The Beacon January 2016 First Unitarian Church News Coffee Cabinet

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First Unitarian ChurchThe News BeaconJanuary 2016 TheJanuary Beacon 2016 1 First Unitarian Church of Baltimore HOPE,, SSOCIAL JUSTICE AND LIBERAL RELIGIOUS VALUES Corner Charles & Franklin Streets From Our Ministerial January services

Intern 2015/2016 Theme: A Whole People on a Journey Together BY DIANA DAVIES MINISTERIAL INTERN Services at 11 A.M. in our Historic Sanctuary First Unitarian will be offering chalice circles for January 3 “’Singing In’ the New Year” newcomers (and those who Rev. David Carl Olson and many musical friends think of themselves as A morning of telling our truth: the dreams we share “new-ish”) this spring. All and the font of inspiration that gives us hope in the New newcomers, new members, Year. Blessings, friends! and those who have been DIANA DAVIES January 10 Rev. Dale Lantz attending First Unitarian for "Burning Coals -- Wilderness Cries” a while but are still seeking a way to connect, are wel- What does it mean to be a Unitarian Universalist? come to attend. Is there some sense in which we are "being chosen" in The Newcomers’ Chalice Circles are small groups this chaotic, challenging world of so much anger and so of six to ten people who meet twice monthly, at the much suffering and despair? First U Community Minis- church, for about three months (March through May). ter Reverend Dale Lantz will explore these and other Circles help people to get to know each other on a questions with the congregation. deeper level and encourage the development of a rich- er spirituality through deep and open discussion of January 17 Rev. David Carl Olson chosen topics. Each 90-minute circle is led by a “Still Dreaming, #Black Lives Matter” trained facilitator or co-facilitators. People gather, The gift of love that will carry our hearts and our com- opening words are spoken, a chalice is lit, and there is munity for a lifetime, and thus grow our souls, rests on time for each participant to “check in.” There is then a fundamental agreements to live righteous lives. Not time for the consideration of a theme or topic during easy to do! But our Minister will offer a thought or two. which participants, rather than arguing ideas, share (“Spirituality for Black Lives” discussion at 9:30 a.m.) personally from their life experiences how they have experienced the topic at hand. The themes are specifi- January 24 Rev. Jamil Scott (via video) cally selected to be relevant to newcomers and new “Mutuality Movement, Meditation for Millennials” members who are still exploring Unitarian Universal- The Sophia Lyon Fahs Collaborative of Meadville Lom- ism and/or are learning what it is like to practice this bard Theological School named Rev. Jamil Scott a Fel- faith at First Unitarian. For example, the topic might low for Innovation in Contemplative Practice and Social be how we Engagement. His study led to the creation of a medita- as a liberal tion training for Millennial activists working for racial religion deal justice. We will view a short video on his research, and INSIDE with con- spend time in mindful quiet. cepts like sin (“Spirituality for Black Lives” discussion at 9:30 a.m.)

FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH NEWS or salvation, January 31 Rev. David Carl Olson or the prob- “What if God was One of Us?” Page lem of suf- If God is really paying attention to the world we live in, Coffee Cabinet 2 fering in the Membership Corner 3 shouldn’t God be angry? Political strife, environmental world and in degradation, division among people, all these run coun- The Book Group 3 our very own Our Daily Bread 3 ter to the values of our faith. And we, too, are often an- city. gry. How do we pay attention and not get angry? How Treasurer’s Report 4 Why might History - Acoustics at 1st Unitarian 6 do we touch a deep and sad joy? Let’s breathe . . . you consider Religious Education 14 (“Spirituality for Black Lives” discussion at 9:30 a.m.) 2016 Annual Legislative Meeting 14 joining a Winter Retreat 15 Newcomers’ (Continued on page 6) (Continued on page 6)

2 The Beacon January 2016 First Unitarian Church News Coffee Cabinet

BY REV. DAVID CARL OLSON MINISTER Dear congregation, dear community, We could— and will—talk for Happy New Year! hours and days about what has hap- This is my seventh January serving in Baltimore. pened in our coun- Seven years ago this month, I travelled from Flint, Michi- try since that mo- gan to Annapolis, Maryland, for just a few days. My semi- ment. For me, the nary friend Rev. Elissa Leone rented a home for a week so necessity of con- that a gang of us could attend the inauguration of Barack scious work by Obama as forty-fourth President of the United States. It White people (and was the journey of a lifetime. their friends) in building institutions The days I spent driving to Maryland were filled that will dismantle DAVID CARL OLSON with anticipation, and the early morning of driving to New racism is affirmed Carrolton and taking the Metro into DC began a very long more vigorously every day. This month, we will embark day of lines and waiting—and many hours of joy. I could on a special project, “Forty Days of Black Lives Matter,” not believe that my nation had elected a Black man to the beginning on the birth date of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., highest office in the land. And I could barely believe the and ending on the birth date of Dr. W. E. Burghardt Du- caring and optimism exhibited by thousands upon thou- Bois. From Friday, January 15, to Tuesday, February 23, sands of people in every corner of the city. we will feature in the life of our church another opportuni- ty to pay attention to anti-racist thought, action and spirituality. We will fill our classrooms, our pulpit, our justice action in the community, and our on-line presence with (Rev.) David Carl Olson attention and dedication. Working with Rev. Alma Faith [email protected] Crawford, interfaith minister of the online Congregation First Unitarian Church of Baltimore (Universalist & for Black Lives, we will re-commit ourselves to the joyful Unitarian) task of working for racial justice. cell/text: (410) 350-9339 (preferred) study: (410) 685-2330 On the drive back to Michigan seven years ago, I Open Hours in the Study: stopped by the corner of Charles and Franklin Streets. I Mondays 1 to 4 P.M. walked up and down the streets, and, in a moment of de- Wednesdays 4 to 7 P.M. sire and intuition, I stepped into Carolyn’s Garden and (also a time to prepare with Worship Associates) reached up to touch the walls of our Sanctuary. I spoke to Weekend off begins at 5 P.M. on Thursday, and ends at 10 the stones and stucco, and asked if I might come and share A.M. on Saturday. E-mail will not be responded to on my "weekend." a life with that venerable building and the precious congregation it held. I placed my ear close to the cold surface, Mnister’s Other Hours and closed my eyes, breathed deeply, and listened. “You Tuesday is reserved for visitation. Please text or call me at (410) 350-9339 are welcome here,” the building whispered, “you are wel- if you would like to be visited. come.”

Thursday is a writing day at the library and in my home study. I am grateful.

Minister’s Self-Care Much love, My Sabbath is from Thursday at 5 p.m. to Saturday at 10 a.m. I am always “on call” for pastoral and other concerns. Do not hesitate to contact me if there is something you’d like to talk about or do. It is always a good idea to contact me in advance if you are coming to the church to see me. I am most accessible by David Carl Olson, Minister text message at (410) 350-9339. Thank you! The Kids Call Me “Rev”

First Unitarian Church News January 2016 The Beacon 3 Membership Corner - New Member Lynda Davis

My name is Lynda Davis. I am from Pasadena, MD and currently live in Lin- thicum, MD. I am a geriatric social worker. I do historical and genealogical research in my spare time. A few years ago, I began wondering how I could use my historical and genealogical research for the greater good and found an organization called Coming to the Table, a national racial reconciliation organization founded by descendants of people who enslaved others and people who were enslaved. Through my involvement with Coming to the Table, I met many Unitarian Universalists (UU) and attended several Unitarian Universalist churches in the Baltimore-Washington Metro Area. Through these contacts, I found out about and have attended A Dialogue on Race and Ethnicity (ADORE) and the Jubilee Anti- Racism Training. Around this same time, I also remembered that I have deep Uni- tarian Universalist roots in my family. My great grandparents were members of the Universalist Unitarian Church of Brockton, Massachusetts; my father attended this church as a boy. When I told my uncle, who attends a Unitarian Universalist church in Plymouth, Massachusetts, that I was thinking of joining a Unitarian Universalist church, he said I was already a Unitarian Universalist, although it had not been formalized. So I decided to formalize matters, come back to my roots, and join the First Unitarian Church of Baltimore, where I hope to do more with LYNDA DAVIS ADORE and Jubilee.

review/Benfey-t.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0. It's a TV The Book Group miniseries and a musical, but first, it was this book! BY MIKE FRANCH The Book Group meets in a home BOOK GROUP CHAIRPERSON in Mt. Washington. Contact Mike Franch at [email protected] for The Book Group meets Thursday, information. You don't need to be a Jan. 28, 7:30-9:30 to discuss Hilary regular Book Group member to attend Mantel's Wolf Hall, a novel of the and participate in the friendly, lively age of Henry VIII. Here's the discussions. New people are very much New York Times review: http:// welcomed. MIKE FRANCH www.nytimes.com/2009/11/01/books/

Our Daily Bread Mission

BY HELEN SZYMKOWIAK First Unitarian Church of Baltimore At this time of resolutions, why is the spiritual home not resolve to spend some time pre- of a diverse and mutually supportive paring food for the guests of Our community of people Daily Bread? We're up for FIVE cooking sessions this year, and the who strive to build first is January 30th. Come on our deep historical roots at 8:30 if you'd like to get things as a congregation started, a little later to cook. There to be a beacon of hope, social justice will be coffee and a snack to sustain and liberal religious values us. Please let me know if you'll be HELEN SZYMKOWIAK in Baltimore and in the world. there. Helen Szymkowiak - [email protected]

4 The Beacon January 2016 First Unitarian Church News Treasurer’s Report for November, 2015

BY CLARE MILTON TREASURER

Expenses for the fiscal year have finally come to ex- amended to change the ceed income, although by less than was budgeted. The name of the Major bequest from Lilian Dailey does not appear in the Operat- Maintenance and Re- ing Budget income. The congregation has voted to use a pair Fund to “Perpetual portion of this bequest to match donations to a new Fund Maintenance and Re- set up to improve the acoustics of the Sanctuary and to pair Fund”. This substitute a new legal system for Assisted Listening for would make it more the now illegal old system, which had dwindled to two obvious that the princi- CLARE MILTON receivers. pal of this fund is to be conserved and that only its income (and appreciation in The estimated cost of the new systems was $47,526, excess of increases in the Cost of Living) is to be spent. so donations of $23,763 are needed from the congrega- If the Board were to initiate such an amendment it could tion. As of the first of December, 34 pledges, amounting be considered at any regular or special Congregational to $15,620, have been received from 34 pledging units. meeting and adopted at the next succeeding Congrega- The median pledge so far has been $250. tional meeting.

Your Treasurer recommends that the Bylaws be The Income/Expense tabulation is below.

First Unitarian Church News January 2016 The Beacon 5

6 The Beacon January 2016 First Unitarian Church News Historical Perspectives #71

The Troublesome Acoustics of First Independent/Unitarian Church of 1 Baltimore CATHERINE EVANS

SUBMITTED BY CATHERINE EVANS The acoustics of the First Independent Church of heard William Ellery Channing’s ordination sermon, Baltimore [First Unitarian] have posed challenges to the the ceremonies connected with which were more ministers and congregations since the first services than two hours in length. The story goes that a min- were conducted here in 1818. As Rebecca Funk ob- ister in a nearby church remarked from his pulpit, serves in A Heritage to Hold in Fee, the history of ‘There has been a new church erected in our city for the church from 1817-1917, “Although the Church the dissemination of pernicious doctrines, but by the building as designed by Maximilian Godefroy was grace of God, nobody can hear what the minister has satisfying to the eyes of the congregation, there was to say.’ Each minister complained bitterly of the a growing realization of its shortcomings as a place acoustics, and many attempts were made to remedy of worship.”2 Funk also notes that early in the histo- the fault, but to no avail.”3 Even the casual visitor to ry of the church “The acoustics of the auditorium the Church would comment upon this weakness in a proved very faulty, and no doubt were a serious ob- description of the Church. In an 1831 letter, a visitor stacle to the growth and usefulness of the Church. It commented “The Unitarian church which I attended is said that only those seated in the first three rows (Continued on page 7)

Ministerial Intern (Continued from page 1) January Services Chalice Circle? (Continued from page 1)

• To make connections with others in the congregation Jan. 3, 5:30 p.m. Special Service in Enoch and with other newcomers; Pratt Parish Hall • To experience community; “Odyssey: a quiet time of candlelight, medita- • To share deeply from your life experience and to lis- tion and personal story” ten receptively to the experience of others; On the first Sunday of the month, a circle is • To connect your religious values with your life. formed in the Parish Hall for a quiet service of spirituality and story, with a member of the community If you are interested in participating in a circle, please sharing a spiritual journey, and a chance for others contact me at [email protected]; you to respond. There will be an extended period of may also sign up with the Membership Committee quiet and meditation. Following the circle, a simple through its chair, Nancy Benjamin, at nan- meal of soup and bread is shared. cyb235@comcast.net or call (410) 235-7338. Please indi- cate your interest no later than the end of January, as we The Worship Associates meet immediately after. will need to set up the groups and train facilitators in Feb- Anyone interested in becoming part of the Worship ruary. Associates Team is welcome to attend and stay for the meeting. We are also seeking people who are willing to serve as facilitators or co-facilitators. If you are interested, and are already a member or an active friend of the congregation, please let me know as soon as possible. Training will To see the church calendar, click here: be provided! First Unitarian Church Calendar

First Unitarian Church News January 2016 The Beacon 7

acoustic defects of the present Church building and Acoustics their remedies…’”9 10 (Continued from page 6) During Rev. Charles Richmond Weld’s minis- last Sunday may be called a splendid building, but try at the Church (1873-1898), successive efforts badly contrived as the sound of the word of the were made to improve the acoustics. Nathaniel H. speaker does not strike the ear either pleasantly or Morison11, a member of the Church and the first distinctly.”4 Throughout its 197-year history, each Provost of the Peabody Institute, “…made a study of generation at the Church has analyzed the problems acoustics [and] recommended a parabolic shell be- it faced and sought to improve the acoustics through hind the pulpit. This was a device which had been consultation with experts used successfully in other and the technology avail- auditoriums and Dr. Weld able at the time. thought it was some help In 1933, George M. in this case.”12 Miller, a University of Later, “Mr. Enoch Pratt13 Maryland engineering and Mr. George C. Pen- student, conducted a niman14 conducted study of the First Unitari- ‘acoustic experiments’ an Church, examining which were unsuccessful documents in the archives [in 1880]…On May 28, and interviewing Church 1880, Mr. George P. Tif- personnel and members. fany15, Registrar, records In The History and Con- that ‘committees were struction of the Unitarian appointed to employ Mr. Church Building, he de- Charles E. Cassell16 as scribes the problem as architect and superinten- follows, “The architect, dent to make a contract although he created a no- for carrying out the altera- ble structure, overlooked tions of The Church in two very important de- accordance with the plan tails. The height of the and specifications pre- building and its shape sented and adopted at the made it practically im- meeting…The acoustics possible to heat the remained a problem as church or to hear the ser- outlined in a letter from mon when sitting in the NATHANIEL HOLMES MORISON (1815-1890), MEMBER OF FIRST Mr. Cassell dated March rear pews. The acoustics UNITARIAN AND SUPERINTENDENT OF ITS SUNDAY SCHOOL, WAS 16, 1880, to Rev. Dr. were so bad that one min- THE PROVOST OF THE PEABODY INSTITUTE. HE DESIGNED A PAR- Weld—‘I propose hang- ABOLIC SHELL FOR THE CHANCEL TO IMPROVE THE CHURCH ister resigned, claiming ACOUSTICS. ing curtains across the that he would lose his base of the dome; a verti- voice if he continued to preach.”5 cal one in the arch on North, South, East and West In its first fifty years, repeated economic down- sides; a horizontal one at the spring of Apse Ceil- turns, turbulent external socio-political dynamics, ing…”17 This remedy failed to solve the problem and and the precarious financial circumstances of the it remained difficult to hear the minister. Church combined to prevent any major efforts to ad- As the seventy-fifth anniversary of the dedica- dress the acoustic problems. However, after the con- tion of the Church building approached, plans were clusion of the Civil War, “As early as December 17, forged for an anniversary celebration. Funk notes 1866, a letter was addressed to the Board of Trustees that “The cost and annoyance of constant repairs, by a self-appointed committee composed of Judge renovations and replacements on the Church build- Thomas J. Morris6, Mr. Thomas T. Phillips7 and Mr. ing brought the Board of Trustees to a decision to William P. Cole8. It said in part—‘We respectfully take a drastic step. On January 9, 1892, they ap- request the Board of Trustees to convene the Pew- pointed a committee to present plans for a owners...to take up and consider the subject of ‘renovation of the building’—Mr. Alonzo Lilly18,

8 The Beacon January 2016 First Unitarian Church News original interior were used… [A] curved ceiling Acoustics [was] designed by Mr. Sperry, which is supported by (Continued from page 7) the arches amid columns on each side of the church. Mr. Charles F. Pitt19 These columns are and Mr. Long.20”21 made of 12’’ x 12” On February 17, timbers and extend 1892, the committee upward until the gave a report, which tops are almost lev- included a list of the el with the highest following concerns: part of the ceiling. the reseating the They act as sup- Church and enlarg- ports for the four ing the chancel; the roof trusses, which need of a new or- in turn help support gan; the repair of the ceiling… the roof, cornice, practically all mem- gutters, and the bers are timber and stucco work on the there appears to be outside; the repair an exceptionally of the front steps, high factor of safety replacing the enclo- EARLY PHOTO OF THE SANCTUARY - NOTE THE SMALL SIZE OF THE CHANCEL AND in the design. The sure with stone THE GAS LIGHTS IN THE PEWS ceiling proper is curbing; new plumb- made of curved raft- ing in chapel and repainting outside of chapel [now ers, strongly braced, which support the laths and the called the Enoch Pratt Parish Hall]; re-frescoing and paneled plaster work. There are one hundred and replacing the heating apparatus; and the considera- thirty-five of these panels, which are arranged in tion of ventilation. nine rows of fifteen It was also each. The lighting hoped that a plan system consists of for the reconstruc- one electric light at tion of the auditori- the center of each um could be de- panel.”23 vised which would Joseph Evans Sper- retain many of the ry was “‘regarded architectural fea- for years as the tures of the original Dean of Baltimore design and pre- architects’ having serve the beauty of designed buildings the auditorium. for Johns Hopkins Baltimore architect University and Joseph Evans Sper- Medical School, ry22 presented such the Union Memori- a plan in 1891, fea- al Hospital, Equita- turing a barrel- ble Building, Cal- THE CHANCEL WITH THE PARABOLIC SHELL TO IMPROVE ACOUSTICS vaulted ceiling to vert Building, Em- be inserted beneath the dome and the creation of erson Hotel, Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal massive supporting columns. Miller writes, “Mr. Jo- Church24 and others…The minutes of the Board for seph Evans Sperry was engaged to completely re- January 10, 1894, record—‘That a vote of thanks be model the interior of the church. These alterations extended to Mr. J. E. Sperry for his efficient labor as required more than a year of labor and were com- architect in remodeling the church and for his gener- pleted in October 1893. Little of the beauty was ous contribution in giving his services for the same lost, as the same architectural characteristics of the without compensation.’”25

First Unitarian Church News January 2016 The Beacon 9

E. Sperry, who has accomplished a good work in “On Monday morning, October 30, 1893, the the improvement of the acoustics as well as cre- Baltimore Sun published the following under the ating a handsome interior. The original building headline A Unitarian Temple: A New and Beautiful was designed by an eminent French architect, Interior Constructed in a Venerable Edifice: Godefroy, whose most successful work was in cathedral architecture. Following out of the bent The eyes of the worshipers were gladdened of his fancy, he made the Baltimore Unitarian by a very beautiful scene when the doors were re Church a cathedral building in form with a mas- -opened after being closed to them for many sive dome, which, imposing as it was to look at, months. An interior of spotless white was seen was sadly detrimental to the acoustics. This de- where the former time-stained walls had been. fect is done away with by the arching of the ceil- The old dome had partly disappeared and in its ing, though the old dome still remains and lends place rose a lofty, massive arched ceiling, richly interest to the exterior of the church, to which no ornamented with stucco work. Heavy columns changes are at present contemplated.”26 supported the arched ceiling and formed a divid- ing masonry between the nave and the side While the barrel-vaulted ceiling constructed at aisles. Ceiling, walls, arches and columns were the end of the nineteenth century did improve the all white, and though it is the intention ultimately acoustics, it also hid the dramatic dome. However, as to fresco the church, the pure colorless surface Miller observes “By climbing a winding stairway presented so fair an appearance that the gazers access to the old dome may be gained. Here the old felt grateful that the present treatment of the inte- beauty is at once apparent, for the plaster and deco- rior would be left untouched for probably several rations are still in excellent condition. Only by ex- years to come. The effect is not over bright, for treme care in construction, and the use of the best the light from the large windows on the outer materials, could the builder produce such an endur- walls was somewhat subdued by the partial sepa- ing structure. All rafters and lathes are sound; the ration of nave and side aisles, thus giving a suffi- rafters appear to have been hewn to the desired cur- ciently churchly dimness. The choir gallery, vature.”27 It should be noted that the dome remains with the ornamented pipes of the handsome new in excellent condition over eighty years later. Archi- organ adding an effective touch of color to the tect Doug Harnsberger28 who spoke about the dome south wall, carried out the graceful form of the at our Dedication Day celebration on October 29, building’s architecture. Heavy pillars supported 2015, called it the best preserved of the American the chancel arches, and against their snowy sur- Neo-Classical era Delorme domes. face were outlined the spreading green palms After enduring the poor acoustic conditions of clustered about the pulpit, lectern and commun- the Church for seventy-five years, it is, perhaps, ion table. Masses of white and golden-petaled ironic that this drastic reconstruction of the interior chrysanthemums bordered the old pulpit from of the Church was undertaken to address them on the which the sermons in olden times were preached, threshold of an era that, through electronic voice am- and bright autumn flowers decorated the marble plification, would render them unnecessary. In the altar, which was the base of the pulpit in former 1870’s, Ernst Werner Siemens and Alexander Gra- times, but now, with its time-honored gilded ham Bell were both working on key elements of cross ornamental garland still adorning the front what would lead to loudspeaker systems.29 In 1874, slab, forms an appropriate communion table. Siemens applied for a U.S. patent for what he de- The organ, which formed no unimportant part scribed as a dynamic, or moving-coil, transducer. In of the dedicatory exercises, was the gift of Mr. 1876, Alexander Graham Bell applied the technolo- Enoch Pratt. It is a large two-manual instrument, gy in the telephone. In 1911, Edwin S. Pridham and with varied stops and full pedal scale and has a Peter L. Jensen invented the world’s first PA system, full rich tone. The floor of the church was cov- which they called the “Magnavox.”30 ered with handsome carpet of old gold shades, In the mid-twentieth century, the congregation and the same tint was seen in the cushions of the experimented with a limited amplification system. pews. At the time of the renovation of the Church and con- The reconstruction of the church was made struction of the education building in 1954, a new under the direction of the Baltimore architect, J. (Continued on page 10)

10 The Beacon January 2016 First Unitarian Church News your name and address to the Church care of Clare Acoustics Milton, Treasurer, First Unitarian Church of Balti- (Continued from page 9) more, 1 W. Hamilton Street, Baltimore, MD 21201 system was installed.31 Additions and replacements or to [email protected]. of equipment have continued to the present day. While we do not have the kinds of acoustic challenges which the early congregations at the Church en- 1“The First Independent Church of Baltimore” was countered, we do face a variety of problems and in- the original name of our church. The name was adequacies with our present system. In the spring of changed to “First Unitarian Church (Universalist and 2015, growing dissatisfaction led the Board of Trus- Unitarian),” the one we still use, in 1935 at the time tees to request that the Buildings and Grounds Com- of the merger with the Second Universalist Society. mittee seek expert advice in conducting a thorough First Unitarian Church of Baltimore is the oldest assessment of the present system and making recom- “purpose-built” Unitarian Church in North America. mendations for an improved system. At the Board’s This means that it is the oldest Unitarian church built November 4, 2015 meeting, Richard Gilpin, repre- by Unitarians for the purpose of being a Unitarian senting the Buildings and Grounds Committee, pre- church. sented “AV Systems Basis of Design Report Pre- pared for First Unitarian Church of Baltimore.”32 2 Rebecca Funk, A Heritage to Hold in Fee 1817- A congregational meeting was called for No- 1917: First Unitarian Church of Baltimore vember 22, 2015, to consider the Board’s proposal (Universalist and Unitarian) (Baltimore: Garamond that the “congregation use funds from the recently- Press, 1962), p. 95. received Dailey bequest to match funds raised by the congregation, to purchase a sanctuary sound system 3Funk, p. 14. based on the report by Cerami and Associates33.” Rev. David Carl Olson spoke to the positive features 4Cited from a letter by T. Hall Woodman in Balti- of the plan, citing the expanded number and quality more on March 29, 1831, to his father in Rochester, of assisted listening devices; up-to-date programma- New Hampshire. This letter is currently on offer on ble speaker options tailored to the sanctuary space, eBay; its provenance is not known. increasing clarity and decreasing the echo-effect; monitors in the chancel and organ loft where none 5George M. Miller, The History and Construction of presently exist; and increased versatility through ad- the Unitarian Church Building at Charles and ditional microphones; and improved recorders yield- Franklin Streets, Baltimore, Maryland, A Thesis ing a much higher quality recording, which will be Prepared for Initiation into the Beta Chapter of available through podcast on computers and Maryland of the Tau Beta Pi Honorary Engineering smartphones. It was observed that this would be an Society, January 6, 1933, p. 11. The anecdote about excellent step in getting ready for the many special the minister resigning over the acoustics has not bicentennial events to occur in the Church from been independently verified. Note: this monograph 2017-2019. may be viewed on-line in the digital library of the The congregation approved the expenditures University of Maryland’s Phi Mu Archives Collec- to improve the sound system in the sanctuary, with tion. Google the author and title, select the entry for half of the estimated cost ($23,763) to be raised by the Phi Mu archive, scroll down to the table of con- the congregation, and the other half ($23,763) to tents, and click on the entry for this volume. come from a recently-received bequest by deceased member Lillian Dailey. Prior to the Congregational 6Thomas J. Morris (1837-1912) was born in Balti- Meeting, all Board members made a personal pledge more, graduated from Harvard in 1856, studied law towards the project. Members of the Church who in Baltimore, and was admitted to the bar in 1871. attended the Congregational Meeting were asked to Morris was appointed to be judge of the United make a pledge that day and many did so. As of the States District Court for the District of Maryland by end of November, $15,620 has been pledged to the President Hayes in 1879, serving in the position for project amounting to 66% of the goal. If you have thirty-three years. He was a member of the Board of not yet pledged to this project, please consider doing Trustees (1893-1912), serving in the influential posi- so. Send a written notice of your pledge amount with tion of Registrar (Secretary) for much of that time.

First Unitarian Church News January UU 2016Community The Beacon News 11

He was also a Vice President of the American Uni- Weld, Part VI: “…an apostle of beauty and applied tarian Association and a Vice President of the Inter- Christianity…” national Congress of Religious Liberals. Otherwise prominent in civic activities, Judge Morris was Vice 11Nathaniel Holmes Morison (1815-1890) was born President of the Board of the Enoch Pratt Free Li- in Peterborough, New Hampshire, where he was brary, a Trustee of The Johns Hopkins University raised as a Unitarian. He attended Phillips Exeter and the Maryland School for the Blind, and Presi- Academy and Harvard College. Upon graduation, he dent of the Board of Directors of the Aged Men’s moved to Baltimore, where he became one of the and Women’s Home in Baltimore. He was listed as teachers in a fashionable school for girls. In 1841, he “one of the most prominent peace advocates and started his own school. For three years, he studied Unitarians in America.” Noted Baltimore sculptor theology with Rev. Dr. George Washington Burnap Hans Schuler created a marble plaque in Judge Mor- at the First Independent Church. In 1842, he married ris’ memory which is on the west wall of the Church. Sydney Buchanan Brown, the sister of George Wil- (See Historical Perspectives #64, June, 2015, liam Brown, in the Church on December 17, 1842. “Notable First Unitarians: Judge Thomas J. Mor- Their children were all baptized in the Church: ris.”) Francis (1844); George Brown (1846); Earnest Na- thaniel (1848); Robert George (1851); William 7Thomas T. Phillips is listed as a member of the con- George (1854); John Homes (1857); and Alice Syd- gregation in Vital Records of the First Independent ney (1859). Nathaniel H. Morison was a trustee of Church, Baltimore, Maryland, 1818-1921, edited First Independent Church and served for many years and arranged by Mrs. Edwin C. Gibbons, Jr. (Family as superintendent of its Sunday School. In 1867, he Line Publications: Silver Spring, Maryland, 1987), was invited by the trustees to take charge of the Pea- p. 33-34. body Institute and he became its first provost. He collaborated with Baltimore architect Edmund G. 8William P. Cole is listed as a pew owner the Church Lind on the layout and design of the Library of the in 1865 and 1869. In 1876, Cole, Enoch Pratt, and Institute. Completed in 1878, the iconic interior of Rev. Charles R. Weld were the three Baltimore dele- the building features an atrium that, over a black and gates to the Meeting of the National Conference of white marble floor, soars 61 feet to a latticed sky- Unitarian and Other Christian Churches held in Sara- light surrounded by five tiers of ornamental cast-iron toga, New York. He and his wife, Emiline, were balconies and gold-scalloped columns. He oversaw parents of Edwin Curtis, William Roswell, Marion all operations of the Institute, including the Library, Billings, Francis Osborn, Florence Baker, Charles the Lecture Series, the Music Conservatory, and the Pliny, Hore Esther and Channing Burnap. Vital Rec- Art Gallery. He was especially involved in the crea- ords of the First Independent Church, Baltimore, p. tion of the Catalogue of the Library, a highly regard- 8. ed landmark of librarianship in its time. 9Funk, p. 95. 12Funk, p. 14. 10Charles Richmond Weld was the sixth minister of First Unitarian, serving from 1873-1898. For more 13Enoch Pratt (1808-1896) was a major Baltimore information about his ministry, see the following merchant, banker and philanthropist. He was a articles in the Beacon “Historical Perspectives” se- member of First Unitarian for the 65 years of his life ries: #45 (11/13) “Rev. Charles Richmond Weld, in Baltimore, serving for decades on its Board of Part I: a Time of Construction and Definition”; #46 Trustees, variously as President and Treasurer. His (12/13) “Rev. Charles Richmond Weld, Part II: A life and work have been profiled in a number of Time of Service and a Focus on Children and Educa- “Historical Perspectives” articles in the Beacon, in- tion”; #47 (1/14) “Rev. Charles Richmond Weld, cluding #7 (9/10) “Enoch Pratt’s Legacy”; #19 Part III: A Time of Rebuilding”; #48 (2/14) “Rev. (9/11) “Enoch Pratt Parish Hall”; #29 (7/12) “Pratt Charles Richmond Weld, Part IV: A Time of Re- Hall Panels”; #31 (9/12) “The Civil War and First consecration”; #49 (3/14) “Rev. Charles Richmond Unitarian, Part II - Mr. Pratt and Rev. Ware” ; #43 Weld, Part V: “Raising the bottom of society (9/13) “Enoch Pratt: Practicing Generosity; Edward through working to destroy poverty, viciousness, and Sheffield Bartholomew”; #55 (9/14) “Enoch Pratt wrong…”; #50 (4/14) “Rev. Charles Richmond (Continued on page 12)

UU12 The COMMUNITY Beacon January NEW 2016S First Unitarian Church News

Acoustics 17Funk, p. 95-96. (Continued from page 11) (September 8, 1808-September 17, 1896): Model- 18Alonzo Lilly, Jr. (1841-1941) was the son of ing Philanthropy – Blessed Are the Merciful”; #67 Alonzo Lilly and Mary Ann Entler. He was a prom- (9/15) “Who Was Enoch Pratt?”. inent businessman, a partner in the retail pharmacy of Lilly, Rogers & Co. and, earlier, in the Nelaton 14George C. Penniman (1805-1885), a member of Remedy Co. The Lilly family was originally from First Unitarian, helped to build the first telegraph Massachusetts and was affiliated with First Unitari- line between Baltimore and Washington. He was a an during the decades of their residence in Balti- man of means, acquired through a long business more. In later years, Alonzo Lilly, Jr. moved to career and was a friend to many of the prominent Denver for health reasons. businessmen of his era. 19Charles Faris Pitt, Jr. (1844-1908) and his family 15George Peabody Tiffany (1828-1887) was the son were members of First Unitarian (Vital Records of of Osmond Capron Tiffany and Ann Checkley the First Independent Church, Baltimore, p. 34). Shaw. Both father and son and their families were “Charles F. Pitt & Sons, Commission Merchants members of First Unitarian, serving on the Board and Importers, Office: No. 121 West Lombard and in leadership capacities. George P. Tiffany was Street.—One of the most solid and substantial es- the Orator of the Harvard Class of 1848. Osmond tablishments in Baltimore is that of Charles F. Pitt C. Tiffany founded the Baltimore Cotton Factory on & Son, commission merchants and importers, with the Gunpowder River, and Laurel Factory on the their headquarters at No. 121 West Lombard street. Patuxent. George P. Tiffany was also a cotton man- The establishment dates back its origin to the year ufacturer. The 1850 manufacturing census de- 1836, and since that time its management has been scribes the Patuxent Manufacturing Company as characterized with a broad, liberal and enterprising employing 200 men and 300 women operatives. policy, and it has occupied a prominent and con- The factory annually produced three million yards spicuous position in the commerce of this city. The of sheeting valued at $250,000. When their busi- specialties of this house are English chemicals, ni- ness partner, Horace Capron, went bankrupt in the trate of soda, and fertilizing chemicals, and in this 1850’s, the Tiffany family assumed operations of line they have the largest and most extensive stock, the Mill, under the presidency of George P. Tiffany. and at the same time the best and cheapest in the George P. Tiffany served on the Board of the market. The individual members of the firm are Spring Grove Asylum and the Peabody Institute. Charles F. Pitt and his sons, Faris C. Pitt and C. F. Pitt, Jr.” Industries of Maryland: A Descriptive Re- 16Charles E. Cassell (1842-1916) was born in Ports- view of the Manufacturing and Mercantile Indus- mouth, Virginia. During the Civil War he served as tries of the City of Baltimore (Historical Publishing a captain in the engineers corps under General Company, 1882), p. 366. Pickett of the Confederate Army. After the war, he traveled to South America and served in the Chilean 20Mr. Long has not been identified. Navy. He returned to the United States and practiced architecture in St. Louis before coming to Bal- 21Funk, p. 96. timore about 1868. Cassell is believed to have invented a system of sidewalk paving incorporating 22Joseph Evans Sperry was born in 1854 in Georgetown, thick glass cylinders to admit light to basements. South Carolina. He later relocated to Baltimore, Mary- Among his designs were a country house for Albert land, working in the office of architect E. Francis Bald- Hutzler, Friends School near the intersection of win from 1872-76, and then partnering with James Bos- North and Park avenues, and the Greek Orthodox ley Noel Wyatt to form the architectural firm Wyatt and Sperry. Their affiliation lasted from 1878 to 1887. With Cathedral of the Annunciation. Cassell was a found- Wyatt, he designed a number of buildings around Balti- ing member of the Baltimore Chapter of the AIA in more before breaking off on his own. Sperry became one 1870.

First Unitarian Church News January 2016 The Beacon 13 of Baltimore's leading architects, designing many public of Architectural Historians at the American Philosophical buildings, including churches, hospitals, and banks. In Society on Delorme's Dome in Early Neoclassical Ameri- 1914 he was named an AIA Fellow. Sperry's most famous ca. Since 2014, he has visited First Unitarian several building is probably the Emerson "Bromo-Seltzer" Tower times, taking digital photographs and arranging for a laser in Baltimore. Sperry's buildings were designed in a varie- scan of the Church. ty of styles, but overall were eclectic. Sperry practiced architecture independently from 1888 until he died in 29Ernst Werner Siemens (von Siemens from 1888; 1816– 1930. Wikipedia 1892) was a German inventor and industrialist and the founder of the electrical and telecommunications compa- 23Miller, p. 12. ny Siemens. Siemens’s name has been adopted as the SI unit of electrical conductance, the siemens. Alexander 24Joseph Evans Sperry built many of the Baltimore’s no- Graham Bell (1847–1922) was a Scottish-born scientist, table buildings, including: the Equitable Building, locat- inventor, engineer and innovator who is credited with ed at 10 North Calvert Street [This ten story building, patenting the first practical telephone. Bell had many oth- built in 1891and known as Baltimore’s first skyscraper er inventions, including groundbreaking work in optical was gutted in the great fire of 1904, but its structure and telecommunications, hydrofoils and aeronautics. Wikipe- façade survived.]; the Calvert Building, built in 1900, dia located on the southeast corner of St. Paul and Fayette Street [It was restored after the 1904 fire, but later razed 30Edwin S. Pridham (1881–1963), born in Illinois, was an in 1971.]; the Emerson Hotel , located at the corner of electrical engineer, who cofounded the Commercial Wire- Baltimore and Calvert Streets, built for Capt. Isaac Emer- less and Development Co. with Peter Jensen and Richard son [It was completed in 1912 and razed in 1971.]; Saint O'Connor (1911). Peter Laurits Jensen (1886-1961) was Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, located at born in Denmark and came to the United States in 1905. 2013 St. Paul Street; the Brewer’s Exchange (also called Pridham and Jensen co-developed the first dynamic horn Murdock Place) at 20 Park Avenue; the Bromo Seltzer loudspeaker. For an interesting overview of the develop- Tower at the corner of Eutaw and Lombard Street; the ment of sound systems, see the history section of the web- Eutaw Place Temple (Oheb Shalom) in Bolton Hill; St. site of the Audio Engineering Society (AES). Mark’s Lutheran Church at 1900 St. Paul Street; and the Young Men’s and Young Women’s Hebrew Association 31Funk, p. 14. Building (also called the Jewish Community Center) at 305-311 W. Monument Street. 32Don Walters, Associate Principal, Cerami & Associates, Inc., “AV Systems Basis of Design Report Prepared for 25Funk, p. 99. the Frist Unitarian Church of Baltimore”, October 7, 2015. Don Walters is a leading industry engineer for over 26Funk, p. 97-98. 30 years with a wide range of project and technical management experience. With over 20 years’ experience as a 27Miller, p. 11. control system programmer, his designs are always developed with consideration for maximizing systems reliabil- 28Douglas Harnsberger is an Historical Architect with a ity and the end user experience. broad range of experience. He is the Principal at Legacy Architecture, LLC, with offices in Swarthmore, Pennsyl- 33Cerami & Associates is one of the premier acousti- vania, and Richmond, Virginia. He graduated from the cal and technology consulting firms in the world. University of California, Berkeley, with an A. B. in archi- Both visionary and pragmatic, it comprises acousti- tecture and political science and the University of Virgin- cal, audiovisual, and technology design consultants ia with a Masters in Architectural History. Harnsberger working together as one team. They focus their col- has a life-long interest in the Delorme Dome of which lective expertise and experience to help clients make First Unitarian’s is an example. He first studied First Unitarian’s dome in the late 70’s as part of the research the best decisions for a wide range of projects, in- for his Master’s Thesis. In 2011, Harnsberger was a Jef- cluding corporate facilities, hospitals, museums, la- ferson Fellow at the Robert H. Smith International Center boratories, courthouses, hotels, transportation hubs, for Jefferson Studies, pursuing historic architecture re- retail spaces and churches. A woman-owned busi- search on wood-laminated Delorme Domes from the ness, Victoria J. Cerami has led the firm for nearly American Neoclassical Movement (1800-1825). On May 30 years. 25, 2014, he delivered the Spring Lecture for the Society

14 The Beacon January 2016 First Unitarian Church News Religious Education Pete's Patter Float, observe, ask questions, see patterns

BY PETER PARTENOW INTERIM DIRECTOR OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Last month I reported about the types of observation that goal and that they are all trying to go in that direction; they I would undertake as part of the interim process. I've now are open to new ideas and change and to do something unan- spent some of my time in the past two months meeting with ticipated or different; they are open to making mistakes and groups within the congregation in 'cottage meetings' with the being forgiving. neighborhood circles and at church on Sundays. I've also Great teams are built by engagement; they collaborate spoken with a few individuals and hope to speak with more. with others; they help the community and the neighborhood; I've attended committee meetings, board and leadership they work together even when a new idea or method is pro- council meetings, social justice, worship and music events, posed. and just hung out around the church and talked with the peo- Great teams proceed through commitment; they stick ple who are there. I'm starting to draw impressions from the together with those with whom they've agreed to trust to car- data that I've generated. I will continue to acquire data into ry out those ideas and projects. January and will have an intermediate report thereafter. Great teams measure progress with accountability. Let me share with you some of the things that are going Sometimes, even with the best of intentions, they don't do as through my head while I work on the data. I am not just well as they want; they make mistakes; they admit their looking at the religious education program for children and shortcomings and learn from them. youth; I'm not just looking at our adult religious education Great teams succeed in combining small and large program; I'm not just looking at a lifespan religious educa- achievements. The individual has some ability to make tion program; I'm trying to take a systems look at the congre- change; working together the team can accomplish much gation. Because the world around us is changing--pretty fast- more. -I need to be looking at how religious communities might We here at First Unitarian Church of Baltimore have lots also be changing--or not changing enough. of great volunteers; we have the makings of a great team; we Religious communities and many other organizations all need to encourage others to join with us in our work. By that are 'doing well' have teams that help make the parts of starting with trust, being open to change and to risking mak- the system all work together. Great teams are a key. ing mistakes, we'll learn and grow. In January I'll continue to Great teams are based on trust; they agree on how they work with the data, to talk about what I've seen and to talk will be together and work together; they agree on a general about changes for the future.

2016 Annual Legislative Meeting Faith Speaks: Justice Now for All! Keynote Speaker: Paula Cole Jones Saturday, January 23, 2016 8:30am-1:30pm UU Church of Annapolis 333 Dubois Road, Annapolis, MD 21401 (Snow date: Saturday, January 30th) Register here. Are you concerned about the climate of racial injus- ity Issues be Criminal Justice System Reform/Police Ac- tice? Of the injustices that exist in our criminal justice countability, Climate Change, Earned Sick Leave and system? About low-wage workers who have to send their Death with Dignity. children to school sick or go to work in our food service Join UU activists from across the state on January industry when they are sick in order to keep their 23rd as we discuss issues of interest to Maryland UUs, jobs? About the many problems created by climate how these issues are interrelated and plan for the 2016 change and dirty energy sources? Compassionate options Session of the Maryland General Assembly. Participate for end of life care? The fact that many of these issues in advocacy training; develop the faith aspects of your overlap and affect the most vulnerable populations in our advocacy; increase the voices for liberal religious values country? in Maryland. Help us better coordinate the efforts of con- After reviewing the results of the 2016 Issue Survey gregations across the state and more effectively involve that many of you submitted, the UULM-MD Board of our ministers, youth and young adults. Directors is recommending that UULM-MD's 2016 Prior-

First Unitarian Church News January 2016 The Beacon 15

16 The Beacon January 2016 First Unitarian Church News Church Office Hours: 10 AM - 3 PM Tues. - Fri. Minister’s Office Hours: 1 PM - 4PM MON.; 4 PM - 7 PM Wed.; 10 AM - 1 PM Sat. Other times by appointment. (Please call 410-350-9339) (Please call before coming.) Phone: 410-685-2330 Fax: 410-685-4133 Email: [email protected]

Web: www.firstunitarian.net

First Unitarian Church of Baltimore (Universalist and Unitarian)

Minister Rev. David Carl Olson

Ministers Emeriti Rev. Phyllis Hubbell, Rev. John Manwell

Affiliate Ministers Dr. Michael S. Franch, Rev. Harry Woosley, Jr., Rev. Susan Margarete Stine Donham

Endorsed Community Minister Rev. Dale Lantz

Ministerial Intern Diana Davies

Board of Trustees Doreion Colter, President Catherine Evans, Vice President Evelyn Bradley, Secretary Clare Milton, Treasurer Sharon Carter , Mike Cross-Barnett Laura Laing, Pat Montley Karla Peterson, Andrea de Uruiza Nancy West

Church Staff James Houston, Music Director Peter Partenow, Interim Dir. of Rel. Education Aubrey Reigh, Office Administrator

To Submit Articles or Other Beacon Items: The Beacon Editing: Gwyn Degner  Please e-mail all submissions to bea- Layout: Janet Campbell, Diana Karr, Laura Smith [email protected]. Proofreaders: Betty Townsend and Clare Milton  Please use as little formatting as possible in Publication Schedule articles, and include the author’s name. We Deadlines: 1st or 2nd Thursday of each month (see church calendar) welcome photos to accompany articles. January Editors: Gwyn Degner, Diana Karr February Issue Deadline: Thursday, January 7, 2016 The editors reserve all editing rights. February Editors: Gwyn Degner, Laura Smith

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