USA > New York > The centennial history of the Protestant Episcopal church in the diocese of New York, 1785-1885 > Part 5
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t New York Documents relating to the Colonial History, III., p. 415.
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CENTENNIAL CHURCH HISTORY.
time the Common Prayer was being pressed upon the peo- ple.
The Rev. Alexander Jones succeeded Mr. Clarke as chap- lain to the garrison, April 20, 1686. There was now a popu- lation estimated by some as high as fifteen or eighteen thou- sand, and yet, according to the Governor, the number of Churchmen was small. In the same paper from which we have already quoted, the Governor says: "I believe for these seven years last past, there has not come over into this province twenty English, Scotch or Irish Familys, while of French there have since my coming here several familys come both from St Christopher's and England, and a great many more are expected."* The Edict of Nantes was revoked October 22, 1685, which sent thousands of Protestants out of France.
Dongan's term ended in 1688, and on April 7 of that year the King issued a Commission to Andros, then Governor of New England,t constituting him Governor-General of New York, New Jersey and New England. The -time had now come for a stronger man than Dongan, and Andros was se- lected, not only on account of his known firmness, but also on account of his large knowledge and experience.
The new Instructions of Andros did not repeat those of Dongan respecting public worship, and the King simply says : "You are to permitt a liberty of conscience in matters of re- ligion to all persons, so they be contented with a quiet and peaceable enjoyent of it."¿ The King was here saying a word for himself.
The change was hailed with satisfaction, as complaint had
* N. Y. Col. Docs., III., 399.
+ His instructions as Governor of New England have not been published, but a synopsis is given in Chalmer's Annals, I., 420, 421, 463. See note in Brodhead's New York, II., 450.
# N. Y. Col. Docs., III., 546. It has been maintained that James informed Pope Innocent XI. that "it was his full purpose to have set up Roman Catholic Religion in the English Plantations of America." James, it is said, alarmed the Cardinals by his zeal, and they are reported as saying, "We must excommunicate this King, who will destroy the little of Catholicism which remains in England." -- Brodhead's New York, II., 532.
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been made that, under Dongan, the Roman Catholics had enjoyed too much favor. Andros established himself in Boston, while Francis Nicholson served as his deputy in New York. He protected the rights of Dongan's co-religionists, as in duty bound, and gave the minister in charge of the Roman service a better room for his accommodation. But while progress was being peacefully made, the news of the fall of James was received, and then followed the usurpation of Leisler, when Chaplain Innis was charged with being out- wardly a Protestant, but at heart " a meere Papist." The Leisler controversy is one that we are not called to consider here, and we pass it by, simply observing that, when the usurpation was over, the new Governor, Colonel Sloughter, took his place at the head of affairs. His Instructions bore the date January 31, 1690, and, in substance, are the same as Dongan's, though the King orders, "You are to permitt liberty of Conscience to all Persons (except Papists) so that they be contented with a quiet and peaceable enjoyment of it, not giving offence or scandall to Government." * Sloughter came to New York at once, and proceeded to carry out his instructions. In the meanwhile, May 13, 1691, the Assembly of New York passed an act similar to the Charter of Liber- ties received from the Duke of York, and accepted October 30, 1683. Unlike the Duke's Charter, however, this act main- tained the Test Act hated by the Duke, declaring that it was not " to give liberty for any persons of the Romish religion to exercise their manner of worship contrary to the laws and statutes of their majesties Kingdom of England." + The clauses of the Duke's Charter relating to privileged churches were omitted. Nevertheless, on April 18, 1691, Governor Sloughter reopened the subject of Public Worship, and a bill was introduced into the Assembly, not with reference to establishing the Church, which was already established, but with reference to " settling the Ministry." This bill was
* N. Y. Col. Docs. III., 689.
+ Brodhead's Hist. New York, II., 645.
+ " A Bill for settling the Ministry, and allotting a Maintenance for them, in each respective city and toun within this Province, that consists of forty families and upwards."-Hist. Mag., 1867, p. 326.
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rejected, and, August 23, 1692, another was presented, pro- viding for a Minister or Reader of Divine Service.
Governor Sloughter, however, soon died,* and Benjamin Fletcher was appointed March 18, 1692. His instructions were like those of his predecessors, and he understood that he was to use all proper means to put the Church on the footing of an establishment. To this end he directed his efforts. In October, 1692, he recommended the passage of a Ministry Act. April 3, 1693, the committee having the matter in charge, begged for more time, when they were ordered to report in three days. The Governor declared that the law of Magna Charta provided " for the religion of the Church of England, against Sabbath breaking, Swearing, and all other profanity." Finally, September 19, 1693, a bill was brought in, and, September 21, it was sent up to the Governor and Council, passing a second reading, but not proving satis- factory. With an amendment to the effect that the clergy appointed should be " approved and collated " by the Gov- ernor, it was sent back, but the Assembly failed to concur in the amendment, when the Governor administered a sharp re- buke, but declared the bill passed and prorogued the body. The bill was not what the Governor wanted, but he said, " I have gott them to Settle a fund for a Ministry in the City of New York and three more counties, which could never be obtained before." +
January 6, 1694, in accordance with the Act of Assembly, the freeholders of New York City elected two Wardens and ten Vestrymen. February 5, following, the latter body met and voted to raise one hundred pounds for the support of a minister. Six days later they held another meeting, and the record states: "By a majority of votes itt is the opinion of ye board that a Dissenting minister be called to have the Care of Souls for this Citty." How large the majority was we are not informed, but there was a minority of the contrary opinion, in which minority we may place Mr. Crooke, who, in
* N. Y. Col. Docs., IV., 117.
+ N. Y. Col. Docs., IV., 57.
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1796 and 1797 was a member of the Board which took definite ground in favor of the Church of England. Nothing, how- ever, was done to fill the office of Minister of New York.
February 15, of the same month, the Governor took the position that the office was already provided for, and he in- formed the Council that the Rev. John Miller, chaplain to the forces, was virtually entitled to the living. This inter- pretation, however, must be regarded as illogical. At least the Governor's Council thought so, and denied Mr. Miller's right. Consequently the matter was dropped, and finally the Wardens and Vestry went out of office without taking any action.
January 8, 1695, there was a second election, when the result was more favorable, though still unsatisfactory. Only four of the old Board were returned, yet its attitude was hos- tile. The Council therefore voted that those parties offending ought to be prosecuted at the public expense. Becoming alarmed, the Board now proceeded, and, as the record states, voted " Nemine Contra Dicente " to call Mr. William Vesey as Minister of New York. The objectors, of whom there seems to have been five, acquiesced in a sullen spirit to the wishes of their associates and the Governor. It was a compromise.
There is nothing whatever to prove that a majority of the Board really wished Mr. Vesey's election, nor is there any- thing to prove that he was even notified of the election. The action of the hostile members of the Board may be regarded as designed to avoid prosecution. Thus the movement came to nothing, the youth of Mr. Vesey, with not a few, no doubt, being an objection to placing him in so responsible a position.
April 12, no arrangements had been made, and the obstructionists in the Board, to the number of five, petitioned the Assembly,* which decided that they had a right to elect a dissenting minister. Whereupon Governor Fletcher pro- rogued the Assembly, which lived in his breath, telling the
* This is stated by Smith in History of New York. The revised edition also makes the number " five," which is doubtless correct. The writer uses Dr. Moore's transcript of records bearing on this subject (Hist. Mag., 1867), but re- jects interpretations formerly allowed.
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members that they could not interpret an Act which they did not frame. This was the last of the opposition raised by the dissenting party.
January 14, 1696, there was another election, which proved altogether favorable to the Church. This Board, including several members of the Board of " Managers of the Affairs of the Church of England in the Citty of New York," elected " Mr. William Veasey " to " have ye care of souls in this Citty of New York." He now accepted, and agreed to go to Eng- land for Orders, though it must be observed that this body is not to be confounded with the Wardens and Vestry of Trinity Church, which was not yet in existence.
Mr. Vesey went to England and was ordained. In the meanwhile, May 6, 1697, Trinity Church was chartered, with the Bishop of London as nominal rector, and having the position of an Established Church. Mr. Vesey was elected minister December 24, 1697, and was inducted the next day, being Christmas Day. Two of the Dutch clergy served as the legal witnesses, thereby substantially accepting the situa- tion, being accustomed to the idea of a State Church, which was the actual position of the Dutch organization prior to the occupation of New York by the English. Humphreys states that Mr. Vesey was favored for the office of minis- ter of Trinity church by Colonel Caleb Heathcote, while Fletcher preferred a Mr. Smith, who had served some time as minister in charge of King's Chapel, Boston. Governor Fletcher does not seem to have approved the first election of Mr. Vesey by the city Board, but the explanation is found in the fact that he desired the service of Mr. Vesey as his private chaplain .*
It remains to be added here, however, that instead of being a Dissenter, Mr. Vesey was of a Church of England family in Braintree, Massachusetts, being a communicant of the Church in his fifteenth year. Graduating from Harvard college at an age when he could not receive Orders from the Church of England, he was advised to employ his gifts, which
* See Heathcote's Letter of June 13, 1714, in Archives of the Propagation Society, London, Vol. IX., No. 19. Also The Church Press, April 27, 1886.
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were admired, wherever, for the time being, he could be use- ful. With this understanding he preached first at Sag and afterwards at Hempstead, on Long Island, where, as we have seen, the Prayer Book was employed among the mixed assem- blies, including Churchmen, Congregationalists and Presbyte- rians. Very likely he used it in his ministrations. There is no proof that he ever contemplated permanent service any- where but in the Church; and when the time came he took Orders, devoting himself loyally to the ministry .*
While Trinity church was being finished, Mr. Vesey con- ducted services in the new Dutch church, Domine Selyns say- ing that the " Episcopal Clergy" " live with us in all friend- ship." +
Trinity church was opened, for the first time, March 13, 1698, when Mr. Vesey publicly accepted whatever was con- tained in or prescribed by the Book of Common Prayer, and read the certificate of the Bishop of London, attesting his declaration of Conformity. Among those in New York who really had the interests of religion at heart, there was at this time an excellent feeling, and it appears that Trinity church was not finished without "a contribution by several, even of
* The statements to be found in Briggs' American Presbyterianism, pp. 144, 145, 146, 147, form a tissue of gross misrepresentation. The statement (p. 144) that Mr. Vesey was " the fourth Puritan minister known to have been con- nected with New York," is an unfounded assertion. It cannot be proved that Mr. Vesey ever preached in any dissenting assembly of this city. On page 147 he is stigmatized as " the unfaithful Vesey," who " betrayed the Presbyterians who had chosen him as their leader." This is all grossly erroneous. He came to Long Island a boy of nineteen, and preached for the mixed congregation at Hemp- stead, in the building where his successor, the Rev. Mr. Thomas, a Missionary of the Propagation Society, was inducted in 1704. The writer will treat this subject elsewhere, and he now refers to a lecture read before the New York Historical Society, found in the New York Evening Post, of February 3, 1886.
+ This worthy man says, in 1696 : " For the two English Churches in this city which have been formed since our new Church was built,-one of our churches being in the fort and the other in the city, and both of them very neat, curious and all of stone,-there are two Episcopal Clergymen who by arrangement preach in our church after my morning and evening service, and live with us in all friendship."- Historical Magazine, 1867, p. 12. The reference here may be to Mr. Vesey, then in New York, where he may have preached without orders as he did at Kings' Chapel, Boston, for a period of three months, or to a Mr. Smith, or to both.
.
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the French and Dutch Churches as well as the English."* For the completion of the "Steeple" in 1711, the Jews made a special contribution, and about thirty French names are found in the list of subscribers.
The Spirit of Toleration, however, was marred in the year 1700 by the action of the Assembly, in passing a Bill against Jesuits and all Roman Catholic Ecclesiastics, and all who har- bored them, though the Roman Catholic laity were entitled to the private enjoyment of their opinions. Their public ser- vices were not legalized until the period of the Revolution.+
The years 1701 must ever be held memorable, as at that time " The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in For- eign Parts" was organized, receiving its Charter from William III. With the commencement of operations by the Venerable Society, the Church in America began to grow. Missionaries soon found their way into all the principal colonies.
The Church Services were commenced in the colony of Vir- ginia in 1607, and in due time gained the footing of a legal establishment. In 1642 the first church in New England was organized at Portsmouth, then known as " Strawberry Bank." In 1664 the Church Services were held without molestation in Boston, and in 1686 the foundations of King's Chapel were laid. At the time the Venerable Society was organized be- ginnings had already been made in Pennsylvania, North Car- olina and New Jersey ; but afterwards work was commenced in earnest in Connecticut, Rhode Island and elsewhere. In 1702, Keith, Talbot and Gordon were sent over, and Keith preached in Hempstead to a favorable congregation. By re- quest of Mr. Vesey, he also preached in New York on Sep- tember 30.# Gordon went to Jamaica, but died before actu- ally entering upon work. In 1704 Mr. Thomas was inducted at Hempstead. Keith also preached at New London, Con- necticut. Mr. Muirson, in 1705, settled in the town of Rye, then a part of Connecticut. About the year 1704 services were commenced at St. Andrews, Richmond, Staten Island,
* Doc. Rel. to the Col. Hist., IV., 463.
+ See Bradford's edition"of the Laws of New York, 1710, P. 37.
# Keith's Journal of Travels, London, 1706, p. 50.
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and a church was built in 1713. In 1709 the Huguenot Church at New Rochelle conformed to the Church of England .* In 1702 the Rev. Mr. Bartow began his work at Westchester. At Albany the Rev. Thomas Barclay officiated in 1708 as chaplain of Fort Anne, and at Schenectady in the Dutch Church. In 1704 there was also a distinct effort to encourage the forma- tion of a French church in New York with Episcopal minis- trations. +
These were some of the beginnings, but for a considerable time Trinity Church, New York, formed the principal ex- pression of Church life and activity. Around this now grow- ing corporation, the most of the ecclestiastical events were grouped. For about fifty years Mr. Vesey continued at the head of the Parish, meeting more or less opposition, it is true, but at the same time winning the highest approval for char- acter and worth.
His principal support was provided by the Act of 1693, though on one occasion there was a delay in raising his salary, owing to opposition from men outside the Church .; A Royal Mandate, however, reduced the refractory parties to submis- sion, showing that Trinity occupied the position of an Estab- lished Church.
Lord Bellomont was appointed to succeed Fletcher, June 8, 1797, but the latter, as we have seen, continued to exercise his functions, and it was not until April of the following year that Bellomont arrived at New York. § His Instructions re- specting the maintenance of the Church of England were similar to those given to Dongan, | and Bellomont did not hesitate in carrying them out, even going beyond them, and, in some cases, resorting to oppression.
* Bolton's Westchester, P 394.
+ Doc. Hist. of N. Y., III., 75, 8vo. Ed. August 10, 1708, Mr. Vesey ad- dressed the Venerable Society, asking for "Some Common Prayer Books in English, Dutch and French."-Society's MSS., Vol. III., No. 71. At least one copy of the Dutch Book is now in existence. The Dutch Common Prayer seems to have been used by Mr. Barclay at Albany.
# Berrian's History of Trinity Church, p. 328.
§ Commission in N. Y. Col. Docs., IV., 266.
I Ibid. 287.
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The death of Lord Bellomont created a vacancy, and, June 13, 1701, Lord Cornbury was appointed his successor. The Commission of the latter is not given in the collection of printed Colonial Documents, nor is any copy to be found in the country, but the original Commission, with the two sets of Instructions, is still in existence. The Instructions give Cornbury the same ecclesiastical power vested in his prede- cessors, but no more,* notwithstanding a claim to this effect was made on his behalf in connection with the trial, of the Presbyterian, the Rev. Francis Mackamie. Under this Governor, Trinity Church, in 1704, received a new Charter from the Assembly, which fully remedied any defects in the instrument granted by Fletcher and rendered the legal position of the parish secure beyond question.t Of Cornbury himself little need to be said. The impartial student of this period will not care to attempt any vindication of his course towards the Presbyterians, whatever may have been the want of judgment exhibited by their representative. The Governor, however, was no more arbitrary in his treatment of Mr. Mackamie than in his conduct towards Churchmen. # In 1707 the Rev. Mr.
* They are in the hands of private parties, and form an important historical monument.
+ N. Y. Col. Docs., IV., 1114.
# See Smith's History of New Jersey, Ed. 1765, p. 333, and Hill's History of the Church in Burlington, pp. 66-73. On Mackamie, see his Narrative, in Force's Archives, Vol. IV. At Mackamie's trial, false representations appear to have been made respecting the scope of Cornbury's Instructions, but the writer must do the Governor the justice to say that these representations may have been made ultimately by the Governor's friends, rather than by the Governor himself. Cornbury claimed the right to license ministers of all denominations, which power was not given either by his Instructions or his Commission, though he had this power with respect to school-masters. The Instructions have never been printed, but the original document, with the signature of the Queen, has been examined by the writer. The Instructions with respect to the debated clause stands as follows : " You are to inquire whether there be any Minister within your Govern- ment, who preaches and administers the Sacraments in any Orthodox Church or Chapell without being in due orders, and to give an account thereof to the Said Bishop of London." On the same subject the Commission says : " We do by these presents authorise and impower you to collate any pron or prons to any Churches or Chappells or other ecclesiastical benefices within our said province or depend- encies aforesaid as often as that any of them shall happen to be void." With
1
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PROCEEDINGS AT ST. THOMAS' CHURCH.
Moore, Missionary of the Venerable Society, was dragged from Burlington to Amboy, and thence taken a prisoner to New York, where he was confined in the fort, the entire proceedings being of the most arbitrary and unjustifiable character.
On the other hand, Logan, the friend of William Penn, wrote of Cornbury as the "Savior" of the Quakers at New York, who were "well satisfied to be under him, for they believe that they could never have one more excellent."
Eventually it became necessary to remove Cornbury from power, and thereupon his creditors threw him into jail, whence, after satisfying their claims, he found his way back to Eng- land.
Lord John Lovelace was appointed to succeed Cornbury, in New York and New Jersey, early in 1708,* though he did not arrive in New York until December. He was warmly welcomed by the people; but suffered from ill-health during the winter, and died May 6, following. His funeral sermon was preached by Mr. Vesey, in Trinity Church, May 12, 1709, when a glowing eulogy was pronounced.t
June 14, 1710, Robert Hunter was commissioned by Queen Anne to succeed Cornbury, his Instructions following the old pattern. Under him Mr. Vesey's position was more or less unpleasant, and he was the subject of sharp attacks, based on political ground, it being insinuated that he was a Jacobin. Hunter used all his power to annoy him, but with little avail.}
respect to school-masters it is ordered : " We do farther direct that no School- master be henceforth permitted to come from England and Keep Schools within Our Province of New York, without the Lycense of the Said Bishop of London, and that no other person now there, or that shall come from other parts, be admitted to Keep School without your license first obtained." See on this contro- versy an article by Mr. Brodhead in the Hist. Mag., Nov. 1863, p. 329. On Cornbury's New Jersey Instructions, see Smith's New Jersey, p. 230.
* N. Y. Col. Docs., V., 39, 40, additional Instructions are found in this volume, also fragments of Instructions; yet the Church was now recognized by Law. Love- lace was recommended to give a glebe to a poor German minister of the Palati- nate, but this was not to be construed as forcing a precedent.
t See Sermon reprinted in N. Y. Colls., 1880.
# See Governor Hunter's Letters, N. J. Archives, S. I., Vol. IV., pp. 216, 219, 220, 223, 225. See also Atwood's attacks in N. Y. Hist. Coll. Hunter com- bined with others in slandering Mr. Vesey.
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Mr. Vesey returned from a visit to Europe in 1715, bringing his commission as Commissary of the Bishop of London.
Hunter left New York, July 19, 1719, and April 19, 1720, William Burnet, son of the Bishop of Salisbury, succeeded him. The change formed a most agreeable relief to the Rec- tor of Trinity Church, as his differences with the late Govern- or, like those with Bellomont, and with Fletcher, also, at the close of his rule, had rendered him more or less uncomforta- ble .* These difficulties do not, however, concern us now, and we hasten on to say, that Burnet was superseded October 4, 1727, by John Montgomerie, who, in turn, was followed by William Cosby, 1732 ; at whose death, in 1736, the govern- ment devolved upon George Clarke. The latter continued until 1743, when George Clinton was appointed. It may be interesting here to mention that in 1739 an effort was made to find out the actual condition of the Church in New York and New Jersey, Mr. Vesey, as Commissary, and authorized by the Bishop of London, sending out a request to the clergy to meet him at Trinity church, May 2, 1739. The following clergy attended : The Rev. Mr. Charlton, Catechist, in New York; Mr. Standard, of Westchester; Jenney, of Hempstead ; Mr. Stouppe, of New Rochelle; Mr. Wetmore, of Rye; Mr. Barclay, of Albany ; Mr. Brown, of Brookhaven ; Mr. Vaughan, of Elizabeth ; Mr. Campbell, of Burlington ; Mr. Pierson, of Salem ; Mr. Miln, of Monmouth Co .; Mr. Harrison, of Staten Island. Several were prevented from attending "by sickness and other accidents." The reports presented were meagre and show the day of small things.t
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