USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Hartford > Christ church, Hartford, Volume I > Part 19
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The Subscribers to this are the Wardens and Vestry of the Parish of Christ Church in the City of Hartford in Connecti- cut. They have heard with great regret, that objec- tions have been made in some of the Diocesses to the
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CHRIST CHURCH, HARTFORD.
election and consecration of the Revd Philander Chase, at present the Bishop Elect of the Diocese or State of Ohio. The Rev. Mr. Chase was for many years the Rector of Christ Church in this City, and the subscribers from a long and intimate acquaintance with him, are persuaded they possess a correct and entire knowledge of his character, which they have had the best opportunities of observing and understanding. From a belief that the evidence of those who best knew him will be desirable and must be ap- preciated, they feel it therefore, not only to be their duty at this juncture to come forward with what testimony they can give concerning him, but that it would be an act of injustice in them towards their late Pastor to withhold the expression of that testimony which it is in their power to bear towards the excellence of his moral character, and his qualifications (in their opinion at least) for the dignified grade in the min- istry to which he has been elected.
The Rev" Mr. Chase began to officiate in this Parish in the autumn of 1811, and quitted it in the spring of 1817. During the period of his residence here, no parish Clergy- man could have performed his parochial duties in a more exemplary manner. A spirit of purity, the first and most essential requisite of the clerical character, appeared in all his actions and conversation, in private as well as in public ; and in him seemed to act as a vivifying principle, influencing him in his intercourse with society, governing him in the performance of all his duties to his parish, and pervading in a perceptible manner every part of his conduct. The Revd. Mr. Chase is a sound and zealous Churchman, a correct theo- logian, well-read in Church History, minutely acquainted with the distinctive principles which characterize the Protes- tant Episcopal Church, which constitute its peculiar excel- lence, and form the great landmarks of rational, temperate, and stable Christianity. These "stedfast and immoveable in the faith once delivered to the saints," no considerations of temporizing expediency could ever induce him to surren- der, or to compromise : And he enforced them, both from the pulpit and in private, with ability and with zeal. A zeal so
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IMPORTANT VOTES AND COMMENTS.
fervent that his duty seemed ever to be his pleasure. But with the excellence of the most virtuous, it is the lot of man (and who shall claim exemption from the general imperfec- tion ?) there should be mingled some alloy. This zeal, the subscribers do not seek to withhold the confession, united as it must be, because springing from a warmth and ardour of feeling, may sometimes have been felt to so great a degree, as on some occasions probably to have transcended the limits of prudence. But this exuberance of zeal, if it be a fault, seemed to be almost his only one, and one which the lapse of a few more years, there is every reason to believe, would over- come. The subscribers are the more free to make this con- fession, as they believe this to be the only vulnerable part of the Revd. Mr. Chase's character, because they feel the con- viction that though it be their duty to do justice to their former pastor, it is their duty likewise to deal frankly and candidly in their communication to the Church, concerning him; and that however great may be their attachment to the man, whom they have had every reason to love and re- spect, they are bound to feel that superior attachment to the Protestant Episcopal Church, which should be paramount to every other consideration. As one evidence of the efficancy of the Revd. Mr. Chase's labours in this place it may be stated that when he entered on his parochial duties here, he found the parish weak and containing scarcely thirty com- municants, and that when he quitted it, he left it augmented in numbers, and in attachment, and with the communicants increased to nearly one hundred and ten. In relation to the Revd. Mr. Chase's private character, the subscribers can speak with as much confidence as they have of his public ministrations.
They have enjoyed more than common means of becom- ing acquainted with his domestic character, and from this among other circumstances, that during a period of nearly a twelve month previously to removing his family here, he became by turns an inmate of the families of nearly every person in the government of the temporal concerns of the parish, and who are now the subscribers.
16
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CHRIST CHURCH, HARTFORD.
The Revd. Mr. Chase was in the highest degree exem- plary in all the relations of life. He possessed with great suavity of manner, the art of conciliating the affections in a remarkable manner, and more particularly the affections of young people, and the influences arising from this, was uniformly directed to their instruction and improvement in moral and religious virtue, and to securing their attach- ment more firmly to the Church. He was open, never seek- ing to disguise his opinions ; sincere, liberal, and charitable, regardless almost to a fault of pecuniary considerations ; ap- parently satisfied if he could obtain a competency not to aspire to more ; regardless of no personal inconvenience or sacrifices, in the performance of his duty ; undaunted and persevering when important principles were at stake, where he knew himself to be right, yet by no means strenuous of his own opinions in regard to measures of small consequence, particularly if concession would gratify his friends around him.
On the whole, although the Parish of Christ Church in this city, when the Revd. Mr. Chase quitted them, conceived they had sustained a severe loss, and one not easily to be re- paired, they became gradually reconciled to his removal, from a belief that, in his new sphere of action, his virtues and peculiar endowments would make him an instrument in the hands of God, of great and extensive usefulness to his Church. And under this belief, they cannot but entertain the opinion that an opposition to his consecration must pro- ceed from the deficiency of knowledge, or from misappre- hension of his true character, which if it exist, they hope this representation will be instrumental in removing ; for they sincerely believe, that, if persevered in, such opposition would prove injurious to the best interest of the Church.
The subscribers deem it proper to add, that the circum- stance of this representation being made, is wholly unknown to the Rev. Mr. Chase, nor has it been suggested by him, nor by any friend of his out of this state.
Hartford, Connecticut, Octo. 7th, 1818.
(Signed by the Wardens and Vestry.)
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IMPORTANT VOTES AND COMMENTS.
REPLY TO THE ABOVE.
Dec. I. To the Wardens and Vestry of Christ Church, in the City of Hartford, Con.
Gentlemen :- The undersigned, members of the Standing Committee of the Prot. Epis. Church in the Diocese of N. Jersey, very respectfully offer the following answer to your interesting communication in relation to the Rev. Philander Chase, Bishop Elect of the Diocese of Ohio. While the Standing Committee of N. Jersey most sincerely respect the motives which produced your communication, while they can- not but value a testimonial so full and affectionate towards your former Minister, and while they are ready to give full credit to a document supported by signatures so truly respect- able, they feel themselves in duty bound to state that their reasons for witholding their assent to the Consecration of Mr. Chase to the Episcopate, arose from a variety of injurious reports brought before them, under such circumstances as to render it a dereliction of duty not to notice them. These reports, the undersigned are informed, are now undergoing an investigation before the Standing Committee of Pennsyl- vania, at the request of Mr. Chase himself. The result of this investigation we sincerely hope may be such as to gratify the personal friends of Mr. Chase, and promote the interests and happiness of our venerable and Apostolic Church.
With these sentiments
Gentlemen
We are Very respectfully Your Ob' Servants.
New Brunswick, N. J.
Dec. Ist, 1818.
John C. Rudd
John Croes, Jun'
Lewis P. Bayard
Pres. Pro Tem. Clerical Members of the Stand. Com. of N. Jersey
Rob' Boggs James Parker Laity
Peter Kean
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CHRIST CHURCH, HARTFORD.
1819.
April 12, P. Voted, That the thanks of this Parish be pre- sented to Mr. Michael Olcott, for his faithful services as a Warden of this Parish.
Michael Olcott was one of the early and prominent members of the Parish. He was one of the associates in 1796; he was Vestryman in 1799, and at numerous times afterwards, and was Junior Warden 1813-19, always bear- ing his full share of its burdens. He died May 11, 1829. He was unmarried, as were also his two sisters, Mary and Abigail, the last of whom was well known to some of our older members. She died April 18, 1842. A neighbor of Mr. Olcott's told me that on every Sunday, at a quarter past 10 o'clock, and in the afternoon also, the three might be seen on their way to church, Mr. Olcott always a little in advance.
"Farther north, where Warren Rowley now lives, was Michael Olcott, a retired merchant, who had formerly been engaged in the West India trade. He was tall, of good appearance, gentlemanly in his manner, and a sound churchman. He was one of the wardens of Christ church from 1813 to 1818. He was also one of thirty-four per- sons who in 1796 'agreed to join and associate themselves into a religious society by the style and title of the Episcopal Society of the City of Hartford, under the direction and government of the Right Reverend Bishop of Episcopal Clergy.' The house in which he lived is now standing in good preservation, on the corner of Main and Belden Streets, about 200 feet back from the road. Formerly there were a number of large mulberry trees about it, which furnished abundant fruit for birds-and boys. He was at one time quartermaster-general of the State, and major-commandant of the Governor's Horse Guard. He had three sisters, one of whom married the Rev. Dr. Barry of New Jersey, the father of the late Dr. James W. Barry of this city ; the others lived with him. He died in May, 1829."-" Up Neck in 1825," pp. 76-77.
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D. C. Brownell
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IMPORTANT VOTES AND COMMENTS.
Died, in this city, on the 11th inst. Michael Olcott, Esq., Quarter Master General of the Militia of this State, aged 53. Col. Olcott was graduated at Yale College 1793, and was sub- sequently engaged in mercantile pursuits for many years. As the representative of this town in the State Legislature and by a life of usefulness and integrity, he acquired the confi- dence and respect of his fellow citizens. His loss is deservedly lamented .- Courant, May 11, 1829.
June 20, V. Voted, That Dr. Bliss, George Beach, Christo- pher Saunders, Roswell Bartholomew, S. Griswold, and Timothy Hatch, be a committee to bring forward such poor and neglected children as are fit objects for the Sunday Charity School.
The Rector informed the Wardens and Vestry that he had recd notice to attend a meeting of the Committee at New Haven, on Tuesday morning next, for the purpose of making the necessary arrangements for the introduction of the Bishop Elect into this Diocese. He stated that a communi- cation had been received by the Committee from Bp. Hobart, intimating the assent of the Bp. elect to his appointment, who would take upon him the charge of the Diocese, when a living of $1500 Ds should be provided. The Rector stated some of the advantages that would result to this Parish, in having their Bp. located here, and chat so desirable an event might be secured, he proposed that the Wardens and Vestry should consider and determine what they could do in a pecuniary way to effect it. He stated that the Bishop's fund, as it now stood, would not yield over 1100 or 1200 Ds per annum, and he proposed with the approbation of the Vestry, relinquishing in favor of the Bp. 400 Ds of his salary, and proposed to remun- erate himself, by his services in the Academy which he con- templated establishing, or from occasional services, in the neighbouring parishes. He expected that in case both these objects failed, that the Vestry would pledge themselves to make good the deficiency.
The Vestry present felt the importance of using every exertion to effect the object proposed, and in order to provide
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CHRIST CHURCHI, HARTFORD.
what might be a last resort (although they were fully im- pressed with the expectation, that the delinquent Parishes would pay or secure to the Bps. Fund, their deficiencies, from private donations, which are making and would be made, and from claims on the Government of U. States,) it was agreed that one of the following ways, would be the most feasible. That individuals of the Parish would pledge their notes to its fund, to enable it to produce five hundred dolls per annum the payment of which Notes, should not be called upon, so long as the interest was paid .- (Mr. C. Sigourney and S. Tudor offered to give their note each for two hundred doll- ars); or by private subscription if this method should be resorted to. Mr. Tudor would pay 100 Dolls per annum, if any one would pay an equal amt, or he would agree to pay 50 Dolls per year .- The Rector then proposed the following vote, and submitted it to individual opinion. You who will authorize your Rector to offer the Bishop elect, thro' the Committee, a sum equal to the deficiency of the Bps. fund to pay 1500 Dolls for 4 years which sum shall not exceed 400 Dolls per annum, on condition of his residing in this place, will declare it, to which all present gave their affirmation, except the following. Mr. Griswold, No, without reasons, Mr. Hoadley doubted the authority of the Vestry to bind the Parish, and did not feel able to pledge his private means; Dr. Bliss refused to vote - wanted to reflect further upon the subject,-doubted the expediency of urging the Bps location here,- he might or might not be a man who would promote the interests of the Church &c., &c.
Parish of Christ Church, Hartford, Dec. 9. * At a meeting of the members of the Parish, convened in pursuance of previous legal warning, the Rector made the following communication.
Hartford, Decr. 9, 1819. To the Wardens & Vestry of Christ Church,
Gentl". I have lately received an invitation to become an assistant minister of Trinity Church in the City of New York. The question of resigning my present situation for the pur-
* See Annals, for a detailed historical statement, p. 69.
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IMPORTANT VOTES AND COMMENTS.
pose of accepting the one offered, has much occupied my mind as its importance demands. After taking everything into consideration, I have concluded to request the Parish to unite with me in procuring from the Bishop, a canonical dis- solution of our connexion. Be assured that I do not take this step from indifference to the interests of this Parish nor from the least dissatisfaction with its members, since it has been my happiness to be connected with them .- I shall ever retain a grateful sense of their kindness to me, and shall always most sincerely and devoutly pray for their temporal and eternal welfare.
JONA M. WAINWRIGHT.
John Morgan being chosen Moderator, the following Vote was passed.
Whereas, The Revd J. M. Wainwright, Rector of this Parish, has requested its members to unite with him in an application to the Bishop of this Diocese to dissolve his con- nexion with them -
Voted, That this Parish acquiesce in the request of their Rector, and request the Bishop to dissolve said connexion.
oted, That the Wardens and Vestry of this Parish in behalf of the Parish, be requested to unite with the Rector, in an application to the Bishop to carry the above vote into exccu- tion.
From the communication of the Revd Mr. Wainwright to this Parish, it is expected that a canonical dissolution of the present connexion will soon take place, therefore,
Voted, That in the event of the expected dissolution, the Wardens and Vestry are hereby authorized in the name of the Parish, to request the Rt. Revd Bishop of this Diocese to accept the Rectorship of this Parish.
Dec. 13. Whereas, The parish of Christ Church, in the City of Hartford, and their Rector the Revd Jonathan M. Wain- wright, have mutually agreed to dissolve their parochial and Ministerial connexion, and thereupon have requested the concurrence of the Ecclesiastical authority of the Diocese. Now, Therefore, Be it Known, that I, Thomas C. Brownell, Bishop of the Diocese of Connecticut do hereby give my
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CHRIST CHURCH, HARTFORD.
assent to the said dissolution of connexion, and do declare the said Parish vacant. In Witness Whereof, I have
hereunto set my hand this 13th day of Dec. 1819.
signed
T. C. BROWNELL, Bp. of the Diocese of Connecticut.
Hartford, Conn. Dec. 14th, 1819.
To the Wardens & Vestry of Trinity Church, New York,
Dec. 14. Gent!". The connexion between Christ Church and the Revd J. M. Wainwright our late Rector, having been canonically dissolved, by his acceptance of your invitation to Trinity Church,- we cannot omit to express to you the high sensibility his Removal has created, in this Church, nor can we in justice to his character permit his departure, without an expression of the satisfaction he has afforded us in the performance of his various duties here,-which have been those of the faithful minister,-the unaffected Christian,- the charitable man,- and faithful friend,- we need only add as members of the true universal and apostolic Church, we pray with her daily that in "preaching and living, he may set forth her Doctrines," to your satisfaction, and his in- creased reputation. We are with much esteem.
your most ob' Svt3
signed by
The Wardens & Vestry.
The parish was much gratified by having Mr. Wain- wright as their Rector; he was an educated gentleman, polite and affable to all. He was a good Churchman, of the Connecticut style, earnest in the performance of his duties, and interested in all that concerned the parish. There is no question but that both parties were mutually well satisfied. But the coming of a new Bishop was im- portant and the provision made for him was hardly suffi- cient for his support. When Mr. Wainwright resigned his rectorship here, to accept of a position in Trinity church, New York, it was natural enough that Bishop Brownell should be chosen as Rector of Christ Church, with an assistant to attend to most of the parochial duties. This worked well enough under the arrangements which
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IMPORTANT VOTES AND COMMENTS.
were made, until it was found that the needs of the diocese demanded his exclusive attention and his resignation as Rector, after holding this position for nearly a year.
Dec. 16. At a Vestry meeting held at the House of Mr. Hoadley on Thursday evening the 16th of December, 1829, it was Voted, That John Morgan, Charles Sigourney, Samuel Tudor, Jr., John T. Peters, and Jeremy Hoadley be a Com- mittee to wait upon the Right Revd. Bishop Brownell, to acquaint him that he has been elected the Rector of this Parish, to confer with him on the subjects of compensation and the appointment of an assistant Rector, and to make report of their doings to the next meeting of the Wardens and Vestry of this Parish.
Decr. 18. Hartford, Decr. 18, 1819.
John Morgan, Chairman of the Committee of the Ward- ens and Vestry, &c.
Sir :- I have recd your letter enclosing the Vote of the Parish, of the 9th inst., appointing me their Rector, and also the Vote of the Wardens and Vestry of the Parish, appointing the Committee of which you are Chairman, to confer with me on the subjects of compensation, and the appointment of an assistant Rector. Fully sensible of the additional respon- sibility I shall incur, I am, nevertheless, willing to accept the Rectorship, under the conditions proposed by the Com- mittee in our conference of yesterday, To wit : That a suita- ble assistant Rector shall be forthwith appointed ; and that I shall myself perform the public services, and preach one- fourth part of the time in Hartford, and one other fourth part in an out parish, to be connected with this, and that for these services I shall receive the sum of five hundred dollars per annum, from the Parish at Hartford. With respect to the other ministerial duties of the Parish, I am sensible of their great importance, and shall devote myself to them as much as my other avocations will permit, but the greater part of this duty must, on account of my frequent absence, devolve upon the assistant Rector.
In communicating this answer to the Vestry, I beg you
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CHRIST CHURCH, HARTFORD.
will tender to them, and thro' them to the Parish, at large, my grateful acknowledgements for this mark of their confi- dence - and I most earnestly pray that the great Head of the Church may keep you all in his especial favour and pro- tection.
T. C. BROWNELL.
1820.
BOND FOR PAYMENT OF SERVICES AT EAST WINDSOR.
Jan. 3. Whereas, the Parish of Christ Church in Hart- ford, have proposed to the Parish of St. John's Church at Warehouse Point, in East Windsor, to supply the sd Church with public services and preaching one-half of the time, To wit : with the services of Bishop Brownell, Rector of Christ Church, Hartford, one-quarter of the time, and with the ser- vices of the assistant Rector one-quarter of the time - Now therefore, we the subscribers do guarantee the payment of the sum of Four hundred dollars (in quarterly instalments), to the Treasurer of the said parish of Hartford, within one year from the commencement of the sd services, and as a compensation therefor. Done at East Windsor, this 3ª day of Jany, 1820.
CHARLES JENCKS, EPAPHRAS L. PHELPS, HORACE BARBER, JONATHAN PASCO.
Jany 5, P. Voted, That this Parish agree to the accept- ance of the Right Revd. Bishop Brownell of the Rectorship of this Parish, on the conditions expressed in the Bishop's letter of the 18 ' Dec'. 1819, to the Committee appointed to communicate with him.
Voted, That the Parish agree to pay the Bishop for his services, in conformity to his letter, the sum of Five hundred dollars, in quarterly payments, to commence from the 18th day of Decr. past.
Voted, Unanimously that the Revd. N. S. Wheaton be in- vited to accept the situation of assistant Rector of this Parish.
.
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IMPORTANT VOTES AND COMMENTS.
Voted, That this Parish agree to pay the Revd. N. S. Wheaton for his services, the sum of Nine hundred dollars for the year ensuing-it being understood that the whole of his services are to be rendered in this Parish, and that of St. John's, in East Windsor.
Voted, That the Right Revd. Bishop Brownell be requested to communicate the above Votes to Rev'd N. S. Wheaton, and to explain to him the situation of the two Parishes- with such other general information as he may deem proper for his government.
Feby 9. At a Vestry meeting held at the house of Mr. Bartholomew, on the evening of the 9th of Feb'y 1820, it was Voted, That the Wardens & Vestry highly approve of the laudable efforts of the " Hartford Episcopal Musical Society" for the improvement of the Musick of Christ Church, and will use their individual efforts to promote the objects of the Society so far as the same shall be conformable to the order of the Church. With respect to the selection of the tunes and to the control of the Orchestra, the Vestry beg leave to refer the Society to the Rector of the Parish, in whom these subjects are confided by the Rubrics and Canons of the Church.
April 4, P. Voted, Unanimously, that the thanks of this Parish be presented to John Morgan, Esq'. for his long and faithful services as Warden of this Parish.
Mr. Morgan had previous to this time become seriously embarrassed in his financial affairs, and so was not able to contribute as liberally as in former years. This tribute to his former usefulness was well earned and deservedly bestowed. That the Parish did not forget their faithful friend is also shown by the following vote of the Vestry, March 24, 1826 :
Voted, That S. Tudor and C. Sigourney, call on John Mor- gan, Esq. request him to designate where he would prefer to be seated in the Church, and that two seats be reserved for him and Mrs. Morgan, where he may select.
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CHRIST CHURCH, HARTFORD.
Nov. 6, V. Voted, That the Revª Mr. Wheaton, and A. Hayden be a Committee to revise the rules and regulations of the Library, and cause such part of the same to be printed and pasted into cach Vol. as they may think fit.
Voted, That Mr. C. Sigourney be requested to purchase for the use of the Church, I Pr Candlesticks, for the Pulpit, one Basket for the Communion Service, Lamps for new pews, and sperm Candles.
Voted, That the Treasurer be directed to pay Mr. Spencer's bill for sundry expenses incur'd by the Singers.
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