USA > Rhode Island > Newport County > Newport > Annals of Trinity church, Newport, Rhode Island, 1821-1892 > Part 16
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Failing in their efforts to meet the difficulty, the Bishop and Standing Committee devised a new plan, as set forth in a "Cir- cular " that was at once issued. ]
CIRCULAR.
At a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Rhode Island, convened at the request of the Bishop, on the 17th of May, 1860, to act upon the application for the organiza- tion of a new Parish in the city of Newport, the following pre- amble and resolution were unanimously adopted :
Whereas, The establishment of a fourth Episcopal Parish in
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the city of Newport does not seem to be demanded by the ne- cessities of the case, as there is already ample accommodation for all who are disposed to attend upon the services of our Church in that place, and in the opinion of the Bishop and Standing Committee, the success of another Parish can be at- tained only by the serious and permanent injury of the three churches now existing, it is
Resolved, That with great respect for the gentlemen who have petitioned for the canonical consent of the Ecclesistical authority of the Diocese to the formation of a new Parish, the Bishop and Standing Committee feel constrained to withhold their con- sent, and the petitioners accordingly have leave to withdraw their request.
On motion, the following Address to the Churchmen of New- port was unanimously adopted:
The Bishop and Standing Committee cannot announce the conclusion to which they have been compelled to come in regard to the Petition for a new Parochial organization in Newport, without expressing their deep regret that their efforts to produce conciliation between the contending parties in our churches, have failed to meet with a favorable response. It is their only desire . to secure, if possible, the peace and prosperity of the Church, and they now beg leave to submit to the Churchmen of New- port the following propositions :
Ist. That an effort be made to purchase the building known as "All Saints Chapel," under the condition that the title of the same shall be vested in the Convention of the Diocese.
2d. The right to determine when and under what regula- tions, this Chapel shall be opened for Divine Service, to rest with the Bishop of the Diocese, and the Rectors and Wardens of the three Episcopal Churches in Newport.
3d. The transfer of the Chapel if purchased under the above mentioned conditions, to be made on the first of October, 1860, and meanwhile all hindrances to its being opened and occupied by the Reverend Dr. Mercer, for Divine Service, shall be with- drawn.
By this plan the Reverend Gentleman will be reimbursed for the outlay and expenditure incurred, and this relief we consider
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justly and equitably due to him. It frees the Chapel of the objectionable feature that it is held as private property, liable to be occupied by its owner to the pecuniary injury of the Par- ishes already established in Newport, and at the same time, it may be made to provide for a real necessity during a portion of the year. Under this arrangement, it may recur to its original position as a Free Chapel, or the resources accruing from it may be applied to the benefit of the existing Parishes, or be other- wise disposed of, as may be deemed expedient. Finally, this plan, if adopted, would indicate a spirit of conciliation towards the Reverend Dr. Mercer and his friends, on the part of those who have thus far stood in opposition to their wishes and their claims.
A true copy from the record. Attest, EDWARD WALCOTT, Sec.
[Zion Church was still to be heard from. At a meeting of the Wardens and Vestry of that Church, held May 21st, 1860: "A printed Circular, received from the Bishop and Standing Committee of the Diocese, communicating their decision in rela- tion to the application by the friends of Rev. Dr. Mercer, to open another place for Episcopal worship in Newport, was read.
"The decision above alluded to is against the petitioners upon the precise ground set forth in the protest of the 7th of April, and the Bishop and Standing Committee therefore con- clude by saying that 'they feel constrained to withdraw their consent to organize a new parish, and accordingly grant leave to the petitioners to withdraw their request.'
"This Circular contains also an informal recommendation from the Bishop and Standing Committee to the 'Churchmen of New- port' [to] embrace their propositions:
"I. That an effort be made to purchase 'All Saints Chapel,' the title to be vested in the Convention.
"2. The right to open said Chapel, &c., to rest with the
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Bishop, and the Rectors and Wardens of the three Episcopal Churches in Newport.
"3. The transfer to be made on the Ist of October, and all hindrance to its being opened and occupied by the Rev. Dr. Mercer, for Divine Service, to be in the meantime withdrawn.
" The Vestry took no action upon the above proposition sub- mitted to the 'Churchmen of Newport.'"]
June 19, 1860. The Senior Warden laid before the Vestry a Resolution of the Bishop and Standing Committee, which was read and ordered to be entered upon the minutes:
At a meeting of the Standing Committee, convened at the request of the Bishop, June 15, 1860, the following preamble and resolution was unanimously adopted.
The Bishop and Standing Committee having heard the state- ments of parties interested in the opening of All Saints Chapel, Newport, and also of those opposed to the same, and an appli- cation having been made to them, so to define parish boundaries in the city of Newport, as to remove the Chapel beyond the jurisdiction of the three existing parishes, it is hereby Resolved unanimously, that while they are not prepared to say, that such relief as the Chapel affords during a portion of the year, may not render it desirable that the building should be opened for religious purposes at that season, and while they are very re- luctant to take any such action as would seem to result in the peremptory closing of a chapel which has already been used for public service: yet so long as this Chapel is held as private property, the revenues to be applied at the sole discretion of the owner, liable to be occupied by a clerygman subject to no control, so far as the management of the Chapel is concerned, except that which necessarily grows out of his general canonical obligation to conduct the services of the Church with propriety; it not being requisite that he should even be connected with the Diocese; and so long as a majority of the Rectors or Church Wardens of the parishes in Newport continue to protest against the opening of the Chapel, the Bishop and Standing Committee
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do not feel themselves called upon to define parochial limits, so as to remove said Chapel beyond the jurisdiction of the existing parishes.
A true copy from the Records. Attest,
EDWARD WALCOTT, Sec.
On motion of Mr. Norman, it was resolved: that as frequent application for Church, or Corporation, pews are now made, the Junior Warden be requested to inquire of those persons who have vacated these pews, whether it is their intention to occupy them during the present summer; and also that all Corporation pews, the rent of which is over-due, or which the lessees decline to pay, shall, at the discretion of the Junior Warden, be rented to new tenants.
June 21, 1860. Meeting of the Corporation of Trinity Church; twenty-eight 'corporators being present. Dr. David King in the . chair.
Minutes of last meeting read, and proxy votes were called for and examined; when it was moved and seconded: that whereas there exists a most unhappy difference of opinion, grow- ing out of the late acts of this Corporation, which, if allowed to continue, will in a great degree tend to alienate long stand- ing friendships of many of the corporators; such a state of feeling cannot but be deprecated by all; therefore, as a measure calculated to restore harmony it is
Resolved: that the Vestry be, and is hereby, respectfully requested to withdraw their protest against "All Saints Chapel"; which was laid on the table by a vote of 50 to 28.
The following motion was then made:
Resolved: that this Corporation approves of the protest a- gainst the opening of All Saints Chapel, made by the Vestry to the Bishop and Standing Committee, on the ground that the
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protest was a simple declaration of fact, and a lawful means of maintaining the interests and the rights of the existing parishes in Newport.
Resolved: that we believe that the Vestry in the matter of the Protest, were governed solely by views of prudence and regard to the interests of the Episcopal Churches in Newport; and were influenced by no motives which could wound the feel- ings of any member of the Church.
Carried, by the same vote as above.
August 18, 1860. Meeting of the Vestry.
Ordered: that two hundred dollars be paid to Bishop Clark, for his services during the month of August.
Ordered: that the Treasurer be authorized to pay to the clergymen temporarily officiating in Trinity Church, such sums as the committee for supplying the pulpit shall direct, not ex- ceeding twenty dollars per Sunday.
September 6, 1860. Voted: that the Wardens and Treasurer be authorized to sell all, or such portions of the Corporation pews, as they may think expedient, and on such terms as may be by them considered equitable; and also, that the proceeds of such sales be added to the permanent funds of the Church, and invested in bank stock.
September 13, 1860. Corporation meeting; twenty-one cor- porators being present. Reading of the minutes dispensed with.
Moved by Mr. S. Abbott Lawrence, and seconded by Mr. Charles Hunter, that a committee be now appointed to suggest a name or names of clergymen who may be candidates for our vacant Rectorship; with directions to call a meeting of the Cor- poration, when said committee shall be prepared to report.
Objections having been made to this proposition, it was with- drawn by the mover, and the meeting adjourned.
March 13, 1861. At a meeting of the Vestry, held at the
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house of Mr. Edward King; present, Messrs. Slocum, Birckhead, Gibbs, Lawrence, Dr. King, Bull and Edward King.
Messrs. Slocum and Edward King were appointed a commit- tee, to meet Bishop Clark and the Vestry of Zion Church, at the meeting tomorrow, to consult on the propriety of removing the protest against the opening of "All Saints Chapel," and expressing a willingness on the part of this Vestry to withdraw their protest, should Zion Church consent to do so.
[The following minutes of that meeting are taken from the records of Zion Church.
"March 14, 1861. Special meeting of the Vestry, called at the request of the Bishop of the Diocese.
"The Bishop and two of the Vestry of Trinity Church- Marshall C. Slocum and Edward King, were present; the last two as a committee from Trinity Church.
"The Bishop stated that he had requested this meeting to be called for the purpose of laying before it his own, and the views of the Standing Committee, in relation to continuing or removing the protest against "All Saints Chapel." He said that it had been continued for nearly one year, that in its prac- tical operation it was a nullity in every sense of the word- that it caused much ill feeling to exist among the members of the several parishes in Newport, and that if continued was likely to destroy the peace and harmony of the Church for the next generation. Having proved of no canonical force, he was of the opinion, in unison with the Standing Committee, that it was best for the general welfare of the Church, to remove it. He therefore most earnestly and prayerfully appealed to the Vestry of Zion Church, to take immediate action upon the subject, and that if they could not remove the obnoxious protest (as he deeply regretted to perceive there was some objection to so doing) he hoped the Vestry would consent that the Rector, Rev. Mr. Brown,
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should try the experiment of withdrawing it temporarily, for the purpose of ascertaining whether it would not result in the speedy abandonment of the Chapel. He believed that if such a course was adopted it would have that effect.
"The Standing Committee, continued the Bishop, were of the opinion that the credit and reputation of the Episcopal Church, both at home and abroad, were involved in this pro- ceeding, and that one of three ways ought to be adopted (if the protest was not withdrawn) to settle the trouble.
"One way was, to prohibit any layman from officiating in the Chapel. [The Rector here remarked that this should have been done in the first place. ]
"The next was to allow the congregation at the Chapel to organize.
"And the third way was, to permit the protests of the sev- eral parishes, which being in no force, to remain by tacit con- sent, as they are, under an organization.
"For himself, said the Bishop, he preferred that the protests should be wholly removed. The Standing Committee had inti- mated a disposition, if this could be done, to have the Chapel organized, rather than have it continued to be opened in an illegitimate way. They believed, he said, that the adoption of such a course would soon put an end to the difficulty, and that the Chapel would, were it done, eventually die out, &c., &c.
"The Committee from Trinity Church stated it had been informally decided by their Vestry, to acquiesce in the views expressed by the Bishop, and take off their protest, previous to which, however, they were desirous that Zion Church should remove theirs: and as Trinity Vestry would meet that afternoon, at 2 o'clock, they should be glad to communicate to them the intelligence that Zion had set the example, &c.
"Rev. Mr. Brown, in reply to some remarks by the Bishop, said he was entirely willing to do in this matter just what his
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Vestry thought best. He had been censured a great deal for what he had done, as well as for what he had not done, in the matter. Though he could say that the whole thing originated in the Vestry, it made no difference to him at all, what was said, one way or the other. He was perfectly independent of Newport, having received that very day a call from abroad, offering him a much better salary than he was then receiving from Zion Church, &c.
"Several members of the Vestry expressed their views on the subject. They considered that the same reasons existed now for the continuance of the protests that existed at the time they were put on; and they therefore hoped the subject; so far as Zion Church was concerned, would be postponed for further and more deliberate action.
"Several other members, believing it would be safe to accede to the wishes of the Bishop, and the recommendation of the Standing Committee, were in favor of at once removing the protests; but the desire for a postponement appearing to prevail, the following resolution offered by Mr. Geo. Cozzens, was there- fore adopted :
"Resolved unanimously, that in view of a diversity of senti- ment in regard to the Bishop's proposition, to take off the pro- tests against All Saints Chapel, this Vestry adjourn to Monday evening, the 25th inst., at half past seven o'clock, for the further consideration of the subject; deeming it advisable that a measure of so much importance, should be decided with due considera- tion and unanimity; and that Messrs. Geo. Cozzens and the Junior Warden, be a committee to inform the committee of Trinity Church Vestry, of this vote.
"At the adjourned meeting, March 25, 1861, after considerable discussion, the subject of the protests was laid on the table."]
March 14, 1861. The committee appointed at the last meet-
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ing, reported to Trinity Vestry, that in the presence of the Bishop, they had met the Vestry of Zion Church; that no action had been taken by that body on the subject of the removal of the protests against "All Saints Chapel," but that the whole matter had been deferred to a meeting to be held on the 25th inst.
March 16, 1861. At a meeting of the Vestry, the following resolution was offered:
"Whereas, the Bishop and Standing Committee of the Diocese have shown by their acts during the past year, namely by their preamble to the Circular of May 17th, 1860 (note 1), and by their decision at the meeting of June 15th, 1860 (note 2), that they have the power and the will to protect the rights and the interests of the churches of Newport, without any further action on our part. Therefore Resolved: as an act of peace and con- ciliation, and to prevent any future misapprehension, alienation, and unkind feelings among us, that the protest of this Vestry against the opening of 'All Saints Chapel,' dated April 27th, 1860, be hereby withdrawn.
Note I. "The establishment of a fourth Episcopal parish in the city of Newport does not seem to be demanded by the necessities of the case, as there is already ample accommodation for all those who are disposed to attend upon the services of our Church in that place; and in the opinion of the Bishop and Standing Committee, the success of another parish can be ob- tained only by the serious and permanent injury of the three churches now existing."
Note 2. "So long as this Chapel is held as private property, the revenues to be applied at the sole discretion of the owner, liable to be occupied by a clergyman subject to no control, so far as the management of the Chapel is concerned, except that which necessarily grows out of his general canonical obligation to conduct the services of the Church with propriety, it not
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being even requisite that he should be connected with the Dio- cese. . . The Bishop and Standing Committee do not feel themselves called upon to define parochial limits, so as to remove said Chapel beyond the jurisdiction of the existing parishes."
This resolution was adopted; James Birckhead and Henry Bull voting in the negative.
March 21, 1861. Meeting of the Corporation; present David King, Benjamin Finch, Charles Hunter, John H. Cozzens, James Birckhead, Job T. Langley, Benjamin Melville, William H. Bliss, John J. Bliss, James Finch, Samuel Engs, M. C. Slocum, Ed- ward King, S. A. Lawrence, William C. Gibbs, Henry Bull, Jethro C. Carr, John N. Potter and John D. Ogden. Dr. David King in the chair.
The following resolution, moved by Charles Hunter and sec- onded by William C. Gibbs, was unanimously adopted:
"Resolved: that it is all important to the interest of Relig- ion, and the good of the Parish, that harmony should be restored to Trinity Church; it being the judgment of this meeting that in no other way can so desirable an end be attained than by the Bishop of the Diocese, himself, becoming Rector of Trinity Church: therefore,
"Resolved unanimously by this Corporation, that the Right Rev. Bishop Clark be elected Rector of Trinity Church, and that he be urged to accept the call, as indispensable to the peace and harmony of the churches of this city. Furthermore resolved, that a committee of five be appointed to wait upon the Rt. Rev. Bishop, with a copy of these resolutions, and to request his prompt reply thereto."
The committee, to whom the matter of salary was also re- ferred, were Charles Hunter, Samuel Engs, Andrew Robeson, Edward King and Benjamin Finch.
Mr. Henry Bull, Treasurer, laid before the Corporation the following letter from the Rev. Dr. Mercer, received by him
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some time ago, but which, owing to circumstances, had not been presented to the Corporation:
To the Corporation of Trinity Church;
Gentlemen: I have received and respectfully acknowledge the resolution of the Corporation, ordering the payment of my salary to the end of the year, i. e. five or six weeks after my resignation took effect. I accept this payment, since I regard it as my legal due. Under the circumstances, however, I de- cline to receive anything for my own use, after the last day of my actual services, and appropriate the sum, say $215, to the permanent fund for the poor of Trinity Parish; and accordingly desire you to deposit it as a part of that fund. My check for $215 is enclosed.
Yours respectfully, A. G. MERCER.
This letter was ordered to be placed on record and the money enclosed to be funded for the poor of Trinity Church, in com- pliance with the request contained in the letter.
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CHAPTER VIII.
1861-1863.
April 1, 1861. Annual Meeting of the Corporation of Trinity Church. Present, twenty-one corporators.
The following letter from Bishop Clark was received, read and ordered to be recorded:
To the Corporation of Trinity Church, Newport; Gentlemen:
I have received your unanimous and cordial invitation to the Rectorship of Trinity Church. I thank you most heartily for the manifestation of your confidence, and if I could leave my present position without danger of serious injury to the parish under my charge, I would gladly accede to your request. But I find the appeals which are made against my sundering at present the parochial relations that I sustain, too powerful to be resisted, and I must therefore respectfully decline this invitation.
I cannot but hope that the same spirit of fraternal unanimity with which you have acted in my case, may soon enable you to select and unite upon some person, under whose ministry, the peace, prosperity and best spiritual welfare of our Communion may be permanently secured.
Very respectfully yours, THOMAS M. CLARK.
Providence, R. I., March 30th, 1861.
Moved by Charles Hunter: that the Rev. Oliver H. Prescott be called as Minister for one year.
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The vote was taken by ballot. Including proxy votes: ayes 4I, noes 28.
The Wardens were appointed a committee to inform Rev. Mr. Prescott of his election; and his salary was fixed at $1500 per annum.
August 9, 1861. Meeting of the Vestry. Present, Messrs. Slocum ( Senior Warden ), Gibbs, Bull, Birckhead, Lawrence, Dennis and Ogden.
The following letter from Rev. Mr. Prescott was read and ordered to be placed on file :
Newport, August 5th, 1861.
To the Wardens and Vestry of Trinity Church, Newport:
I hereby accept the invitation to the Rectorship of Trinity Church, extended to me on Easter Monday last; reserving to myself the right of resignation thereof whenever it may seem to me expedient. With many thanks for the honor you have conferred on me, I am very faithfully,
Your servant and Rector, O. H. PRESCOTT.
The Pastoral Letter of the Right Reverend Bishop Clark, read to the congregation of Trinity Church on the 21st of July, and addressed to the members of the Episcopal Church at New- port, was then laid before the Vestry.
It was unanimously resolved that the same be placed on file, together with the answer hereby adopted; that the said answer be transmitted to the Bishop, and that 150 copies of the letter and answer be printed for circulation.
PASTORAL LETTER FROM THE BISHOP OF RHODE ISLAND.
To the Members of the Episcopal Church in. Newport;
Brethren: The condition of affairs is such in the Churches of our Communion in Newport, that I feel called upon to ad-
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dress to you a pastoral letter, which I trust will be received in the spirit of Christian kindness. It is not necessary that I should enter upon the merits of the circumstances, which origi- nally excited the unhappy controversy that has for some time disturbed the harmony of the churches in your city, and brought discredit upon the reputation of our Communion.
When an appeal was made to the Ecclesiastical Authorities of the Diocese, to be relieved from the Protest prohibiting the use of the building known as "All Saints Chapel" for the pur- pose of public worship, although we seriously questioned the expediency of this prohibition, we were not disposed to inter- fere, trusting that the parties in controversy would be inclined to settle their difficulty without positive action on our part. When further application was made by those desiring to worship in the Chapel, for permission to organize a new Parish, the re- quest was also declined, on the ground that there was no call for the establishment of such a Parish; the existing accommo- dations being sufficient to meet the requirements of our Church in Newport. It was still hoped that the good sense and Chris- tian feeling of our brethren might be relied upon to induce harmony and peace; but, after the lapse of several months, finding that there were a number of persons who still claimed the privilege of worshiping in the Chapel, and they having once more petitioned for liberty to establish a fourth Parish, although we were yet of the opinion that such a new organization is not called for by any numerical increase of Church people in New- port, or any probable accession to our numbers, we still felt ourselves constrained to accede to their request, and accordingly we authorized the formation of another Parish. To have per- sisted any longer in denying this privilege, would have subjected us to just reproach throughout the Church and throughout the land. In this age it is likely to be claimed as an inherent right on the part of any respectable body of Christian people, that they shall be allowed to worship God under such ministration as they prefer, and to organize for this purpose at.their discretion. The Church has indeed interposed certain canonical restrictions upon this liberty, the adjustment of which devolves upon the Bishop and Standing Committee of the Diocese. It is wisely
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