USA > New York > New York City > A history of the parish of Trinity Church in the city of New York, pt 3 > Part 4
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" Tell Hobart I shall not believe he remembers me unless he writes to me. You may, however, give my love to him, and especially to Mrs. Hobart. Let us endeavour, my dear How, to make our cor- respondence less irregular, and while we complain of the selfishness of mankind, contribute by our letters to atone for it.
" Farewell, my dear How ; remember me to Mrs. Hobart. Kiss my little goddaughter for me, and believe me yet among the tenderest and most faithful of your friends.
" CHARLES F. MERCER."
Dr. McVickar proceeds :
"The mention of this 'manly eloquence' recalls to recollection, that to its identical display in youth, Mr. How had become indebted for the peculiar patronage, which he for several years enjoyed, of one of the greatest men of our age and country, himself the model of the purest eloquence, Alexander Hamilton. The circumstance was as follows: About the year 1800, when political disputes ran high in the city of New York, and public meetings were marked by great excite-
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How's Early Career
1819]
ment, General Hamilton was one evening on a public call of that sort, in which he addressed the assembled multitude with more than his usual ability, but not his usual success, for the popular tide was begin- ning to turn, or rather was already running strong against the Federal party.
"At this moment, a young man, whom none knew, arose to address the assembly. His voice had that depth of tone which immediately arrests the attention; his figure for a youth was commanding, his manner grave, his words slow and weighty, and his reasoning clear, close, and logical. He spoke well and boldly, though on the failing side. When he had concluded, amid many applauding inquiries who he was, and where he came from, he retired.
"The next day, General Hamilton took pains to discover his nameless young advocate; traced him out, introduced himself to him, and, finding him recently from college, received him as a law student into his office, and procured for him, shortly after, an honourable though nominal rank in the army."
In 1799 Mr. How was admitted to practise before the Supreme Court of New Jersey. General Hamilton, when war with France was imminent, selected Mr. How as his Military Secretary, and took him as his travelling com- panion in a tour of New England. For a short time Mr. How resided at Brownsville, N. Y., from which place he removed to Albany in 1805. Notwithstanding the adop- tion of the legal profession, it is evident from letters from Hobart and others that How's inclinations were toward the sacred ministry.
Hobart writes to him in 1803 :
"NEW YORK, July 9, 1803.
"How can my dear Tom suppose that I am not interested in his letters. I cannot express to you the high pleasure I feel at the in- creasing power which religion appears to obtain over your mind, and at the satisfaction you receive from your theological studies.
"This satisfaction will increase the further you advance in them ; and should you be led to devote yourself to the noblest office, the dis- penser of salvation from God to a guilty world, with the most exalted
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- History of Trinity Church [1816-
emotions I could press you to my bosom as a brother by the most sa- cred and endearing ties.
" The study of theology possesses an advantage which no other study does, of at once strengthening and expanding the mind, and elevating the heart by the most exalted dispositions and hopes.
"At any time a person of your talents could be of inestimable service in this profession. But in the present degenerate age, in the present loose state of principles and morals in our country, in the present state of the Episcopal Church, I should consider your entering on the ministry as a presage of incalculable good. My apprehensions are that with the removal of those afflictions, which, from their fruits hitherto you should consider your greatest blessings, your present pious desires and views will be chilled by the corrupting influence of worldly manners.
"I trust, however, that you deeply feel that religion in its vital power and hopes is truly the one thing needful, and next to my own prayer to God for you, I must entreat you to cherish with Sacred so- licitude your pious impressions, and to hold that habitual intercourse with God that will prove your only safeguard.
"In anything and in everything that does not expose my minister- ial character to suspicion or censure, my dear Tom may always com- mand me. My duty there, however, is paramount to all others.
" I have received letters from Mercer. He had returned to Lon- don enamoured with Paris, at least with many of the people there. He does not appear to love the English.
" Mrs. Hobart is well, and sends her affectionate remembrance.
"Your ever affectionate,
" J. H. HOBART."
And in a letter dated May 1, 1805, Hobart says:
"Theological truth, supreme and everlasting in importance and duration, still, I trust, engages a principal share of your attention.
" When you left me, you had already explored its evidences and nature, and had seated it, I believe, in your heart as your guide, your safeguard, and consolation. How admirably calculated is my dear friend to disseminate its truth among mankind ; to arouse them by its fearful denunciations, and to soothe them by its melting persuasives. Struggle, my beloved friend, against that propensity to melancholy which, like a worm, is fatally gnawing away the vitals of your peace.
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How and Hobart
1819]
Providence, I trust, designs you in this degenerate day, for some great purpose."
Again, under date of December 16, 1807, Hobart writes:
" MY DEAR HOW :
"Next to the pleasure of hearing from you is the satisfaction I feel at knowing that you are employed in defending, in this day of ' error and rebuke,' the cause of our excellent Church. Still more ex- alted is the joy which swells my bosom at the prospect of your being called to proclaim the doctrines of that Church, not from the porch but from the sanctuary itself. Yes, I can scarcely express the grati- tude I feel to a gracious God, Who has disposed your heart to enter on His sacred service, and for so ordering events that I have a pros- pect of being united to the companion and friend of my earliest years in the duties of one sanctuary and one altar. Oh! let our ardent prayers ascend to Him to prosper and consummate these exalted prospects.
" The public expectation, my dear Tom, beats high in respect to you ; I hear from every mouth the enquiry, When will Mr. How take orders ? The Vestry, in particular, are much interested in the subject. Mr. Harison appears highly pleased at the prospect of having you here. We have no idea here that there will be war ; nor is there the most distant change in the arrangement of Church matters, in conse- quence of the rumours on the subject. The Church will be completed in the course of two or three months, so that it is advisable you should be here some time in January or February. It would be best, on many accounts, that you should be here some time before your ordina- tion ; your studies and thoughts, in the meantime, will be directed to the study of theology in general, and to the preparing of sermons. Of your knowledge on this subject you need be in no doubt ; still it would be best for you to revise Paley's Evidences, Stackhouse's Body of Di- vinity, and other books that may refresh your memory. In the time that you spend here you can brush up enough Latin and Greek to pass. In fact, we have all of us such ideas of the PROWESS of Mr. How, that we shall be afraid to press him too closely.
"Oh ! my long and much-loved friend, how happy and how useful shall we be together. Let us pray for one another, let us pray that
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History of Trinity Church
[1816-
God will make us a blessing to His Church, and preserve us evermore by His Holy Spirit.
" Mrs. Hobart joins in love to Mrs. How, with
"Your ever affectionate,
" J. H. HOBART."
During his residence at Albany, How renewed his acquaintance with his old college friend, Frederic Beas- ley, who was then Rector of St. Peter's Church. In the controversy between Hobart and Dr. Linn and Dr. Mason, which has been already alluded to in this history, Mr. How took no small share. It is to that controversy that Hobart alludes in the following letter :
" NEW YORK, October 14, 1807. " MY DEAR HOW :
" I rejoice to hear that you are going on with your answer to Dr. M.'s book. It requires animadversion. I send you Chandler's Appeals -- and Slater's Original Draught, which contain an answer to almost all M.'s arguments. Mr. Seward takes charge of them.
" Dr. M. magnifies the number of Bishops. But in the primitive age the dioceses were small, comprehending, generally, only a city, or principal village, with the adjacent country and villages, in which, however, there were several clergy and congregations. The extent of a diocese is not an essential point in Episcopacy, as you know, accord- ing to what Jerome says : 'Wherever a Bishop is, whether at Rome or at Engubium, &c., they are all equal.' When general councils, comprehending extensive provinces, were held, it is not to be wondered at that there should be so many Bishops.
" The subject of your ordination has been mentioned in the Ves- try, they are all pleased at it, and their expectations beat high concern- ing you. You will, therefore, direct your attention to the preparatory studies. Make yourself well master of Stackhouse's Body of Divinity. Your reading, however, is already so accurate and extensive in the- ology, that you need not be under the smallest anxiety on that subject. " May God bless you, my dear friend. I trust, in His holy Provi- dence, He designs you for distinguished usefulness to His Church. Offer up your prayers for me. You have always the ardent prayers of "Your devoted friend,
"J. H. HOBART." 1
1 McVickar's Professional Years, p. 276.
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How Appointed Assistant
1819]
The work alluded to by Dr. Hobart is the Letters on the Episcopacy by Dr. Miller.
On the 15th of June, 1808, How was ordained to the Diaconate by Bishop Moore, and to the Priesthood by the same Bishop on the 5th of August of the same year.
After the consecration of Grace Church, on St. Thomas's Day, 1808, Mr. How was placed in charge of it until the Parish was fully organized, when the Rev. Nathaniel Bowen, of Charleston, South Carolina, was elected and instituted, Tuesday, August 8, 1809, as its Rector.1
Mr. How was then assigned to Trinity Church, as we have already seen. It must have been a source of grati- fication to Dr. Hobart to have his familiar friend so closely and intimately connected with him in his daily duties.
The nomination to priority of honor and duty in the Parish, noted in the beginning of this chapter, shows not only the strength of Dr. Hobart's friendship for How, but the estimate he had of his abilities. It is quite evident from the remarks of Dr. McVickar and Dr. Ber- rian that he was a man not only of unusual ability, but also of a winning personality. Dr. Berrian, who knew him intimately and had been associated with him in his work in Trinity Parish, thus speaks of him :
" He was an accomplished scholar, a sound divine, and a clear and forcible reasoner. He, therefore, rose rapidly in his profession, re- ceived the degree of Doctor of Divinity, as one who had earned the honour by his masterly management of the controversies in which he was engaged ; and in 1816, he was elected Assistant Rector of Trinity Church.
" But Dr. How did not merely succeed as an able polemic, but was equally admired as an eloquent preacher. He was a man of noble mien, of piercing eye, and commanding presence. His voice was clear and powerful, his elocution admirable, and almost perfect, his gesture natural and impressive, and his sermons were the ripe fruit of a well
1 The Churchman's Magazine, vi., 1809, p. 300.
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History of Trinity Church
[1816-
cultivated mind, on which he bestowed the greatest labour, and the whole force of his intellect." 1
Suddenly, as a bolt from the sky, there came to his friends and admirers the certainty that he had so tres- passed that no other course was open to his Bishop than to degrade him from the ministry. At the Diocesan Convention of 1818 the Bishop announced his decision to discharge the painful duty without delay .?
The amazement of his friends at his lapse is well ex- pressed by Dr. McVickar, who, in his Professional Years of Bishop Hobart, says :
" Far be it from him who now records his humiliating fall to dwell one moment beyond the needful moral, on this sad tale of human in- firmity. From such a height did he fall, and so low, that, when first known, the instinctive exclamation of every heart was : 'Lord, lead me not into temptation, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.'" 3
Dr. Berrian bears similar testimony :
"Alas! why dwell on his eminent gifts, his extensive acquire- ments, his commanding eloquence, his widespread fame. In the full career of usefulness and honour, this great man fell wringing the hearts of his friends with anguish, and filling the minds of all good men with astonishment and grief. But though we can never cease to lament the dishonour which was brought on the Church which he had before so successfully defended, and, for a short time, at least, so greatly adorned, it will be to many a gratification to learn that in the neigh- bourhood where he lives, and where he was best known in his earlier days, he has regained, in his old age, the respect which he had lost, and he now leads a devout and exemplary life." '
1 Berrian's Historical Sketch, p. 227.
' Among the Hobart MSS. is a draft, in the Bishop's handwriting dated March 26, 1818, of the sentence of deposition.
3 P. 476.
'Berrian's Historical Sketch, p. 227. The allusion is to Brownsville, N. Y., where he practised law before his settlement in Albany, and where he resided after his suspension from the ministry until his death in 1855.
J
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How Deposed
1819]
The most touching tribute to the memory of bygone days is that from the pen of Dr. Hobart, who, shortly after his action as Bishop in suspending Dr. How from the sacred ministry, yet writes this warm, loving letter to him :
" NEW YORK, March 17, 1819.
"Scarcely a day passes, my dear How, in which I do not think of you. But the scenes of our friendship, once so interesting and a source of so much enjoyment, appear now a dreary waste. You, who know my heart, and know how much of its happiness is placed in the exercise of friendship and affection, can estimate what a loss I have sustained in your separation from me. Did I think you corrupt and abandoned, I should feel less ; but believing, notwithstanding your great and grievous sins, that your heart is not depraved, that your principles and feelings were all hostile to the course which you were pursuing, and that now sincere and deep penitence occupies your soul, the impossibility of our former intercourse of affection is most dis- tressing to me.
"Often I think of going to your study in the confidence of reposing on the bosom of affection ; but you were away, and perhaps, as it re- gards our future personal intercourse in this world, forever. I must not, however, dwell on this subject. May God pardon, bless and save you is my prayer. Your letter to the Messrs. Swords was delivered. They will write to you on the subject of it, and will send you the books you requested, and the numbers of the Bible.
"Take care of your soul. Humble penitence, lively faith, firm resolutions, constant prayer and watchfulness, you will, I trust, cher- ish and practice. And may God pardon, bless and save you, through His Son, Jesus Christ, is the prayer of
" Your affectionate,
" J. H. HOBART.
" Let me hear from you ; don't fail." 1
1 McVickar's Professional Years, p. 471.
CHAPTER III.
FINANCES OF THE CORPORATION.
Difficulties Encountered by the Vestry Subsequent to 1813-Perpetual Demands and Continual Appropriations Reduce the Treasury-Expedients to Meet Exigencies- Pew-Rents Raised to Repay Loans-Stock Owned by the Corporation Sold-Sale of Pews-Fresh Loans Effected-Corporation Unable to Pay Balance Due Zion Church -Gives a Note for the Amount-Zion Church Hard Pressed-Appeal to Trinity Corporation-Church Sold under Foreclosure-Fresh Applications and New Grants -Lots Sold to Replenish Treasury-Instant Renewal of Applications-Aid Granted to Colored Congregation in New York-More Lots Sold-The Sextons Put Forth their Claims-Tables of Fees for Services and Interments Drawn up and Passed- Resolutions Defining Sextons' Duties-Request from St. George's Church for Per- mission to Sell Part of their Churchyard-The Fort Hunter Farm-Further Loan Authorized-Conditions of Grant to Fairfield Church and Academy-Bond Given St. George's Church, Flushing-Fresh Loan Effected-Aid Extended to Grace Church, Jamaica-Resolution of Vestry not to Aid Churches Outside of Manhattan Island- Lots Given St. Luke's, Greenwich-Committee to Examine State of Finances Ap- pointed-Tablet to the Memory of Sarah Haynes-Collections Given to Purchase Fuel for the Poor in Winter of 1820-21.
T HE finances of the Corporation at the conclusion of Bishop Moore's Rectorship were at a low ebb. This is to be accounted for to a large extent by the fact that Dr. Beach, who had been trained in Bishop Provoost's wise methods of finance, had ceased his connection with the Parish in 1813. Bishop Moore might have been a cautious and prudent administrator ; but his feeble health and his irregular attendance at the Vestry meetings did not conduce to a wise management of Parish matters. Grants appear to have been made with little regard to the receipts.
The financial record of those years is confusing and painful. Incessant petitions for money ; doubtful expe-
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Financial Conditions
[1816]
dients to raise it; denials of applications, followed sud- denly by lavish grants; the sale of securities ; loans to replenish the exchequer ; irritation and anger on the part of disappointed petitioners ; little if any acknowledgment of aid when granted ; the assumption that everybody had a claim on the church property and should be liberally fed of it: these form the material of the records. It would be equally uninteresting and unprofitable to ex- plore them in justification of this view of their tenor. But it may be noted as significant, that at the very first meeting held under the Rectorship of Dr. Hobart, appro- priations were made, in a somewhat reckless way, to the clergy of the Parish in consideration of the increased expense of living during the ten preceding years. In due course of time there followed petitions for increase of compensation from the sextons, clerks, organists, and other employees of the Parish ; while a steady flood of ap- peals from congregations throughout the Diocese swept up to the doors of the Corporation.
Among the expedients employed to meet the exigen- cies of the Corporation was that of raising the pew-rents to double the former amounts. This caused such violent remonstrance that the Vestry thought it wise to retract their action. Again the Comptroller was compelled to borrow from the banks, and, as an extreme measure, to sell all the stock belonging to the Corporation.1 Further- more, pews in the Parish church and the chapels were sold, in the effort to replete the exhausted treasury .? In those days of darkness, the Vestry was compelled not only to decline all new requests for assistance, but even to defer meeting obligations already incurred. The Minutes under Bishop Provoost's Rectorship are a monotonous record of grants ; in the opening days of Dr. Hobart's
: 1 Records, liber ii., folios 297, 298, 299. * Ibid., ii., folio 300.
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History of Trinity Church
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Rectorship they are an equally monotonous record of re- fusals. During this period of financial stress the only application for aid which was entertained was from the Church at Hamilton, when a resolution was passed authorizing the Comptroller
" to execute on the part of this Corporation the contract made with David A. Ogden, Esq., of St. Lawrence County respecting the erection of a church in the village of Hamilton in the County of St. Lawrence, when the same shall have been complied with on his part." 1
Hard pressed as the Corporation was for ready money, another Vestry was in still more distressed circumstances. It will be remembered that on the 22d of March, 1810, the Lutheran congregation in Mott St., known as Zion Church, had conformed to Episcopacy, and come under the jurisdiction of Bishop Moore. On August 31, 1815, the church was totally destroyed by fire. The congrega- tion set to work manfully to rebuild, although crippled by a heavy debt incurred before the fire. Finding them- selves unable to pay for their new edifice, they applied twice to Trinity Corporation and were twice refused. Nothing daunted, the Wardens and Vestrymen of Zion Church drew up a third and lengthy petition, in which they pathetically described their position and pleaded with the Corporation of Trinity Church to come to their rescue. This third petition had the desired effect, for, after having been duly considered, it was
"Resolved, In order to promote the pious views of the members of Zion Church, and as a final provision for its future support, the Cor- poration will, upon the final completion of the place of worship now erecting, pay the Vestry thereof the sum of fourteen hundred dollars and a like annual sum thereafter, so long as the Church to be organized therein shall be maintained and shall continue in union with the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the State of New York.
1 Records, liber ii., folio 313.
9 Part II., p. 185.
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Zion Church
1818]
This Corporation always reserving to itself the right to extinguish the said annuity by the payment at any time hereafter of twenty thousand dollars." 1
This generous offer of the Vestry, however, came too late to satisfy the creditors. The Church was sold under foreclosure proceedings. On December 8, 1817, the Minutes record the following further application to the Vestry :
"An application of Mr. J. P. Ritter, in behalf of the individuals who have purchased Zion Church and the ground on which it stands, for aid in completing the same as an Episcopal Church, was read and referred to the Comptroller, Treasurer and Clerk." 2
On February 9, 1818, we read:
"That Committee to whom was referred the application respect- ing Zion Church submitted the following report:
" The deplorable condition of the affairs of Zion Church in consequence of the conflagration of 1815 and the ineffectual attempt of the Rector and congregation to rebuild their Church by means of private contributions is well known to the Vestry. The sum raised by subscription was insufficient to enclose the new building, and in a half finished state it was sold in virtue of legal proceedings to satisfy a debt secured by mortgage. Mr. Lorillard, the Mortgagee, became the purchaser at that sale, and at the same moment when the Church was about to pass into the possession of another religious society, and of a different denomination, Mr. John P. Ritter, Alexander Fink, John Heath, Gilbert Fowler, Adam Hartell, and John Graff, having united in the laudable design of preserving it as an Episcopal Church, with this view became themselves the purchasers of it. The beautiful building has been since enclosed and most of the materials are pro- vided for its completion. The amount of the consideration payable on this last purchase is represented to be $10000; the sum since ex- pended in enclosing &c, $6300, and the amount required to finish the Church about $7700. The purchasers declare that they are unable to furnish further advances, and solicit the Vestry to aid them in their undertaking by an advance of $10000 to be repaid from the sales of the pews, offering in lieu of cash to accept the bonds of Trinity ." 1 Records, liber ii., folio 317. ' Ibid., folio 321.
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History of Trinity Church
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Church bearing interest, upon which they expect to raise the money. They disclaim all idea of personal advantage from the purchase, and propose to secure the property for the benefit of the new Church, upon reimbursement of their advances. It will be recollected that the Corporation for many years prior to the destruction of Zion Church, granted them an annual donation of $1400.
"The renewal of this arrangement upon the reorganization of the Church, seems to be confidently expected, and in the spirit of liberality which the Vestry have always manifested towards their sister Churches in the city, it is presumed it would not be withheld. The advance now asked if the repayment be secured, would seem, there- fore, to be a mere anticipation of that bounty, the plan suggested appears to your Committee to insure such repayment, and being recom- mended by considerations connected with the existence of this Church as a member of our Communion, the Committee are of the opinion that the application now before the Vestry ought to be complied with.
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