USA > New Jersey > Memorial of the centennial of the organization of the church in the state of New Jersey > Part 4
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" We have with us representatives of Bishop Croes, the first Bishop of New Jersey, in the persons of his grand-chil- dren, whom we greet most cordially. And we most sincerely regret the absence of the Bishop of Albany, who, it was hoped, might be here to represent a name greatly honored in New Jersey. Unfortunately, pressing duties have detained him. The Assistant-Bishop of New York, unable to be pres- ent himself, has very courteously sent one to represent him, the Rev. Dr. Tiffany, whom we welcome here, both for his own sake and the sake of the bishop who sends him.
" The Bishop of Pennsylvania is presiding, at this hour, over his own Convention, and, of course, could not join us.
" The distinguished company I see before me, attest by their presence, the interest they feel in our anniversary. thank them all, clergy and laity, for their honoring us, and I ask them now to listen to other and better words than I can give them."
The Bishop of Northern New Jersey being then intro- duced, said :
" Rt. Rev. Sir, Ladies and Gentlemen : Our celebration to-day has less the character of a commemoration than of a review. We are looking back over the history of a hundred years of our Church-life, not so much to take note of an event, as to measure our progress. Such a retrospect does not min- ister to mere sentiment ; it awakens gratitude and stimulates to new efforts in behalf of the work which God has given us to do.
" For myself as I look back through my mental telescope
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at the time preceding our Revolutionary struggle to the cen- turies which preceded our obtaining the Episcopate, I see a background chaotic and confused. I do not mean to say that it was chaotic and confused, but only that it looks so to me, as I view it through my telescope to-day. The things of which we read-the colonial clergy, the Bishop of London, the commissaries, the efforts to persuade the English Government to do what it once or twice seemed about to do, but always ended by not doing-that is, to give the colonies a bishop, all this seems confusion through my glass ; much as the surface of the moon does to one who is not an adept, when he looks at it through his material and actual telescope. There is no Church in those old days. No power of self-sustentation, much less of propagation. The tree has no seed-bag ; the plant grows under glass. Remove the protecting cover and let the cold wind in and it must die. There are no confirma- tions ; no ordinations. If there is a priest found here and there, he has had to go elsewhere to obtain his priesthood. The only figures that arrest my eye are of two men, who seem to stand out at last from the confusion. They bear in their hands neither key nor pastoral staff ; but are like the figures of old saints that one occasionally sees painted on canvas, or on glass in cathedral windows. Each bears in his hands the similitude and likeness of a church. These figures are of Seabury and White. They bring the Church to where it did not exist before. It becomes native to the soil. The cover- ing of glass is no more needed ; its roots have struck deep down into our American life.
" My own recollection reaches back over only a segment of this circle of one hundred years ; yet even I can recall a good deal. I can recall something of the cold, respectable, but by no means utterly unspiritual life that ruled before the Evangelical party came to kindle it with new fire, whose un- ruly blaze they were often unable to control. How cold those old days of high and dry churchmanship were ! When men came into church and would not kneel but stood to whisper their silent prayer before service in the hollow of their hats held daintily and decorously before their faces. The Evan- gelicals made havoc with some of the old proprieties. But they taught men what had been half-forgotten, viz., that religion has its subjective side. They preached Christ and the power of the Spirit ; and that men should go out from themselves and think of others. Their neglect of sacramental
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teaching, their forgetfulness -- sometimes their almost ignoring of the Church-was the natural and excessive rebound from what had gone before. They did good work not unmixed with evil ; but good work which the Church needed. They are now fast passing away. All honor to their memory. We will cover with a mantle-for the sake of the good they did- the recollection of their faults. Their work is in the founda- tion of this Church, like concerete in a strong wall. I do not see how, in their day, a day now past, we could have done without them.
" Since then new men have risen up and new schools. When the time came that our fathers needed to be reminded that the Church was Evangelical, the message came ; and again when the balance seemed almost lost, through the force of a too sharp specialism, then the Catholic message came to restore the equilibrium. But the two lessons are not new lessons. The Church has had both from the beginning. They were but different sides of the one truth ; each true yet each liable to be pressed into distortion by too eager and short-seeing advocates. Men, perhaps, liked one side better than the other, and loving it better, learned to believe in it almost ex- clusively. Single truths are always narrow, sharp, and force- ful, but the whole truth is made up of many narrow edges, which bound in one without losing the sharpness of each are together broad.
And now, to look forward to the future, I hold, Rt. Rev. Father, that our success under God in extending the Church will depend upon our being able to present to men each side of the truth which, because we are Catholic, and not sectarian, we hold. For myself I am a Catholic, but I am also Evangelical ; not the less Evangelical for being Catholic, but all the more each for being also the other. But men will always press forward most earnestly the side which they most admire. Can we learn to bear with those who do so, until we come gradually to one mind ? Can we learn to be comprehensive not of error or unbelief or heresy, but of truths presented perhaps sometimes in a one-sided way, but yet in a way which does not ignore the other side ? I think we can. It is with this hope and belief that I look forward to the future. Its responsibilities for us who labor on, are to be measured as we cannot measure thein, by those who are to look back upon the work we are doing now, from the stand- point of another hundred years."
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The Bishop of Pittsburgh said :
" If age and wisdom give the right to speak, then surely I should be excused from speaking, for I still have the pre- eminence of being the youngest member of the House of Bishops, and I would fain keep silence and heed in the pres- ence of my Rt. Rev. Brethren. I must content myself with telling you why I was so ready to come to this joyous cele- bration.
" The broad-hearted and broad-minded Bishop Doane was among the originators of the New Jersey Historical Society. He advocated it as one agency for unifying the State. He complained that there was lack of interest and lack of community of feeling on the part of Jerseymen-that New York on the one side, and Philadelphia on the other, drew off too much the attention of the population lying be- tween-and so he labored most earnestly for the establishment of societies and institutions which should turn the eyes of Jerseymen more toward their own heritage and make them proud of it.
" He was chosen to deliver the First Annual Address be- fore the Society, January 15th, 1846 ; and it may be that some of the elder clergymen and laymen here present may remember the opening paragraph of that address.
"He tells how, in the English town of Lincoln, as he walked beneath and past the Roman archway which is called the Newport Gate, musing upon the vicissitudes of time which that old gate had seen-suddenly there stood out before him on a street corner, in black letters, on a plain deal board, the words, ' New Jersey.'
" Instantly ' his heart was in his mouth.' He says, ' Romans, Danes, English, all were gone. Country and friends and home were all about me.' 'I stood a Jerseyman and in New Jersey.'
" So must it ever be I think, with one who belongs within this favored State, and I come to-day a witness to this patriotic feeling for old New Jersey. I do not apologize for boasting that my father was a Jerseyman, and my grandfather and great-grandfather, and I know not how many generations be- fore him ; and that all of them were without exception church- men, prominent in parochial matters, prominent in the affairs of this diocese almost from its organization, prominent in the General Convention during the early days as later ; and one
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of them sent by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel as Missionary to Perth Amboy as early as 1722.
"Being thus 'an Hebrew of the Hebrews,' when the in- vitation came to participate in the pleasure and profit of this most interesting occasion, my heart most eagerly responded. I gladly claimed my right to come, first by your courtesy and then by heritage. Thus do all the sons of Jersey love to honor her.
" And there is another reason why I ought to come. When, as a deacon, I stood before the beloved Odenheimer, his judgment did not approve my determination to go to Col- orado for the first years of work, but, yielding to my impor- tunity, he finally gave his unreserved blessing, claiming, how- ever, that I still owed him the year's work, which the bishop has a right to require of every deacon. That debt remains unpaid as yet ; but I stand ready to pay it, as I can by attend- ance upon festivities, or participation in labors, if ever my brother, the Bishop of New Jersey, should wish to go away !
"I rejoice in the prosperity of this noble diocese, and return to my work stimulated by what I have heard and seen to-day. I thank you for permitting me to join with you on this joyous occasion. Beyond the Alleghenies we have a hard missionary work to do. A solid wall of prejudice environs us, and against it we make but slow and tedious progress. But when we heard to-day the wondrous story of the begin- ning and progress of this diocese, new courage and strength came to my heart. May God's best blessings be bestowed upon the Diocese of New Jersey. The little one has become a thousand-the small one a strong nation. May it be so everywhere ! May the Lord hasten it in His time !"
The Rev. C. C. Tiffany, D.D., Rector of Zion Church in the city of New York, said :
" Rev. Fathers and Brethren : I come to give you greet- ing from the diocese of New York. The Assistant-Bishop has sent me as his chaplain, to represent him, because he could not come himself, and he was unwilling that no word of wel- come should be spoken from his diocese, so near to your own, but not more near than dear. I find myself in an embarrass- ing position, for our Bishop is, we think, so sure to say the apt word in the most fitting manner that one hesitates to repre- sent him. But, as Oliver Wendell Holines said when called
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upon to take the place of Edward Everett, 'I shall not at- tempt to fill his place, but I will rattle around in it the best I know how.'
" Though New York greets New Jersey to-day through the chaplain, instead of the Bishop, the greeting is as hearty and full. We congratulate you on the past and wish you yet greater good for the future. An assembly of three clegrymen and seven or eight laymen, one hundred years ago, may seem to some an insignificant event which might well pass without a centennial celebration. But that fact stood for a great prin- ciple, and apart from its fruits in the existence of two dioceses and two hundred clergymen, is a principle worthy of reiterated emphasis. For when churchmen come together, they stand for the grand Gospel principle of ' Unity, inclusive of diver- sity,' as contrasted with the denominational principle, which seems to be a new sect for every varying opinion in theology and every differing mode of worship. The Church principle is this, 'Diversities of gifts but the same Spirit ; differences of administration but the same Lord.' That is, the Church stands for comprehension not exclusion, for the widest Cathol- icity compatible with fidelity to the Faith. When, therefore, amid different elements, churchinen meet, whether there be three or three thousand, their meeting is significant of the liberty ' wherewith Christ hath made us free,' freedom from the opinions of men, because the freedom of the Faith.
" The Bishop of Northern New Jersey has said so many things I indorse ; the whole tenor of his speech was so admir- able, that it is, perhaps, captious to object to one expression to which I took exception, though very likely on explana- tion, I should find we meant the same thing. But I under- stood him to say we needed to be narrow in order to be effec- tive. I grant we must be concentrated and live by St. Paul's principle, ' this one thing I do ; ' but concentration is not nar- row ; it is the condensing of broad powers to a single task. The effectiveness of the wedge is not due more to the sharp- ness of its edge than to the breadth of its back. A thin sheet of metal will pierce the trunk but will sink into it, be held by it and disappear. The wedge, by reason of its broad base, will rive the trunk asunder. We must have back of our single action, broad sympathies and comprehensive views ; a generous catholicity of heart and mind, if our single strokes are to be effective. Such, it strikes me, is one significance of the Church idea, which one hundred years ago to-day was
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organized in this State and diocese. To administer the Church efficiently, we must administer it as the Church-not as a sect -and, therefore, in no narrow spirit of proscription but in the' spirit of the largest fellowship with those who hold the coin- mnon aim and are eager to work for it, albeit by somewhat dif- ferent methods and with somewhat divergent opinions. We are to hold to the One Body, but not to forget that there are many members, and that these have not all the same office, and we are to recognize that true Catholicity is not mere uni- formity in thought or taste or act, but unity amid diversity."
The Rev. George Morgan Hills, D. D., Dean of Burling- ton, said :
" Whenever I have heard the word ' centennial' in con- nection with this occasion, I have feared that to those not acquainted with the past, it might be misleading. All through the century before 1785, the Church was planted and flourish- ing in New Jersey. Many conventions of clergy were held and important business was transacted. So that if the beginning of the Church here were being commemorated, this would be in reality a bi-centennial. Two hundred years ago, the Rev. Edward Portlock began work at Perth Amboy, which chro- nologically leads all the parishes in the State. In 1698, Feb- ruary 23d, the Governor and Council of East New Jersey ' returned the thanks of their Board to the Rev. Mr. Edward Portlock, authorized pastor of the Jerseys, for the sermon he preached before the General Assembly, yesterday afternoon.' Observe the title given to Mr. Portlock in this extract from their Journal-' authorized pastor of the Jerseys.' It shows a churchmanship founded on intelligence and conviction, which has dominated in New Jersey from that day to this. And who was the Governor of the Province at that time ? The Hon. Jeremiah Bass, a man of culture and devotion and zeal for the Church, which shows itself in all his letters and papers, down to his last will and testament ; a layman who knew whereof he affirmed when he traced his ecclesiastical lineage through the Church of England to the Catholic Church of the first ages. He was the earliest historian of the Church in New Jersey, and his little monograph of twelve octavo pages is still extant.
" The ship Centurion, a transcript of whose log on that memorable voyage is now in my possession, brought over
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Keith and Talbot, the first missionaries of the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts. Mr. Talbot laid the corner-stone of the church in Burlington, and shortly after settled there, but never gave up missionary work through- out East and West Jersey. He saw at the outset the great need of a bishop in the colonies 'to visit all the churches, to ordain some, to confirm others, and bless all,' and to secure one, he strove with all his powers. He was so far successful, that in 1712 the Society bought a 'great and stately palace with fifteen acres of land, in Burlington, for a bishop's seat. A bill was ordered to be drafted to be offered in Parliament, for establishing bishoprics in America, and Burlington was designated as the first American See. But Queen Anne, the great patroness of the project, died, and the House of Hanover began to reign. The colonies were not in any diocese, nor, at that time, in even the nominal jurisdiction of the Bishop of London. Letters-patent from the Crown were deemed neces- sary to constitute this relation of the See of London with America, and Bishop Gibson refused to take them out. Tal- bot, in despair, braved the odium of the act, and, in 1722 re- ceived consecration from a nonjuring bishop, and returned to his beloved America. In 1723 he set up the bi-daily service through the year and the weekly eucharist, and was 'in labors more abundant' than ever before. When, two years later, he was informed against as being in the nonjuring episcopate, he was discharged from the service of the S. P. G., and ordered by the Governor of the Province to 'surcease officiating.' Notwithstanding remonstrances and memorials, he was left to die, a confessor for the truth,
" On his widow's will in the office of the Register in Philadelphia, I discovered in 1875, the impression of his Epis- copal seal, a mitre with flowing ribbons, and beneath it, all the letters of both his names ingeniously wrought into a mon- ogram.
" Time will not admit of further allusions to men and deeds which might be made in connection with the venerable parishes of Shrewsbury, and Elizabeth, and Salem, and Mount Holly, and New Brunswick, and Trenton, and a dozen others, to say nothing of those within the boundaries of the present diocese of Northern New Jersey. Indeed there is more of incident in the history of the Church in New Jersey than in that of any other State.
" I can only touch upon one other illustrious name. The
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Hon. D'aniel Coxe, one of the original corporators of St. Mary's Church, Burlington, and afterward an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey, in 1722 published 'A Description of the English Province of Carolana,' in the Pref- ace of which he formulated the scheme of confederation which, more than a half century later, was used to bind together the Thirteen United States.
" To New Jersey, therefore, belongs the honor of having not only the first designated American See, the first Episcopal residence, and the first bishop in America, but the first Amer- ican statesman in the person of Daniel Coxe, a churchman equal to the best.
" The stone which covers his grave is in the floor at the head of the nave in the old church of St. Mary, in Burling- ton. Peace to his ashes, and may light perpetual shine upon him !"
The Rev. Edward B. Boggs, D.D., Secretary of the Convention of the Diocese of Northern New Jersey, said :
" I presume, Rt. Rev. Fathers, that in years I am among the oldest of the clergy present, certainly oldest of those born in New Jersey, and the Bishop of New Jersey seems to imply that it is greatly to his credit that he is a Jerseyman. But a bishop is ex-officio older and wiser than any presbyter, and, therefore, I will not presume in what I shall say, to attempt to teach those so much older and wiser ex-oficio than myself. The Bishop has kindly spoken of my birthplace near this spot. When a boy I used to come out and stand near here to see the stages come down the hill with the passengers from Philadel- phia-that was before the days of railroads, and I coasted down the same hill in winter. Wonderful are the changes and developments in material things that I have seen in the half century and more I can remember, and these changes and growth have been quite as striking in Church as in State. Though ex-officio not so old a man as my Rt. Rev. Father of New Jersey, I can in facto remember what he cannot-viz., every one of his predecessors in the Episcopate of this diocese. I was held at the font in the arms of the first Bishop of New Jersey ; the second Bishop, Doane, laid his hands on me in ordination to the diaconate and priesthood, and the third and last Bishop of the whole State appointed me the General
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Missionary under himself ; so that I have been brought into intimate relations with every Bishop of this State.
" I well remember the first Bishop, Croes. He deserves more credit than has been given him, in laying carefully and wisely the foundations of this Church. He was a self-made man, a soldier in the Revolution, not, perhaps, so learned or brilliant as his successors, but noted for plain common-sense ; a man highly respected and loved in this community ; econom- ical from necessity, but liberal from principle and disposition ; he always headed the subscription list for every worthy object. He was rector of this parish as well as bishop of the diocese. Once a month he called up the children before the chancel, and each one was obliged to say the catechism. He always preached in black silk gloves, and had a pair ready to lend any brother who came unprovided.
" A great deal has been said to-day of the wonderful growth of the Church during the century now closing ; and statistics have been quoted showing how the Church in this State has become 'two bands.' It is all true, I have seen much of it myself ; let us thank God therefor, and take courage. But there is one fact of Church growth of great im- portance, which figures cannot show, but which, in my opin- ion, is worthy of being set forth on this occasion. I mean the quiet influence of our Church in diffusing, perhaps uncon- sciously to themselves, Catholic Church principles among other Christian bodies. I well remember how in former years we were laughed at for keeping Christmas and Easter, and as for Good Friday, that was indeed a relic of Popery ! And flow- ers for decorating churches were an abomination ! While now there is scarcely a denomination in the land that does not imi- tate us in paying attention to these great Church festivals. And each of these days is commemorative of some great fact and sets forth as founded on that fact some great truth of our religion, and their observance must tend to draw all Christians together in 'unity of doctrine.' And so also the great em- phasis laid by the Church on the necessity for a valid and regular ordination has had a great influence in teaching all Christians the importance of an ordination or solemn setting apart to the ministry, and I need not tell you how many have thereby been induced to examine the matter for themselves and been led to seek for an apostolic ordination. And so also the Prayer-book is teaching men the beauty of 'common worship.' This quiet work of our Church in spreading Catholic 4
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principles is a very important element in promoting Christian unity. We cannot expect to make Protestant Episcopalians of all people ; I, for one, will be quite thankful if we can make them Catholic Churchmen. And when once I was asked by a Presbyterian pastor to come to his Sunday-school Christmas festival, and talk Christmas to his children, because I must know more about it than he ; and, going, found a responsive service prepared and heartily rendered, with chants and hymns ; and when, at another time, a Dutch Reformed min- ister said to me, 'You don't know what a safeguard you have in requiring Episcopal orders, what a guarantee it is to you that none but one duly orthodox and ordained can claim the right to minister in your churches ' -- I say when I recall these facts and others like them, I feel that the work of our Church has been far wider spread and more useful than can possibly be known by any list of churches, ordinations, and confirmations.''
The Rev. Nathaniel Pettit, President of the Standing Committee of the Diocese of New Jersey, then read the fol- lowing :
A veil was on the people's heart ; They could not see, nor know Thy glorious beauty, Mother dear, A hundred years ago. Thy feeble flocks were counted but a score, From Sussex hills to Cape May's sounding shore.
From Europe, agonized with strife, They came in hostile hosts, Each with a fraction of the truth To these New Jersey coasts. Yet, her did they dishonor and despise Whom Jesus taught, beneath Judea's skies.
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