USA > New York > The centennial history of the Protestant Episcopal church in the diocese of New York, 1785-1885 > Part 6
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July 11, 1746, Mr. Vesey died, being succeeded by the Rev. Henry Barclay, D.D. Owing to dissensions, Governor Clinton resigned, leaving James De Lancey, Lieutenant-Gov- ernor. Sir Danvers Osborn was appointed in his stead, Octo- ber 10, 1753, when he named De Lancey his lieutenant. The
* The Instructions are like others with which we are so familiar. See N. J. Coll., Ser. I., Vol v., p. I. See N. Y. Coll. Docs. Index volume at " Vesey." + The Letters and report copied by the writer from the originals in the Library of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Ports, are appended . - to this sketch.
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latter, only two days later, on the demise of his principal, suc- ceeded to the Government .* October 31, 1754, De Lancey signed the Charter for Kings', now Columbia, College. Its provisions required that the President should be a member of the Church of England, and Dr. Johnson, of Stratford, Con- necticut, was chosen. This favor shown to the Church excited the ire of the Presbyterian party, and a sharp controversy followed, leaving the advantage with the Church. January 29, 1755, Sir Charles Hardy was appointed Governor of New York,t holding the office until June 3, 1757, when he nomi- nated Chief-Justice De Lancey Lieutenant-Governor, and sailed for Halifax. The conduct of Sir Charles was most ex- emplary, and he was distinguished over several of his prede- cessors for his attendance on the services of the Church, as is testified by President Johnson, in a letter to Archbishop Secker, in 1759,¿ at which period Dr. Johnson urged upon that prelate the importance of a mission at Cambridge, Massachu- setts, for the reason that that town was the seat of an insti- tution of learning.§ Dr. Johnson was one of those who took a mild view of the situation, and expressed the idea that Churchmen at this period simply desired the same privileges granted to others, who were at liberty to perfect their sys- tems, and that, on the same ground, Churchmen should be allowed to perfect theirs by securing the Episcopate. | This apologetic strain was deemed prudent by some, but there is no proof that any good was done by yielding anything to Dissent.
* This person became deranged and committed suicide.
+ N. Y. Col. Docs., VI., 935, 939, 947, 960.
# Dr. Johnson, in a long letter, in which he discusses the legal status of the Church in New York and the need of a Bishop, says : "Meantime I humbly beg your Grace's influence, if possible that such may be appointed governors from time to time, as are friends to religion, and will countenance and encourage the Church, and set an example of constant, or at least frequent attendance on the public worship, which has not always been the case ; and when it is otherwise the ill of great examples are very deplorable. We have rarely seen a Governor at Church in this Province except Sr Charles, since the year 1743."-N. Y. Coll. Docs., VII., 373-4.
§ N. Y. Coll. Docs., VII., 374.
| Ibid. Vol. VII., for Letters of Dr. Johnson on this subject.
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CENTENTIAL CHURCH HISTORY.
March 20, 1761, after the death of De Lancey, Robert Moncton was appointed Governor,* and Cadwallader Colden, Lieutenant-Governor. Moncton soon resigned, leaving his subordinate to meet the political storm that was now rising in the Colonies.
At this time another change came in Trinity Church, and on August 28, 1764, the Rev. Mr. Auchmuty, the Assistant Minister, succeeding Dr. Barclay, who was removed by death.
Sir Henry Moore was the next Governor,t upon whose death he was followed by the Earl of Dunmore .; St. Paul's Chapel, which had been commenced in 1763, was finished in 1766.
In the midst of these dark days an attempt was made to secure something in the way of organization. March 21, 1766, the Clergy of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut formed themselves into a convention. The first meeting was held at the house of Dr. Auchmuty, when fourteen of the Clergy were present. Dr. Johnson, of Connecticut, was elected President, and the Rev. Samuel Seabury, of Jamaica, Long Island, Secretary. In this capacity Mr. Seabury appears to have been both useful and influential, though it forms an episode of his life that seems to have escaped notice. The president of the convention was to be elected annually, being ineligible for more than two terms. Three members could call a special convention, while due care was taken to have the Clergy outside of New York represented on the standing committee. Messrs. Auchmuty, Cooper, Charlton, Munro, and the Secretary formed the Standing Committee. Two special conventions were held the next year. §
The New York Journal of July 19, 1768, has the follow- ing :
* See notice of in N. Y. Coll. Docs., VIII., 250.
+ Appointed June 20, 1765. N. Y. Coll. Docs., VII., 745. He died Septem- ber II, 1769.
# N. Y. Col. Docs., VIII., 193. For a full list of Governors see the N. Y. Civil List, 1882, p. 152, though all the dates cannot be followed.
§ The records of these conventions, in the handwriting of the Secretary, are in the possession of his descendant, the Rev. Wm. J. Seabury, D.D., of New York City.
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PROCEEDINGS AT ST. THOMAS' CHURCH.
' On Wednesday last the annual Convention of the Epis- copalian ministers of this Province, Connecticut and New Jersey was held in this city, on which occasion a Sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Cooper, President of King's Col- lege, on the former part of the first verse of the 28th ch. of Exodus. A larger Number of ministers were present than ever assembled before on like occasion."* The same journal says on the thirty-first :
" Saturday last the Supreme Court ended here when John Hennessey, for Felony and Sacrilege, in stealing the Sattin Cov- ering of the Cushions of St. Paul's, in this city, received Sen- tence of Death, and is to be executed the 23d of August." The Chronicle of August 24, announces "a pardon from his Excellency."
From the New York Journal it also appears that, May 25, 1772, the Clergy of New York and New Jersey " met in their first annual voluntary convention," when they presented an address to Governor Tryon, in which the belief is expressed that he will grant " to the Church of England in this province all that Countenance and Protection to which it is justly en- titled." The address is signed by " Samuel Seabury, Secre- tary."
In September of the same year the "Corporation for the Relief of the Widows and Children of Clergymen, in the Communion of the Church of England in America," was in session at Trinity Church.
February 8, 1774, a lottery of £4,000 was projected to pur- chase "a piece of ground, and erecting a church thereon for the congregation of the Church of England, which now most inconveniently assemble in Horse and Cart Street."+ A similar enterprise was projected the next month for "a Church at Brookland Ferry, opposite the city of New York, under the patronage of the Rector, and the Vestry of Trinity Church,"
* Quoted in " Old New York and Trinity Church," in N. Y. Society's Coll., 1870, p. 199. A valuable compilation by Mr. William Kelby, Assistant Librarian of the New York Historical Society.
+ Now Williams Street. The history of that congregation is not known to the writer.
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CENTENNIAL CHURCH HISTORY.
pointing to the beginning of St. Ann's .* The records of Trinity are silent on the subject.
Governor Tryon reached New York July 8, 1771,t but was obliged to turn over the government to Colden, being the last Colonial Governor of New York. General Washington arrived in New York April, 1776, placing the Department under General Putnam.
This was a period of great trouble and distress, yet three assistant ministers were called to Trinity Church in 1774, namely, the Rev. John Wardill, the Rev. Benjamin Moore, the Rev. John Bowden, the last two accepting positions.
When the storm fully burst upon New York, the Rector of Trinity, being in feeble health, retired to the country, leav- ing his oldest assistant, Mr. Inglis, in charge.
It was with great difficulty that the services were main- tained, owing to the hostility of the people. Mr. Inglis and his friends felt that they were more or less in danger, but in- vestigations prove that the danger was exaggerated, as Wash- ington was in the city, a worshipper at Church, and not likely to allow any violence.
September 15, 1776, the American forces abandoned New York, when the British troops entered and held the place until November 25, 1783. This brought relief and gladness to Churchmen,¿ but on the following Saturday a great fire broke out, destroying several hundred houses. Trinity Church and the Rector's residence, together with the Charity School houses, were reduced to ashes. The two Chapels and King's College were saved.
* Rivington's Gazetteer, Feb. 17, 1774. Coll. N. Y. Hist. Soc., 1870, p. 241. Ibid. 242.
+ N. Y. Col. Docs., VIII., 278. He was formerly Governor of North Carolina, and Dunmore wanted to exchange governments with him. Tryon recognized the impractical character of the home government, but stood by his instructions, remaining until the hostility of the people became unendurable, though returning later to push unrelenting hostilities.
# On the "State of the Anglo-American Church " in 1776, see the long letter of Inglis, Doc. Hist. N. Y., Vol. III., p. 637, 8 vo. Ed. A newspaper cutting of Aug. 17, 1776, says : " The Episcopal Churches in New York are all shut up, the prayer-books burned, and the ministers scattered abroad, in this and the neighboring provinces. It is now Puritan's high holiday season, and they enjoy t with rapture."
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PROCEEDINGS AT ST. THOMAS' CHURCH.
In March, 1777, " We, the clergy of the Church of England, convened in the City of New York," presented an address to General Howe, while at the same period Mr. Seabury preached occasionally in the city, if not often, where he published two sermons.
Dr. Auchmuty died in March, 1777, and Mr. Inglis was elected Rector of Trinity Church on the 20th of the same month. His institution did not take place in one of the Chapels, but he was brought to the ruins of the church, and inducted by placing his hand upon the ruined wall. April 13, 1778, while the war was still raging, "The Church at Brooklyn was opened and Divine Service, according to the ritual of the Church of England, performed by the Rev. Mr. Sears."
With the return of peace Mr. Inglis resigned the rector- ship of Trinity Church, and retired to Nova Scotia. Mr. Moore was elected to succeed him, but circumstances pre- vented his induction, and the Rev. Samuel Provoost was elected, April 22, 1784 .*
October 5th and 8th, 1784, "The Corporation for the re- lief of the widows and children of the Episcopal Clergy," was held in New York, and it was decided to meet the next time at Trenton, New Jersey, on the Feast of St. Michael's. Dr. William Smith was President, and the Rev. Benjamin Moore, Secretary. +
We now reach the period of diocesan organization, and find recorded the " Proceedings of a Convention of the Prot- estant Episcopal Church, in the State of New York, on Wednesday, June 22d, 1785." ¿ The record is brief, occupying only a single page. It is not stated where the convention was held, but as Trinity church had not been rebuilt, and since some following conventions were held in St. Paul's Chapel, it may reasonably be inferred that the initial conven- tion was held in that place. This indeed seems quite certain
* Collections of the N. Y. Hist. Soc., 1870, P. 320.
t See History of Society, Bp. Perry's History of the American Episcopal Church, I., 647. Coll. N. Y. Hist. Soc., 1870, 335.
# Republished with other early journals, 1844. *
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CENTENNIAL CHURCH HISTORY.
from the form of invitation dated May 22, 1786, addressed to the Church at Poughkeepsie, inviting them to send delegates " to meet again in St. Paul's Chapel."*
The record says: "This State Convention having associ- ated agreeably to the recommendation of the General Conven- tion held in this city, on the 6th and 7th of October, 1784, proceeded to take into consideration the matters recom- mended by the said General Convention." Now there was no "General Convention " in New York in 1784, and the statement must be understood as referring to proceedings taken in con- nection with the meeting of the Corporation for the relief of Widows and Children of the Clergy, which the extract, al- ready quoted, says took place on the " 5th and 8th." Bishop White's statement, prefaced to Bioren's Edition of the Jour- nals of General Convention, further explains the matter, and shows that, in connection with this meeting, action was taken with reference to organization, the same even having been done at a meeting of the Society held the previous year at
* In the hope of gaining definite information on this point, the writer corre- sponded with the rectors. of the various parishes represented at the second con- vention. The only information gleaned was contained in a letter found by the Rev. Henry L. Ziegenfuss, Rector of Christ Church, Poughkeepsie, among the archives of that ancient parish. Mr. Ziegenfuss very kindly sent the appended сору.
N. York May 23 The Churchwardens and Vestrymen of the Protestant Episcopal Church, at Poughkeepsie
Gentlemen
The Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church to which you were in- vited to send Delegates, after sitting two Days adjourned, to meet again in St. Paul's Chapel on the second Tuesday of June between the Hours of ten and eleven A.M. as affairs of considerable moment will then come before the Con- vention, as full a representation as possible of the Church in this State is to be wished for .- Your congregation therefore is earnestly requested to depute persons properly authorised to meet at the Time and Place above mentioned .-
We are gentlemen with great Respect your most obedient and very Humble Servants Sam! Provoost Rect : Trin : Church,
Abr™ Beach. and Benj? Moore
New York May 22d 1786
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PROCEEDINGS AT ST. THOMAS' CHURCH.
New Brunswick. Deputies were present from New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, but they represented simply themselves. Bishop White says, " they called themselves a Convention, in the lax sense in which the word had been be- fore used, yet they were not an organized body," and " did not consider themselves as such," nevertheless they projected a plan for a General Convention the year following. * In the "Memoirs" Bishop White makes a fuller statement of the case. This first convention therefore grew out of the suggestions of the informal gathering of the previous year.
On the assembling of the convention, the Rev. Mr. Pro- voost read prayers, and Mr. Moore, of Trinity Church, was ap- pointed Secretary. The only business that appears to have been transacted was the election of three Clerical and three Lay Deputies " to represent the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of New York, in the general convention which is to be held at Philadelphia, on the Tuesday before the Feast of St. Michael next." +
The convention met again May 16, the next year, in St. Paul's Chapel, when Mr. Duane reported the proceedings of the Philadelphia Convention, whose members had devised a Proposed Book of Common Prayer, and made arrangements to apply to England for the Episcopate. This application was heartily endorsed by New York. At an adjourned meeting of the convention held June 14, Mr. Provoost was "recom- mended for Episcopal consecration." The Rev. William White was designated by the Clergy of Pennsylvania for the same office, September 14.
* See Bioren's Journal, also White's " Memoirs " 3d Ed. p. 19.
t The following is the list of those present : "From Trinity Church, New York, the Rev. Samuel Provoost, the Rev. Mr. Beach, Rev. Mr. Moore, Honour- able James Duane, Marinus Willet, and John Alsop, Esquires.
" From the United Parishes of Jamaica, Newtown, and Flushing, on Long Island, the Rev Mr. Bloomer, Mr. Charles Crommeline, Mr. Daniel Kissam, Mr. Joseph Burrows, Mr. John Johnson.
" From Staten Island, the Rev. Mr. Rowland, and Paul Micheau, Esquire.
"From New Rochelle, Mr. Andrew Fowler.
" From Ulster and Orange Counties, Mr. Joseph Jarvis.
" From Dutchess County, Mr. John Davis."
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CENTENNIAL CHURCH HISTORY.
Mr. Provoost presided at the third convention, held in St. Paul's Chapel, September 20, 1786, and afterward sailed with the Rev. Mr. White for England, where they were consecrated at Lambeth Palace, February 4, 1787, returning to New York, and landing on Easter Sunday following.
Here we need to turn for a moment to consider briefly the action of New York in connection with the Episcopate. Of course it would be impossible to go over the discussion which had taken place during the colonial period respecting this sub- ject, and must simply say that, during the Revolution, it was believed by many that, though the war must eventually cease, our independence would never be recognized by Great Brit- ain, and that, consequently, it would be impossible to obtain the Episcopate for a long time to come. Actuated by this belief, the Rev. Mr. White proposed a plan for the temporary organization of the church, in a pamphlet entitled "The Case of the Episcopal Churches in the United States considered," published in Philadelphia in 1782. Immediately, however, upon the acknowledgement of American Independence, the plan was abandoned, and he proceeded to act on the line agreeable with his principles and feelings.
March 25, of the year 1783, fourteen Connecticut Clergy- men met secretly at Woodbury, in that State, and elected the Rev. Jeremiah Leaming their candidate for the Episcopate, with the Rev. Samuel Seabury as alternate. Mr. Leaming declined the position, which Mr. Seabury accepted, and sailed for England, July 7, nearly four months before the Evacuation of New York. On the very day of the election, however, and at a time when everybody knew that the plan proposed in the " Case " considered had been abandoned, Dr. Jarvis wrote to Mr. White from Woodbury, condemning the pamphlet, but making no allusion to the election. Mr. White replied in his gentle manner, explaining that the Convention labored under a misapprehension, and the correspondence ended, though it may be added that the pamphlet was not subjected to criticism by the authority in England .* All unconscious
* It has appeared to some as though Bishop White persisted in his plan, and that possibly, he published a second edition of the "Case " in 1783. Bishop Perry
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of the course being pursued by Seabury, Mr. White now took measures with reference to securing the Episcopate. In his pamphlet he had advocated the joint action of the clergy and laity in the Church Councils, and on May 24, 1784, at Philadelphia, a movement was begun with reference to obtain- ing the Episcopate in accordance with this principle. The Philadelphia movement was openly undertaken and sixteen parishes were represented. The committee were empowered to " confer with representatives from the Episcopal Church in other States," it being a subject which concerned all the peo- ple, and therefore not to be undertaken secretly by any clique or party. The deliberations of this convention were made a matter of record, and the committee appointed sent out a circular letter. A copy of this letter is herewith appended .*
in his edition, seems to have given support to this view, by reprinting what some readers at least take to be the original edition, the style of the title page of the origi- nal edition being followed, but bearing the date of 1783 instead of 1782. The origi- nal work was printed by David Claypoole, being reprinted by William Stavely, of Philadelphia, in 1827, and again in 1869, from 1224 Chestnut Street, of the same city, with the title, " Bishop White on Episcopacy."
* The copy used was that sent to King's Chapel, Boston, which then had not lapsed to Socinianism. A transcript has kindly been furnished by Dr. James Freeman Clarke, who holds it in possession. The six principles embodied are found in Bishop White's Memoirs, 3d Ed., E. P. Dutton & Co. 1880., p. 92. We give the paper without the names of the delegates which were appended.
At a meeting of CLERGYMEN and LAY-DELEGATES fromn Sundry Congregations of the EPISCOPAL CHURCH in the State of PENNSYLVANIA, held at CHRIST- CHURCH in PHILADELPHIA, on Tuesday, the 25th day of May, 1784.
The Committee appointed to propose a plan on which the Episcopal Church in this State may consult with their Brethren of the same Church in other States concerning the preservation of their Communion, report, That they think it expe- dient to appoint a standing Committee of the Episcopal Church in this State, consisting of Clergy and Laymen ; that the said Committee be empowered to correspond and confer with Representatives from the Episcopal Church in the other States, or any of them, and assist in forming an ecclesiastical Government ; that a constitution of ecclesiastical Government when framed be reported to the several Congregations through their respective Ministers, Church-wardens and Vestry-men, to be binding on all the Congregation consenting to it, as soon as a Majority of the Congregation shall have consented; that a Majority of the Com- mittee, or any less number by them appointed, be a Quorum ; that they be desired to keep minutes of their proceedings ; and that they be bound by the following instructions or fundamental principles :
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CENTENNIAL CHURCH HISTORY.
September 8, at Boston, principles of a similar character were adopted, though it was provided that the vote of the Clergy should not exceed that of the Laity. May 13 and 14, however, prior to the dates of the Philadelphia and Boston meetings, a number of the Clergy met at New Brunswick to take action respecting the Society for the Relief of Widows and Orphans of the Church of England. The occasion was utilized, especially as influential Laymen were at hand, to discuss the principles upon which the union of the Church should be effected, the Philadelphia Clergy suggesting their plan. Mr. Moore, of New York, who, with Mr. Inglis, had signed the papers recommending Mr. Seabury, now became embarrassed, finding himself apparently face to face with the suspicion that the course of concealment which had been
First. That the Episcopal Church in those States is and ought to be indepen- dent of all foreign authority, ecclesiastical or civil.
Secondly. That it hath, and ought to have in common with all other Religious Societies, full and exclusive Powers to regulate the concerns of its own Com- munion.
Thirdly. That the doctrines of the Gospel be maintained as now professed by the Church of England, and uniformity of worship be continued, as near as may be to the Liturgy of the said Church.
Fourthly. That the succession of the Ministry be agreeable to the Usage which requireth the three orders of Bishops, Priests and Deacons, that the rights and powers of the same be respectively maintained, and that they be exercised accord- ing to reasonable laws, to be duly made.
Fifthly. That to make Canons or Laws there be no other authority than that of a representative body of the Clergy and Laity conjointly.
Sixthly. That no powers be delegated to a general ecclesiastical government except such as cannot be conveniently exercised by the Clergy and Vestry in their respective congregations.
The above report, having been considered by paragraphs, was adopted, and . the Committee chosen in consequence thereof are as follows :
Rev. Dr. White,
Dr. Gerardus Clarkson,
Rev. Dr. Magaw,
Dr. Robert Sharon,
Rev. Robert Blackwell,
Mr. John Chaloner,
Rev. Joseph Hutchins,
Hon. James Read, Esq.,
Matthew Clarkson, Esq., Richard Willing, Esq.,
Plunket Fleeson, Esq.,
Mr. Benjamin Johnson.
The above is a true extract from the minutes of the said meeting.
W. WHITE, [Autograph.]
Chairman.
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practiced was neither dignified nor just. Recognizing the sit- uation, the next morning Mr. Moore took Mr. White " aside " and confessed the truth, at the same time begging that " noth- ing should be urged further on the subject, as they found themselves peculiarly circumstanced." The writer adds : "This brought to the knowledge of the Clergy from Philadelphia what they had not before known, that Dr. Samuel Seabury, of the State of New York, who had sailed for England just before the evacuation of New York by the British troops, car- ried with him a petition to the English Bishops for consecra- tion."
Bishop White put the matter on record in his quiet way, but made no remark, though we can readily understand what his feelings must have been. More than a year had passed since Connecticut, of her own motion, had taken action so secretly respecting the Episcopate, while, on the day of the selection of the two candidates, he had been addressed by the Secretary of the Convention, yet not a syllable had been communicated to him with respect to a proceeding con- cerning which it would certainly have been "prudent " to con- sult one who occupied so prominent a position, especially as the subject concerned the whole Church. The request of Mr. Moore, however, was acceded to, for the purpose of giving him time to escape from his entanglement, and action was sus- pended .* But, as we have seen, the subject of the Episcopate was resumed at New York, Inglis having left the country un-
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