USA > New York > New York City > A history of the parish of Trinity Church in the city of New York, pt 3 > Part 14
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" PRINCETON, Jany 18th 1817.
"DEAR SIR,
"I presume you are frequently entertained with wonderful nar- rations, of the most wonderful state of this college in literary improv- ments, & religious zeal, within the last three years. I wish you were here sometimes to witness it on the spot. A polite scholar, & a virtuous & pious gentleman can hardly conceive the change in sombre aspects, & assumed pretensions which are often played off, to court the credulity of an old made up bigot and theatrical saint. Nothing but personal observation can enable a scholar, & a rational christian to conceive it. The college is converted into a mean country gramar school, in the lower classes ; & in the upper, science & taste are absolutely ex- cluded. Instead of exercises to cultivate the opening genius of youth to eloquence, you see them only muling & puling out some old relig- ious sing-song fit only to entertain some country circle of grannies. In- stead of real religion you never saw the institution in more disorder than it frequently exhibits, tho' concealed with the utmost care from the public view. Last evening offered one of these, somewhat worse than usual, . . . All the Tutors & professor Slack were tied up in their chambers. The belfry door, which had been made very strong was cut down with an axe - & the college bell set a ringing at midnight for twenty minutes ; by which time Slack had extricated him- self, but before he dispersed them they broke down five or six win- dows with all their glass, and attempted setting fire to an outhouse. What the faculty will do with the young men is not yet decided ; nor is it known how many of them are discovered. This is one conse- quence of certain minute & rigid rules, executed with an austere & vulgar rudeness. This kind of behaviour, which is farcically called discipline, renders the greater part of the faculty so strongly obnoxious to the College.
"I have been amused & gratified with the catholicism of my young ward, Marianne Witherspoon, who is a gay & sprightly girl, but
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أنافعة النصر
me sral
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often quite serious & reflecting ; by turning half episcopalian with your Companion. She has made it one of her books of retirement; & has taken it for her guide in prayer. She asked my opinion of it one day ; & I found her two or three weeks since transcribing various prayers out of it, for her daily use, especially in the evenings before her repose.
"Offer my respectful compliments, if you please, to Mrs. Hobart, & to our friend Dr. Howe, & still remember (. .) 1 your friend,
" & very hble serve
"SAM" S. SMITH."
The Rev. Henry U. Onderdonk was a warm sup- porter of Bishop Hobart from the first. The follow- ing letter is of interest, showing how men's minds were agitated on the Bishop's attitude towards the Bible Society, and his determination to form in every county, and if possible, in every parish societies auxiliary to the New York Bible and Common Prayer-Book Society which for eight years had been doing a great work very quietly. Other cities and dioceses followed Bishop Ho- bart's lead, and similar Bible and Prayer-Book societies were founded throughout the Church. Mr. Onderdonk's letter is of value as showing the beginning of what are now strong parishes in Northern New York.
" CANANDAIGUA, Feb. 24h 1817.
" RT REV & DEAR SIR,
"Your letter has given me great confidence in the part I was dis- posed to take respecting the Bible Society. I had supposed that the proper plan was, not to oppose the Society itself, but only the union of episcopalians with it. And I still think this the best course,- others here may do as they please but this meets my own views. But even to do this openly may bring on me some odium, & your letter has been a means of giving me confidence. The odium however will not come from episcopalians here, but from others. I do not believe that a single one of our pewholders (episcopalian) will dissent from their bishop, & their pastor. The following of course may be depended on, Messrs. Spencer, Jenkins, 2 Underhills, &c.,-& these, who might be expected to be doubtful I have ascertained to be correct,-Judge
.
1 Torn out.
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The Prayer-Book Society
1817]
Atwater (doubtful from his friendship for Judge Nicholas) has ex- pressed his approbation of your ideas, Mr. Seymour, Mr. Stanley, Mr. Bemis, (most to be feared because they had been presbyterians) enter very decidedly into your views. These sounded, the congregation is sounded. The body (I believe the whole) of Canandaigua episcopal- ians may be depended on.
"In regard to Geneva, they may do as they think fit. It is a divided place at least. I have not heard that any besides the Col. &. the Judge are in opposition, & (in strict confidence) I little heed them,-they may remain so & receive a lesson from Episcopalians, whh may shew them that they overrate their influence :- they may as well learn this at one time as at another. However, if Episcopalians can be united or even seem to be so it is best; & therefore I wrote to Mr. Clark what you had said in reference to a conversation with these gentlemen, & that you thought they should be waited upon. My calling upon them I thought would add little to the chance of success, -first, because it is but a deputed message,-& secondly because I have construed some ex- pressions from that quarter into an indistinct feeling of rivalry against us. Besides I suspect that Mr. Clark is cramped in his movements; & if he did not like to call, or thought it inexpedient, it would not have been well for me to go alone. So I leave it to his discretion,-hoping for his success, but little dreading his failure .- I hope I do not miscalculate.
" The forming of a county society cannot, I presume, be prevented, -nor the connexion of it with the Amer. Bible Society. Indeed, their zeal may well be allowed this vent. It will bring together very discordant non-episcopal materials. I suppose that they must have anniversary sermons &c., & then I think our gentlemen (Mr. Howel, Mr. Holley &c.) will be pretty thoroughly tired with Calvinism.
" Mr. Spencer's idea is, to try & do something with the District Bib. & P. B. Soc. But we both agree, that nothing can be done with it unless removed from this place. And I fear that it would occasion jealousy at our own sweeping operations. My idea was to have a B. & P. B. Soc. of our own congregation only, by the operations of whh we could shew that we are the first congregation in the district, & thus rise to confidence by stealth, instead of attempting to gain it by open violence. For ourselves I am convinced that my plan is best,-for we can thus remain unmingled with those who would spread among us their disunion and lukewarmness. For the district perhaps, his plan would be better, for we could secure a majority in any energetic operations. However, we should be liable to distractions, & I confess that I had VOL. III .- 10.
السـ
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rather remain at peace. Be good enough to write Mr. S. on this sub- ject as soon as you can.
"Auburn is vacant, -W. Clark is spoken of for it,-which will leave Manlius vacant. Buffalo has been very handsomely & success- fully organised by Mr. Johnson with $4000 subscribed towards a building. Rochester is deferred till the return of Col. Rochester from Albany. In regard to Rochester I organise only in the expectation that a missionary will go there in a few months; I presume Mr. Norton will not change his views,-but if you know of any clergyman of promise who would come, I will make him say decidedly whether he will go there or not. Mr. Searle passed thro' here more than a fortnight ago,-he had no prayer-books, so I mustered six, & bought six from our communion fund, whh with a parcel of tracts I sent on after him, & he got them at Buffalo. A new supply of prayer- books would be very acceptable,-I have but 10 for Rochester .- Please to add the following names to the subscription list of the Journal, Benj: Sheldon, Aaron Ackley, Augustine Sacket,-each one copy,-of this town. They belong to my little congregation west of this, at the school-house. Please also direct Swords to write the name on each paper,-the clerk in the post-office complains of unusual trouble. If you can well spare a copy or two of No. I. I should like to have them,-to send a view of our chh to some of my friends abroad; -you spoke of having some impressions taken from the engraving on handsomer paper, if this be done, the engraver had better change the glass in the tower window for blinds, it can easily be altered; he might also cut out the pediment above the dial,-there is no such feature in the building .- My respects to your family, & to all our friends. Be- lieve me, with sincere attachment,
" Your humble servant, "HENRY U. ONDERDONK."
The Rev. Roger Searle was an untiring missionary and a warm disciple of Bishop Hobart. He laid the founda- tions of the Church in what was then known as the " Western Reserve," which was considered to be the Missionary Diocese or Territory belonging to the Diocese of Connecticut, and therefore coming under the imme- diate jurisdiction of Bishop Hobart, who was at that time in charge of Connecticut.
Mr. Searle's correspondence with the Bishop is large
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The Western Reserve
1817]
and gives many hitherto unknown details of the earliest parishes on the Reserve, and opens with the following characteristic letter. It is important as showing what had been done in Ohio before the Rev. Philander Chase en- tered upon his work there March 15, 1817.
" LIVERPOOL, OHIO, 35 miles south-west of Cleaveland March 8th 1817.
" RIGHT REV'D AND DEAR SIR,
" Having made provision for my parish in the person and services of Mr. Prindle, and placed my family in as good a situation as possi- ble to be left, I commenced my journey to this country on the 30th of January. I passed in the stage as far as Canandaigua, from that to Buffalo and thence to Ohio by other means.
" I was exceedingly pleased with that worthy and christian clergy- man, of whose worth you mentioned to me last fall, the Rev. Mr. Onderdonk of Canandaigua.
" During my stay in Buffalo, the Rev'd Mr. Johnson organized a parish in that place consisting of a large number of families and Gentlemen of the first respectability in that vicinity. Near 4000 Dollars were subscribed before I left, towards a church to be erected next summer. The parish took the name of St. Paul's church, Buffalo. I should have written to you, Rev'd Sir, from. that place, but for seeming to anticipate that worthy young man, in the pleasure of giving his Bishop the first intelligence of an event, which itself and probable consequences to the church in that region of N. York, is so important and interesting. The fifteenth day after leaving my parish I commenced services in Ohio, 600 miles distant, and on Ash Wednesday organized a very respectable parish in the town and county of Ashtabula. This parish took the name of St. Peter's church, Ashtabula.
"Without having lost a single day, I have visited many towns and settlements, preaching-baptizing and conversing with all sober people I find. The members of our communion are planted more or less in all parts of this wonderful forest, and with flowing tears of joy, make me a most cordial welcome. Every one can tell how long it is since he saw a clergyman of our church, and how ardently he has prayed that one might visit them before the children had grown out of the knowledge of the church.
" Last Sunday in Cleaveland, situated on the Lake Shore a little
7
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more than 200 miles west of Buffalo, I organized a respectable and promising parish in the Court-house, at the close of publick service which I held through the day. There being no other religious society founded in that town, all the most reputable families were enrolled. The site on which stands the village of Cleaveland is almost without an equal in the United States. And from its local and relative position will probably hereafter become the most considerable of all the estab- lishments on the Lake shore, within the State of Ohio. The parish in Cleaveland being the third organized on our shores of Lake Erie, took the name of Trinity Church, Cleaveland, Ohio.
" Yesterday a parish was organized in this town, consisting princi- pally of old and ardent Episcopalians from the Atlantic states. This parish takes the name of St. John's church, Liverpool, Ohio.
" To-morrow I am to perform divine service and organize a parish in Columbia, in Cuyahoga County. And next Tuesday do the same in the town and county of Medina.
"On Wednesday next am to commence a tour south and east about 80 miles through Palmyra, Ravenna, Youngstown, Canfield, Boardman and Poland. Thence a north and west course through Warren, Windsor and to Ashtabula on the Lake. It is indeed a remarkable fact that in most of the above towns the numbers and attending circumstances will not only justify but require the parishes be organized. Who in- deed is, truly ' sufficient for these things.' Very great personal sac- rifices are my present portion. And in addition to all the hazzards, the strong sympathy towards my family-the difficulties of creating funds equal to the proper commencement of this great undertaking :- the awful responsibilities of this service to God, to the American church, and my own bosom, have often caused me to fear and tremble. Most earnestly Right Rev'd Sir do I request your prayers to the supreme Head of the church, for his blessing on these well meant exertions.
" Every step hitherto taken has been, and by God's help I intend shall continue to be in strict conformity to the constitution, canons & usages of our church. Each parish when organized adopts 'the con- stitution of the Protestant Episcopal church in the United States of America,' and their records are made in due form. One or more Lay Readers are appointed in each parish and they are earnestly requested to hold service every Sunday. Prayer-books and catechisms are greatly wanted.
" The moment I arrived within this State, I wrote to some gentle- men in Worthington, advising them of the fact, and of the intention on my part to act in conformity to what ever unusual arrangements the
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The Theological Seminary
1817]
friends of the church in this vicinity might have adopted last October or at any subsequent period. I also requested to know soon as possible what those arrangements were. I have written a second time but have not received any answer. Necessity therefore, in view of a gen- eral organization of the church in this state, will oblige me to hold a convention or something like one within the Reserve, between this and the first of April. The necessity of this measure is found in the fact, that there will be from 16 to 20 Lay Delegates from parishes that have been founded within the Reserve, and that the location of these delegates will be from 150 to 200 miles from Worthington. The pro- posed meeting of the Delegates in the Reserve I have therefore already appointed to be held in Windsor. And after that meeting shall have taken due measures towards an organization in common with the church throughout this State, with a view of being organized at the next general Convention, it is proposed that two or more Gentlemen be appointed as Delegates to attend the proposed convention in Worthington if we can learn its appointment.
" With the most dutiful affection I am Right Rev Sir
" Your Humble Servant " ROGER SEARLE
:
"P. S. The day I left home I received the first number of the Christian Journal. By requesting the publishers to forward to me at Plymouth, Con't a regular file of that work by mail, and also six more to the care of Bela Blakslee, Esq., or agent in Plymouth, you would very much oblige me, while my situation must be my apology for asking the favour.
" R. S.
" Right Rev'd Sir. As it is probable the church in this state will be annexed to the diocese of Pennsylvania, in making me more partic- ularly known to the venerable Bishop White by letter you would add much to the many obligations already conferred-
" R. SEARLE."
The following letters, including those from Governor Tompkins, which will be dealt with in a subsequent chapter, explain why the Bishop and prominent churchmen of New York were indifferent to the plan of a General Theological Seminary when approved by the General Convention of 1817. The design of a large and growing institution with
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Grammar School and Theological School exclusively under their own control seemed preferable to them.
" RIGHT REVP BISHOP HOBART.
" DEAR SIR,
"My constant attendance at the Court has prevented my seeing the governor on the subject of your letter until this morning, when I waited upon him, & he appointed an hour to meet Mr, Harison & my- self at his Chambers in the Capitol; but something has prevented the meeting, probably the governor being informed that Mr. H. was engaged in a cause in the Court of Chancery. I. hope, however, to have an interview with his Excell' who appeared very desirous of conversing on the subject. Mr. Harison & myself are agreed in our views; & security to the permanent interests of the College & the interests of the Theological Seminary will not be lost sight of or separated, in any arrangement which we may encourage, for we cannot enter into anything more than a mere agreement as to the mode of opening a negotiation on the propositions of the Gov., which no doubt ought to be in the mode mentioned by you; that is by the Legislature to authorise the Regents of the University to treat with the Trustees of the College. I shall inform you as soon as we have had a confer- ence with the Gove' of the result of it.
"The Memorial of the College relative to the condition of the Botanic Garden was presented to-day, & referred to a special Com- mittee of three members, Mr. Irving of N. Y., Mr. Emott and Mr. Thompson; the gentlemen with whom I conversed think there will be no difficulty in getting the bill through the Assembly; & I cannot suppose that it will meet with any serious opposition in the Senate.
"I shall probably remain here two weeks longer & hope to have the Act passed before the expiration of that time. Mr. Harison who will return in a few days will inform you more fully on the subject.
"I am, with very great respect & esteem, my dear Sir, "Yours truly,
" WM JOHNSON." 1
" DEAR SIR,
"I last evening received your letter of that date, having since my return rec'd the letter which you addressed to me at Washington, but which did not arrive there before my departure.
"The considerations which you mention are certainly entitled to
Undated-but written from Albany in February or March, 1817.
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Prayer for General Convention
1817]
much weight in deciding upon the Question of removing the College and your opinion that the Theological School may with advantage be united with the Grammar School serves to diminish objections, that I believed would stand somewhat in the way of the Removal of the means of a classical education from the city.
"I will by reason of the importance of the subject, attend the Committee whenever they may appoint a meeting; more with a view of securing information than from any expectation that I possess any worth imparting.
" With very sincere Respect, Esteem & Regard,
" I have the honour to be, Dear Sir, "yr ob & most faithful Ser"
" RUFUS KING. "JAMAICA, L. I., Mar 16, 1817.
" Bp. HOBART."
The prayer to which Bishop Croes refers in the fol- lowing letter was set forth in the General Convention of 1799, and placed immediately after the service for the consecration of a Church or Chapel. In 1808 the House of Deputies adopted a resolution to place the prayer among the occasional prayers. The House of Bishops returned the resolution,
"wishing to delay the insertion of the same among the occasional prayers in the Book of Common Prayer until some future occasion."
No action was taken in 1817.
In 1829 the House of Bishops was asked to set forth a prayer
· "to be used as an act of intercession in behalf of the General Conven- tion during the meetings of the same."
Through inadvertence it was not sent to the Upper House. In 1832 it was reported among other items of unfinished business. The House of Bishops proposed that a rubric concerning its use should be made known to the various dioceses and inserted after the prayer. This
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was adopted in the General Convention of 1835, and the prayer then took its place among the occasional prayers.
" NEW BRUNSWICK, April 9th 1817. " RIGHT REV' AND DEAR SIR,
" It affords me much satisfaction, on the receipt of your letter of the 3Ist ult° to find my communication, on the subject of the Prayer for the Convention, received with the spirit in which it was written.
" So far from 'attributing to you a disposition to take unwarrant- able liberties with the Prayer Book,' I knew the direct contrary to be the fact. I know that the insertion of the prayer in question could only have taken place without your knowledge ; or, if you knew it, with the impression on your mind that it had been authorized.
" What the reasons were against its admission among the occasional prayers at the Con" at Baltimore I have never heard; but I really do not perceive any, at present, of sufficient weight to prevent it. I hope if the error should be noticed by any one else and the subject should be brought before the Convention that a motion will be made, and carried to admit its insertion, and legalize the stereotype impression already made ; as it would be a serious injury to censure the copy, or prevent the use of the plate in question in the future.
" While I accept with a high degree of pleasure your kind invitation to make my abode with you, during the sitting of the General Con" I feel I may prevent your accommodating some other person, who may be more entitled to your hospitality than I am.
"With sentiments of brotherly affection, and with high esteem and respect, I am, Rt. Rev. and Dear Sir,
" Your sincere friend, " JOHN CROES. .
" RIGHT REVD BISHOP HOBART."
Allusion has already been made to the friendship which sprang up between Bishop Stewart, of Quebec, while he was yet a missionary, and Bishop Hobart. The truth is that the stand which Dr. Hobart was making on behalf of the Apostolic and Catholic position of the Church was making him many warm friends all over the continent of America. It is hard for us to realize to-day what John Henry Hobart did for the Church in America. His teaching was in so many respects novel, and it ante-
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The Rev. John Strachan
1817]
dated by so many years just what the Oxford School taught, that it is no wonder it caused great searchings of heart.
John Strachan, afterwards the famous first Bishop of Toronto, was one of Bishop Hobart's earliest friends and admirers. The stand he took in regard to the establish- ment of a Church society for the diffusion of the Bible and Prayer- Book commended itself to the Rev. Mr. Strachan, and one of his first letters is on that subject. He writes from York (now Toronto) as follows :
"YORK, UPPER CANADA, 2 May, 1817.
" MY RIGHT REVEREND AND DEAR SIR,
" This will be delivered by Messrs. Ridouts, two Brothers, very promising young men, Natives of this place. They are making a short tour through the United States. The elder is a Barrister of good practice, and the younger has served most respectably as Commissary in the army and was very lately reduced. They were Pupils of mine. I am therefore interested in their welfare, and have taken the liberty of recommending them to your kind attention.
"I send you the Constitution of a Bible and Prayer Book Society that was formed here last winter, and which has succeeded beyond expectation.
"I read frequently in the Papers of your great and incessant labours, and have no doubt of the rapid increase of the Church through your exertions.
"I am indeed persuaded, that a few more such Prelates at the head of the Church, would bring a majority of your inhabitants within the Pale.
" Should anything drop from your Pen, or any interesting publica- tions on Divinity appear, I should like to have them. Kirk and East- burn will forward them and charge them to my account as I left directions to them to procure books for me.
" I request you to remember me kindly to good Dr. Bowden.
" With kindest respects to Mrs. Hobart and earnest wishes for the success of your most useful and laudable labours.
" I remain,
" My Right Reverend and Dear Sir, " Your affectionate Brother, " JOHN STRACHAN."
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The Rev. Virgil Horace Barber, whose letter to Bishop Hobart we now subjoin, was the son of the Rev. Daniel Barber, whose work in New Hampshire and Eastern Ver- mont was hard and successful. He was carefully educated, and esteemed highly by friends and parishioners. He held several positions of some importance, among them the principalship of the Fairfield Academy. He is said to have been a very strict disciplinarian. When Rector of St. John's Church, Waterbury, Connecticut, it is told that he kept his family in the strictest submission, allowing its members to speak only in Latin, and even then but seldom. Their diet was meagre and simple.
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