USA > New York > New York City > An historical sketch of Trinity Church, New-York > Part 15
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The church was consecrated by Bishop Moore, in 1807, on which occasion I was present, and the sor- mon was preached by that noble man and powerful writer, the Rev. Dr. Wilkins, the friend of Seabury and Chandler, who, long surviving them, connecting in a most interesting manner a new order of things with generations that were past.
The Vestry of Trinity Church, forever anxious to discharge the high trust which in the providence of God had been committed to them, proposed a plan, on the 16th of August, 1802, for instituting a Society for the promotion of Religion and Learning, which after having been read and considered was agreed to, and the following trustecs were appointed : The Rev. Drs. Beach and Bowden, the Rev. Messrs. Hobart, Jones, Harris and Pilmore; Dr. John Charlton, Peter Kemble, Robert Watts, John Onderdonk, Frederick De Peyster, Richard Harison, Jacob LeRoy, Francis
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TRINITY CHURCH, NEW-YORK.
B. Winthrop, Matthew Clarkson, Herman LeRoy, William Jauncey, William M. Seton, Martin Hoffman and John Jones.
It was resolved at the same time, that the commit- tee of leases should consider what measures should be taken towards the endowment and support of the said Society, and at the next meeting of the Vestry they reported that the following lots should be assigned to it for the purpose :
10 on Hudson-street,
6 on Beach-street, and
6 on (North) Moore-street, making in all 22 lots, which in the opinion of the committee would produce at that time upwards of $1000 per an- num, but at the present time perhaps threefold that sum; and they further recommended that one thousand dollars should be given to the institution for its immediate wants. To this liberal grant they added another of four lots more on Hudson-street, which must have considerably increased its annual income.
The following were the objects for which the Society was originally established :
To adopt measures in order to ensure a sufficient number and succession of pious and learned ministers of the Gospel, attached to the doctrines and discipline of the Protestant Episcopal Church.
To afford assistance to such young men as are of good character and competent abilities, but in circum- stances which do not admit of prosecuting the study of divinity without aid.
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To encourage those who may distinguish them- selves by extraordinary attainments.
To receive all donations for pious purposes, and to superintend the application of them.
To provide funds for the procuring of a Theological Library ; for the establishment of schools; and of one or more fellowships in Columbia College.
And, in a word, to pursue a system of measures, whereby the situation of the Clergy may be rendered respectable, the Church obtain a permanent support, and learning and piety be generally diffused through- out the State.
The plan of the Institution was evidently too large for its limited means, however sanguine the hopes of their increase from its original endowment. But, in order to meet the views of the Founders, in some degree at least, these means were from time to time considerably enlarged. In 1805, it was resolved to purchase for the Society the lease of a house and lot. in Murray-street, for a sum not exceeding one thou- sand pounds. Other sums of £1000, £800, and £300, on two different occasions, were granted to it shortly after its establishment. And finally, in 1808, the Ves- try bestowed on the Society 6 more lots of ground, in Barclay, Warren, and Greenwich streets, the most valuable portion of the Church Estate, yielding at the time a yearly rent of eight hundred and twenty-five dollars; in the confident hope that these rents, with their other funds, would afford a suitable provision for the propagation of the Gospel, and the other laudable purposes for which it was founded.
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The Institution has now been successfully engaged in the discharge of its duties for nearly half a centu- ry; and though time and circumstances have, in some of the details, occasionally modified its operations, yet the main features of the original plan for promoting religion and learning have been kept steadily in view, and the lavish bounty of Trinity Church has made it the instrument of incalculable good.
A memorial of John Boonen Graves, and a number of other respectable members of the Congregation, was presented to the Vestry in 1804, requesting a new church, to be built South and West of St. Paul's. Mr. Watts, Mr. Le Roy, and Mr. Bayard, were appointed a Committee to select a suitable situation for the pur- pose, and to purchase the ground. They shortly after reported, that a Committee from the Lutheran Con- gregation had made them an offer of their property in Broadway, upon a perpetual lease, at a rent of £400 per annum, the consideration of which report was postponed.
In the mean time other lots were thought of, among which was one owned by Mr. Jay, in Broad-street, and Mr. Jacob Le Roy was requested to wait on Mr. Jay, to know upon what terms he would dispose of it ; upon the further consideration of the subject, however, the Board were of opinion that this lot would not answer for the purpose intended.
Another project was started, which was not a little singular, but which was speedily abandoned. The Committee were instructed to enquire of Mr. Harison, whether, by our Charter or grant, any legal objections
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existed to the building of another Church in Trinity Church yard, if the Corporation should see fit to do so.
The Committee having at length determined on the site to which their attention had been first directed, reported to the Vestry, that they had conferred with the Trustees of the Lutheran Congregation, who were disposed to sell the reversion in fee of their lot in Broadway, for such a sum as would yield them an interest of £400 per annum, the Vestry to be at the expense of buying the lease of the Hotel, seven years of which were unexpired, and which they were in- formed might be had at from £1200 to £1400.
At a subsequent meeting, the Committee, after due enquiry, finally reported, that they could have the ground in question on the following terms: Mr. Hunt- er to receive £1500, and Mr. Snow £400, for a sur- render of their leases, and the Corporation of the Lutheran Church so much money as would yield an interest of £400 per annum. Whereupon it was re- solved, that the Committee should make the purchase upon the terms proposed, it being understood that seven per cent. should be considered as the rate of in- terest to ascertain the sum that was to yield the £400 per annum, which would amount to about $15,000.
In authorizing this purchase, however, the Vestry declared that it was their intention that the ground should be bought in Trust for a Protestant Episcopal Corporation, to be hereafter instituted; that this Board would provide for paying the purchase money, but did not mean to have any estate in the lot, either in law or equity ; and they recommended to the Committee,
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to have it conveyed to Trustees until such Corporation should be organized. And it was further resolved, that the Board considered Matthew Clarkson, Herman Le Roy, Peter Schermerhorn, Henry Rogers, and Gulian Ludlow, as proper persons to be the Trustees, who were afterwards formally nominated, and, as it appears, accepted the appointment.
The legal arrangements having all been duly made, the Vestry, at their meeting on the 14th of February, 1805, passed a resolution, that a Church should be erected on the ground which they had lately purchas- ed ; that the Trustees should be requested to present a plan or plans of a Church, with an estimate, to this Board for their approbation; and that Dr. Onderdonk and Mr. Jones should be a Committee to wait upon them for that purpose. The plan proposed, which was agreed to by the Board, appears to have been that of Mr. West ; and Messrs. King, Rogers, and Bleecker, the Committee appointed for the purpose, were invest- ed with all necessary powers for carrying it into effect, in such manner as they should see fit.
In addition to the outlay of £1500 to Mr. Hunter, and £400 to Mr. Snow, for the surrender of their leases, and $15,000 to the Trustees of the Lutheran Congregation for the reversion in fee of their lot in Broadway, it was further resolved by the Vestry of Trinity Church, that the lease of the lot of ground in the rear of this should be bought, at the price of $1500, and conveyed in fee to the Trustees, to whom the ad- joining land had been already conveyed.
For these several acts of kindness and good-will, a
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deputation from the Vestry of Grace Church, in 1809, consisting of Messrs. Nicholas Low and Herman Le Roy, the Church Wardens, and David B. Ogden, Esq., expressed the thanks of that Church to this Board for their liberality towards it ; the disposition entertained by the members of it to promote the prosperity of this Corporation, as well as the union and interests of the Church in general; and a readiness to pay over the money arising from the sales of pews in Grace Church to the Treasurer of this Board, in confidence that the Board would give an equivalent in real estate for the same. This confidence was not misplaced, for it was forthwith
Ordered, by the Vestry, that the Committee of leases should make a selection of lots, which would afford rent in proportion to their probable value, to be conveyed to the use of the said Church, upon the usual conditions, when the Treasurer should receive the said money. And it was further resolved, that the Church Wardens and Mr. Harison should be a Com- mittee, to signify to the Church Wardens and Vestry of Grace Church the purport of the above resolution ; to thank them for their favourable disposition towards this Corporation; and to assure them that it would at all times be desirous to promote the interests of Grace Church, and co-operate with them in the advancement of true religion.
At the next meeting of the Vestry, the Committee of leases made a report, recommending that the fol- lowing lots of ground be conveyed to the Corporation of Grace Church, for the consideration of $30,000, to be by them paid or secured to this Corporation.
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7 fronting on Rector-street,
2
on Vesey
3
on Barclay
on Warren
2
5
on Chambers-street,
2 on Church
and
4
on Reade
In all,
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25 lots.
In the following year, 1810, upon the application of the Corporation of Grace Church, requesting, as the last favour that they should solicit, that this Corpora- tion would pay for the organ then building for that Church : the Board thereupon resolved, that they would comply with this request, and that a sum not exceeding $5000 should be appropriated for the pur- pose.
In 1812, an application for further aid was received from Grace Church, which does not seem to have been acted upon till the following year, when an assignment was made to it of a debt due to this Corporation, amounting, with interest, to $7320 50-100.
And finally, upon a repetition of their wish for fur- ther pecuniary aid, the Vestry of Trinity Church were constrained to declare, that it was not in the power of this Corporation to comply with their request.
In 1807, the Board proceeded to the election of an additional assistant minister, when the Rev. Nathan- iel Bowen, of Charleston, South Carolina, was duly chosen. The Rector was requested to inform Mr. Bowen of his election, and to intimate the wish of this Corporation, that, if he should accept the call, he would
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remove as soon as his convenience would permit, and as he could with propriety take leave of his present congregation. In the following Spring a letter was received from him, declining the invitation.
A short time after he was elected Rector of Grace Church. This appointment, however flattering, was probably accepted with some feelings of reluctance. I was honoured with his friendship in the early part of my ministry, and enjoyed in some degree his confi- dence, as well as his regard, and was, therefore, ac- customed to hear him talk on all subjects with perfect freedom. There was every thing in his position to render it easy and pleasant to him, yet such was his attachment to the manners, habits, and character of the people of the South, as to make it evident, from expressions which often dropped from him, that he not only regretted he had left them, but yearned for his return. This longing, a few years after, was grati- fied, in a way which relieved him from all embarrass- ment in the indulgence of it, for he was elected to the Bishopric of South Carolina, under circumstances which, in his estimation, made it his duty to accept it.
In consequence of Mr. Bowen's declining to accept the appointment in Trinity Church, the Rev. James Chapman, of Elizabeth Town, was called for six months, and on the expiration of this term, he was requested to continue his services for the period of six months longer.
On the 14th of July, 1808, the Rev. Thomas Y. How was duly chosen an Assistant Minister in the Parish. He was an accomplished scholar, a sound divine, and a clear and forcible reasoner. He, therefore, rose ra-
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pidly in his profession, received the degree of Doctor in Divinity, as one who had earned the honour by his masterly management of the controversies in which he was engaged; and in 1816, he was elected Assistant Rector of Trinity Church.
But Dr. How did not merely succeed as an able polemic, but was equally admired as an eloquent preacher. He was a man of noble mien, of piercing eye, and commanding presence. His voice was clear and powerful, his elocution admirable, and almost per- fect, his gesture natural and impressive, and his ser- mons were the ripe fruits of a well cultivated mind, on which he bestowed the greatest labour, and the whole force of his intellect.
But alas ! why dwell on his eminent gifts, his ex- tensive acquirements, his commanding eloquence, his wide-spread fame. In the full career of usefulness and honour, this great man fell, wringing the hearts of his friends with anguish, and filling the minds of all good men with astonishment and grief. But, though we can never cease to lament the dishonour which was brought on the Church which he had before so suc- cessfully defended, and for a short time, at least, so greatly adorned; it will be to many a gratification to learn, that in the neighborhood where he lives, and where he was best known in his earlier days, he has regained in his old age the respect which he had lost, and that he now leads a devout and exemplary life.
In 1810, a committee was appointed, consisting of Mr. Harison, Mr. Van Wagenen, and Mr. Clarkson, to take into consideration a letter from Dr. Hobart, the Secretary of the State Convention, requesting aid
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from this Corporation for the benefit of the Episcopal Fund. The subject seems to have been very mature- ly revolved in the minds of the committee, for they did not make their report to the Vestry till 1812, which was in the following words :
" The committee to whom was referred a letter from the Secretary of the Convention, in 1810, requesting aid for the benefit of the Episcopal Fund, have taken the subject therein mentioned into their serious con- sideration ; and being deeply impressed with the im- portance of placing the Episcopal office, as soon as may be, in a state of respectable independence, and with the necessity of making some provision, in the meantime, towards the competent support of the Bish- op upon whom the active duties of that sacred office have devolved, do respectfully report, that the sum of $15,000 should with all convenient speed be raised, and paid to the Treasurer of the Episcopal Fund, in aid of the same. But inasmuch as the moneys of that Fund are directed by one of the canons of the Church to be kept in a course of accumulation, until they amount to a certain sum, which may not be completed in a number of years; and inasmuch, also, as from the office of Assistant Bishop being conferred upon a per- son not holding that of Rector of Trinity Church, some immediate provision should be made, to enable the Assistant Bishop to support the expenses incident to his situation, and to the duties which it requires, the committee further recommend, that the house late- ly occupied by the Right Rev. Rector of this Church, be appropriated to the use of the Assistant Bishop du-
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ring the pleasure of this Corporation; and that the grant above recommended, be upon the express con- dition that there be allowed and paid to the present Assistant Bishop, (whether he shall continue such or become the Bishop of the Diocese,) and to such per- son as shall in future be the acting Bishop, out of the interest of the said $15,000, the sum of $500 annually, until such time as the State Convention and this Cor- poration shall otherwise direct.
" (Signed,) " RICHARD HARISON, "DAVID M. CLARKSON, "ROBT. TROUP."
Which report being read and considered, it was therefore ordered that the same be accepted and con- firmed.
A few years after, in 1817, a letter was read, address- ed to the Vestry by Peter Jay Munro and Garrit H. Van Wagenen, Esqs., a committee appointed at the last Annual Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in this State, requesting information as to an intended appropriation by this Corporation for the benefit of the Episcopal Fund, and also enquiring what payments have been made by them to the Bishop of the Diocese, in his Episcopal character.
It was therefore "Resolved, That the clerk of this Board inform the said committee, that the pecuniary means of Trinity Church not having yet enabled the Vestry to carry into effect any plan for the increase of the Episcopal Fund, and it being wholly uncertain when, if at all, it may be practicable to accomplish that object, the Vestry have not heretofore deemed it pro-
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per, or useful, to make any communication on the sub- ject to the Convention ; and the same considerations, in their judgment, render such a communication inex- pedient at the present time.
"Resolved, Further, That the clerk also inform the committee, that the allowances granted by the Vestry to the Rector of Trinity Church, in consideration of the expenses incident to the exercise of the duties of the Episcopal office, are made from time to time, with- out reference to any permanent appropriation in aid of the Episcopal Fund."
There are many instances of liberality and public spirit, recorded at various times, in the minutes of the Vestry.
In 1810, upon application of the Trustees of the Free School Society of New-York, praying for a grant of the ground requisite for erecting a building, for the purposes of that institution, on the west side of the city, it was ordered that two lots of land should be ap- propriated for that purpose, and that the Committee of Leases should select and report the lots proper to be granted. The ground chosen by the committee was bounded to the westward by Hudson-street, and to the northward by Christopher-street. The recom- mendation was agreed to by the Board, and a proper deed was ordered to be executed. A letter was re- ceived, at the same time, from the Trustees, express- ing the thanks of the Society for this valuable gift.
A few years after, in 1815, another application was made by the same Trustees, for an additional grant of ground. The matter was again referred to a commit- tee, who having duly considered it, reported in favor
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of the application. It was thereupon ordered that the grant should be extended, according to the request of the Trustees, so as to include all the Church land on the east side of Hudson-street, between Columbia and Christopher streets, and that the Clerk should affix the corporate seal to a proper conveyance for the same.
For this new favor, a letter was presented to the Vestry, from the Trustees of the Free School Society, in the following words:
" NEW-YORK, 10th May, 1815. " GENTLEMEN :
"The Trustees of the Free School Society of New-York would do injustice to their feelings, were they not, in addition to their public acknowledgment, to express to you in a more direct form their high sense of your liberality, charity, and public spirit, in appropriating the valuable grounds on Christopher, Columbia, and Hudson streets, for the purpose of dis- pensing the benefits of Education to the poor of this city.
"As long as benevolence shall be considered a vir- tue, and knowledge a blessing, this act will com- mand the approbation of all good men.
"I am, in behalf of the Trustees, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,
" DE WITT CLINTON, Prest.
" To the Rector, Churchwardens, and Vestrymen of Trinity Church."
In 1812, an application was made to the Vestry, by several of the inhabitants of Greenwich, for a grant of land for a public market. The committee which was
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appointed in reference to this subject, shortly after made their report, recommending that a piece of ground, to be bounded northwardly on Christopher street, to extend from Greenwich to Washington- street, and having a front on each of fifty feet, be granted for that purpose to the City Corporation, on certain conditions specified in the said report. It was therefore ordered, that the report should be accepted, and that the Clerk should affix the seal to such grant, upon receiving a covenant from the City Corporation for the performance of such conditions.
Early in the spring of 1811, Bishop Moore was stricken with paralysis, from which, though he lived several years afterwards, he never recovered. On the 13th of March, in the same year, the Rector nomina- ted Dr. Beach to be his Assistant, which nomination being approved and confirmed by the Churchwardens, and a majority of the Vestry, he was appointed ac- cordingly.
At a meeting of the Corporation in the month of May, the Assistant Rector laid before the Board the follow- ing letter from the Rev. John Henry Hobart, D.D. :
"TO THE REV. DR. BEACH :
"Whereas the Right Rev. Benjamin Moore, D.D., Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of New-York, hath caused a letter to be address- ed to the Secretary of the Convention of the said Church, which letter is in the words following :
" REV. SIR :
"The severe affliction with which it hath pleased Almighty God to visit me, has affected my state of
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health in such a manner, that it will be impossible for me, without assistance, to perform the duties of the Episcopal office. I am therefore anxious that a spe- cial convention should be called, for the purpose of deliberating on the propriety of appointing an Assist- ant Bishop in this Diocese. A variety of considera- tions, affecting the most important interests of our holy Church, appear to me to render that measure indis- pensable. And it is, I think, very desirable that the appointment should be made without delay, so that the consecration may take place at the ensuing General Convention. You will therefore be so good as to take the necessary steps for calling a special convention of the Church in this Diocese, to meet in the city of New- York, on the second Tuesday of May next.
" Praying sincerely that all our undertakings may, by Divine Providence, be guided in such a way as may best conduce to the glory of God, and the good of His Church, I remain, with affection and esteem, Rev. Sir, your friend and father in the Lord,
" BENJAMIN MOORE, " Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of New-York,
" CLEMENT C. MOORE. "By his son,
" The Rev. John Henry Hobart, D. D., Secretary of the Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of New-York.
"Now, therefore, in obedience to the directions of the Bishop, contained in the above Letter, notice is hereby given, that a special Convention of the Protest- ant Episcopal Church, in the State of New-York, will be held, for the purpose specified in the letter afore- said, in the City of New-York, on the second Tuesday
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of May next, at 10 o'clock, A. M., at which time and place the Clergy and Lay delegates are requested to attend.
" JOHN HENRY HOBART, " Secretary of the Convention. "New-York, March 21st, 1811."
"Thereupon, Resolved, That this Board do now pro- ceed to the appointment of delegates to the said Con- vention. Whereupon, the Board having proceeded to such appointment by ballot, Messrs. Rufus King, Richard Harison, John Onderdonk, and Thomas L. Ogden, were duly chosen."
"I now come to a painful part of my subject, which could not, however, be passed over without a miscon- struction of my own views, and some injury, perhaps, to the memory of Dr. Hobart; and a brief notice of which may not be without its bitter and wholesome uses to those who, on light and trivial grounds, may here- after be disposed to disturb the peace of the Church. When, after a long series of useful labours, and a con- stant exhibition of those eminent gifts and qualifica- tions which fitted him for a station of honour and power, it was perceived that there was a general dis- position to elevate him to the Episcopal office, from the exercise of which Bishop Moore had withdrawn on account of his infirmities; the Rev. Mr. Jones, who was one of his associates in Trinity Church, published a pamphlet against him, entitled "The Solemn Appeal,' with the design and hope of defeating his election. It was a great shock to public feeling; exciting, in the first instance, universal regret, and a loud burst of indignation against the author. The piece, however,
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