USA > New York > New York City > A history of the parish of Trinity Church in the city of New York, pt 2 > Part 20
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" In drawing up the following volume, the Editor took for his guide the excellent work of Nelson on the Festivals and Fasts of the Church of England. Considerable change, however, has been made in the arrange- ment, the matter, and style of the original work.
"The evidences of the Christian religion and the constitution of the Christian Church are discussed in preliminary instructions, and on the latter subject much useful matter has been selected from Stevens' Treatise on the Church, from Potter on Church Government from which the pre- ceding work is compiled, and from the excellent work of Daubeny on the same subject. In the Chapter on Sunday will be found an expla- nation and illustration of the Liturgy of the Church, connected with directions for the use of it ; and on every Festival and Fast an expla- nation is given of the particular service for the day. Other parts of the work are principally compiled from the various and excellent commen- taries on the Book of Common Prayer, and from a small tract entitled, Directions for a devout and decent Behaviour in the Public Worship of God. The Devotions throughout the volume are chiefly selected and altered from a book distinguished for its primitive and fervent piety, entitled, Devotions in the Ancient Way of Offices, published by Dean Hickes. Two useful tracts on Confirmation, and an exhorta- tion to Family Prayer, with Suitable Forms of Devotion, are annexed to the volume."
In 1806, Dr. Hobart issued The Clergyman's Com- panion, being a guide to the Clergy in the every-day diffi- culties encountered in their parochial ministrations.
It was inevitable that the publication of such works at that time should stir up controversy. Dr. Hobart was assailed by members of the Church, to whom his earnest- ness savored of Methodism ; while his contention for the Apostolic character of the Church brought attacks from Presbyterians and others. Upon the termination of a con- troversy with Dr. Linn, one of the ablest Presbyterian Ministers of that day, he published in one volume the
236
History of Trinity Church [18II-
whole series of papers - both for the attack and defence - under the title of A Collection of Essays on the Subject of Episcopacy, in which the Arguments for and against Episcopacy are presented to the Reader. This brought out a counter-attack from the Rev. Dr. Mason, the editor of The Christian Magazine, which in turn was answered by Hobart's Apology for Apostolic Order. It was in this work that Hobart summed up his position in the well- known words, "My banner is EVANGELICAL TRUTH AND APOSTOLIC ORDER."
Nor did he work for Church principles with pen only ; he planned and organized a clerical association under the title of " The Protestant Episcopal Theological Society." From this as from a germ sprang our noble institution of learning, The General Theological Seminary. Dr. Hobart became the proprietor and editor of The Churchman's Magasine, which was removed from New Haven to New York. The first number was issued in April, 1808. In 1809 he established The New York Bible and Prayer Book Society, and in 1810 the Protestant Episcopal Tract Society.
In the Hobart MSS. for the period 1800 to 1816, striking evidence is found of the power of this remarkable man to attract and retain friends. He is written to for advice on a great range of matters : Acknowledgments of pamphlets ; allusions to the various controversies in which he was engaged ; requests for advice from Clergy in the rural districts seeking direction in the study of doctrine or asking counsel how to proceed in parochial difficulties-to make adequate extracts from these communications would be an endless task. In addition to the letters, there are official returns from parishes and their Clergy, and many documents relating to Dr. Hobart's position and acts as Secretary to the Conventions.
237
Death of Bishop Moore
1816]
One well-thumbed and yellow MSS. is worthy of notice. It is a précis of the Records of the Corporation of Trinity Parish from 1697 to May 4, 1781. It bears the following title :
NOTES. of every material Transaction of the VESTRY of TRINITY CHURCH in the City of New York from its foundation Annº 1696 and Incorporation by His Excellency Colº Benja: Fletcher Governor of the Province In the Year of our Lord Christ 1697 In which is shewn the ZEAL and LABOR of the pious promoters of that LAUDABLE WORK and that their successors have been no less solicitous for its Opulence and Grandeur Extracted for the use of succeeding members Antho Van Dame. 1781
This précis of the minutes is followed by a full copy of the Charter from George III.
The years 1815 and 1816 were memorable in the annals of the Diocese and Parish. On September 6, 1815, Bishop Provoost passed away, and on the 27th of Feb- ruary, 1816, Bishop Moore departed this life. So passed to his rest the second Bishop of New York and sixth Rector of Trinity Church, in the sixty-eighth year of his age.
In appearance Bishop Moore was tall and spare, with a stoop which increased with years. A thin face, with hair that whitened early, gave him even in middle life a
238
History of Trinity Church
[1811-
venerable appearance. In manner he was grave and placid ; his conversation was enlivened by a flow of quiet humor, which we are told by his contemporaries, "whether in anecdote or in remark, was always delivered with an undisturbed gravity of expression." 1
" His voice," the same writer tells us, " though pleasing in its lower and level tones, was naturally feeble, and when at all raised or excited became tremulous and some- what guttural." This tremulousness, it was said, made his rendering of the petitions in the Litany and the Burial Service peculiarly solemn and pathetic.
Not a learned man, nor a profound scholar, nor gifted with the diversity of attainments possessed by his prede- cessor, he was nevertheless a man of refinement and of scholarly tastes, who won affection by his gentleness, kindness, and unaffected simplicity. The best commentary on his character is his life. " Blessed are the meck : for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are the peacemakers : for they shall be called the children of God." Of such was that good Bishop. A man of comba- tive temperament might have wrecked the infant Church in America. Believing that a wrong and an injustice was done him in the appointment of Dr. Provoost at the close of the War of the Revolution, he made, in justice to himself and to his friends, his dignified protest. That duty done, he showed no malice or ill-humor, but meekly accepted the lower place and did his duty as an Assist- ant. For thirteen years he served his Rector and Bishop loyally and faithfully, with a singleness of purpose and a Christian gentleness of character which disarmed opposi- tion and converted enemies into friends. When, there- fore, in the fulness of time, the honor which had been offered him once by a party was again tendered him, it
" The Hon. Gulian C. Verplanck in Sprague's Annals, vol. v., p. 303.
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Hobart Elected Rector
1816]
was tendered by all. Not one dissenting whisper marred the unanimity of the action. He had been found faith- ful in a few things ; he became ruler over many.
By his marriage to Miss Charity Clarke, Dr. Moore came into possession of a large plot of land bounded on the west by the Hudson River, on the east by Eighth Avenue, on the north by West Twenty-Fourth Street, and on the south by West Nineteenth Street. At the time the land consisted of low meadows, swamps, and long-reaching flats. By the advice and the wise and pru- dent management of Mr. Wells, the agent to the estate, the land was reclaimed, the flats were banked in, and the land over which high tides flowed is now covered with acres of buildings. The site of the General Theological Seminary formed part of this Clarke estate ; it was deeded to the Seminary by Bishop Moore's only son, Clement Clarke Moore. This son studied for the Ministry but never entered it. He was a good Hebrew scholar, but is known to posterity chiefly as the author of "The Night before Christmas." A manuscript copy of this poem in the hand of the author is in the library of the New York Historical Society.
On March 11, 1816, as the minutes record, the Rt. Rev. John Henry Hobart, D.D., was chosen Rector, and having been notified of his election, was then and there duly inducted by the ancient ceremony of the delivery of the keys of the Church to him in the presence of the Churchwardens and Vestrymen.
Here, with the election of its seventh Rector, closes the Second Part of the History of Trinity Church.
Many were the devout members of our communion, who in those early days grew faint-hearted and doubtful as to the permanence of the Parish and of the Church they loved so well ; but we, who can look back on facts accom-
240
History of Trinity Church [1811-1816]
plished, see that no other course could have brought peace, prosperity, and permanence to the same Parish and Church than the one which under the providence of God was fol- lowed during those three-and-thirty years.
The strong administration of Provoost was needed to consolidate the interests of the Church and preserve the patrimony of the Parish. Moore showed his friends that loyalty to the American was not disloyalty to the English Church ; and under his gentle rule old wounds were healed and differences forgotten. Both were needed ; each had his mission, each his work to do in his generation ; and the order of events appeared to indicate the presence of an unseen Power leading the way and strengthening hands and hearts to lay foundations not to be cast down. The way was now open for work on an advanced line, and the man then needed was ready, to quicken zeal, animate cour- age, enlist under the banner of the Church Militant, and extend the bounds of the Kingdom. The moment for a new departure had come, and he who was to lead it was that apostle of Christ, that champion of the Faith, John Henry Hobart.
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APPENDIX.
241
APPENDIX.
-
CONTENTS.
PAGE
I .- THE CONTEST FOR THE RECTORSHIP 245
II .- PETITION FOR CONFIRMATION OF CERTAIN WARDENS AND VESTRYMEN . . 254
III .- PETITION OF THE OLD VESTRY AND THEIR FRIENDS FOR THE ENDOWMENT OF A SEPARATE CHURCH 257
IV .- ORDINATION OF SAMUEL PROVOOST TO THE DIACONATE. 265
V .- ORDINATION OF SAMUEL PROVOOST TO THE PRIESTHOOD 265
VI .- RELATING TO DR. PROVOOST'S RESIDENCE AT EAST CAMP . 266
VII .- A LIST OF THE MS. SERMONS BY DR. PROVOOST KNOWN TO BE IN EXISTENCE . 268 VIII .- RESOLUTION AND REPORT OF THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY ON TITLE TO KING'S FARM .
. 285
IX .- A HISTORY OF THE TITLE TO KING'S FARM AND THE LITIGATION THEREON . 293
X .- DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE CONSECRATION OF DR. PROVOOST AS FIRST BISHOP OF NEW YORK . . 3II
XI .- NOTES ON THE BOOKS FORMERLY IN THE POSSESSION OF BISHOP PROVOOST, BUT NOW BELONGING TO GEN- ERAL JAMES GRANT WILSON . 317
XII .- ORDINATION OF BENJAMIN MOORE TO THE DIACONATE AND PRIESTHOOD · . 319
XIII .- PAMPHLETS IN THE CAVE JONES CONTROVERSY . 320
XIV .- A CONTEMPORARY ACCOUNT OF THE CONSECRATION OF GRACE CHURCH IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK 323
XV .- BISHOP SEABURY'S " INTRUSION " AT HEMPSTEAD, N. Y., A.D. 1785, AND BISHOP PROVOOST'S "INTRUSION "
AT NARRAGANSETT, R. I., A. D. 1792 . 325
XVI .- LIST OF WORKS REFERRED TO IN PART II. · 333
243
I.
THE CONTEST FOR THE RECTORSHIP.
SIGNATURES TO THE PETITION TO THE COUNCIL FOR THE TEM- PORARY GOVERNMENT OF THE STATE, 1783. (DOCUMENT 2403.)'
Thomas Tillotson
Jaº Duane
Lewis Morris
R. R. Livingston
John Lamb
Fra: Lewis
Cornelius Haight
Anth' Griffiths
William Bedlow
Wm Newton
Thomas Sanders
Jacob Hallett
James Jarvis Isaac Sears
John Rutherfurd
John De La Mater
Fr. Lewis Jun!
John Holt
Mor' Lewis
Jno. Fisher
Tho! Grenell
W! Leaycraft
Wm. Thompson
James Bradford
I. Kemper Jun'
James Giles
Geo. Fisher Edw! Antill
Gar. Roorbach
L. R. Morris
Patt. Dennis
James M. Hughes
Leonª Bleecker
Robert Thompson
Jacob Morris
Anthony L. Bleecker
Leonard Lispenard Tertius
W? Duer Edward Fleming
H. Mulligan
Daniel Hitchcock
George Leaycraft Sam! Atlle
Thos. Smith
James Nicholson
' The originals of these documents are to be found in the State Library, Albany, in the MSS. Department in the New York State Legislative Papers, 1780-1803. Nos.' 2251 to 2479, Taxes-Whaling. Many of the signatures to these documents are very hard to read, but by the aid of the directories of New York for the years 1786 and 1792, most of them have been deciphered.
The text of this Petition is given in full on pages 11-14.
245 ON
William Tapp
246
History of Trinity Church
John Pintard
David Provoost
Lewis Graham
Jaº Fairlie
Simon Schermerhorn
James Prince
Rob. Troup
Anth. Lispenard
Corn: Bradford
Leonard Lispenard Junr.
Marinus Willett
James Howlett
Paul H. Randall
Theod. Fowler
Peter Hughes
John Bailey
John Keating
J. Cozine
Richª Deane
Henry Edwards
Dan! Kemper
Chris: Miller
Anthº Rutgers
Jacob Tabele
John Graham
J. Bayley
Matthew Cowper
I: Hubbell
Sam! Gilford
Benja. Douglass
H. P. Newton
Jacob Leonard
E. Blagge
Tho' Hammond
William Deane
Hugh Hughes
W" C. Bradford
Edward Dunscomb
Sam! Johnson
Jnº Blagge
W™ Alexander
Dan! Kemper
Tho' Tucker
Endorsement on Document 2403.
The Petition of James Duane, R. R. Livingston and Francis Lewis, Esq's and others to the
1783
Council for the temporary government of the State.
STATEMENT OF THE CASE BY THE WARDENS AND VESTRYMEN.
(DOCUMENT 2404.)
To the Honourable the Representatives of the State of New York in Senate & Assembly In Petition of the Subscribers Humbly Sheweth
That your Petitioners have reason to apprehend, this Honourable
--------
i
-
- Claggett
Thomas Witter
Daniel Dunscomb
Thos Rattoon
247
The Contest for the Rectorship
Body are not yet perfectly informed of every Circumstance relating to the unhappy dispute at present subsisting in the Episcopal Congrega- tion in this City.
That your Petitioners have had perfect knowledge of every Transac- tion from the beginning, and if required, can produce the original Papers.
They therefore beg leave to submit to the Inspection of this Hon- ourable Body the following State of the Facts, & earnestly request that it may meet with such attention as the Importance of the Affair requires
And your Petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray JOHN CHARLTON THOMAS MOORE ROBERT WATTS THOMS ELLISON & Vestrymen JOHN BARD WN LAIGHT GABRIEL H. LUDLOW 1
Upon the resignation of D' Inglis, the Revd Mr Moore was ap- pointed to succeed him, as Rector of Trinity Church by the Church Wardens & Vestrymen - the Election was regularly made - the pre- sentation to His Excellency Governor Clinton (who was expected soon to come into New York) signed & sealed - the whole business was compleated excepting the matter of Induction.
On Saturday 6th Dec' the following advertisement appeared in the public Paper --
"The Whig members of the Episcopal Church are requested to meet this evening at seven o'clock at Simmons' Tavern near the City Hall, on matters of Importance relative to the Church which require immediate attention."
From that meeting the following Letter was directed to "the Gentle- men exercising the office of Church Wardens & Vestrymen " & signed by a Committee appointed for that purpose --
"GENTLEMEN
A respectable number of the Congregation of the Episcopal Church, apprehending that your late proceedings, as Church Wardens and Vestrymen, may be attended with the most serious consequences to the Church, met, on Saturday Evening last, to consider the Means of preventing the Evils they dread. At which meeting they unani- mously voted that the late nomination to the Rectorship was improper and unwarrantable and appointed us a Committee to confer with you on the Subject, and to Endeavour to prevent any divisions in a Church which they highly respect and Earnestly wish to support.
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History of Trinity Church
For these purposes we are desirous to meet and confer with you at Capes Tavern at six o'clock on Tuesday Evening next.
We are Gentlemen your very humble servants
(Signed) R. R. LIVINGSTON JAS. DUANE MARINUS WILLET
ROBERT TROUP JOHN LAWRENCE"
The Vestry and Church Wardens, objecting only to the proposed Place of meeting (it being a Tavern), returned the following Answer :
"GENTLEMEN,
The Church Wardens and Vestrymen of the Corporation of Trin- ity Church have received a letter Signed by you, and being anxious to prevent all divisions in a Society for which you profess so high a regard, are willing to meet you, for the purpose of conferring on any Subject which may conduce to the Harmony of the said Church, at the Vestry Room, No. 87 Broadway, on Tuesday Evening at six o'clock.
We are, Gentlemen,
Your very Humble Servts., JAMES DESBROSSES ROBERT WATTS
Church Wardens." (Signed)
directed to
" R. R. Livingston, James Duane, Marinus Willet, Robert Troup and John Lawrence Esquires."
On Tuesday Evening the Church Wardens and Vestrymen assem- bled at the Vestry Room, where they received the following Letter :
"CAPES TAVERN, 9th Dec. 1783.
GENTLEMEN
We are now assembled at this place, where we are ready to confer with you on the Subject mentioned in our Letter of yesterday. As you have not thought it proper to assign any reason for declining to meet us at this place, we see none for changing it to that you propose ; nor do we feel disposed to take a step which may be considered as an implied acknowledgment that you are legally the Church Wardens and Vestrymen of Trinity Church, a question on which we think it improper at present to decide, whatever our Sentiments may be. As we supposed you, in your private Characters animated with the Same desire to insure the Prosperity of the Church and establish it upon a
249
The Contest for the Rectorship
broad and liberal foundation that influences our Conduct, we Expected that you would have rejoiced at an opportunity to unite with us in healing any divisions which may have originated through your precipi- tation ; as well as in examining how far the Charter may in itself be questionable by militating against the Spirit or Letter of the Con- stitution, and whether the Circumstances under which it has been attempted to be preserved, by those who submitted to or concurred in the British Usurpation, may not call for the Interposition of the Legis- lature. Should you decline this opportunity of conferring on these Subjects, we shall proceed to take such Steps, for the prosperity of the Church, and the security of our own Rights therein, as those we have the honor to represent may deem expedient, without giving you any further trouble.
We are Gentlemen,
Your very Humble Servts., (Signed) R. R. LIVINGSTON JAS. DUANE MARINUS WILLET
ROBT TROUP JOHN LAWRENCE "
directed to
" The Gentlemen exercising the Office of Church Wardens and Vestry- men of the Episcopal Church in the City of New York."
To avoid all complaint the Churchwardens & Vestry agreed to meet the above mentioned Gentlemen at the place they had fixed upon -The result of the Conference was " The Committee conceived the only way to accommodate matters would be for the Vestry to advise M. Moore to resign his appointment to the Rectory-they must then pro- ceed to call some other Minister who might be agreeable to what were called the Whig members & they would prevail on the Legislature to con- firm the Acts of the Vestry."
After some deliberation the following message was sent to M' Duane:
" The Church Wardens and Vestry Men having taken into considera- tion the propositions made to them last evening, are of opinion that they are of too important a nature to decide upon in the short time proposed, and wish to defer their answer until Tuesday next."
To which this answer was received :
" Mr. Duane's compliments to Mr. Bache and acquaints him that he repeated to the Committee assembled at this place the message with which Mr. Bache was charged by the Gentlemen exercising the office
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History of Trinity Church
of Church Wardens and Vestrymen of Trinity Church. It is their opinion that as there will be a general meeting of those, whom they have the honor to represent to-morrow Evening, and no reason having been assigned for this request, they are not authorized to consent to the proposed delay, and that an answer will be expected to the propo- sitions of this Committee that it may be submitted to the Consideration of the General Meeting as advertised previous to Mr. Bache's com- munication.
CAPES TAVERN, Tuesday 1 Evening, Decr. 11th."
The Vestry being thus pushed for an Answer came to the following resolutions which were sent the next morning, as the Committee would not allow that any Reason had been assigned for their wishing to delay their answer, tho' they suppose they had given a very Sufficient Reason when they said :
" The propositions were of too important a Nature to be decided upon in the Short time afforded them."
" The Church Wardens and Vestry Men of Trinity Church having maturely considered the Conversation which passed on Tuesday Evening, the 9th instant, between them and a Committee of respectable Gentlemen appointed to confer with them on Matters relating to the Church, and having weighed with the utmost candour and attention the propositions which were then made to them (with all due deference to the opinion of others, and at the same time with that honest stead- fastness and perseverance which becomes men acting in a public and important Station) beg leave to declare,
That they are desirous Every man Should have a free voice in the Election of Church Wardens and Vestrymen who appears at the time and with the Qualifications which the Charter requires.
That they look upon themselves as the only legal Representatives of the Members of the Episcopal Church in this City being regularly appointed to the Office which they now Sustain, according to old and Established Usage.
That in all Ecclesiastical matters which have come before them, and in all their Actions, relating to the Business of the Church, whether in a private or Corporate capacity, they have most faithfully endeav- oured to promote its Interest and preserve its Constitution.
That under their Management, in the course of six or seven years it has been retrieved from Many and great Difficulties and raised to a very flourishing condition.
1 Ought not this to have been Thursday ? or the date Dec. 9th ?
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The Contest for the Rectorship
That in the late Transactions, which (with unfeigned sorrow and regret) they find have given dissatisfaction to many, they assumed no new Power, their only aim was the Public good, they literally adhered to their Charter, which they knew was confirmed by the Constitution of the State, and that great numbers of the Congregation concur with and are ready to support them by all fair and legal means, and therefore,
That they cannot advise any change in the Measures which they have adopted, without contradicting their own opinion, without sacri- ficing the Rights with which they deem themselves to be duly invested, and without forfeiting their claim to an uniform and consistent Char- acter, which they wish ever to preserve."
No further communication was held with the Church Wardens and Vestry on the foregoing subject by the Committee.2
A petition was presented by "the Gentlemen stiling themselves the Whig members of the Episcopal Church " (& signed by less than one hundred Persons, of whom about a dozen only were communicants) "To the Honourable the Council appointed by Act of the Legislature for the temporary Government of the Southern District of this State." -The Petition above mentioned was presented on New Year's Day-on the day following the Vestry was assembled to fall upon some method, if possible, of settling this unhappy dispute (not knowing that the petition had been given in the day before), & agreed to the following propositions to be made to the Gentlemen opposing them :
" That every Vacancy in the Vestry be supplied with such persons as shall be agreeable to those who denominate themselves the Whig Members of the Episcopal Church.
That this be considered at present as a conciliating expedient till the next General Election of Church Wardens and Vestrymen, when Every Member of the Church in Communion will have a free Vote.
That if a coalition can be brought about, the Vestry will immedi- ately proceed to call such a clergyman as shall be pointed out by the Whig Members, as the Person most agreeable to them.
That the clergyman so elected shall be placed precisely upon the
1 The following notice appeared in Rivington's Gazette for December 10, 1783.
NOTICE is hereby given, in Pursuance of a Resolution of the Whig members of the Episcopal Church, who met last Saturday Evening at Simmons' Tavern, That the said meeting is adjourned to the Long Room in the Coffee House, on Friday Evening next, at nine o'clock ; at which Time and Place all Persons professing themselves Episcopalians, are requested to attend.
James Duane, Chairman.
There is no allusion to this meeting in the above correspondence.
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