Dr. Bellows And All Souls Church

( Originally Published 1921 )

The Unitarian Church of All Souls was built in 1855, and architecturally is of exceptional interest as it was modeled by Wray Mould, an English architect, after the Basilica of San Giovanni erected in the Fourteenth Century at Monza, in Northern Italy, which it closely resembles both in design and color, and in the contrast of color afforded by the alternate layers of terra cotta and Caen stone. The first pastor of the church was the Rev. Dr. Henry W. Bellows, one of our great citizens. Eloquent in the pulpit, and on the platform, he was a powerful force in the nation during the Civil War, and as the president and one of the founders of the United States Sanitary Commission, he rendered a service of in-estimable value. Through this great organization, which was the predecessor of the American Red Cross, and which Dr. Bellows extended over the entire country and administered with inspiring enthusiasm and consummate ability, over fifteen million dollars was contributed for the relief of our soldiers in food, medical supplies and comforts, and over five millions in money; and the great moral issues of the war were brought home to every Northern household. Through his work for the Commission he was closely associated with President Lincoln and Secretary Stanton and was one of their most trusted and efficient supporters. He was also actively interested in City affairs and was one of the founders of the Union League Club, the Century Club, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Children's Aid Society. He was also the advisor of his neighbor and parishioner, Peter Cooper, in the founding of Cooper Institute, and as the founder and president of the National Conference of Liberal Churches he was a leading member of the Unitarian Church. As a memorial of Dr. Bellows, a full length bronze tablet, executed by Saint Gaudens has been placed in the south transept of the Church.