USA > New York > New York City > A history of the parish of Trinity Church in the city of New York, pt 1 > Part 24
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Anticipating our narrative, we insert at this point an interesting and important letter addressed to the Venerable Society, Nov. 3, 1755, which gives a semi-official view of the situation and of circumstances preceding that date. After referring to the violent reproaches to which the parish had been subjected for its part in the establishment of the college, at a time when they had contracted a heavy debt by building St. George's Chapel, the Board goes on to say :
"We always expected that a gift so valuable in itself, and so abso- lutely necessary, (it being the only ground within the City properly situated, and of sufficient extent), would be a means of obtaining some priviledges to the Church, especially as the first promoter, of the affair, in the House of Representatives, always proposed such a preference, at least, as is granted by the charter ; but we never insisted on any condi- tion, till we found some persons labouring to exclude all systems of religion out of the Constitution of the Colledge. When we discovered this design, we thought ourselves indispensably obliged to interpose, and we have had the countenance of many good men of all denomina-
1 Records, i., 273.
1
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tions, and in particular the ministers of the Foreign Protestant churches in this city, who are appointed governors of the Colledge, and who with- out the least hesitation qualified agreeable to the Church, and continue hearty friends to it. But notwithstanding this, the opposition still continues, and has so far prevailed as to have hitherto prevented the application of the money raised by Lottery to the use of the Colledge. To effect this, our opponents have been indefatigable, the most base and disingenuous methods have been used to prejudice the Common People in the several counties, whom they endeavoured to persuade, that the Test impos'd on the president will infallibly be attended with the estab- lishment of Bishops and Tythes, and will end in the loss of all their Religious priviledges, and even in persecution itself. Petitions have been drawn and handed about to be signed against the Charter Estab- lishment ; and weekly papers have been published for two years past wherein all the Friends of the Church and the Vestry of Trinity Church in particular, have been abused in the most opprobrious terms : so that it is very uncertain when the money will, by the Generall Assembly, be vested in the Governors. In the meantime, they have begun a sub- scription amongst themselves, and are daily purchasing materialls to lay the foundation of a handsome, convenient Edifice, which, God wil- ling, they purpose to begin next Spring ; and they are induced to hope, that as the dissenting seminary in New Jersey has had the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland engaged in its behalf last year, as well as the dissenting interest in England, and as we are informed, have collected a very considerable sum of money, so our Brethern in Eng- land will be ready to contribute, to preserve the Church in this part of the world from the contempt its enemies are endeavoring to bring upon it. The Dissenters have already three Seminarys in the Northern Gov- ernments. They hold their Synods, presbyteries and associations, and exercise the whole of their Ecclesiastical Government to the no small advantage of their cause, whilst those churches which are branches of the National Establishment are depriv'd not only of the benefitt of a regular Church Government, but their children debarred of the privi- ledges of a liberal education, unless they will submit to accept it on such conditions as Dissenters require, which in Yale Colledge is to sub- mit to a fine as often as they attend Public Worship in the Church of England, communicants only excepted, and that only on Christmass and Sacrament Days. This we cannot but look upon as hard measure, especially as we can, with good conscience declare, that we are so far from that bigotry and narrowness of spirit they have of late been pleased to charge us with, that we would not, were it in our power, lay
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Establishment of Columbia College 273
the least restraint upon any man's conscience, and should heartily re- joice to continue in brotherly love and charity with all our Protestant Brethren, as we can appeal to all men we have always done, notwith- standing the late unmerited reproaches, callumnies and opposition we have met with." 1
The Board say in conclusion that the college authori- ties intend to go on in accordance with the charter, deem- ing this " the best means to quell the present opposition " and they invoke the aid of Churchmen at home in carrying on the needed work of education. 2
The spirit of the Church is well illustrated by that rule of the College which stipulated that the students should attend such places of Worship on the Lord's day, " as their Parents or Guardians shall think fit to order and permit," and also by a provision of the charter which rec- cognized the establishment of a professorship of Divinity in accordance with the Synod of Dort. 3
The appointment of Dr. Johnson added bitterness to the draught which the Dissenters had to swallow. Sam- uel Johnson was one of that celebrated band whose defec- tion from the Congregational order in which they had been trained startled New England as with a shock of an earthquake. Born at Guilford, Connecticut, Oct. 14, 1696, of an old Puritan stock, " an Hebrew of the He- brews," and trained in the faith that Congregationalism was the very and true gospel, and that Episcopacy had neither scripture, nor history, nor logic, nor aught else in its favor, he was sent to the College of Connecticut at
1 Berrian's Historical Sketch, 102.
2 Records, i., 277. See on this whole subject The Life of Samuel Johnson, D.D., by Dr. Chandler, 87-93 ; N. F. Moore's Historical Sketch of Columbia College ; I-37 ; also Berrian's Historical Sketch, 100-114 ; Beardsley's Life and Correspond- ence of Samuel Johnson, D.D. ; 189 et seq .; and the same author's Life and Time of William Samuel Johnson, LL.D , 10-12.
3 On the struggle with intolerance at Yale, see Beardsley's Samuel Johnson, 192-210.
I8
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Saybrook, and thence, on the removal of the college, to New Haven, where, in 1716, he was acting as tutor under Dr. Cutler, the rector or president. Four years after- wards Mr. Johnson was set apart as a Congregational minister and settled at West Haven. But this man, thus educated according to the strictest forms and most rigid orthodoxy of the independent Calvinistic sect, at that time the only one known or tolerated in the colony, had meanwhile been reading quietly on his own account. He had studied the Novum Organum ; inspired by the dis- coveries of Newton he had gone profoundly into mathe- matics ; he had become a proficient in the classics and Hebrew; and, worst of all, he had become thoroughly acquainted with Barrow, South, Sherlock, Hooker, Bull, and other masters of the divine science of theology. Nor had he been alone in such studies ; President Cutler and others were pursuing the like course of investigation. And so it came to pass one day, that the president of Yale College, the honored and beloved young divine of West Haven, and others, spoke out together, declaring that, in their deliberate judgment, Congregationalism, the idol of Puritan New England, could not stand the test of logic, history, or Scripture, that they renounced it forever, that they acknowledged the claim of the ancient catholic and apostolic Church from which dissent had cut itself off, and they must go across the sea to ask for that ordination which none but the successors of the Apostles can bestow on man. This was the event which, in the year 1722, dis- turbed and alarmed the whole province, and overwhelmed the partisans of Presbyterianism with astonishment and sorrow ; and justly, for it marked the end of that brief term during which Puritanism had been accepted as little short of infallible and immaculate, and the return of the human mind and heart to the legitimate sources of au-
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Johnson President of Columbia
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thority and the authentic and historical institutions of Christianity. 1 Johnson returned from England, a priest ; he dwelt, as has been seen, in Stratford, as a missionary of the Venerable Society, and maintained the cause of the Church with great ability and success. He was still there when, in 1743, he received, through the influence of Archbishop Secker, the degree of Doctor of Divinity in the University of Oxford. It must have been an addi- tional trial to those who had hoped to control and govern the new institution in the interests of the dissenting section of the population of the Province of New York, to see at its head a man conspicuous for such a history, and withal adorned with such graces and virtues that no fault could be found in him except it was found against him concern- ing the law of his God.
Dr. Johnson left Stratford April 15, 1754, having served the parish thirty-two years, and came to New York as president of the college. He says :
"I was in doubt whether to accept the Presidency, but as I saw that it would come to nothing if I did not, I at length returned and ac- cepted the charge."
He adds, "Mr. Beach has concluded to succeed me at Stratford; so I am settled here in New York, being also Lec- turer in Trinity Church." In the following year, May 30, 1755, an addition was made to the College Charter, grant- ing to the Governor the power to establish therein a pro- fessorship of Divinity of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, for the instruction of such youth in the province as intended to devote themselves to the ministry accord- ing to the doctrine, discipline, and worship established in the United Provinces by the National Synod of Dort.
Dr. Johnson's duties as assistant minister and lec- turer at Trinity Church were merely honorary. In the
' See Anderson's Church of England in the Colonies, vol. iii., 508-533.
į
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month of December, 1753, his connection with the parish began ; he was to read prayers on Sunday at the church, and to preach once a month either at the church or at the chapel, as the rector might require. For ten years he held office amongst us ; at the end of that time, as is well known, he resigned the presidency of the college, owing to age, infirmities, and severe domestic affliction, and returned to Stratford, where he passed his last days in peace.
The college being, in a certain sense, the creation of Trinity Parish, we should note its progress, and the prin- ciples upon which it was founded. Dr. Johnson published in the New- York Weekly Post Boy of June 3, 1754, a long article entitled an " Advertisement " for the information of "such Parents as have now (or expect to have) Children prepared to be educated in the College of New York." This document, on account of its great interest, is given in the Appendix.
It may be noted here, that when Governor Hardy came out in 1755, the faction opposed to the college looked to him for countenance in their opposition, and prepared an address to prejudice him against the institution. To his credit be it said, that he received the address coldly, ac- cepted another from the Governors of the College " with the utmost complaisance," and, asking to see the subscrip- tion paper, put down his own name for £500.
"'it was taken to him the next day, when the governor immediately took his pen and subscribed £5co. All this,' says Johnson in his autobiography, 'was such a mortification to the faction, that from this time forward they shut their mouths, and the College met with no more opposition. And, in a little time it was agreed, for peace sake with the Assembly, to divide the money equally between the College and the public.'" 1
1 Quoted in Beardsley's Life of Samuel Johnson, 210.
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Masonic Service
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As everything connected with the Church at this period is of interest we may call attention to the fact that at this time the Society of Free and Accepted Masons donated fifteen pounds towards clothing for the charity scholars. Their public service in Trinity Church on the festival of St. John the Evangelist is noticed in the Mercury of De- cember 31, in the following manner :
" On Thursday last, at a Grand Lodge of the Antient and Worship- ful Fraternity of FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS, a Commission from the Honourable JOHN PROBY, Baron of Carysfort, in the Kingdom of Ireland, GRAND MASTER of England, appointing GEORGE HARRISON, Esq., to be Provincial Grand Master, was solemnly published, we hear, to the universal Satisfaction of all the Brethren present. After which, it being the Festival of St. John the Evangelist, the Brethren went in Procession, to attend Divine Service at Trinity Church. The Order in which they proceeded, was as follows. First walked the SWORD BEARER, carrying a drawn Sword ; then four STEWARDS, with white Maces ; followed by the TREASURER and SECRETARY, who bore each a crimson Damask Cushion, on which lay a gilt Bible, and the Book of Constitutions ; after these the GRAND WARDEN, and WARDENS : Then came the GRAND MASTER himself, bearing a Trunchion and other Badges of his Office, followed by the Rest of the Brother-hood, according to their respective Ranks, MASTERS, FELLOW-CRAFTS, and 'PRENTICES, to about the Num- ber of Fifty ; all cloathed with their Jewels, Aprons, white Gloves, and Stockings. The whole ceremony was concluded with the utmost Decorum, under a Discharge of Guns from some Vessels in the Harbour ; and made a genteel Appearance. We hear, they afterwards confer'd a generous Do- nation of Fifteen Pounds from the publick Stock of the Society, to be ex- pended in Cloathing the poor Children, belonging to our Charity-School ; and made a handsome private Contribution for the Relief of indigent Prisoners.
" In the Evening, by the particular Request of the Brethren, a Comedy called The Conscious Lovers, was presented at the Theatre in Nassau Street, to a very crouded Audience. Several Pieces of vocal Musick, in Praise of the Fraternity, were performed between the Acts. An Epilogue, suitable to the Occasion, was pronounced by Mrs. Hallam, with all the Graces of Gesture, and Propriety of Elocution ; and met with a universal and loud Applause.
"Quere. Whether the Performance of publick and private Acts of
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278
Beneficence, such as feeding the Hungry, and clothing the Naked, be most correspondent to the Genius of Christianity ; or, to the Institutions of the Prince of Darkness ?" New- York Gazette, December 31, 1753.
The city was frequently favored by visiting clergy, not- withstanding the difficulty and inconvenience attending all travel. New York was already the metropolis of America, and it was considered worth one's while to make an occa- sional pilgrimage to this place. Mr. Peters of Philadel- phia, among others, found his way hither, and the Post Boy of July 22, says :
" Yesterday the Congregations of Trinity Church and St. George's Chapel in this City, were each favoured with a Sermon from the Rev. Mr. RICHARD PETERS, of Philadelphia ; that in the Morning from the first Epistle of Timothy first Chapter and 19th Verse ; Holding Faith and a good Conscience ; And that in the Afternoon, from the second Chapter of St. Luke, and 52d Verse ; And Jesus increased in Wisdom and Stature, and in Favour with God and Man. His Audiences were great and the Sermons universally approved of."
July 30, 1753. The Board ordered that the Church Wardens " Pay the Rev. Doct. Johnson his salary-in the same manner they pay the same to the Rev. Mr. Barclay & Mr. Auchmuty." 1
The annual charity sermons in October were duly announced in the papers and noticed when delivered. The preachers were the rector and his assistant. 2
1 Records, i., 274.
9 " We hear, that two Charity Sermons are to be preached in order to raise a Sum of Money, sufficient to cloath the poor Children belonging to the Charity School, in this City. The first by the Rev'd. Mr. Barclay, at Trinity Church, on the next Sunday in the Forenoon : The other by the Rev'd. Mr. Auchmuty, at St. George's Chapel, on the Sunday following, in the Morning.
N. B. As the Charity School in this City, receives poor Children of every Persua- sion amongst us ; so it is to be hoped, that every Catholic, benevolent, and well disposed Christian will generously contribute to the Relief and Comfort of a Set of poor helpless Children, ( many of them Orphans ) who without the Kind Charity proposed, must in- evitably be greatly exposed to Cold and Nakedness this ensuing Winter." Weekly Post Boy, October 21, 1754.
" Yesterday Morning an excellent Sermon was preach'd at Trinity Church, by the
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The Lake George Campaign 279
In 1754, notwithstanding the peace made at Aix-la- Chapelle, the French were making inroads upon the northern frontier ; and a Congress of Deputies from sev- eral provinces was held at Albany June 14th, to devise means of defence. About one hundred and fifty of the Iroquois were in attendance, and it was resolved to do them justice respecting their lands, and to build ships and fortify on the lakes. It was further agreed to make ap- plication to Parliament to unite eleven provinces under one government, each retaining its own constitution, while a President-General and Council appointed by the Crown were to form the central government. This plan, drawn up by Franklin, was signed July 4. De Lancey presided at this Congress and signalized himself by becoming the sole opponent of Franklin's scheme. A campaign against the French was resolved upon, and in 1755 General Wil- liam Johnson gained his victory over Dieskau in the battle of Lake George,1 which was the beginning of that series of movements which led to the fall of Quebec, ex- pelled the French from New York, and broke their power in America, enabling DeLancey September 21, 1759, to issue a proclamation to the scattered settlers in that dis-
Revd. Mr. BARCLAY, from Prov. xix. 17, for the Benefit of the poor Scholars belong- ing to the Charity-School in this City. The Scholars to the Number of 56, were pres- ent, and after Sermon sung an Hymn suitable to the Occasion .- We hear that next Sunday Morning there is to be another Charity Sermon preach'd at St. George's Chappel, by the Revd. Mr. AUCHMUTY, for the same Purpose. As the poor Children belonging to the Charity-School, are now almost destitute of Covering, 'tis hoped that every charitable well-disposed Christian, will gladly contribute to their Relief, as they cannot employ their Charity in a Way more acceptable to their blessed Saviour, than by cloathing his poor naked Members."-The New- York Mercury, October 28, 1754.
" Yesterday Morning an excellent Charity Sermon was preach'd at St. George's Chapel, by the Revd. Mr. AUCHMUTY, to a very crowded Auditory, when a very hand- some Collection was made for the Poor Scholars of Trinity-Church School -- The New- York Mercury, November 4, 1754.
1 For the campaign on the lake see De Costa's Lake George ; Its Scenes and Char- acterestics, Chap. VI. and VII., and Narrative and Critical History of America, vol. v., 483 et seq.
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tant region to return to their homes. During this period New York was the scene of great activity and the place where conflicting politics were debated. Amherst, during the winter of 1758-9 had his headquarters in New York, and the city was bustling with preparations for the final campaign. When the French no longer found themselves able to hold their position in North America, peace re- turned in a sense ; it was evident, however, that the prov- inces must ere long take a decided stand with respect to the mother country.
May 8, 1755 :
" The Reverend Mr. Barclay having acquainted this Board that His Honour the Lieut. Governor yesterday Delivered the Charter to the Governors thereby appointed for the Colledge and that they were then qualified, This Board unanimously Ordered That a Draft of a Grant of the Lands for the use of the said Colledge Pursuant to their former Resolution be prepared and laid before this Board at their next meeting" 1
May 12th, the business was completed and the deed de- livered.
We have three sermons by Mr. Auchmuty for the year 1755. The first is a Warning to the Wicked (Job. xxxiv : 22) ; the second is on the Holy Trinity (St. John v : 7), and the third, from the text, " How are the Mighty Fallen," was preached, as the memorandum on the margin states, " soon after the defeat and death of Gen. Brad- dock and his forces." Braddock's disastrous campaign against the French and Indians in northern New York led to a great deal of preaching, as well as military dis- cussion, throughout the Colonies. In New York, which was substantially the basis of the campaign, the defeat was very keenly felt. We quote from this sermon, to show what kind of preaching was favored in the parish
1 Records, i., 275.
1
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Sermon by Dr. Auchmuty
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under such circumstances. His first point is, that " Brave men falling in ye service of their King, their country & ours, are undoubtedly intitled to our affectionate concern & sorrow," while, in the second place, he considers the lesson of penitence and humiliation taught by the sad event. Afterwards he takes up a strain of lamentation, passing eventually to the practical issues before the Col- onies.
"Perhaps when ye whole legislative Body come together it may be tho't advisable to augment our Forces & send speedy reinforcements to those who are now in arms, in order to recover ye Right of our gra- cious Sovn unlawfully usurped by a bold Invader. If so, it is to be hoped my B. yt' every one among you yt can be spared (especially you yt have no families) will be ready to draw ye swords in defence of ye Country & ye Religion & all yt is near & dear to a Xtian. Death itself is far more eligible than Slavery & Popery, ye Effects of which two dreadful evils will ere long be felt shd bad managent, Temerity, or a want of public spirit prevail amongst us. Upon ye success of ye two expeditions yt are now on foot in a great measure depends our safety or Danger, for ye time to come. To render ym successful "
he continues,
"ought to be the main care & endrs. of those (I speak with all due modesty & Diffedence to their supr judgments) to wm ye public wel- fare is entrusted. Their Diligence & Readiness to do everything yt has yet been tho't off, for ye public good must fill us wh ye most sanguinee x- pectations, yt their future councils will be productive of ye same salu- tary end. Should they then my B. order ye Sword to be drawn, let their orders be obeyed wh ye utmost Resolution & Readiness. Nay, let every one of us, if necessary, be ready to rush out to Battle & bravely die, or free our country from lawless Invaders."
CHAPTER XVIII.
DR. BARCLAY'S RECTORSHIP, CONTINUED.
Hardy Succeeds Osborne-Operations on Lake George-Bogardus Heirs-Surrender of Louisburg-Wolfe Captures Quebec-View of the State of the Clergy-Clock Im- ported from Europe-Death of Mrs. Horsmanden-Death of Lieutenant Governor De Lancey-His Obsequies-Defeat of the Brower Claimants to the Church Property- Monckton, Governor-Lieutenant Governor Colden-Spire of Trinity Struck by Light- ning-Mr. Tuckey's Musical Work and Services-Proceedings Commenced for the Erection of a Second Chapel of Ease-Purchase of Land for Site-Death of Dr. Barclay.
O N the lamentable death of Sir Danvers Osborne, Charles Hardy was appointed to succeed him. Arriving in New York, Sept. 2d he soon afterwards pro- ceeded to Albany, to be near the seat of the war then raging with France.1
The year 1756 opened quietly ; on the 6th of January, General Johnson, who had carried off all the honors of the battle of Lake George, came to town and was the lion of the hour. On the 9th of February following a grand exhibition known as the " Microcosm "2 had found its way to the city and was exciting the wonder of those who de- lighted in viewing the world in miniature ; a treat for the somewhat stationary population at a time when a journey from City Hall to the upper part of the island was viewed as a somewhat formidable affair, especially at a time when the French were supposed to be on the point of attacking the City from the sea. Notwithstanding the disturbed condition of the country St. Patrick's Day was duly cele-
1 N. Y. Col. Docs., vi., 935, 960 ; Dunlap's New York, i., 380.
" The Weekly Post Boy, February 16, 1756.
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Operations on Lake George
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brated, greatly to the satisfaction of the Hibernian party, then already quite strongly entrenched in New York.1
During this summer sixteen thousand troops were assembled at Lake George, to operate against the French ; but owing to the weakness and inefficiency of Lord Loudon, the general commanding in North America, nothing was done, and the troops went back to Albany into winter quarters. At one time Loudon had fifty thousand men under his command, fifteen thousand of them from Massachusetts, whose people, as they viewed the encroachments of Roman Catholic France, said through Pomeroy,
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