USA > Rhode Island > Washington County > Narragansett > A history of the Episcopal church in Narragansett, Rhode Island, including a history of other Episcopal churches in the state > Part 34
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' After this,' says the memorandum, 'Mr. Wheeler was employ- ed here about nine months. Then letters of invitation were sent round for assistance from Boston and Connecticut, and then came the Rev. Mr. Jarvis, of Middletown, Conn., and officiated three se- veral Sundays ; also, the Rev. Mr. Viets, of Simsbury, three weeks.
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The Rev. Mr. Parker and Lewis, of Boston, assisted us twice each. Then Mr. Thomas F. Oliver came as a lay-reader, till peace took place, when Mr. Graves offered his service again to duty, but was refused, we being under contract to Mr. Oliver, who was agreeable, and had moved his family up here, and was afterwards ordained, first, deacon, then priest, by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Seabury, and ser- ved until Sunday, September 3, 1786, when being invited down to Marblehead, among his friends and relations, we parted by mutual consent, and in love and harmony.
Immediately upon this, letters of invitation were sent to the Rev. Moses Badger, at Newport. He accepted our call, and moved up with his family on Thursday, September 28, 1786 ; and he sicken- ed and died with a dropsy, on Thursday, September 20, 1792. The Rev. Mr. Graves sickened and died November 14, 1785. After the decease of our worthy pastor, Mr. Badger, our friend Parson Smith, of Newport, advised us to address and invite the Rev. Mr. Bowden, of Hartford, to our church. Letters were accordingly written to him on that subject, but he, having lost his voice, and his lungs be- ing affected, excused himself as unable, and kindly recommended us to invite the Rev. Abram L. Clark, as a suitable person for our church and congregation.
We wrote, and invited him from Huntingdon, Connecticut, where he left two churches, being too much for his ability to attend to them, and he came here with his family ; and on Easter Sunday, March 31st, 1793, he began services in our church, and this was done with the approbation of our worthy and most reverend father in God, Bishop Seabury.
From 1777 to 1781, no business appears to have been transact- ed at the meetings, except continuing the wardens in office .- In 1781, it was voted, " That whereas the Rev. Mr. John Graves hath removed himself from the congregation of the church, by neglecting public services therein, and that it has become neces- sary that application be made to some other gentleman in Episcopal orders to supply his place, it is voted, that a committee be appointed to wait on Mr. Gravos, and inform him, that it is the resolution of this congregation, that he remove from the house and glebe which he now occupies, by the first day of June next, or sooner, if convenient, as he considers himself no longer our pastor, and that
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he deliver said committee all the books and other effects belonging to the church." By a memorandum, it appears that the books which were presented by the London Society were demanded, but Mr. Graves declined delivering them.
On Sunday, June 19, 1782, " At the request of the wardens, the Rev. Mr. William Rogers, a, Baptist clergyman, preached in the church, this and the following Sunday, and, on the 30th of the same month he again preached, and the wardens were requested to wait upon and thank him for this day's service, and present him with the contribution, and ask him to officiate in church next Sunday in his way, provided he cannot conform to our liturgy, but if he will con- form, the congregation invite him further to serve them."
April 21st, 1783. " An application, by letter, dated the 15th in- stant, of the Rev. Mr. Graves, for readmission into this church as pastor, it is voted by all present, except David Brown, that, for va- rious reasons, it cannot be complied with."
In 1785, the church obtained a grant of a lottery from the Legis- lature, " for the purpose of building a chancel and repairing the church."
April 3d, 1785. Agreeably to a vote, passed on Easter Monday, 1784, a draft of a letter to the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts, was laid before the church, and is as follows, to wit :
PROVIDENCE, R. I., April 3d, 1785.
DEAR SIR :
To avoid the censure and meet the approbation of those we re- spect and esteem, is a desire natural to the human heart. We flat- ter ourselves, therefore, that this address, prompted by that desire, will not be deemed impertinent by a society we revere, and whose establishment reflects the highest honor, as well upon those dignified characters who support, as those who founded it.
We imagine, Sir, that the Rev. Mr. John Graves has already acquainted the Society with his having, long since, declined to per- form divine service in the Episcopal Church in this town, and that he has endeavored to justify his conduct by the best means in his power. But in doing this, we have cause to believe that he has represented us in an unfriendly manner. To obviate, in some mea- sure, the unfavorable prepossessions which may have been the con-
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sequence of his censures, we take the liberty herewith to transmit copies of all the letters which have passed between him and the con- gregation, since he first shut up the church,* by which, we think, it will appear that, instead of persecution, he has met with respect and tenderness from us. You will observe that there are several letters from him to which no reply was made, not because they were unanswerable, but because we wished to avoid disputes and quarrels as much as possible. But we must here observe, that the treatment of which he so much complained, was far more favorable, than any other clergyman, in similar circumstances, one or two excepted, re- ceived in America.
To convince you of this, we need only mention his being permit- ted peaceably to reside five years in the glebe, after his own volun- tary dismission, although he constantly refused our repeated invita- tions to open the church, and perform the service in a way we con- ceived to be right, and as he actually did perform it in Warwick and elsewhere, and to inform you that the parsonage-house and glebe were given, by the first builders of the church, " to the Rev. Mr. Arthur Brown, to him, his heirs and assigns, in fee simple," and that he on his departure for Portsmouth, generously gave it back to three gentlemen, 'in trust, " expressly," to and for an officiating clergyman, when any such was here, or otherwise to and for the use of the Church.' With respect to the vote for Mr. Graves quit- ting the glebe, which he believed to be illegally and unfairly ob- tained, it is necessary only to say that, although many owners of pews were not present at its passing, yet few or none of them were ignorant of it previous to his removal, and if they had not thought it just, they would undoubtedly have had it reconsidered, and have voted accordingly. This was not done nor even mentioned, and the vote, being regularly passed, must be legal. For the particulars relative to our settling Mr. Oliver, who now performs divine service to universal satisfaction, and for our final determination in regard to Mr. Graves, we beg leave to refer you to our answer to his last let- ter. But though we cannot again receive him as our pastor, we still sincerely wish him well, and should rejoice at his being appointed to a much better living than this has ever been. But while we wish
* These letters are neither on file or record.
51*
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for his welfare, we must not be unmindful of our own, and the in- terests of our religion. Mr. Oliver, who means to obtain orders the first opportunity that offers, has officiated for us two years for a sal- ary,* which though small, we have found it very hard to raise.
Our anxiety, however, to keep up the worship of God, in a form which appears to us pure, and the most agreeable to the Scriptures, has induced us to engage him for another year.
But several members, who before contributed largely to his sup- port, having lately removed out of the State, it will be extremely difficult for those who remain to maintain a minister without some assistance. If, therefore, the venerable society could make provis- ion elsewhere for Mr. Graves, and, if consistent with the principles of their most excellent institution, they would be pleased benevolent- ly to continue their former salary to us, we are persuaded it would not only be an additional obligation conferred upon the members of this Church, who for past favors feel the most lively gratitude, but that it would also tend greatly to the advancement of our most holy religion.
We are, Reverend Sir, with the greatest respect, your most hum- ble and most obedient servants.
P. S. Application has been made to Mr. Graves for the books now in his possession belonging to the Church, but he declined to deliver them. As they are much wanted, and as we conceive they are not the property of even the officiating clergyman, much less of one who does no duty in the church, we beg leave to suggest the propriety of their being put into the hands of the wardens, for the benefit of the congregation.
To the Rev. Dr. Morris, Secretary, &c.
It does not appear that any answer to this letter was ever re- ceived.
July 27th, 1785. A letter was given to Mr. Thomas F. Oliver, then officiating as lay reader, recommending him to Bishop Seabury, who had just then returned from his consecration in Europe, as a " suitable and worthy subject for ordination." Mr. Oliver was ac-
* £120 lawful money, together with the benefit and improvement of the parsonage-house and glebe.
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cordingly ordained, and continued with the church until September, 1786.
July 29th, 1786. On the Rev. Mr. Oliver's making known to the church that he found it impossible to subsist or support his family on the salary allowed him by this congregation, that having received an invitation to settle at Marblehead, upon terms much more advan- tageous, and being urged by his family connections at Salem, to re- move thither, he was constrained from necessity, rather than from any desire or inclination he has to leave this place, to accept of the offers from Marblehead, and that therefore he should shortly remove his family to that town,-the church, though with sincere regret at being obliged to give up the pastoral care of so worthy a man, con- sented to his departure.
The following letter was addressed to the Rev. Mr. Oliver :
PROVIDENCE, Sept. 5, 1786.
REVEREND SIR,
On your necessarily quitting the pastoral charge of the Episcopal Church in this town, we, as a committee, appointed by the congre- gation for the purpose, take this method of communicating to you their entire approbation of your conduct, which, during your resi- dence among us, hath been invariably consistent with the pure prin- ciples of our most holy religion, and untinctured with hypocrisy and disguise, displayed a feeling and benevolent heart. And, while as the consequence of our inability, we lament the loss of your minis- trations, permit us to beg your acceptance of our grateful thanks for all your humane and friendly services, accompanied by our sincere wish that you may be happy with the people over whom you are going now to preside, and by our hearty prayers for your health, worldly peace, and future eternal felicity.
With great esteem and regard, we are, Reverend Sir, your as- sured friends and most humble servants,
Signed, METCALF BOWLER, EBEN. THOMPSON, JOHN I. CLARKE, GEORGE OLNEY.
Upon the recommendation of Mr. Oliver, the Rev. Moses Badger
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was invited to supply his place, which invitation he accepted, at an annual salary of £90 lawful money in specie, and the use of the parsonage-house and glebe. Mr. Badger continued pastor of the church until 1792, when he died.
The following declaration and votes are found recorded in 1787 :
Voted, unanimously, That we conceive it to be the indispensible duty of all churches, carefully to watch and superintend the conduct of its members, and in case of violations of the precepts of morality and revealed religion, privately, in the first instance, to admonish, and if the offender prove refractory, and irreclaimable, then to pro- ceed to public censure. This opinion is founded on reason, on rev- . elation, and on the immemorial usage and practice of all Christian churches, since the first establishment of Christianity. In conform- ity to this useful and necessary part of our discipline, we are oblig- ed to proceed to the public censure and excommunication of David Brown, of Johnston, in the county of Providence, yeoman, a mem- ber of this church, whose conduct in attempting to discharge an honest debt, due to John Clifford in specie, with one sixth part of its value, is the immediate subject of our animadversion, and has led to this public vindication of our church discipline.
The fulfilling of agreements voluntarily entered into, with hon- esty and good faith, is enjoined by the clearest principles of reason, and the express commands of our most holy religion, and the obliga- tions arising from these laws, are superior to, and not releaseable by, any municipal statute or institution whatever. The conduct of the said David in the above transaction, appearing to us highly cul- pable, private admonition hath been tried, but unfortunately without success. For the vindication, therefore, of the church, and to deter others from committing the like offences, and with the hope of still reclaiming our offending brother, we do declare that his aforesaid conduct is a scandalous breach of the laws of our most holy reli- gion, and directly opposite to the most obvious principles of morality. We do, therefore, hereby manifest our disapprobation, by thus pub- licly censuring our said brother.
' Voted, That the clerk of the vestry do enter the above vote and declaration of this meeting in the public register-book of this church, and that the same be published.'
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" ' Voted, That Messrs. John I. Clark and Metcalf Bowler, war- dens, and John Smith, be a committee to wait on Mr. David Brown, to-morrow, and use their influence to induce him to revoke the ten- der of paper money to Mr. Clifford,-show him a copy of the pre- ceding vote, and inform him that it is the determination of the church to publish it in the next Saturday's paper, unless he will re- call the said tender, and acknowledge it in as public a manner as he has declared the tender. That in case he does not comply, they are to give a copy of the foregoing declaration and excommunication to Mr. Carter without further advice or direction of the vestry.'
Sept. 6, 1789. The Rev. Mr. Parker, of Boston, by authority, invites this church to send delegates to the General Convention of the Bishops and Clergy, to be held on the 29th September in Phila- delphia, for the purpose of ecclesiastical organization. This church authorises Bishop Seabury to represent them at that convention.
Voted, (November 7, 1790,) ' unanimously, That the Rev. Mr. Badger, John I. Clark, Esq., and Mr. Jeremiah F. Jenkins, wardens, and Mr. John Mumford, be a committee to proceed to Newport, there to consult and advise with such other persons as may be chosen by the different churches in this State, to represent them in a State Con- vention, to be held on Wednesday the 17th instant, and to make such alterations and amendments in the Book of Common Prayer as may . be judged expedient by said convention, and to do any other matters which may be thought for the interest and reputation of the Episco- pal Church in the State of Rhode Island.'
1791. This year the church was sued for the payment of their organ, by Gilbert Deblois. Owing to the war with England, and the unsettled state of affairs afterwards, the church had been unable to pay any thing. A settlement was effected by paying Mr. De- blois £200, and the fee of the lawyer, " which was upwards of $500 less than was legally due him."
1790. The act of incorporation which passed the Legislature in 1772, but which, owing to some neglect or misunderstanding, was not signed by the Governor, was this year by a special act confirm- ed, and all the previous acts of the corporation under it, legalized.
1792. Mr. James Wilson, since pastor of the Benificent Congre- gational Church in this city, officiated, after the death of Mr. Bad- ger, for a short time, as a reader. The Rev. Ahraham L. Clark, of
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Huntingdon, Conn., becomes rector of the church, at a salary of £150 per annum.
Bishop Seabury says of him, in a letter to the wardens :- " He is not only a gentleman of good character and understanding, but also of easy and polite manners, and of diligence in his profession."
July 31st, 1793. The State Convention met, first time in this church, Bishop Seabury presiding.
April 21st, 1794. " Voted, That a pair of decent gravestones be erected to the memory of the late Dr. John Chase, at the expense of the church, in testimony of their respect to the remains of their de- parted brother, who was for years a faithful friend and servant of the church." Mr. Chase served the church as organist for nine years. without compensation.
1794. This year the name of the Church was changed, on ap- plication to the Legislature, to St. John's Church. The church agree to " go fully into the use of the alterations in the revised Book of Common Prayer." The glebe was sold this year.
1795. The Legislature granted a lottery to enable the society to build a parsonage.
1797. This year the ' United Society of St. John's Church' was incorporated, 'for the purpose of raising a fund, the interest to be appropriated annually for the support of the Gospel in said church, until it shall amount to two hundred pounds, and then the surplusage is to be either added to the fund, or appropriated to such charitable uses as the society shall think proper.' This society continued until 1812, when its fund was transferred to the " minister, wardens, vestry and proprietors of St. John's Church."
1798. " Voted, unanimously, That the constitution of the Prot- estant Episcopal Church for this State, as adopted by the Conven- tion, held in Bristol, July 8th, 1795, be, and the same is hereby rati- fied and adopted by us, except the third article of said constitution."
At the annual meetings of this church, two officers, at present unknown to the church, have always been appointed, called Sides- men. Their duty was, " to keep order in the church in time of di- vine service."
March 30th, 1800. Mr. Clark resigned the charge of the church. In 1801, Stephen Hull officiated as a lay-reader.
In October, 1801, the Rev. Nathaniel Bowen, (since Bishop of the
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Diocese of South Carolina,) becomes rector of the church. In March, 1802, he goes on a visit to the South, and was invited to the rectorship of St. Michael's Church, Charleston. He requests his dismissal from St. John's Church. The letter of reply says, " Sen- sible of the eligibility of so respectable a situation, we unanimously complied with the wishes of St. Michael's Church, but with deep regret we have thus reluctantly assented to relinquish your valuable services. Having advocated in the most impressive manner, the pure doctrines of our holy religion, your eminent endeavors, sin cerely in its cause, have given real satisfaction, and will have a last- ing and grateful impression on our minds."
Nov. 1st, 1802. Mr. Crocker first performs divine service in this church.
April, 1803. He is invited to become pastor, on obtaining dea- con's orders, which he accepts for one year. Owing to the ill health of Mr. Crocker during this year, leave of absence was grant- ed him for several weeks, and his illness still continuing, he was obliged in January, 1804, " to beg to be released from his engage- ments." The request was granted ; " but not without repugnance to our feelings, that the measure, though expedient, deprives us of a pastor whose valuable services will not be easily effaced from our memories." Mr. Nathaniel Parker served as a lay-reader for a short time.
Dec., 1805. The Rev. John Lynn Blackburne, an English gen- tleman, comes from the church in Quincy, Mass., and meeting with the unanimous approbation of the congregation, was invited to per- form divine service until Easter.
April 7, 1806. Mr. Blackburne was chosen " minister and rector of St. John's Church," his rectorship to commence " on his obtain- ment of priest's orders." Salary, 'six hundred and fifty dollars, until the expiration of twenty months, at which time it is contem- plated that the subscription for a permanent fund for the support of the minister will be realized.
1806. The wardens are requested to discontinue the practice of collecting contributions in church during divine service, except on public days.
Nov. 9, 1806. The delegates to the State Convention, " were re.
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quested to use their influence to come under the Diocese of New York."
1806. Soon after Mr. Blackburne took charge of the church, the congregation, for various reasons, became dissatisfied with him. One cause for this dissatisfaction, the following correspondence will ex- plain. The agreement made with Mr. Blackburne, was as follows, to wit : The said John L. Blackburne is to perform divine service, as pastor of St. John's Church, at the rate of six hundred and fifty dollars per annum, (to which he was unanimously elected last Easter,) until the expiration of twenty months, as it is contemplated that the fund of said church for the support of a clergyman will be then realized ; at the termination of which time, should it prove mutually agreeable, it is expected that the Rev. J. L. Black- burne will continue in said church as a permanent pastor, and his salary to be augmented as it may be then agreed." This agree- ment was signed on the 7th April, 1806. In June, Mr. Blackburne went to Connecticut to receive priest's orders, and took with him the following testimonial, to wit: " This is to certify, that we, the war- dens and vestry of St. John's Church, Providence, &c., do hereby nominate and appoint the Rev. John Lynn Blackburne to perform the office of a clergyman and pastor of the church aforesaid, and do promise to continue him to act as such until the 7th day of Decem- ber, 1807, and as much longer as may be mutually agreed on, unless by fault committed by him, he shall be lawfully removed from the same," &c. On the 2d, June, 1806, Mr. Blackburne writes a letter to one of the wardens, from which the following is extracted :
DEAR SIR :
No doubt you will be a little surprised on the receipt of this, cover- ing the enclosed. The testimonial for election, which was present- ed to the Bishop, was rejected by him as uncanonical, upon which, therefore, I could not be admitted to orders. The enclosed testimo- nial he framed himself, and requested a copy might be forwarded for the signatures of the vestry of St. John's Church, Providence. Your attention to the one I drew out, and the insertion of, " until the 7th of December, 1807, and as much longer as may be mutually agreed on," were what he entirely objected to. He says, that a Bishop, upon the ordination of a candidate for the priesthood, knows
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nothing of a limited space of time, which would but subject the clergyman to the capricious humor of his congregation which at all times ought to be discountenanced, as being contrary to the rules of Episcopacy. May I request you to procure the necessary signa- tures to the enclosed, and forward it immediately, directed to the care of the Bishop," &c, &c. In a postscript, Mr. Blackburne says, " I mentioned the agreement I had entered into with the congrega- tion, when the Bishop replied, that that was a personal matter be- tween ourselves, but with which the testimonial of election had. nothing to do. However, that the parsonage-house and glebe im- mediately became the rector's, upon his induction into a church .- Upon this subject he has promised to give me his sentiments in writ- ing."
The following is the reply of the wardens and vestry :-
PREOVIDNCE, June 6, 1806.
REV. MR. BLACKBURNE,-
Dear Sir,-Your letter covering a testimonial for the wardens and vestry of St. John's Church to sign, has been received, and we ob- serve that you intimate a claim upon us for the glebe, in addition to the salary we agreed with you for. In reply thereto, we remark, that the clergyman's salary of this congregation has ever been raised by voluntary subscription, and that the contract already made pre- cludes any other for the time prescribed. We do not find ourselves authorized to sign any writings compulsive on the society for more than their agreement stipulates, as the rest of the glebe estate is al- ready appropriated to make your salary to $650. We regret that it is not in our power, at present, to acquiesce with your request. Desirous of avoiding every thing unpleasant, it is necessary that there should be a perfect understanding with each other. We there- fore cannot think of committing ourselves further, until the claims on the glebe, as you mention is supposed by the bishop to become the rector's right and privilege, are relinquished by you.
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