Charles W. Chesnutt to the editor of The Southern Churchman, 27 August 1922
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August 27, 1922.
Editor "The Southern Churchman",
Richmond, Va.
Dear Sir:
The readers of your paper may be interested to know that the Rev. Dr. Alfred W. Arundel1 who is now a member of your Diocese and has served in South Carolina, has for the past four months, been in charge of Emmanuel Parish, Cleveland.2
Dr. Arundel's conduct of the Services during this period has been distinguished by a rare devotional earnestness, such as all good church people love. His sermons have been characterized by great clearness, and force and an unusual literary charm.
The Parishioners of Emmanuel Church have also learned to love him for his genial and lovable personality and we consider ourselves fortunate in having had the benefit of his four months' ministry.3
Sincerely, a long-time Communicant of Emmanuel Parish,4 Cleveland, Ohio.Correspondent: The Southern Churchman was the weekly newsletter of the Southern Episcopalian churches, founded in Richmond, Virginia in 1835 and published until 1952. A version of Chesnutt's letter about Alfred W. Arundel with further revisions, signed "C. W. C.," was printed in the "Church News" section: "The Rev. Dr. Alfred W. Arundel, now of Virginia and who has also served in South Carolina, has for the past four months been in charge of Emmanuel Parish, Cleveland. Dr. Arundel's conduct of the services during this period has been distinguished by a rare devotional earnestness and his sermons have been characterized by great clearness and force and an unusual literary charm. The parishioners of Emmanuel Church have also learned to love him for his genial and lovable personality and consider themselves fortunate in having had the benefit of his four months' ministry" (The Southern Churchman 87, no. 36 [1922]: 23).
1. Alfred William Arundel (1855–1936) was a White Episcopal clergyman who was originally from the United Kingdom. He emigrated to Ohio in the 1870s and served in Akron, Ohio, before becoming rector of the Trinity Cathedral in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the early 1890s, a post from which he resigned in 1911 when he became a public advocate of Christian Socialism. Most of his church appointments after 1911 (in New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and elsewhere) seem to have been of short duration. In the summer of 1922, he was interim rector at Chesnutt's church in Cleveland, Emmanuel Episcopal, before returning to New York City; in the fall of 1923, he served at St. Paul's Church in Canton, Ohio. Eventually, he returned to his native Yorkshire, England. [back]
2. The Chesnutt family worshipped at Emmanuel Episcopal Church on Euclid Ave and E. 86th St. in Cleveland beginning in 1889. They maintained social connections through this integrated, but predominantly White church. Susan was a member of the church's Women's Guild, Chesnutt occasionally gave readings, and donated to its fundraisers. The involvement of Emmanuel Parish in social work likely contributed to the family's interest in the Settlement House movement. [back]
3. Alfred W. Arundel served as interim rector of Emmanuel Church from May to September of 1922, when Kirk B. O'Ferrall became rector. [back]
4. For a draft version of this letter as edited by Alfred Arundel that served as the copy-text for this version, see the enclosure to Arundel's letter to Chesnutt dated August 21, 1922. [back]
