USA > New York > New York City > A history of the parish of Trinity Church in the city of New York, pt 2 > Part 6
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" SIR,
"I embrace the earliest opportunity to acknowledge the receipt of your polite and obliging letter and to give you as candidly as I can my principal reason for declining the very advantageous offer that you hold out to me. In the beginning of our present disputes when each province was endeavouring to unite the better to oppose the Tyranny of the British court I remark'd with great concern that all the clergymen of the Church in these northern states who received salaries from the Society, or any emolument from England, were unanimous in opposing the measures of a vast majority of their countrymen, so great a harmony amongst people in their particular circumstances pretty clearly evinced that some at least were biass'd by interested views. As I had no pecu- niary connection with old England, and entertained political opinions quite opposite to the rest of my Brethren, I was apprehensive that a profession of these opinions might be imputed to mercenary motives, and an ungenerous desire of rising upon their ruin. To obviate any sus- picions of this kind I formed a resolution never to accept of any prefer- ment during the present contest, though as a private person I have been and shall always be ready to encounter any danger that may be in- curred in defence of our rights and liberties.
In consequence of this resolution I lately refused (when apply'd to by the Convention) being appointed Chaplain to this State, and now must return a negative to the application of the Vestry of St. Michael's though with the greatest reluctance. For from the general character of the People and other circumstances there is no part of America in which I promise myself greater happiness than South Carolina. It may perhaps be weakness in me to sacrifice my interest thro' fear of
53
Provoost Declines St. Michael's
1783]
undeserved censure, but it is a weakness I find myself incapable of over- coming, and I shall think myself happier to live with studious economy on a trifling fortune than to accept of any preferment which I might be thought to have acquired by any low design or artificial conduct.
" If we are blessed with success in this war, as there is the greatest reason to think we shall be, I am confident that America will be supplied with Clergymen from England, who will be an honour to the Church in this country. I can't help giving a paragraph from the letter of a gentleman of singular merit and eminence in the University of Cambridge dated so long ago as August 21, 1774.
"'Perhaps,' says he, 'your sentiments and mine do not intirely agree with respect to American affairs, whatever yours be, I have no doubt that they are the result of conviction, mine have long been intirely on the side of Liberty, and it is with Horror that I look upon all the proceedings of this country from ye stamp act to the conclusion of the scheme so clearly to my Apprehension manifested in the in- famous Quebec bill. I carry the affair still further, as a well wisher to this Island I hope that unanimity and resolution blended with calm discretion may attend the counsels of ensuing congress, and if force be attempted that success may attend the struggles of men contending for their most valuable rights. The eyes of men seem now to be opening a little in this country, the Bishop of Asaph's Discourses and a little tract addressed to Protestant dissenters, the second part of which treats of American affairs, have conduced much to enlarge our ideas upon this subject. the Bishop of Carlyle is well and a friend to Liberty.
" I hope that what I have said may prove satisfactory to the gentle- men of St Michael's whose kind intentions have impressed upon me the warmest sentiments of gratitude.
"I shall always be happy to acknowledge how much I am " Dr Sir your most obliged " and very humble servant
" To
"George Abbott Hall Esqre."
The part underlined in above copy is in the original crossed out with the pen.
The Hon. Cadwallader D. Colden states that Mr. Provoost, who was his father-in-law, was elected Minister of King's Chapel, Boston, in 1782.
54
History of Trinity Church
[1771-
This may have been the case, but we have been unable to obtain corroborative evidence of that statement.
The Warden of King's Chapel, Mr. Arthur T. Lyman, is strongly of opinion that no such call was extended, for the reasons that there is no trace of it in the carefully kept records, that Mr. Provoost's views did not accord with those of the Proprietor, and that Mr. James Freeman was chosen in 1782.
On the other hand, it may be said that Mr. Colden would not have asserted the fact so positively had he not had the information direct from Mr. Provoost, that calls to parishes are usually not recorded in the minutes unless accepted, and that the reputation of Samuel Provoost as an ardent patriot would have been the governing reason for electing him, without much regard to his theological views.
With the evacuation of New York, the period of re- tirement at East Camp came to a close. The success of the American cause meant better days and brighter fortunes ' for the Provoosts. Accordingly, under date of December 3, 1783, a friend writes to Mr. Provoost :
"I have to congratulate you most cordially on the happy alteration of affairs here. General Washington, with the American Army entered last Tuesday amid the joyful acclamation of thousands, with such decorum that no riot or disturbance ensued, as was expected. The tories who stayed behind on the Embarkation of the British remained quiet within their dwellings, and are still unmolested.
We have lately had two dreadful alarms, first with conflagration which destroyed the brewhouse and buildings of Aunt Rutgers, and burnt the roof of our large red store, and lastly with a severe shock of an Earthquake which happened on Saturday night-No evil effects were the consequence of the latter in this City, but at Philadelphia many stacks of chimneys were thrown down. You have a very strong party here, who will spare no exertions for you. They even talk of making you Bishop of New York, on the same footing that the Rev. Mr. Smith has lately been appointed Bishop of Maryland.
55
Action of Provoost's Friends
1783]
This is the universal topic. In short, I am as sure that something very handsome will be done for you as I am of my own existence. There is to be a public meeting of the Whig Episcopalians this evening by notification. It is generally imagined that your name will be mentioned in their debates."
The election of Samuel Provoost as the Rector of Trinity Parish, has been already related in a preceding chapter.
----
CHAPTER V.
THE NEW VESTRY.
Committees Appointed-Appointment of Assistant Ministers Considered-Mr. Abra- ham Beach Appointed-Petitions for Appointment of Mr. Benjamin Moore and Mr. Uzal Ogden-Appointment Referred to the Congregation --- Mr. Uzal Ogden and Mr. Benjamin Moore Appointed additional Assistant Ministers-Subscriptions for their Stipend.
T HE election of a Rector to fill the place made vacant
by the resignation of Dr. Inglis was followed by the adoption of measures for the better despatch of the business of the Parish, and by the election of several As- sistant Ministers to carry on the work. It was enacted that the business of the Corporation should be arranged in five different branches, and that committees should be appointed as follows :
Ist. A committee to audit the accounts of the Corporation and examine its debts and credits.
2d. A committee to attend to the leases of the Church lands.
3d. A committee to superintend and visit the Charity School.
The Vestry then proceeded to consider the question of appointing additional Assistant Ministers, in view of the in- creasing work throughout the Parish, and the following resolutions were adopted :
" Resolved : That it is essential for the interests of the Church in this City and for the due performance of the Parochial Duties, that there should be two Ministers appointed as Assistants to the Rector.
56
57
Assistant Ministers
1784]
" Resolved : That on this day week this board will proceed to the Choice of one of the said Assistant Ministers." 1
At the meeting held June Sth, 1784, Mr. Abraham Beach was unanimously appointed " Assistant Minister to the Rector in performing the several parochial duties in this City";2 and it was further resolved
" that the said assistant minister should be allowed such a sum out of the revenues of the Corporation, in addition to his fees and Emolu- ments,3 as should make a provision for his services equal in the whole to the sum of five hundred pounds per annum."
The appointment of Mr. Beach, as we are told by his descendant, Mr. William Beach Lawrence, was made at the particular request of the newly elected Rector.4
No further action seems to have been taken on the appointment of Assistants until June 16th, when the Cor- poration received two petitions, one in favor of Mr. Moore, the other on behalf of Mr. Uzal Ogden.5
The first petition was signed by Carey Ludlow and fifty-seven other persons, "members of the Episcopal Church"; the second by Samuel Spraggs and seven others "on behalf of the Society of the Methodists and other members of the Episcopal Church." This latter petition is interesting as showing the attitude of the early Methodists, who appear to have looked upon themselves as a society or guild within the Church.
The petitions were laid over till the 24th, when the following resolution was adopted :
Records, liber i., folio 448.
2 Records, liber i., folio 451.
3 By a resolution adopted June 24th, the word " emolument " was ordered to be stricken out.
4 Sprague's Annals, vol. v., 266.
5 Records, liber i., folio 454.
58
History of Trinity Church
[1784
"Whereas it is the opinion of this corporation that the appointment of three assistant ministers to the Rector will be the means of Effect- ing harmony and conciliation among the different members of the Church and be attended with many other Sallutary consequences, and whereas it is the wish and expectation of this Corporation that trinity Church should be rebuilt as soon as the funds of the Church will admit ; when the appointment of three assistant ministers will not only be useful but necessary,
" Resolved: That there be three assistant ministers to the Rector in his Parochial duties.
" The Corporation, wishing as much as possible to act conformable to the opinion of the members of the Congregation in the choice of assistant ministers, do therefore :
"Resolve: That those persons who have delivered their names to the Clerk of the Corporation for pews or parts of pews agreeable to a for- mer resolution of this board, be requested to attend at St. Paul's Chapel on Monday next at ten o'clock in the morning in order that this corporation may take their sense relative to their choice of the two assistant ministers which remain to be appointed.
" Ordered : That the Committee on pews attend at such meeting in order to collect the sense of the Congregation relative to the above appointments." '
The result of this meeting appears from a report of the Committee which stated that
"there ware a majority of votes in favor of the Rev. Mr. Ogden and the Revª Mr. Moore.
" Resolved : That the said Committee on pews be requested to re- port particularly in writing to this Corporation at the next meeting with respect to the number of votes taken at the late meeting of the Congregation, and how many for each of the gentlemen nominated." 2
Delays occurred, pending the question how to raise the amount of money needed to pay the stipends of the Rector and three Assistants, an attempt being made, with
1 Records, liber i., folio 457.
These resolutions were published in the New- York Packet and the American Advertiser for June 28, 1784.
? Records, liber i., folio 458.
59
Subscriptions for Stipends
1784]
little success, to obtain a part of what might be required by private subscription in aid of the revenue of the Church. It seems unnecessary to cumber our pages with the many resolutions appearing in the Records on this subject. One specimen may suffice. It occurs in Liber i., folio 472. It has an interest for the reader as indicating that the Church was much embarrassed at that time, from the consequences of the war.
" Resolved : That Messrs. Duer, Stevens, Farquhar, Sands, Miller, and Rutherford be a committee to solicit subscriptions for the Assistant Ministers : that they go round to the congregation immediately ; that they begin with their friends of the Gentlemen from whom the most liberal subscriptions may be expected and that they take every active and expeditious measure for the purpose of obtaining them."
Passing over this subject, we proceed to some remarks upon the two of the three clergymen now duly appointed Assistants to the Rector, Messrs. Abraham Beach and Uzal Ogden. We will defer giving an account of the early life of the other Assistant, Mr. Moore, till a later period, when we' shall have to record his election as Rector.
CHAPTER VI.
BEACH AND OGDEN.
Abraham Beach-Birth and Parentage-Student at Vale College-Ordained in Eng- land-Missionary to Christ Church, New Brunswick-Marriage-Trying Position during the War of Independence-Closes his Churches-Letter to S. P. G .- Ap- pointed Assistant Minister, Trinity Parish-Delegate to General Convention-Trustee of Columbia College-Regent of the University of the State of New York-Resig- nation-Death-Just Conduct to his Slaves-Character-Uzal Ogden-Birth and Parentage-Ordained in England-Missionary of S. P. G .- Marriage-Assistant Minister, Trinity Parish-Rector of Trinity Church, Newark, N. J .- Dclegate to General Conventions-Elected Bishop of New Jersey-Action of General Conven- tion of 1799-Election Confirmed-Memorial from Trinity Church, Newark-Asked to Resign-Applies to Presbytery of New York for Admission-Is Admitted-Death- Character.
T HE clerical staff of Trinity Parish, at the date which we have now reached, was composed of Dr. Pro- voost, Rector, and Messrs. Abraham Beach, Uzal Ogden, and Benjamin Moore, Assistant Ministers.
Abraham Beach was born September 9, 1740, at Cheshire, Conn. His father, Elnathan Beach, married a sister of David Wooster as his second wife. Abraham was their only child. On the death of Elnathan Beach, August 16, 1742, his widow moved with her infant son to Hartford. At thirteen young Beach entered Yale Col- lege, where, being brought under the influence of Dr. Johnson, and a near kinsman, John Beach, he determined to seek Holy Orders, and accordingly sailed for England in 1767, in which year he was ordained deacon and priest.
He was appointed missionary to New Brunswick, N. J., by the Venerable Society, and took charge in Sep- tember of the same year.
60
61
Abraham Beach
1775]
In his report to the Society, in 1775, he says :
" The unhappy dispute between Great Britain and the colonies operates to the disadvantage of the Church of England in this country. The Clergy are justly thought to be attached to the interest of the Mother Country, as well as to that of America ; which, at present, is a sufficient reason for our being looked upon with a jealous eye by many of our neighbors."
Mr. Beach married Ann, daughter and sole heiress of Evert Van Winkle ; through her he acquired a residence on the Raritan River, about three miles from New Bruns- wick. The situation was exposed and dangerous, being between the fire of both parties, the American and British skirmishers impartially contributing to the lodgment of balls in the walls of his house. A letter to the Society, February 15, 1777, describes his position upon the Decla- ration of Independence :
" After Independence was declared by the Congress, it was deemed High Treason for any person to pray for the King and Government, as directed by the Liturgy. I went to Church fully determined to make no alteration in the Service. When I was in the reading desk, looking for the lessons, a person came up to me, desiring to speak with me in the Churchyard ; he informed me that if I should presume to pray for the King of England I should be immediately made a prisoner, and he could not answer for the consequences.
" In these circumstances, I thought it advisable rather to shut the Church for the present, than to violate the Declaration I subscribed before the Bishop at my ordination, the oath of allegiance I then took, and the natural feelings of my own mind. My Churches were accord- ingly shut from the 7th of July to the 8th of December ; since which time I have officiated altogether at New Brunswick, the Church at Piscataqua being at present occupied as a barrack for the forty-second Regiment. My present condition is truly distressing, being situated about a quarter of a mile beyond the Picket guard of the King's troops. Parties of Washington's army are every day skulking about me. A few days ago they drove off my cattle, horses and sheep ; and since I sat down to write this letter, about fifty of them surrounded my house, and
62
History of Trinity Church
[18II
fired from thence on the out-sentry of the Hessians. They went off, however, in about an hour, without entering the house or doing any damage to those they fired on.
" I wish to be favoured with the Society's directions respecting my future conduct ; my situation, as well as that of my brethren in general in this country, being very critical and distressing." 1
Mr. Beach was for some time the only officiating cler- gyman of the Church of England in the whole of New Jersey. The Church in New Brunswick was not perma- nently opened till December, 1781. In 1783, Amboy was added to his jurisdiction. In June, 1784, as we have seen, he was appointed Assistant Minister in Trinity Parish. Notwithstanding his connections with New York, Mr. Beach represented New Jersey in the General Conven- tion of 1785 and 1786, as Rector of Christ Church, New Brunswick.
To Mr. Beach must be accorded the merit of being the first clergyman of the now independent Church who saw the importance of bringing about a union of the scattered congregations in the new States. A society was in exist- ence, known as the " Corporation for the Relief of Widows and Orphans," which afforded an opportunity to bring the Clergy together on common ground; through such gath- erings much was done towards the end which he had at heart : his correspondence with Bishop White is clear to that point.
In 1789 Mr. Beach represented the Diocese of New York, and continued to represent it almost uninterrupt- edly during the remainder of his ministerial career. In 1801, 1804, and 1808 he was President of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies. When Dr. Provoost resigned the See of New York in ISO1, his friends put his name forward for the bishopric ; and again in 1811, when John
1 See Perry's History, vol. ii., 16 et al.
63
Character of Beach
1828]
Henry Hobart was elected Assistant Bishop, though he refused to be a competitor many votes were cast for him. In 1811 he was made Assistant Rector to Bishop Moore.
In 1789 he received the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from Columbia College. The year before he had been elected one of the Charter Trustees of that College ; and in 1786 he had been chosen Regent of the University of the State of New York. When in 1790 the Vestry proceeded to name several new streets, one was called after him, Beach Street.
In 1813, Mr. Beach resigned his position in Trinity Church, and retired to his farm on the Raritan River, where, he died, September 14, 1828, at the age of eighty- eight. A tablet in Christ Church, New Brunswick, com- memorates his memory. In his just and enlightened action towards his slaves he was in advance of his times. He made them keep an accurate account of the hours they worked for him ; and, allowing them the regular wages current at the time, he gave them their freedom when the total sum earned equalled the amount he had paid for their purchase.
His grandson gives this description of him :
" In his intercourse with society no man could be more frank or more free from all guile. To every one, young and old, he had some- thing appropriate to say, and he freely entered into conversation, with- out requiring any introduction, with all whom he met ; while his dignified person, expressive countenance, and lively feelings, commanded the respect and affection of all who knew him." 1
In churchmanship he was strong and unyielding in his belief in the absolute necessity of Episcopal ordination, and opposed all plans for a non-Episcopal ministry and for radical alterations in the Book of Common Prayer.
I William Beach Lawrence, in Sprague's Annals, p. 265.
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64
History of Trinity Church
[1744
Uzal 1 Ogden, a son of Uzal Ogden, Warden of Trinity Church, Newark, N. J., was born about the year 1744. He was educated by the Rev. Dr. Chandler, the staunch missionary of the S. P. G. at Elizabethtown, N. J., and, ac- cording to Sprague's Annals, was ordained deacon and priest on the same day, September 21, 1773, by the Bishop of London. On his return from England he was ap- pointed the Society's missionary for Sussex County, N. J., and thus became a fellow-worker and neighbor of Abra- ham Beach. Like the other clergy of those days, he suffered from the war. Writing from Sussex, January 4, 1777,
" he acquaints the Society, that on the 6th of the preceding month he had been obliged to leave his Mission and family, and take refuge in New York, from whence he is, however, returned to his Mission.2 He is frequently commended in the Society's reports for his faithful and efficient work."
On the 30th of August, 1784, Mr. Ogden was ap- pointed Assistant Minister in Trinity Parish. His con- nection with the Parish, however, appears to have been very loose, and this can hardly be regretted. It was ordered, in the call, that Mr. Ogden
"be indulged with leave of absence from the duties of his function for two thirds of the time for four years from the date of this resolution unless there shall be sooner three episcopal places of worship, or a vacancy by the death, resignation or dismission of any of the assistant ministers, and that until such time Mr. Ogden shall officiate Seventeen Sundays in the year in both or either of the Chappels as shall be appointed."
In the year 17SS he was elected Rector of Trinity Church, Newark, and resigned his place in our Parish, August 1Sth. On that occasion it was ordered that the
' This name is pronounced as the word " usual " would sound if rapidly uttered as a dissyllable.
2 P. 54 of Abstract of the Proceedings of the Society for 1777-78.
65
Uzal Ogden
1804]
" thanks of the Board be presented to the Revd. Mr. Uzal Ogden for his faithful services during his Ministry in the congregation and that the R. R. Doctor Provost 1 be required to assure him that the Vestry Enter- tain a very high sense of his Zeal and usefulness in the cause of religion."ª
Mr. Uzal Ogden was a conspicuous character in the Church in New Jersey. His name appears in the Jour- nals of the Conventions held in that State, from 1785 until 1804 continuously. He was several times elected pre- siding officer, and was sent as a Deputy from New Jersey to the General Conventions of 1785, 1786, 1789, 1792, 1799, 1801, and 1804. Towards the close of the eigh- teenth century, it was felt that the American Episcopate needed strengthening, the number of bishops being only eight, of whom not more than one half were able to give proper attention to the duties of their office. On the 16th of August, 1798, Mr. Ogden was elected Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of New Jersey. When his name came before the General Con- vention in the following year, objection was made to the confirmation of the election, and the following preamble and resolution were adopted :
"Whereas as doubts have arisen in the minds of some members of the Convention, whether all the Priests who voted in the Election of the Rev. Uzal Ogden, D.D. to the office of a Bishop in the State of New Jersey, were so qualified as to constitute them a majority of the resident and officiating priests in the said State, according to the mean- ing of the Canon in this case made and provided. And, whereas, in a matter of so great importance to the interest of religion and the honour of our Church, it is not only necessary that they who concur in recom- mending to an office so very sacred should have a full conviction of the fitness of the person they recommend, but that they should also be per- fectly satisfied with respect to the regularity of every step which had been taken in the business,-
1 Sic. VOL. II .- 5
2 Records, liber i., folio 509.
66
History of Trinity Church
[1804
"Resolved, therefore, that in the opinion of the House of Deputies, all proceedings respecting the consecration of the Rev. Uzal Ogden, D.D. ought to be suspended, until a future convention of the State of New Jersey shall declare their sense of the subject." 1
It will be observed that the consecration of Mr. Ogden was opposed on the technical ground of irregularity in the proceedings at his election. In reality, the reason for the opposition lay much deeper ; doubts of his loyalty to the Church were entertained, with a growing suspicion of his sentiments ; impressions which were amply justified in his unfortunate career. Although a special convention of the Diocese of New Jersey, held soon after the ad- journment of the General Convention, ratified the former action, with a request that the Bishops proceed to the act of consecration without delay, nothing further was done until 1804. In that year, his congregation in Newark presented a memorial to the Convention of the Diocese setting forth grounds of complaint against him. Upon the reception of this document the Convention requested Dr. Ogden to resign the Rectorship in Newark and retire upon an allowance to be paid annually by the Parish. This he refused to do.
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