USA > New Jersey > Burlington County > Burlington > History of the church in Burlington, New Jersey : comprising the facts and incidents of nearly two hundred years, from original, contemporaneous sources > Part 50
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" In the Parochial work, I have taken such a share as has been appointed me by the Rector, and all special ministerial acts performed by me are included in his Parochial report.
" Outside St. Mary's Parish, but within your Diocese, I have assisted once in the administration of the Holy Communion, said Morning or Evening Prayer three times, and preached twice.
"In other Dioceses I have assisted at the ordination of one Priest ; said Morning or Evening Prayer three times ; preached twice, and catechised publicly once.
" I have the honor to be,
" Right Reverend Father, " Your dutiful son in the Church,
" DAVID C. MOORE. " To the Right Reverend, the Bishop of New Jersey, &c., &c.
" RT. REVEREND FATHER :
" The duties which are assigned to 'the Principal, Chaplain, and Head of the Family,' at St. Mary's Hall, have been con- stantly performed by me during the past year.
" I have also celebrated Divine service, and preached several Sunday mornings, at St. Stephen's Church, Florence, by your direction ; and taken part, regularly, in the Sunday services in St. Mary's Church, Burlington. During the school vacation, Spring and Fall, I have officiated in various places. I have baptized one infant, and once performed the marriage service, and that for the burial of the dead once; I have been the In- structor in Dogmatic Theology, at Burlington College.
" ELVIN K. SMITH.
" Burlington, N. J., May 27, 1861."
591
IN BURLINGTON.
" RT. REVEREND FATHER:
" I herewith send you my first report as a Presbyter of the Diocese of New Jersey.
"I entered on my duties as Rector of Burlington College, October, A. D. 1860. Since that time I have been engaged, constantly, in the Pastoral and Academic work in that Institu- tion. There are under my Pastoral care thirty-two souls. Eleven members of the family are communicants.
" I have also fulfilled the duties of Instructor in Ecclesiastical History in the Theological department of the College.
"I have preached about twenty-five sermons ; besides Lec- tures and Addresses delivered in the College Chapel ; and have assisted on almost every Sunday, and on the greater Festivals, in the services of St. Mary's Church, Burlington.
"J. BRECKENRIDGE GIBSON.
" Burlington, 1861."
A PEW AND A LOT FOR BISHOP ODENHEIMER.
At a meeting of the Vestry of St. Mary's Church, held De- cember 9th, 1861, the following were adopted :
" WHEREAS, The Vestry of this Church has set apart a pew for the Bishop and his family in St. Mary's Church,
"Resolved, That a lot, or piece of ground, be also set apart for the Rt. Rev. Dr. Odenheimer and family, in the ground between the new and old Church ; and that the Wardens be hereby requested to call upon and meet the Bishop to designate the place for this purpose, and report the same to the next meeting of the Vestry."
URGENT COMMUNICATION FROM THE RECTOR.
At a special meeting of the Vestry of St. Mary's Church, held March 27th, 1862, called by order of the Rector, the Rector retiring from the meeting, F. Gauntt, M. D., presented the fol- lowing communication from the Rector of the Parish :
"The Rector is compelled by circumstances that will admit of no delay, to ask the serious and immediate attention of the Vestry of St. Mary's Parish to this communication.
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
" On the 18th of October, A. D. 1860, I entered on my duties as Rector. The experience of about eighteen months convinces me of the necessity of some change from the present condition of things.
"In the first place, I find myself unable, without serious injury to my health, to continue the amount of work which I have undertaken.
" In the second place, I am not at all satisfied with the work- ing of the Parish, much of whose pressing work is neglected and omitted, for want of time and strength.
" If the only question in the matter were my health; if the only conviction of the eighteen months' work were the convic- tion, that my health was unequal to the work ; if this were all, I should simply say so to the Vestry; and ask the acceptance of my resignation at their hands. And of course I beg the Vestry to be sure, that I am at once ready to withdraw in favour of any one who can carry on the Parish to their satisfac- tion, either from possessing more strength, or from doing less work.
" But this is not all; I am able, thank God, to work hard, and to bear much. And as I look out upon my work here, I feel that its pressure upon me, has not been that of physical labour, but of anxious care. The work cannot be lessened.
" Virtually there is but one Parish in this city, and it must be that St. Mary's Parish is responsible for the care of all the Church's children in the city ; and for all the Missionary exten- sion of the Church. That this work might be done, of course an Assistant must be had. The Parish thought itself unable to supply me one. I opened St. Mary's Academy with a view of supporting an Assistant, independently of the Parish. It has been partially successful. I have been able to secure assistance ; but I have had to add to my own duties the confinement of teach- ing in the school ; and have had but very slight and imperfect help, because the chief time of the Assistant is taken up in the school. I confess myself unable to carry on the work; and therefore unwilling to bear the reponsibility of this Parish, single handed. And my duty to the souls of my care, no less
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IN BURLINGTON.
than to myself, will compel me if I cannot be relieved, to with- draw from a position, where I am breaking down my health, in the vain effort to accomplish an impossibility.
" But this, as I have said, is not all. It is a strain of no slight pressure to attend to the four Sunday services and the Sunday School; the week day services with such additions as Advent and Lent demand ; to teach three hours daily ; and to care besides this for the sick and the poor, the day schools, the candidates for the Sacraments and for Confirmation. This makes a heavy strain. But it is far harder to see work undone that ought not to wait ; to feel that little permanent hold is gained from day to day, for what has been done; and to be annoyed and anxious all the time, for means to carry on, or to originate measures absolutely essential to the welfare of the Parish.
"I am extremely anxious that the Vestry should take in the full measure of their opportunities for good, and so of their responsibilities. They are the guardians in temporal matters of a great and enduring work. I thank God for the unanimous and cordial support which they have never failed to give me personally. But we must consider together, how we may meet the necessities which press upon us, and make permanent the work already begun. Merely to keep the Church full on Sun- day of regular worshippers, who pay their pew rents, is not the limit of our duty. We are bound as the mother Church of the city, to provide and support two schools for the children and to extend to the poor, and those yet unconverted, the privileges of worship and instruction and care. The Mission of St. Barnabas is doing this. It needs sympathy and support. And until such interest and such efforts are put forth as will continue and enlarge our work, we fall short of our duty. I urgently and earnestly press this matter upon the Vestry. I do not ask them to support St. Barnabas' Mission. It was founded and built and carried on for some years without this. But now the work is one, under one spiritual direction, and one in temporal responsibility. And I ask the Vestry as essential to the discharge of our duty and as neces- sary to the relief of my health, to consider and act upon some
2 P
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
method of giving me an Assistant for the Parish work; and to authorize and sustain me, in pressing upon the Parishioners their duty of supporting with more interest and sympathy and larger alms, the Christian work of the Parish.
" My own view of the method of doing this is two-fold. In the first place, I believe that vigorous steps should be taken, at once, to pay off at least one-half of the principal of our debt, to the Board of Island Managers. This will add $300 a year to our income for Parish purposes. And in the next place, I think that pledges for an addition of at least as much, if not more than this sum, should be obtained from members of the congregation. I have of course, no desire to dictate any method of action to the Vestry. I believe both these suggestions to be practicable and therefore I propose them. Nor do I wish in any way, to urge myself, or my own views upon the Vestry, against their judgment. I simply ask their honest and earnest consideration of the statement which I have made: that I am not able, either conscientiously or physically to administer the Parish alone; that I believe the necessary work of the Parish, requires the undivided labour of at least two clergymen ; and that I cannot but think that the congregation are able and would be willing to assume the expense necessary to such addi- tional work.
" My hope is that the Vestry will recognize in this, the fact that the parochial work of St. Mary's Parish covers the mis- sionary work of St. Barnabas' Chapel ; and will realize the need of more clerical assistance ; and will act upon these two facts by the appointment of a Committee, (of which I will will- ingly be one and which I will cordially aid,) to secure from the congregation, in whatever way may be practicable, the means required for the support of our Church work in Burlington.
"WM. CROSWELL DOANE, Rector. " March 21st, A. D. 1862.
"The Chair appointed the Wardens, the Treasurer, and Messrs. C. S. Gauntt and W. C. Myers, a committee to act upon the communication."
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595
IN BURLINGTON.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE LOT.
At a meeting of the Vestry of St. Mary's Church, held April 28th, 1862, the Secretary presented this communication from the Bishop :
" Burlington, N. J., April 9th, 1862. " MY DEAR SIR :
" I have received your letter of the 8th inst., communicating to me the very gratifying and generous resolution of the Rector, Wardens and Vestrymen of St. Mary's Parish, Burlington, ap- propriating to me and my family a plot of ground opposite to the Chancel of the new St. Mary's Church.
"I beg leave through you, as Secretary of the Vestry, to ex- press my profound and gratified acknowledgment of this con- siderate act of kindness on the part of the corporation of St. Mary's Parish ; and as well for my family as myself to return my sincere thanks.
" With the humble prayer that every blessing may attend upon the faithful labour of your beloved Rector and his Vestry, "I remain, very faithfully yours,
"W. H. ODENHEIMER.
" Mr. Geo. H. Woolman, Sec'y."
REPORT OF THE REV. DAVID C. MOORE.
" RIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN GOD.
"I beg leave, very respectfully, to present to you the report of duties done by me since May 29th, A. D. 1861.
" I took such share in the Parochial and Scholastic work of St. Mary's Parish, Burlington, as was allotted to me by the Rector, until after the Feast of St. Andrew, when I most re- gretfully ceased to be Mr. Doane's assistant in St. Mary's Church, St. Barnabas' Chapel, and St. Mary's Academy for boys.
" From July 7th to the before-mentioned date, I also, at your desire, took charge of the vacant Parish of Trinity, Fairview, as Missionary.
" During the months of June, July, August, September, Oc-
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
tober and November, I baptized two adults and three infants, one of the latter being colored. I presented to you two persons for Confirmation, (belonging to the then vacant Parish of St. Peter's, Rancocas,) and I said the office for the Burial of the Dead seven times. All these are recorded in the register of St. Mary's Parish, Burlington. Besides these regular duties, I have also at other places within your Diocese, administered the Holy Eucharist six times, said the whole or part of morning or eve- ning prayer thirty-two times, and preached sixteen times. While beyond the limits of your Diocese, I have said morning and evening prayer four times, and have preached three times. These irregular and gratuitous duties extended to the 18th day of Feb- ruary, A. D. 1862, when I left the Diocese of New Jersey, with feelings of attachment which can never die while I myself re- tain life ; and at the same time (permit me to add) I also left the fatherly jurisdiction of one of the most kind and considerate Prelates, to whom it was ever the lot of a clergyman to owe allegiance.
" With every sincere sentiment of respect and honor for you in your high and holy office, and of love and gratitude to you personally,
" I have the honor to be, " Right Reverend Father, " Your obedient son in Christ's Church,
" DAVID C. MOORE,
" Missionary to Sherbroke, (west) County of Lunenberg, Diocese of Nova Scotia.
" April, A. D. 1862."
A BELL FOR ST. BARNABAS' CHAPEL.
"The Rector gratefully acknowledges the beautiful Christ- mas tokens of love from the S. S. Teachers and children of the Mission and the Parish, and from the people of the Mission; and the Easter gift of two surplices from two parishioners ; while our hearts are daily gladdened by the generous gift to St. Barnabas' Chapel of a noble bell, with a bell-turret, a thank-
597
IN BURLINGTON.
offering for preservation from great danger, bearing this inscrip- tion : 'Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his ben -. efits, who saveth thy life from destruction.' St. Barnabas' Free Mission Chapel, Christmas, A. D. 1861. 'O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.'
" The bell weighs over 300 pounds, and its admirable tone is worthy of its well known founders, Messrs. Jones & Co., of Troy, New York."-Parochial Report, May, 1862.
THE DIOCESAN INSTITUTIONS.
At the Convention of the Diocese held in Grace Church, Newark, May 28th and 29th, 1862, the following was accepted :
"The Committee on the Diocesan Institutions of St. Mary's Hall and Burlington College, appointed at the last meeting of the Diocesan Convention, are happy to be able to testify to the continued prosperity, and to the faithful and successful admin- istration of the schools. Gathering within their walls almost two hundred children every year, they train them in the nur- ture and admonition of the Lord. The fullest mental training fits the inmates of the Institutions for their duties, whatever they may be, in the world; as clergymen or laymen, men of business, of literature or in the professions; or as Christian women of cultivation, accomplishment and refinement.
" Better than all, the very atmosphere, the indirect influences, the services, the teachings, the examples of these Christian homes, do really educate, develope, draw out, lead up the higher and holier part of man-his spiritual and immortal nature. The well-tried confidence of American Churchmen in these noble nurseries of the Church, is not misplaced.
. " But your committee notice the want of patronage and inter- est given to these schools from this Diocese. Under the imme- diate and constant supervision of the Bishop; reflecting its highest honor upon the Church in New Jersey ; yet the propor- tion of pupils from our own State is not large ; and prosperous as the schools are, they have need of large patronage to enable them fairly to discharge their great responsibilities and their opportunities for good. To remedy this, your Committee would
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
only recommend to the New Jersey Churchmen, the thought that these Institutions are part of the Church's working in the State; that the Bishop's close relations to them bring them home to every heart ; that the Clergy and Laity of the Diocese are largely and honorably represented in the Board of Trustees; and that nothing has done more than they to give our Diocese its high and honorable position in the American Church. Surely the Churchmen of New Jersey will be proud to do all in their power by patronage and influence, to carry this great work of Christian education to a further advance of usefulness, suc- cess and honor.
" Your Committee, therefore, recommend the Institutions to the confidence of the members of the Convention of New Jersey, and propose the following resolutions :
" Resolved, That as Churchmen of New Jersey, we are proud of the advanced position, in our Diocese, of the great work of Christian education.
"Resolved, That with this expression of confidence in St. Mary's Hall and Burlington College, we will give cheerfully to their maintenance and support, our influence and our prayers.
"Resolved, That feeling as we do the sore need, and seeing as we do the great results of thorough Christian training, we recom- mend strongly the establishment of Parochial Schools wherever it may be possible throughout the Diocese to be the feeders of our Diocesan Schools, and so to raise up men and women who may be the nursing fathers and the nursing mothers of the Church, not in our Diocese only, but in the world.
" WILLIAM CROSWELL DOANE, - " JAMES S. BUSH, Committee.""
" GEORGE .P. SCHETKY,
THE RECTOR'S SALARY INCREASED.
At a meeting of the Vestry of St. Mary's Church, held July 18th, 1862, it was,
"Resolved, That the Rector's salary from July 18th, 1862, be fixed at $900; and the Committee will make an effort to obtain a sufficient amount by subscriptions to make it $1000, without delay, in order that the Rector may be able to procure clerical assistance in his work."
599
IN BURLINGTON.
THE DEATH OF WILLIAM A. ROGERS.
" At a special meeting of the Vestry of St. Mary's Church, held November 30th, 1862, the Rector stated that the meeting was called to take such action in regard to the death of our late Senior Warden, William A. Rogers, as his constant and anxious care for the welfare of this Parish demands of the Vestry.
" The Rector, Wardens, and Vestrymen of St. Mary's Parish, Burlington, having learned that God has taken out of this world the soul of their deceased brother, William A. Rogers, for twelve years a Vestryman and for seven years a Warden of the Church, have ordered this minute to be entered in the Vestry Book, and a copy sent to the family of Mr. Rogers, and printed in the Church Journal and the New Jersey Dollar Newspaper :
" Minute.
" The undersigned, having recently by resolution expressed their deep sense of Mr. Rogers' most valuable services to the Parish, during his many years of official connection with it, and also of the great worth of his Christian example, simply desire here to record their faithful reverence for his beloved memory, their cordial sympathy with the bereaved ones of his family ; and their full trust, that God, having accepted him in the Beloved, has taken his soul in the sweet resting-place of His Countenance. A noble and living monument, to the power of God's grace, working through his appointed means; the char- acter of Mr. Rogers exemplified the evangelical purity of the Church's doctrines, the apostolic power of her system, the divine blessing upon a life of simple obedience to Her laws. And the undersigned, with most devout thankfulness, record here their sense of his religious example as witnessing to the great. Cath- olic principles of frequent Eucharists and Daily Prayers, and to the powerful influence of a retiring, gentle, modest Christian life. The record of the departed brother, that he has left behind him, in the hearts of his fellow Parishioners, is the gracious descrip- tion of Nathaniel, 'an Israelite indeed in whom is no guile.' ' Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, for they rest from their labours and their works do follow them.'
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
" The Wardens and Vestrymen decide to attend his funeral in a body, and to act as the pall bearers.
" WM. CROSWELL DOANE, Rector.
" J. W. ODENHEIMER, "F. GAUNTT, M. D.,
Wardens.
" WM. J. WATSON, "C. S. GAUNTT,
" JAS. A. FARNUM,
Vestrymen.
"E. B. GRUBB,
"W. C. MYERS,
" E. HOWELL,
" Attest : GEORGE H. WOOLMAN,
"Secretary of the Vestry."
THE REV. MR. DOANE RESIGNS THE RECTORSHIP.
" Burlington, April 20, A. D. 1863.
"To the Wardens and Vestrymen of St. Mary's Parish, Burlington: "MY VERY DEAR FRIENDS :
"I have asked you to come together, this evening, in order that I may lay before you my resignation of the Rectorship of St. Mary's Parish.
"You are aware, that for some time, now almost a year, I have felt most painfully, the difficulty of obtaining adequate support for the various departments of my Parochial work; so much so, that I have not withheld the expression of a fear, that, the step which I have now taken would become inevitable. My wishes in this matter have been very imperfectly met. I have only been able to obtain the partial assistance of a Deacon ; and that for a remuneration which, though almost equaling my own salary, has been barely sufficient for his most economical sustenance. Meanwhile, the drain has gone on undiminished from my own small means to sustain the schools and other necessary expenses of the work. Still I could not bring myself so far to take God's purposes into my own hands, as to abandon my post here. And though I felt that the work was suffering for care, which my constant occupations prevented me from giving, and the want of salary hindered me from supplying, I,
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IN BURLINGTON.
still, went on. My heart, in all its human feelings, held me here. I knew the difficulties, under which the Vestry labored. I deeply felt the cordial and kindly affection of the parishioners. I dearly loved and delighted in, my duties. I hoped it would be God's will, so far to remove the difficulties, as to enable me to remain. But the opening of His providence, so far as I can read it, points another way. I have sent, to-day, after patient, painful, and deliberate consideration, my acceptance of a unani- mous, unsought, and unexpected call to St. John's Parish, Hart- ford. And with such a sacrifice of feelings, as my previous life has never known, and my after life can never know, it has become my duty to ask your acceptance of this resignation (after the 1st of May) which must part me, in presence, only, not in heart, from the Church, the people, and the work, that, for thirty years, in sacred association and personal affection have grown closer and dearer to me, every day.
" For 'the many shortcomings of my ministry among you, during the ten years of its continuance, I ask God's forgiveness and your own. For all your personal affection and kindness to me and mine, I pledge you the undying gratitude of most loving memories, and of continual prayers, that God will pour upon you all, my people and my friends, His most abundant blessing. Earnestly thankful for the success with which my Master has crowned our works, I, as earnestly and solemnly commit and commend to you for support and perpetuation, the means that have achieved it, under God ; means long estab- lished and in use here; the full development of the order of the Church in daily Services, frequent Eucharists, and the Parochial Schools. And while I ask your following prayers, and your kind judgments upon this decision, and upon my future life ; I beg that no reference to my feelings may lead you to postpone, what is of great importance to the sacred interests, we hold in common, the prompt selection of my successor, whom, may God strengthen and bless.
" With lasting and most grateful love, believe me ever,
" Your most faithful friend and Rector,
" WILLIAM CROSWELL DOANE."
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
MINUTE OF THE VESTRY ON ACCEPTING HIS RESIGNATION.
"The Committee appointed by the Vestry of St. Mary's Parish, to present an expression of their feelings on the occa- sion of accepting the resignation of their beloved Rector, have prepared the following minute :
" The official ties which have united the Rector of this Parish and his congregation, have been made deeply interesting by the fact that nearly his entire life has been spent within the pre- cincts of the Parish. The personal friendship which has de- scended to him, with the venerated name he bears, has ripened into profound and most affectionate esteem, under the influence of his zealous official ministrations.
" Of these ministrations it is impossible to speak in terms adequate to our appreciation of them. As the Priest and Pastor of this congregation, his course, in public and private, in the Church and home, with the young and old, poor and rich, has been marked by untiring fidelity, conscientiousness and charity. His fervent devotion has maintained the character of our beau- tiful sanctuary as eminently a House of Prayer; and whilst fulfilling the provisions of the Church for the due celebration of the Holy Sacraments and other Rites, he has assiduously instructed us in the truth as it is in JESUS, with words of burn- ing zeal and eloquence. Not only in the public discharge of his ministry has he endeared himself to our hearts, but we can also bear testimony, from experience and observation, to his self-sacrificing pastoral labours in the more unobtrusive depart- ments of his sacred office. In the hour of sorrow and sickness, his loving words and prayers have consoled us ; and in our and our childrens' joys he has ever been a ready and welcome sharer. In his untiring catechetical instructions, as well in the Sunday and Parochial Schools as in the Church, he has practically man- ifested the love of CHRIST for the lambs of the flock. There has been no form of disease too frightful to deter him from the bedside of the sick. His judicious counsels have helped the weak hearted, and his generous alms have comforted the needy. In season and out of season, through cold and heat, by night and by day, his ghostly ministrations have been cheerfully and unselfishly given to our congregation, and to all who asked
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