CARD MEMORIAL CHAPEL DEDICATION

A transcription from the Mansfield News, June 3, 1898
Note: A yearly subscription cost $2.00 and a single copy was $0.05

The Card Memorial Chapel, erected by Mr. & Mrs. S. W. Card in Spring Brook Cemetery, in memory of their only daughter, Mary Lewis Card, who died June 14, 1896 in the 31st year of her age, is substantially completed. It is located in what is now the south west corner of the cemetery, immediately at the left of the Spring Street carriage entrance fronting the east, and stands a beautiful monumental tribute from the bereaved parents consecrated to the memory of a beloved daughter. It is most substantially built in every particular.

The style of architecture is that of a Greek cross with a central tower rising 42 feet from the ground to the apex, the latter surmounted by a copper finial 6 feet 9 inches in height. It covers a ground area 32x40 feet.  The foundation is Quincy granite and the superstructure consists of the best quality of faced brick. The roof is covered with unfading green slate. The cornices are of copper, treated with acid, giving them a marbleized green effect. Granite steps lead to the arched entrance of the vestibule. The arch is 8 feet high by 10 feet in width with granite capped buttresses. On the facade is a circular tablet bearing the inscription: “Card Memorial erected A. D. 1898”. The vestibule is 16 feet wide by 4 feet in depth and has a marble mosaic floor with colored border.  It has a light painted ceiling and dental cornice. Double doors of quartered oak, antique finish, give entrance to the chapel. These are hung on bronze hinges made to order to accommodate the wide sweep of the doors. The interior is elegant in its tasteful yet artistic simplicity. It consists of one room embracing the central area of the structure with the four gracefully arched recesses of the extensions, the latter being 14 feet wide by 8 feet deep. The front recess and those on the right and left, respectively, are finished square and the one in the rear, the platform recess, is given a semi-octagonal finish. The platform is raised 8 inches above the floor. The floor and fluted wainscotting 4 feet in height extending entirely around the interior, as well as the dental cornice 10 ½ feet from the floor, are of selected North Carolina pine, natural finish. The central area is 24 feet in height to the apex of the groined arch and the extensions 14 feet. The walls have been given a terra cotta color, the central ceiling an ecru tint and the extension ceilings old rose.

A mellow and subdued light pervades the room through windows of stained glass, leaded. One each in the south and north extension are of Gothic style, 5 feet wide by 4 feet high.  The former bears the inscription, “O for the touch of a vanished hand and the sound of a voice that is still”; the latter “He giveth his beloved sleep.” Two smaller Gothic windows 2 ½ feet wide are in the rear extension, and narrow rectangular ones on either side of the door and above the extensions on either side of the central area. Two of these last mentioned windows are fitted with pulleys depending small brass chains to aid in the ventilation of the room. The room is heated by a Chilson furnace in the basement through two registers.  A cold air ventilator in the front extension keeps the atmosphere pure and at an even temperature.

There is a basement of full size of the area of the building, with cemented floors and well lighted. The chapel will be presented by Mr. and Mrs. Card to the Spring Brook Cemetery Corporation for such public use as its character indicates.  And thus it will stand, not only as a memorial to perpetuate the memory of the accomplished and lamented daughter, but a perpetual reminder as well of the thoughtful public beneficence of the parents.

When Mr. Card had formed his purpose to build a structure of this character he committed the matter into the hands of Charles H. Eastman, architect, of Boston, a close personal friend of the family. The admirable design of the building is Mr. Eastman’s creation. And the construction of the building in all of its details has been under his supervision. No pains or expense have been spared in procuring the best material and carrying out the skilled completeness of the workmanship in all of the appointments. The contractors were J. J. Coon & Co. of Boston, the carpentry was done by S. J. Kelley of Cambridgeport, and the apparent fidelity of these workmen to their trust is a credit alike to themselves and to the supervising architect.

The time for the dedication of the building is undecided as there has been an unexpected delay in shipment of the furniture, ordered some time ago.

CARD MEMORIAL CHAPEL DEDICATED

A transcription from the Mansfield News, June 17, 1898

The beautiful new structure in Spring Brook Cemetery, created by Mr. and Mrs. S. W. Card in memory daughter, the late Mary Lewis Card, a full description of which recently appeared in teese (sic) columns, was dedicated with brief ceremony on Saturday afternoon, June 11,  Since the description was given the chapel has been furnished with appropriate furniture. About seventy-five people gathered to witness and participate in the ceremony. Mr. and Mrs. Card, the donors, were accompanied by architect, C. H. Eastman, and contractor J. J. Coon and carpenter Kelley of Boston. Rev. E. H. Sweet of the Baptist church, in behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Card, made the presentation address, which was substantially as follows:

The memorial idea embodied in this in this chapel is as old as the human race. When God had created the universe in six days or periods of time, we are told that he rested the seventh day from all his creative labors, and by an eternal decree established the seventh day in the weekly cycle as a Sabbath memorial institution to be kept throughout all time. That memorial day abides yet. When Jesus was about to be condemned and crucified he gathered his disciples together in an upper room in Jerusalem and instituted what is known as the Lord’s supper (sic), designed from the first to be a memorial ordinance. Jesus said to these guests “This do in remembrance of me; for as often as ye eat this bread ab=n drink this cup ye do show the Lord’s death till he come.” They were thus admonished to gather up in the bread and wine the last memorials of their dying Savior. These illustrations and others we might give for the same purpose, teach us that the memorial idea so early conceived and established has the approval and benediction of God our Father and Christ our Savior.

Every important event of time has been memorialized in human history and literature. The world’s heroes have been memorialized in sculpture and art.  Our departed friends are memorialized by the granite shaft and marble tomb stone. It is particularly fitting that our brother and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Card, should gather up the precious memories of an only departed daughter, the light of their home, and should present the same in the construction of this chapel.  Her beautiful life, her queenly character, and her Christly spirit are grandly symbolizes in this magnificent building. Her benevolent catholic, Christian charity is seen alike in the cost of the structure and the purpose for which it is now dedicated. It is designed for the use, not one church but all churches, for the use of the public generally. Such a memorial building places honor upon the memory of the dead; reflects credits upon the donors, the architect and the contractors; and confers blessing upon the community at large.

Our children and our children’s children will bring in future days the mortal dust of their loved ones to this cemetery for interment; they will halt before this structure and read “Card memorial, erected 1898”, they will enter within these hallowed walls and sit in this somber light; they will read on stained windows those mottos from the scriptures and the poet:-“He giveth his beloved sleep” and “O for the touch of a vanished hand and the sound of a voice that is still;” they will her be inspired with resurrection hope for their dead; and consciously or unconsciously they will bless the memory of Miss Mary Lewis Card as embodied in this house of prayer.

Mr. Sweet then read the deed conveying the property to the Spring Brook Association and presented the document with the keys of the chapel to David E. Harding, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. He conclude his address by saying: As often as you open these doors to the sorrowing who wish to pay the last sad rites to their departed loved ones, may heaven’s benediction fall upon us as donors and donees (sic), as givers and receivers, now.

Mr. Harding replied as follows:

MR. AND MRS. CARD:- IN behalf of the Trustees and members of the Mansfield Cemetery Association, I tender to you are most heartfelt thanks for this most noble gift, a long felt need, which is destined, we believe, to fill many hearts with gratitude for the accommodation it offers for the last sad rights to those who have no other asylum for this purpose. While we look at this beautiful structure and see with what care it has been built, and the great pains taken to make it strong and perfect, it brings to our memory the lovely and perfect character of the dear one whose memory this building shall perpetuate.  No one outside of father and mother better knew the lovely character of this dear girl than myself. My business intercourse with her covered many months, and her amiability of disposition, purity of character and business intelligence won my admiration and regard. As her body rests in these grounds and we look at his beautiful structure, may her sweet memory remain with us and be perpetuated by those that look upon and admire this building. May father, mother and friends have the unspeakable pleasure of finally living with Lulu in the house of the pure in heart with an incorruptible body.

Mr. and Mrs. Card, in accepting this generous gift, we assure you that we are aware of the responsibility this trust brings to this Association. Trust to us means more than accepting a gift. If we accept it in honor, which I trust we do, it means perpetual care, guarding it and seeing that it is so kept and cared for that the memory of the pure character, for which this building was erected, shall show forth by the unblemished condition of this Memorial. We accept this trust in behalf of the Cemetery Association as trustees of the same, hoping the parents of this beloved daughter may receive great comfort from the knowledge that they have done all they could to keep her in blessed remembrance.

Rev. E. F. Studley of the Emmanuel M. E. church offered an excellent prayer and pronounced the benediction.

By order of the trustees the chapel will open on pleasant Sunday after noons from 3 o’clock to 6 for a few weeks.