USA > New York > New York City > A history of the parish of Trinity Church in the city of New York, pt 3 > Part 38
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On the 30th of October, it was ordered that
" the two small chandeliers formerly in use at St. Paul's Chapel be pre- sented as a donation to the Vestry of St. Paul's Church in the Village of Buffaloe." ?
Resolutions reorganizing the First Protestant Epis- copal Charity School were submitted, which after con- sideration were adopted, and it was agreed to incorporate the new school,
" The present school to be converted into a school or academy for instruction in all the principal branches of English education and also in classical learning under the name of the New York Protestant Episcopal Public School." 3
On the same date an application
" for further aid by the Vestry of St. Philip's Church in the City of New York having been read and considered it was resolved that this Vestry assume the payment of the rent of the land occupied by St. Philip's Church for the further term of seven years to be computed from the expiration of the former engagement.
"That so much of the said application as solicits the aid of the Vestry in obtaining possession of the African burial ground on Christie Street be referred to the Comptroller, the Clerk and Mr. Lorrillard with power to act thereon." 4
On the same date the reading-desk and pulpit lately removed from St. John's Chapel were given to All Saints' Church, Corlaer's Hook.5
1 Records, liber iii., folio 6. 2 Ibid., folio II. 3 Ibid., folio 12. 5 Ibid.
4 Ibid., folio 13.
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Diocesan Duties
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February 12, 1827, grants of $600 per annum were made to each of the following churches : St. Thomas', Christ Church on Anthony Street, and Christ Church on Ann Street. A grant of $330 was also made to St. Philip's Church, this to be in addition to the ground rent already assumed for them by the Corporation. The
"Committee to whom was referred the application of St. Philip's Church made a report recommending that this Vestry unite with that of St. Philip's in a further application to the city Corporation for a conveyance to the Corporation of St. Philip's Church of the legal title in the two lots of ground on Christie Street now used as a cemetery for the Interment of people of Colour, and if such application should fail, in a petition to the Legislature for an act authorizing such conveyance." 1
May 21, the Standing Committee was authorized
"to procure a new bell for St. Paul's Chapel and that the same Com- mittee cause a new fence to be erected on the front line of Trinity Church Yard, the said fence to be constructed of iron railings and a suitable stone base." ?
The early portion of 1826 was spent by the Bishop in his parochial duties and visitations throughout the Dio- cese. The parishes in New York City, Westchester and Dutchess Counties were visited in May and June. Large numbers were confirmed, the class in St. Philip's Church for colored persons having one hundred and thirteen members.
On the 15th of June he commenced a northern and western visitation, which included New Hartford, Utica, Rome, Oneida Castle, where Eleazar Williams was made Deacon ; Trenton Falls, where the church was consecrated ; Turin, Brownsville, Sackett's Harbor, and Morristown, giving also a portion of a day to Brockville, Canada, at the request of the Rector ; Ogdensburgh,
1 Records, liber iii., folio 13.
" Ibid., folio 18.
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where the church was consecrated; Waddington, Platts- burgh, Ticonderoga, Greenville, Hampton, and Sandy Hill. This tour of nearly a thousand miles occupied three weeks.
In August he commenced a new round of visitations. At the repeated solicitation of the Bishop of the Eastern Diocese, Dr. Griswold, and Professor Alonzo Potter, Bishop Hobart went to Boston in August. On Sunday the twenty-seventh he preached in the morning at St. Paul's Church, in the afternoon at Trinity, and in the evening at Christ Church. On Monday he preached at Salem, and on Tuesday, August 29th, preached the ser- mon at the institution of the Rev. Mr. Potter as Rector of St. Paul's Church. The Bishop was most cordially re- ceived, and he experienced, as he records, the highest gratification from his visit. .... In his own carriage, with a pair of stout, fleet horses, he left Boston, September Ist, to journey over the Green Mountains, although freshets had made some of the roads almost impassable. The two hundred miles to Little Falls was accomplished in two days, for on Sunday he officiated at that town.
New Hartford, Manlius, Jamesville, Onondaga, Penn Yan, Auburn, Ithaca, Moravia, Geneseo, Batavia, Buffalo, Mayville, Rochester, were among the towns in the " western district " visited in a three weeks' journey in which he consecrated five churches, confirmed five hundred and ninety-six persons, ordained one priest, and had travelled in the course of his visitation nearly two thousand miles ; the whole number of miles during the year was nearly four thousand.
July 9th the Vestry showed their usual large-hearted generosity in giving their Rector a donation of $2000,
" In consideration of the great expenditures to which he had been subjected in the Episcopal office." 1
1 Records, liber iii., folio 21.
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Resignation of Mr. Harison 429
July 30th, grants were made to All Saints' Church, St. Luke's Church, and St. Mary's Church, Manhattanville.1
The work of the Bishop during the early days of 1827 was both varied and unceasing. In addition to ordinary parochial duty much of the administration of the great trust of the Corporation was in the hands of the Rector. As Bishop he also was carefully watching over the various societies which he had founded, taking a part in all the general discussions of Church life and progress, and con- templating new measures for making them more effective agencies for the work which needed to be done. The most important parochial event was the retirement from active duty of the first Comptroller of the Parish, Mr. Richard Harison.
The faithful service of Mr. Harison as Comptroller during a long series of years had been of great benefit to the Parish. But with advancing age he found himself unequal to the duties of the office, and on May 22, 1827, sent to the Vestry this letter of resignation.
"TO THE VESTRY OF TRINITY CHURCH, IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK :-
" GENTLEMEN:
" I have for some time past had it under consideration, whether I ought not to resign my place as one of your body, and the office which for a number of years, I have held by its appointment and its pleasure.
"A variety of reasons, which it would be useless to specify, have hitherto, and perhaps too long, deferred my determining this question. It was natural, if not strictly proper to delay taking so definitive a measure, until it could be ascertained whether the infirmities by which I have been visited were of a nature so continued as to exclude the prospect of their entire removal, or of such an abatement that I might be enabled to continue my official duties with advantage to the Church, and without material injury to myself.
' Records, liber iii., folio 22.
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" The experiment has, I think, now been fairly tried; and from my advanced age and increasing debility, I have no reason to conclude that any favourable change is to be expected. I must, therefore, beg leave, most respectfully, to resign my place of Church Warden and the office of Comptroller; the resignation to take place at once, unless the Vestry shall prefer it should not do so before the 20th of next month, to give time for the appointment of my successor, and the delivery of the Church papers into his hands.
" It must be obvious to every reflecting mind, that a dissolution of the confidential and intimate connection which has lasted for half a century or upwards with your respectable Body, and been cemented by mutual good offices and regard, cannot fail to be attended by sensations of a painful nature. Undoubtedly I feel them with due sensibility but I hope that I may be permitted (without incurring the imputation of arrogance and vanity) now to say, when taking my leave of you, that I have the consolation derived from a consciousness which I carry with me, that during all that time, I have served the Church with undeviating fidelity and done every thing in my power, according to the best of my abilities, to promote its true interests, without suffering any private advantage or views of my own, or any undue partialities, to interfere with that great object in any particular whatsoever.
" I must now, Gentlemen, beg leave to offer my sincere thanks to the Vestry, for the very important offices and stations which, without any solicitation on my part, they have at different times conferred upon me, and for the great candour with which they have treated me upon all occasions. I have only to add that with the warmest attachment for your Body, and due respect for each of them, I am and shall remain, Gentlemen,
"Your obliged and obedient servant, " R. HARISON. "NEW-YORK, 22d May, 1827."
" Which communication was referred to Messrs. Rogers, McEvers, T. L. Ogden, Underhill, Laight, McFarlan, and Weeks, to consider and report what proceedings may be proper on the part of the Vestry in consequence therefore, and also whether, and if any, what farther arrangements may be expedient in relation to the office of Comp- troller."
The above report in connection with Mr. Harison's
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William Johnson Elected Comptroller
1827]
letter of resignation being first taken into consideration, the following resolutions were adopted :
" Resolved, That this Vestry, deeply lamenting the existence of those infirmities which have induced Mr. Harison to resign the office of Church Warden and Comptroller, do accept his resignation of those offices, to take effect from the 20th of this month.
" Resolved, That the members of this Vestry entertain a high sense of the zeal and fidelity with which Mr. Harison has discharged the duties of the several stations which during his connection with the Vestry, he has occupied by its appointment; and that they are also deeply sensible of the great value of the services rendered by him to this Corporation, during a long course of years he has sustained each.
" Resolved, That the Clerk be requested to furnish a copy of these resolutions to Mr. Harison, and in behalf of the individual members of the Vestry, to reciprocate all expressions of affectionate regard and attachment contained in his letter of resignation, and to assure him of their unceasing interest in his welfare and happiness." 1
Mr. William Johnson was then chosen Comptroller and entered at once upon his duties.
In March the Bishop visited several parishes in Albany and Northern New York, consecrating St. John's Church at Stillwater.
After the ordination to the diaconate of five graduates of the Seminary, June 3d, the consecration of St. John's Church, Brooklyn, and the admission of Horatio Potter to the diaconate in Christ Church, Poughkeepsie, he re- mained at the delightful retreat at Springfield until the end of July.
It had been his purpose ever since the removal of the Oneida Indians to visit them in their new home at Green Bay, Wisconsin Territory. He left New York with the expectation of reaching that distant point toward the close of the Summer. He ordained at Hyde Park the Rector
1 Records, liber iii., folios 18, 19.
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of the Parish, the Rev. Samuel Roosevelt Johnson, to the priesthood on Wednesday, August Ist.
Proceeding rapidly westward he consecrated, at Le Roy, Genesee County, a new stone church for St. Mark's Parish on Sunday, August 5th.
Upon Tuesday, August 7th, he embarked upon Lake Erie for Green Bay. It was his intention to visit Detroit, Mich., on the way. In that old town, where the services of the Church had been held intermittingly from the close of the Revolution, the Rev. Richard F. Cadle had been able to strengthen his congregation, until by his earnest diligence a church was to be built. The Bishop of New York was to lay the corner-stone while the steamer for Green Bay was waiting at Detroit. It was a day long looked forward to. On his arrival the Bishop was greeted by Mr. Cadle and the Vestry as well as the principal citizens of the town.
On Friday, August 10th, a procession formed at the ancient Council House, and marched to the site of the church. It is traditional that a lodge of Free Masons, in their full regalia, was to make a part of the long line, and offer its assistance in laying the corner-stone. The Bishop in his most incisive and decided manner said : " We have come to lay the corner-stone of a Christian Church not a heathen temple. Such trappings are not befitting the occasion."
The lodge withdrew and many of its members appeared afterward at the church site in ordinary dress.
The Bishop had been accompanied from Buffalo by the Rev. Francis H. Cuming, of St. Luke's, Rochester, and the Rev. Gershom Bulkley, of Manlius, Onondaga County, who with Mr. Cadle and the Bishop were in the pro- cession. Upon arriving at the site of St. Paul's Church Bishop Hobart made the address, which was published in
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the Michigan Herald and reprinted in the Christian Journal of September, 1827.
" The present scene must be peculiarly interesting to those who expect to be the future worshippers in the sanctuary which is here to be erected, for they behold, in its auspicious commencement, the pledge of the consummation of hopes ardently, but hitherto vainly cherished. They now look forward with lively anticipation, to enjoying in a con- secrated place of the Most High, ' the means of grace and the hope of glory,' according to the evangelical doctrines, apostolic ministry and primitive, rational, and edifying services of that church which possesses the strongest claims on their confidence and affection. May their hopes be realized in the completion of a building which shall be an ornament to this interesting town, and a memorial of their pious liber- ality and zeal. The present event will not be unworthy of remem- brance. The corner stone will be laid of a Protestant Episcopal Church the first erected in this territory, which, as in other parts of our flourishing country, will ere long exchange its forests for cultivated fields, and the solitude of its wilds for the bustle of busy towns, and the hymns of temples in which are celebrated the praises of the most high."
He then laid the stone in the name of the Ever Blessed Trinity. It is probable that the service was that known as the New York Service, which was compiled by Bishop Hobart. It will be found in the old edition of the Clergyman's Vade Mecum. An address of much force was then made by Mr. Cadle.1
This event, full of promise for the Church in Michi- gan, made a deep impression upon all present. On Sunday, the Bishop confirmed eleven persons, and in the afternoon preached at Sandwich, opposite Detroit, on the Canadian side, where the Rt. Rev. and Rt. Hon. Dr. Stewart, of Quebec was then making a visitation.
Bishop Hobart reluctantly turned his steps homeward from Detroit, because, as he said, "it was exceedingly doubtful whether I could accomplish the journey con-
1 See pp. 284, 285, The Christian Journal, September, 1827. VOL. III .-- 28.
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sistently with my duties in my Diocese," I and, to the disappointment of the faithful Indians, never visited Green Bay.
The Bishop returned by way of Sandusky, Ohio, and travelled thence along the shores of Lake Erie, through Ohio and Pennsylvania, reaching New York toward the last of August.
In September, he was daily preaching and confirm- ing in Orange, Greene, Albany, Delaware, Otsego, Broome, Onondaga, Madison, Schenectady, Montgomery, and Saratoga counties, where the classes were large, and where he consecrated the churches at Greenville, Wal- den, Bainbridge, and Syracuse. Only seven hundred per- sons were confirmed during the year, but as the Bishop had confirmed nineteen hundred and forty in the previous year, it shows a fair measure of growth.
1 Bp. Hobart's address is on p. 15, Journal, Diocese of New York, 1827.
CHAPTER XV.
BISHOP HOBART AND PUBLIC MATTERS.
Diocesan Convention of 1827-The Bishop's Charge-Alterations Proposed by Gen- eral Convention in the Prayer Book Considered-Reasons Given in Detail for the Changes Proposed-Consecration of Henry U. Onderdonk as Assistant Bishop of Penn- sylvania-Sermon by Bishop Hobart-Position of the Church Defined-Its Faith- Its Worship-Its Discipline-Sermon Published-Controversy Aroused-Comments by Professor Doane-Attitude of Dr. Hobart to Politics-Declines Attending Public Dinners-Death of De Witt Clinton-The Bishop Requested by the Common Council to Notice the Occasion in the Churches in Trinity Parish-Is Urged to do so by Dr. Feltus-He Declines-And Gives Reasons Therefor-His Attitude Followed by his Successor in 1837 and 1852-Generosity of Vestry to the Rev. Benjamin T. Onder- donk-Aid to Mr. Berrian-House Rent Granted to Assistant Minister-Further Donation Made to the Rector-Grant Made to Church of the Ascension-And to St. Stephen's Church-Legacy from John G. Leake for the Protestant Episcopal Public School-Repairs to Trinity Church Ordered.
T HE Bishop met the clergy at the annual Convention in Trinity Church, on Tuesday, October 16, 1827. After detailing his Episcopal Acts, he gave a large portion of his Address to a consideration and explanation of the changes he had proposed in the General Convention of 1826, in the rendering of the service of the Church.
In view of the prolonged discussion in recent years on the revised Prayer Book, and the action taken by the Church, the opinions of Bishop Hobart on the changes proposed in 1826 are of great interest.
"Certain resolutions of the last General Convention, on the sub- ject of the Liturgy, will be laid before you. The Article of the General Constitution of our Church requiring all alterations in the
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Liturgy to be proposed at one General Convention, and finally acted on at a subsequent General Convention, is admirably calculated to secure our invaluable Liturgy from hasty and injudicious alterations. There is no necessity, however, that the Diocesan Convention should act upon these alterations. And my own opinion is, that the most proper place for their discussion is in the General Convention, which alone can definitely determine concerning them. It is proper, how- ever, that you should receive all information which I can afford, of the nature and the reasons of these proposed alterations, not only from the great importance of every measure which involves, in any degree, that Liturgy, so deservedly and devotedly cherished as the distinguishing excellence of our Church, and the great safe-guard of rational and primitive religion, but especially from the misapprehen- sions which exist upon this subject.
"What are the alterations proposed ? on this subject I would adopt the language of a Right Rev. Brother, and say, that strictly speaking, there are no alterations of the Liturgy contemplated; that is, there are to be no omissions of any part of the Liturgy, nor a different arrangement of them. As a whole, the Liturgy remains as it now is. There is no omission, or alteration, or different arrangement of the Prayers of the Morning and Evening Service; they are to remain as they now are. The alterations respect merely the Psalms, and the Lessons, and the proportion of them to be read. At present, the Psalms for the day or one of the Selections, must be used. It is pro- posed, that the Minister may be allowed, not compelled, to take, instead of the Psalms for the day, or one of the Selections, any one of the Psalms, which may be said or sung. At present, he is compelled to read for Sundays, for holy days, and for all other days, the Lessons from Holy Scripture, as prescribed in the Calendar. It is proposed, that, still confined on Sundays and holy days to the prescribed Lessons, he may, at his discretion, read a part, not less than 15 verses, instead of the whole; and on other days, when there is not daily service, he may, at his discretion, select other Lessons from Scripture than those prescribed.
"At present, according to the construction which some Clergymen (in my judgment most erroneously) put upon a rubric at the end of the Communion Service, they conceive themselves at liberty to omit using the Ten Commandments, Collect, Epistle, and Gospel which are usually denominated the Ante-Communion Service. It is proposed that the rubric be so altered as to preclude all cavill, and to render the use of the Ante-Communion Service imperative. These are all the
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alterations proposed in the usual Morning and Evening Service. And hence you will perceive how erroneous are the notions which, to a cer- tain extent, have prevailed, that the Lessons for Sundays and holy days are left entirely to the discretion of the Minister, and that the Liturgy is to be mutilated as to its parts, or altered in its admirable Prayers and Collects. These remain as at present. On Sundays and holy days the Lessons, as now prescribed, are to be used ; the discretion applies only to the proportion of each Lesson.
" In the Confirmation Office, it is proposed not to substitute another preface and another prayer, instead of those now used, but to allow the Bishop, at his discretion, to use another preface and another prayer, retaining all the substantial parts of the former.
"These are all the alterations proposed. The next inquiry is, What good object is contemplated by these proposed alterations ? The answer is, The abbreviation of the Liturgy by law, so as to re- move all reason for abbreviating it contrary to law-the admitting, in certain cases, of more appropriate Lessons-the securing the use of the Ten Commandments, Collect, Epistle, and Gospel-and the rendering the preface to the Confirmation Service more full and more adapted to the state of things in this country ; and the preventing of misunderstanding as to certain expressions in one of the prayers in this office."
Soon after the Convention, Bishop Hobart went to Philadelphia to take part in the consecration of the Rev. Dr. Henry U. Onderdonk as Assistant Bishop of Penn- sylvania. This election was the happy termination of a struggle in which party strife and debate had long delayed the relief necessary for the aged Bishop of that Diocese.
The service was held in Christ Church, Philadelphia, October 25, 1827. The Bishops present were, Dr. White, of Pennsylvania ; Dr. Hobart, of New York; Dr. Kemp, of Maryland ; Dr. Croes, of New Jersey, and Dr. Bowen, of South Carolina.
The sermon was preached by Bishop Hobart, who took for his theme, "The Christian Bishop approving himself unto God." His text was, "Study to show thyself ap- proved unto God" (II Timothy, ii, 15).
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In his introduction he shows that no other principle can secure for mankind effectual resistance to
"the seductions and assaults that would lure and force us from duty · but that which habitually and deeply recognises the authority of a supreme law-giver, the tribunal of an Almighty Judge ; and which acknowledges in that authority the highest claim and motive to obedi- ence, and anticipates from that tribunal the final plaudit of eternal re- ward. If ordinary Christians must ever keep in mind this principle, much more is it incumbent upon a Christian Bishop ; for in the wide- spread branches of the Church Catholic, under all their varying cir- cumstances, whether of splendor or of gloom, of elevation or of depression, of tumult or of calm, to show themselves approved unto their divine Lord and Master is the only correct and safe aim of those whom he has called to serve him in the highest stations of his Church militant . Through a course of Episcopal duty almost equal- ling the whole amount of the periods of his sons in the Episcopacy, how conspicuously and pre-eminently has this principle distinguished him who presides among us, our venerable father." 1
It is then to be commended to the preacher's
"long known and deeply valued friend, whom we are soon to receive among us as a brother in the Episcopacy."
In carrying it out in his future work, he is first to preach the distinguishing doctrines of the Gospel. The Bishop then alludes to the charge brought against the Church that these doctrines are often neglected by at least a portion of the Bishops and Clergy. But the Bishops must avoid two extremes, a "miscalled liberal and ra- tional Christianity" and the exaltation of the so-called "doctrines of grace."
" Presenting the fundamental doctrines of original corruption, of divine atonement, of spiritual renovation in the genuine aspects in which fact and inspiration exhibit them, not accommodated to that pride of reason which would entirely destroy their lineaments, nor to that false and extravagant zeal which would distort them by the re-
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