USA > New York > New York City > Annals of St. Michael's ; being the history of St. Michael's Protestant Episcopal Church, New York, for one hundred years 1807-1907 ; > Part 25
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34
The first thought which I can now recall of a separation of the Sisters from the Institution arose after a conversa- tion with the Superior in the year 1867. It was given as her opinion that the Sisters ought to have Institutions of their own, in which opinion for the solid and permanent establishing of the Sisterhood itself I could not but agree. In some other important points, one of which was the main object of founding Sisterhoods, there had arisen between us at that time a divergence of sentiment. In revolving over the whole subject in my mind there arose the unwelcome shadow of a possible departure of the Sister- hood from The Sheltering Arms. Were they to establish their own Institutions, those Institutions under their own control, unhampered by Committees and Trustees, would, it seemed to me, become necessarily the first interest of the Sisters, and certainly none could blame them in leaving fields where against their own inclinations they were obliged to carry out others' directions for the free labor of their own choice. Again I could not altogether divest myself of the apprehension that the divergence of sentiment above referred to might as its distant result lead to a separation between the Sisters and our Institution. It has been my life-long habit in every relation to think out and if in my power prepare for every possible contingency. Accord- ingly at that time I communicated to a lady, in whose capacity I greatly trusted, the uneasy fear possessing me and my intention of turning to her in case of extremity. To that precaution of two years and more ago we owe the ready relief which enabled us to meet the sudden emergency of April. A long time after I spoke upon the subject to another friend whose assistance I should be glad in any difficulty to receive. These acts were, however, prompted by no desire to part with the Sisters, but rather like an insurance against fire or a life insurance, a safeguard against calamity which threatened in an uncertain future.
342
Annals of St. Michael's
At The Sheltering Arms everything pursued its happy and prosperous course. At times the Sisters were annoyed by observations and questions from visitors regarding their dress and usages, but as we could neither refuse admission to any one nor direct their thoughts nor control their criticisms those annoyances, while exciting our sympathy for those subjected to them, seemed in a public Institution incurable.
Early in the present year the Institution was removed to its new home in Manhattanville, and at about the same time the public attention was drawn towards The Shelter- ing Arms in consequence of the proposition to hold a Grand Bazaar.
Owing to the constant presence in the new building of workmen engaged in supplying deficiencies which could not well be remedied until the building was occupied, the promised public reception was not held until two months after the removal. The Sisters were worn and harassed by extra labor and heavy cares and had little time or strength left to devote to visitors. Many came, however, and among them not a few attracted by the desire to see for themselves how far and how widely circulating rumors had foundation and to ask information regarding the Sisterhood. So uncomplaining, however, were the Sisters under their many grievances that the President first heard in town that they were examined and cross-questioned in an exceedingly irritating manner by persons who seemed to them to have come rather as enemies to the Sisterhood than as friends to The Sheltering Arms. Nevertheless visitors could not be refused admission; and I accordingly recommended as the only possible course for avoiding un- pleasant interviews that if every other means failed they must leave the reception and showing about of visitors to other parties not Sisters residing in the House.
In the meantime symptoms of the great agitation pre- vailing in the City with regard to The Sheltering Arms began to make themselves manifest in the numerous questions
343
Mistrust of Sisters
proposed, some of which I was unable to answer; in the extraordinary and extravagant tales regarding proceedings in the Institution, most of which I was able to deny. I resolved at that time by word and pen to reply to friends, but taking no notice of flying rumors and resisting the pressure from newspapers and hostile attacks say and do as little as possible, and carefully avoid any course which might appear to have been taken under a mercenary desire of influencing the receipts of the Bazaar, and let the assist- ance which by that means the public might render us spring from their confidence in the piety, respectability, and honor of this Board. In an article prepared in the middle of February for "The Sheltering Arms Paper" I thus ex- pressed myself: "The list of Trustees is an answer to detraction; read over those names, pausing at each to recall the character and position of its owner and nothing more will be necessary." I added: "Information regard- ing the Institution can always be obtained upon application to the President. None asking for it has ever been refused or unsatisfied with the reply."
During the two months and more preceding the Bazaar I was in receipt of many letters to which in every case I replied precisely and to the utmost of my knowledge. It became soon apparent that the uneasiness regarding the state of things at the Institution had taken hold of some of its old and firm friends, reaching parties who, because of their long and efficient support, were on that account entitled to consideration; who from their personal friend- ship and attachment to myself had the acknowledged right of friends to question and advise.
The chief cause of mistrust seemed at first to be an im- pression that confession was among the obligations of members of the Sisterhood. Unable to reply to the ques- tion whether this were so, I in February referred a Clergy- man asking to the Bishop as Head of the Sisterhood and having the approval of its rules. The reported reply was that the Bishop would allow nothing of the kind, and on the
344
Annals of St. Michael's
strength of this statement I instantly replied to the charge that I believed it untrue. By correspondence and con- versation I was busily occupied the next few weeks in defending the Sisters so far as regarded their full and faith- ful discharge of the duty undertaken towards The Shelter- ing Arms.
As the time for the Bazaar drew nearer the excitement became continually more intense and widely spread and on the 29th day of March to my surprise there reached me by mail a letter of inquiry sent at the desire of the President of the Ladies' Association of Trinity Parish, who found her friends growing lukewarm in their labors because of adverse reports, there being made particular mention of the children's multiplied prayers and the Sisters' con- fessions. To this letter I returned an answer which was printed, I presume by the parties receiving it, in the Church Journal and Church Weekly.
The second day after, viz., March 31st, at evening, I re- ceived in behalf of the ladies of the Church of the Heavenly Rest a letter much longer and more full written by an old and liberal friend of The Sheltering Arms. This letter stated that the feeling against The Sheltering Arms was growing so strong that the writer feared before the time of the Fair should have arrived a large number of those who began to work for it would have withdrawn. My answer I give here as it replies one by one to specified counts, covers more ground than any other communication, and illustrates my position regarding the Sisterhood:
"I have received your favor of this date and gladly reply to one who (as well as the Sisters) has been an early and constant friend to my Institution.
" Perhaps I did give an undecided answer when speaking of the Sisters, because I am not called upon or prepared to defend their good taste and good sense in many little matters. I believe, however, that their offenses are only against those uncertain as to Sisters. I have never thought it worth while to notice any fancies pleasing to
345
Popish Usages
themselves regarding their inexpensive dress. If they paraded around here in silks, satins, and jewelry, or in any demoralizing style of costume, as very low necks and short sleeves, I might remonstrate. I do not like the dress but that is as I said a question, in my view, of taste. They do wear a cord and tassel around their waist, indicating, as a visitor told me they informed her, that the Sisters were bound together in loving accord.
" They wear crosses, but no bleeding heart. Some of the Sisters longest in service have a lily or some other flower in silver on the cross. I believe it indicates a grade in the Sisterhood.
" No crucifixes are used in the house, excepting anything which may be in the Sisters' rooms, and there of course I do not go and have no knowledge as to their furniture or arrangements. The only exceptions as to crucifixes in the old house were my own, given to me by a friend, a Presby- terian Missionary, who brought it from Jerusalem. It is of course dear to me, not only as an emblem of my crucified Lord, but also from the gathered recollections of thirty years. Sister Sarah saw it and was much pleased. Since then she has one of her own.
" As to burning candles before either of these crucifixes, I believe it to be an utter falsehood. There may be other crucifixes, but I know nothing of them.
"As to confession and the children being trained to it, they are certainly not trained to conceal their faults, but as to any other confession than is common in all families and schools, there is none with us.
" If the Sisters go to confession to 'a mortal priest,' I am not that mortal, and no other clergyman visits or officiates here. I cannot say that they do not practise confession elsewhere, but I do not believe they do. I do not question them about their private affairs, with which I have no concern, but I do direct and regulate The Sheltering Arms and can reply to all questions involving the teaching and training there.
346
Annals of St. Michael's
" The Sisters have been daily under my observation for five years and to them the Institution owes much of its success."
Then follow some remarks upon the supposed origin of the reports and the letter concludes thus:
"Write as full inquiries as you please and I will answer them as far as I can. If anything is not like me deny it."
On the morning of the same day, March 31st, I was waited upon by a committee, of which Dr. Morgan was chairman and Dr. Montgomery was a member, representing that the excitement was so great on account of supposed Popish usages at The Sheltering Arms that it was impossible to keep the ladies of the various city parishes up to the work, that one by one they were dropping off, and that there was great danger of the ruin of the Bazaar unless the fever could in some way be calmed, stating moreover that they thought that to make the Bazaar a success the connection of the Sisters with the Institution should be dissolved; that written charges had been laid before them which could be substantiated and would prove the Sisters disloyal to the Church.
They also placed in my hands a letter signed by one whose friendship dates back to the days of boyhood, of another whose intimacy with me is older than my ministry, and by three other clergymen who had also manifested since holding their rectorships the fullest confidence in me and had given my various works a hearty and unreserved support. I knew well the kindly feeling of all towards me and their trust in me, and also their interest in The Sheltering Arms. At a public meeting in his Sunday School room I had within a few days heard the rector of the Church of the Incarnation give an account of his recent visit to the Institution and express great pleasure with what he had there seen. I fully understood that their object in calling upon me was to aid to the utmost the Institution of which I was head.
The letter handed to me was stated to represent the
347
Defends the Sisters
opinions of others engaged in sustaining preparations for the Bazaar but who were not present when the paper was drawn up. A document from such source merited my serious attention and received it. It is as follows:
NEW YORK, March 31, 1870.
DEAR DR. PETERS:
Some of your personal friends and brother clergymen who are warmly interested in the success of the Bazaar for "The Sheltering Arms" find themselves very much em- barrassed in their work for the Bazaar by certain reports affecting the practises and usages of the "Sisterhood of St. Mary" in its relation to "The Sheltering Arms."
Under these circumstances they feel called upon by their duty to their Parishioners and to their Church to request you to have a thorough investigation made by the Trustees of "The Sheltering Arms" at the earliest possible moment; so that the Sisterhood, if found disloyal to the doctrines and usages of the Protestant Episcopal Church, may be required to withdraw from all connection with "The Sheltering Arms."
Very truly yours,
(Signed) WILLIAM F. MORGAN, H. E. MONTGOMERY, SAMUEL COOKE, E. A. WASHBURN, H. C. POTTER.
To the remarks of these gentlemen I replied that in ask- ing me to part with the Sisters they were asking too much; that the Sisters had made The Sheltering Arms possible; that from first to last they had deferred to my wishes in everything relating to the training of the children; that as my friends I should stand by them, and those gentlemen themselves would think meanly of me were I to act other- wise; that I believed the charges false; and that, moreover, if things were as stated the remedy was of another kind, the
348
Annals of St. Michael's
Bishop being both Visitor of The Sheltering Arms and Head of The Sisterhood of St. Mary and in these capaci- ties possessed of the power to remove abuses and reform irregularities. I also stated that as President of the Institution I should demand a copy of the charges referred to, intending both on the Sisters' account and on our own to lay it before the Trustees.
To the letter I made the following reply:
NEW YORK, March 31, 1870.
GENTLEMEN :
I have this day received your communication regarding the Sisterhood of St. Mary in its relation to The Sheltering Arms. I am not unaware of the damaging rumors and reports in general circulation, and which I believe to be utterly false.
I shall be glad to promote an investigation which may relieve the Institution and the Sisterhood from any im- putation of disloyalty to our Church, and do not doubt that if the rumors be found correct, the Trustees will unanimously resolve to sever the connection between the Sisterhood of St. Mary and The Sheltering Arms. I will lay your paper before the Trustees at their Annual Meeting to be held in May and ask that proper action be taken.
I am, gentlemen, Your obedient servant,
T. M. PETERS. President of "The Sheltering Arms."
To the Rev. Wm. F. Morgan
and the Rev. H. E. Montgomery.
This letter of the Committee and also the reply were both hastily written and I myself took no copy of either, as the Committee thought they would probably be printed and copies multiplied. I requested copies to be sent me as soon as possible in order that I might, as seemed just, send
349
Defends the Sisters
word at the earliest day to the Sisters, who ought to be informed of the progress of events.
At my request Dr. Morgan has since written me his recollections of the interview detailed above, as follows:
Easter Even, April 16, 1870.
MY DEAR DR. PETERS:
Upon returning from Church, I find your letter. I have a very distinct recollection of all that you said in reference to the Sisters, and was much impressed by the high toned and honorable manner in which you declared your con- fidence in them, your obligations to them, and your deter- mination not to do them wrong in any wise, until you had sufficient cause. Everything you said on the subject of alleged disloyalty to our Church on their part was intended to be a shield and explanation for them. Distinctly too I remember this declaration falling from you, viz., that the Sisters had been true to you, yielding gracefully to your wishes and directions, carrying out your plans, and pro- moting your influence, and that you would not violate your own instincts of gratitude and regard so far as to dis- miss them or wound them, unless for a very sufficient reason.
At the same time you did not deprecate an investigation, but rather favored it, being satisfied that the Sisters would pass the ordeal without harm.
I am glad to do you justice in this matter, and I am very sure that Dr. Montgomery will endorse all I have written.
The whole subject has got before the public in a false and exaggerated shape. There was no disposition on the part of any of the Clergymen who acted in the premises, to prejudge the Sisters, or condemn them unheard. Certain rumors and written reports were in circulation, calculated to damage the Institution and destroy the prospects of the Bazaar, and our only object was to get at the truth and do what seemed possible to save The Sheltering Arms from evil report and the Bazaar from collapse.
Faithfully your friend and brother,
WILLIAM F. MORGAN.
350
Annals of St. Michael's
It will be readily understood why I was unwilling at that time to call a special meeting of the Trustees. To have called a meeting of the Board for the purpose of expressing confidence in the Sisters would have implied that there was reason to doubt their possessing that confidence. To have called a meeting regarding the Sisters upon the eve of the Bazaar would have been interpreted as aiming by our action to influence the receipts of the Bazaar. It seemed to me unbecoming and undignified in us to take such a step, and that all the public needed to know was who are the Trustees, not what action do they propose. Moreover I was not disposed to call a meeting of the Trustees amidst the commotion then prevailing, because it was hardly possible that the subject to be discussed should meet with the cool deliberation which it required.
I next directed my thoughts to the action which the Trustees would be likely to take when the subject of the Sisterhood and its usages should come before them.
The charge that the Sisters were disloyal to our Church was general and to be proved must rest upon the sustaining of other and particular charges. To some of the various questions proposed I could give no satisfactory reply, as they referred to the rules of the Sisterhood, of which I had no copy and which I understood to be known only to full members of the Sisterhood or their official ecclesiastical superiors. I did not feel that I had any more than any other person the right to enquire into matters not relating to their connection with The Sheltering Arms, and as they were aware that in some of their views and usages my sympathies did not go with them I refrained in general from asking questions which they might not wish to answer and would probably receive as implying on my part an adverse criticism. Our intercourse had ever been kindly and I desired that it might ever so continue. But further I thought and still believe that their attachment to our Church was manifest and decided, and neither did nor do doubt that they would sacrifice individual preferences or
35 I
Attitude of the Board
abandon cherished practices in obedience to the expressed will of the authority of the Church. Some of the remarks said to have been made by individual members of the Sisterhood I was satisfied had been misunderstood and that it would so appear upon full inquiry.
It was of course impossible to foresee the exact turn which matters might take in the Board, but it seemed probable, inasmuch as great stress had been laid upon certain apparent and other alleged facts regarding costumes and devotions, that these points would be brought up before the Trustees. After a full consideration of the ob- jection to the Sisters' dress I could not suppose that the Trustees would conclude that we had any direction in that matter, inasmuch as ladies mature enough to take care of our children were of age to regulate their own costumes; or that if the Trustees should see fit to enter into further inquiries regarding the habit they would dis- cover heresy in a cord more than in a belt, or anything worse than bad taste in preferring one style of collar to another.
With regard to the private devotional usages of the Sisters, even if the statement regarding confession proved true, it also seemed to me that the Trustees would not place themselves in the awkward position of passing sentence upon the Sisters on those accounts, because by such action they would commit themselves to an inquisitorial course in which neither their own judgment nor the public could long sustain them. If we claimed the right of regulating the Sisters' devotions when by themselves, we might with as good reason direct their bedside or closet prayers. And if because of such interference the Sisters were to leave us, as they certainly would, then we should be under the necessity of including it among the qualifications of persons employed in the Institution that they should never say their prayers with their faces on the floor and not be allowed at their desire to go to confession. And further, if for any such reasons as these we were to wish the Sisters to leave
352
Annals of St. Michael's
their charge, it would be not because they were not faithful in their care of the children and true to their agreement with us, but because they had, since undertaking our work, adopted some private religious practises contrary to our own views of what was expedient and right. And this would leave us not only under the necessity of examining upon these points all who might hereafter be proposed for the charge of the House, but, inasmuch as our next ladies would be as liable to change as our late Sisters, we should also com- mit ourselves to a system of occasional or periodical investi- gation as to the orthodoxy and devotional customs of all in responsible position in the Institution. In fine, the em- barrassments in which we should be involved were we to take up this question of the private religious exercises of the ladies are so overwhelming that it seemed to me the only course possible for the Trustees would be to pass this subject altogether by and enter upon inquiry as to how they were doing our work, for which alone they were responsible to the Executive Committee. As to their thoroughness and faithfulness in this relation there could be but one mind. And as I could, moreover, from intimate personal acquaintance with the Sister in charge of The Sheltering Arms and also with her occasional substitute, testify that they had always manifested the most simple and profound love to Christ and desire to serve and honor Him, there seemed thus far little room to anticipate condemnatory action by this Board.
Upon one other cause of complaint against the Sisters I did not feel the same confidence that this Board would take my view, namely the fitting up of the Sisters' Oratory. My own ground with regard to this Oratory had been, as already stated, that in crossing its threshold the ladies were in the privacy of their own apartments and beyond the control of this Board and its committees. I had myself, in compliance with the wish of the Sisters, celebrated the Holy Communion in the Oratory of the old building at times when it was for some reason inconvenient to hold the
353
The Oratory
service in Church. The arrangements had never disturbed my devotions, although I cannot but look upon the peace and unity of the Church as the great desire of true Christians, calling for an entire abnegation of self, and not for a mo- ment to be imperilled by following out pleasing fancies or personal inclinations in self gratification. It was the Sisters' Oratory, however, and not my church or chapel. No servant or child in the Institution took part in the services or so far as I know had ever entered them. With regard to the Oratory in the new building, I had never been in it since the building was occupied nor asked when it would be in order or how arranged. I thought it, however, possible that the Board might consider itself bound to know the contents and regulate the arrangements of any room beneath our roof, or that if the Sisters were to be left entirely free in their sleeping chambers a room for devo- tional purposes would be one for whose appearance and proprieties we should be held accountable. It had been once intimated to me on the part of the Sisterhood that any restrictions upon their Oratory arrangements would be considered sufficient cause for leaving The Sheltering Arms. Desiring to avoid a collision which would lead to the departure of these ladies, I spoke one day to the Head Sister of The Sheltering Arms words of this import: "Can you not add one to the many sacrifices you have made for my work by omitting from the Oratory which you are now fitting up all that is offensive to the eye." The reply was: "I should think that people might leave us at least that little corner of the world to ourselves." I thought so too and in pursuance of my stipulation with the Sisters would say nothing further.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.