USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Hartford > Christ church, Hartford, Volume I > Part 22
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It is in no human confidence that we have put forth our hand to this work. We know that, "except the Lord build the house, their labour is but lost that build it." "We lift up our eyes unto the hills from whence cometh our help," for the divine blessing on the enterprise in which we are em- barked; and with humble trust, commit our cause to the great keeper of Israel.
We build this house in Faith. We have the divine assur- ance, that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church; and it is therefore with no feelings of distrust that we strengthen our hands for the work.
We build this house in Hope. We are animated by the expectation that many sons and daughters will here be born to God - that many sinners will be reclaimed, and fitted for eternal glory. For ourselves, we anticipate, if such is God's pleasure, the enjoyment of many days of holy communion with Him in this house; and when our voices have ceased to roll along its walls, and our heads are laid low in the dust, it is our confidence that a generation will not be wanting to perpetuate our hymns to Christ the King of Glory.
We build this house in Charity. While we conscientiously differ from some of our Christian brethren, and on points not unimportant; we desire to be united with all who love the Lord Jesus in sincerity, in the bonds of Christian love. Most devoutly do we pray also, that the harmony of feeling
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which pervades the parish in relation to our undertaking, may continue and increase. It will be the surest pledge of our prosperity, that our Jerusalem is built as a city that is at unity in itself. O pray then for her peace, - that it may be found within her walls, and knit all hearts together in the bonds of a close and holy fellowship.
I alluded to an early period in the history of the parish; and the allusion brings to mind the mutability which is stamped on every thing here below. Short as the time is, since those foundations were laid; how small a number of the fathers of the parish are now alive, to rejoice in the fruits of their christian zeal, which we are permitted to witness this day! One generation goeth, and another cometh - the parish has changed - the city has changed - wealth and en- terprise have caused this place to assume a new appearance; and in all our streets, we hear the hum of a busy and thriving population.
Bitt time rolls on, and changes still more important are destined to follow. By and by when we, and the generations after us, shall have gone down to our graves, even these solid walls shall decay under the weight of years; and buttress, and turret, and arch, and tower, shall be shaken by the slow grasp of time into a shapeless pile of ruins. And when the world itself shall have attained its appointed age, and be in- volved in the general wreck of matter, with what desires shall we look forward to an entrance into that city, of which the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple; in whose light the nations of them which are saved shall walk, and shall bring their glory and honour unto it !
The following, containing matters of interest about the consecration of the Church, are published by the favor of Mrs. Henry K. Morgan, of this city.
Extract of a letter from COL. DANIEL PUTNAM of Brooklyn, Conn., to MR. GEORGE BRINLEY of Boston, Mass., Dated Hartford, Dec. 20th, 1829.
I have been all day in Church - Mr. Wheaton this after- noon preached his farewell Sermon in the Old Chh. His
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IMPORTANT VOTES AND COMMENTS.
text from 127th Psalm -" Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build - Except the LORD keep the City the Watchman Watcheth in Vain." He gave us a very good Sermon .-
A second letter, date Sunday Eve, Dec. 27th, tells of the consecration of the present Church, Christ Church, Hartford, on the 23d.
Dear friends: - Your letter dated Wednesday last I did not receive till last evening, and have been all day in Church so that I shall hardly have time to write a letter and get it to the office in season to go to-morrow, as it rains in torrents and the streets are almost impassable from mud.
We had a noble Consecration Wednesday, as fine a one as could be wished for, the weather was fine and every nook in the Chh was filled to overflowing.
Bp. Hobart, who does all his Episcopal duties well, never performed a service more admirably. It had been arranged by the Congregation, with Mr. Wheaton at the head, that the Church should be opened only for the admission of Ladies in the Galleries, the lower floor to be reserved for the Vestry and Congregation, who were to meet in the old Church and form a procession to the new one, following the Bp. into it. But the Bishop had the good sense to alter this arrangement. -"What !" said he, "am I to enter the new Chh. and com- mence the service to naked walls ? - No,-let every one that can get in be quietly seated, that the services may not be in- terrupted by any disturbance or commotion:" The Chancel and three or four of the upper pews were reserved for the Clergy and the Wardens and Vestry. The Bishop entered the broad aisle at their head, solemnly repeating the first verse of the 24th Psalm - then halting for the Clergy to make the response, and so on at every verse till they reached the Chancel. I never witnessed a service more impressive from beginning to end. Christmas Day Mr. Wheaton officiated with great excitement and interested the Congregation very highly. The day after the Consecration the pews were sold in a manner that gave great encouragement. They were
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CHRIST CHURCH, HARTFORD.
sold only till Easter, and in less than two hours brought an aggregate of about 3,700 dollars per annum. Mr. Goodwin (the Warden) says the old Church pews were never so nearly all sold at the first sale - some have been reserved, enough it is thought, to make up about $4000. A great many of the purchasers were new comers, Gen1 Terry among the num- ber. Christmas Day, the Chh was as crowded as at the Con- secration, and I expected to see a great falling off to-day ; but nearly every pew was filled and what was better all supplied with Prayer books. From present appearances I should think the Chh will be filled to crowding in a year or two. In many cases, four or five young men associate and purchase a pew, so that they are filling up with a young Con- gregation. Wheaton and Tudor and Ward and Huntington, in short everybody is in high spirits, and look forward to the extinguishment of their debt in a few years. The Pulpit and reading desk are in the Chancel, and Huntington might well commend them to your notice, for they are just what they should be - at least they just suit my taste, tho' I should like this, and your Church better, if there were but one stair-case to the Pulpit. Bishop Hobart says it looks as if you ex- pected an officer with a legal process for your clergyman, since you have provided means for his escape .- believe me yrs aff .-
D. PUTNAM.
1830.
Feb. 19. The land on which the old church stood was sold to Oliver D. Cooke Feb. 19, 1830, for $5,000, and he erected the present building upon it.
April 4, 1831, the church was sold to Deodat Taylor, together with the organ and furniture, for $900. Mr. Tay- lor was a joiner by occupation, an American, and as far as I can ascertain, the first convert to the Roman Catholic Church in this city. Though young, I well remember the surprise, and the comment which was made at the time. He was commonly called the Yankee Catholic. He sold it to the Catholic Society, January 11, 1832, for $1,600, subject to a mortgage to Nicholas Deveraux for $2,500.
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IMPORTANT VOTES AND COMMENTS.
March 8, P. Voted, That the Treasurer be requested to employ Mr. Shaw to attend in the Gallery during divine ser- vice, until Easter, to prevent the Church being defaced.
Voted, That the Wardens and Vestry be requested to appoint a suitable number of persons, to preserve order in Church, whose duty it shall be to cause all persons, who deface the Church, or shall in any other way be disorderly, to be prosecuted.
Voted, That a reward of Five dollars be offered to any per- son, who shall give such information, as will lead to the detection of any person or persons defacing the Church.
These votes were directed to be printed, and "placed in a conspicuous place in the church."
March 15. To the Rt. Revª T. C. Brownell, Bishop of the Diocese of Connecticut.
Rt. Rev. Sir, We the undersigned, a Committee appointed by the Wardens and Vestry of Christ Church, Hartford, to offer their congratulations on the happy accomplishment of the purposes of your late visitation, beg leave to express in their behalf and our own, the satisfaction we feel in seeing you again restored to your family, and to the Diocese over which you preside. In the arduous duty you have performed, we conceive that you have rendered a most important service to the Church, not only in the distant and destitute regions you have visited ; but also in these Atlantic States, by open- ing new fields of Missionary enterprise, and calling our atten- tion, to the great duty of planting the Church in the populous valley of the Mississippi. It is our earnest hope and prayer, that your highest wishes in reference to this object may be realized, and that the Diocese and College, which share your paternal cares, may largely participate in the honorable dis- tinction of carrying into effect the designs of the Society, to which you have rendered so important a service.
With sentiments of high esteem, We remain Rt. Rev. Sir, your faithful Obed Servants, N. S. WHEATON, ISAAC TOUCEY, S. H. HUNTINGTON.
HARTFORD, March 15, 1830.
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CHRIST CHURCH, HARTFORD.
March 16. To Rev. N. S. Wheaton, and I. Toucey and S. H. Huntington, Esqrs.
Gentlemen, I thank you very sincerely for your note of yesterday, addressed to me in behalf of the Wardens and Vestry of Christ Church, and I beg you to assure them, that I receive with deep sensibility their kind congratulations on my return from a long and arduous journey. Any privations incident to this journey, have been more than compensated, by the kindness with which I have every where been re- ceived, and by the auspicious prospects for the advancement of our Church, which I have witnessed, as well as by the hearty greetings which I have received from my friends on my return. I am not so vain however as to make a personal application of the lively interest which has been evinced in my visitation to the West. That interest belongs to the object of the Mission, in which I have been so fortunate as to be employed. I cordially unite with you in supplicating the divine Being, that he would graciously bless the efforts which have been made for the advancement of his kingdom, and that he would direct our counsels, and animate our exertions for sending the Gospel of his Son, and the Ministrations of his Church, to our destitute Brethren.
Begging you to accept personally the assurance of my affectionate regards, and to convey the same assurance to the Wardens and Vestry of Christ Church,
I remain very truly, Your friend and servt, THOS. C. BROWNELL.
HARTFORD, March 16, 1830.
April 12, P. Voted, That the Delegates who attend the next Convention of the Diocese, be requested to use their efforts to procure the payment to Bishop Brownell of the amount due him from the Diocese, according to the terms of the agreement upon which he accepted the appointment of Bishop.
June 12, V. Voted, That a set of keys be left at Mrs. L. Royce's store to be delivered to any member of the Parish who wishes to visit the Church.
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IMPORTANT VOTES AND COMMENTS.
July 20, V. Voted, That the Senior Class have liberty to hold Commencement in the Church, and that Messrs. Tudor and Chamberlain be a committee to superintend the erection of staging, &c., for that purpose .*
Oct. 4, V. Voted, That S. H. Huntington, J. Hoadley, and N. Morgan, be a Committee to confer upon the state of the Sunday School, with the rector, and devise a suitable manner of presenting the subject to the consideration of the Parish.
V. Voted, That Mr. Nichols, Mr. Morgan, Mr. Goodwin, [J. G. Jr.] be a Committee upon the subject of purchasing the old Court House property west of the Church.
V. Voted, That Mr. Toucey, Mr. S. H. Huntington, and Mr. Imlay, be a Committee to converse with Mr. Wheaton upon the subject of delivering a course of lectures on sub- jects treated of by Mr. Hawes.
1831.
Jan. 20, V. Voted, That Eli Todd, Dudley Buck, Z. Pres- ton, S. Tudor, and Isaac Toucey, be a Committee to make en- quiry respecting the qualifications of an Organist, and the terms on which one can be obtained, to take the place of Mr. Taylor when he leaves, and report to the Vestry at a future meeting.
March 7, V. Voted, That Wm. H. Imlay, C. Nichols and S. H. Huntington, be a Committee to take into consideration the indebtedness of the Parish, and report to the Vestry at a future meeting, whether in their opinion some plan cannot be devised to commence the liquidation of the said debt.
March 14, V. Voted, That the Committee appointed at the last meeting, to confer with Mr. Shaw be, and they hereby are authorized to employ him as Sexton at the rate of one hundred dollars pr ann. so long as he shall perform the duties satisfactorily.
* The Commencement exercises of Washington College had, previous to this time, been held in the First or Center Church.
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CHRIST CHURCH, HARTFORD.
V. Voted, That Nathan Morgan, and H. Huntington, Jr., be a Committee to ascertain from Mr. Hurlburt, upon what terms, he will furnish William Babcock to play on the organ, and report to the Vestry at their next meeting.
April 2,-V. Voted, That one Pew in the South Gallery, and two Pews in the North Gallery, be appropriated for the tise of the coloured people.
July 24, V. Voted, That the use of the Church be granted for Commencement day.
Sept. 17, V. Voted, That Mr. Perkins be and he hereby is authorized to engage Masonic Hall, Friday evening of each week, until next Easter, at an expense, not exceeding fifty cents each week .*
RESIGNATION OF MR. WHEATON.
October 13. To the Wardens and Vestry of Christ Church, Hartford.
Gentlemen - Enclosed is the instrument of my Resignation of the Rectorship of this Parish, which you will have the goodness to lay before the members, at such time and in such manner as you may think proper. I have only to add that although I should much desire to have an interval of leisure, between the cessation of the active duties of the Parish, and my entrance on those of the College, the interest I feel, and shall never cease to feel in your welfare, will place any ser- vices I can perform, at your disposal, should you require them, until they can in your judgment be safely discontinued.
I am, Gentlemen, with unfeigned esteem and attachment, Your friend and Brother, N. S. WHEATON.
Hartford, Tuesday Oct. 4th, 1831.
* This was for the use of the Bible Class and the Wednesday evening service.
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IMPORTANT VOTES AND COMMENTS.
To the Parishioners of Christ Church, Hartford.
Gentlemen - Having been invited by a vote of the Trus- tees of Washington College, to accept of the Presidency of that Institution, after weighing the proposition with all the attention in my power, and with I trust a full sense of the re- sponsibility attending the step I am about to take, both in reference to the College, and the Parish, with which I have been so long, and to me, so happily connected, I have come to the conclusion, that it is my duty to accept it.
If I have rightly interpreted my motives in this decision, the consideration which has most prevailed with me is the persuasion that my services may be more useful to the Church at large in the station to which I have been called, than in the one I now occupy. In this, I may be deceived, but I can truly say, that I have endeavored to place myself under the guidance of a sense of duty solely.
Whether the measure will prove a judicious one, time only can determine. I can only say that I have done that which in view of all the circumstances, and with such illumination as God has afforded me, I believe to be for the best. The re- sults are in His hands, and I ardently hope and trust they will be happy.
Had I allowed myself to be governed by my personal feel- ings towards you, my beloved Parishioners, a separation never would have been sought by me, so long as I had reason to hope that my services among you were received as they have been in times past, with indulgence and approbation.
The uniform kindness I have experienced from you, indi- vidually and collectively, during more than eleven years I have served at your altar, your readiness to engage in every good work, your indulgence towards me personally, have not only left me without a single cause of complaint, but inspired me with sentiments of ardent attachment and esteem, which I am sure neither time nor change of circumstances can efface.
With this brief expression of the motives which have con- ducted me to the present decision, and with the unfeigned assurance that your prosperity individually, and as a Parish, will ever be a source of heartfelt satisfaction to me, I now
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beg leave to tender my resignation of the Rectorship of the Parish of Christ Church, which your kindness has so long continued to me. In doing this, I am actuated by the hope and belief that your choice will fall on a successor more worthy of the office, and of you, and that the same delibera- tion, the same spirit of conciliation and brotherly love, the same disposition to preserve at all hazards "the unity of the spirit, in the bonds of peace," as you have heretofore mani- fested, will govern you in that important transaction. With sentiments of unabated affection and regard, I am Gentle- men, Your Friend and Brother in the bonds of the Gospel,
N. S. WHEATON. Hartford, Tuesday evening, October 4th, 1831.
After reading the foregoing communications, the follow- ing preamble and resolutions were offered by I. Perkins, Esqr., and passed.
Whereas, the Rector by note of 4th instant, addressed to the Parishioners of Christ Church, has given notice of his election to the Presidency of Washington College, and having weighed the subject with all the attention in his power, in relation to the Parish, the College, and the Church at large, has come to the conclusion, in opposition to his own feelings, that duty requires him to accept that office, and resign his Rectorship, which he tenders to the Parish. Before acting on a question of so much feeling as well as importance, in relation to the future welfare of the Parish, her members will cherish the wisdom, and resolve to follow the parting advice of their beloved Rector, in relation to his successor, "to act with deliberation, in the spirit of conciliation and brotherly love," and a disposition to preserve at all hazards, "the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace."
We however cannot fail to remark, that the separation of Minister and people, under ordinary circumstances of mutual attachment, must necessarily be painful, but when we look back for a series of more than twelve years; when we bring to mind how great has been the accession of Parish mem- bers ; how many have been added to our communion ; what
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harmony has prevailed and prosperity attended our Parish, in all respects, by the blessing of God, through the unceas- ing labours and pious administration of him who during that period has served at our altar, mingled in our afflictions, and received our approbation and esteem, his loss to us, col- lectively and individually, can be duly appreciated only by a just estimate of the blessings we have thus enjoyed.
Had the question of separation been left to the determi- nation of the Parishioners, they doubtless would have ad- verted to the practical results of the union, the unparalleled unanimity that has prevailed in the Parish, in furtherance of the wishes and views of their Rector, the happy results of all his counsels, and the dangers incident to any important change especially in the constituent members of the body to be affected, as powerful arguments and motives against the measure. The question however has been decided by the Rector, in view of all attending circumstances on the ground of duty to the attainment of the highest good. A motive so worthy addresses itself to our approbation, and though he cease to be Rector of our Parish, that we may continue to enjoy his advice, and offices of love, we commend him to God's holy keeping.
Therefore Voted, That the resignation of the Rev. Nathan- iel S. Wheaton, of the Rectorship of the Parish of Christ Church, be and hereby is accepted.
Voted, That the Rev. Mr. Wheaton be requested to offici- ate as Rector, so far as his situation and circumstances will permit, until the Parish is provided for.
Nov. 24, V. Voted, The successful skill and perseverance of Mr. James M. Goodwin, Jr., heretofore directed to the ini- provement of the Choir of the Parish in sacred music, and his constant attendance on its performance in Church, insures to him an affectionate remembrance of his liberal services ; with sincere regret therefore, for the necessity which vacates his seat in the Orchestra, calls him from the Parish, and our Communion, we respectfully tender to him our thanks and the thanks of the Parish, and direct the Clerk to transmit to him a certified copy of this Vote.
IO
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CHRIST CHURCH, HARTFORD.
Voted, That the Senior Warden be requested to ask the Bishop to write Mr. Whitehouse, on the subject of accepting the Rectorship of this Parish.
Dec". 5th, P. Voted, That the Rev. Hugh Smith, of Au- gusta, Georgia, having the approbation of the Bishop of this Diocese, is requested to accept the Rectorship of this Parish.
Voted, A salary of One Thousand Dollars per annum is hereby settled upon the Rev. Hugh Smith, to be paid to him in quarter yearly payments, so long as he shall continue to be Rector of this Parish. [This was increased to $1200, April 3, 1832.]
Voted, That the sum of Two hundred dollars be allowed and paid to the Rev. Hugh Smith, towards defraying the ex- penses of removal to this Parish, and upon the acceptance of the Rectorship of this Parish, he be authorized to draw on the Treasurer for that amount.
Voted, The Right Rev. Bishop of this Diocese is respect- fully requested to approve of the election of the Rev. Hugh Smith to be Rector of this Parish, and to communicate this and the foregoing votes to the Rev. Hugh Smith, accom- panied with such information in his possession as the nature of the case requires ; and in the name and behalf of this Parish to invite him, upon the terms expressed in the preced- ing Votes, to accept of the Rectorship of this Parish.
Dec. 21. Copy of a letter received from the Rev. Mr. Smith, accepting the Rectorship.
Augusta (Ga.), Dec. 215, 1831.
To Isaac Perkins, Esq".
Dear Sir - Through the kindness of the Rt. Rev. Bishop Brownell, and enclosed in a letter from him, I recª on the 19th inst, the official notice of the proceedings of a lawful meeting of the Parish of Christ Church, Hartford, held on the 5th inst. I also subsequently recd on the 19th inst a letter from your late Rector, the Rev. Mr. Wheaton, in reference to the same subject. The communication was wholly unex- pected, and the honor you have conferred on me, by this unanimous choice, I feel to be wholly unmerited. The con-
dough Smith
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flict of feeling to which it has given rise, has been great and painful, and the struggle it has cost me, to think of parting soon from a beloved flock, gathered together, through my in- strumentality, whose first and thus far whose only pastor I have been, and with whom I have continued for more than 12 years, have been severe indeed.
The result is, that after a full consideration of your kind and flattering proposal, and an earnest supplication for the Divine Guidance I feel it to be my duty to my family, in reference to their education, and to the Church, that I should accept the same. This result, you as the organ of communi- cation, will have the goodness to communicate to the re- spected Parish of Christ Church. In coming to this deter- mination I relinquish a situation where I am happily and delightfully situated, and of which the emoluments are nearly double the compensation proposed in your Resolves. But I am willing to believe that the sum named may be adequate to the comfortable maintenance of my family. At all events, I feel as though I could confidently and cheerfully trust, without particular stipulation, the provision for our necessary temporal wants, to a people, whose Christian liberality is abundantly known, and whose " praise is in all the Churches." In accepting this offer I feel fully the weight of the respon- sibility assumed; and my own unworthiness to fill the place vacated by your late estimable Rector; but while distrustful of my own ability, I am cheered by the thought that I shall have the benefit of his presence, and Counsel, as also that of your able Diocesan, and the countenance, support, and co- operation of an enlightened, intelligent, and pious Laity. My chief reliance is however on the aid of "Him without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy," and by whom out of weakness, we may be made strong.
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