Dr. H. Curtis Whedon, Episcopal Rector

Dr. Whedon Accepts Call to Grace Church, Carthage

Rector of St. Paul's Leaves for northern Parish

1938

 

 

Dr. H. Curtis Whedon, rector of St. Paul's Episcopal church [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY] and dean of the Third District, Central New York Diocese, has resigned his position here to accept a call to Grace church, Carthage [Jefferson Co., NY].  He and Mrs. Whedon will leave Oxford, Friday for their new home and Dr. Whedon will take charge of the Carthage parish, Sunday, January 1.

 

Dr. Whedon came to Oxford in July 1926, succeeding the Rev. Edmund Jayne Gates as rector of St. Paul's.  During his 12-1/2 years of service here he has taken as active part in religious and community activities in Oxford, in many of which he will be sorely missed.

 

Graduating from Hobart College with highest honors, Dr. Whedon gained his theological training at the General Theological Seminary of New York city.  Constant study and advancement in his profession resulted in the conferment on him by Hobart of the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity in 1936.

 

Following the resignation of the Rev. John chambers, Mr. Whedon automatically became dean of the local clergymen and in that position had much to do with the organization of the present religious education courses given to pupils at Oxford academy.

 

He was a charter member of Oxford Rotary club and its first secretary, serving from its organization in 1927 to 1934.  His previous experience with Rotary was a great help in the formation of some of the early plans and lines of service of the local club.

 

He has been a member of the Red Cross executive committee of Oxford nearly all the time he has been here and has represented this community on the county committee.  Following the 1935 flood Dr. Whedon's work in the field at flood relief received special notice from the national Red Cross headquarters and from its field officers.

 

He has been director of the community chorus in Oxford for years and has directed his efforts in the behalf of good music.  The chorus has on many occasions taken part in programs for charity and twice Dr. Whedon has directed such choruses in the presentation of the Crucifixion.

 

He was chaplain of the McDonough CCC camp for three years and has been an active supporter in all school activities and a contributor to its programs on many occasions.

 

The organization for distributing Christmas baskets was largely the work of Dr Whedon as was the annual trip given members of the W.R.C. Home by Oxford Rotarians.

 

He has been dean of the Third District since 1933, having been reelected to that office by a unanimous vote just recently.  He is also secretary of the department of missions and a member of the executive council of the diocese, all of which offices will be relinquished when he moves out of the district.

 

Dr. Whedon is examining chaplain of the diocese, a deputy to the provincial senate, a member of the commission on religious education and an alternate deputy to the general church convention.

 

In addition to these many offices which have been given him without any effort on  his part, his greatest work in this community has been the quiet encouragement and assistance which he has given to numberless families and individuals in their times of trouble, regardless of church affiliation, and as a true Christina, this work has been done without public acknowledgement.

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Local Clergy Give Farewell Party for Dr. and Mrs Whedon

 

Tuesday noon the Oxford clergy and their wives gathered at Mrs. Laura Brown's for a farewell dinner to Dr. and Mrs. H. Curtis Whedon.  After dinner a beautiful mahogany end table was presented to Dr. and Mrs. Whedon and a carefully prepared booklet "An Appreciation" which stated:

 

"On the eve of your departure from St. Paul's Church, Oxford, to your new field of service, the ministers of Oxford take this opportunity to express our appreciation of your twelve years of faithful service. The splendid leadership in Community interest which you have so freely given as our Dean of Ministers, we have greatly enjoyed, while the fine dignity you have sustained in a too flippant generation has endeared you to us.  May heaven smile upon you as you accept the challenge of your new parish."

 

This was signed by each of the local ministers. Those present at the dinner besides Dr. and Mrs. Whedon were the Rev. Denis F. Lyons, the Rev. and Mrs. F.W. Connell and the Rev. and Mrs. F.L. Anderson.