USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Hartford > Christ church, Hartford, Volume I > Part 28
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I came amongst you young and a stranger ; I have passed amongst you the flower of my life, and every house has become to me a kind of home. So happy in all social and pastoral relations I cannot hope to be again.
The sphere to which I go, is one in which the Church, during my lifetime, will probably furnish no post like that which I relinquish.
But I know that you will appreciate the only motives which can impel me ; and I trust that you will dismiss me with the same acquiescence which I feel in what seems to me the will of our Lord and Saviour.
I therefore present herewith my resignation of the Rec- torship of Christ Church, to which the Bishop has consented by consenting to my Consecration. This resignation I desire to take effect from the consecration itself, which, will doubt- less be fixed for some day within a fortnight.
May you, my respected and beloved friends, be guided by heavenly wisdom, in the administration of all the affairs of a parish for which I shall always pray with a peculiar fervency, as my first and most peaceful charge.
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IMPORTANT VOTES AND COMMENTS.
May the good providence of God bring to you a wiser and more faithful pastor, and may the Holy Spirit pour upon you, and those for whom you act, such dews of his grace, that this congregation may flourish more and more in all spiritual blessings, as a garden which the Lord has planted. I am, and shall ever remain
Most truly and effectually,
Your friend and servant in Christ,
GEORGE BURGESS.
NEW YORK, October 15th, 1847.
After reading the foregoing communication, Hon. Isaac Toucey presented the following preamble and resolutions, which were passed unanimously :
Whereas, The Revª George Burgess, D.D., having been elected Bishop of the Diocese of Maine, and having there- upon tendered his resignation of the Rectorship of this Parish, to take effect from the time of his consecration.
Resolved, That we accept his resignation with the pro- foundest sorrow and regret. Sorrow that he is so soon to be removed from us, and the tie to be severed which lias united us in the most sacred relation, for the full period of thirteen years ; regret that this Parish is to be deprived of his pru- dent counsel, his invaluable services, his holy ministrations, and of those, patient, faithful, and most abundant labors of love, by which this Church has been so long edified and strengthened, its borders enlarged, and its prosperity under God, permanently ensured.
Resolved, That the warmest affections of the members of this Parish will follow their beloved Pastor to the new field of higher responsibilities, and more arduous duties, to which in the Providence of God he has been called, and that we will never cease to offer our earnest prayers to the Great Head of the Church, that his blessing may follow His faith- ful servant in the sequel of his life, as it has in its beginning.
Resolved, That the Treasurer of this Parish be directed to pay to the Rev. Dr. Burgess, his accustomed salary until the first day of April, A.D. 1848.
Voted, That a certified copy of the preamble and first three Resolutions, be signed by the Wardens and Vestry and pre-
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CHRIST CHURCH, HARTFORD.
sented to the Rev. Dr. Burgess ; which vote having passed unanimously, the meeting adjourned.
Oct" 22, 17. Voted, That Dudley Buck, Hezekiah Hunting- ton, and Junius S. Morgan be and they are hereby appointed a Committee, to make enquiry in regard to procuring a Clergyman for this parish, and to present names of such as they may obtain, to this Vestry.
Nor II. The committee appointed to inquire and report to the Vestry the name of a suitable person as Rector of this Parish, reported, that they had visited Rye, N. Y., for the purpose of hearing the Rev. Mr. Chauncey, and were pre- pared to report very favorably to the Vestry respecting him, still they wished before doing so, that some other members of the Vestry might be requested to visit the same place for the same purpose and on their motion it was
Voted, That Messrs. Wm H. Imlay, Chas H. Northam, and G. W. Russell, be requested to visit Rye, for the purpose of hearing the Rev. Mr. Chauncey, and to report to this Vestry.
Jeremy Hoadley, son of James and Lydia [Buell] Hoad- ley, was born in Branford, July 28, 1776; married July 7, 1798, Harriott, daughter of Capt. Asher and Thankful [Hubbard] Fairchild, of Guilford, where he was engaged in the manufactory of hats until about 1806, when he came to Hartford, where he continued in the same busi- ness for many years. He probably immediately connected himself with the parish, for he is mentioned Dec. 28, 1808, as having contributed five dollars towards the balance due to Mr. Rayner ; and, in 1809, was assessed in a tax laid in the list of 1808. He was chosen as one of the Vestry, in 1810, and held the position of Vestryman, or as one of the Wardens, nearly every year until 1831. He was frequently appointed to serve on various committees, and was a delegate to the Diocesan Convention on several occasions. He was a member of the Board of Relief of the town in 1827, and for seventeen consecutive years. In 1819 he was one of the selectmen for twelve years, and was first selectman from 1834 to 1842; engineer of the
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IMPORTANT VOTES AND COMMENTS.
fire department, 1820 to 1826; acting mayor, on the death of Jared Griswold, from Nov. 23, 1835, to April 13, 1836 ; member of the general assembly for four years; sheriff from 1829 to 1835 ; town treasurer in 1834; justice of the peace, 1826-7-8; member of the common council of the city, 1819-20; alderman from 1821 to 1824, and from 1836 to 1843. From these different offices, and for the time which they were held by him, it will be seen that he was considered a very useful man, and that he must have been remarkably patient and even-tempered to have held them so long ; a friend who knew him well says that he " never knew him to be ruffled." In these days it would be wonderful if attempts were not made to crowd him out of his seat before it had fairly become warm.
He stood by the church and labored for it in its most trying times, and ever contributed to it according to his ability. He remembered the ministry and the personal appearance of Bishop Seabury, and his conversation upon the church in old times was instructive and entertaining. He was the "Clark" of the Parish-not the "Society's Clerk "- having his seat in the reading desk, leading in the responses with a loud voice, giving out the Psalms and Hymns to be sung, and all the notices, including the banns of marriage. In the absence of the clergyman he also read service and buried the dead. Truly a multifa- rious and useful man. He was, as nearly, as I can learn, the last person to occupy the position of "Clark."
His daughter, Mrs. M. J. A. Sage, writes March 11, 1894, as follows: "To show the poverty of our music my father gave out to be sung, 'Ye boundless realms of joy,' an eight-line psalm ; after much turning over of leaves and some delay, the leader came to the front of the organ and said, 'Mr. Hoadley, we have no tune to those words'; then my father gave the 100th psalm, to be sung to the tune of 'Old Hundred.'
" In the days I speak of no woman responded aloud ; every body whispered ; but one Sunday Mrs. Philo Hillyer
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CHRIST CHURCH, HARTFORD.
was in Hartford on a visit, and she responded in a loud voice in the Psalter, and one and another joined in a low quivering tone, until at last all joined, and from that time forth the responses were said as they should be." A few of his descendants still remain in the parish, useful and faithful, and devoted to its old ways.
He died December 1, 1847. His wife died September 22, 1849.
Dec 3, V. To the Wardens and Vestry of Christ Church.
The Committee appointed to enquire for some suitable person to be presented to the Parish, as Rector, beg leave to report, that they have made diligent enquiry, and respect- fully present the name of the Rev. Peter S. Chauncey as a suitable person to be recommended to the Parish to be elected to the vacant rectorship.
DUDLEY BUCK, H. HUNTINGTON, Committee.
J. S. MORGAN,
HARTFORD, Dec' 3ª, 1847.
Which report was accepted by the Vestry.
Dec' 7, P. Voted, That the Revd. Peter S. Chauncey, of Rye, in the State of New York, having the approbation of the Bishop of this Diocese, is requested to accept of the Rectorship of this Parish.
The report of Wardens and Vestry recommending that Rev. Peter S. Chauncey of Rye be elected Rector of this Parish, having been accepted, it was
Voted, That a salary of fifteen hundred dollars per anntim is hereby settled upon the Rev. Peter S. Chauncey, to be paid to him in quarter yearly payments, so long as he shall con- tinue to be the Rector of the Parish.
Voted, The Right Revd Bishop of this Diocese, is respect- fully requested to approve of the election of the Revd Peter S. Chauncey to be Rector of this Parish, and to communicate this and the foregoing votes to the Revª Mr. Chauncey, ac- companied with such information in his possession, as the nature of the case requires, and in the name of this Parish,
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IMPORTANT VOTES AND COMMENTS.
to invite him, upon the terms expressed in the preceding Votes, to accept the Rectorship of this Parish.
1848.
Jan3 5, V. Voted, That the subject of adjusting the com- pensation of the Rev. Silas Totten for services rendered during the recent vacancy of the Rectorship be referred to Messrs. Dudley Buck and Cyprian Nichols.
A communication from Rev. Peter S. Chauncey was read, containing his acceptance of the rectorship of the parish, which was ordered to be recorded, and is as follows :
To the Wardens and Vestry of Christ Church, Hartford.
Gentlemen,- After much anxious and prayerful delibera- tion, on the subject of the invitation to the Rectorship of your Parish, and more especially since my recent visit to your City, I have yielded to the conviction, that it is my duty to accept it.
This conclusion, Gentlemen, is on many accounts painful to me, as it severs me from a united and affectionate Congre- gation, and from the happy scene of my earliest labors in the ministry of the Gospel. It will impose upon me new and heavy duties, and the necessity for an amount of effort which I sometimes fear will overtax my health.
Moreover it will require me to take the place of one whose praise is in all the Churches, and whose happy fortune it was to enjoy in an eminent degree, the respect and affection of his flock.
But some one must assume the post from which he has been called to a higher ministry, and I will accept the trust in humble dependence on the promised grace of our Divine Master, and in the confident reliance on your sympathy, indulgence, and co-operation.
I propose, if Providence permit, to be in Hartford on the first Sunday in February for the purpose of assuming the charge of the Congregation. I find, however, from the state of things here, and from the labor of preparing to move, that I cannot be permanently among you until Spring.
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CHRIST CHURCH, HARTFORD.
With the earnest prayer, that God will make me the instrument of blessing and happiness to you all, and greatly honor my ministry, I am, Gentlemen, with great regard and respect,
Your servant for Christ's sake, P. S. CHAUNCEY.
RYE, January 3ª, 1848.
April 25, P. Voted, That James Goodwin, Junius S. Morgan, and Daniel Buck, Jr., be, and they are hereby, appointed a Committee to investigate the mode of assessing Pews, and selling the same, in the different Churches of the various denominations in this, and other cities, and report to a future meeting of this Parish, the best mode of assessing and selling the Pews of Christ Church, with the view of more nearly equalizing the assessment of the Pews of said Church, and obtaining the fair value thereof at the annual sale on Easter Monday next, - with any remarks they may see fit to append to said report for the information of the members of the Parish.
Resolved, That Samuel Tudor, Hezh Huntington, P. F. Robbins, Gurdon W. Russell, Geo. Sumner, be and they are hereby appointed a Committee, to examine the condition of the Organ, and report to the Parish, at a future meeting, such sum as they deem it expedient to expend in repairs thereon, and completion thereof; also to investigate the expenses now incurred by this Parish for the Organist, and singing during Public Worship; and whether an improve- ment in the selection of the music, or in the expenses of the Parish for this important department in the services of the Church can be made.
Resolved, That the Wardens be requested to see that order is kept in the South Gallery of the Church.
May 6, V. Voted, That the Wardens be a Committee to confer with the Revd. Mr. Chauncey, in relation to his Institution as Rector of the Parish of Christ Church, Hartford, on the 18th instant.
Voted, That George Sumner be added to the above Committee.
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IMPORTANT VOTES AND COMMENTS.
l'oted, That E. Flower be authorized to confer with the President of Washington College, in relation to the conduct of the Students in Church on the Sabbath.
Concerning the Organ and the Music.
May 9, P. The Committee to whom was referred the subject of repairing and completing the organ, and to make investigations in relation to the singing in Christ Church, presented the following report, which was read and accepted, with the accompanying resolutions which were adopted, and ordered to be entered on the Records of the Parish.
The Committee to whom was referred the subject of cleaning the Organ, and receiving estimates for additions to the same, and also the music generally, would report :
That they have given it that attention which its import- ance demands, and find that the organ has not been cleaned for the space of eighteen years, and of consequence is now out of order, needing both cleaning and tuning, the cost of which will amount to about one hundred and fifty dollars. The Committee were also instructed to inquire if any ad- ditions to the Organ were needed, and the probable expense of the same. It is not now complete, as it was intended it should be when built, not possessing several stops, very de- sirable to make it a more perfect instrument and equal in capacity to nearly all, even of small size, now constructed. Mr. Erben, the builder, engaged to add them whenever the Parish might desire, and at a less price than they could be put in by others. It was expected that Mr. Erben would have examined the organ and given the details of what is necessary to render it complete, but not being able to be present, it was examined to-day by Mr. Faucet, who is in his employ, and upon his return Mr. Erben will transmit to us what additions and repairs are desirable, and the cost of the same. From an estimate made by him several years since, it is thought the expense may be about six hundred dollars. The whole amount then for cleaning, tuning, coupling, re- pairing, and making such additions to the organ as are desir- able, will be about seven hundred and fifty dollars, and as the Parish has not present funds in hand, it must be raised
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CHRIST CHURCHI, HARTFORD.
by incurring a debt either temporary or permanent, or by laying a tax, or by subscription, whichever mode the Parish may think best to adopt. That the instrument should be made complete we are fully decided, and it is due to us that having moved so often in the matter, we should now see that it is effected.
As to the music generally, we have felt that it was a sub- ject requiring careful consideration and should be handled with delicacy ; but being firmly persuaded that this part of our service is of great importance and should be performed by all who are able to join it, their duty is plain ; we find no authority for delegating it to a certain number of persons, none whatever, nor was the Organ placed in the Church as a means of display.
To the ministers are appointed certain duties, and also to the congregation, but nowhere in the Prayer Book do we find any direction for the service of the third party, plainly showing that the Priest and the congregation are to be the exclusive performers of the service. But in saying thus much, we do not intend to detract from the usefulness and perhaps necessity of the Choir as at present ; we must be mainly guided by them, and if they are to be our guides, we should see to it that they are skillful ones, and as a conse- quence we would inculcate the necessity of good music.
In these remarks, nothing is intended to apply to the present choir ; they are only intended to illustrate the pro- priety of Congregational singing. Taking this view of the subject, the old familiar tunes are to be preferred, both be- cause they are good and because we are generally acquaint- ed with them.
How much is the devout heart cheered, when not from one part of the Church alone, but from the whole, from all around, there is a swelling up to Heaven the glad notes of hundreds of voices. Who at such a time is listening with the car of a critic for some slight irregularities in his neighbor's voice ? This is not a performance on the boards of a theatre, but the Christian worship of Christian men, Now that there should be a novelty in our tunes, that is, a constant change, is a most preposterous fallacy, if we view
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IMPORTANT VOTES AND COMMENTS.
the subject aright. Do we tire of our prayers, because they are fixed, and repeated on each Sunday ? Is the Litany less solemn, or the Decalogue less impressive because so often repeated ? Why then should we require great novelty in the tunes to be sung ? The old ones are familiar, they are dear to us, because for ages some of them have gone up to heaven from Christian voices, and are hallowed to us by a thousand associations.
In connection with this we might remark upon certain ir- regularities, which have been practiced here, and perhaps elsewhere, and first, the singing of some anthem or verse previous to the commencement of the service. The rubric is plain, that the "minister shall begin the morning or even- ing Prayer by reading one or more of the following senten- ces of Scripture." If now one of these sentences is sung by the Choir, the minister certainly does not commence the ser- vice, as the rubric plainly says he shall, for the people attend to it, and engage in it, and do not regard it as a voluntary, -- and further, the sentence "Glory be to thee, O Lord," be- tween the Epistle and Gospel, which is required to be said by the people, is now sometimes sung, which certainly is con- trary to the rubric.
These practises have crept in without authority, and what- ever opinion we may now have about them as matters of taste cannot be allowed without breaking over those whole- some bounds which are allotted us, and which if we overstep in one instance may be followed by grievous errors. As to music in the Chapel, it is only necessary that some one should be present, to start the tune. If the organist makes it a part of his duty, he will of course require extra pay, and his salary must be increased, but as there might be a reluctance on the part of the Parish to increase its expenses, it is believed that some one may be found, who for the love he bears to the Church, may be persuaded to take this duty upon him, and we would therefore recommend that it be left to the Rector, with the Wardens and Vestry, to make such a selection.
In concluding we would say, that in making this report, we have intended no censure, but have only spoken of what
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CHRIST CHURCH, HARTFORD.
we thought to be proper, indicated by authority and in ac- cordance with the spirit of our Church.
If in any respect we have departed from the path pointed out, let us return to it and follow it as we are directed.
The Convention of 1789, in allowing the Psalms in meter, with the Hymns, to be sung, places the whole matter under the supervision of the Rector, who with such assistance as he can obtain from persons skilled in music, shall give order concerning the tunes to be sung at any time in his Church. If this authority is exercised many irregularities may be cor- rected and much responsibility taken from the Organist.
We would therefore recommend the adoption of the accompanying resolutions, all of which is respectfully sub- mitted.
Per order of the Committee,
SAMUEL TUDOR, Chairman.
HARTFORD, May 9th, 1848.
Resolved, That the Rector be requested to exercise the authority which he now possesses, to rectify the irregularities in the commencement of the service, in the singing of the sentence between the Epistle and the Gospel ; that he desig- nate the proper Anthems and Psalms to be sung; in fine to supervise the music generally.
Resolved, That whilst much must be left to the good sense and discretion of the Organist, the tunes to be sung should generally be the old ones as being familiar and best.
Resolved, That the Organ be cleaned, tuned, repaired, and such additions made to it, as will render it complete, provided that the same can be done for an amount not exceeding seven hundred and fifty dollars, including the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars, which was appropriated for the above purpose by a vote of the Wardens and Vestry, by a meeting held on the 29th day of May, 1847, which vote ap- propriating the same is adopted and approved by this meet- ing. Also, provided that Five hundred dollars of the above sum of $750, be raised by subscription.
Voted, That the thanks of the Wardens and Vestry be pre- sented to Miss Hart, for her liberality in presenting to the
IMPORTANT VOTES AND COMMENTS. 369
Parish the carpet which now covers the floor of the Vestry- room of our Church, and that the vote be communicated to Miss Hart by the Rector.
The music of the Parish was about this time the sub- ject of much discussion, and of considerable difference of opinion. The report, which has been quoted, was the outcome of it, and it gave great satisfaction to some of the older members ; correspondingly, the younger ones, who thought much of music as a fine art, were disappointed. The organ-gallery was frequented by some who, ap- parently, were interested with little except the musical part of the service. Mr. Babcock, for a long time the organist, resigned, and Mr. Downs was appointed to his place. He was a brilliant genius, and naturally thought much of his talents, and his admirers thought much of him. It was the commencement of a disaffection which was serious for a time, and very improperly entered into the election of the officers of the Parish.
After much discussion and the passage of resolutions concerning the organ, it was voted to procure a new one at a cost of $3,500, if a proper exchange could be made for the old one, and one thousand dollars was raised by sub- scription. This subscription was secured, but is not on record, nor can it be found among the files. The organ was made by Mr. Hook, and gave great satisfaction.
1849. Selling the Pews.
There was not always perfect satisfaction given in the method of leasing the pews, or in the amount of money which was realized. A hundred years hence it may be interesting to learn how this was done.
March 30, V. Voted, That the following plan for selling the Pews this year be adopted, viz., that the numbers of all the Pews be placed in a box, and that they be drawn out by the auctioneer, and that the Pews be sold in the order in which the numbers are drawn from the box.
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CHRIST CHURCH, HARTFORD.
Voted, That Wm. H. Imlay, Dudley Buck, Hezekiah Hunt- ington, and Philemon F. Robbins, be, and they are hereby, appointed a Committee to prepare the numbers in accord- ance with the above vote. The report of the Committee ap- pointed at a previous meeting to reassess the Pews in the Church, having been read and accepted, it was then
Voted, That William H. Imlay be requested to make a statement on the day of the sale of the Pews, relative to the financial affairs of the Parish, and to the importance of in- creasing the funds as much as possible, from the sale of the Pews the present year.
July 6, V. Voted, That Ebenezer Flower, and Daniel Buck, jr., be a committee to ascertain the expense of Gas fix- tures, and the probable expense of lighting the Church with gas, and report to a future meeting.
The use of illuminating gas was introduced into the city about 1849. The light furnished by whale oil was not particularly brilliant, but was considered as sufficient until a better was found. The lamps, with some about the reading desk, afforded as much light as most of the parishioners had in their homes. The sexton, whose duty it was to fill and trim them, did not wish for more.
V. Voted, That Phillip Ripley and Alfred Watkinson be a Committee to ascertain the expense of a Cast Iron Fence to be erected around the Church in place of the old one, and report at a futurc meeting.
Augt 20, V. Voted, That the Rector, P. S. Chauncey, have leave of absence from the duties of this Parish, during such time as he may deem expedient for the benefit of his health, and that he is hereby authorized to procure the services of the Rev. Dr. Nathaniel S. Wheaton to attend to the Parochial duties of the Parish during his absence, at the expense of the Parish.
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