USA > New York > New York City > A history of the parish of Trinity Church in the city of New York, pt 4 > Part 45
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In 1834 the Vestry of St. Paul's Church, Cincinnati, were search- ing for a young man of sound judgment and robust health to fill the vacancy made by the death of the Rev. Samuel Johnston, one of the pioneer missionaries of Ohio, who had built up a strong parish upon the foundation laid by Bishop Chase. Mr. Haight was urged to go west and take up the work of Mr. Johnston. After some deliberation and consultation with the Bishop and other friends, he accepted and remained in Cincinnati for three years. He made a deep impression upon the city and diocese. His energy and devotion brought the parish to a high state of efficiency.
The resignation of the Rev. William Atwater Clark, the founder and first Rector of All Saints' Church, in Scammell Street, recalled Mr. Haight in the spring of 1837 to his native city. The east side then
531
Sketch of the Reverend Benjamin I. Haight
had a population largely American, in which were many wealthy ship- builders and families of moderate means, with a fair proportion of the poor. As Rector of this large and rapidly increasing parish Mr. Haight was methodical, practical, and sympathetic. In 1841 he added to his duties that of Professor of Pastoral Theology and Pulpit Elo- quence in the General Theological Seminary. His lectures and talks with the students and his practical exemplification of the proper methods of reading the service and preaching were of very great benefit to the successive classes that came under his instruction.
Dr. Haight became an assistant in the Parish about 1848, under authority given to the Rector to engage such clergymen as were neces- sary, who should be under his direction. In 1855 he was elected an Assistant Minister and assigned to Trinity Church, as is noted in the text of this History. He then resigned the professorship and gave all his time to pastoral work. In the fall of 1859 he was transferred to St. Paul's Chapel, where his work among the poor and destitute made him their friend and confidant.
He was chosen December 4, 1872, Bishop of the Diocese of Massachusetts to succeed Dr. Eastburn, who had died in the previous September. He felt obliged to decline, as the state of his health would not allow him to undergo the heavy cares of the Episcopate. He was nominated by the Rector and elected by the Vestry in 1874 as Assistant Rector of the Parish, an office which he held until he was compelled to retire from all active duty.
Of these later years his friend, the Bishop of New York, Dr. Ho- ratio Potter, says :
"It is now three or four years since Dr. Haight disappeared from the councils of the Church. During this closing period the decline of strength was very gradual. He was free from acute sufferings, con- tinued to enjoy seeing his friends and hearing what was passing in the Church." 1
The end of earth came peacefully on February 21, 1879, in the seventieth year of his age and the forty-eighth of his ministry. His body rests in the beautiful churchyard of St. James's Church, Hyde Park, where a monument designed by his son, Mr. Charles C. Haight, was erected.
In addition to his parochial and professorial duties, Dr. Haight was engaged in much useful work for the Church. He was Assistant Secretary of the Diocese of New York from 1831 to 1834, and Secre-
1 Pp. 66, 67, Journal, Diocese of New York, 1879.
1
532
History of Trinity Church
tary from 1837 to 1854. He was for many years a member of the Standing Committee and served for ten years as its Secretary. He was chosen a deputy to the General Convention in 1868 and served to the enhancement of his reputation as a skilled debater and theo- logian.
In 1846 he received the degree of Doctor in Divinity from Columbia College, and in 1873 that of Doctor of Laws from Hobart College. Dr. Haight delivered a sermon before the associate alumni of the General Theological Seminary which was printed. On May 14, 1873, he preached before the clergy and laity of the Diocese of Massachu- setts a sermon commemorative of the fourth Bishop of Massachusetts, Dr. Manton Eastburn, which was published.
Bishop Potter gives this estimate of Dr. Haight: "No doubt many clergymen of this Diocese and of other parts of the country re- tain grateful memories of the services received from him when in the General Theological Seminary. Many years since Rector of All Saints' Church in this city, and in later years an Assistant Minister of Trinity Parish, he left in both spheres of labor grateful recollections of his zeal, and his tender, earnest interest in the spiritual welfare of the souls among whom he ministered. For myself I shall ever retain a most grateful remembrance of his warm-hearted kindness and of his disinterested personal services." 1
XIII.
THE SERMONS OF THE REVEREND HENRY BARCLAY, D.D., THE SECOND RECTOR OF THIS PARISH.
Mention is made on page 332 of this volume of the History of the offer of the Rev. Henry W. Ducachet, D.D., Rector of St. Stephen's Church, Philadelphia, to present, "for permanent preservation," a large number of the sermons of Dr. Barclay to the Corporation of Trinity Church.
From the day when the gift was accepted by the Vestry on November 13, 1848, until September, 1905, it was not known where they were. These sermons were recently discovered, with other per-
1 P. 67, Journal, Diocese of New York, 1879.
533
The Society Library
sonal effects of Dr. Ducachet, in the Archives of the Diocese of Penn- sylvania. Upon a representation made to the Registrar of the Diocese of Pennsylvania, the Rev. Samuel F. Hotchkiss, M.A., and with the cordial consent of the Right Rev. Dr. Whitaker, Bishop of the Diocese, they were courteously released to this Corporation and trans- mitted through the Rev. Joseph Hooper.
The sermons are seventy-seven in number, and were preached at various times from 1739 to 1764. Several were delivered to the Mo- hawk Indians when Mr. Barclay was Indian Missionary. Among the sermons are that delivered on the Sunday after Mr. Barclay's induc- tion into Trinity Church, a charity sermon, one on the death of Prince Frederick of Wales, and one upon the capture of Havana. Four of them are sermons written by his father, the Rev. Thomas Barclay, the founder of St. Peter's Church, Albany, and Indian Missionary. As it was the custom of the time, the son did not scruple to preach them, without any idea of plagiarism or dishonesty.1
XIV.
THE SOCIETY LIBRARY.
It is stated on page 196 of the second volume of this History that the Society Library grew out of the association of clergymen known as the New York Protestant Episcopal Literary Society, and which in 1814 petitioned for the books in the Parish Library then stored in a room in Saint Paul's Chapel. The potential founder of the Society Library was the Rev. John Sharpe, D.D., who in 1713 sent proposals to the Bishop of London for a library and school, as already noted. In its present form it dates from colonial times, the date usually given being 1754.
Two hundred volumes from Dr. Sharpe's library are now in the Society Library.
1 A sketch of Dr. Barclay by the Rev. Joseph Hooper will be found in The Church Eclectic for March, 1906. In it will be given extracts from these sermons, and several letters previously unpublished.
534
History of Trinity Church
XV.
THE CATECHETICAL SCHOOL.
In the first volume of this History a plan for a catechetical school, a chapel for catechumens, and a library for the Churchmen of New York, which was presented to the Bishop of London in March, 1713, is attributed to the Rev. William Vesey, Rector of this Parish (see pp. 187-189). It was the work of the Rev. John Sharpe, D.D., Chaplain at Fort Anne, 1704-1717. The carelessness of the copyist for Dr. Hawkes in 1836, in not copying in full the document for the Archives of the General Convention, explains the inference from the contents of the plan. He omitted the signature. A correct copy transcribed directly from "Lambeth Manuscript, 841," will be found in the Collections of the New York Historical Society for 1880 (pp. 339-364). It has this signature:
" JOHN SHARPE, "Chaplain to her Majestie's Forts "and Forces in the Province "of New York."
XVI.
THE FIRST APPEARANCE OF A SURPLICED CHOIR IN TRINITY CHURCH.
The statement concerning the date when the choir of Trinity Church was vested should be modified in accordance with this notice of that event in The Church Fournal. The choir first appeared in surplices on Sunday, October 7, 1860. The visit of the Prince of Wales was on Sunday, October 14th. "After long delay the choir of Trinity Church in this City at last appeared last Sunday morning in surplices, the only proper habit for choristers seated in the chancel. We are thankful that the unecclesiastical and unbeautiful sight of boys' jackets and roundabouts in the chancel is done with. It will not return."-The Church Fournal, Wednesday, October 10, 1860, vol. viii., p. 402.
X
535
List of Grants, Gifts, and Loans
XVII.
A STATEMENT OF GRANTS, GIFTS, AND LOANS MADE BY TRINITY CHURCH, AS GIVEN BY THE REV. DR. BERRIAN IN HIS "HISTORICAL SKETCH," AND "FACTS AGAINST FANCY."
In the early part of the history of this Parish, it stood in need of assistance itself, and was, therefore, altogether unable to attend to the wants of others. The first instance of its bounty towards a neighbour- ing church, recorded in the minutes, was in the gift of the communion cloth, pulpit cloth, and cloth for the desk, to Mr. Peter Jay, for the church at Rye, in the year 1745. Since that time, in every altera- tion and improvement of Trinity Church and its Chapels, its gifts to needy congregations of articles of all kinds have been innumer- able; baptismal fonts, communion plate, chandeliers, lustres, pulpits, desks, stoves, bells, iron gates, iron railing and other fences, flagging stones, carpets for chancel and aisles, and almost everything which can enter into the construction and serve for the decoration of the Sanctuary. These, however, though a seasonable relief to parishes which were limited in their resources, are scarcely worthy of being noticed in connection with its lavish bounties and munificent grants to most of the churches throughout the State. There is hardly a form in which their liberality could promote the interests of religion, that it has not assumed. When unable to contribute largely, they did it judiciously, and according to their ability.
Thus we find at a time' when infidelity was very prevalent here, that 200 copies of a work entitled The Antidote to Deism were pur- chased by the Vestry, and committed to the Rector and Assistant Ministers for distribution, and shortly after 500 copies of Watson's Apology.
As there was no Bible and Common Prayer Book Society in that day, the Vestry, in consideration of the great feebleness and urgent wants of the Church, in some slight degree anticipated the establish- ment of such an institution.
In 1797, they gave to the committee of the Convention for propa- gating the Gospel 150 copies of the Book of Common Prayer, and 100 copies to Christ Church, Duanesburgh, in the following year 50 copies to Christ Church, Ballston; 500 copies were afterwards given
1 1797
536
History of Trinity Church
to the Rector for distribution, together with 200 copies of Hobart's Companion for the Altar, and in 1807, 200 copies of Fowler's Ex- position of the Book of Common Prayer. On another occasion an ap- propriation was made of £100, which the Rector was to expend in Prayer Books.
The Vestry also committed to the Rector, for the promotion of religion upon the frontiers of this State, £150, $375 In 1799, they gave to the Committee for the propagation of the Gospel, $412
1805 do do do 250
1807 do
do do 250
At one time they appropriated £200 towards furnishing land for a Negro Burial-Ground, $500
And at another, they entrusted to Mr. Ellison £100 for defend-
ing the rights of the Church at Johnstown, $250
Grants for General and Public Purposes.
1786 3 lots of ground for the use of the Senior Pastors of the Pres- byterian Congregations in this City.1
1765 An order was passed relative to the establishing a ferry from Roosevelt's Dock to Paulus Hook, with conveyances of 2 lots to the Corporation for the purpose. 2
i Lots No. 255, 256, and 257 of the Church Estate, in Robinson-street, now Park Place.
2 It being represented to the Board, that Alderman Roosevelt intended to propose to the corporation of the City of New-York to grant and convey to them two water lots belonging to him, adjoining the water lots of this corporation, upon condition that the ferry across Hudson River between this City and Powles Hook should be established and fixed from his said lots, but inasmuch as the said two lots will not be sufficient to accommodate the said ferry without the addition of so much of the water lots belong- ing to this corporation adjoining the said two lots and of equal dimensions therewith, and this Board considering the conveniences and advantage arising to the public from the said ferry, Thereupon Resolved, That they will also grant and convey to the said City corporation two of their lots adjoining the said two water lots of Alderman Roose- velt, and of equal dimensions, for the use of the said ferry, but for no other use or purpose whatsoever, upon condition that the said ferry is to be established and fixed there forever; but if the said ferry shall be removed from thence, that then the said two water lots so granted by this corporation for the use aforesaid, shall again revert and be in this corporation.
537
List of Grants, Gifts, and Loans
1771 Contributions towards building a market on Hudson's River, 1 $500
1775 Appropriation of two lots on the north side of Vesey street for a pier and slip.
1800 Towards building a market in Brannon-street, $250 Land appropriated for the same purpose in Duane-street. And also for a market in Christopher-street, between Greenwich and Washington streets.
1810 2 lots of ground for a free school, in Hudson-street.
1815 A further grant of lots of ground for the Free School Society.
Donations and allowances to aged and infirm Clergymen, and to others, whose incomes were inadequate to their support.
1795 The Rev. George H. Speerin $375 1796 Rev. William Hammel, paralyzed at an early period in his min- istry and rendered incapable of self-support, who received an allowance of froo per annum for 30 years $7500
1796 The Rev. Dr. Dibble
375
1798 do do · 150
1799 do do . 100
1796 The Rev. William Ayres, $175 per annum for 3 years 562 50
An additional allowance of £25 .
62 50
The Rev. Dr. Bowden .
. 500
1797 Mr. A. Lile . 185
1801 Rev. Daniel Nash .
250
1806 do do
250 1812 do do
· 400
1 Whereas, The Oswego Market, now standing in the Broadway, is ordered to be removed, and it is proposed that a new one be erected on part of the lands upon Hud- son's River belonging to this corporation, for which purpose a subscription paper has been exhibited as well by a number of the Church Tenants as others northward of Partition street, who have engaged to raise about three hundred Pounds towards erect- ing the said Market ; Thereupon it is resolved and agreed, that this corporation will also contribute the sum of two hundred Pounds towards building the said Market, and will release their right and claim to the ground on which the same is proposed to be built for the use of a Market forever, upon condition that the Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty of this City will grant and confirm to them the water lots agreeable to the prayer of the petition now before the said Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty for that purpose.
538
History of Trinity Church
1814 Rev. Daniel Nash . . $250
1801 Rev. R. G. Whitmore 1 do. do .
250
· 200
Rev. Henry Van Dyke
150
1802 do do
250
1803 do do
250
1804 do do
125
do
do
250
1801 The Rev. Philander Chase (now Bishop of Illinois) 250
1803 The Rev. Peter A. Albert
· 250
1804 do do
. 250
1805 do do
250
1806 do do
250
1803 The Rev. Edmund D. Barry
250
1804 do do
250
1805 do
do
· 250
1806 do do
250
1807 do do
. 250
1809 Rev. John Reed . 200
1810 Rev. William Harris, Rector of St. Mark's Church · 500
do do
· 500
18II Rev. Elias Cooper, Yonkers .
1812 do do
. 250
1813 do do
· 250
1812 Rev. William Powell, of Coldenham
250 250
1812 Rev. Cyrus Stebbins ·
250
1813 do do
300
do do
250
1814 do do
250
1812 Joseph Perry .
250
do do
200
Rev. Jonathan Judd
. 150
Rev. John Brady .
250
1812 Rev. Asa Cornwall
100
Rev. Ralph Williston
· 250
1813 to 1816, inclusive, Rev. R. Williston, $500 per ann. . 2000
1813 Mr. Prentiss . .
· 500 · David Butler .
· 150
1 This is a misprint for Wetmore .- M. D.
Rev. Wm. Smith, D.D.
· 500
250
1813 do do do
539
List of Grants, Gifts, and Loans
1814 David Butler . . $250
1813 Rev. N. B. Burgess, Clergyman at Setauket . . 250
1814 do do 250
Rev. John Urquhart 150
Rev. H. I. Feltus 1.
250
1826 Bishop Croes .
250
1832 Rev. Moses Burt
150
1834 Rev. Wm. R. Whittingham, $500 on two occasions, being spon- taneous gifts of the Vestry to him, on his going to Europe for the recovery of his health ? 1000
1835 Rev. Eleazer Williams .
· · 250
Rev. Dr. Hawks, as an agent of the General Convention to col- lect materials in England for the history of the Church, $1500
1835 to 1846, Rev. Dr. Rudd, a faithful and valued servant of the Church, an annuity of $250 $2750
1838 Rev. G. Mills . · · 250 Rev. Dr. Seabury, for his highly acceptable services in the Parish during a vacancy (in addition to his salary) . $1000 1843-1847, Donations at different times to the Rector of Christ's Church .
$1000
1846 Rev. John Grigg
.
. 300
Annuities to those who had in a great measure spent their lives in the Parish, and retired from infirmity and old age.
Annuity of £400 to Bishop Provoost from 1801 to 1816
$15,000
of £500 to Bishop Moore from 1811 to 1816
.
6,250
of £600 to Dr. Beach from 1813 to 1829
24,000
And to the families of those who had died in its service, 36,900
Gifts to officers of the Church, &c., &c., for their faithful services, in addition to their salary.
1837 To N. Andrews, porter of the Vestry office .
.
do
·
150
200
1839 To the Collector
·
·
200
1840
do
do
· 200
1838 do
' Misprint for H. J. Feltus .- M. D.
? Five hundred of which being unexpended on his return, he, with characteristic disinterestedness, sent back to the Vestry, which they as generously declined.
540
History of Trinity Church
1841 To the Collector $200
1839 Peter Erben, organist
· 300
1839 R. Slack, Sexton 150
1841 To the widow of R. Slack 250
To a labourer at Trinity Church who had broken his arm 50
King's, now Columbia, College.
1752 Grant of land in the centre of the city between Murray and Barclay-streets, and extending from Church-street to the river,1 the present value of which is perhaps · $400,000
Grants and gifts to Institutions for the promotion of Religion and Learning.
CHARITY SCHOOL.
In the early history of the School occasional gratuities were made to it by Trinity Church, towards the sup- port of the schoolmasters. .
In 1748 ground was given for the site of the school, and the deficiencies in the subscriptions for the build- ing of a school-house made up by the Vestry. .
In 1748 for the rebuilding of the same after it was burnt .
. $1,000
1800 A debt assigned to it of . 5,276 87 I-2 ·
Seven lots of land bounded by Lumber, Rector and Greenwich streets, worth at present not less than
35,000
Donation of of .
1,000
1800
7,500
1808 66 of .
1,000
50,776 87 I-2
1832 Grant of 5 lots on Canal, Varick, and Grand streets at a mere nominal rent.
' A great portion of this, however, being used for mere college purposes and the residue having been for the most part leased out on comparatively low rents by the State when it took charge of the College immediately after the revolution ; the in- come of the property bears no kind of proportion to its value, and is entirely inadequate to the support of the institution.
List of Grants, Gifts, and Loans 541
Society for the Promotion of Religion and Learning.
1802 .
$1,000 8,500
32 lots of land in Barclay, Warren, Greenwich, Hud- son, Beach, and North Moore streets, worth at the present time, perhaps . 120,000
129,500
Rent Paid for the African Catechetical Institute.
$262
1808 Appropriation towards the same
3,000
1819 to 1826, Ground rent assumed by the Vestry, at $330
per year
2,210
Additional sum guaranteed to it of .
2,500
7,972
General Theological Seminary.
1825 or 1826, Appropriation towards the building · $1,000 .
$3,393 17, the amount received under God- frey Coon's Will paid to the Seminary and $750 interest .
4,143 17
1835 Grant towards its library of
·
4,000
9,143 17
Education and Missionary Society.
1833 Missionary branch ·
$300
Ann. allowance of $600 from Dec. 1839 to 1843 2,400
1844 Missionary fund of the Diocese 250 .
1842 Education Branch
· 600
1843 . 600
4,150
Washington College, Hartford, Connecticut.
1833 .
5,000
1836 .
Episcopal Fund of the Diocese.
.
30,000
.
542
History of Trinity Church
1838 House for the Episcopal residence . . $20,000 An allowance to the Bishop of $1,600 from 1839 to 1843 . 6,400 Donations of $1,200 on two occasions 2,400
58,800
City Mission Society.
1832 Ann. allowance of $600 from 1832 to 1834 · $1,200
1834 to 1837, do of $1,100 3,300
1837 to 1846, do of $1,800 12,600
1845 Donation .
600
1847 do . .
1,200
18,900
St. Mark's Church, New York.
$12,500
1795
1 5,088 81 1-4
1798
181 87
500
Two annual donations to the Rector 2 1,000
To which sums the following endowment in land on the Church farm was added:
5 lots in Warren street,
I in Church-street,
9 in Reade
3 in Harison
6 in North Moore street,
6 in Provoost
-
30 Worth probably at the present time not less than 131,500
$150,770 68 1-4
Grace Church, New York.
1804 .
· $3,750
. 1,000
.
. 15,000 ·
1 There are no means of ascertaining, from the minutes of the Vestry, whether this was an additional grant, or a part of the former one.
Noticed before, under another head.
الصورة
543
List of Grants, Gifts, and Loans
1805 . 1,500 1810 For the organ ·
5,000
1811 Assignment of a mortgage for . 7,320 50
Grace Church was also built at the expense of this Cor- poration, for which the latter received no reimbursement except in the sum arising out of the sales of pews, amount- ing to $30,000.
In return for this, Trinity Church made a still further grant to Grace Church of several lots of land.
7 of which were on Rector street, 2 on Vesey 66 3 on Barclay
2 on Warren
5 on Chambers street,
2 on Church and
4
on Read
25 in all.
In referring to the minutes of the Vestry for the prices at which lots sold in 1810, the twelve of these which were on Chambers, Warren, Barclay, and Vesey streets, were worth $40,000 at the time, and the thirteen on Rector, Church, and Reade streets at least $26,000. The value of the whole number at the present time cannot be less than $120,000.
St. George's Church, New York.
1812 & 1813, Grant of the following lots of land :
8 on Reade-street and Church-street,
4 on Greenwich-street,
6 on Murray
9 on Chambers 66
4 on Warren 1
I on Barclay and I on Beekman
33 in all, the present value of which cannot be less than $170,000 00 Further grants for communion plate, iron railing, &c., 5,104 62
14,000 00
184 25 30,946 83
$220,235 70
544
History of Trinity Church
Grants, Donations, and Loans to other Churches.
1795 St. Peter's, Westchester, $750 1796 do do
. 500
1809 5 lots of ground on Reade, Chambers and Warren street, the present value of which is about 22,500
24,750
1796 Christ Church, Hudson, Columbia Co. .
·
2,000
1802
do
do
1,500
1796 St. Peter's, Albany
6,250
1801
do
do
300
1797 St. George's, Flushing, L. I. 1,250
1820
do
do
1,000
1809 3 lots of ground, in Warren-street and 2 in Cham- bers-street, worth about 19,500
1797 Grace, Jamaica, L. I.
21,750
1,250
1809 3 lots in Lumber st. and I in Reade st., worth per- haps at present about
18,500
1820
1,000
20,750
1792 St. James's, Newtown, L. I.
·
1,250
1809, I lot in Reade st., I in Greenwich st., and 2 in Lum- ber st., worth perhaps at present about 20,000
21,250
1797 St. Anne's, Brooklyn, L. I.
1,000
1804 do do
2,000
1809 Two lots of ground in Chambers st., worth perhaps
at present about
·
·
·
13,000
16,000
1798 Christ Church, Poughkeepsie .
1,250 18IO do annual allowance of $250 for 5 years 1,250
1813 do do for the Rector 250
1797 Trinity Church, New Rochelle 1,250 Trinity do Fishkill Village 1,000 .
1813
500
For the Rector .
.
250
St. Philip's Church, in the Highlands
750
545
List of Grants, Gifts, and Loans
1797 St. Peter's Church, Peekskill 750
1797 St. James do Goshen
1,250
1814 do do do
.
625
1833 do do do
1,500
1797 To the Church at New Stamford
500
1802 St. Peter's do
Stamford
200
1808 St. John's do
Stamford, Conn.
300
1797 To the Church at Salem or Campden
500
1797 Constantia, Lake Oneida
625
1797 do do Duanesburgh
·
750
1804 do do
do
1,000
1806 do do do
500
1807 do do do
250
1800 To the Church on Staten Island, north side
. 1,000
1802 St. Andrew's, Staten Island
.
1,000
1800 For parsonage at Yonkers
500
1801 do do
250
1800 For parsonage at Rye
750 500
. 248 80
1802 Church at Burlington Church at Otsego
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