A history of the parish of Trinity Church in the city of New York, pt 3, Part 12

Author: Dix, Morgan, 1827-1908, ed. cn; Dix, John Adams, 1880-1945, comp; Lewis, Leicester Crosby, 1887-1949, ed; Bridgeman, Charles Thorley, 1893-1967, comp; Morehouse, Clifford P., ed
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: New York, Putnam
Number of Pages: 1162


USA > New York > New York City > A history of the parish of Trinity Church in the city of New York, pt 3 > Part 12


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47


" A word in regard to Cumming, From what I am able to learn here, his friends boast with a triumphant confidence of his success in his application for orders in our Ch. I take it for granted your opin- ion is fully established in a belief of his inconsistency & insincerity.


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History of Trinity Church


[1815-


He has already declared that in joining the Episcopal Church he did not renounce his old doctrines but merely embraced the opinion of primitive Episcopacy. We have every reason to be on our guard against a person so artful & insinuating. On Tuesday last I wrote to Mr. Berrian earnestly requesting his consent to administer the sacra- ment for me on Christmas. I have not heard from him & fear he has not received my letter wh I sent by post. Will it be too much trouble for you to speak a word for me to him? I wish certainly to hear be- fore next Sunday in order to read the Exhortation.


" I remain, dear Sir, " With great respect, " Yours affect'y " L. P. BAYARD."


" MR. BERRIAN,


" Please to state in answer to the above from me that in present circumstances it will be advisable for Mr. Bayard to admit those of Mr. C's congregation whom he thinks are fit for communicants without re- quiring from them any pledge of their permanent membership.


" J. H. H."


1815 .- Bishop Hobart carefully preserved a copy of the memorandum he addressed to Bishop White on the advisability of putting the Homilies in a modern dress.


" Extract from a letter by me to Bp. White, N. Y. Ap. 3, 1815 :


" I hope you will allow me to say that I more and more regret that we have set forth the homilies without altering the style. They abound in quaint obsolete phrases & plain and colloquial expressions, & sometimes particularly in the Homilies on Adultery in words and allusions that certainly will wound a delicate ear. And I am much afraid therefore that they will afford matter of ridicule to the scoffers, & of pain & disgust even to Serious Christians. From the very horrible terms which they use on certain doctrines I am not with- out my apprehensions that they will be employed in the cause of error, & that we shall find more difficulty in defending our Homilies than we have our Articles from a Calvinistic construction on certain points. All these things occurred to me before our last Gen. Conv. & led me to suggest to you the winter before to turn your atten-


12I


Letter from a Roman Priest


1815]


tion to a revision of them. I yielded at Convention to what I am still desirous to think was your better judgment, but you must ex- cuse me if I am not without my fears."


The following epistle from a Roman Catholic clergy -. man proves how little a pious and sincere priest of that communion understood the position of Dr. Hobart, or the claims of the Church in which he was a Bishop :


+


"ETERNITY.


"Sunday, 9 April 1815.


" MR. HOBART,


" A poor Roman Priest, was just praying for you, thinking much about you during the sermon at St. Peter's which was on the affecting and striking gospel of Unity read this day at Mass-Ego sum pastor bonus, alios oves qui non sunt de hoc ovili, fiet unum ovile et unus pastor.


"I know you are none of those inconsistent christians who profess such unreasonable and irreligious indifference for the truths, com- mands and institutions of that great divine pastor who gave his life for us, as to suppose it is just all one to believe or believe not what he taught ; practice or not practice what he would have practiced in his Kingdom on Earth, that his flock is a monstrous assemblage of all jar- ring sects and errors. I read with attention and much pleasure your discourse at the last Convention-all our firm Catholic principles are at the bottom and when you wrote that you were not a protestant, you were in the heart a Catholic, sensible of the necessity of di- vine authority, infallible faith and rule of faith, apostolical Mission, in a word, true means of being true christians which as evidently as the sun visible above, is wanting in the protestant system, private judgem't can give but fallible and changeable opinions. Dear Sir, you were no more a protestant when writing that ; and I am sure every sect will have been as indignant at your principles and propo- sitions as I was generally pleased with them-So steadily do you seem grounded on their Necessity you say (almost-I have not the paper here) that rather than departing from them in your efforts to promote the interest of your church you wd let it go to de- struction-So far yet are you right-so far a Catholic who takes


Te


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religion & church for divine institutions, and knows of no read- ing against principles-non inventum sed traditum-the application of your principles should then be the only thing wanting-come over, to your Mother church-surely had you lived in the times of the impru- dent & passionate Luther you should have never left it, come, Mr Ho- bart, do I say with my foolish simplicity-you can have no rest in the false position in which you are now situated-think of the dreadful responsibility hanging over those whom providence will have brought to such approach of a reunion most necessary, and mending of three ages of such an unnatural and unfortunate separation from the only Church which in your own full principles can be the true one of Christ. Schism or indifferentism, what a crime ! Unus Deus, Una fides, Unum baptismum, but what a joy for a religious heart to take the full step, when grace and light are at hand-how inferior any other consideration !-


" At least, dear Sir, take this as a sincere mark of love and good will from your


" poor humble serv


" B. NUTÉ


"P. S. I need not, after reading over, to discriminate in what sense and how far I say I read and approved your papers, you know enough the restrictions my very character supposes. My compliment, pleasure, hopes, intreaties can imply no injury to it. You wd not love or esteem me better for it if, after all, such an insignificant address can [claim] a moment's attention from you-that I wish you sh'd Unite that I suppose your heart nearly a Catholic one, that I meant to express to you, may our Lord favour-and you also da Gloriam Deo.


" I sail for Europe and after all have wait for no answer nor contro- versy. Take it, Good Sir just before God, as I did, having not so much as spoken of this my poor letter to you my friend, Mr. Ren- wick1 & where I lived-do reflect, pray, examine, be earnest, it is im- possible for you to be a protestant in the heart, and not to look for the Unity so evidently instituted by our blessed Lord-do, my dear Sir, give full glory to him and comfort so far your own soul."


As illustrative of the wide influence Bishop Hobart was rapidly gaining even beyond the dioceses under his care, and of the confidence reposed in him, General Swift, on April 26, 1815, wrote to the Bishop on the subject of 1 Indistinct, may be Fenwick.


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Small Pox Epidemic


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" the great want of an Episcopal clergyman at Wilmington, N. C., and to learn from the Bishop, if there be any prospect of getting from this quarter, some food for the hungry; the Church at Wilmington is rapidly becoming Methodistic and calls for a helping hand."


1816 .- In the opening years of the nineteenth century the clergy of the city were appealed to by the municipal- ity more frequently than they are now, to aid in the dis- semination of information. Their co-operation was solicited in various matters. We have already noted some of these occasions. When the smallpox was virulent in the city in 1816, the Board of Health invoked the aid of the clergy to help them disseminate the rules and recommendations adopted to check the spread of this dread disease.


"NEW-YORK, Jan. 2, 1816.


" SIR,


" I have the honour to enclose to you a Report of a Committee of the Board of Health,1 on the subject of means to be pursued for pre- venting the extension of the Small-Pox disease in this city. It has been viewed by them as of very great importance to use all human means to extinguish if possible, and at least to prevent the spreading of that fatal disease: this can only be effected by the zealous cooperation of our citizens, and it has been considered that the advice of the Rev- erend the Clergy of our city to that effect would be of very great importance.


" I have therefore been instructed by the Board of Health to request that you would, if the measure appears to you proper, give in- formation to your congregation of the measures directed by the Board, and recommend to them their adoption.


"I am, Sir, " with great respect, "your humble servant, " J. MORTON, " Sec" Bª Health."


The following letter, which we give with its original spelling, shows the interest that Bishop Hobart took in having appropriate church music in Trinity Parish.


1 See Appendix.


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" NEW YORK, Feb. 21, 1816. " REV'D SIR,


"Some time ago you requested me to select a number of Psalm Tunes suitable for the solemn season of Lent, and for penitential Psalms. Our Church selection does not furnish many plaintive Tunes, but such as I could find I have noted in the annexed List. Also a number of anthems for the use of Voluntaries which may con- veniently be had in this City, the number is small which fell in my view, in addition to them I have selected a few written Voluntaries which are strickly sollem and cannot be converted to any other use then what thay are intent for. I hope you will pardon me for making some remarks on the late arrangement to adapt meter tunes for Volunta- ries, Your motive no doubt was to remove the careless and irrevent manner of some Organist, performing their music is very Correct, but removing this eavel I am well convinced will create a Greater. The meter tunes are Composed in regular measure and if a Professor of music takes the liberty of cutting them up into Variations will have a tendancy of subject them to ridicule, for the greater part of them can be converted into Gigs and Horpipes. This cannot be the Case with Voluntaries, Chants or Anthems thay must remain as thay Composed and cannot be converted to any other use then thay are intent for, what I say respecting Variations to Psalm Tunes I have arranged the Old hundredth Tune into two movements to show what mischief can be done to meter Tunes. The German hym has two very unbecoming Variations also the Portugues hym has expearenced a simler varia- tions. The music performed in our Church on the approaching sea- son of Lent, and where their is an organ of suficient Magnitude as the one in St. John's Church ought to be soft, and performed in a Still calculated to impress a feeling of Devotion on the minds of the Con- gregation which has allways been my practice not onely as Duty I have to discharge but also my own religious impression to pay that rever- ance in the House of God, but if I am restraint of using my judgment to conduct that Instrument agreable to my impression to our Worship the efect of the music naturally will be lost. The respect I allways have for you, and also due to you agreeabl to your Ofice, am willing at time to serve you to the extent of my power, but realy in my humble opinion to play over a meter Tune two or three times cannot produce the designed efect, nor is it suitable to varify them with unbecoming Variations.


" I am Sir "Your Humble Servant


" PETER ERBEN."


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Church Music


1816]


" Tunes appropriate for the Season of Lent and Plaintive Psalms or Hymns.


" Bangor, Burford if Play'd in the Key of D. and Slow, Wilderness Windsor in G., Windham, Crowle Swanwich in G. or A., St. George, St. Ann's, Mear in F. The 139th Ps. Tune, Abridge in D., Little Marlborough, Aylesbury, Peckham in C.


" The Large Book. Anthems suitable for Voluntaries.


"My Song Shall Be of Mercy; I Will Give Thanks unto the Lord; Two Christmas Anthems; Happy beyond Description; Forty-first Psalm, will make three or four Voluntaries; Floods of Everlasting Light; Crucifixion; Were the Whole Realm of Nature Mine.


"Small Book: Grateful Notes; Behold the Saviour of Mankind; When I Survey the Wondrous Cross; Lord of All Power and Might; Denmark.


"Selections from Handel's Messiah.


"O Thou that Tellest Good Tidings; Every Valley Shall Be Ex- alted; And the Glory of the Lord; Glory to God in the Highest; But Thou Didst not Leave His Soul in Hell; How Beautiful Are the Feet of Them that Preach the Gospel of Peace; I Know That My Redeemer Liveth; How Beautiful Are the Feet of Him that Bringeth Glad Tidings of Salvation; Erect Your Heads, by Dr. Arnold.


"Written Voluntaries Comp: for Church use-


" Marches, first Book Page 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17. 2


do page 2, 3, 7, 9, 10, 11, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20.


3 do all suitable but 11, 12, 14, 28, 33 pages.


" Lynle's first Book all suitable but 28, 32, 36, 40, 47 Pages.


"The above list of Anthems and Voluntaries are in my opinion Unexceptionable, and will if Performed with feeling, will add Decorum to the musical performance in our Church.


"P. ERBEN." 1


Peter Erben was then organist to St. Paul's Chapel, having been appointed in 1813. Afterwards, in 1820, he became organist to Trinity Church. His son Henry was a famous organ builder ; he built the organ for Grace Church about 1835, and in 1846, under the supervision of Dr. Hodges, the great gallery organ for the present Trinity Church.


' We have taken the liberty of correcting some of the misspellings in this list of . Anthems and Voluntaries. 1


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The inclusion of selections from Handel's Messiah re- minds us that the first production of that oratorio in America was in Trinity Church, January 9, 1770, or only eleven years after Handel's death.


When the foundation of the General Theological Seminary was being contemplated Bishop Hobart wrote to his friend the Rev. L. P. Bayard, asking him to obtain certain information respecting the working of the Prince- ton Seminary. This is Mr. Bayard's reply :


" NEWARK 20: March: 1816.


" MY DEAR SIR,


" Expecting to visit the city before this, I delayed communicating the result of my enquiries respecting the Theological Seminary at Princeton. My Father writes only in general terms that the amt. of their funds collected & devised is $50,000-The Professors salaries $1800-& a house. Number of Students forty-& he adds 'the num- ber .wd. be considerably encreased had we the means of supporting them-Next season we expect to have the principal building for the Seminary so far completed as to accommodate some students in the winter- But it will require 3 or 4 years to complete the whole plan.'


"He promises to send me a copy of the plan wh when I receive I will forward you.


" There seems to be no little jealousy creating suspicion in his mind in respect to my object in writing-& says-' I am puzzled to guess the reasons of your wishing to know &c., &c.'


" It is not for me to decide on the questions either of expediency or practicability-in the formation of such an institution for our Church. You stand on an eminence from wh you can see much further than one of my humble station. It certainly appears to me that your original plan was a good one-& the best that cd. be adopted-By it you must ensure the united contributions of at least three States-& in the event it is my firm belief that you wd have the combined efforts of the whole Church in this good work .- Once plant your standard & I am utterly deceived if your success be not worthy such a cause- Give me any place in the field of this labour & you may calculate on my best exertions-The soliciting subscriptions ought not & cannot with propriety be commenced until the place be determined on & a writ of


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Cost of Printing Prayer-Books


1816]


authority issued-The Church looks to you-as best fitted to lead the way in this enterprize and many benevolent persons in her communion wait to give of their substance to such an institution.


" Tho' the beginning be small-yet this shd. not be a discouraget .- but shª. rather (if I judge of others by myself) stimulate to exertion-


" Excuse me my Good Bishop if I have indulged my own feelings with more zeal than judg. I cannot help looking forward to a very bright day for our Church & I cannot help thinking that a Theolog- ical Seminary wd. give a very important fortress to the militant assert- ors of Primitive Truth & order.


" I write in haste-you will I am sure give me credit for my motives -& for the rest if I remain in your esteem it is sufficient. Would that I could see you more frequently-Why must duty & inclination ever be at variance ?


" Give my love to Mrs. Hobart,


" and believe me ever " sincerely Yours &c., " L. P. BAYARD.


"RIGHT REV. BISHOP HOBART."


$


The following estimate for printing the Prayer Book is of interest :


"NEW-YORK, April 2nd: 1816. " SIR,


"I have examined the two editions of Messrs. T. & J. Swords's Book of Common Prayer which you requested me to look over.


"The following are the estimates of Printing, drying, pressing and becoming responsible for all the damage (as to bruises) the plates may receive while at press.


"The 18mo. edition, printed in 1810, contains 480 pages, which is 13 sheets and a third, but will make 13 and a half of press work.


" An edition of 2000 copies, at 54 cents per token will amount to $116 -64 66, or 5 cents 8 and a § mills per copy.


"The 12mo. edition, printed in 1815, contains 528 pages, which is 22 sheets.


" An edition of 2000 copies, at 50 cents per token, will amount to $176, or 8 cents and 8 mills per copy.


" Yours, respectfully, " DANIEL FANSHAW, "10 Cliff street."


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History of Trinity Church [1816-


The cost of printing the above editions nowadays would be about just one half of the figures given.


Although as early as 1813 Mr. Eleazer Williams pre- sented to the Rev. Timothy Clowes, Rector of St. Peter's Church, Albany, the spiritual needs of the Oneida Indians, the work of the Church among them does not seem to have begun before 1815. In another chapter some particulars of it are given. It was largely due to the enthusiasm with which Mr. Eleazer Williams adopted the principles of the Church and sought with honest and earnest purpose to impress them upon his Indian brethren. The authorities of the Diocese of New York, so far as can now be known, do not appear to have paid any special attention to his request, or even sent any one to visit the Indians, until 1818, when Bishop Hobart made his first visitation at Oneida Castle.


Mr. Williams was licensed by the Bishop as catechist about 1815, but no record of the exact date is found among existing documents or printed journals. The visit of Mr. Clowes, accompanied by the Rev. Amos G. Baldwin, Rector of Trinity Church, Utica, was undertaken without even the approbation of the Bishop, as is shown by the fol- lowing cautious reply to Mr. Clowes's letter. The tone of the Bishop's letter is partially explained by the fact that Mr. Clowes was at that time under official censure, and about to be tried upon a presentment made by three of his brethren for disturbing the peace and good order of the Church in Albany, and also for misrepresentation and falsehood.


The letters we now give are a real addition to our know- ledge of the Oneida mission. It seems fitting that Mr. Clowes should have been the first clergyman of the Church after the Revolution to visit the Indians of New York, for his predecessors in the colonial days had been the successful


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The Oneida Indians


1816]


missionaries to the Mohawks, and St. Peter's, Albany, was then the Indian chapel for all the other tribes of the famous Six Nations of the Iroquois in the province of New York.


" ALBANY, June 25, 1816. " RIGHT REVEREND SIR,


"Mr. Eleazer Williams has come to this city for the purpose among other things, of inviting me in the name of the Oneida and Onondaga tribes of Indians, to visit them, spend some days in their set- tlements, preach, and administer the sacraments. A favourable oppor- tunity occurring in about a fortnight, the Vestry here intending to clean the Church, I have concluded to accept Mr. Williams' invitation and spend about a week with these people. I shall probably leave this city for the purpose as early as Monday the 8th of July. Mr. Williams desires me to state this my intention to you and to add that it is his earnest request as well as that of the chiefs generally, that an Address from you should be made to them, through my hands, during my visit. Such an address Mr. Williams desires me to state would do much good and strengthen his hands in the work in which he is engaged; and he desires particularly that you permit your address to be published (after being read) both in English and Indian.


" Mr. Williams' account, which is confirmed to me by other inform- ation respecting his success and prospects, is flattering. He has been much opposed by Mr. Jenkins, the Presbyterian Missionary to the Oneidas, and found himself under the necessity of setting his face boldly against him. The Northern Missionary Society have despatched their Committee to inspect into the state of affairs, and the result has been, as I am informed, that Mr. Jenkins is to be withdrawn at the earnest request of the Indians themselves, who assured the Committee that they had no longer any need of his Ministry, having engaged that of Mr. Williams, who could speak their language and was one of themselves.


" The Oneida tribe, pagans as well as Christians, all attend Mr. Williams' ministrations with seriousness and devotion. He has visited and been visited by the Onondaga tribe of Indians, who desire a por- tion of his ministerial services, which, however, he cannot give, unless occasionally; owing to their distance from the Oneidas (23 miles) and the expense of travelling.


" Both the Oneidas and Onondagas wish to be formed into Epis- VOL. III .- 9.


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History of Trinity Church


[1816-


copal Congregations and to be recognised as part of the Protestant Episcopal Church in this State; and they desire to be incorporated during my visit.


" The good disposition of these tribes and their attachment to Mr. Williams, affords us an opportunity which I trust will be seized on, of promoting their spiritual and temporal welfare, and setting forward the interest of our Church.


"Concerning the proposed address; I have only to add to the words of Mr. Williams and the chiefs, that it would be my highest gratification to be the medium of communication from you to the Indians, for whose welfare I feel a deep interest.


" Earnestly desiring and expecting to receive your address pre- viously to the 8th of July, and any directions you may please to com- municate respecting the discharge of my ministerial duties in the proposed visit to the Indians,


" I am, Right Revd Sir, " Your obedient humble Servant,


" TIMOTHY CLOWES.


" RIGHT REVP BISHOP HOBART."


(ANSWER.)


"N. Y., July 2, 1816. " REV. SIR,


" Your letter of the 25 Ultº arrived during my absence from the city. I do not recollect that Mr. Williams has given me any informa- tion on the subject of the visit he requests you to make to the Indians. I am therefore unable to judge of its necessity or expediency.


"An address to them ought I imagine to be founded on a more intimate knowledge of their character & intention than I at present possess.


" The measure of incorporating them as congregations of our Chh wª in my judgment be premature & ought to be delayed until they be- come more fully acquainted with the principles of our Chh, and until their desire to connect themselves with it has stood the test of time. Precipitancy might subject us to censure & ultimately defeat our benev- olent intentions with respect to them. I am much gratified with the zeal of Mr. Williams, & hope that by God's blessing his labors among the Indians will promote their temporal & spiritual welfare. But it would be most prudent before he resolves on such important measures as those contemplated in your letter that he should obtain the counsel & opinion of those here from whom he recd his appointment. I observe


M


T


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The Oneida Indians


1816]


in your letter that you mention the 'ministry ' of Mr. Williams, & his ' ministerial services.' I take it for granted that you do not employ these words in their strict & appropriate signification, & that Mr. Williams does not perform any duties among the Indians but such as belong to a catechist & Lay Reader & Schoolmaster.


" Be so good as to communicate the contents of this letter to him.


"I am, Rev. Sir, "Yr. obd Servt, " J. H. HOBART."


" UTICA, July 27th 1816.


" RT. REV. & DEAR SIR,


"I accompanied Mr. Clowes to Oneida Castle last week. Mr. Williams, the catechist was urgent that I should write to you on the occasion, and I think it proper that you should know something of that people. We were two days with them. Mr. Williams performed the service in Indian. He has translated a part of the Liturgy. The first day we were with what is called the Christian part of the tribe in the house of their ordinary meeting, a private building belonging to an Indian. I preached through Mr. Dana, the former Indian interpreter to Mr. Jenkins. Mr. Clowes, assisted by me, administered the Sacra- ment to about thirty persons. The exhortations and prayers Mr. C. began by reading a sentence, and Mr. Williams read them in Indian except the Consecration prayer. There was as much decency and apparent attention and devotion as we observe in any congregation whatever. Here we had proof of the piety and faithfulness of Mr. Williams and the honesty of the Indian character, Mr. W. said, 'I was distressed for fear some communicants will partake to-day who have not lived as they ought to do.' I was more particular in my dis- course in consequence thereof, and Mr. C. made a remark before be- ginning the Communion service. These things, together with the exhortations and prayers in the Communion office kept five from the Communion, two of whom sat weeping with their blankets over their faces, not daring to receive the consecrated elements when offered them. I was touched with the appearance of these two. A person, an Indian, not a communicant afterwards said to Mr. Williams, 'How is it possible that after so many instructions, exhortations and prayers to prepare the communicants to receive the Lord's Supper, any one who knows himself to be unprepared, should dare to receive it ?'




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