USA > New York > New York City > A history of the parish of Trinity Church in the city of New York, pt 3 > Part 33
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"Your Servt & son in the Gospel, " CORNELIUS R. DUFFIE "
"NEW YORK, November 15th 1824. "RIGHT REV. & DEAR SIR,
"I take the liberty of sending to you with this letter a Sermon which was preached at the opening of the Convention, and was pub- lished at the request of my brethren in the City. I am aware that there was an informality attending my performing the duty as the appointment was not regular, which indeed in your absence was un- avoidable. I therefore yielded to the request of Dr. Harris and sev- eral of the clergy, and hope that the arrangement will meet your approbation. The admission of Christ Church was the most im- portant act of the Convention, which was effected with great unanimity. A letter signed by the clergy,' which I had the honour of sending to you, has found your health, I trust, much improved. We regretted much that it should become necessary for you to continue in Europe until the Spring, but do not at all doubt the expediency and wisdom of doing so, & hope that then your family and friends will have the pleasure of seeing you perfectly restored. You no doubt heard of the unfortunate accident which happened to Bp. White, near Lewistown. He had got that distance on a tour to Pittsburgh & Wheeling when he was thrown from a gig the consequence of the horse running off & re- ceived a considerable cut in the forehead & broke one bone of the right arm near the wrist. By God's goodness he sustained no other in- jury, & is now doing very well. The accident happened about three weeks ago, & last Tuesday he arrived in Phila I should suppose that this would effectually prevent him from attempting hereafter to visit any remote part of his Diocese.
"I have not much news to communicate respecting the Seminary. The Trustees have determined to appropriate $10,000 for a building if the same sum can be raised by subscription. Mr. Croes is now making
1 This letter, with the Bishop's reply, will be found in the next chapter.
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efforts. He has not yet been very successful, but some members of the Standing Committee appear particularly interested.
"We have 10 new students, & it is probable that in a week or two we shall have two or three more. The lamented death of Mr. Yvon- net is a melancholy drawback. Thus far I had written, when your favour of Sep. 16th was brought to me, enclosing the letter to Dr. Jarvis, which I shall send by to morrow's mail. I am much indebted to you for sending it unsealed. My correspondence with Mr. Horne only extends as yet so far as the interchange of two letters apiece. He wrote first after receiving a copy of my Notes on the Romans which I was in duty bound to send him in consequence of his politeness to our Seminary in presenting us his work, & which I sent at the same time I took the liberty of sending a copy to you. His information respecting Bp. Chase's business was no doubt imperfect, but so far as he knew I should conclude with yourself that he meant to be candid. There can be no doubt that it would be best for the Church in Ohio that the Seminary there should be connected as a branch with the gen- eral one. I am chiefly apprehensive lest an imperfect course of study shall be pursued ; and if so the greatest advantage of having a Semi- nary will be lost.
"Your family I believe are quite well. They were 3 days ago when I called at your house. I regret your own health is so little improved.
" With my most sincere wishes for your happiness, I remain,
"Very truly, " Your obdt Serv' & son in the Gospel, "SAML H. TURNER. " RT. REV. BP. HOBART, D.D."
Acting upon the advice of physicians, the Bishop de- termined to try the bracing air of Switzerland. It was while there that the first great improvement in his health was apparent, as he writes to his wife :
" BASLE, (SWITZERLAND) Nov. 24, 1824.
" MY DEAREST WIFE,
"The difficulty of sending letters to New-York from the Conti- nent, by way of England, has prevented my writing to you; but Mr. Iselin, of this place, who lived for some time in New-York, in connex- ion with the house of Le Roy, Bayard, & Co. and who has been very
369
Letter to Mr. Berrian
1824]
attentive to me, has offered to take charge of letters and to forward them to Havre whence they will go by the packet.
"I am now able to say what I could not have said before since I left home, that I feel myself materially, and I trust, substantially im- proved in health. I attribute this, under the blessing of Providence, not a little to the country and climate of Switzerland, in which I have been travelling for some time past. The climate is much better than that of England, and the country is in all respects delightful; but it was a sad drawback on my gratification, that my family and friends were not with me to share it. My journey is solitary; I have no person with whom to reciprocate my feelings. I find it necessary to be mov- ing. If I stay a few days in a place, I get low spirited, become bilious, and my dyspepsia increases; I have concluded therefore as France is an uninteresting country, not to spend so much time in it as I intended, but to go into Italy where the climate at this season is mild and healthy and to travel in those parts which my sickness last summer prevented me from seeing, and to return through the south of France. I sent to you from Amsterdam, some bulbous roots, which I conclude before this you have received. Mr. Iselin is so good as to take charge of two boxes for you, which he will send from Havre. One is a box of honey from the foot of Mont Blanc, in the valley of Chamouni, which is celebrated throughout Europe. When I was there I thought of your fondness for it, and procured a box of it, and conclude that the circumstance of its being sent by me from so great a distance and that it is an evidence of my constant recollection of my wife and family, even in trifles, will not render it less palatable. The other box con- tains an herbarium of Alpine plants of Mont Blanc and its vicinity, with some seeds and minerals, which I wish delivered as directed.
" Your ever affectionate,
" J. H. HOBART."'
His progress through the Tyrol is given briefly in the following letter to Mr. Berrian :
"VENICE Dec. 11, 1824
"I wrote you, to my dear wife, and daughters, from Basle, a few weeks since, and have just received, my dear Berrian, your letters of September last. I am deeply sensible of the kindness of the Vestry and all friends - [giving his consent to the immediate marriage of his daughter to Mr. Ives] I not only consent but am exceedingly
1 Berrian's Memoir, p. 304.
VOL. III .- 24.
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desirous that this marriage should take place without delay, and feel mortified at the appearance of selfish feelings on my part in having delayed it.
"I have made since I left Basle an interesting journey (so far as a solitary one can be so) through the Tyrol - a country more sublime and picturesque in its views than any which I have seen. Constant change of scene, and occupation of mind with new and interesting objects, I find of great benefit to me; but to get entirely rid of my bilious complaints, and of this long and deep seated dyspepsia, must be a work of time.
"I find the climate of Italy more exhilarating and strengthening at this season than when I was here in the spring; when I enjoyed very little, the little which I saw. This city is striking in the highest degree. There seems to be a kind of magic about it.
"I have received a letter from Mr. Ogden, and from some of my friends which I shall answer by another opportunity.
"Much joy to you on the addition to your family! Go on and prosper. Alas! I can smile sometimes, but many, many are my lonely moments. I feel for Onderdonk. I have written three or four letters to him since he wrote to me.
"Truly and affectionately yours,
" J. H. HOBART." 1
The Rev. William Atwater Clark, who had been a laborious missionary in Western New York, notably at Buffalo, was a man of executive force and considered a good preacher and conscientious pastor. He was a brother of the Rev. Orin Clark, the founder, under the Bishop, of Geneva (now Hobart) College. In the follow- ing letter he gives valuable material for the history of the Church in the city of New York, not elsewhere to be found, and some particulars of the difficulties which beset the endowment of the new College.
"NEW YORK, Dec! 27th 1824.
" RT. REVP & DEAR SIR,
" Your kind letter of the 17th of Sep. was duly received, for which I cannot express the thankfulness which I feel. In undertaking to collect a congregation in the city, altho' I commenced by the solicita-
1 Berrian MSS.
371
Letter from Rev. W. A. Clark
1824]
tion of our best clergymen and best friends of the Church still some- thing seemed to be wanting without the approbation of my Bishop. Having received that approbation I trust that no industry or zeal will be wanting on my part to effect the important object undertaken. The success of the attempt has thus far exceeded the expectations of all. Divine service was commenced in my own hired house on the third Sunday in May. After legal notice a Church was organized by the name of ' All Saints' Church.' In a few Sundays it was found that the large room in which we had commenced would not accommodate the Congregation, and now our Vestry resolved, that as they had not sufficient funds to purchase ground on which to erect a building, to lease lots and erect a house of sufficient size to accommodate all the people in this quarter of the city who would be likely to attend on the services of the Church.
" The resolution was carried into effect and a building erected in form and size of a small country church, and by the liberality of a few individuals, furnished with a small bell and organ. In this house your unworthy servant has performed Divine service for nearly three months past and there has not been a Sunday in which all who came could be accommodated with seats. We fill the aisles and the chancel with benches and yet a multitude, (literally) go away for want of room. And to show that this attention to the services of the Church owes nothing to the irregularity of its half-way performance, I beg to state that I commenced with the surplice and have undeviatingly adhered to all the rubrickal strictness of Trinity Church. Nothing is irregular or low-and I pray never may be. A church is now planted in the East- ern section of the city which by the blessing of God will continue. The number of communicants is not less than fifty. The amount of property which the vestry now possess is not less than $2000. The only difficulty occurs to myself in obtaining a sufficient support for my family for one or two years to come. Our collections pay our ground rent, organist, clerk, and sexton, and leave something like $50 for the first quarter, and the Society for the Promotion of Religion and Learn- ing have granted me $250 for the present year. Yet all this is a slender support for a family of five children.
" Still confident that I am placed in a situation where I may be more useful than in any other, I am not in the least discouraged, firmly believing that the good Providence which hath so long supplied my wants will continue to be my support.
" Respecting Geneva College I have much more to communicate than I can commit to this sheet. Here alas, we have felt more severely
E
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the absence of our Bishop than in any thing else. His enemies have been doubly active while his friends were disheartened and inanimate. But by much labor, much assiduity and patience we have obtained from the Society for the promotion of Religion and Learning con- jointly with Trinity Church and the Theological Seminary, $20,000, and this with individual subscriptions obtained, amounts to a sum much larger than that required by the Regents to secure the Charter. But it is found that many of the subscriptions cannot be collected. And I am requested by my Brother to state to you, Sir, that on account of this failure they are in danger for the want of a few thousand dol- lars of not obtaining the Charter. And to pray that if it could be con- sistent, that this deficiency might be made up by a part of the Startin Legacy or by some other funds which the Bishop may have at his dis- posal, and that evidence of this grant may be transmitted before the Ioth of April next, when the time limited for securing the Charter ex- pires. The friends of the College will, however, if possible obtain from the Regents an extension of the time for raising the requisite funds. Yet little can be expected to be obtained from individuals, as the Episcopalians throughout the State have been applied to, and here we have the mortification to state that while we have met with a liber- ality beyond our expectation in almost every other place, in the city of New York we have not obtained subscriptions to the amount of $2000. Many of the friends of Columbia College have opposed us from the groundless fear that the prosperity of Geneva College would injure that Institution. The most of the warm friends of the Seminary to say the least have given us no support. At the same time that we have been applying to individuals for the College, applications have been made for the Seminary, and this in many instances has prevented dona- tions to either. But we have a fair prospect of obtaining (as soon as we can secure the Charter of the College) $20000 from the Legisla- ture, and on this account the friends of the College are extremely anx- ious to secure the Charter during the approaching session, fearing that the large " Literary fund " now at the disposal of the Legislature may be all appropriated.
" Be pleased, Dear Sir, to excuse the inaccuracies of this letter. I am obliged to write in haste. Besides the business of the College I am confined six hours a day with my school, and my parish duties are greater than they ever were in any other place.
" With the greatest respect and esteem, I am, Sir,
" Your obedt humble Servant,
" WILLIAM A. CLARK.
" RT. REV. BISHOP HOBART.
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Hobart Preaches in Rome
1824]
All Saints' Church, after many years of prosperity under such well-known clergymen as Dr. Benjamin I. Haight and Dr. William E. Eigenbrodt, still does a good work among the people of the East Side, under the benign rectorship of the Rev. Dr. William N. Dunnell. Its con- tinued usefulness has for some years been made possible by the allowance from this Corporation.
When the Bishop reached Rome he not only enjoyed his stay there, but derived benefit from the climate. The rich and varied interests of the city kept him fully oc- cupied for many months in visiting its various historic monuments, and rambling through its palaces and galleries. His letters home now begin to have a more hopeful tone.
With his friends, Mr. and Mrs. Dash of New York, he spent a delightful winter at the Casa Rinaldi on the Piazza di Spagna.
The Pope of that day, Leo XII, less tolerant than his predecessor, Pius VII, would not allow any foreign ser- vices to be held within the walls, consequently the English Chapel was situate outside them near the Porta del Popolo.
In this Chapel the Bishop of New York preached three times, which led to his caustic remark to Mr. Rufus King that the Pope was more tolerant than the English Church, since though forbidden to preach in England he could do so in Rome.
His Easter Day Sermon, April 3, 1825, was on behalf of the persecuted Waldenses of Piedmont. The congrega- tion was large although many of the strangers had left Rome. The offering was one hundred and twenty dol- lars. The Bishop took for his text : " Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep" (Romans xii, 15).
After refuting the insinuation that the Gospel of Jesus
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Christ would totally subdue and eradicate " some of the most powerful feelings of our nature," he enlarges upon the power of sympathy, which he calls "an instinct of our nature " and shows how it "gives to social intercourse its interests and its charms."
The effect of sympathy upon men is then described and it is styled a principal bond of union among members of that mystical body in which Christians are associated on earth.
The Bishop continues :
"Bring then, let me entreat you, brethren, this exalted virtue in its full and lively exercise, to the case of this interesting people whose short and simple tale of distress I have been desired to lay before you. The Vaudois are a band of Protestants who as you have been already informed, inhabit the mountainous districts of Piedmont. And it might be sufficient to establish their claim to your charity to state the fact, that at various times their character and condition have been minutely investigated ; and while their patriarchial manners and primi- tive simplicity render them gratifying objects of notice to the observer of human nature, the poverty to which by causes beyond their control they are subject, their obscure and depressed condition in the midst of those who on account of their religious principles, do not, to say the least, at any time regard them with kindness, and the many and severe persecutions to which on account of their adherence to their religious faith, they have been exposed, have called forth the commiseration and the active and beneficent sympathy of their Protestant brethren in various countries."
The Bishop makes this appeal confidently to those who boast that
"your Protestant church enjoys the Patronage of the State, that the mitre and the crown, closely associated reflect lustre on each other, supporting and supported. . But I should think you unworthy of the name of Churchmen and lamentably ignorant of the distinguish- ing characteristics of your Church, if dazzled by her secular wealth and splendour and dominion, you regarded not her spiritual character in the primitive faith, ministry and worship with which she shines 'all
1
السيدة (١٧٦
375
Letter from Mr. Swords
1825]
glorious within,' and which the smiles of temporal power may adorn, but which, thanks to God, the frowns and persecuting rage of temporal power can neither alloy nor extinguish.
"These constitute your Church the great bulwark of Christian faith, the great hope of Protestant Christendom, and draw to her the hearts, the homage and the prayers of Christendom.
"If the well known liberality of the English people is not to fail on this occasion, an additional incentive is given when it is known that the money is asked to build a hospital. Poverty alone, alas ! is hard to be borne ; but sickness and poverty united would seem to fill the cup of human misery. And amongst the Vaudois the evils of sick- ness and poverty are not mitigated by a genial sun, but unfortunately for a large portion of the year increased by the rigours of their mountainous climate. . . The Vaudois ask you to aid them in erecting a hospital where their own sick can be attended by their brethren and friends, and spiritual pastors. Merely to state the claim is sufficient. Make their case your own; and under the blessed influence of Christian charity and love, 'weeping with those that weep.'" 1
From Mr. Swords he received this characteristic letter :
"NEW YORK, 7th Jan. 1825.
" RIGHT REV". AND DEAR SIR,
" By the Crisis, Capt. Macmanus, which sailed on the 20th ult. for London, we shipped to the Mess's Rivingtons copies of the Family Bible, of your Sermons, and of Bishop Moore's Sermons, with a few small articles. The second copy of your Sermons which you for- warded to us, did not come to hand until the New York edition was completed; we therefore could not avail ourselves of the corrections noted in it. The London edition of this work, is uncommonly incorrect; for, besides the errors noted by yourself, we have discovered many, particularly in the references to the texts in the Old and New Testa- ments, which you will perceive by a comparison of the two editions. This remark, however, applies more directly to the first volume, and must be attributed to the Printer's ignorance of your handwriting. Mr. Hauptman and myself took the greatest care in examining every passage, and I feel bold to say the New York edition will be found
' Christian Sympathy, a Sermon by John Henry Hobart. New York: Re- printed by T. & J. Swords. 1825.
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very correct in this part. Take it altogether, I hope you will be satis- fied with its execution and its appearance.
"Last winter must have been to you a very arduous and un- pleasant one, owing to the part you were compelled to take with respect to Bishop Chase. Since his leaving England I trust your mind has been more tranquil, and that you have been enabled to pay that attention towards the restoration of your health it so much needed. Indeed I think you ought to banish every care and anxiety from you but that of accomplishing this object, so much wished by your family and friends, and needed by the Church. In your parish, and throughout the whole diocese, every thing goes on with the utmost harmony, and among the Clergy there appears to exist the best un- derstanding. The conduct of the Revd Benjamin T. Onderdonk, in particular, has been such as to command the respect and gratitude of every good Churchman. He ought, and I think, will receive his reward.
" Bishop Chase returned to America apparently in great triumph, and very shortly after his arrival in New York, he, or his friends, had his ' Letter to Lord Kenyon ' printed, and very extensively circulated. It was, however, soon followed by an edition of the 'Remarks ' you sent us, from our press. If all that we have heard be true, it would appear he has acted his part well. I am of opinion that eventually he will not be altogether satisfied with every part of his conduct. I will not take upon me to say that the Bishop possesses hypocrisy, but most assuredly, if I have not been misinformed, he can, in some particulars perform a double part.
"There has no intelligence directly from yourself reached us since you left Dover, the 20th of September last, and Mrs. Hobart has been very uneasy and depressed in consequence. This has, however, been somewhat dispelled by a letter we received four days ago from Mr. Miller, dated the 20th of November last, in which he says: ' Bishop Hobart is now in Venice. I received a letter from him three days ago. He is good health and spirits.'
" I have understood it was your wish to have Dr. Jarvis's proof sheets of the Catechism forwarded to you; I have therefore sent them with this.
"The improvements in the neighbourhood of St. John's Chapel and Park, have been wonderful, and will astonish you on your return home. A part, however, will mortify you; it is this; at the north-east corner of the Park, on the block on which Mr. Murray's houses are and corner of Varick-street, there is now going up a Presbyterian meeting-
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Letter from Mr. Ambrosi
1825]
house, intended for Mr. Cox, whose present place of worship is in Spring-street.
"Wishing you the compliments of the season, and that you may shortly return home perfectly restored to health, your family, friends, and the Church, is the sincere prayer of,
" My dear Bishop, "Your obedient humble Servant,
" THOMAS SWORDS.
" RIGHT REV" JOHN H. HOBART."
The Mr. Cox above referred to was the Rev. Samuel Hanson Cox and father of the Poet-Bishop of Western New York.
Mr. Ambrosi, sometime United States Consul at Flor- ence, was of considerable assistance to the Bishop as guide and interpreter. The following letter from him is of interest :
" FLORENCE, 20th Jany 1825.
" SIR
"I had the honour to receive your esteemed favor by Mess's Lenox and Amory, enclosing the Subscription, which you have taken so much pains in procuring for me, in order to testify that the residence of an American Agent, or Consul in Florence would be of essential Service for the Americans travelling in Italy. I give you my sincere thanks for having acted with so warm an interest in my affairs, and be assured I shall never forget the kindness you have shown to me in my Dilemma. I am not without impatience of learning which is the pleasure of the Government of the U. S. in answer to my Letters.
"I have enquired constantly at this post office, and at your Bankers' for your letters, but till now found none.
"I have taken the liberty herein to enclose a letter from the Countess of Survilliers, Joseph Buonaparte's wife, who is at present in Rome, and think that I shall oblige her infinitely by procuring to her the honour of your acquaintance.
"I assure you that it has given me the greatest pleasure to learn that I shall shortly enjoy the happiness of your Company, and you the pleasure of a diverting Journey to Florence. It has given me also great satisfaction to learn by some American friends that your health has considerably improved, and that you have good spirits. I will hope that this Journey to Florence will have a good effect on you.
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