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 35
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Signed by the wardens and vestry.
This letter not having been answered on the 12th of August, 1806, the wardens again addressed Mr. Blackburne, intimating the propri- ety of " an official reply." To this Mr. Blackburne replied as fol- lows :
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PROVIDENCE, August 19, 1806.
GENTLEMEN,
I perceive with pleasure, by your letter of the 12th instant, that what you are pleased to call my "unexpected application," from New Haven, had not entirely slipped your memory. Not being in possession of the church canons made in this country, I conceived the testimonial I carried with me would be sufficient ; but, under- standing from the Bishop that it would not, I sent another form, dic- tated by him, which might have been very safely executed and re- turned, as the church would not have been thereby in any way com- mitted or subjected to inconvenience. It only expressed that I should be established rector of St. John's Church, but it does not say that I should be appointed for life. It does not, by any means, set aside or militate against our agreement, therefore, gentlemen, it is sufficient- ly evident that neither his right reverence, the Bishop, or myself, have any intention to overreach or take in the society. The testi- monial you sent me not being expressed according to the canons, was, of course, rejected, and the Bishop expected that another, correspond- ing with the form sent, should be forwarded to him immediately after my returning here. I do solemnly assure you, gentlemen, that the means of complying with that requisition not having been conceded, has occasioned me much uneasiness, as I have, in some degree, been obliged to forfeit my word to the Bishop, and it has much the appearance of an imposition on him, which of all things I detest. What I mentioned respecting the church glebe, was by the authority of the Bishop ; but you, gentlemen, very well know, that although I might be entitled to it by the canons and constitution of the church, yet I could not, by our agreement, enter into possession, or demand the rent ; therefore, that should not have had sufficient weight to in- duce you to withhold the testimonial, which I in honor, and you in duty, as officers of the church, were bound to furnish. The question of the glebe may remain in statu quo, for although I shall not con- test that matter, I will not take any measure that may commit the rights of the church, as I might thereby do injury to my successors. Considered as an ecclesiastical person, it is one of the first duties of a clergyman to stand up for the rights of the church, and of his own order. On these principles I was extremely mortified by the
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proceedings respecting the pew in the church which is reserved for the rector. I still continue to think it was highly unjust and im- proper to take that privilege from me, without my consent. Had I been consulted on the subject, it would have been otherwise, but I dislike any thing which has the appearance of injustice or imposi- tion. You will perceive, gentlemen, that I unreservedly lay all my subjects of uneasiness before you, for I think it totally improper that any heart-burnings should remain unexpressed and unexplained be- tween a clergyman and his church.
I am, with due esteem, gentlemen, yours obediently,
J. H. BLACKBURNE.
The following is the reply to the above letter :
PROVIDENCE, August 19, 1806.
REVEREND SIR,
We are now to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 16th instant, which came to hand the evening of its date. Had you, sir, been as prompt in your reply to ours addressed to you, in answer to yours from New Haven, you might have had your certificate, and there would have been no necessity of our introducing the subject at this time. But, you will recollect, on your application from thence, that you prematurely introduced (though you were then well acquainted with the contract subsisting between you and the society) the Bishop's opinion of your right to the church glebe ; we therefore wrote to you our objections, and had not a doubt of receiving an im- mediate answer, with an acknowledgment to the agreement ; but to our astonishment, from that time to the receipt of your last, not a single line has been received from you on the subject, convinced as you now appear to be of the propriety of our objections. Your honor should, we think, have induced you, as soon as you under- stood the reason of our noncompliance with your request, to have acknowledged it immediately. This sufficiently obviated, the testi- monial would have been forwarded without hesitation. Your relin- quishing the glebe to the society, by complying with the agreement, could be no relinquishment of the rights of others. It was a con- tract for yourself, in which it was clearly understood, that the in- come of the glebe was to be appropriated by the society in part to-
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ward the salary agreed on to be paid you. The unimportant claim of the pew, it was supposed, had been explained so as not to need repetition ; but should a further discussion on the subject be thought necessary, it will be better understood by a personal interview, and on any such occasion, your opinions and observations will be respect- fully attended to. Feeling satisfied of our disposition to treat you, at all times, with respect, we are not disposed to reiterate any ex- pressions that might have a tendency to wound your feelings, or to reply to you with the temper with which, we observe with regret, you have been pleased to answer us-and we flatter ourselves no one will presume, in our conduct towards you, to accuse us of any thing which "has the appearance of injustice or imposition." It has al- ways been our earnest desire to cultivate your society, and had any thing required an explanation, it might have been made without re- serve, in an amicable and delicate manner,-but this unfortunately has in some measure been prevented, by your withdrawing yourself from us. Neither our time or inclination will admit of a lengthy correspondence, should you, therefore, wish a further discussion of the subject of the glebe or the testimonial, we shall be ready to at- tend any appointment you may be pleased to make ; and we are persuaded, that in our oficial character, you will find us equally dis- posed to render justice to you and our constituents, and that as war- dens and private citizens, we have your honor and happiness very much at heart. Remaining, very respectfully, sir, your humble servants,
Signed, JOHN INNES CLARK, JEREMIAH F. JENKINS, Wardens.
September 17, 1806. 'The wardens of St. John's Church ac- quaint the Rev. Mr. Blackburne, that the pew denominated the min- isterial pew, is entirely at his service during his rectorship, it having been deemed so, from the time of his sacerdotal qualification.'
March 23, 1807. 'The Rev. J. L. Blackburne begs leave to in- form his wardens, vestry, and congregation, that it is his intention to leave America for Great Britain ; consequently he wishes that they would, in the intermediate time allotted to him by their agreement, provide themselves with a more suitable clergyman.'
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The following appears to be in reply to the above note. It is with- out signature, and possibly was never sent :
REV. J. L. BLACKBURNE,
Sir : Your communication of the 23d inst. advising the wardens, vestry and congregation of St. John's Church, of your intention to leave America for Great Britain, at the expiration of the existing contract between you and that society, hath been duly received and attended to ; and, in reply, we are authorized by the congregation we have the honor to represent, to acquaint you, that for divers weigh- ty reasons, unnecessary to detail here, it is their wish amicably to cancel the contract, freely assenting to your immediate release, that your design of visiting Great Britain may be facilitated, and that the society may not lose a favorable opportunity of engaging another clergyman. In case, sir, you shall be disposed to accept this propo- sition-a measure, since a separation hath become inevitable, we most earnestly recommend as highly prudent and expedient at this time-we shall most cheerfully give you any reasonable aid that may be requisite for your intended voyage. Wishing you a safe re- turn to your native country, and the enjoyment of health and hap- piness, we are, in behalf of the congregation of St. John's Church, sir, &c.
On the 26th of March, Mr. Blackburne resigned the charge of the church.
March 30th, ' Voted, That Messrs. Thomas L. Halsey and John Carter be a committee to wait upon the Rev. J. L. Blackburne, and present him with the letter from the wardens expressing their ready acceptance of his resignation.'
The letter of the wardens concludes thus : 'We take occasion at this time to offer you our best wishes for the safety of your intend- ed voyage to Great Britain, the enjoyment of health and happiness in life, and that you may permanently establish the reputation which it is in your power to acquire, with the aid of the splendid literary talents you possess.'
Another cause for dissatisfaction, was Mr. Blackburne's habitual intemperance.
Immediately after Mr. Blackburne's resignation, Mr. Crocker was
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invited to become the minister, ' so long as it may prove convenient for him.'
April, 1808. ' Voted, That the Rev. Nathan B. Crocker be rec- tor of St. John's Church, on his obtainment of priest's orders.'
On the 19th of March, 1810, a meeting of the society was held, at which it was decided to erect a new church on the lot where the present church stands. 'A building committee was thereupon ap- pointed, and application was made to the town for the use of the town-house while the church was building.'
Tuesday, June 5, 1810. 'The corner-stone of the new church was laid with appropriate ceremonies, by the reverend pastor and the wardens and vestry, assisted by the gentlemen committee, appointed to superintend the building of the church. The congregation hav- ing been notified, convened at the town-house, and proceeded to the spot, where the exercises commenced by singing, when the corner- stone was laid at the north-east corner of the building, after which an excellent prayer and pertinent address was delivered by the rec- tor.'
' The following inscription engraven on a copper-plate, and pre- sented by Mr. Nehemiah Dodge, was set within the stone, namely :
" King's Church was built on this spot, A. D., 1722. It received the name of St. John's Church, by act of incorporation, A. D. 1794. By unanimous consent of the congregation it was demolished April, 1810. The corner-stone of this edifice was laid with appropriate ceremony by Rev. Nathan B. Crocker, pastor of said congregation ; Thomas Lloyd Halsey and Jeremiah Fones Jenkins, wardens ; as- sisted by George Olney, John Mumford, Moses Lippitt, Thomas Lloyd Halsey, Ephraim Bowen, Jr., Alexander Jones, John Corlis, John Carlile, Nathaniel Searle, Jr., Nehemiah Dodge, Thomas Thompson, Thomas Sessions, Nicholas Power, Wm. Blodgett, John M. Noyes, and Christopher R. Green, committee for building this church, together with most of the Episcopal Society, on the 5th day of June, A. D. 1810. In the 34th year of the independence of the United States of America. JAMES MADISON, President. Master- builders, Smith and Asa Bosworth, stone layers; John H. Green, carpenter.
NEHEMIAH DODGE, fecit."'
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1811. Mr. John Fitton bequeathed to the church 'one hundred and fifty dollars, the interest to be appropriated to the poor of said church ;' to be paid after the decease of his wife.
Tuesday, June 11, 1811. This being the day appointed for the consecration, a procession was formed at the town-house, composed of the male members of the congregation, and joined by the Rev. Salmon Wheaton, rector of Trinity Church, Newport, and the rector of our church, proceeded to the church, at the entrance of which the Rt. Rev. Bishop (Griswold) being met by the wardens and vestry, the church was consecrated according to the form set forth by our General Convention. The deed of consecration was read by the Rev. Mr. Crocker, and morning prayer by the Rev. Mr. Whea- ton. After an excellent discourse by the bishop, the holy eucharist was administered by him, assisted by the above named reverend gentlemen and the Rev. John Ward, then residing at St. Michael's Church, Bristol.
In February, 1812, the general assembly incorporated St. John's Church under the name of the 'Minister, Wardens, Vestry, and Proprietors of St. John's Church ;' and by this charter the funds of the 'United Society of St. John's Church,' and of the society en- titled the 'Minister, Church-wardens, Vestry, and Congregation of St. John's Church,' were transferred and vested in the present cor- poration.
April, 15, 1816. The constitution of the church in this State was approved, with several amendments.
1827. The Sunday school-room was built.
1832. An amendment to the charter was obtained from the legis- lature, authorizing the corporation to tax the pews for the support of public worship, and for the payment of taxes.
Respecting the Hon. Mr. Bowler, Mr. John Howland President, of the R. I. Hist. Society, communicates the following :
" The Hon. Metcalf Bowler was a native of England, but when a young man, arrived in this country and settled in Newport, which was then a flourishing town. He commenced his operations there as a merchant, and was largely concerned in navigation, in which he was eminently successful. During the war with France and Spain he was principal owner of a privateer, commanded by Capt. William Dennis, who brought in a number of rich prizes, which
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greatly added to the property of Mr. Bowler. His talents and en- terprize brought him into public life as an eminent politician ; he represented the town of Newport, and afterwards the town of Ports- mouth, in the General Assembly of the colony, of which he was for many years the Speaker. He had his town and country residence -he erected the elegant house in Newport at the corner of that which was then called the New Lane and Clark-street, and is now the Vernon estate ; to the usual occupation of his farm in Ports- mouth, he added the most splendid and best cultivated garden on the island ; his taste for agriculture and gardening, in which he culti- vated the best fruits and flowers, exceeded that of any gentleman of his day. While in possession of his large property in Newport, there were but two coaches in the colony, one of which was that of Abraham Redwood, who was supposed to be the richest man in New- port, and the other was that of Mr. Bowler, in which he rode with an elegant span of horses. During the French war a convention of delegates from the northern colonies was held in Albany, to agree on the number of troops each colony should furnish on the Canada frontier ; in the first session, Governor Hopkins appeared for Rhode Island, and in the second, Mr. Bowler and Henry Ward, the brother of Governor Ward ; Mr. Bowler travelled in his coach, and Mr. Ward on horseback ; and many years after I heard Mr. Ward re- late the circumstanee, that the expenses of Mr. Bowler's journey was vastly more than his, though both were paid by the government.
The decline of business in Newport, together with his style of living and the occurrence of the war of the revolution, greatly im- paired the property of Mr. Bowler, though he continued to be Speak- er of the House of Assembly andjudge of the superior court-both these offices were not then deemed incompatible in the same person. From the causes mentioned above, he had but little property left. He then removed to Providence, and opened a shop of dry goods, without any apparent depressure of mind ; he managed his little business pleasantly, practising prudent economy ; he afterward opened a re- spectable boarding house, in which he performed the duties of a landlord as well as if he had never known a higher elevation. At last, far advanced in life, his probation was ended. At this time there was no resident minister in St. John's Church, of which Mr. Bowler had been one of the wardens. The Rev. Mr. Smith, of Nar-
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ragansett, preached his funeral sermon. The clergyman being a stranger, and who knew nothing of the life and character of the de- ceased, avoided any of the usual observations on the subject ; but to the few of us present, who knew the Judge in the days of his riches and splendor, it was a solemn scene, bringing deep impressions on the progress as well as on the end of human life, and the great pur- poses of our being, when the rich and the poor lie down together. Mr. Bowler, in 1750, married Miss Fairchilds, a respectable lady in Newport, by whom he left a number of descendants. His age at the time of his death I have not been able to ascertain.
Before the war of the revolution, and during the residence of Judge Bowler in Newport, the principal families there were highly aristocratic in their manners. They possessed little sympathy for their fellow citizens. The families of Brenton, Malbone, Wanton, Simon Pease, Charles Handy, the Bannisters, Freebody, and others, were of this caste, but the politeness and free intercourse of Judge Bowler sustained his popularity, and insured him the good will of all ; and while he resided in Providence he was treated with the highest respect, notwithstanding the loss of his large property."
ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH, BRISTOL.
Anno domini, 1680, just sixty years after the first settlement of New England, four gentlemen, of Boston, purchased all that tract of land now included within the limits of the town of Bristol, for the purpose of forming a settlement on the banks of the broad waters of the Narragansett Bay. A small settlement was soon collected by emigrants from Plymouth, and a few years afterwards a town meet- ing was called and resolutions adopted, to settle a Congregational minister and impose a tax on all the inhabitants for his support. No opposition was made to these measures, as probably there was but few if any churchmen among the settlers. Under these religious cir- cumstances, the town of New Bristol continued for a number of years, till in the early part of the 18th century, some feeble efforts were made to form an Episcopal Society, and services were first had by laymen in a small building near Mount Hope; but they were not entirely successful until the year 1719, when renewed exertions were made to form the present parish, under the name of St. Mi-
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chael's Church. A petition was forwarded to the Bishop of London, and application made to the Protestant Episcopal Society, chartered but nineteen years before by William III, the Society for the Propa- gation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, and the following year the Rev. Mr. Orem was sent over by that Society.
Immediately after writing for a clergyman, the new parish com- menced making collections for the purpose of building a church .- Col. Mackintosh gave the ground and two hundred pounds in money, and other sums were received from Boston and Newport, and the balance, making up the sum of fourteen hundred pounds, was con- tributed by the people of Bristol and the adjoining town of Swanzy. A large sum for a small and poor parish to raise at this early period.
On Mr. Orem's arrival he was kindly and affectionately received. He found a wooden building, with the outside and steeple finished, but nothing done to the inside ; and so desirous was this little flock to join in the worship of their own church, that on Saturday even- ing rough boards were laid for a floor, and service was performed the next day. The congregation was larger than had been expect- ed, more than two hundred attending, numbers coming from the neighboring towns.
Mr. Orem was a man of strong mind and pleasing manners, and the Governor of New York soon offered him the situation of Chap- lain to his Majesty's forces, which he accepted, and, in about a year after his arrival at Bristol he removed to New York.
The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, not willing that this little flock should remain in the wilderness, for such it literally was without a shepherd, in the following year, 1722, sent the Rev. John Usher, who was cordially received, and entered upon the duties of his mission with faithfulness and zeal. During the first year and a half of his ministry he baptized thirty-six, and the first name on his record is that of his infant son John, who bears a prominent part in the history of this church, and this was about the yearly average of baptisms during his missionaryship. This in- fant parish, even at this early period, had much to contend with from prejudices against the Church of England, being taxed for the support of the Congregational minister, from the settlement of the town till the year 1746, and, at the same time, raising from eighty to one hundred and thirty pounds, annually, toward the salary of their
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own clergyman. From this burden they made a number of ineffec- tual attempts to be released; they, however, bore this tax with be- coming submission, but when resolutions were about to be adopted in town meeting, in 1726, to tax them to repair the meeting-house, they remonstrated with so much warmth, that it was thought advisable to make the necessary repairs by private contributions in that society.
It appears, from the records of the town, that the church people were among the most respectable members of the community, some of them were elected to the General Court, others as moderators of the town-meetings, and members of the town council.
In 1728, a sum was raised to purchase a bell, and application made to Nathaniel Kay, Esq., to order one from England, to weigh from seven to eight hundred pounds, which, in due time, arrived at Newport, and two persons were sent to bring it to Bristol, but by some accident on its way up it was broken, and thus their anticipa- tions of several years, when just on the point of being realized, were disappointed. This may appear a trifling circumstance, but to them it was no inconsiderable loss.
The broken bell was re-shipped to London, by the way of Boston, to be cast anew; and when it was again received, it proved to be one of the best toned bells in the country, and could be distinctly heard at Pawtuxet, a distance of at least twelve miles.
There were two important considerations agitated in the parish this year, 1730, which appears to have excited considerable interest : one was, whether the salary of Mr. Gallop, the principal singer, should be increased from thirty shillings, and the other, if he should sing without reading the first line ; both of these weighty questions were submitted to the decision of the Rector.
In 1731, the society had so much increased, that, for the accom- modation of all its members, it became necessary to add galleries to the church, and the pews in them were readily sold.
A singular vote was this year passed, which required the Rev. Mr. Usher to support all the widows of the church from what he receiv- ed as his own salary, as small as it must have been.
Their affairs continued prosperous, and the following year a steeple clock was added to the church.
This year a petition was forwarded to the Governor of the Mas- sachusetts Colony, by two Episcopalians, in the following words :-
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" That your Excellency would be pleased to interpose in our behalf, and cause us to be released from our confinement, and our property restored, we being peaceable inhabitants in the town of Swansy, our goods and chattels having been distrained, and ourselves now con- fined in the county jail of Bristol, because we refused to pay the sal- ary of the Congregational minister, when we are regular attendants upon the Church of England worship." Thus is seen that the same spirit of religious persecution (the frailty of the age) that the first settlers declared they fled from in England, was existing in their own breasts, and was exercised as soon as they had the ascendancy.
An event occurred in 1735, which has continued a permanent benefit to the parish. On the death of Nathaniel Kay, Esq., of New- port, it appeared by his will that he had bequeathed a valuable farm which he owned in the town, and two hundred pounds in money, " to the minister, wardens, and vestry of St. Michael's Church," for the education of ten poor boys of the parish, and for the support of the ministry. This property has been well managed, and has afforded a handsome income. Whereupon the church people petitioned, for a number of successive years, to be exempted from being taxed to support a town school ; and by way of obtaining their object, they say, as appears by the town records, " it will have its due weight with those gentlemen who formally objected against your gentleman school-master, who was well qualified to teach, for no other reason than because he went to the Church of England sometimes." This petition was not granted till six years afterwards, and then the town allowed them to place their school-house on the public land.
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