USA > New York > New York City > A history of the parish of Trinity Church in the city of New York, pt 4 > Part 9
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" If the ground can be used for the purpose (and the gentlemen of the law who are members of the Vestry of Trinity Church, no doubt, are competent to decide) I would recommend, that a spot at the north-east corner of Trinity Church yard, adjoining, or near to, Mr. Vandevoort's house, be laid out, and a neat two story building, with a room on the first floor as an office for the agent, or superintendent, and another sufficiently large to contain a small supply of each of the publications of the society, and for the purpose of packing up the same ; and on the second floor a room for the trustees of the institution to meet in and transact their business, etc. etc. etc. Such a building, if ju- diciously managed, could be put up at a small expense, and at the same time be neat and imposing. The location being so conspicuous, and so very interesting to every Episcopalian in the city, that I have
1 " In Ireland" erased in MS.
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no doubt subscriptions could, in a very short time, be raised to carry the plan into effect. It would have this advantage too, the trustees need not lay out the money of the institution for a building to contain a printing-office and bindery, etc. etc. etc. and for types, presses, cases, racks, and all other apparatus appertaining to a printing establishment; with binders' tools and materials for bookbinding ; and in addition to these expenses, the hands employed in the printing and bindery depart- ments will require their wages, weekly ; - and I verily believe the trustees will, at all times, be able to get their mechanical work done by others at a lower rate than they would be enabled to do it at an establishment of their own.
"As far as I have seen, or can understand the views of the managers of the Protestant Episcopal Press, I am persuaded, that when they have expended twenty thousand dollars they will find that they will want thirty thousand dollars more-and after all their institution will be but a weak, languid, and feeble establishment. The American Bible and Tract Societies have enlisted in their behalf persons belonging to every de- nomination and every class in the community from one end of the Union to the other, and their funds are enormous. They can accomplish al- most any object. And the Methodists have these advantages-every preacher in their communion (and there are some thousands in the United States) is a travelling agent for their book establishment, and every Methodist feels an interest in promoting the same. Episcopa- lians have not the same excitement, neither do they feel the same in- terest, and for the want of which their institution, upon its adopted plan, will be a feeble establishment.
" If the foregoing suggestions should have any weight with the gentlemen engaged in forwarding the Episcopal Press, I will feel my- self somewhat gratified. At any rate I am willing they should go for what they are worth.
" Most sincerely yours, "THOMAS SWORDS. " RIGHT REV. BISHOP HOBART."
Mr. Eleazer Williams, the faithful missionary to the Indians, writes to Bishop Hobart :
" GREEN BAY (MICHIGAN TER.) " 27th June 1829.
" RIGHT REVD. FATHER,
" You would have undoubtedly heard from me before this, had I not been so unfortunate as to be taken sick soon after my return, last
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The Church Almanac
1829]
year, to this place. I have been confined to my room, now, nearly five months with a complicated disease.
"I have, however, through the kindness of Providence, so far re- covered my health and strength, as to be able to officiate on Sundays.
"I am happy, Right Revd. Father, to inform you that the Oneidas are firm in the Christian Faith and continue to adhere strictly to the Liturgy of the Protestant Episcopal Church. I have been requested by them to say that they will expect to see their Father at G. Bay this season. Were we so happy as to receive a visit from our Spiritual Father I have no doubt it will have a good effect upon the Oneidas as well as the Whites.
"May I presume, Right Revd. Father, to remind you, that I still anticipate to receive a similar assistance, this year, from the Trinity Church, which was afforded me in the last.
"A draft enclosed in a letter will answer. Please to present my respectful compliments to your Lady & Family. I am, Right Revd. Father, your most dutiful "Son in the Gospel. "E. WILLIAMS.
" RIGHT REVD. BISHOP HOBART."
The following official letter from Messrs. T. & J. Swords tells the same old story of the apathy of Church- men in regard to the maintenance of Church publications. The Pocket Almanac there referred to continued to be published till the year 1860 and then went out of ex- istence. The Church Almanac was first published under the editorship of its founder, the Rev. Dr. Schroeder, the first issue being for the year 1830. Since that date it has been published continuously with only a slight change in title as the American Church Almanac. Seventy-five years old, it is a monument to the foresight of its founder, who early divined the needs of the American Church and foresaw its great growth in the immediate future.
"NEW YORK, 30th Nov. 1829.
" RIGHT REVEREND AND DEAR SIR,
"We printed 1500 copies of our Pocket Almanack for the year 1829, and in consequence of the publication of the Episcopal Press's
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Churchman's Almanack, we have, thought it adviseable to print but 1000 copies for the year 1830, thus reducing the receipts of our hard-earned labour with this trifling work one third. Again, when the Press pub- lished their edition of the Canons of the Church they advertised them for sale at 373 cents per copy. This we did not think too high, and pur- chased a number of them ; but several of our correspondents, in dis- tant parts, wrote to us, wishing to have some copies sent to them, but wanted a cheaper edition. On this we concluded to print a small im- pression, on smaller type, so as to compress it in a less number of pages, and of course inferior to the copy published by the Press, and we ad- vertised it on the cover of the November number of the Christian Jour- nal at 25 cents, though not published at this day-to-morrow it will be. This difference we considered as about equal. Had we published an edition in every respect the same as the one by the Press, and offered it at a reduced price, we should consider ourselves as acting unfairly. Now, respected Bishop, to our astonishment we see on the cover of the last number of the Weekly Visitor, which came into our hands on Sat- day evening, the Press advertising their copy of the Canons at "eighteen and three fourths cents." Would it not have been judicious in the con- ductors of the Press to have seen our edition before this step was taken ? Are we to construe it, in connection with the Almanack busi- ness, as a settled hostility to us? Surely we cannot form any other conclusion, and we shall be compelled to abandon a part of our busi- ness to them, and act on the defensive, and in our warfare no benefit, but an injury will result to the Church. We should have let the Al- manack business pass, but a repetition of the injury in relation to the Canons is what we did not expect from some of the most influential members of the Press, and compels us to complain.
" This interference is not confined solely to us. There are a num- ber of poor Printers, worthy men, and advanced in years, who have been engaged in the profession from their youth, now suffering for the want of employment, and the Protestant Episcopal Press grasping at the trifling share of business they receive for the very scanty support of themselves and their families. Is this as it should be ? Is this to be the conduct of a religious institution said to be under the control of the Bishop and Clergy of the Diocese of New York ? We are not yet dis- posed to believe that the Episcopal community are prepared to coun- tenance a combination at the sacrifice of individual interest and happiness. The Bible Society, which we have always denominated a Presbyterian institution, have guarded against this interference by their constitution ; and shall Episcopalians, who have always boasted
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Letter from Bishop Brownell
1830]
of their liberality, act thus ? We have heard it remarked, they are in some measure under the necessity of doing so, to enable them to proceed with their business. Is it possible that any man, on serious reflection, would justify the doing of a wrong act that it might enable him to do a right one ? It cannot be !
" To you, our good Bishop, as head of this establishment, we sub- mit the foregoing remarks. It is mortifying to us to do so, but really we think it is a duty we owe to you, Sir, and to ourselves.
"With the highest respect
" Believe us to be, " Most sincerely yours, "T. & J. SWORDS. "RIGHT REVD. BISHOP HOBART."
Bishop Brownell was at this time making an extensive missionary tour in the Southwest, at the request of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society, in which much was accomplished for the expansion and encouragement of the Church in that region.
The following letter explains itself. Mr. John C. Porter had been made deacon by Bishop Hobart July 7, 1828, but died a few months after his ordination to the priesthood, while on a visit to his friend, Major Trask, at Woodville, Miss., October 21, 1830.
"NEW ORLEANS, Jany 13, 1830.
" RT. REVP AND DEAR SIR,
"I have recently felt myself called upon to deviate from one of the canons of the Church in a case which regards your jurisdiction, but hope you think me justified by the circumstances of the case. The Revd Mr. Porter of your Diocese is now the only Episcopal Clergyman remaining in the Diocese of Mississippi. During my visit to that place he received and accepted a call to the City of Natchez, and it became very desirable that he should be admitted to Priest's Orders.
" To return to your Diocese for this purpose would cost him a jour- ney of 5000 miles, besides the loss of time. He produced the requisite testimonials from the Wardens and Vestry of his Parish, and from the Rev. Mr. Fox from personal knowledge for the period of his Residence in Mississippi, and as he came to this State very soon after his admis- VOL. IV .- 6.
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sion to Deacon's Orders in New York the Standing Committee deemed these testimonials sufficient, and gave him the requisite testimonials for Priest's Orders.
" Under these circumstances, I took it upon myself to admit him to the Priesthood without waiting for a dimissory Letter from you. I hope you will think the circumstances of the case, and the friendly relations on which we stand, as a sufficient apology for this irregu- larity, and that you will rectify it in some degree, by giving his Dimis- sory Letter a date anterior to his Ordination.
" The Revª Mr. Muller, late of Natchez, is now in New Orleans, and thinks of going to Tuscaloosa, in Alabama. The Rev. Mr. Wall, lately officiating at Port Gibson, has this day left N. Orleans with a view of settling at Attakapas, West of the Mississippi. The Revd Mr. Fox has removed to this City, for the purpose of settling the estate of his late Father-in-law, and with the view of assisting the Revª Mr. Hull.
"I find fewer prejudices against the Church in this Western region than I had anticipated. On the contrary the intelligent and in- fluential portion of the community generally regard it with the most favourable sentiments. It is greatly to be deplored that we have not a greater number of intelligent and pious young Clergymen to supply the increasing wants of the Church.
" I remain, your affectionate Friend & Brother, " THOS C. BROWNELL. "RT. REVP BP. HOBART."
The Rev. J. C. Rudd was a life-long friend of the Bishop. It was at his house that the latter was taken with his fatal illness. Dr Rudd was the editor of The Gospel Messenger. He, like his friend and Bishop, be- lieved in the potency of printer's ink. In these days when so much is forgotten of the men who laid the foundations of that movement for the restoration of the Church's full heritage both in worship and doctrine, it may be instruc- tive to note that D' Rudd was one of the earliest advo- cates of a change of the present name of the Church in America. The designation which he advocated was that of the "Catholic Church in America." In his paper he quoted with commendation the following note by D'
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The Name of the Church
1830]
Johnson to a sermon of his on the occasion of the ordi- nation at New Albany, Indiana, of the Rev. D' Wylie, formerly a Presbyterian minister :
"My Western reader, be not startled by the word 'Catholic.' Our Saviour Christ established but one Church upon earth. This extended itself into various countries, and in them continued One. It filled the land of England among others, where it kept at divers times more or less of its original purity; and at the period of the Reforma- tion especially, while it adhered to every essential of its primitive or- dinance and belief, dropt certain modern corruptions. It was one before doing so, one in doing so, and one after doing so.
" What can elevate separatists in the mother land to be the Old, True Church here ? We who are named Episcopalians are the legiti- mate offspring of that ancient mother ; our Bishops were consecrated by her Bishops ; our ministry is derived from Christ through her ; from her we spring as a child from the mother, of the same blood, nature, and spiritual inheritance. We form not one of many Christian denominations, but are the original Christian Family from which the other denominations separated, contradictory to the Saviour's will and ordinance ; they are sects-we the Church. Christians removing from their own country into another, never in ancient times thought of starting as a new denomination there, but always fell into the regular ranks of Christ's common Church. Thus, ours is the True, and only Catholic Church of Christ in these United States, and to it all Christ's disciples should belong. This ought to be our only designation, and then others and we ourselves would see our claim and our position aright. The history of a few years, or one selected principle, should not in any nation give name to the Church of Christ, which belongs to all Christian centuries, and which has all the elements of truth. If it may be named, 'The Protestant Episcopal' because it has protested against Roman additions, and testified to the Episcopal Succession, as well might it be named 'The Witnessing Baptist,' because beyond any other religious society in the land, it clearly and fully witnesses true Christian Baptism ; testifying to the truth of its mode of administra- tion, excluding none of its lawful modes ;- testifying to the truth as to its subjects, excluding none of its lawful subjects ;- testifying in its in- structions to the truth of its nature, excluding none of its lower offices or its higher and supernatural mysteries of gift and nature ;- testifying to the very essence of the sacrament, by the unquestionable validity of the ministry which administers the sacrament. I look for it, that the
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Churchmen in the West, the plain-spoken, the straightforward West, which ever likes to call things by right names, will be those, who knowing that they have the reality, will take the lead in claiming the rightful name of THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, THE CATHOLIC, IN AMERICA." 1
Little did Mr. Rudd know, when urging the Bishop to pay his visit to Rochester and consecrate the church there, that it would be the last church he was to conse- crate and that his last official act would be in his own church at Auburn.
" AUBURN Feb. 7th 1830.
" RT REV. & DEAR SIR,
"I am much perplexed to know what to think of Geneva College matters, at the very moment when I supposed Mr. Potter would be elected, I found while in Albany, this day week that new negotiations were going on to obtain Dr. Reed who is Mr. Spencer's man and who he thinks will come now. On my return on Friday I found a long letter from Dr. Reed, but how to reconcile it with one from him to Dr. Lacey I am utterly at a loss. From what I understand Dr. Reed thinks of Mr. Potter, of your being in his favour & from his letter to me it does seem that we are getting into a very curious state of things. There could have been no meeting of the Trustees at Geneva last Wednesday, and when a meeting will be held I am not yet informed ; but I am anxious to know your views before we are called together. I had a long letter some time since assuring me that Mr. Humphreys of Hart- ford would take the office, & I have recently learned from good author- ity that he is the most popular & efficient man in Washington College.
"I hope your Columbia College movement will produce the de- sired effect. I was glad to find Gov. Throop, and, as I understood, the Regents generally, entirely with you. Is that man of Grace Church determined to knock out his own brains ? I shall take a brief notice of the subject in the next Messenger, by which you will see that Troy has done nobly for our little Press. Albany is a dull place just now, owing, I fear, as much to an unpleasant state of things in St. Peter's, as to the unhappy depression of poor Bury and St. Paul's.
" It will perhaps be well not to mention what I have said respect- ing Dr. Reed's letters to Dr. Lacey and myself. They are surely very 1 See note C, pp. 13, 14, The Testimony of Jesus, by Samuel Roosevelt Johnson, and Gospel Messenger. March 19, 1842.
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The Last Letter to the Bishop
1830]
strange ones, all things considered. Will Kearney be able to sustain his ground at Canandaigua ? I pray they may not be doomed to another convulsion, & I very much fear they will suffer one if he continues. Do you expect to consecrate St. Paul's at Rochester this winter ?- If so will you inform me very soon? as I shall be more or less from home I wish to make such arrangements as will prevent my being disappointed of the pleasure of seeing you.
" Yours as ever, "J. C. RUDD.
" RIGHT REVD. BISHOP HOBART."
The difficulties of maintaining the Church in rural dis- tricts is shown repeatedly throughout this correspondence, although the difficulties at Huntington appear, from the following quaintly expressed letter, to have been many and varied.
"HUNTINGTON [L. I.], Ap1 20th 1830
" REVP SIR
" The Episcopal Church in our Village is unoccupied and a Small society of anabaptists with a Cooper by trade for their Preacher have applied for the use of it. They have offered to repair the building and to pay as much as their infant society can afford. I refused to give them any encouragement untill your approbation could be ob- tained. The Woodpeckers have made a great number of holes through the shingles and I believe birds have laid & hatched annually, between the ceiling in considerable numbers. The man supports a moral Char- acter and preaches with considerable Celebrity. I hope you will act soon, either pro or con (& decidedly) to rid me of frequent importunity. "Yours respectfully " DANIEL W. KISSAM
"N.B. The church members by death & removal have almost become extinct.
" THE RIGHT REVP BISHOP HOBART."
One of the very last letters addressed to the Bishop was from his son-in-law, the Rev. L. S. Ives, who writes from Short Hills, September 3, 1830. As the letter is re- addressed from Auburn, it is evident it did not reach that place till after the Bishop had passed away.
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The writer, after giving an account of his own state of health, ends the letter with these words, pathetic in im- port, since the advice they contained was destined to arrive too late :
"Do take care of yourself. You think me imprudent, and perhaps I am, but do let me persuade you to profit by my sad experience, at least to avoid all unnecessary exposure.
"most affectly yours "L. S. IVES."
With this extract we close our review of the Hobart Correspondence, conscious of the fact that nothing has been suppressed, or ignored, which could in any way make us of this generation understand the Seventh Rec- tor of Trinity Church, and the friends who rallied round him and were so staunch in their devotion to him.
We have allowed the letters to speak for themselves, to tell their own tale and to reveal the man himself.
No letter has been suppressed because it revealed a fault or an infirmity ; on the other hand there has been no undue selection, designed to magnify the great quali- ties of John Henry Hobart.
CHAPTER III.
LAST DAYS AND DEATH OF BISHOP HOBART.
Bishop Hobart Visits Auburn-Holds a Confirmation-Is Taken Seriously Ill-Dies September 12th-Account of Last Moments by the Rev. Dr. Rudd-Account of the Funeral-Bishop Onderdonk Preaches the Funeral Sermon-Action Taken by the Vestry-Letters of Condolence from Various Bodies-Annuities Granted by the Cor- poration to the Bishop's Widow-Letter of Acknowledgment Received from the Bishop's Family-Monument Erected to the Bishop's Memory-Incident at His Funeral-Verses Suggested by the Funeral-Tributes from Bishop White; Rev. Dr. Berrian; Rev. Dr. Schroeder; Rev. Dr. Wainwright; Dr. Matthews; Governor King; Bishop Coxe-Summary of Bishop Hobart's Character and Influence-Conclusion.
O UR story of the acts of Bishop Hobart draws now to an end. It remains only to give some account of the passing of that great heart and holy soul. He was called when far away from his home, on a visitation in a distant part of his diocese, engaged in official duty as chief pastor of the flock committed to his charge. Spared a long illness, with comparatively little suffering, in the house of loving and devoted friends, without fear, in full faith in the power of his Divine Master, fortified with the great sacrament of our salvation, steadfast through hope, patient in tribulation, he fell asleep in Jesus Christ, and rested from his labors.
It was after his visit to Rochester, as recorded in the third volume of this History, that the Bishop proceeded to Auburn, where he was received by his old and faithful friend, the Rev. J. C. Rudd. Reaching that place on Wednesday, September 1, 1830, he administered the rite of Confirmation on the following day. It was his last
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official act. He was suddenly taken ill, and after alterna- tions between hope and fear, rallying and failure of strength, which lasted for nine days, he expired on the 12th day of the month.
We are indebted to Dr. Rudd, at whose house the Bishop breathed his last, for a minute account of that fatal illness. The greater part of that narrative we give in full :
"The right Reverend prelate and pious servant of God expired at the parsonage house of St. Peter's church in this village, the residence of his friend, the writer of this article, at four o'clock on Sunday morn- ing, September 12, 1830, being it is believed, about 56 years of age.
"The following article is not designed to draw the character of this distinguished ornament and defender of the Christian cause; in it there is no attempt made to delineate the features of that noble and energetic mind, nor will it be employed in ordinary obituary reflections.
" The writer is under the impression that the public, especially that portion of it which is attached to the Episcopal Church will be impa- tient to have before them the particulars of the last days of this exten- sively known and ardently beloved individual. Under the pressure of no common emotions he deems it his duty to employ the first moments he has, after having finished his attentions to the body of the friend of nearly thirty years, in giving the afflicted members of the Church, and the weeping relatives and personal friends of the deceased, such partic- ulars as cannot be expected from another, and which a sense of pain- ful responsibility impels him not to delay. Should the task be found imperfectly performed, let my apology be read in that oppressive weight of feeling which cannot be removed till time has reconciled me to the prevailing stillness and gloom of a dwelling visited by death, to the absence of assiduous physicians, the retiring of anxious atten- dants and inquiring friends.
" Bishop Hobart arrived at my house on the evening of Wednesday the Ist instant, in ordinary health, with the exception of a slight cold, which made him a little chilly. He rested well that night, and com- plained of nothing unusual the following morning. He preached that morning in St. Peter's church, and administered confirmation to nine persons. His sermon, alas! his last sermon, was uttered in his usually impressive manner, and listened to by a full congregation with
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Last Illness of Bishop Hobart
1830]
a profound stillness and attention. The text was Job, xxviii, 28. ' The fear of the Lord, that is wisdom.'
" On returning to the parsonage-house, he complained of coldness and of oppression at the stomach from which his friends have known him to suffer very severely for more than twenty years. He ate little at dinner, and shortly after retired to his room where he slept some time. At tea he ate nothing, and soon after returned to his room, and went to bed. On entering his room as he was dressing himself, to hand him some letters, I found he complained still more of being un- well. He was urged to abandon the idea of meeting his appointments for the two next days. To this measure he expressed great reluctance, though it was repeatedly pressed upon him by different members of the family. The Rev. Mr. Hollister of Skaneateles called about 12 o'clock noon, with a conveyance to take the bishop to Pompey, where there was a church to be consecrated the following day. About half an hour before this, Dr. Morgan, of this village, called to pay his respects. On discovering the bishop's tendency to indisposition, he seconded the remonstrance of the writer, against proceeding on his tour of duty. The bishop yielded to his advice.
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