USA > New York > New York City > A history of the parish of Trinity Church in the city of New York, pt 4 > Part 16
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their opinion, great and important advantages would result to the school "if the Rector, or one of the Assistant Ministers, were to take an active part in its arrangement." But, continue the ingenious memorialists, as they are persuaded that the work should not and cannot be thrown on the Rector, who has already in their judgment more than he can attend to, they suggest that the whole charge of the school be committed to one of the Assistant Minis- ters ; and it was no secret that they had in view the Rev. Dr. Anthon, already a great favorite. This petition drew out the Rector, who replied in a communication which takes a place of importance in the documentary history of the Parish. Hoping that the observations which he offers will be received " in the spirit of kindness and candour in which they were made," he proceeds to object to special assignments of the kind proposed, on the ground that they will disturb the unity of the Parish ; accounts for his apparent neglect in giving close personal attention to all the Sunday-schools of the Parish, by his having been constantly occupied in writing the Life of Bishop Hobart, which work had at last been completed ; and declares his ability and intention to bestow all needed care, from that time forward, on the special work under consideration.1
A copy of this letter, which was of great length, was presented to the Vestry, who, having considered it, adopted a resolution asking the Rector to invite the Assistant Ministers to co-operate with him in visit- ing the Sunday-schools of the Parish. Their intention appears to have been, to maintain the prerogative of the Rector, and at the same time to secure efficient aid in the performance of duties which might seem too great for
1 No. 113, Berrian MSS. The substance of the letter is incorporated into a letter to the Assistant Ministers, dated July 25, 1833.
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History of Trinity Church
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any one man to discharge properly. It was a step in the direction of a comprehensive plan, carried into effect many years after. The result was that Dr. Anthon became more fully identified with the Sunday-school of St. John's Chapel and Dr. Schroeder with that of St. Paul's, the Rector reserving his right of general over- sight and control. Both schools appear to have been much helped and bettered by the new arrangement. Dr. Schroeder, in particular, devoted much care and thought to his department of the work.
The changes in the management of the schools and the decided advantages resulting from the new arrange- ment soon suggested additional measures, in the adminis- tration of the Parish, and brought again into prominence the plan of permanently assigning the Assistant Minis- ters to some particular church or chapel. The members of St. John's Chapel who had previously petitioned for the change, and others who deemed it desirable, already formed a considerable body, and were acquiring more in- fluence, though still in a minority. Occasional expressions of dissatisfaction with one or other of the clergy were heard, and agitation and controversy were the unfortunate result. It required wisdom and sound judgment to meet the difficulties of the hour. The Vestry took the matter up and finally, April 13, 1835, at the instance of Mr. Thomas L. Ogden, a committee was appointed consisting of two members of the Vestry from each Congregation
"to consider and report on the state of the Church in this Parish, and whether any, and if any what, measures may be advantageously adopted by this Vestry for its improvement, and that the said Committee be in- structed to confer with the Rector, and also as far as may be practica- ble to ascertain the views of the members of each Congregation in relation to such measures as the Committee may think proper to recommend in reference to the object of this resolution."
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Support of the Episcopate
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After balloting, Mr. Charles McEvers and Mr. Thomas L. Ogden of Trinity Church, Hon. John T. Irving, An- thony L. Underhill of St. Paul's Chapel, Mr. Thomas Swords and Mr. Jacob Lorillard of St. John's Chapel were chosen to constitute the said committee.
It was a long time before the Vestry took final action upon this subject ; meanwhile other important matters de- manded attention. There was great dissatisfaction with the position of the Bishop, who was still connected with the Parish, while the Diocese required his assiduous care and constant oversight. The strength developed by some parishes in the western counties had already suggested a division of the Diocese,1 and the subject was mentioned by Bishop Onderdonk in his address in 1834. Uncertainty also existed as to the Bishop's place of residence and permanent support. What more would be done by the Parish with which he was still connected ? And what could be obtained from the rest of the Diocese? Again the interminable subject of the Episcopal Fund was brought before the Vestry, in a letter from the Bishop, "in relation to the necessary expenses of sustaining the Episcopate in the City, and to arrangements connected with his future resi- dence." The communication was referred to Messrs. Jacob Lorillard, Thomas L. Ogden, John T. Irving, Ed- ward W. Laight, and Peter A. Mesier.2
An elaborate report giving a full account of the rela- tion of the Parish to the Episcopate of New York from 1787 was made on April 13. It said that the principal object of the Bishop's letter was "to induce the Vestry
1 " In 1835 this portion of the Diocese numbered sixty clergymen, ninety-two parishes, and thirty-five hundred communicants in a population of a little over one million, having gained over four-fold upon the population within twenty-five years." Semi-centennial Sermon, Trinity Church, Geneva, by Charles W. Hayes, D.D., p. 22. See also Dr. Hayes' Diocese of Western New York, History and Recollections.
9 Records, liber iii., folio 116.
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during his residence in this city and whilst they shall remain charged with the support of the Episcopate to increase his stated allowance to an extent equal to the rent of a suitable house." It showed how the occupants of the Episcopal Chair had all been connected with Trinity Church. With respect to Bishop Provoost and Bishop Moore it showed that " an addition appears to have been made to their previous salaries as Rectors." For Bishop Hobart a house had been provided and "five hundred dollars per annum granted to him to support the expenses of the Episcopal office." This was increased in 1814 to $1100, in 1816 to $1250, and in 1828 to $2710, and various intermediate grants had been made to him in the form of donations, until during the later years of his Episcopate, his whole income as Bishop was $6500. For Bishop Onderdonk there had been granted $2000, which was increased in 1832 to $3000, at which amount it then stood. Several donations had been made to him in addition.
Rehearsing the various efforts to increase the Episco- pal Fund, the pledge of the Vestry for that purpose and the failure to meet the conditions imposed, the committee say that as the whole subject will come before the Con- vention, and considering the principles which have hither- to guided the Vestry, "it would not be expedient at the present time to increase his annual allowance, nor to make any provision of a more permanent character for the Bishop's support whilst in this city." The committee was constrained to add
"the expression of their conviction, after a full consideration of all the circumstances connected with this important subject, and in reference more particularly to the increasing solicitude of the Church to secure to the diocese at large the undivided services of the Bishop that 'the period has in their judgment arrived for raising the Episcopal fund to
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Grant to the Episcopal Fund
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an amount which will enable the Convention to make such arrange- ments for this purpose, as the welfare of the Church may appear to them to demand.' " 1
The offer is renewed of the sum of $30,000 to increase the Episcopal Fund to $100,000, to be paid whenever the fund amounted to $70,000. The Comptroller was author- ized to pay the amount thus pledged whenever the other sum had been secured, but only upon condition that in case of a division of the Diocese one half of the whole fund "shall belong to and be at the disposal of the Con- vention of that part of the Diocese in which the city of New York may be situated, to be applied to the support of a Bishop within the same."2 The report was approved by the Vestry and a copy was sent to the Secretary of the Diocese to be communicated to the Convention. Upon the fulfilment of the condition in 1836 the gift of thirty thousand dollars was paid to the Treasurer of the Episco- pal Fund.3
The pressure from all quarters to share in the bounty of Trinity Parish is illustrated by an application received at this time from St. Jude's Church, Peoria, Illinois, re- questing "a loan of seven thousand and five hundred dollars to aid in the erection of a church edifice at that place." The Vestry, while expressing "a deep interest in the extension of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Illinois and other parts of the United States," are com- pelled to declare that "they are unable, for want of the necessary funds, to grant the application," and that "the numerous and pressing calls from destitute congregations in the Diocese make it inexpedient to extend its aid for the relief of Churches in other states." 4
1 Records, liber iii., folios 118, 119.
2 For the report in full, see Records, liber iii., folios 117-119.
3 Berrian's Historical Sketch, pp. 312, 373.
, 4 Records, liber iii., folio 113.
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History of Trinity Church
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On September 28, 1835, the credit of the Corporation was loaned to the Society for Promoting Religion and Learning for the sum of thirty thousand dollars to enable Geneva College to erect buildings. A graduated scale for the reduction of interest, to be a lien upon the property of the Society, was also adopted.1
Referring to the appointment of a committee on the state of the Church, April 13, 1835, the subject of the re- organization of the Parish came up again, in October, on the report of that committee. At the same time, Mr. Harison presented a substitute consisting of certain reso- lutions in relation to the appointment and duties of Assist- ant Ministers. Passing on to January 25, 1836,2 we come to the final action upon the report and substitute, which appears to have been of the nature of a compromise between the views of the Committee and those of Mr. Harison. Personal complications had meanwhile arisen, which made the matter more difficult to decide. A letter had been received by the Vestry from Dr. Anthon, in which he tendered his resignation as one of the Assistant Ministers. A memorial was also presented from pew- holders in St. Paul's and St. John's Chapels, praying for "a change in the present system of performing parochial duties in the different congregations of the Parish." These acts, distinctly in the line of disunion and disintegration, called for very firm and very judicious treatment.
During November and December, 1835, three special meetings of the Vestry were held. A second memorial came in from pew-holders of St. John's Chapel, December 28th. Finally, at a very full meeting of the Vestry, held January 25, 1836, the long discussion of these matters crystallized into action.
The report is entered in full upon the Minutes; it marks
1 Records, liber iii., folios 124-129.
2 Records, liber iii., folio 130.
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Report on Associate System
1836]
an era in the history of the Parish. Calm in tone, judicial in character, and clear in its conclusions, it was prepared after conference with the Rector, inquiry of the Assistant Ministers, and endeavor by interviews with various mem- bers of the several congregations to learn their views and wishes. The report frankly admits that "the Church in this Parish is in an unsettled and excited state, and that a feeling of dissatisfaction is apparent among the congrega- tions." While there may be a possibility that "defects more or less incidental to our associate system " had some influence, yet the immediate origin is to be traced to causes of "a more particular and temporary character " which, however, were " of a nature so delicate" that the committee declined to dwell upon them, only remarking in a general way upon the necessity of confidence and esteem between pastors and people for the growth in the spiritual and temporal concerns of any Parish. It was to remedy this unhappy condition and tranquillize the Church that these measures were proposed. The need of at least three active Assistant Ministers is recognized. The committee further treat of the relation of the Bishop to the Parish, and show that "the duties of the Episcopate require so much of his time and care that his parochial services must be of necessity limited and precari- ous," and admit, though reluctantly, that as the Diocese can- not be neglected, the Parish must practically dispense with his services, "valuable and acceptable as those services always were to our congregations," and allow him " greater leisure for the discharge of his Episcopal functions, and give increased assurance to the Church at large that it will continue to receive an efficient supervision, while the whole of this extensive diocese shall remain under his ex- clusive charge."
The committee then recommend the election of some
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individual of such approved talents and qualifications as to render him generally acceptable to the congregations as Assistant Minister. The committee stated in con- nection with the proposed appointment that two plans had been considered by them as to permanent arrangement for duty. One was to assign one Assistant to each church, making it his duty to preach statedly in such church, to take the special charge of the Sunday-school, to visit the sick, and perform other parochial duties among the con- gregations, "the Rector retaining a general supervision of the whole concerns of all the churches, and both he and the Bishop to preach occasionally, as they may find con- venient." The other was to assign the Assistant Ministers to duty, as in the first plan, with the exception of preach- ing, "leaving this duty to be performed by the Assistant Ministers in rotation subject to like occasional relief by the Bishop and Rector."
As to the first plan, it was predicted by many that it " would lead to disunion among the congregations, and their final separation." The committee were of the opin- ion that "there is an unsurmountable objection to it, founded on the decided conviction of the Committee that it will be impracticable at present to make any assignment of the individual assistants among the different congrega- tions, so as to give satisfaction to all." Therefore they recommended the adoption of the second plan. 1
"It is hoped and believed that its tendency will be to fix an indi- vidual responsibility upon each assistant as to the particular service required of him, and thus to secure the more vigilant attention of all to the high and important duty of cultivating an intimate intercourse with their parishioners, and, especially in time of sickness and trouble, of administering to them the comforts and consolations of our holy religion."
The suggestions of the committee were embodied in three
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Nomination of Assistant Ministers
1836]
resolutions appended to the report. Briefly they pro- posed,
Ist, to relieve the Bishop from all parochial duty ;
2d, to call an additional Assistant Minister ;
3d, to adopt a stated plan for the assignment of the Assistant Ministers to particular duties.
Of these resolutions the Ist and 2d were approved ; a long discussion took place on the 3d ; final action was post- poned. It was ultimately decided that the system of parochial administration should be changed when "there shall be three Assistant Ministers officiating in this Parish, so that one shall be assigned to Trinity Church, one to St. Paul's Chapel, and one to St. John's Chapel during the pleasure of the Vestry." Their duties were plainly defined, and included the supervision of the Sunday-schools and the catechising of the children ; all, however, to be done under the general supervision of the Rector.1 A special committee, consisting of the Comptroller, Mr. William Johnson, Mr. William H. Harison, General Edward W. Laight, Hon. John T. Irving, Mr. Peter Mesier, Mr. William E. Dunscomb, Mr. Benjamin M. Brown, Mr. Thomas Swords, and Mr. Jacob Lorillard, was appointed February 15, 1836, to take into consideration and report upon the best method of carrying into effect the reso- lutions passed January 25th.
The consideration of this subject was resumed at a meeting of the Vestry held March 23, 1836. Prior to final action on the several propositions before that body, the question of the method of nomination of Assistant Ministers came up. There are only two charter officers in Trinity Parish, the Rector and the official known as the " Assistant to the Rector"; both have a life tenure of office, and cannot be removed but for grave and sufficient
1 Records, liber iii., folios 140, 14I.
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cause. All other ministers hold office "during the pleas- ure of the Vestry," as has already been shown (see Part. II., pp. 226, 227 of this History). Doubt existed as to the right of nomination. For many years past it had been the custom that the Rector should nominate, after a pre- vious ballot by the members of the Vestry with a view to designate the person to be so nominated. But, by a reso- lution adopted at this meeting, the right was vested con- currently in the Rector and each member of the Vestry.1 They then proceeded to act on the several propositions before them. Upon the question of the call of a third Assistant Minister, the vote being in favor of such action, the Vestry proceeded to a ballot ; and, it appearing that the Rev. Jonathan M. Wainwright, D.D., of Boston, had a majority of the votes of all the members present, he was declared to be duly appointed an Assistant Minister to the Parish to hold his office during the pleasure of the Vestry.2
It was intended by this election to bring back a former Assistant of the Parish whose varied talents had entitled him to a high place in the Church. Dr. Wainwright's executive ability, his graceful and forceful eloquence, his technical skill in music, his refined and cultivated tastes, had made him a commanding figure both in New York and Boston. It was at one time thought probable that his brethren would elevate him to the Assistant Bishopric of Massachusetts, as the burden of the Eastern Diocese was proving too great for Bishop Griswold. Dr. Wain- wright's freedom from controversial bitterness, his suavity of manner, his firm conviction of fundamental Catholic truth, caused many to think of him as the only one capa- ble of bringing a diocese, rent with internal strife and angry debate, to a state of peace and harmony.
The Vestry next proceeded to adopt the resolution
Records, liber iii., folio 146.
2 Records, liber iii., folio 147.
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Duties of Assistant Ministers Defined
1836]
providing for the assignment of the three Assistant Minis- ters to the several congregations. It was ordered that the members of the Vestry from each congregation might be severally permitted simultaneously to nominate to the Vestry the individual to be assigned to such congregation. The members of the Vestry from St. John's nominated the Rev. Dr. Anthon. The major part of the Vestrymen from St. Paul's nominated the Rev. Jonathan M. Wain- wright, D.D., and the major part of the Vestrymen from Trinity also nominated Dr. Wainwright. Dr. Anthon was then, by ballot, assigned to St. John's Chapel. Dr. Wainwright was in the same manner assigned to Trinity Church. It was determined to assign by resolution an Assistant Minister to St. Paul's, and the Rev. John F. Schroeder was accordingly assigned.1
At an adjourned meeting held two days later, it was further resolved that the assignments should be for one year, from the first day of May next ensuing.
Another resolution was then adopted, defining the duties of the Assistant Ministers in the respective congregations. They were to preach statedly every Sunday morning, in the church or chapel to which they were assigned, and in rotation in the afternoon, according to a " Routine " to be prepared for their guidance by the Rector.
Another resolution authorized each Assistant Minister to appoint such season of the year and such times for the catechetical and other special instruction of the young of the congregation to which he had been assigned, as he might think most fit and proper for such purpose. The Vestry suggested that the Rector might supplement this instruction, and thought it desirable to have a special plan and course outlined each year by the Rector and Assistant Ministers in consultation. It was further made the duty of
1 Records, liber iii., folio 147.
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each Assistant Minister to report cases of distress to the Rector, and to account to him, quarterly or otherwise, for all moneys belonging to the Communion Fund, which the Rector might give him for distribution; and also to report to the Rector any "failure, or neglect, or disobedience, on the part of any of the organists, clerks or sextons, in the performance of their several duties." The Rector was to appoint the days on which the several canonical collections should be made, and no other collections were to be made in any of the churches without his consent. He was also to " appoint the times for the celebration of the Lord's Sup- per "; and the Assistant Ministers were required to assist in the celebration thereof, except on the greater festivals, when it was to be administered at the same time in all the churches.
Finally, it was ordered that " the arrangements directed by these resolutions go into operation on the first day of May next." 1 By their passage it was hoped that irrita- tion and excitement would be allayed, that the ties be- tween the clergy and the people would become closer, and that new strength and devotion would be given to their united work.
At this meeting some additional matters were con- sidered, discussed, and dealt with by resolution. Among them was a question as to the order of precedence among the Assistant Ministers so long as the office of "Assistant to the Rector" was not filled, whenever from any cause the Rector could not act. These resolutions afterwards became a subject of bitter controversy, although there seems to have been no other motive than to make definite a rule, which had hitherto been vague and uncertain, but which in practice had been interpreted to give precedence to the senior Assistant Minister by election. The first
1 Records, liber iii., folio 148.
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The Assistant to the Rector
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resolution authorized the Rector "while the office of assistant to the Rector shall not be filled in pursuance of the charter," in case of his disability through sickness or any other cause, to designate one of the Assistant Ministers "to perform the duties incident to his office." Should he neglect to do this, those duties were "to devolve on, and belong to such one of the Assistant Ministers as shall at the time be the senior Presbyter according to the dates of their ordination." 1
The second resolution affirmed "the indispensable im- portance to the harmony of the Parish, and the edification of the parishioners, that a feeling of mutual confidence and satisfaction should be maintained between the minis- ter and people," and expressed the firm determination of the Vestry " to supply all the congregations with clergy- men, whose character and ministrations shall be satisfac- tory and acceptable." It was probably during the progress of the debate upon the change of system, that the Rector presented a statement of the duties of his position. He said that it had hitherto been the province and duty. of the Rector to have the care of the churches, and to regulate generally the order of the service ; to assign the Assistant Ministers by a Routine their several places ; to judge of the fitness and expediency of introducing any new modes of instruction or any extra services, and if proposed by others, to approve or reject them at his discretion ; to appoint the times for the Holy Communion, and to administer it him- self if present, except when, as matter of respect and courtesy, he has given place to the Bishop; to have the charge and distribution of the Communion Fund; to ex- ercise a general supervision over the Sunday-schools of the Parish ; to examine the various notices which are sent to be given out in our churches, and to determine on the
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