USA > Rhode Island > Newport County > Newport > Annals of Trinity church, Newport, Rhode Island, 1821-1892 > Part 10
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Corporation, at such time as the treasury, in his discretion, requires it.
July 15, 1847. Special meeting of the Corporation; William C. Gibbs in the chair.
The resignation of Benjamin A. Mason, as Treasurer, was received, and John Sterne was elected Treasurer till next Easter.
Voted: that the Vestry have power to remit taxes on pews, where the owners or occupants are unable to pay.
July 23, 1847. Adjourned meeting of the Corporation; Dr. David King in the chair.
Mr. John Sterne having declined to act as Treasurer, William Cornell was elected in his place. Mr. Cornell was also elected Ioth Vestryman, in place of Benjamin A. Mason, resigned.
November 26, 1847. Voted by the Vestry: that all bills here- after presented to this Vestry for payment, shall be endorsed, if correct, by the person who contracts them. James Demarest was elected to sing in the choir and to be allowed $50 a year for his services. Henry Bull was to see that the Sunday School was supplied with fuel, and $25 was appropriated for dressing the Church at Christmas.
February 17, 1848. Voted: that the vote of this Vestry, Oc- tober 3, 1843, respecting the sale of pews on which the taxes remained unpaid, and all other votes of this Vestry relative to the same, be repealed.
Voted: that the Junior Warden be directed to proceed with all those who are delinquent in the payment of pew taxes, agree- ably to the provisions of the 9th section of the Charter.
April 17, 1848. Voted: that the Junior Warden proceed in the most summary manner, to collect the taxes now due on pews No. 3, 7, 11, 79 and 93, on the lower floor.
April 24, 1848. Annual Meeting of the Corporation; 22 Cor- porators being present. Dr. David King in the chair.
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The following officers were elected:
Edward King, Senior Warden.
John H. Cozzens, Junior Warden.
Benjamin Finch, John Sterne, David King, Henry Bull, Thomas W. Brown, Samuel Engs, M. C. Slocum, William Cor- nell, Walter Nichols, George C. Mason, John N. Potter, Ves- trymen.
William Cornell, Treasurer.
Walter Nichols, Secretary.
George Taylor, Organist, with salary at $200.
Samuel Gladding, Sexton, salary $100.
William C. Gibbs, John Sterne, Walter Nichols and Thomas W. Brown, delegates to the Diocesan Convention.
Voted: that the sum of $1500 be assessed as a tax upon the pews for the year; and that it shall be levied according to their relative value, and collected semi-annually, April Ist and Octo- ber Ist; Mr. Finch, Mr. Sterne and Mr. Nichols to apportion the tax.
Voted: that $100 be appropriated to the choir, for the year, to be expended under the direction of the Wardens.
Voted: that the Senior Warden and Secretary act with the Minister in the disposal of Sunday offerings.
Voted: that William C. Gibbs, Henry Bull and John B. Weeden be a committee to consider the expediency of heating the Church with furnaces, and to make an estimate of the ex- pense thereof; the committee to report at a future meeting of the Corporation.
June 10, 1848. Special meeting of the Corporation; 24 Cor- porators being present. Dr. King in the chair.
The committee appointed to consider the expediency of heat- ing the Church with a furnace, made a favorable report, and estimated the expense at $350 or $400.
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NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
Voted: that the further consideration of the question be post- poned for the present year.
The following communication from the Minister was read:
To the Corporation of Trinity Church :
The Minister of Trinity Church respectfully submits to the consideration of the Corporation, the following statement of rea- sons for abolishing the practice of owning pews as private prop- erty in the House of God.
I. This practice was entirely unknown for the first fifteen hundred years of the Christian Church, and has not been com- mon more than two hundred years.
2. It has had the effect of bringing into the House of God, distinctions and separations, which are out of place there, how- ever necessary and proper they may be elsewhere.
3. It has excluded from the Sanctuary many families and individuals, who are unable to purchase or hire pews: thereby violating the word of Christ, that the poor have the Gospel preached to them.
4. It has turned the House of God into a house of merchan- dize, and desecrated the Holy Place with auctions, and other kinds of traffic in pews.
5. There are many persons here and elsewhere, who wish to abandon the modern pew system, and to restore the primitive plan of free churches, sustained by voluntary subscriptions and offerings; and unless Trinity Church is made free, an effort will be made to build another church, upon that principle; in which case this Parish would lose some members, and also the honor and "good report" of doing this work.
In view of these facts, the undersigned hopes that the Cor- poration will adopt measures to make Trinity Church, at once and for ever, free to all people.
Your friend and Pastor,
D. RICHMOND BREWER.
Newport, June 10th, 1848.
Voted: that the communication from the Minister be recorded
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on the journal, and any action upon it be indefinitely postponed.
Voted: that William C. Gibbs, Benjamin Finch and Walter Nichols be a committee to settle any difficulty which may have been occasioned by the sale of pews at auction, on the 22d of May; and that said committee have full power to act for the Corporation in such manner as shall best effect the purpose for which they are appointed.
September 26, 1848. Voted by the Vestry: that George Hall be a committee to repair the steeple, and paint such parts of the building as he may think necessary.
Voted: that Walter Nichols be a committee to have the stoves put up and the pipes altered; according to the plan reported by him to this meeting.
October 3, 1848. Messrs. George Hall and John B. Weeden reported to the Vestry, that on further examination of the stee- ple, they find it in very bad condition; and that the expense of repairing it would greatly exceed their first estimate.
Voted: that further repairs on the steeple be for the present suspended, and that the whole matter be referred to the Cor- poration.
October 13, 1848. Special meeting of the Corporation.
Mr. Hall reported to the meeting the condition of the steeple, and moved the postponement of repairs.
Voted: that further repairs on the steeple be postponed till . Easter next.
Voted: that the Vestry have full power to lease the lot of of land belonging to the Church [bounded on Catharine and Beach streets and Greenough Place] on the best terms they can make; and that the annual payment for the same shall not be less than $100. Henry Bull and M. C. Slocum were a com- mittee to receive applications for the same, and to report to the Vestry.
November 6, 1848. Voted: that M. C. Slocum be authorized
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to lease the lot of land belonging to the Church, for a term of 999 years, on the best terms that can be made, at a rent of not less than $100 yer year.
Voted: that it is not expedient to let the School House to Dr. Wood, for a singing school.
Voted: that Dr. King be a committee to draw up and pre- sent resolutions to the Minister of this Church, expressing the sympathy of this Vestry for his late bereavement.
These resolutions were presented and adopted:
"Whereas, the family of our Pastor has been visited by re- peated illness, and by the death of his only child;
"Resolved: that we are deeply impressed by this dispensation of Divine Providence, and that we sincerely sympathize with our afflicted Pastor and his family, in their severe affliction.
"Resolved: that we feel ourselves powerless to give consola- tion to this afflicted family, and that we can only mingle our prayers with theirs, that this melancholy event may be over- ruled for their and our good.
"Resolved: that, appreciating the uniform kindness of our Pastor, and his unremitting exertions in our behalf, and aware of the anxiety he has lately undergone, and of the unutterable sorrow which must now oppress him, we recommend to him a vacation of several weeks, from the arduous duties of his office.
"Resolved: that the resolutions be signed by the Chairman and Secretary of this meeting, and be transmitted to our be- loved Pastor."
EDWARD KING, Chairman. WALTER NICHOLS, Secretary.
Newport, Nov. 7th, 1848.
To the Wardens and Vestry of Trinity Church;
Gentlemen:
I have received the resolutions which were passed at your meeting on the 6th inst. and sincerely thank you for them. They express feelings of kindness and sympathy, which at this
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time are especially gratifying to me. May the severe affliction which has fallen upon me, teach me how to minister consola- tion to others, and make me more devoted to the duties of my office, and thus be productive of good results to yourselves and the whole congregation entrusted to my charge.
I gratefully accept the offer of a vacation, and hope to return to my labors with renewed strength and fresh earnestness. I propose leaving this week, to be absent three Sundays.
Your friend and Pastor,
D. R. BREWER.
December 5, 1848. Voted: that the request of Colored People for the School House be not granted:
Voted: that pews No. 7 and 8, North Gallery, be made free, and that the first seven pews in that gallery, beginning with No. 2, be distinctly marked "Free."
Voted: that the tax on the two pews in the South Gallery, hired by the Rector, be remitted.
February 1, 1849. Special meeting of the Corporation.
The following communication from Rev. Mr. Brewer was read:
To the Corporation of Trinity Church, in Newport, R. I.
Gentlemen: As I have been unable, for two months past, to discharge the duties of my office as Minister of Trinity Church, and as I am informed by a physician that it may require two months longer to effect my recovery, and the interest of the Parish may suffer through so long a deprivation of complete pastoral care, I herewith, with great regret, tender to you my resignation of my pastoral office.
With sincere wishes for the prosperity of the Church, and thanks for many tokens of kindness bestowed on me while offi- ciating as your Minister, I remain,
Respectfully yours, D. RICHMOND BREWER.
Dorchester, Mass., Jany. 22, 1849.
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NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
On motion the following resolution was passed.
Resolved: that we hear with feelings of deep regret, of the continued indisposition of our Minister.
Resolved: that while we deeply sympathize with him in his affliction, we must unanimously decline his resignation, now of- fered to this meeting: hoping, in the Providence of God, that he may soon be restored to health and enabled to resume his labors for this Church; and assuring him that as a Corporation we appreciate too highly his pastoral connection with us to al- low it to be thus briefly and suddenly broken.
Resolved: that Messrs. John H. Gilliat and Dr. King be a committee to communicate these resolutions to Rev. Mr. Brewer.
April 8, 1849. Annual Meeting of the Corporation; 21 Cor- porators present. Dr. King in the chair.
Marshall C. Slocum was elected Senior Warden, in place of Edward King, resigned, and William V. Taylor took the place of Mr. Slocum in the Vestry.
No other change was made in the officers of the Church.
A tax of $1500 was assessed, to be apportioned the same as on the previous year, and to be collected in the same manner.
The Senior Warden and the Secretary were to act with the Minister, in the disposal of Sunday offerings.
Voted: that a vacation of six weeks be allowed the Minister during the year.
Report of the Committee of April 8th, 1849, to examine the Church, and ascertain what repairs were needed, and whether any funds belonging to the Church could be applied to that purpose; laid before the Corporation April 14th and ordered to be recorded.
The Committee respectfully report, that they have examined the condition of the Church building, and find that extensive repairs are required on the steeple. They have estimated the expense of the repairs required at $600. Having consulted two
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different painters, they find that the sum of $700 will be re- quired for that purpose.
The Committee were requested to ascertain if any funds in the hands of the Church were disposable for this purpose. The property of the Church consists of, Ist, Real Estate: the Church building, the Church School House, and the lot for the support of the clergyman, given to the Corporation by Nathaniel Norton.
2d. Personal Estate. The Permanent Fund consists of 78 shares in the R. I. Union Bank, 14 shares in the Newport Bank, Io shares in the Bank of Rhode Island, and Io shares in the Merchants Bank.
3d. The Poor Fund consists of 8 shares in the R. I. Union Bank, and 8 additional shares transferred by the Vestry, August 5th, 1840, from what your Committee believe to have been the Kay property.
4th. The Church Fund consisting of - amounting to $1500.
Of this property your Committee believe that none can be properly applied to the repairs of the building. The Church Fund they consider as a portion of the Kay property; and they also consider the eight shares in the R. I. Union Bank, trans- ferred from the Church Fund, August 5th, 1840, to the Poor Fund, as a portion of the Kay Fund; especially since the Cor- poration, in 1822, appropriated $1000 of the Kay property for the purpose of paying a note at the R. I. Union Bank, and of benefitting the Poor Fund.
Your Committee will proceed somewhat in detail as to the course the Corporation have heretofore pursued with regard to the disposal of the Kay property. Your Committee report that Nathaniel Kay, who died the 14th of April, 1734, left by will to the Ministers, Vestry and Wardens, for the time being, of Trinity Church, £400 New England currency, to build a School House; and also bequeathed his dwelling house and coach house, and several lots of land in Newport, "in trust and confidence," and to the intent and purpose, benefit and use of a school to teach ten poor boys their grammar and the mathematics gratis, and to appoint a Master at all times, as occasion or vacancy may happen, who shall be Episcopally ordained, and assist the Minister Episcopal in some proper office as they shall think most
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NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
useful. The dwelling house of said Kay and about 8 acres of adjoining land were leased for 999 years, in January, 1796, to Richard Harrison, of New York, on condition of his paying to the Minister, Church Wardens, Vestry and their successors, annually the sum of 300 silver dollars of the American States; or silver bullion equal thereto. In September, 1830, the Church received from the Executors of Richard Harrison, Esq., $1200, on condition of their being released of their obligation arising from the above mentioned lease: the Minister, Church Wardens and Vestry re-entering into possession of the property. In 1833 the Ministers, Wardens and Vestry of the Church leased the property - to George Engs, for 999 years, on condition of his paying into their hands $3300. The lots of land bequeathed by Nathaniel Kay, Esq., besides the above mentioned, were the lots in the south part of the Town. They were sold on leases of 999 years, except lots 6, 7, 8 and 9, in 1805, to John [G.] Whitehorne. Those excepted were sold on deeds to Daniel Gin- nedo, Charles Gyles, William Howard, Arnold Hiscox, and Wil- liam Wilder, for the sum of $1200. A part of the proceeds, together with $300 rent from the Kay estate, were invested in the Bliss lot, in September 1805, consisting of 8} acres, at $139 per acre. The deed for this lot of land was recorded 25th of September, 1805, in No. 9 Book of Records, pp. 447-8. The Bliss lot was leased for 999 years, in 1822, to Arnold Wilbur, for $1000. The £400 given by Mr. Kay, were expended in 1740 in erecting the school house and house for the school-master, probably on one of Mr. Kay's lots.
The rents accruing from the Kay property were for a long period faithfully employed in carrying out the charitable inten- tions of the donor. The plan was interrupted at first by diffi- culties in collecting the rents, and in obtaining a suitable school- master, who by the will was to be Episcopally ordained. The importance of this charitable fund, fully realized by the Vestry which first received it in trust, we have reason to believe ceased gradually to be felt by the Vestries of the Church. His plan was to educate in the principles of the Episcopal Church, ten poor scholars. He undoubtedly estimated the revenues of the · various properties he bequeathed to the Church as not likely to
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educate more than ten poor scholars. But it must be evident, that if the revenues of his generous charity had been strictly devoted to their original destination, incalculable good would have been produced; or if they had been allowed to accumulate, from the period at which the trust was accepted by the Ward- ens and Vestry of this Church till the present time, they would have constituted a magnificent endowment for a high school- a school which would have contributed to the prosperity of the Town, as well as the prosperity of the Church. But viewed in any way, and even limited to the education of ten poor scholars, this donation of Nathaniel Kay was a trust, and not a property given unconditionally to any Vestry of this Church. It was placed in the hands of the first Vestry in "confidence" that they would transmit it unimpaired, to the succeeding Vestry, binding that Vestry by a similar obligation to transmit it to their successors, and so on to the end of time. This fund, like all charitable funds, belonged to the poor. It was an estate placed under the guardianship of the rich, to be devoted to the education of the poor. Whatever amount has been heretofore taken from this fund, has been so much taken from the poor. Whatever diversion of this fund from the original purpose has taken place, has so far deprived the poor scholars from rising out of that condition into which no man enters or voluntarily remains. We are therefore bound by a double obligation to re- store in as far as we are able, this fund: by that which we owe to the generous and confiding donor, and by that most sacred obligation which rests upon the rich, to guard from infringing the rights of the poor.
On the simple ground of expediency, it is plainly our interest to preserve whatever remains in our hands of this fund, and to invest it in such manner as shall enable the Vestry of this Church to carry out at some future day, the intention of the donor. The principle of expediency leads a reflecting man to look at the consequences of a course of action through a long series of years. The field for reflection on the subject which we are considering, is comparatively limited with respect to American institutions. In England we find examples, which carry convic- tion directly to the mind. The formation of the most venerable
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establishments for educational purposes, has been laid in the charities and the liberal donations of individuals. These chari- ties, strictly confined to the purpose of the donor, accumulating through a long series of years, have resulted in magnificent en- dowments, for which England is peculiarly distinguished. Such, for example, Oxford and Cambridge-institutions which have imparted elevation and permanency to English literature, and which have shed abroad through that land generosity, humanity, and all the noblest virtues that enter into the highest forms of character. It is our interest, therefor, as patriotic Americans, to guard with peculiar care the charities and benefactions in- trusted to us and intended as the foundation of educational institutions, religious or otherwise. No man will give property for charitable objects unless he has a reasonable confidence that his donation will be applied to the purpose he had in view. By diverting such funds from their original destination, all future benefactions, all future acts of liberality, are discouraged, and an unfavorable influence is exerted over the fortunes of the country.
Your Committee recommend earnestly, your attention to the responsibility which rests upon you in relation to the property bequeathed, in 1734, by Nathaniel Kay, Esq., to the Minister, Wardens and Vestry of this Church, as a trust for educational purposes. Your Committee would state that within twenty years you have had in your hands $4800 of this fund; and that unless, by the consideration now submitted to you, your minds shall be awakened to the true nature of the case, there is danger of the entire annihilation of this fund, and of the utter forgetful- ness of the generosity, and even of the name of Nathaniel Kay.
Your Committee pronounce no judgment upon those who have gone before us. Accustomed to see this diversion of funds from their original purpose, they probably became habituated to it, and ceased to think of it as a matter of much importance. Your Committee have had but a limited time to examine this subject. But that examination has awakened in them feelings of responsibility in this matter. They are satisfied that the Vestry have still in their hands, in trust, a portion of this fund: viz., all that which is now known as the Church Fund, and
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$800, which was transferred, August 5th, 1840, to the Poor Fund. This' property, is therefore, a sacred trust in their hands to be devoted to a special purpose. The Church fund cannot rightly, in their opinion, be employed in the repairs of the Church. Your Committee are aware that a change in the cir- cumstances of the time, may sometimes justify a deviation from the literal directions of the donor, provided by such deviation you more fully comply with the will of the donor. But no change in the circumstances of the time, no necessity in our existing condition; no mere present conveniency, will justify such a deviation as shall completely nulify the will of the donor, and extinguish his charity, and all the generous purposes con- nected with it.
Your Committee recommend that you rely for defraying the expense of repairing the Church, upon subscriptions made among the members of the Corporation, and those interested in the Church; and that a collection be taken up in the Church every alternate Sunday for this purpose. All which is respectfully submitted.
DAVID KING, BENJ. FINCH, MARSHALL C. SLOCUM, JOHN B. WEEDEN, MOSES NORMAN, HENRY BULL.
April 14, 1849. Adjourned meeting of the Corporation.
The committee appointed April 8 to examine the Church and report necessary repairs, presented their report, which was re- ceived and ordered to be recorded.
Voted: that immediate measures be taken to restore the Kay fund.
Voted: that the Church fund be considered as a portion of the Kay fund; and that the eight shares of the R. I. Union Bank stock, transferred in 1840 to the Poor fund, be re-transferred to the Kay fund, and that the whole be placed in the hands of the Wardens and Vestry, as intended by the will of Nathaniel Kay.
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NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
Voted: that the Vestry be requested to collect all the docu- ments relating to said fund, and particularly with regard to the leases of the lots of land, and that they be recorded in a book devoted to that purpose.
Voted: that the Church be repaired and painted, according to the report of the committee.
Voted: that a committee be appointed to solicit subscriptions for repairing the Church.
Voted: that the Sunday offerings for six months, from May I be devoted to repairs on the Church, and that the Treasurer keep the money so collected a distinct fund for that purpose.
Voted: that the Treasurer be authorized to hire such an amount as may be required by the Committee on Repairs; and that it be paid by money raised as above ordered.
Voted: that a committee be appointed to remove the monu- ment now standing on the north side of the Church; and that it be put up within the Church, if it can be done without charge to the treasury; Dr. King and Walter Nichols to be the com- mittee. 3 2
32 ON PAGE 177 of the First Series of the "Annals" reference is had to the erection of a monument to the Chevalier de Ternay, in 1785. The Chevalier, Admiral of the French Fleet, had died in Newport, in 1780, in a house on the Point, now often spoken of as the "Hunter house," but which should be known as the Nichols house. It was built by Deputy Gov- ernor Jonathan Nichols, son of Deputy Governor Jonathan Nichols. After his death it passed into the hands of Colonel Joseph Wanton, Jr., who also filled the office of Deputy Govornor, and resided in the house for a number of years. He died in New York, a Loyalist, August 7, 1780, and in the same month, August 10, the French fleet entered Newport Harbor. The Chevalier came on shore and was quartered in this house. He was interred after the rites of the Roman Catholic Church, in earth consecrated for that purpose, in Trinity Church yard, and the funeral was described by an eye witness "as the most imposing that had ever been seen in the streets of Newport." The removal of the monument that had been raised to his memory by the French Government, to the vestibule of the Church, has
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