USA > New York > New York City > A history of the parish of Trinity Church in the city of New York, pt 3 > Part 39
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1 P. 7, Sermon.
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Conservatism of Rev. H. U. Onderdonk
1827]
volting and disgusting features of fanaticism, he may not indeed secure the applause, he may not avoid the censure of men ; he may be spoken against by some as an enthusiast, or by others as a formalist ; but he will have 'approved himself to God.'" 1
In thus doing he will be guided to exhibit
" the Church in its divinely constituted ministrations and ordinances as the means and pledge of salvation to the faithful."
Upon this important topic the Bishop says :
" The true workman will uphold the authority of the Church, which extends to 'all matters not settled by divine prescription,' and which come within the 'sphere of the apostolic precepts.'
"He is also 'to explain and defend the particular mode by which our own Church exerts her authority in its legislative, executive and judicial departments.' For it is a distinction in various respects, of the utmost importance, that separates the orders of the ministry which, of divine appointment, are in their nature unchangeable; and the government or the particular mode of the exercise of ecclesiastical authority, which except as to certain divine powers of the ministry, may and does vary in various episcopal churches. It is the theoretic, though unfortunately, through the operations of causes beyond her control, not the practical principle of the revered church to whom we owe our origin, that the assent of all orders affected by her laws, whether of faith, of worship, of discipline, or of polity, should be requisite to their validity. In her constitution, the laity in Parliament, and the Bishops and clergy in convocation, establish her enactments.
" Bodies very discrepant are thus associated ; the one solely ecclesiastical, the other the great omnipotent political legislature of the nation. Our own church carries into effect the same principle in a much wiser mode; calling into her general ecclesiastical council her bishops, her clergy and her laity, with co-ordinate powers of legisla- tion; thus distributing among all the information and the views of each, and banishing, so far as human arrangements can banish, the dele- terious influence of secular passions and secular policy on the church of God.
"In some matters specially pertaining to theology, and in others from their peculiar means of observation, if from no other cause, the opinions of the clergy, and especially of the bishops may deserve 1 Pp. 9, 10, Sermon.
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particular deference. But in all the voice of the laity, who are to be equally affected by ecclesiastical legislation, speaks with equal authority; and in some, the deference, which in other cases, they would yield to the co-ordinate members of the legislative body, ought to be readily paid to their opinions and counsels. For that feature of our constitution, which gives them this co-ordinate power, and from which hitherto the results have, in many cases been most happy, we are not a little indebted to the wisdom and foresight of the venerable father, whose agency was so considerable in the first organization of our church. And I hope I may be permitted to state, as evidence that my own strong attachment to this characteristic of our govern- ment has not been suddenly excited, that at the very commencement of my ministerial course in my own diocese near thirty years since, I resisted a well meant but injudicious attempt to expunge from its constitution the provision which associates the laity with the bishops and clergy, in matters of legislation.
" It is the duty of the Bishop to illustrate 'the accordance in all important points of our ecclesiastical government with the civil constitu- tions of our country.'
" In the permanent official stations of the bishops and clergy in her legislative bodies, our own church resembles all other religious com- munities, whose clergy also are permanent legislators. But in some respects she is more conformed than they are to the organization of our civil governments. Of these it is a characteristic that legisla- tive power is divided between two branches. And, it is a peculiar character of our own church, that her legislative assembly is thus divided. Again, a single responsible executive characterizes our civil constitutions. The same feature marks our own church in the single episcopal executive in each diocese, chosen in the first instance by the clergy and the representatives of the laity. Nor are these the only points in which the bishop of our church may feel pleasure in assert- ing the free and republican constitution of our government. For in our ecclesiastical judicatories only, do the representatives of the laity possess strict co-ordinate authority-the power of voting as a separate body, and of annulling, by a majority of votes, the acts of the Bishops and clergy.
"The circumstances of the times render the frequent exposition of the particular genius of our ecclesiastical government an important and necessary duty. For churchmen and especially high churchmen, (in which term, in our country, there is no meaning, except as denot- : ing a high attachment to the distinguishing principles of our church) are
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441
Sermon by Bishop Hobart
1827]
often misconceived or misrepresented as friendly to arbitrary prin- ciples. It is not so. Identified as our church is, in all essential mat- ters of faith, ministry, and worship with the Church of England, would it be fair, would it be honourable, to impute to the former all the obnoxious secular features of the latter ? And, identified as the church- men and the high churchmen of our country are with England, only in decidedly maintaining the genuine and distinguishing spiritual prin- ciples of their respective churches, it is not fair, it is not honourable to impute to the former the odious political principles and measures which at certain times have distinguished the latter."
The Bishop proceeded from the faith to the worship of the Church, which every Bishop must most sacredly guard. He noted that some who had once derided, now praised the Book of Common Prayer :
" Well does it behoove every friend to this first of human books, and especially of every Bishop, whose province it is especially to guard it, to consider by what methods it is to be secured, the pride and blessing of churchmen now, their pride and blessing to the latest generations."
In addition the Liturgy should not be mutilated, and the objection to its use whether real or feigned should be met by abridging without giving up any of its parts or materially changing their character, and their claim to an inviolable observance.
The preacher then considers the manner in which the Bishop must guard the entrance to the ministry and bar from it all who approach with either worldly or low motives. His words are forcible and might well have been heeded by our Bishops then, and now. In the exer- cise of discipline and in watching over the diocese the Bishop will find work to occupy his most earnest and prayerful attention. Bishop Hobart takes up and dis- cusses at length " some of those popular practices which tend to subvert her instructions and injure the cause of rational and fervent piety."
In this section of the sermon he commends and advises
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the constant use of the forms of the Church in her daily morning and evening prayer, and sincere and daily private prayer and meditation. To one thus rationally pious there will be no need for the social meetings then popular, with their fictitious aids which foster spiritual pride, ambition, and ostentation. The Bishop considers these associations " utterly repugnant to the genius of our Church and to her positive institutions."
Kindred with these were "the popular arts of reviving religion," which are mentioned and discussed to be con- demned, particularly the great abuses and excitement found in the revival meeting. Against this system the true Bishop is to hold forth as the best means for the general advancement of religion the "instrumentality of his own Church " which will lead to a fervent, substantial piety.
In bringing to a close his discourse the Bishop says :
" In illustrating the application of this paramount principle of ac- tion in the Bishop of our church, have I traversed too large a field, and occupied too much of your time ? Or have I touched on topics at which timidity startles, and at which even prudence is alarmed ? But the crisis, at which our church is arrived requires in my humble judg- ment plain speaking, as it demands straightforward, intrepid, decisive action. Gladly would I have shunned a station on this occasion which I clearly foresaw I could not occupy without remarks which could not be more painful for any one to hear than for me to utter. But my right reverend father, whose suggestions I would always wish to make a law, urged; my reverend friend, I thought, would be gratified; the duty thus presented, the church appeared to demand of me. In discharging it, I hope I have not injured her interests nor sullied her honour; I trust I have not provoked, fathers, brethren, people, your censure. There is one who knows that I have sought to approve myself to him." 1
Of the Bishop-elect and his fitness for the work to which he is called he bears strong testimony :
"I speak with the confidence of long and intimate and deep obser- vation; I speak the language of inflexible truth, and not the partial ac-
1 Pp. 31, 32, Sermon.
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443
Sermon by Bishop Hobart
1827]
cents of affection, when I pronounce of the reverend person who at this time is presented for the episcopate, that in no individual has a single view to the dictates of duty, to the approbation of his God more pre- dominating influence than in him."
He then affectionately mentions Bishop White :
" whose long protracted and revered years, whose pure and heavenly character, whose meek, and lowly, and beneficent virtues excited nought but love; one whose eminent patriarchal services have done so much for the church that he has for more than half a century cher- ished; whose piety is as pure as it is lovely and engaging; he has not disarmed that rage of faction which has stretched even him on the rack of moral martyrdom. What an honour to suffer thus associated; what a privilege to enjoy his confidence, his affection, and his counsel."
In closing he says :
" The scenes which have been witnessed in this diocese well might we wish they should forever pass from memory. But duty to God, to his truth, and to his church, forbid. I would indelibly engrave them, and raise aloft the record, an awful beacon, to mark the region of wild uproar and of storms; to warn the friends of genuine piety against those who in her fairest garb, and with her highest professions employ arts that dishonour her name; to admonish churchmen to the latest generation to shun those principles and practices which will inevitably distract, disgrace, degrade their church, and, but that she is founded on the rock of ages, ruin her.
" Yes, could I send my voice into every part of Zion, I would send with it the holy watchword-The Church in her faith, her ministry, her order, her worship, in all her great distinctive principles-Maintain her at all hazards. For amidst the agitations and tumults of errors and enthusiasm, she is the asylum of the wise and the good; amidst the conflicts of heresy and schism, she is the safeguard of the truth as it is . in Jesus, of all that he and his apostles ordained to advance the salva- tion of a lost world. Almighty God, give to us all, the wisdom and the grace to do our duty in the trials and exigencies to which thy church may be called, and thus to approve ourselves to thee, for the sake of him who loved that church and gave himself for it, and now lives to intercede for and to bless it, Christ Jesus the Lord."
This is the fullest exposition the Bishop ever gave of his attitude to the popular religion of the day.
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It was the vindication of himself and those who acted with him, the full and frank expression of the position they held concerning the faith and doctrine of the Church.
The sermon was prepared with great care and is, as it was intended to be by the preacher, a document of more than ordinary value.
Dr. Hobart was not only the first Bishop in America of the modern school of Bishops who take their office seriously, but to him rather than to Samuel Wilberforce . may be more justly applied the term, " the remodeller of the Episcopate." It is only when we contrast Bishop Hobart with his predecessors that the great difference is apparent.
The fearless proclamation of truths now almost uni- versally held, but then novel, provoked a bitter contro- versy. The sermon was published at the request of many who heard it, among them the Hon. Horace Binney ; it excited much comment, favorable and unfavorable.
Dr. Rudd, the editor of The Gospel Messenger, pub- lished at Auburn, New York, reprinted it in full, with this comment :
" It was our intention to have presented our readers with some parts of the Sermon in the form of a review, but on taking it up for this purpose we find so much to admire, and so little that we could possibly pass over without violence to our feelings and judgment that we determined to place the whole in our columns; and as the interest produced by the reading of the discourse would be materially abated by a division of it we have ventured to present it entire. Those of our readers who have seen the Sermon will not, it is hoped and be- lieved regret that it should occupy so large a portion of the Messenger, when they reflect that unless presented in this way it would not be seen by the great majority of our patrons. Any remarks from us upon the merits of the discourse would be superfluous and insipid." 1
Professor Doane, of Washington College, Hartford, Connecticut, afterward the Bishop of New Jersey, editor
1 The Gospel Messenger, Saturday, December 15, 1827, vol. viii., No. 48. The Sermon occupies pp. 189-192 of the same issue.
..
1829]
Criticisms on the Sermon 445
of The Episcopal Watchman, gave a complete review in that periodical, extending through three numbers, in which he inserts many extracts from the sermon. His plan was to make the various divisions of the sermon the basis of a running commentary, sometimes amplifying and explaining the Bishop's positions.
At the commencement of his review, Professor Doane says :
"By all who read this discourse whether they approve of all its sentiments or not, it must be allowed that it is plain, manly and magnanimous. Having conscientiously adopted certain principles as authorized by the word of God, and confirmed by primitive practice and having constantly and diligently, and, we will add, carefully carried them out in his practice, the Right Rev. preacher avails himself of a suitable occasion to advance and vindicate them, in a most full, fearless and eloquent defence. To those who differ from him in sentiments it must be gratifying to have an antagonist who avails himself of no petty sophistry, no faint and feeble and but half assured asseverations, no covert or insidious attack upon character, no unworthy suspicion or unwarrantable condemnation of their mo- tives, but candidly declares his own deliberate convictions, and seeks to substantiate them by the express warrant of God's word, the belief and practice of primitive times, and the recorded wisdom and experi- ence of every age. To us, who after careful and anxious investigation, not without prayer that the Giver of Truth would lead us into all truth, have arrived at the same conclusions, and set ourselves for their asser- tion and extension, it is indeed a matter of pride and pleasure to record our entire and hearty approbation of what the Committee of gentle- men in Philadelphia have so well described as a 'fearless and unan- swerable defence' of the principles of that primitive and apostolic Church, in the bosom of which it has pleased God that our lot should be cast." 1
In closing his review, the editors give the final para- graph of the sermon, already quoted, with this comment :
" Who that has looked around him with instructed eye, will not add with us his hearty Amen to this fervent prayer? Who that has
1 Episcopal Watchman, Hartford, December 3, 1827, vol. i., No. 37, p. 289.
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seen the countless sects and schisms with which our land is perplexed and the truth as it is in Jesus hindered, has not already felt the neces- sity of some bulwark to resist their inroads? Who that descries in the dim, but we fear not distant future, that troubled sea of scepticism and infidelity into which these countless sects and schisms are hasten- ing to be merged, does not anxiously inquire for that ark of safety, in which God's faithful people are to be upborne, amid its waves and storms to the peaceful haven of eternal rest ? To all such the Church opens wide her gates, and bids them enter in, and be at peace. Her evangelic doctrine, her apostolic ministry, her pure and primitive worship, these with the blessed promise of her divine Head and Founder, 'Lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the world,' are her towers of impregnable strength. The Rock of Ages-Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day and forever, is her sure foundation.
" Though the pillars of the earth be shaken, and the fountains of the great deep should again be broken up, she has nothing to fear. God is in the midst of her, therefore shall she not be removed; God will help her, and that right early." 1
Bishop Hobart, while a good citizen of the Republic, and performing all the duties of a lover of his country, had deeply rooted ideas upon the relation which the clergy should bear to civic affairs. Like Bishop White he con- sidered he could best do his work in the community by being untrammelled with allegiance to any of the political parties. He would not thus become obnoxious to any on account of his opinions and could work zealously with all in the futherance of religion and morality. Other clergy- men from as conscientious motives have been firm adher- ants of some political party apparently without any loss of self-respect or deprivation of means of living. The great changes in this land since then, and the perils that threatened the nation's life caused many who previously had stood aloof to determine that the country needed the active service of every citizen, and especially of those who were in any way leaders of men.
1 Episcopal Watchman, Hartford, December 17, 1827, vol. i., No. 39. The re- view is on pp. 289-291, 297-299, 306-308, Nos. 37-39.
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447
Death of Governor Clinton
1828]
This determination of Bishop Hobart deprived him of much pleasant intercourse with public men and dis- tinguished strangers who visited New York. A typical declination is given by his biographer :
"NEW-YORK, Jan. 2, 1828.
" GENTLEMEN,
" Professing a most warm and decided attachment to the republi- can institutions of my country, I have yet always deemed it expedient, considering my particular office and station, never publicly to connect myself with any of the political parties that have divided the nation. I hope you will think that this rule is for me a safe and proper one; and in conformity to it, I must beg your permission to decline the dis- tinction which you so politely offer me of being present at the public dinner on the 8th instant.
" I trust you will believe my assurance, that in thus declining the honour which you intend me, I am not influenced by any want of sensibil- ity to the importance of the event which you design to celebrate; and, least of all, of respect for you, or for the numerous class of citizens whom you represent.
" I have the honour to be, gentlemen, &c.,
" To WM. M. PRICE, Esq. &c &c."
" J. H. HOBART.1
The death of De Witt Clinton in February, 1828, caused wide-spread lamentation throughout the State. He had been Mayor of New York, Governor of the State, Senator of the United States, and had brought to its final com- pletion the Erie Canal, of which he was one of the projectors. A patron of the arts and sciences, a promoter of education, and an accomplished scholar, few men deserved more from the survivors, on their departure from the public stage.
It was proper that the city where he made his home should do honor to him. The Common Council took the
1 Berrian's Memoir, p. 376.
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History of Trinity Church
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action which the Clerk, General Morton, thus communi- cates to Bishop Hobart :
"In C. Council, 16 Feby 1828:
" Resolved, That the Reverend the Clergy of this City be respect- fully requested in the name of the Common Council to notice in an appropriate and solemn manner in their respective churches to-morrow, the deep bereavement sustained by our common Country by the death of our Chief Magistrate and fellow Citizen, De Witt Clinton.
" By the Com. Council, " J. MORTON, " Clerk."
A letter of Dr. Feltus, Rector of St. Stephen's Church, shows the strong feeling awakened by the death of Governor Clinton. It was written before the Bishop published his answer to General Morton's note.
" Friday evg. 15, 1828.
"MY DEAR BISHOP,
"Permit me to suggest in private confidence to you whether it would not contribute much usefulness should you think proper publickly by the papers (say, on the morrow) to call your clergy together on Monday for the purpose of adopting measures to express our deep regret for the Loss of that great statesman and scholar, Gov. Clinton. In my opinion the nation has lost no such man since the Death of Washington.
" Such a measure coming from you, directing your clergy to this object in their churches on Sunday week, will secure to you an honour which I think your own, but which may be claimed or directed from some other quarter.
" Affecty yrs. . " H. J. FELTUS.
" I have been out all day and have just come from preparatory services in the Church or I would have sent this earlier."
If there was a case in which the strict rules of clerical propriety which Bishop Hobart adopted might be relaxed it was this. But in the face of opposition in the Parish and the city, he proceeded to give his reasons for his re-
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Attitude of Bishop Hobart
1828]
fusal to take any cognizance of the request, in the follow- ing letter :
" SIR,
"I have this day received from the Clerk of the Corporation of the City a copy of a resolution of the Common Council, in which ' the Reverend the Clergy of the City are respectfully requested to notice, in an appropriate and solemn manner, in their respective churches to-morrow, the deep bereavement sustained by our common country, by the death of our chief magistrate and fellow citizen, De Witt Clinton.'
"As I feel myself under the necessity of declining to comply with this request in Trinity Church and at St. Paul's and St. John's Chapels, of which I have the parochial charge, I hope you will permit me in order to prevent misconception to state the reasons which have influenced me in this determination.
" The prostitution of religion to the purposes of secular policy has produced the greatest mischiefs ; and I conceive that the studious separation of the Church from the State, which characterizes our re- publican constitution, is designed to prevent religion and its ministers from being made subservient to the views of those who from time to time may administer public affairs. But if the civil or municipal au- thority may desire the clergy ' to notice, in an appropriate and solemn manner,' the death of the chief magistrate of a State, the request may be extended to every distinguished citizen who has filled a public office ; and thus the ministrations of the clergy may be made to advance the influence of political men and political measures-an evil from which, in the old world, the most unhappy effects have resulted, and against which in this country we should most sedulously guard.
" The character of the individual, too, whose memory is to receive these high religious honours may not render him worthy of this sacred distinction ; or in seasons of great political excitement he may be as obnoxious to one portion of the community as he is the idol of an- other ; and thus the clergy who should be devoted to the exercise of their spiritual functions, may be drawn into the ranks of party, and suffer in its rude conflicts. In almost every case from the varying opinions of the relative merits of public men, the ministers of re- ligion, in the capacity of eulogists, may as much fall short of the ar- dent expectations of some, as they may exceed the more sober estimate of others. There is no view of this matter which does not in my judg- ment present serious objections to a compliance with the request of the Corporation.
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" As far as my private feelings are concerned, it would be most grateful to me to bear my public testimony to the eminent talents, the civil services, and the private virtues of the lamented chief magistrate of the State-and, most certainly, great deference is due to a request of the functionaries of the city in which I am a minister ; but para- mount considerations of duty will prevent my compliance with a re- quest which in the principle that it involves, and in the precedent which it will establish, appears to me of dangerous tendency, in regard to the spirit of our free constitutions, and to the interests of religion, and the character and influence of its ministers.
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