniel W. Kreller, Kreller@aol.com