USA > New York > New York City > A history of the parish of Trinity Church in the city of New York, pt 3 > Part 13
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" All the services of the day were highly acceptable to the Indians and they thanked us in a formal manner, and wished us to inform their
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good father the Bishop that they received his attention to them with gratitude.
" They were very cordial to us and individually thanked us. We could read in their countenances that they were delighted, and I will assure you that I have not spent a day more satisfactorily in a long time. We assured them of it, and the declaration made them glad.
" The second day we spent with the Pagan party who are desir- ous of receiving Christian instruction. Then Mr. C. preached. We baptised one man and a child there and three children the day before in the first place. The Chief who is an eloquent Indian exhorted his people to embrace the Christian religion, and to live the Christian life, and three or four persons talked for a longer or shorter time, and Mr. W. told us they were declaring their intentions of embracing Christian- ity. The Chiefs at the meeting assured us that they would attend to what we had said to them; that there should be a general reformation among them, of which we should hear thro' Mr. Williams. There are many amiable and excellent people among the Indians, who are as de- sirous of seeing a reformation of piety and morals as any other people.
"Mr. Williams appears to be what he ought to be, I love him much. He is truly desirous of promoting the temporal and spiritual welfare of his people, for 'he loveth his nation.' The Indians are every one attached to him, and they do any thing short of adoring him. He understands them, is, we think, very judicious, and has all the influence a good man could desire, and this I have no doubt he will not abuse, but employ for their highest good.
" The Indians proposed sending delegates to the Convention to which we did not think proper to object.
"Our visit to the Oneidas has convinced me of the practicability and utility of introducing our Liturgy among newly converted nations. Nothing can be better suited to them than the body of simple and sub- lime instruction which it contains.
"I think Mr. Williams deserving of our entire confidence, and that the hope may be cherished that he will be the instrument in the hands of providence of communicating the Gospel to many of the In- dian tribes. Next week Mr. C. and himself are to visit the Onon- dagas, who are desirous of receiving Christian instruction.
" Mr. Williams has not an adequate support. He must be somewhat generous to the Indians, and he is now in want.
"I shall have a Vestry meeting next week when I shall endeavour to make up a little subscription for him. I have no doubt of his necessity. He is modest and likes not to solicit aid, but he cannot
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live on his present allowance. The very high price of provisions at this time increases his wants. Will you pardon the suggestion- might not a few of your pious friends feel a pleasure at this time in supplying the wants of Mr. Williams, whose lively gratitude would richly repay them.
." To what I have said of the disposition of the better part of the Indians to reform, I may add that they lamented to us in counsel their proneness to intemperance and complained of the white people who got on their lands and sold them ardent spirits, which they wished might be prevented, and the laws against the practice enforced.
"The season is now more promising than it was. The wheat harvest is very promising, and hopes are entertained that there will be some corn. Potatoes may be good. Grass is light. On the whole our fears of a scarcity of provisions the ensuing year are much abated.
"Excuse this long letter as I had not time to write a shorter one, and believe me,
" Rt. Rev. & Dear Sir, "With esteem and respect, "Your ob Serv, " AMOS G. BALDWIN "RT. REV. J. H. HOBART.
*" P. S. I have retained this letter several days to read it to my people. A collection has been made and I send to Mr. Williams $23. A gentleman of this village has assured me that he is really in want. He advanced him $15 which I have just handed him."
Mr. Baldwin's allusion to the state of the crops recalls the fact that the summer of 1816 was the coldest and most unpleasant ever known. In every month of the year snow fell in many places, and the long-continued frost killed many fruit trees, and did not allow what was planted to . come to maturity. Although the greatest distress was in New England, New York suffered severely.
The letters given below show the intense desire of their writers for the permanent growth of the churches in their midst. Both men were strong, and earnest Churchmen. Mr. Spencer held high official positions in the State and nation, and Mr. Onderdonk became Bishop of Pennsylvania.
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They also show the spirit of conciliation of Bishop Hobart in non-essentials. Ritual matters were not then burning questions. The minute directions of Mr. Onder- donk, in his letter of November 15th, to the Bishop for the journey seem strange coming from a young priest to his Bishop until we remember that he was an excellent physician as well as clergyman.
Bishop Hobart thus records the long winter journey :
"In the month of December I paid a visit to the distant congrega- tion of Canandaigua and consecrated a remarkably beautiful and con- venient building to the service of Almighty God according to the rites of our Church, and administered the ordinance of confirmation. The congregation is much indebted for its flourishing condition to the missionary who principally officiates there, the Rev. Henry U. Onder- donk." 1
The day of consecration was December 14, 1816. It is very improbable that the Bishop officiated without his official vestments. A story is told of his visiting Cheshire, Connecticut, about this time when his valise had been acci- dentally left behind in New Haven. After the service, at which a very large number had been confirmed, he ex- pressed in strong terms to his companion on the sixteen miles' drive to New Haven his mortification at appearing without his robes.
"CANANDAIGUA, September 16, 1816.
" RIGHT REVEREND BISHOP HOBART, " SIR,
"I take the liberty of addressing you upon a subject of some in- terest to our Episcopal Society in this place, and of soliciting your advice upon it. You are not ignorant of the description of people who have settled this part of our State: that they are from New England; not only unaccustomed to much formality, either in their business or their devotions, but from habit and their puritan notions they are very averse to it. Composed of every sect of protestant Christians, our
1 P. 373, Reprint, Journals of the Diocese of New York, 1785-1819, in Journal of 1816.
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Work in Western New York
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forms are either novelties to them, or are objects of dislike. In order to succeed among such a people and to gain adherents to Episcopacy, it appears to me that we ought not to excite and encounter more preju- dices, than those we are obliged to meet in vindication of our own essential principles, and that instead of reviving the rancor of puritanism we ought to endeavor to lull it, by withdrawing from its view those objects most likely to excite its hostility.
" Hitherto, from being obliged to conduct our worship in a court house, it has been rather plain and divested of numerous forms which will be expected, when we assemble in our new church. The effect of that plainness and simplicity, has been decidedly in our favor. The excellence of our Liturgy has been displayed without impediment, and it has reached the most obtuse minds. I mean not to urge a syllable against the forms of the Church, nor against the propriety of their being adhered to in those places where custom has habituated the people to them.
" But solely in reference to our peculiar situation, to the great ob- ject we have in view, and to the difficulties of its accomplishment, I would ask whether some of our forms might not be dispensed with, and particularly the custom of the minister's wearing the white vestment called a surplice, and changing it when he leaves the reading desk for the pulpit? These are ceremonies which the generality of people do not at all understand.
"They have never yet been introduced in this place, and after having worshipped so long without them, their introduction now would appear more like novelty than like adherence to old and established cus- toms, and would certainly expose us to rebuke and cavil if not censure. If we can dispense with our reading desk and vestry room, we shall save much expense, and shall gain what we much want, more room in the body of the Church. The chancel would be preserved and the pulpit would be used for a reading desk.
"Our Church will cost not far from ten thousand dollars, will be completed and ready for consecration in December. If we are to de- part as above suggested from the usual mode of building churches, the decision must be made soon.
" I have conversed with the Rev. Mr. Onderdonk on the subject, and he appears to coincide in the general principle of its being proper for us to avoid all unnecessary excitement of prejudice ; he argues that what is lawful is not always expedient. And that opposed by a Congregational society which is distracted by intestine divisions, it will become us to do nothing which would prevent its members from joining
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us; if by the omission we do not ourselves sacrifice any essential prin- ciple. But he is not disposed to rank himself among the 'innovators,' and would not do anything without mature reflection. It really ap- pears to me, Sir, that the purity of our doctrines and the excellence of our Liturgy give us such decided claims to superiority over every other persuasion, that if we only give them a fair chance to be seen, known and understood, without obstructing their progress by insisting upon ceremonies which after all may not be so material to us, but which may be essential impediments to others, we shall adopt the most certain and effectual method of advancing our principles and en- larging our Church.
"You perceive, Sir, in this long letter, the effects of indulgence. The freedom of communication which you have hitherto allowed me, only prompts to the more frequent use of it, but with all those senti- ments of the most exalted respect and esteem with which,
"I am, " Reverend Sir, "Your most ob. Serv " JOHN C. SPENCER."
"CANANDAIGUA, Oct. 30th, 1816.
"RT. REV & DEAR SIR,
" Mr. Spencer was polite enough to show me your letter in which you state that you cannot well visit us till January. We all greatly re- gret it, as the ecclesiastical affairs of the village seem to point out the present or as near it as possible, as the most favourable time for set- tling all our affairs. But we feel greatly indebted to you, Sir, for coming at all during the Winter ; we should not have requested it, but for the good of the Church, not our Church only, but all the Congre- gations who are within the sphere of the zeal of Canandaigua.
"Our ideas respecting the pulpit & desk had already taken the course pointed out in your letter : but I feel greatly relieved in regard to the surplice. I had supposed that the disuse of it in settled con- gregations was very singular ; but as country churches generally dispense with it, we have no misgivings in following their ex- ample. In regard to your robes, Sir, you will follow your own judg- ment ; I do not think they would give offense,-but it is a point we never can ascertain until too late : it will scarcely be worth while to trouble yourself with them upon so long a journey. 1
"As soon as, you can fix the day for consecration, you will greatly oblige me by sending word ; also any arrangement you may desire
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to have made. I have given notice that you will be requested to hold a confirmation, & hope to present a good number.
"If your calls in New York be not too pressing, we hope, Sir, you will not make your visit among us a short one. Mr. Torrey has given notice that he intends to ask for a dismission. We have fallen in with a bell for our Church, & they are even talking of an organ & clock.
" Believe me, Rt. Rev. Sir, "With the greatest respect, "Your very humble servant, " HENRY U. ONDERDONK."
" CANANDAIGUA, Nov' 15th, 1816.
" RT. REV & DEAR SIR,
"I fear you will think me troublesome in writing to you so often, I do it at present only to give you an extract from a letter I received from the Rev. Mr. Clark of Geneva, it is this : 'Col. Troupe wishes me to suggest to you the expediency of requesting the Bishop to pre- pare a discourse to be delivered at the Consecration of your Church, which shall exhibit a full view of the doctrine of the Church as com- prised in the articles & liturgy. He thinks at the present time some- thing of that sort will be of immense benefit to the Church.'
"Agreeing very fully with Col. Troup, but supposing that you will not have time for such a duty, I give you, Sir, the message as it stands, without venturing to add a request.
" The expectation of your coming according to the plan in my let- ter of day before yesterday has given new spirits to all our friends, & not the least doubt is entertained of our being ready. I have learnt with regret, however, that Honeyoye is not so far forward as could be wished ; but Major Allen is in New York & has doubtless given you better information than I have.
"The Mail is now four days between this place & Albany ; the Cherry Valley line however runs yet in three. The roads are reported to be wonderous good for the season, and unless we get a great deal more rain will probably not be very deep until spring ; as to the North River you will hear more of it than I can, but we hope, Sir, that it will remain open for your whole journey. If you find the ride fatiguing you had better stop at Geneva, and send in a letter, and I will come imme- diately over for you ; a night's rest is very important at the end of a long ride.
"Pray, Sir, be well provided against cold,-surtout, cloak, mocka-
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sons, & thick clothing will all be necessary. If the weather is heavy & cold you will need the fire when the stage stops. If it be dry & sharp, walking about in a warm room is better than going to the fire. I think I have heard you complain of a weak stomach, I can assure you, Sir, from my own experience that a long journey in cold weather will do it great service. This may be a comfortable anticipation dur- ing your ride, -when you have got here, we trust you will find more important reasons for cheerfulness.
" With the highest respect, " Your obedient servant, "HENRY U. ONDERDONK.
"P. S. Lest my former letter should miscarry, I repeat the ar- rangements mentioned in that ; arrive here on the 3rd Dec'. consecrate at Richmond on the 5th, consecrate here on the 7th & confirm on the 8th. We presume this small extension of your time will not be incon- venient to you. If you fix on this, or any other arrangement, be good enough to send immediate word.
" H. U. O."
Bishop Meade writes to enlist the sympathies of his brother of New York in slaves and the colored people in general:
" RIGHT REV. SIR,
" November 13th 1816.
" I have requested Mr. Caldwell of your city to present you with a volume which I have published within the last year for the benefit of our poor slaves. As you have a portion of this unfortunate race of beings within your state and diocese, and as some exertions appear to be making in their behalf by some benevolent persons amongst you, I have sent a box of these books to the care of Mr. Caldwell to be dis- posed of in the most suitable manner. The importance of the subject will I feel assured be sufficient to obtain from you a careful perusal, after which you might feel disposed to recommend it in such a way as your own judgment should direct. Bishop Kemp of Maryland is very zealous in the cause, and has undertaken to send a number of my books to Bishop Dehon of Carolina. I could wish much to see the members of our church earnestly engaged in so noble a work; they have great numbers of these poor creatures in bondage and ought to be concerned for their souls. I should be glad to have your opinion on the subject
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1
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The Clowes Case
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after you have examined the book. Until when and even after may the spirit of God be with you in all your ministrations and undertak- ings is the sincere prayer of your
" friend & brother, " WILLIAM MEADE."
It is not within our province to consider the proceed- ings attendant on the trial of the Rev. Timothy Clowes, Rector of St. Peter's Church, Albany. Although refer- ence was made in the course of the proceedings to the grants made by Trinity Church to St. Peter's Parish, they had nothing to do with the affair.
In examining the many letters to the Bishop on the subject of this trial one is struck by the extreme bitter- ness of certain of the Bishop's friends, who seem to con- sider that there could be no possible good in any man who dared to think differently from him. In short, he was looked upon by his friends as bearing upon his shoul- ders the burden of the Church not only in New York, but throughout the Union.
The Rev. Joseph Prentice, referring to the Clowes case, says under date of March 14, 1816 :
" I lament exceedingly not only the general evil and hindrance that must thus arise to the cause of religion, but also the pain and grief which they must occasion to yourself; on whom the church, not only in this State but throughout the union has thrown the chief care of her reputation and advancement."
The correspondence of Mr. William A. Duer with the Bishop on the Clowes case is full of interest, as Mr. Duer acted on behalf of the presenters and against Mr. Clowes. The tone of the letters is that of a lawyer advising his client.
The following letter is worth transcribing because through it we have an accurate statement of some of the matters in dispute.
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1
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" ALBANY, Nov. 15. 1816. " RIGHT REV'D & DEAR SIR,
" In proceeding in the Trial of the Rev'd Mr. Clowes, it became necessary in the opinion of the Board, that the fact of his having received a months notice of the time and place of trial, should be established by Testimony. The only mode in which I hoped to suc- ceed in this on the part of the presenters was by means of the docu- ments which you did me the favour to transmit. It was admitted that the copy of your letter, addressed to Mr. Clowes by the Steam boat mail on the ninth of October which contained notice of the postpone- ment was in your handwriting, and it appeared highly probable from a paragraph in his letter to you of the 28th of October, in which he questions your authority to change the time & place of trial that he had received the notice to that effect sometime before he repaired to Troy. In a succeeding passage he expressly acknowledges to have re- ceived your 'last letter' alluding, as it is admitted, to your letter of the 14th of October. In the copy which you forwarded to me lately of this letter, you mention having altered the time of trial to the 13th of November-but nothing appears as to any alteration of the place, this circumstance therefore rendered it certain, that the paragraph of Mr. Clowes letter above referred to, could not have reference to your letter of the 14th & coupled with the circumstance of your having sent a letter by the Steam boat mail of the 9th of October in which you certify the alteration both of time & place, it was evident that he must have received the letter before he went to Troy. Whilst I was insist- ing upon this argument Mr. Clowes produced your original letter of the 14th in which after the words, 'I have altered the time of trial ' you interlined the words, 'to the 13th of Nov'r next' 'at Albany' the last two words not only being incongruous with the former part of the sen- tence in which an alteration of time only is expressed, but appearing to be written at a different time and with a different pen and ink, if not by a different hand. Not relying altogether upon this as an answer to my argument, Mr. Clowes afterwards tendered for insertion on the minutes a written declaration to which he offered to be sworn ' that he had not been able to find amongst your letters one of the date of October the 9th 1816, nor had he ever received one of that date.' This declaration you will at once perceive is altogether equivocal. He does not deny that he had received a letter from you by the Steam boat mail of the 9th October (& it is very doubtful whether the figure is not intended for a 7) much less does he deny expressly that he had received one month's notice of the time & place of trial.
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The board have not yet decided upon the point, & I have felt it my duty, Right Rev'd & Dear Sir, in this stage of the proceedings, con- fidentially to submit to you a statement of these mysterious and extraor- dinary circumstances in hope that you might enable me to develop & explain them. I beg you to have the goodness to inform me as par- ticularly as your recollection may permit whether the letter sent by the Steam boat mail of the 9th of October was dated upon that or upon any other & what day ? Whether it was sent directly to Mr. Clowes, or under cover to any other & what person ? And to transmit to me such evidence relating to that letter, & to the receipt of it by Mr. Clowes as you may have it in your power to furnish and procure.
"I am, R't Rev'd & Dear Sir,
"Very Respectfully Yours, "W. A. DUER"
1817 .- In his History of St. Peter's Church, Albany, the Rev. Joseph Hooper states that :
"There is no record now in the archives of that Diocese [i. e., New York] by which we can learn the names of those constituting this court, whether Mr. Clowes chose the five Presbyters of the Board, or, on his refusal to do so, the Bishop appointed them as the canon allowed." 1
Mr. Duer's letter furnishes us with this information. "ALBANY, Feby. 1817.
"RIGHT REV'D & DEAR SIR
"The Revd Mr. Jarvis is the only Presbyter, summoned upon the board of Clergy for the trial of Mr. Clowes, who has made his appear- ance in Albany. Mr. McVickar is sick & I fear your letters to the others have miscarried, and that renders Mr. Wells's negligence re- specting your letters enclosing the duplicates doubly vexatious. We have sent for Messrs. Fuller, Thompson, & Huntington. But if they come, a question arises as to the legality of their proceeding after the failure in their appearance upon the day appointed. We wish, however, that Mr. Clowes should raise that question, and better opinion amongst our Episcopal professional friends here is that it would be too hazardous to proceed after a delay in forming a board for so many days. That
1 P. 214.
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part of the congregation who wish to get rid of Mr. Clowes are exces- sively mortified at this prospect of further delay.
" I am Respectfully & truly "Your obed' Serv. "W. A. DUER. " THE BISHOP."
Another letter out of the mass of correspondence is of peculiar interest. The sentence of suspension from the Sacred Ministry was sent to every clergyman in the Diocese and also to the Wardens of St. Peter's Church, Albany, yet it appears that Mr. Clowes complained that the fact of his suspension had not been made generally known. As Mr. Clowes, after leaving Albany, had gone to reside at Hempstead on Long Island, the Rev. Mr. Hart wrote to the Bishop on the subject, and hence the Bishop's reply, which will be found under the year 1819.
One of the spasmodic efforts made by the Diocesan authorities to increase the Episcopal Fund is alluded to in the following letter. None were successful. It was ex- pected that this Corporation would bear all the expenses of the Episcopal office.
"NEW YORK, 17 Jany 1817.
" DEAR SIR,
" I take the liberty of enclosing you a letter addressed to the Vestry of Trinity Church, by Mr. Van Wagenen, Mr. Jay and myself, who were appointed by the late Convention of our Church, a Committee to ex- amine and report to the next Convention the state of the Episcopal Fund; and of requesting that after reading and sealing that letter, that you will be pleased to deliver it at the next meeting of the Vestry.
"I will also esteem it a favour if you will take the trouble of facili- tating our receiving an answer with as little delay as circumstances will permit. .
"I remain with the greatest respect, D' Sir, " Your most ob Servt " PETER JAY MUNRO."
T
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Condition of Princeton
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We have already had the views of one correspondent on the state of affairs at Princeton. Here are the views of another, which are given with the utmost frankness. Parts of this letter, however, are so bitter, in criticism of the head of the college for the time being, that it seems best to erase them; an intense theological animus of un- usual rancor must have dictated them.
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