USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > Memorials of Christ Church, Philadelphia : two sermons preached in said church, April 27, and May 4, 1862 : one the 135th anniversary of laying the corner-stone of the present building, the other the 25th anniversary of the rector's institution > Part 2
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Let me add, no one who " covets earnestly the best gifts," could desire higher human praise than this.
The names of such men should be had in everlast- ing remembrance; and their graves, if possible, be ascertained and preserved from oblivion.
The accounting warden is doing a good work in this respect, by having every inscription, on tomb and head-stone, in the ground on Arch Street, and in this around the church, carefully copied, to be hereafter printed and published in a volume, with map and in- dex, so that the location of any known grave may
* " An Eulogium upon the Hon. William Tilghman, late Chief Justice of Pennsylvania. By Horace Binney." p. 45.
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be readily ascertained. Such a book cannot fail to be of great historical and genealogical interest and value. In the prosecution of this work, he has re- cently discovered the tomb of Dr. John Kearsley, and Anne his wife; the latter died in 1747, the former in 1772. The inscription is scarcely legible; and in a year or two, but for this timely discovery, every letter would have been obliterated; and the founder of Christ Church Hospital, who was a vestry-man of Christ Church for more than fifty years, a worshipper in the old church, and the architect of the new, would be lying in Christ Church ground, in an un- known grave! Who can doubt the importance of taking measures for preserving such memorials as we have, without delay ?
At the time of the Declaration of Independence, there were but three officiating Episcopal clergymen in this city ;- the rector of the united churches, the Rev. Mr. Duché, and his assistants, the Rev. Mr. Coombe and the Rev. Mr. White. All these were natives of Philadelphia, and had been brought up in Christ Church. Mr. Duché, with the consent and approval of vestry, went to England in December, 1777; and Mr. Coombe, with like approbation, fol- lowed him in July, 1778. Thus the junior assistant, the Rev. William White, was left alone in charge of the united churches. He was unanimously elected
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rector, April 15, 1779, and remained at his post through the whole Revolution, enjoying the friend- ship of Washington, and the confidence, respect, and esteem of all good men.
Let us next view "our holy and our beautiful house," in its connection with the ecclesiastical affairs of this diocese, and with the Protestant Episcopal Church in these United States.
This is the most interesting point of view to all true-hearted churchmen; for they may see at a glance that, in this respect, no other church in our country has, or ever can have, so many hallowed associations clustering around it as this.
As soon as peace was restored to the country, after its long struggle for independence, measures began to be taken for a general organization of the churches. A convention of clerical and lay deputies from the several parishes in Pennsylvania, was called for that purpose. "The steps leading to this convention," Bishop White says," " were originated by himself in the vestry of the churches under his parochial care." The convention met in Christ Church, May 24, 1784, and the result of their deliberations was the establish- ing of certain great principles "as a foundation for the future forming of an ecclesiastical body for the church at large."
* Memoirs, p. 84.
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The diocesan convention again met here, May 23, 1785, Dr. White presiding, and formed an act of as- sociation of the clergy and congregations in the State.
At the convention which assembled in this place the year following, September 14, 1786, the Rev. Dr. White was unanimously chosen bishop of the diocese. And so it was that the first twenty-nine annual dio- cesan conventions, with one exception only, were held in Christ Church. Thus intimately is it associated with the earliest and most important affairs of the church in Pennsylvania.
Its relations with the church at large are even more remarkable.
The first general convention was held here Sept. 27, 1785, and Dr. White was chosen president. The convention consisted of " clerical and lay deputies from seven of the thirteen United States, viz., from New York to Virginia, inclusive, with the addition of South Carolina." Among other important acts of this convention, were the framing an ecclesiastical constitution, making a few necessary alterations in the Prayer Book, and proposing, without establishing, others which they deemed expedient.
In June, 1786, the general convention again met in Christ Church, by adjournment from the year pre- ceding, and Dr. White preached the opening sermon. Seven of the thirteen States were represented, as
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before. The Rev. David Griffith, D. D., of Virginia, who had recently been elected bishop of that diocese, presided in this convention, and Francis Hopkinson was secretary.
In October, 1786, Dr. White sailed for England, to obtain Episcopal consecration. Soon after his return, he held his first ordination in Christ Church, on Whitmonday, May 28, 1787, and admitted Mr. Jo- seph Clarkson, of this diocese, and Mr. Joseph Cou- don, of Maryland, to the order of deacons. The next day, in the same place, he ordained Mr. Coudon to the priesthood. These were the first fruits of the American Episcopacy, and occasioned great joy in the churches. They had obtained, what they so long desired and prayed for, the means of having a ministry, without the trouble, expense, and delay, of sending for it across the ocean.
The general convention assembled in Christ Church in July, 1789. Doctor White, being the only bishop present, presided, and Francis Hopkinson was the secretary. At this session, "the constitution formed in 1786, was reviewed and new-modelled. The prin- cipal feature now given to it, was a distribution into two houses, one consisting of the bishops, and the other of the clerical and lay deputies."*
This convention adjourned to meet in Christ Church
* Memoirs, p. 29.
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the twenty-seventh of September following; but, "be- fore the adjournment, an invitation was given by them to Bishop Seabury of Connecticut, and to their brethren generally in the Eastern States, to be present at the proposed session, with a view to a more per- manent union."
On reassembling here, at the time appointed, Bishop Seabury, and several clergymen from Massa- chusetts and Connecticut, in compliance with the invitation extended to them, were also present.
At this session an event occurred of the utmost moment to the welfare, prosperity, and stability of the church in these United States. An event which every member of old Christ Church, may feel a laud- able pride in saying took place within these walls. It is thus briefly and modestly referred to, long years after, by one who was the principal agent in this great and good work. "The two houses," says Bishop White, "entered on a review of the liturgy, the bishops originating alterations in some services, and the house of clerical and lay deputies proposing others. THE RESULT WAS THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER, AS THEN ESTABLISHED, AND HAS BEEN EVER SINCE USED."
It was ratified and confirmed the sixteenth day of October, 1789, declared to be the liturgy of the church, and required to be received as such by all its
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members. The ratification then made, is printed near the title-page of every prayer book in our land, that all may see and know its binding authority.
In the admirable preface to this book, which we should do well to read frequently and carefully, the compilers of it say, "This church is far from intend- ing to depart from the church of England in any essential part of doctrine, discipline, or worship; or further than local circumstances require."
" And now," they add, "this important work being brought to a conclusion, it is hoped the whole will be received and examined by every true member of our church, and every sincere Christian, with a meek, candid, and charitable frame of mind; without preju- dice or prepossessions ; seriously considering what Christianity is, and what the truths of the gospel are ; and earnestly beseeching Almighty God to accompany with his blessing every endeavor for promulgating them to mankind, in the clearest, plainest, most affect- ing, and majestic manner, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our blessed Lord and Saviour."
The heart that breathed that pious prayer has long since ceased to beat; the hand that penned it has mouldered into dust; but the prayer has been heard and answered.
It was but a little company of churchmen-only two bishops, seventeen clergymen, and twelve laymen
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-who met here seventy-three years ago, to prepare for us, and for our children, this richest legacy ; but the grace of God was with them, and his blessing has crowned their labors with a success, which they could scarcely have hoped for or imagined.
The whole church in these United States, at that time, was but a feeble flock, widely scattered, and with but few pastors to seek for, and to fold them "in the cloudy and dark day." Then, there were but three bishops, and about one hundred and eighty ministers. There are now forty bishops, and more than two thousand clergymen. And all this great increase is owing, under God, to those scriptural doc- trines, ministry, and worship, which are embodied in the Book of Common Prayer.
How do our hearts burn within us at the thought, that we are permitted to assemble this day, in the very room in which our spiritual fathers met, and, chief among them, your late venerable and venerated rector and diocesan, to provide us with this priceless gift! Is not that alone sufficient, to make " our holy and our beautiful house" venerable in our eyes ? What churchman is there in our land, who would not grieve less to see the Hall of Independence pulled down, and levelled with the dust, than witness the destruction of this sacred edifice, within which the independence of our catholic and apostolic church
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was perfected, by the framing and adoption of our constitution and our liturgy? An independence, not secured by strife of arms, or followed by unkind feel- ings towards those from whom we separated; but such an independence as the youthful bride has, when she goes forth, with many fond adieus, from her own kindred and her father's house, to dwell in her new and chosen home. There, through long years of prosperity, she never forgets, how much she was in- debted in infancy and youth, to "the nursing care and protection," of her dear mother.
When Philadelphia became the seat of government, in 1790, a pew was prepared, by order of vestry, for the President of the United States. That pew was occupied by Washington and his family for six years; until his retirement from public life, and consequent removal from the city. Not long ago, an intelligent, aged lady of this congregation, whose family pew was near that of the president, was asked to give some of her recollections of him and his family, as they ap- peared in church. She said that when Washington entered, the congregation generally rose up, and con- tinued standing until he was seated. He sat in the farther corner of the pew, facing the chancel; Mrs. Washington occupied the corner directly before him. The young members of his household, Master and Miss Custis, sat near the door, opposite to each other.
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She further stated, that a poor lame woman was permitted to have a chair in the aisle, which she placed close by the door of the President's pew. When he and his family came up, she rose to make her obeisance to them, and hastened to remove her chair; but Washington usually put it aside, and then entering the pew after his family, and closing the door, he leaned forward, drew the chair back to its former place against the door, and motioned to the woman to take her seat. A simple act like this adds to the dignity of any man, and is the sure evidence of a kind heart beating in the bosom of a perfect Christian gentleman.
Let me now bring to your remembrance some of the principal benefactors of this church. Among the first and most liberal of these was Dr. John Kearsley. He came to this country a century and a half ago, 1711, connected himself with Christ Church, and for more than sixty years was active and influential in all its concerns. For fifty-three years he was a mem- ber of vestry, and part of that time was the rector's warden. He died in January, 1772, in the eighty- eighth year of his age; leaving the greater part of his property, real and personal, after the decease of his widow, for the founding of Christ Church Hospital ; a home for aged indigent females of the Protestant Episcopal Church.
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In 1789, Joseph Dobbins, Esq., of South Carolina, gave to Dr. Kearsley's institution two lots of land in this city, and five hundred pounds in money ; and at his decease, in 1804, he left to it "all his estate, real and personal, consisting of one hundred and twenty- six shares in the bank of South Carolina, together with other property amounting to about six thousand dollars."
These estates have so greatly increased in value, that the managers of the institution have been able to purchase a hundred and twenty acres of land, within the city limits, and to erect a fire-proof stone building, large enough to accommodate more than a hundred inmates. For beauty of situation, for con- venience and comfort, it is probably unsurpassed by any building of the kind in our country. Nor can we conceive of a more desirable earthly home than this, for the aged and indigent female, who wishes to spend the closing years of life, in preparing for a better home on high.
In 1758, Captain William Clymer directs his exe- cutors to apply one hundred pounds to the purchase of a perpetual ground-rent, to be given in trust to the Rector and Wardens of Christ Church, for them to distribute yearly, on the twentieth of September, to twelve such poor widows, frequenting and belonging
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to the congregation of said church, as the Rector and Wardens shall judge to be proper objects.
On the south wall of the church is a tablet with this inscription :-
"To the memory of Mrs. Mary Andrews, late of this city, who died March 29, 1761, aged 78, and was a considerable benefactress to this church."
All that we know of this lady, beyond this brief memorial, are the few following facts, gathered from the church records ;- She had a sitting in the pew, now No. 25, middle aisle, with Benjamin Franklin and his family. Her remains lie beneath the aisle, opposite that pew. At her decease she gave by will, to the Minister and Church-wardens of Christ Church, one hundred pounds towards purchasing an organ; and a further sum of one hundred pounds, after deducting the expense of a mural tablet, towards a new pulpit and pulpit-cloth. With this last sum this pulpit was built, and placed where it now stands, in 1770-ninety- two years ago. Mrs. Andrews also gave a ground-rent of $26 67, to be distributed yearly at the Christmas holidays, by the Minister and Wardens, among such poor families, not on the poor roll, or supported at the public charge, as they think proper. This bene- volent woman died a hundred and one years ago; and her charity is annually distributed by the Rector, with the advice of the Wardens, as her will directs, at the
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festival of the Nativity. Since her decease, no less than $2,700 have been so dispensed to the poor. How many Christian households have been indebted for their merry Christmas, to her timely bounty ! What a beautiful monument has she unintentionally left to her memory! How much more enduring than the tablet of marble! Her remembrance is renewed year by year, like the evergreens which then beautify the place of God's sanctuary. This is that "good name," which "is rather to be chosen than great riches;" "the praise of it endureth forever."
In 1816, Miss A. M. Clifton left by her will "one share in the Bank of Pennsylvania, par value $400, in trust, as the foundation of a fund for teaching six boys as a choir to sing in Christ Church." The amount of this legacy now invested is $1,435 62.
The largest benefaction for the poor of Christ Church alone, was made by Mr. Henry Rigby. By his will, dated April 28, 1823, he left in trust to this church, for her poor communicants, property which now yields an annual income of about one thousand dollars. This is distributed by a committee of vestry, in such manner as best to meet the testator's wishes, and to render his liberal benefaction most advan- tageous.
Such charitable bequests as those which we have mentioned, are worthy the imitation of all, to whom
3
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God has given the ability of making them. " He that hath pity upon the poor, lendeth unto the Lord; and look, what he layeth out, it shall be paid him again."
May not the hope be here expressed, that some benevolent individual will, by gift or bequest, lay the foundation of a fund for the permanent endowment of Christ Church; such as will eventually secure the preservation of the present structure, and its cemete- ries, so rich in historic recollections ; and will also insure a just administration of all the large trust- funds, committed to this corporation ?
I know of no more useful, praiseworthy charity, than such an endowment would be; nor can I con- ceive of a more durable, more desirable monument, to the memory of any individual, who should be the first to aid in making it.
The next subject which claims our attention, is the origin, establishment, and success of our Sunday- Schools.
As early as 1788, the subject of a Sunday-School was brought before the Vestry by the Rt. Rev. Rec- tor, in connection with a plan for a free day-school for boys and girls, to be under the care of the Trustees of the Episcopal Academy. But Sunday-Schools, on the present parochial plan, in which the instruction is gratuitous, were not established until about twenty
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years after. This church has the honor of being among the first, if not the first, of our communion, which engaged in that great movement. We give the history of the school, which was organized here, as we have received it from the pen of one who aided in its organization, and who, from that day to this, has been the superintendent of the female, and infant schools. It is drawn up, not from memory alone, but with the aid of written records, made at the time. The Rev. James Milnor, afterwards the eminent Rec- tor of St. George's Church, New York, was at this time an assistant minister of the united churches.
" A meeting of young ladies belonging to Dr. Mil- nor's Bible-Class, was held at a school-room in Ran- stead Court, on Tuesday, February 13, 1816, to form a society for instructing the children of the poor in religious knowledge on Sundays. There were present twenty-seven ladies; twelve of whom were from Christ Church, eight from St. James's, five from St. Peter's, and two from St. Paul's. It was agreed to open a school at Christ Church, which was done on the fol- lowing Sunday, February 18, with ninety scholars and twenty-seven teachers present. After meeting thus two Sundays, Dr. Milnor and Mr. Kemper- then an assistant minister, now Bishop of Wisconsin- advised that the society should be divided, so as to form a school in each church. Announcement of the
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design was made in the united churches, and societies were formed in each of them. The ladies of Christ Church met, and the officers which had been chosen by the first society, all happening to be from Christ Church, they were continued on as before. The scholars were divided; those nearest to St. Peter's and St. James's, being sent to those churches. But new ones were readily collected in the vicinity of Christ Church; and on Sunday, March 10, twenty teachers, all of Christ Church, assembled with nearly one hundred scholars, in a school-room in Church Alley, near Third Street.
"Since then, the names of two thousand six hundred girls have been registered as scholars in the female department; not including those who were admitted into the infant school, which would probably be a thousand more. Many of the present school are chil- dren of the early scholars; and more than half the teachers have once been scholars."
The person to whom we are indebted for this inte- resting narrative, as I said before, has had charge of this department of our schools, from the beginning. We doubt whether there is another instance in this country, or in England, of an individual who has been superintendent of the same Sunday-School for forty- six successive years.
It is surely an extraordinary example of perse-
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verance, without weariness, in well-doing; and the promise to those who thus labor and faint not, that they should in due season reap, has been signally fulfilled, in the abundant blessings bestowed on this work of love.
But I must hasten to a close. And yet, I trust, you will pardon me for detaining you a little longer, while I bestow a passing notice on some of the ap- pendages of the church, around which a thousand memories cluster, and make this holy and beautiful house where our fathers worshipped, so inexpres- sibly clear to the hearts of their children.
That font, which you see there, belonged to the first Christ Church, and is more than a hundred and fifty years old. It has lately been restored to its place, after having been laid aside in the tower for seventy-three years. It was in that font that your late venerated rector and bishop was baptized in infancy, May 1, 1748; one hundred and fourteen years ago. The large silver baptismal basin, which is placed in the font, was the gift of Col. Robert Quarry in 1712; and has held the element of water for all who have received holy baptism here, for the last century and a-half.
The valuable communion set, presented by Queen Anne, in 1708, together with the additional pieces, the gift of Col. Quarry, in 1712, have been in con-
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stant use since that time. You receive the conse- crated elements of bread and wine, from the same paten and the same cup, that the communicants of five generations before you received them.
The bells in yonder tower, have been chiming their glorious melody for more than a hundred years. Your fathers, and your fathers' fathers listened to them in their childhood, as you have listened to them in yours. Is it not a pleasing thought, that our ears are drinking in the same sweet sounds which de- lighted the ears of loved ones who have gone before, and who are now tuning their harps before the throne ? Who has not felt the power of their moving melody, as they welcomed his feet to the house of God? And who has not, under the influence of their joyous strains, entered the sanctuary, with a heart more attuned to thankfulness and praise ?
But, brethren, there are other and wiser monitors than these, which touch the heart more deeply, and, it may be, more profitably, than the sweetest music on the ear. They are silent monitors, indeed, which must make us thoughtful, and may make us sad; yet the wisest of men has said, "By the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better."
As you enter into, and go out of, this sanctuary, you walk over the graves of those who lived in former generations, and who came "to the house of God,
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with the voice of joy and praise," as you now come, " with the multitude that keep holyday." Most of them are nameless graves; "their memorial is perished with them." Some few have stones laid over them, with inscriptions which careless feet have nearly ob- literated ; and fewer still have tablets to their memo- ries placed upon these walls. The whole churchyard was a cemetery, from 1695; and for many years after, it was the only burial place for the congrega- tion that worshipped here. The tombs which you see outside are comparatively modern, and their in- mates few, compared with the undistinguished dead lying around them. The aisles of the church are filled with graves. Immediately in front of the , chancel is that of the Rev. Dr. Jenney, who was rector of this church for nearly twenty years. He died in January 1762, at the age of 75. His wife, who sur- vived him only six days, was buried by his side. A slab of marble covers both the graves, where husband and wife have been sleeping their last sleep for more than a century.
Near them are the remains of the Rev. Dr. Peters, who was thirteen years rector of the church. He died July 10, 1776.
In the northwest corner of the churchyard is the family vault of Bishop White and Robert Morris, his brother-in-law. There lies whatever was mortal, of
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one, whom all men delight to honor; whose name is seldom written or spoken, without the prefix " vene- rable."
His parents were married here by the Rev. Dr. Jen- ney; who also baptized this, their first-born son, before he was two months old. His religious training was here. He went to England at the age of twenty-two and a-half years, to obtain the offices of deacon and priest, that he might become an assistant minister in this church. He again went to England for consecra- tion to the episcopate. His ministry extended through the long period of sixty-five years and seven months. The first year and a half, after his ordination as deacon, he remained in England, waiting to attain the canoni- cal age for priest's orders. He ministered at this altar, and preached from this pulpit, sixty-four years ; fifty-seven of which he was rector of this church, and nearly fifty years was bishop of this diocese. He died on Sunday, the 17th of July, 1836, in the eighty- ninth year of his age. At the time of his decease, he was supposed to be the oldest bishop in Christendom.
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