USA > New York > The diocese of Western New York : a history and recollections > Part 24
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* See Journ. 1863, p. 60, 82; 1864, p. 56, seq. ; 1865, p. 171.
Journ. 1860, p. 56. See also the Memorial of the Alumni on the Chaplain- cy, in the same Journal, p. 68.
# Gospel Messenger, XXXVI. 122, (Aug. 7, 1862,) where it appears by the request of the Bishop and the President of the College.
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CLERGY OF 1859-65
Dix .* £ It is noteworthy that at the same Commencement at which the corner-stone of the Chapel was laid, "Linden Hall was crowded with a brilliant audience from far and near to hear the address of the Rev. A. Cleveland Coxe, D.D., of Baltimore, before the Chris- tian Brotherhood," on "Christian Education as a training in the School of Christ." The Messenger gives only a brief summary of the address, t (which was for the most part extempore,) but its charm will never fade from the memory of those who were fortunate enough to hear it. It was the first official visit of Bishop Coxe to his future Diocese.
Other great changes had taken place in Hobart College. Dr. Hale, of whose twenty-three years' labours and sacrifices I have spoken elsewhere, had been compelled by failing health to resign the Presidency, and his place had been filled since 1858 by the Rev. Abner Jackson, D.D., LL.D., of Trinity College, Hartford. Dr. Jackson's wise, energetic and most faithful administration continued for nine years, bringing many friends and increased public favour to the College as well as the large additions to its endowments which were due very much to his efforts and influence. He was also hard- ly inferior to Dr. Hale in the amiable disposition and courteous address which go so far in making such an office practically success- ful. With him were associated Henry Hobart Bates of the class of '54, William Watts Folwell of '57, afterwards President of the Uni- versity of Minnesota, Albert S. Wheeler of '51, now of Yale, and generally regarded as the best Greek scholar Hobart ever had, and the Rev. Francis T. Russell, late of the General Theological Semi- nary. In 1863 the Chaplaincy was filled by the appointment of the Rev. Henry A. Neely of Rochester, afterwards Bishop of Maine, who remained however only two years, becoming an Assistant Minis- ter of Trinity Church, New York, at the close of 1864.
Of the Clergy added to the Diocese meanwhile, and not already mentioned, there is specially to be noted John J. Brandegee, who for ten years, till his lamented death in 1864, was Rector of Grace Church, Utica, and under whom was built the magnificent church of
Also printed in the Messenger, XXXVII. 174 (Nov. 5, 1863). This Ser- mon was also published in pamphlet form ; and it ought to be read again and again after these forty years.
t Gospel Messenger, XXXVI. 114. (July 24, 1862.)
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DIOCESE OF WESTERN NEW YORK
that parish,-a man of much intellectual ability, great earnestness and faithfulness in pastoral work, and personally beloved by all who knew him well. Others who deserve, for excellence of personal character and devoted and successful work, much more than the mere mention of their names, were first of all Theodore Babcock, Dr. Hills's suc- cessor in Watertown in 1857, who was a leader in the Diocese through Bishop De Lancey's last years, and in the founding of the See of Central New York, in which he still remains, first in years and honour ;* then Thomas L. Franklin of Mount Morris, Edward Z. Lewis of Corning, William W. Montgomery of Lyons, William O. Jarvis of Niagara Falls, Samuel H. Norton of Fredonia, Benjamin Watson of S. Luke's, Rochester, Duncan Cameron Mann of Watkins, William N. Irish of Geneseo, Christopher S. Leffingwell of Canan- daigua, Alexander H. Rogers, John Brainard of Auburn (now for forty years), Orlando Witherspoon, Hugh L. M. Clarke, Warren W. Walsh, Robert M. Duff, and Jedediah Winslow.
At the Convention of 1861 the Bishop gave his Fourth and last Charge to the Clergy, on " The Needs of the Diocese." The " Needs " which he set forth were those arising from defective prin- ciples of action ; such as a higher appreciation of the Church of Christ as a Divine Institution, of the personal relation to God in Christ which membership in the Church implies, of the actual claims and demands of Christ upon our time and talents, our families and our means, and of the earnestness with which we should consecrate ourselves individually to His service ; and the duty of doing all that in us lies to extend the blessings of Christ and His Church to all within our reach. The Charge goes on, as I remember it, to illustrate very specifically the application of these principles.
Up to this time the Bishop had been able to fulfil all his varied and increasing duties with great regularity and almost unremitting labour, in spite of warnings from time to time of failing strength. The only interruptions of active duty came from occasional attacks of gout, a hereditary ailment from which even his remarkably regular and tem- perate habits did not protect him. In June, 1861, a serious accident in the streets of New York, (being struck and thrown down by the
* His venerable father, the Rev. Deodatus Babcock, D.D., should have been noted on p. 58, as Missionary at Buffalo in 1820-24.
GENEVA CLERGYMEN OF 1866. Pelham Williams William H. A. Bissell
James Rankine
Francis B. Russell
William D. Wilson Abner Jackson Kendrick Metcalf
24I
AN ASSISTANT BISHOP
pole of an omnibus,) disabled him for several months, and was prob- ably not without some permanent effect on his health. He took his full part in the work of the General Conventions of 1859 and 1862, the latter under the especially trying circumstances of the war, and in some of the most oppressive weather (although in October) ever known in New York ; and in 1863, in a tedious and vexatious com- plication arising from an attempt in the Senate of New York to alter very seriously the Acts for the Incorporation of Parishes, against the protests of both of the Dioceses of the State, so as to make the Rector no longer an integral part of the Vestry. The project was defeated, but at the expense of much labour and anxiety .*
In January, the Bishop had the great pleasure of taking part in the consecration of the Church du S. Esprit in New York, the successor of one which his ancestor Etienne De Lancey had helped to found. t
The Convention of 1863, in Christ Church, Rochester, had for the first time a fair attempt at a choral service, the clergy acting as choristers. The preacher was the present Bishop of Maryland. That of 1864 in Grace Church, Utica, was preceded by the conse- cration of that noble building, with a Sermon from the Bishop of New York, who attended also the opening services, at which the Preacher was President Jackson. # Bishop De Lancey, after the usual account of his labours for the year, showing many interruptions and failures from illness, went on to say :
"After the examination and opinion of my physicians, my own experience and observation, and the uncertain operation of the hazardous disease which is said to affect me, I deem it my duty, on reflection and prayer, after the frequent and long-established practice of the Church in this country, to ask the aid of an Assistant in my office, to be appointed at this Convention, that thus, I trust, the career of prosperity with which our Divine Lord has heretofore. blessed the Diocese may not be interrupted."
This message was not unexpected, as it had been known for some time that the Bishop had thought of asking for an Assistant. There was a good deal of feeling in the Diocese-mostly among the Cler- gy-negatively against the policy of electing an Assistant, and posi-
* Journ. 1863, p. 35. 1 Id. p. 161.
# The Bishop ordained three Deacons, George L. Chase, Robert M. Duff. and Warren W. Walsh, all graduates of Hobart. It was Bishop De Lancey's last ordination.
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tively in favour of a speedy division of the Diocese. On this latter point the Bishop, while recognizing that division must come in the near future, would only say that "he hoped it might not come in his time." But whatever the wishes of individual members might be, his request was felt by all to be practically imperative. It was re- ferred to a Committee of seven clergymen and seven laymen, who reported the next day resolutions providing for the immediate elec- tion of an Assistant Bishop, with a salary of $3,500 to be raised by quarterly collections, leaving the income of the Episcopate Fund in full for the Bishop of the Diocese. Some discussion followed as to ways and means, but in the evening the resolutions as reported by the Committee were adopted, in spite of an earnest plea from the Hon. George W. Clinton of Buffalo, seconded by several others, for " more time " to consider this subject, which, they declared, had taken them by surprise.
The election of the Assistant Bishop was held on Friday morning, August 19, 1864, in the same church. And here I must be allowed to tell the story partly at least in propria persona. I have no doubt that many came to the Convention, as I did, with a determination (cherished for years) to vote for Arthur Cleveland Coxe, whether any others did or not, but utterly ignorant of any plans made or action taken to that effect. It was only on the second day that I found that many of the younger clergy had reached the same con- clusion, and only on the actual morning of the election, that Dr. Shelton proposed to nominate him on behalf of the elder clergy. After a brief consultation with him, we went together to the Bishop to ask his consent to the nomination of Dr. Coxe by Dr. Shelton, seconded by me as representing the younger clergy,* expressing our conviction that if thus nominated he would certainly be elected on the first ballot. But the Bishop positively refused. "No nomination," he said, " had ever been made in this Diocese, and it was not a good precedent ; if one was nominated, others would be, and it would be followed by debate and strife." After much argument without mak- ing any apparent impression on the Bishop, Dr. Shelton said, " Is
* Perhaps I should say in explanation of my taking this part, that I had been for a number of years (since 1857) Assistant Secretary of the Convention, which had brought me into closer relations with the Bishop,-a part of my duty being the preparation of the Reports and other papers for the Journal, in which Bishop De Lancey took much interest.
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ELECTION OF BISHOP COXE
that your deliberate opinion ?" " Yes," said the Bishop. " That is enough," replied the Doctor, and we took our seats. After Morning Prayer, the Bishop addressed the Convention very briefly, a space was given for silent prayer, and several collects were said. The names of the Clergy were called in alphabetical order, and each in his turn went forward and deposited his vote, profound silence and quiet being kept through this long roll-call of 93 clergymen and 80 parishes, for each of which one layman gave the ballot .*
During the absence of the Tellers, several of the usual Reports were read, and some other routine business transacted. It was not long before they returned with the announcement that of the 89 votes given by the Clergy, the Rev. ARTHUR CLEVELAND COXE had received 53, a majority of 17 over all others ; and of 67 parishes, 52 had voted for him, all but thirteen of the whole number. Here I may be pardoned for quoting from a diary written at the time.
"The scene in the Convention at this time was of surpassing inter- est ; the sudden transition from solemn and anxious thought to exul- tant joy,-a feeling which I believe was universal even among those who had voted for other persons,-was something never before seen in our Convention. The detail of the vote showed for Dr. Coxe, in both Orders, 105, Dr. Leeds (formerly of Grace Church, Utica) 17, . Dr. Rankine 15, Dr. Mahan 7, Dr. Dix 4, Dr. Littlejohn 3, Dr. Van Deusen (of Utica) 2, Dr. Jackson 1, Dr. Morton (of Philadel- phia) I, the Rev. Charles H. Platt I.
"The Bishop announced that by a concurrent vote of both Orders, the Rev. Arthur Cleveland Coxe, D.D., was elected Assistant Bish- op, and on motion of Dr. Beach, seconded by Dr. Claxton of S. Luke's, Rochester, the election was made unanimous. Goodrich was already (at my urgent request) seated at the organ, which instant- ly gave the key-note of the old Gloria in Excelsis, and the whole Convention rose and sang it with an irrepressible tide of feeling, the tears rolling down the cheeks of very many, young and old alike."
But even this was not enough for our Palinurus, Dr. Shelton, who followed (in his own delightfully quaint and inimitable style) with
* The Tellers for the Clergy were Drs. Shelton and Bissell, and the Hon. Wil- liam C. Pierrepont ; for the Laity, Dr. Metcalf, Gen. John H. Martindale, and Dr. Charles B. Coventry. The Rev. Alfred B. Goodrich was a second Assist- ant Secretary for this occasion. Three of the tellers (Drs. Shelton and Metcalf and Mr. Pierrepont) had fulfilled the same duty at the election of Bishop De Lancey in 1838.
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DIOCESE OF WESTERN NEW YORK
the story of the efforts made by himself and others to "find the best man ;" of his going to the Bishop weeks before and imploring him to nominate an Assistant, whom the Diocese would certainly elect ; of the Bishop's refusal to name any one-"Would he be satisfied with Dr. Dix?" "Entirely." "Would he be satisfied with Dr. Coxe ?" 'Entirely." And so on. "There had been no caucussing anywhere in the Diocese-no wire-pulling-no-miserable nonsense" -- and here a hearty laugh all over the house at the Doctor's charac- teristic expression instantly ended his narrative. Meanwhile I had dispatched to Dr. Coxe at his house in Gramercy Park, New York, through his brother Dr. S. Hanson Coxe, this telegram :
" You are elected Assistant Bishop of Western New York on the first ballot."
Dr. Coxe was away from home at this time, as it happened, but two or three days later I received a note from him that the message " was received with surprise and emotion," and he awaited fuller communications.
The next thing was the signing of the Testimonials for the Bishop- elect, which up to this time no one, apparently, had thought of. With some difficulty two sheets of parchment were obtained, and while the names were being written on one, it fell to me to fill out the other with such " Old English " engrossing as the circumstances per- mitted; for the sake of the signatures the sheet was afterwards pho- tographed and many copies taken, but I have not seen one for many years .* The signing occupied of course a long time, and as soon as it was completed the Convention adjourned sine die, not however without having transacted a considerable amount of routine business ; resolutions providing for the consecration of the Bishop-elect, if possi- ble within the Diocese ; appropriating $1,000 for his removal ; of thanks to the Bishop of New York for his presence and sermon, and in memory of the Rev. Dr. Brandegee, late Rector of Grace Church, who died April 6, 1864. A Committee appointed to consider the matter of
* See the names in Journ. 1865, p. 174. Of the 79 clergymen and 85 laymen signing, 16 clergymen and (as far as known to me) only 3 laymen are now living. The latter were of course older men, as a general thing.
EastHampton, L. bland aug. 20. 1564.
New. K dear butter,
Su Telegraphic despatch
of centerway, was forwarded to me today, it has been Read with surprice & Emotion.
I thank you for the com. Imunication, and aceracting further information I beg Inewar Dear fir, your friend & brother in Och a. Cleveland love
The Rev.
Charles W. Hayly t.
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ELECTION OF BISHOP CGXE
providing for the Widows of Clergymen of the Diocese made an indefinite report, and was continued to the next year.
So ended this memorable Council .*
* Without detracting from Dr. Shelton's services in the election of Bishop Coxe, I have no doubt that Dr. Jackson, then President of Hobart College, and an intimate friend of the future Bishop, had much to do with it. But after all, it seems to have been very much a spontaneous thing. I have no doubt that with most of the Clergy, as with myself, and perhaps with a great many of the Laity, it was due simply to the picture of the man formed from his "Christian Ballads." The man who could write those must be the man, we thought, to succeed such a Churchman as Bishop De Lancey. Most of us knew little of him outside of that book. It has been often said, and may be true, that the Bishop's family, and perhaps the Bishop himself, would have preferred Dr. Ran- kine, of Geneva; and an excellent Bishop he would have made. Still it seems to me that if ever an Episcopal election was carried by a sort of inspiration, it was this one.
CHAPTER XXXVII
CONSECRATION OF BISHOP COXE : DEATH OF BISHOP DE LANCEY
R. Coxe's acceptance of his election as Coadjutor, addressed to Bishop De Lancey, is dated Sept. 24, 1864.
"REVEREND FATHER IN GOD : The official notice of my election to be Assistant Bishop of Western New York was received on the first instant, and was duly acknowledged. I now write to say that I have decided to accept the office and work to which I believe God has called me.
"If for some time I have seemed to hesitate, it has not been from the want of a deep sense of the solemnity, unanimity, and singular purity of the election, but rather from a desire that my decision might correspond in all respects with what was so religiously done, and that it might be the result of mature reflection and an earnest endeavour to know the will of God.
"In common with my brethren of your Diocese, I shall rejoice to look up to you for guidance and direction ; and awaiting the further commands of the Church, I commend myself to your prayers, and to your paternal benediction.
"With my respects to the other members of your Committee, * I am, Reverend Father in God, in filial love and reverence, faithfully yours,
"A. CLEVELAND COXE."
All the requirements of the Canons were completed Dec. 1, 1864, by the reception of the consents to the Consecration from a majority of the Standing Committees and Bishops, the commission of the Presiding Bishop appointing Bishop De Lancey as Consecrator, and the Bishop's appointment for the Consecration at Geneva, Jan. 4, 1865.
I have said (p. 241) that there was a good deal of feeling in the Diocese that the election of an Assistant Bishop did not at all meet its needs, although no one ventured to oppose Bishop De Lancey's request for such action. But after the election, a series of articles in
* The Committee of Notification were Bishop De Lancey, Dr. Shelton and Gen. John H. Martindale. The notice was delivered to the Bishop-elect in per- son by Dr. Shelton, Sept. 1, 1864. See Journ. 1865, p. 177.
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CONSECRATION OF BISHOP COXE
a Buffalo paper pointing out the need in that part of the Diocese of a whole Bishop, provoked quite an active controversy in the Messenger for some weeks, and in argument the Buffalo writer, (who was, I believe, the late Rev. Orlando Witherspoon, Rector of S. John's Church, Buffalo, a man of great energy and ability as a Parish Priest) had much the best of it, so much so as to alarm several of the Buffalo clergy into a solemn disclaimer of any projects of division.
' After the Convention of 1864, Bishop De Lancey undertook no official duty out of his own house until the Consecration of Bishop Coxe, reserving all his failing strength for that occasion. Visitations were made for him in September and October by the Bishops of New Jer- sey (Odenheimer) and Michigan (McCoskry), both of whom were old and much-loved friends, the former having been his Assistant in S. Peter's, Philadelphia. I need hardly say that these services were most acceptable to the parishes visited as well as to the Bishop.
The Consecration took place as appointed, in Trinity Church, Geneva, on the Wednesday before Epiphany,* Jan. 4, 1865. The appointed co-consecrators were the Bishops of Michigan, Maryland, Assistant of Connecticut, New York and New Jersey. Two of these, Bishops Whittingham and Williams, could not attend, and the place of one of them was filled by Bishop Talbot; and in addition there was present accidentally, as it were, but by invitation, the Bishop of Vermont (Hopkins), who only eight days later, by the death of Bishop Brownell, became Presiding Bishop, but on this occasion took his place below all the appointed consecrators. Of the clergy of the Diocese 62 were present ; from New York 10, Pennsylvania 3, Mas- sachusetts 1, Connecticut 1, Maryland I, Colorado I, Kentucky I. Of these last, nine, Drs. W. S. Walker, Leeds, Bolles and Hobart, and Neely, Luson, Miller, Townsend and Granger had been formerly of this Diocese. Four of the whole number, it may be added, had taken part in the consecration of Bishop De Lancey; Drs. Shelton, Bolles and Metcalf, and Ferdinand Rogers. i
The Bishops and clergy met in the basement Sunday School Room,
* Dies non in the Calendar of the Western Church; the "Feast of the Seventy Disciples " in the Eastern.
t Dr. Shelton was probably present also at the consecration of Bishop Onder- donk in 1830; but I have found no record of the attendance on that occasion. Dr. Shelton was the senior of all present in 1865, except Bishop De Lancey.
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DIOCESE OF WESTERN NEW YORK
(with the exception of Bishop De Lancey, who was robed at home and taken directly to his seat at the Altar,) and entered through the little vestry-room, those without surplices (about a dozen) heading the long procession. The Bishop-elect was attended by Drs. Jack- son and Rankine (both former colleagues in Hartford). An official account of the service is given in the Journal of 1865, but I venture to substitute for it here one taken from my own diary.
"Morning Prayer was said by Drs. S. H. Coxe, Beach, Claxton, Hobart, Van Rensselaer and Ingersoll ; the Ante-Communion by the Bishops of Vermont, Michigan and New Jersey, and Bishop Talbot. Bishop De Lancey's part throughout was only the Lord's Prayer and Collect beginning the Communion Service, the Bidding to Prayer for the Bishop-elect, the Consecrating Prayer, formula, delivery of Bible and charge, and final Benediction. I was considerably interested in the Sermon by Bishop Odenheimer, on the Apostolic Episcopate, its nature, and its mission of blessing to the whole world, more espe- cially to Christendom, as the only possible basis of Christian Unity. It was well and clearly arranged ; not deep nor argumentative,-perhaps the occasion and time hardly admitted of that,-but presenting impor- tant facts broadly and distinctly for consideration. The address at the close to the Bishop-elect was more than eloquent, for all round the chancel there were tearful eyes, including those of the Bishop-elect himself.
"The presentation of the Candidate by Bishops Odenheimer and Talbot was followed by the reading of the various papers and testi- monials required, by Dr. Ingersoll and the Secretaries, Matson, Good- rich and myself. The Litany was said by Bishop Potter ; the Bishop- elect was vested by his attendants, and the Consecration performed by Bishop De Lancey, assisted by Bishops Hopkins, M'Coskry, Pot- ter, Odenheimer and Talbot, all of whom took part in the celebration of the Holy Communion."
It may be added that some of the accessories of the service were not all that could be desired. An effort had been made by two or three of the clergy skilled in music (with the Rector's cordial con- sent) to have plain hearty congregational singing, led by the clergy, as had been done several times at the Diocesan Conventions, and very successfully. But this plan unfortunately broke down on the delicate question of superseding the organist by one accustomed to such a service, and the music was left to the choir, which consisted then of one male and two or three female voices in the west-end organ loft. Their music was not usually bad of its kind, but on this occa-
WALTER AYRAULT
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CONSECRATION OF BISHOP COXE
sion it did seem utterly unsuited to the service,-and certainly it was not an edifying spectacle to see nearly a hundred surpliced clergymen (to say nothing of the whole congregation) mutely listening (with no very devotional feeling, I fear) to two or three female voices in a gallery singing Venite and Te Deum.
To make the matter as bad as possible, it had been arranged by the Bishops the night before that on the receiving of the Bishop-elect into the sanctuary, immediately after his consecration, Gloria Patri should be sung, led by Bishop Talbot, without the organ. In the excitement of the moment, I presume, the good Bishop began "Glory be to God on high." to "Pelham Humfrey" in C! Of course no one could join in, and this solitary effort at congregational singing came to an instant and melancholy end. What Bishop Coxe's emotions were I never heard him say; but he did say to me some weeks (or months) afterwards, "O, if we could only have had the Rose of Sharon instead of that Te Deum !" *
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