USA > New York > New York City > A history of the parish of Trinity Church in the city of New York, pt 4 > Part 22
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1 Records, liber iii., folios 275-278.
2 Ibid 318.
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The New Cemetery
1843]
During the early spring of 1843, the work upon the new Cemetery was progressing favorably ; in February the first purchase of a plot in the new Cemetery was made, and in March the Cemetery Committee was authorized to expend two thousand dollars in laying out the land, planting trees, making three vaults, and building a tem- porary lodge. A pamphlet was published containing " Rules and Regulations," with a paragraph giving information as to the methods of transportation to the Cemetery. 1
At the meeting of the Vestry, September 11, 1843, two plans for laying out the easterly division of the new Cemetery grounds were presented, one by Mr. Upjohn, and the other by Mr. Renwick. That by Mr. Renwick was selected, with some slight alterations and omissions. Paths were also to be laid out in the lower or easterly division of the Cemetery grounds, and the building of a stone wall along the west or river front of this division, " five feet thick at the bottom and two feet thick at the top, to stand eight feet above and two feet below the surface of the ground," was authorized.
The new Cemetery was opened for interments in the
1 This paragraph deserves to be quoted as showing a curious contrast with the present facilities for reaching the upper portion of the island:
" The Manhattanville line of Stages leaves the corner of Chatham St. and Tryon Row every half hour for the Cemetery, and by an arrangement with the Proprietor, Mr. Moore, passengers are taken to the Cemetery for 1834 cents. From, on, and after the 10th of April, the proprietors of the steamboat, Boston, plying from the foot of Canal St., have agreed to convey funerals to the Cemetery grounds as follows :-
For the Cemetery At 10 o'clock A.M.
At 2 o'clock P.M.
For the City At quarter past 12 P.M. At .. 4 P.M.
The charge for Carriage or Hearse, 75 cents each way, the charge for each passenger not in a carriage 1212 cents each way." (P. 4, " Rules and Regulations for Trinity Church Cemetery, in the 12th Ward of the City of New York." New York, E. B. Clayton & Son, 1845.) VOL. IV .- 16.
رقم الفاتورة
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History of Trinity Church
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late summer of 1843, and a temporary keeper appointed for it. It soon became endeared to many as the sleeping- place of their loved ones, and, as time went on, grew both in the beauty given by artistic treatment and nature, and the adornment of sculptured stones and massive tombs.
In view of the improvement in the music of the Parish since it had been under the charge of Dr. Hodges, the Trustees of Trinity School were desirous to extend the benefit of his instruction to the pupils under their charge, an arrangement which required the approval and co-operation of the Vestry. Resolutions on the subject were referred to the music Committee, who made a report, May 8, 1843, announcing that they had obtained from the trustees of the school an outline of an agreement be- tween the Vestry and the school. This being approved, Dr. Hodges, "the Director of the Parish Music," was appointed "instructor in Music in Trinity School" at a salary of five hundred dollars per annum. After some further conference between the committee and the trustees, several modifications of the original plan were made and agreed to by both parties. By the provisions of the contract in its final shape, the Vestry of Trinity Church was to establish in Trinity School "a depart- ment for the instruction of its scholars in Church vocal Music"; the professor to be appointed, and his salary to be paid by Trinity Church. "Sixteen musical scholar- ships, with stipends varying from twenty to forty dollars a year, were also to be established by the Vestry, with authority to fill them on nomination of the music pro- fessor ; and the holders of these scholarships were to be under his absolute direction as choristers of Trinity Church."
The music scholarships were to be open to com- petition to all the scholars of Trinity School, whether
Ther
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Church Music
1843]
pay or free. Should a scholar be chosen "already enjoying the stipend of a free scholarship, such stipend to be diminished by the Trustees, so as to make the sum of the two stipends not to exceed seventy dollars." Musical instruction was to be given by the Professor to the whole school, "on at least two days in the week." The additional instruction to the music scholars was to be arranged so as not to interfere with their other studies, and to be subject to the direction of the Music Committee of Trinity Church. 1
The department proved very useful, and many youths were trained in Church music, who would have been unable otherwise to acquire a practical knowledge of the art. Miss Faustina Hasse Hodges, in her interesting and fascinating biography of her father, says of this episode in Dr. Hodge's life : "The musical training he gave his Trinity boys was valuable for all their lives, but that seemed, when they afterwards spoke of him, almost ignored in the face of the great love they all cherished for him, and the veneration they all had for his memory. A strict disciplinarian, whose laws were made to be enforced, he was yet their loving and sympathetic friend. He had a real sympathy for the young; and his ways, so singularly transparent, appealed to their boyish natures ; at the same time they dreaded his reproof, and owned his severe judgments right. One way he had was of keeping all the money the bad boys paid in fines to buy prizes for the good ones, etc. Though now grown up and married and plunged in the thick of the hard battle of life, I have found over and over again, that this one spot of love for my father keeps green within their hearts-the Bible he gave them-the writing he wrote-the likeness of him treasured up-all say one and
1 Records, liber iii., folio 338.
Tod
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History of Trinity Church
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the same thing : that the memory of the dear Doctor and old Trinity will not fade away with years." 1
The Vestry at this time gave attention to the condition of St. Paul's Chapel. The sacred edifice, a survival of the colonial days, appealed to every passer-by, and was held in veneration not only in the Parish but generally by all good citizens of New York. It was evidently the intention of the Corporation to keep it in such condition that it might stand unshaken and secure for generations. To that end, repairs wherever needed were ordered : the tower and steeple, which were of wood, were to be painted ; the gal- lery was to be lowered, and the organ to be repaired.2 Of that ancient instrument, Mr. George Hodges thus writes in jocose vein :
" The organ is no great shakes though I make some great shakes upon it occasionally. It is an old one, built by G. P. England, London. There are no pedals, and each rank of keys is separate and distinct from the other, and incapable of coupling or combining." 3
Final arrangements were also made for an organ for the new Parish Church, the Building Committee being authorized to contract for an instrument, to be constructed under the supervision of a competent person to be de- signated by them ; the organ to be furnished and put up on the completion of the church edifice, and the entire cost, including the expense of supervision and all inci- dental charges, not to exceed ten thousand dollars.4 Mr. Henry Erben was chosen as the builder, and it was to be constructed "according to the plans and specifications of Dr. Hodges." In January, 1843, upon consideration of a
1 Edward Hodges. By his daughter, Faustina H. Hodges, pp. 145, 146. G. P Putnam's Sons, New York-London, 1896.
2 Records, liber, iii., folios 275, 292.
' Folio 117, Life of Edward Hodges.
4 Ibid., folio 315.
1843]
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Proposed Setting off of the Chapels
communication from several members of the Vestry, it was determined "that the Music Committee shall here- after consist of the Rector and the Assistant Ministers of the Parish, and of two members of the Vestry from each of the Congregations." Messrs. W. H. Harison and William H. Hobart of Trinity Church, Messrs. Peter Mesier and William E. Dunscomb of St. Paul's Chapel, and Messrs. Henry Youngs and A. L. McDonald of St. John's were then appointed members of that Com- mittee.1
Notwithstanding the failure of the previous attempt to break up the Parish by separating one of its chapels from the system, some members of the congregation of St. John's, moved by the old spirit of unrest, presented a me- morial to the Vestry, Sept. 11, 1843, in which they declared that " great dissatisfaction exists throughout the congrega- tion of St. John's Chapel, in consequence of its present organization, and the manner in which the services are performed.". The alleged dissatisfaction seemed to be with the manner in which the Assistant Ministers were appointed and assigned ; and the wish was expressed that there should be a fuller representation of the Chapel in the Vestry. They say :
" For many years, St. John's Church, in which we now worship, has been without a permanent pastor ; its services during that long period have been performed by a succes- sion of ministers, all perhaps unquestionable for piety, but no one of them linked to us by a closer tie than links him to the other churches of this Parish. The consequence of this has been lukewarmness towards our own, and a tendency to wander to other churches.
"We want a settled minister who shall regularly offici- ate in our pulpit. We want for the Vestry of this Church,
1 Records, liber iii., folio 322.
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not a controlling but a strongly influential voice in his elec- tion, and we want the same voice in the minor, but highly important parts of our church ministrations." 1
This communication was at once referred to a commit- tee of gentlemen eminent for conservatism and sound judgment, consisting of Messrs. T. L. Ogden, Jonathan A. Lawrence, Peter A. Mesier, Alexander L. McDonald, and Samuel G. Raymond.
The Rector made inquiry as to the reason of the me- morial, and communicated his conclusions to the committee and the Vestry. He stated that there were nearly 200 families in St. John's congregation ; and that he had seen about 50 of them, all of whom, with one exception, were opposed to any change in the arrangements of the Parish, and many of whom looked on the movement with the strongest disapprobation and concern ; adding that some of the signers already regretted their action as inconsid- erate and rash. He gave a list of several prominent mem- bers of the congregation who had refused to sign and were opposed to the movement.
The committee presented their report at the meeting held October 10th. It is a clear and able demolition of the case of the petitioners. They stated, that they had found it difficult to obtain exact knowledge of the wishes of the subscribers. They called attention to the unguarded language of the memorial as to a more influential voice in the choice of " the Vestry of this Church" ; observing that, " as the Vestry mentioned can refer only to the Vestry of St. John's Chapel, some new organization, incompatible with the provisions of the subsisting Charter and involving a separation of St. John's from the other churches of the Parish, would seem to be contemplated." Assuming that
1 Memorial of members of St. John's Congregation as quoted in report to the Vestry, by the special Committee ; Records, liber iii., folios 341, 342.
1
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Report on the Setting Off
1843]
this was the ultimate object of the memorialists, the com- mittee reported it as their opinion that the point had been already ruled upon in the case of the application from mem- bers of St. Paul's Chapel some years before by the action of the Vestry, March 11, 1839. The committee proceeded to say, that if it were hoped to effect a change of organization by which a separate pastor, with independent powers in regard to preaching and other parochial duties, should be assigned to St. John's, it brought forward once more "a question of expediency," which had frequently received the consideration of the Vestry, and needed not to be re- opened. The application "looked not to amendment in the details of the present system, but to a fundamental change in it." The committee had not found any general dissatisfaction with the operation of the system, nor was there in the observation of those members of the commit- tee who worshipped at St. John's, any considerable num- ber of that congregation who were dissatisfied. No manifestation whatever could be found of a general desire throughout the Parish to introduce the important changes proposed by the memorialists, nor did any new circum- stances require such changes. Therefore, acting in accord- ance "with the well considered views of the Vestry as heretofore expressed, understood, and still entertained," the committee were of the opinion that it was "inexpedi- ent to adopt the plan recommended by the Memorial from St. John's." 1
The report was unanimously adopted ; no further action was taken ; and no similar requests were heard for many years.
An important and exceedingly interesting document was received at this meeting by the Vestry from a former fellow-member, and a local antiquarian of great accuracy
1 Records, liber iii., folios 341, 342.
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and untiring research, the Honorable Gabriel Furman of Brooklyn, Kings County. It related to the claim of the heirs of Anneke Jans Bogardus, widow of Domine Bo- gardus, to a part of the estate of the Corporation, called the Domine's Bowery and the Domine's Hook. It was referred to Mr. Ogden, counsel of the Board. In his report, Novem- ber 18, 1843, he describes the document as the laborious re- sult of an investigation which Judge Furman had occasion to make into the claim, and as furnishing a conclusive refuta- tion of it. Among historical facts, Judge Furman refers to a petition of the Bogardus claimants in 1784, in which they located the tract called the " Domine's Bowery " with- in the limits of the confiscated estate of James de Lancey, and otherwise known as the Domine's Hook, and shows that the only tract known as the Domine's Hook was on Long Island. The Vestry accepted the report, ordered Judge Furman's communication "to be deposited among the title papers of the Corporation relating to that part of the Estate called ' The Church Farm,'" and sent its thank- ful acknowledgments to him " for the valuable information contained in the above mentioned communication." 1 In this connection it may be added that in July, 1844, the ancient and adjudicated claim of the heirs of Anneke Jans Bogardus came up on a proposition from Mr. Willian Linn Brown of Philadelphia for a compromise with the Vestry. They emphatically refused, saying that they would "enter into no negotiation for the compromise of any claim by the heirs of Anneke Jans Bogardus to the property of the Vestry or any part of it." At the same time a similar prop- osition from Mr. Remsen Teller was also declined.2
The stormy days referred to at the beginning of this
1 Records, liber iii., folio 344. Mr. Nash in his monograph, A History of the Title to King's Farm, in Part II. of this History, refers to the location of the Do- mine's Hook (see p. 308). ' Ibid., folio 361.
V
249
The Carey Ordination
1843]
chapter were now fast coming upon the Church in the Diocese of New York. An era of angry strife, heated controversy, bitter accusation, and harsh recrimination had begun. Party spirit and parish rivalry were rampant; old friends were separated, associates flung off the bonds by which they had been connected ; those who should have dwelt together in unity were divided, persistently mis- understanding and misrepresenting one another. Scenes were about to be witnessed, perhaps the most deplorable in our diocesan history.
Of course the mainspring of this agitation was the widely spreading influence of the Oxford Tracts, and the movement for which they gave the signal. The event long remembered as "the Carey ordination " led to a fierce and protracted controversy. Mr. Carey, a cultured and in- genuous youth, was ordained by the Bishop of New York, on Sunday, July 2, 1843, in the face of an open protest by the Rev. Dr. Henry Anthon and the Rev. Hugh Smith, presbyters of the Diocese and rectors of parishes in the city, who charged him with holding some of the errors of the Church of Rome. No occurrence added such fuel to the controversial flame as this.1
The Diocesan Convention met in the month of Septem- ber under the pressure of agitation and vehement conten- tion. While much of the time was, as usual, occupied with routine business, enough was left for a long and acrimoni- ous debate upon the recent ordination. The Bishop, in his address to the Convention, considered his rights in the case ; this led to some sharp and caustic talk from gentle- men whose theological opinions differed from his. And again came up the topic of the condition of the Episcopal Fund, and the reluctance of parishes to meet their obliga- tions by making offerings for its increase. The Bishop
: 1 See article by the Rev. W. F. Brand, D.D., in the Church Eclectic, July, 1900.
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History of Trinity Church
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alluded to the deficiency in his income, which had been partly made up by the generosity of Trinity Church, and added that the anxiety and disagreeable sensation of an insufficient income had determined him, unless the defi- ciency were met by the Convention, to remove from the city of New York. His announcement was received with mingled emotions by the Convention.
The closing scenes of the Convention, which was held in St. Paul's Chapel, were long remembered. The debate was distinctly personal. The peremptory command of the Bishop to a prominent layman, who claimed the floor, "Sit down, sir," precipitated a series of resolutions, amendments, and other parliamentary action, until the motion to adjourn was made, and put. The Bishop an- nounced the "Gloria in Excelsis" in the midst of much confusion and angry remonstrance against his action.1 This, of course, allowed no opportunity to consider the measures best adapted to secure the increase of the Fund
1 In the Life of Dr. Hodges, the event is thus graphically mentioned : " My father had great power at the organ, in governing a large body of people singing. He said it was an art, but to him it seemed nature. It was evinced grandly on one occasion, at which the writer was present, and one never to be forgotten, viz., the Convention held in St. Paul's Chapel, during which that scene took place which inaugurated the pain- ful drama ending in the suspension of the esteemed Bishop of New York. The church was crowded in every part, and intense excitement prevailed ; the Bishop on this oc- casion having maintained his position with a decision and manliness seldom witnessed, giving no time for further remark, he said in a full tone of voice, 'Let the Gloria in Excelsis now be sung !' Before my father could get to the keys, or rap for wind, this hymn was begun by a voice below, and taken up by many others. I watched my father as he first felt softly for the key in which they were singing, then by degrees he led them all, till, backed by the organ, the voices all swelled in; every one in the crowded body of the church, and the crammed galleries above, joining in the sound. It was grand in the words 'Heavenly King ! God, the Father Almighty,' rich and subduedly grand in the prayer part, and culminated when my father, catching the full significance of the scene, and the power of the words, rolled out his full organ at the words, ' Thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the Glory of God the Father.' The effect was superb. The music, of course, was the old 'Gloria in Excelsis,' known and sung by every one in the Church, and the power and volume given to it by that unity was immensely enhanced by the deep feelings which were then stirred."-Pp. 142, 143, Edward Hodges, Doctor of Music.
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Diocesan Convention of 1843
1843]
either by pledges then made, or the appointment of a committee to canvass the Diocese, although a committee had been appointed on the Episcopal Fund.
After the Convention had adjourned there was a largely attended meeting of the clergy of the Diocese. The only hope of any relief to the Bishop in their judgment was in the Vestry of Trinity Church. A communication was sent to the Vestry, in which the reasons why no measures were taken in the Convention were set forth, and reference was made to the Bishop's determination to leave the city of New York, unless the present deficiency should be made up to him ; it earnestly solicited the interposition of the Vestry to avert the necessity of his removal from the city, by an appropriation for the current year, and until the meeting of the next annual Convention. There were members of the Vestry who thought that the manner in which the Diocese had imposed additional burdens on the Parish should be rebuked by withholding any allowance to the Bishop. After a long debate, a younger member spoke earnestly and forcibly upon the shame and disgrace which would come upon the Church, and especially at this time, if the Bishop of the Diocese were allowed to suffer. He spoke also of the probability of an adequate provision be- ing made through the labors of the Special Committee of the Convention on the Episcopal Fund. His address car- ried conviction to those who hesitated, and it was ordered that twelve hundred dollars towards the support of the Bishop be granted for one year, to commence on the first day of November next, and to be paid quarter-yearly thereafter.1
1 Records, liber iii., folio 343. The particulars concerning the debate in the Vestry meeting are condensed from a letter of Dr. Berrian to Bishop Onderdonk in October, 1843(No. 364, Berrian MSS.). The Special Committee on the Episcopal Fund was Hon. Samuel Jones, the Rev. Horatio Potter, D.D., Frederick J. Betts, the Rev. Reuben Sherwood, D. D., Stephen Warren (p. 25, Journal of the Diocese of New York, 1843).
CHAPTER XI.
LIFE OF THE PARISH SYMBOLIZED BY ERECTION OF NEW CHURCH.
Death of Thomas Ludlow Ogden-Neglected Condition of Monuments in Trinity Churchyard-The Site for the Bishop Hobart Monument-The Monuments and the Tablets in the Old Church and their Position in the New-Stained-Glass Windows- Cross Adopted as Finial to Spire of New Church-Chimes for the New Tower-Music for Trinity School-Memorial of the City Mission Society for Assistance-Grant Given -Memorial from St. George's Church for Endowment-Proposal to Place Wilmington College under Control of Vestry Declined-Ordinance for Election of Wardens and Vestrymen-Building of the New Church-Aims and Expectations-Committee Ap- pointed on Plan for Daily Services in the New Church-Their Report-Views of the Rector-Dr. Hodges Appointed Organist of Trinity Church, and Henry W. Greatorex of St. Paul's Chapel-Arrangements for Consecration of New Church-Rules for Con- duct of the Services in the New Church Considered-Appointment of Cornelius R. Duffie as Deacon-Presentation to the Bishop of Michigan-Attack on the Corporation -Pamphlet by " Lay Delegate "-Meetings in New York-Memorial to the State Legislature-Committee Appointed by Vestry to Take Action on the Memorial- Prepares "A Remonstrance to the Legislature "-Which is Printed-" A Reply to the Remonstrance " - "An Answer to the Reply" - Petition to the Legislature against the Memorial Signed by Members of Trinity Parish-The Legislature Decides against the Memorialists-Resolution of Senate Calling for a Return of all the Prop- erty of Trinity Corporation-The Vestry Comply.
O N the 17th day of December, 1844, Mr. Thomas Ludlow Ogden departed this life. He had been connected with the Parish in an efficient capacity for nearly forty years ; as Vestryman, Warden, and Clerk of the Vestry he had been a devoted guardian of the name and fame of the ancient establishment, had shaped much of its legislation, and had been among the foremost in planning for the spiritual and temporal advancement of the Church. The Vestry, on motion of William Johnson, Esq., seconded by Philip Hone, Esq., adopted
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The Completion of the New Church
I845]
a series of resolutions upon his death, in which his " singular prudence and discretion " are noted, and "the zeal, integrity, and uprightness" with which he performed his many duties were recognized.1
At this time attention was given to the monuments in the churchyard, some of which were in bad condition, having received no care from the friends and admirers by whom the memorials had been erected or the families of the illustrious dead.2 As to the monument to Bishop Hobart, previously referred to, an order was made that it should be placed "in the centre of the Bishop's room against the wall in the rear of the Chancel, the body to be deposited under the Chancel."3 The old church contained many mural tablets ; and it was desired that these should be placed in the body of the new church in positions corresponding to those which they formerly occupied. To this the architect and others objected on the ground that they would give the walls a spotty appearance, and the Standing Committee finally decided that it would be best to place them in the. largest apartment, or sacristy, in the rear of the new edifice, and this was done.4
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