USA > New York > Putnam County > Garrison > History of St. Philip's church in the Highlands, Garrison, New York, including, up to 1840, St. Peter's church on the manor of Cortlandt > Part 18
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He resigned on August 18th, 1873, and removed to New York. In reluctantly accepting Mr. Hoffman's resigna- tion the Vestry adopted the following Minute:
In accepting the resignation of the Rev. Charles Frederick Hoffman of the rectorship which he has held for upwards of thirteen years, the Vestry of St. Philip's in the Highlands desire to record their warm appreciation of the earnest devotion to his Christian duties which has marked his long service in this Par- ish, to bear witness to his zeal, and his successful efforts in securing the erection of the beautiful edifice which will remain a monument to his labors, to his taste, and to his generous contributions to the appro- priate adornment of the church; to his faithful minis- trations among the sick and needy, to his watchful care of the young, to the amiable character, and the genial and pleasant intercourse which have endeared him as a neighbour and a friend.
Resolved, that in separating his connection with the parish the Reverend Mr. Hoffman carries with him
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Char I read Hofmann
RECTOR, 1860-1873
Rectors of St. Philip's in the Highlands 269
the cordial and sincere affection and regard of this Vestry, and that wherever his lot shall be cast, the prayers and best wishes of St. Philip's in the High- lands will attend him.
In 1874 Mr. Hoffman became Rector of the parish of All Angels, and at his own cost built a beautiful church. His large inherited wealth he dispensed with great liberality, his gifts to St. Stephen's College alone amount- ing to $250,000. During his years of active service he made notable contributions to the devotional literature of the Church. He was the author of Words for the Faithful; The Strait Gate, A Manual for Churchmen; and the compiler of All the Week Through, a book of family devotion. He died at Jekyl Island on March 4th, 1897.
On October 17th, 1873, the Rev. Albert Zabriskie Gray accepted a call to the rectorship, and served the parish with great fidelity and devotion for nine years. Mr. Gray was a strong Churchman, and a man of such beauty of spirit and loftiness of life that he won the respect of the entire community. He, too, had much of the missionary spirit, and he built the Chapel of St. John's in the Wilderness.
On his resignation in 1882 the following letter was addressed to him by the Vestry of the parish:
St. Philip's in the Highlands, Garrison, Nov. 8th, 1882.
Reverend and Dear Sir,
In discharge of the duty entrusted to the under- signed as a Committee of the Vestry of St. Philip's Church in the Highlands, we beg to express to you the feeling of the Vestry and congregation on the pros- pect of your early departure from our parish.
270 The History of St. Philip's Church
The Vestry of St. Philip's accept your resignation with a profound appreciation of the seriousness of the severance of the relation of Pastor and flock which has existed between us for the past nine years. Those years have been marked with much kind intercourse and with many acts of charity, benevolence and pas- toral care, the recollection of which will be cherished among those to whom you have ministered. The poor of our parish, and of the neighbourhood outside our own Communion, will not forget the charities or the ministrations received at your hands.
We assure you that in the new field of duty upon which you are about to enter, you carry with you the best wishes of the Vestry and of the congregation of St. Philip's for your health and happiness in the dis- tant home to which you are going, and for your suc- cess in the important branch of duty which you are about to assume.
It is our earnest prayer that God's blessing may be with you and yours, now and hereafter.
Reverend and Dear Sir,
We are very sincerely and truly yours,
(Signed) HAMILTON FISH, WILLIAM MOORE, SAM SLOAN, THOS. B. ARDEN.
Albert Zabriskie Gray was born on March 2nd, 1840. He graduated from the University of the City of New York in 1860, and from the General Theological Seminary four years later. His ordination to the Ministry by Bishop Horatio Potter was hastened to enable him to serve as Chaplain during the Civil War, to the Fourth Massa- chusetts Cavalry, commanded by Colonel Rand. "He took the field with his regiment, and shared the glories,
THE REV. ALBERT ZABRISKIE GRAY, D.D. RECTOR, 1873-1882
Rectors of St. Philip's in the Highlands 271
perils, hardships and privations of the magnificent Cav- alry Corps of the Army of the Potomac in 1864-5, com- manded by that illustrious soldier, Lieutenant-General Sheridan. He was captured by the enemy in one of the many battles in which he participated, and was a prisoner of war when General Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House in 1865. During his service in the Army he became especially endeared to his command, and was a devoted, faithful soldier, in the hospital and around the camp fire, in the ranks of those who fought without guns."*
On the declaration of peace Mr. Gray became Rector of Bloomfield, New Jersey, where he remained for two years. By reason of ill health he traveled extensively in Europe and the Orient, and on his return, became Rector of St. Philip's in the Highlands. In 1882 he succeeded Dr. de Koven as Warden of Racine College, Wisconsin, where he served until a short time before his death.
Mr. Gray had marked literary ability, and was a poet of no mean order. Among his published works are The Land and The Life, or Sketches and Studies in Palestine (1876); Mexico As It Is (1878); Words of the Cross (1880); Jesus Only, and other Sacred Songs (1882). In 1876 he received from Columbia College the degree of Doctor in Divinity. Mr. Gray died in Chicago on the 16th of February, 1889, at the early age of forty-nine years, and of him may be quoted his own verse:
* Memorial Minute of the Illinois Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, 1889.
272 The History of St. Philip's Church
Oh, happy they whose faith and love Through grave and gate of death endure! Thrice happy they, who from its sleep Rise to the vision of the pure.
On the 27th of April, 1883, the Rev. Walter Thompson, rector of Grace Church, Waterford, in the diocese of Albany, accepted a call to the rectorship of the parish. He is a graduate of Amherst College, and in 1888 re- ceived the degree of Doctor of Sacred Theology from Hobart College. Ordained by Bishop William Cros- well Doane in 1876, he served as rector of Cambridge, New York, and Waterford before coming to Garrison. To Dr. Thompson belongs the honor of the longest rec- torship of the parish, and on his resignation on March 1st, 1898, the following minute was placed upon the Ves- try records :
Whereas the Vestry of St. Philip's in the High- lands has received the resignation of the Rev. Walter Thompson, D. D., as rector of the Parish after a service of fifteen years, during all of which time the most cordial relations have existed between the Rec- tor and the congregation.
Resolved: That the Vestry accept with profound regret Dr. Thompson's resignation, and extend to him the warmest expressions of esteem and affection.
The Rev. Carroll Perry, B. D., was elected Rector of the parish in 1898. Mr. Perry is a graduate of Williams College and of the Yale Divinity School, from which he graduated in 1894. He was ordered Deacon in 1896 and ordained Priest in 1898 by Bishop H. C. Potter. Previous to coming to Garrison he was on the staff of Grace Church, New York. After nine
THE REV. WALTER THOMPSON, M.A., D.D. RECTOR, 1883-1898
Rectors of St. Philip's in the Highlands 273
years' service Mr. Perry resigned to accept the rector- ship of St. Peter's parish, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. In 1911 he became rector of St. Paul's, Brookline.
He was succeeded on January 16th, 1908, by the Rev. Edward Clowes Chorley, B. D., Curate of Bethesda Church, Saratoga Springs, and who was formerly Curate of Christ Church, Yonkers, St. George's, Newburgh, and Rector of Emanuel Church, Great River, Long Island.
Whilst the parish has never had a resident Curate, its extensive missionary work necessitated clerical assis- tance to care for the Chapels of St. James and St. John. During the rectorship of Dr. Gray he was assisted from time to time by the Rev. Dr. John Henry Hobart, and later the Rev. George Seabury of Fishkill rendered in- valuable service at St. John's Chapel.
For many years St. James' Chapel was under the pas- toral care of the Rev. Richard Beverley Arden, son of Colonel Thomas B. Arden. He died on the 21st of March, 1910, at Elizabeth, New Jersey. The following beautiful "appreciation" fitly summarizes his life and work:
A few days ago was buried in the beautiful church- yard of St. Philip's, at Garrison-on-Hudson, all that was mortal of Richard Beverley Arden.
It seems fitting to one who was long associated with him, both as rector and friend, to place this tribute of affection upon his grave. For he served the worthiest till the end.
In his young manhood he assisted the Rev. Charles Frederick Hoffman in his ministerial duties, and later gave valued service to the Rev. Albert Zabriskie Gray, during the nine years of his incumbency of St. Philip's. When Dr. Gray resigned his charge to assume the war-
274 The History of St. Philip's Church
denship of Racine College, Beverley Arden went with him to his Western home, and served faithfully in the Grammar School of Racine College during the term of Dr. Gray's administration.
On his return to his Highland home he was ordained to the diaconate by Bishop Henry C. Potter, and for many years, as assistant to the Rev. Walter Thomp- son, D. D., was in charge of the mission chapel of St. James in the Highlands. Only those who have had personal experience of country mission work can appre- ciate all the self-denial and self-effacement consequent upon this service to the Church. In summer heat and winter storm, year after year, without inter- mission, Beverley Arden ministered with conscien- tious fidelity to those committed to his charge. And when ill health came to him, and he was forced by failing strength to relinquish his charge, there were those who felt he had earned his place within "the aristocracy of grace."
It is with full realization of this fact that I would write this brief memorial as the representative of the many who in past years received his kindly ministra- tions and who would wish to give fitting tribute to his worth. There are not many, so limited as to health and strength, who bring their all, and place themselves and all they are, and have, in loving homage at the Mas- ter's feet. We read of her, whose praise is in the Gos- pel, who gave more than they all, because she gave all the living that she had. So Beverley Arden, both in youth and age, gave himself in utter consecration to the service of the Church he so earnestly loved. He rests in peace among the Highland hills, surrounded by the 'sleeping places' of those of his own generation to whom he ministered in holy things. Of him it can be said in all truth and sincerity that he was faith-
Rectors of St. Philip's in the Highlands 275
ful unto death, and by his faithfulness earned the crown of life. So by his example he preached the Word of Life, and by the consecration of his life he brought many to righteousness.
There are those, not a few, who rejoice that his final sleep is to be among those to whom he ministered so faithfully in the temple of God, and to be remembered by them as one who "being dead yet speaketh."1
1 Rev. Walter Thompson, D. D., The Churchman, April 23d, 1910.
276 The History of St. Philip's Church
RECTORS AND "PRIESTS IN CHARGE" OF ST. PHILIP'S IN THE HIGHLANDS FROM 1834 TO 1910.
1835. +Rev. Charles Luck.
1836.
tRev. Mr. Peake.
1836-7.
+Rev. Henry Lemuel Storrs, M. A.
1838-9. ¡Rev. Edward C. Bull.
1839-43. Rev. Ebenezer Williams.
1843-50. Rev. Robert Shaw.
1852-3. tRev. David E. Barr.
1854-7. Rev. Edward M. Pecke, M. A.
1857-9. Rev. Joel Clap, D.D.
1860-73. Rev. Charles Frederick Hoffman, M.A., D.D.
1873-1882. Rev. Albert Zabriskie Gray, D. D.
1883-1898. Rev. Walter Thompson, M. A., S.T. D.
1898-1907. Rev. Carroll Perry, B. D.
1908. Rev. Edward Clowes Chorley, B.D.
In addition to these, the Rev. Edward Wallace Neil ministered for a short time about 1882, and at St. James' Chapel there served
Rev. James Upjohn, Rev. R. Beverley Arden,
and at St. John's Chapel,
Rev. George Seabury.
1 Priest in Charge.
ConocePar
RECTOR, 1898-1907
Rectors of St. Philip's in the Highlands 277
INSTITUTION OF RECTORS.
The following Rectors were formally instituted to their office, and the keys of St. Philip's in the Highlands placed in their hands:
1843.
The Rev. Ebenezer Williams, by Harry Garrison, "Esq.", senior Warden.
July 14th, 1858. The Rev. Joel Clap, D.D., by Bishop Horatio Potter.
June 5th, 1860.
The Rev. Charles Frederick Hoffman, M.A., by the Rev. Alfred B. Beach, D.D., Rector of St. Peter's, New York, acting for Bishop Horatio Potter.
March 8th, 1908. The Rev. Edward Clowes Chorley, B.D., by Bishop Henry Codman Potter, the keys of the Church being presented by the Hon. Ham- ilton Fish.
278 The History of St. Philip's Church
ORDINATIONS.
The following ordinations have taken place in the Church of St. Philip's in the Highlands:
May 9th, 1833.
Rev. James Sunderland, to the Priesthood, by Bishop On- derdonk.
July 27th, 1837.
The Rev. Henry Lemuel Storrs, M.A., to the Priesthood, by Bishop Onderdonk.
September 13th, 1839. The Rev. Ebenezer Williams, to the Priesthood, by Bishop Benjamin T. Onderdonk.
St. Matthew's Day, September 21st, 1890.
Hamilton Cady, to the Diacon- ate, by Bishop Henry Codman Potter.
June 24th, 1894.
The Rev. Elbert Floyd-Jones, M. A., to the Priesthood, by Bishop Henry Codman Potter.
CHAPTER X.
THE PARISH OF ST. PHILIP'S IN THE HIGHLANDS. WARDENS AND VESTRYMEN.
1840-1911.
S IT. Philip's Parish has been singularly fortunate in the laymen called to administer its temporal concerns. Many of the Wardens and Vestry- men were men of mark; men who held positions of honor and responsibility, and they brought their large expe- rience to serve the interests of the parish in which they lived.
The following is a tabulated list of the deceased War- dens and Vestrymen, with their years of service:
CHURCHWARDENS.
Samuel Gouverneur
1840-47.
Harry Garrison
1808-45.
John Garrison
1848-63.
Frederick Philipse
1848-74.
Henry W. Belcher
1864-76.
William Moore
1875-85.
Hamilton Fish, LL. D.
1877-93.
Thomas B. Arden
1885-95.
Samuel Sloan
1896-1907.
Charles de Rham
1894-1909.
VESTRYMEN.
Daniel Haight
1795-9; 1808-16; 1820-42.
Warden in 1800.
1829-48. Warden 1848.
Frederick Philipse
280 The History of St. Philip's Church
John Garrison
1826-47. Warden 1848.
Henry C. de Rham
1836-47; 1864-74.
Richard D. Arden
1840-57.
Cornelius Nelson
1802, 1811-29; 1836-41.
Justus Nelson, 2nd
1840-41.
Joshua Nelson
1840.
Cornelius Nelson, Jr.
1841-2.
Cyrus Gay
1841-2.
George Haight
1842-44.
Peter Bross
1842-44.
Thomas B. Arden
1843-9; 1853-7. Warden 1885.
S. M. Warburton Gouverneur
1844-52; 1864-76.
James Henry Garrison
1846-47.
Christopher Haight
1847.
Henry Mead
1847-54.
Adolphe N. Gouverneur
1852-54.
Henry W. Belcher
1852-92. Warden 1864.
John Hopper
1852-53.
James Garrison
1852-53.
Richard Upjohn
1852-78.
George F. Garrison
1857-61; 1865-66.
William Moore
1857-85. Warden 1875.
Hamilton Fish
1862-93. Warden 1877.
William D. Garrison
1863-64; 1868-69.
David Maguire
1863-64.
George Miller
1863-64.
Nathaniel F. Moore, LL. D.
1865-73.
George E. Moore
1865-67.
General Jas. F. Hall
1867-77.
Charles de Rham
1874-94.
Warden 1894.
Samuel Sloan
1875-96.
Warden 1896.
William S. Livingston
1875-91.
William H. Osborn
1877-78.
Francis A. Livingston
1880-85.
John M. Toucey
1890-96.
John H. Iselin
1890-93.
SAMUEL GOUVERNEUR CHURCH WARDEN, 1840-1847
Wardens and Vestrymen of St. Philip's 281 The present Wardens and Vestrymen, with the date of their elections, are:
CHURCH WARDENS.
Hamilton Fish 1907. Elected Vestryman 1874. Charles de Rham 1909. Elected Vestryman 1895.
VESTRYMEN.
Thomas H. Austin 1869.
William Church Osborn 1886.
Colonel William E. Rogers
1895.
Dr. Timothy M. Cheesman
1896.
Samuel Sloan
1898.
William M. Benjamin
1907.
Henry Fairfield Osborn, D. Sc., LL. D. 1909.
Stuyvesant Fish
1910.
Charles C. Haight
1910.1
The following have served the parish as Clerk to the Vestry, and Treasurer:
CLERK TO THE VESTRY.
Frederick Philipse 1836-73.
Henry W. Belcher
1873-77; 1878-92.
James F. Hall
1877-78.
John H. Iselin
1892-94.
Hamilton Fish
1894-95.
Charles de Rham, Jr.
1895-1909.
William M. Benjamin
1909.
1 Mr. Frederick Gore King retired from the Vestry in 1910, owing to removal from the parish, after seventeen years' valued service.
282 The History of St. Philip's Church
TREASURER.
Frederick Philipse
1836-73.
Henry W. Belcher
1873-92.
John M. Toucey
1892-98.
William E. Rogers
1898.
SAMUEL GOUVERNEUR'S (1840-7) name appears as senior Warden at the first election of a Vestry for the parish in 1840. It was a fitting tribute to one who had for many years served the Church in the Highlands with unstinted devotion. For eight years previous to the separation of the two churches Mr. Gouverneur had been a member of the Vestry, and his election as the first Warden of the new parish was not only a recog- nition of personal worth, but also of the great obligation of St. Philip's Church to the Philipse family. Mr. Gouv- erneur was born in 1771, and married Mary, only daugh- ter of Captain Frederick Philips. Their children were, Frederick (who took the name of Philipse), Adolphus Nathaniel, Samuel Mangan Warburton, Margaret and Mary Marston. It is noteworthy that all three sons were members of the Vestry. Mr. Gouverneur died January 29th, 1847, in the seventy-sixth year of his age.
With the advent of HARRY GARRISON (1808-45) to the Vestry there began a family connection with that honorable position which extended over a period of
Hany Pauiron
seventy-three years. He was descended from Gerret Gerretsen, who came over on the "Gilded Beaver" from
Johny Saison
CHURCH WARDEN, 1848-1863
Wardens and Vestrymen of St. Philip's 283
Holland in 1660 and lived on Staten Island. The char- acter of the man is well set forth in the following certifi- cate:
We Burgomasters, Schepens and Councillors of the City of Waggenin declare: by these presents, that there appeared before us, Hendrick Glessin and Jor- diz Sparers, citizens of this city, at the request of Gerret Gerretsen and Anna Herrmanne, his wife. They have testified and certified, as they do by these presents, that they have good knowledge of the above named Gerret Gerretsen and Anna Herr- manne, his wife, as to their life and conversation, and that they have always been considered and esteemed as pious and honest people, and that no complaint of any evil or disorderly conduct has ever reached their ears; on the contrary, they have always led quiet, pious and honest lives, as it becomes pious and honest persons. They especially testify that they govern their family well, and bring up their children in the fear of God, and in all modesty and respectability. As the above named persons have resolved to remove and proceed to New Netherlands in order to find greater convenience, they give this attestation, grounded on their knowledge of them, having known them intimately, and having been in continual in- tercourse with them many years, living in the same neighbourhood.
In testimony of the truth, we, the Burgomasters of the city have caused the secret seal of the city to be imprinted on this paper.
Done at Wegennin 27th November, 1660.1
Harry Garrison was the first member of the family to settle on the Hudson, and he bought land here about 1785. He was a farmer, and for some years lived in Pleasant
1 Pelletreau's History of Putnam County, p. 617.
284 The History of St. Philip's Church
Valley. He threw himself heartily into the work of the parish to which the ties of marriage bound him very closely, becoming a leader in the social and religious life of the community, and was the first County Judge of Putnam. The journal of the Rev. Silas Constant records many services "at the house of Esq. Garrison." In 1785 he married Jane, daughter of Joshua Nelson, a member of the first Vestry in 1770, and grand-daughter of Jacob Mandeville, in whose house the first services of the Church were held. For forty-six years he served on the Vestry. First elected in 1795; re-elected in 1800 and from 1808 until his death in 1845 he was one of the Wardens. He is buried in St. Philip's churchyard.
He was succeeded as Warden by his only surviving son, JOHN GARRISON (1848-63), who throughout the county was known as "Judge," and who filled almost every public office in the gift of the people. He was Judge of Putnam County, Sheriff, Surrogate, twice a mem- ber of the Legislature and for forty consecutive years a Justice of the Peace. Born in 1795, he married Martha, daughter of John Dominick of New York. In 1829 he established the ferry to West Point, and eighteen years later the name of the landing was changed to "Garri- son's." Though a strong Democrat John Garrison ral- lied to the support of the Union threatened by the Civil War. Presiding at a county mass meeting held at Carmel on September 7th, 1861, he said, "I have voted the Democratic ticket for forty years, and last fall I voted for John C. Breckenridge, but I thank God that I lost my vote, and am proud to stand here with my fellow citizens of all parties, to ground our party weapons, and
VESTRYMAN, 1829-1848 CHURCH WARDEN, 1848-1874
Wardens and Vestrymen of St. Philip's 285
join in battling for the welfare of our common country."1 Judge Garrison was a member of the Vestry for thirty- seven years; from 1826 until 1848 as a Vestryman, and from 1848 until 1863 as Warden. He died November 3rd, 1867. In all five members of the Garrison family served on the Vestry. Harry was elected in 1795; John in 1826; James in 1852; George F. in 1857; and William D. in 1863.
It would be difficult to exaggerate the debt which the parish owes to the Philipse family, the Lords of the Manor. They gave liberally of land, money and personal service. In the annals of the Vestry the name of FREDERICK PHILIPSE (1848-74) stands out prominently for nearly half a century. The son of Samuel Gouverneur, he assumed the name of "Philipse" by an act of the Legislature in 1830, and married on July 3rd, 1856, Catherine Wadsworth Post of Hunting- ton, Long Island. In the year 1829 he became a member of the Vestry, and served continuously until 1848, when he became Warden, which office he filled until his death in 1874. By profession a lawyer, his somewhat frail health precluded him from active practice, and he divided his interest between the parish and the care of the family estate. For thirty-seven years he filled the offices of Clerk and Treasurer to the Vestry. During all those years he kept the records with the most pains- taking care, retaining a copy of every important letter he wrote. His accounts are models of lucidity. To him we owe the preservation of the original minutes of the Vestry, and without his care and forethought the annals
1 Pelletreau's History of Putnam County, p. 204.
286 The History of St. Philip's Church
of the parish could never have been transcribed. He was a country gentleman of the highest type, knowing personally every tenant, deeply interested in their wel- fare and their steadfast friend and helper in time of need.
Mr. Philipse died at his Highland home on Monday, October 26th, 1874, in the seventy-first year of his age, and was buried in the family vault in Trinity churchyard, New York. In the words of his former rector he was "a communicant of many years; a thoughtful and con- scientious man, a laborious officer for many years in his parish, a loyal citizen, a considerate friend."1 The Vestry spoke of him as "identified by personal and family ties, reaching into the last century, with the worthiest history and interests of this region, and long a principal pillar in its venerable Church-himself a gentleman of the old school-a man of simple, strong, straightfor- ward character; we cannot but feel in our bereavement that we are mourning a friend indeed, and one whose place in the ranks of Christian service it will not be easy to fill. His liberal benefactions to this parish will form for him a fitting monument as lasting as our Highland hills, amid which he only cared to live and die."
HENRY W. BELCHER (1864-76) entered the Vestry in 1852 and served exactly forty years. From 1864 to 1876 he was one of the Wardens. The son of Dr. Elisha R. Belcher, he was born at Portchester, July 8th, 1820. His early life was spent in New York City. By his marriage in 1843 to Martha A., daughter of John Garri- son, he became connected with the parish, and eventually purchased the old homestead of Harry Garrison. For
1 Rev. C. F. Hoffman in The Churchman.
HaBelcher
VESTRYMAN, 1852-1864 CHURCH WARDEN, 1864-1876
Wardens and Vestrymen of St. Philip's 287
several years he was on the Vestry of the Church of the Epiphany, New York. As recorded elsewhere, Mr. Belcher was the donor of the land on which the Rectory was built. He died on October 25th, 1892, aged seventy- two years, and the Vestry voiced their sorrow in these words :
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