USA > Rhode Island > Newport County > Newport > Annals of Trinity church, Newport, Rhode Island, 1821-1892 > Part 19
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On the first of January Mr. Robjohn will be deprived of the means now at his service for drilling the Choir. I would sug- gest that it is the duty of the Vestry to make some provision
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NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
for his convenience, either at the School Room, or at the Church, by heating and lighting, as he may have need.
I wish to notify you, as the representatives of the Corpora- tion, that I propose soon after the first Sunday in January, tak- ing some part of my annual vacation, to which the Rector of Trinity Church has been accustomed.
You will please enter this upon the records of your proceed- ings.
Wishing you the compliments of the blessed season of peace to men.
I am, Gentlemen, very faithfully, Your Rector and Servant, O. S. Prescott."
This communication, by a vote of the Vestrymen, was re- turned to me; my request that it be entered upon the records of their proceedings being disregarded.
Of this I do not now complain; this is a matter of the past, and of it different persons will form different opinions. My whole intention in regard to it is to provide for its preservation as an act of justice to one whose sole object during his Rector- ship, has been the maintenance of the Church's honor and dig- nity, and the removal out of the way of all hindrances to a real peace in a vexed parish, and the doing of good to your souls, by the fulfilment of all professional duty. If in the pursuit of this object I have given you just cause for prejudice and ill will and opposition, may God forgive me; and if there have been manifested by you without cause on your part, may He forgive you-that when again we stand together at His judgment, we may neither stand there in condemnation of the other.
May God direct, control and keep you.
Your Priest and Rector,
OLIVER S. PRESCOTT.
Newport, April 4th, 1863.
Voted: that the resignation of the Rector, as communicated by him this day, be accepted.
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Voted: that the following communication from the old Vestry (drawn by Dr. David King) be read :
Though it is an unusual circumstance for a Vestry to report its acts, in the sphere of its ordinary duty, to the Corporation, such a proceeding, in order to maintain the Church's dignity and honor, and in order to protect its officers from unjust blame when in the exercise of their legitimate duties, becomes neces- sary by the communication of the Rev. Mr. Prescott to the Corporation, today, of a paper, by which he says he settled a question, raised by some members of the Vestry at Christmas, in regard to the disposal of the Alms received on that day, and by which he informs us he vindicated his mode of administering a Trust, which he "received from the Church and the Corpor- ation and not from the Vestry." The Rev. Gentleman says that he attaches this paper to his letter of resignation, . as a knowledge of it is necessary to "an understanding of the history of the Parish during the past year"; and in order to provide for its preservation as an act of justice to himself, who has ever kept in view during his Rectorship, the honor and dignity of the Church, the removal out of the way of all hindrances to a real peace in this vexed Parish, and the doing good to souls by the fulfilment of all professional duty. He informs the Corporation that this letter, dated St. Stephen's Day, was communicated to the Vestry on that day, with the request that it should be en- tered on their records; but that his request was disregarded, and that the letter was returned to him by the Vestry.
He also says, with regard to this transaction, that "different persons will form different opinions."
Now the Vestry differ from the Rev. Gentleman on this point. It strikes them, that a fair and. impartial examination of the cir- cumstances connected with this transaction, can lead but to one opinion, viz .: that the course of proceeding adopted by the Ves- try was the only course which they could have adopted consis- tently with their honor and dignity, as officers of the Church, appointed by you and entrusted by the Church and ancient usage with important duties.
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NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
In order that the Corporation may arrive at a correct con- clusion with regard to the proceedings of the Vestry in this matter, it will be necessary to state the circumstances which seem to have given occasion to the above letter; and then to examine the letter itself, to see if it contains any matter that would render it improper for the Vestry to enter it upon its records.
At the joyous season of Christmas, in order to make the hearts of the poor glad, by a more liberal distribution of money, it has, for many years, been the custom of Trinity Church, to unite the offerings on Christmas Day with the income of the Poor Fund: and it has been the established practice of the Ves- try, from the considerable amount thus collected, to apportion to the poor of the Church such sums as, from the best informa- tion as to their wants, they seemed to require. This mode of distribution at Christmas is adapted to subserve the best inter- ests of the poor. It has been sanctioned by the assent of many previous Ministers of the Parish. It is calculated to fulfill an object upon which there can be no rational ground for difference of opinion between Rector and Vestry, viz .: to distribute the sums fairly and impartially, according to the respective necessi- ties of the poor of the Church. The Vestry, justly considering this as one of their important duties, intended to have discharged that duty after the manner of their predecessors in office. A meeting, therefore, of the Vestry was called at the usual time for this purpose, to be held on the evening after Christmas, viz. : 26th of December, 1862.
Now what was the conduct of Rev. Mr. Prescott, in relation to this meeting, called by the Vestry for the fulfilment of an important duty?
Being informed a few days previous to Christmas, by the Senior Warden, of the intended meeting of the Vestry, and of its object, he decided, without communicating with the Vestry, to frustrate their purpose, and accordingly gave notice from the Pulpit on Christmas morning, that offerings presented that day would be distributed in accordance with the Canons of the Church; meaning by that expression, by himself, without cooperating with the Vestry. The offerings were collected, and were actually
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distributed by the Rev. Gentleman before the proposed meeting of the Vestry took place. At that meeting, instead of receiving the friendly greeting of the Rector, and his cordial cooperation in, or assent to, the accustomed distribution of the sums col- lected at Christmas to the poor, the Vestry received the letter which is now made a part of the Rev. Mr. Prescott's letter of resignation.
Now we ask the Corporation if they can see, in this sudden and abrupt decision of the Rector with regard to the alms and oblations at Christmas, any real effort to promote the peace of this Parish, and to sustain the honor and dignity of the Church.
Can any rational, impartial and intelligent member of the Corporation justify this conduct of the Rector, as respectful to the officers of the Church -men who are members of this Cor- poration, familiarly known to you by long and intimate inter- course, and for years enjoying your confidence and friendship?
But let us examine the letter itself, to see if it contains any matter that would render it improper for the Vestry to enter it upon the Records.
The ostensible object of this letter is to show that the offer- ings at Christmas could not be united with the income of the Poor Fund, and distributed in the manner intended by the Vestry, without a violation of the Canons of the Church, both by the Rector and the Vestry. Hence the letter contains allu- sions to the sin and dishonesty of violating the Canons of the Church on this point, and the liability, in consequence, to sub- jection to Church discipline.
The argument, here, is based on a Canon of the Church, which we here call to the notice of the Corporation by transcribing Canon 12, Sec. 3.
"The Alms and Contributions at the administration of the Holy Communion, shall be deposited with the Minister of the Parish, or with such officer as shall be appointed by him, to be applied by the Minister, or under his superintendence, to such pious and charitable uses as shall by him be thought fit."
Now it does not require any extraordinary sagacity to per- ceive that this Canon places it in the power of the Minister of
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the Parish, to unite with the officers or Vestry of the Parish, in the distribution of the alms and contributions at the Holy Com- munion. In perfect consistency with this Canon, the alms, of- fered at the Communion, might constantly be distributed by the cooperation of the Minister of the Parish, and of the Vestry, pro- vided that mode of distribution were in accordance with usage, and sound reasons existed sustaining that usage. The Canon, indeed, requires the assent of the Minister of the Parish, and the assent of the Minister implies reliance upon, and confidence in, the Vestry. Such an assent to an ancient usage, beneficial in its result, and involving no violation of Canonical law, implies a disposition to preserve peace in the Parish, and could be fol- lowed only by favorabe consequences.
Such are the views of the Vestry in regard to the Canonical disposal of the offerings at Christmas, and of the bearing of the Canon cited, upon the ancient usage observed at Christmas by the Vestry of Trinity Church.
Now it might be inferred from the phraseology and general tenor of argument in certain portions of the Rev. Gentleman's letter respecting the serious offence of violating Canonical law, that the above views of the Canon are in opposition to his own. Nay, it has been so inferred by the grave majority of the Corpor- ation who have heard the letter read by the Rev. Gentleman from the pulpit, and by the Secretary of this meeting. But the fact is that these views are precisely coincident with his own. Though a rigid constructionist of Canon Law, he admits that a Rector might, if he so willed, have placed the Christmas offering at the disposal of the Vestry; for he says "the only way in which the Vestry can have anything to do with the appropriation of an offertory, is by the Rector placing such offertory at their disposal." The Vestry could have no objection to any conscien- tious interpretation of this Canon by the Minister of the Parish binding him to a literal observance of its provisions, and ex- cluding therefrom all participation in the disposal of the offer- ings of the Church. But the Rev. Gentleman presents in his letter no such interpretation as a bar to his compliance with the ancient usage. It was his will, and his will alone, that
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prevented that compliance. His determination, therefore, to withdraw the offerings at Christmas, and to reserve to himself the sole distribution of them, was justly regarded by the Vestry, as an act of opposition, and as indicating a want of proper re- spect to the officers of the Church.
It is not necessary to dwell on the irrelevance of his remarks in this connection, on the sin of violating Canon Law.
Again, to illustrate still further the reasons which prevented the Vestry from entering the letter upon their Records, and which induced them to return it, as an improper communication from the Rector; we call to the attention of the Corporation, the extraneous matter contained in this letter.
How else than disrespectful could the Vestry view the im- putation on their honor, as implied in the apprehension expressed by the Rector, of being presented before the Ecclesiastical Au- thorities for any compliance with their wishes in respect to the subject in question; such compliance involving, as implied in this part of the letter, a violation of Canon Law.
Again, he alludes to a disorderly condition of the Parish, originating in causes independent of his Rectorship-a condition of the Church which the Rector has, at different times, publicly alluded to, thereby wounding the feelings of the real friends of the Church, representing .it as a vexed Parish, loaded with obloquy, and abounding with "dissensions, which have made the Church a hissing and a byeword."
Now the truth is, that the differences of opinion, which ex- isted in the Parish previously to the period of the Rev. Mr. Prescott becoming Minister, had been settled by the unanimous election of Bishop Clark, as Rector; but the differences which have existed during the administration of the Rev. Mr. Prescott, have arisen purely and solely by his Rectorship-he having been elected Rector without a sufficient unanimity, and contrary to the original agreement, made at the time of his being elected Minister of the Parish for one year.
The Vestry have thus explained their conduct in relation to the letter of the Rev. Mr. Prescott, which has been brought to the notice of the Corporation today. Circumstances over which
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NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
they had no control, have compelled them to present this vindi- cation, which they trust will be regarded by the Corporation as a full and complete justification of their course.
In conclusion, the Vestry assure the Corporation that they cherish only feelings of kindness towards Mr. Prescott. May prosperity attend his future administrations.
BENJ. FINCH, GEO. C. MASON, HENRY BULL, DAVID KING, J. H. COZZENS, SAMUEL ENGS.
Voted: that the communication from members of the Old Vestry, in answer to the Rector's communication, signed by them, have the approval of the Corporation, and be placed on record.
Voted: that the Wardens be a committee to receive and trans- fer the Records from Rev. Mr. Prescott to his successor, and that they be instructed to examine the Records and report to the Vestry.
Voted: that a committee, William Cornell and Dr. King, be appointed to examine the Charter, and recommend such altera- tions as they may deem to be for the best interest of the Church.
May 1, 1863. Voted: that Charles Hunter and the Wardens be a committee to confer with Rev. Mr. Prescott, in relation to the disorganized state of the Sunday School.
June 2, 1863. Meeting of the Vestry. The committee ap- pointed to confer with the Rector, as to the disorganized state of the Sunday School; reported, that they had called on Mr. Prescott: he was aware of the disorganization of the School, but thought it best for the School to remain as at present, and to leave the re-organization to his successor.
Voted: that a Corporation meeting be called at the earliest
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day, to hear the report of the committee to call a Rector, and to take action on the same, and to transact such other business as may come before the meeting.
Voted: that the Wardens be a committee to examine the grave-stones in the Churchyard, and report at the next meeting what stones require to be replaced.
1
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NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
CHAPTER IX.
1863-1866.
June 11, 1863. Special meeting of the Corporation; 16 cor- porators being present. Mr. Henry Bull in the chair.
The Chairman stated that the Rev. Mr. Eccleston, of New- ark, N. J., had been called as Rector, but no reply had been received from him.
June 16, 1863. At an adjourned meeting of the Corporation, the Chairman read a letter from Rev. Mr. Eccleston, declining the call as Rector of Trinity Church.
Voted: that the committee be discharged, and that George' C. Mason, Samuel Engs and William Cornell, be a new com- mittee to call a clergyman, as Minister or Rector.
July 20, 1863. Special meeting of the Corporation; 18 cor- porators being present, to hear the report of the committee to call a Rector.
Voted: that the Report of the committee be accepted and placed on the records.
Newport, July 20th, 1863.
The undersigned, appointed a committee to select and call a pastor for Trinity Church, beg to report that they have labored assiduously to the end in view; and after a careful and diligent inquiry for one possessed of the necessary qualifications, are unanimously of the opinion that Rev. J. H. Black, of Sing Sing, New York, is eminently fitted to be our Pastor and Guide; they
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have therefore called him to the Rectorship of this Parish, as will be seen by the accompanying copy of a letter addressed to Rev. J. H. Black, Sing Sing, N. Y., by the committee ap- pointed by the Corporation of Trinity Church, Newport, R. I., to select and call a clergyman to the Rectorship of said Church:
Newport, R. I., July 13th, 1863.
Rev. and Dear Sir:
We desire to extend to you, in a more formal manner than the mere verbal call of one of our number on Friday last, the Rectorship of Trinity Parish, in this city, which, through the resignation of Rev. O. S. Prescott, is now without a settled Pastor.
At a late meeting of the Corporation of the Church, the undersigned were appointed a committee to select and call a clergyman, and with the approval and hearty support of the Bishop of the Diocese, we beg to extend to you an invitation to come among us, and be our pastor and guide: promising on our part, in return, to do all in our power, not only to aid and sustain you in your labors, but also to make your stay in New- port alike agreeable to yourself and family; pledging a salary of two thousand dollars, per annum, the maximum allowed by the Corporation.
Mindful of the weight and responsibility imposed upon us by our office, we have prayerfully sought aid from on high in the performance of our work; and we cannot but feel and be- lieve that God is with us: that He has guided our steps in the choice we have made, and that He will bless the connection we seek to establish.
Hoping to hear from you at an early day, and with tokens of the highest respect, we remain, dear Sir,
Very truly yours,
GEO. C. MASON, WM. CORNELL, S. ENGS, Committee.
To Rev. J. H. Black, Sing Sing, New York.
To the above the following reply was made:
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NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.
George C. Mason, Esq., Wm. Cornell, Esq., Samuel Engs, Esq., Committee;
Gentlemen:
Your favor of the 13th inst. formally tendering me the Rectorship of Trinity Parish, Newport, with a salary of $2000 per annum, was received this morning. Since the pleas- ant interview that I had with one of your number, through whom your desire was made known to me, I have had the sub- ject under prayerful consideration; and I think I see the finger of God directing my way to you. I therefore accept the call to the Rectorship of Trinity Church, and will be ready (D. V.) to enter on my duties the third Sunday in August, or perhaps a little sooner, if you specially desire it.
Thanking you for the expressions of kindness and Christian love contained in your letter, and humbly beseeching the Great Head of the Church that I may be to you a faithful Pastor, successful in winning souls to Christ, and in strengthening those who are already His.
I am, with sentiments of respect and esteem,
Very sincerely and truly yours, J. H. BLACK.
On motion of James Birckhead,
Voted: that we ratify and approve the action of the Com- mittee, in their selection of a Rector.
On motion of Benjamin Finch,
Whereas, by the terms of the resignation of the Rev. Mr. Prescott, it is necessary to notify him of the appointment of his successor, therefore it is
Voted: that the Wardens be and are hereby appointed a com- mittee to notify the Rev. Mr. Prescott that the Corporation have elected the Rev. J. H. Black, of Sing Sing, N. Y., as his suc- cessor.
July 7, 1863. The committee to transfer books and papers from Rev. Mr. Prescott, made the following report to the Ves- try, which was received and ordered to be placed on record:
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The undersigned, a committee appointed at the Easter meet- ing of the Corporation, to receive the Parish Records from Rev. O. S. Prescott, when his term of service should expire, and to transfer them to his successor, also to examine said records and report to the Vestry, beg leave to make return of their doings, as follows:
Monday, July 20th, 1863. Your committee informed Rev. Mr. Prescott (whose resignation was to take effect ten days after the election of his successor was made known to him) that Rev. Mr. Black had been duly called as Rector of the Parish, and asked when they should call to receive the books in his posses- sion belonging to the Church. On the following Thursday they received a note from him, appointing Thursday, July 30th, for that purpose; on which day they called at his residence and received from him a package containing a Bible, the old Parish Record, and the new Parish Record; the latter in a wrapper by itself, sealed up, and directed to Rev. Mr. Black, Rector- elect of Trinity Church.
This package your committee opened, and were not a little surprised to find that a portion of the pages of the Record, which is set apart by the Church and confined exclusively to a record of the families, communicants, births, deaths, marriages, confirmations and offerings of the Parish, appropriated to an ex-parti recital of the difficulties between the late Rector and the Vestry, with copies of his own letters to the Wardens, Ves- try and Corporation, but in no instance a copy of the communi- cations addressed to him on the subject in dispute-the whole statement being calculated to give his successors, and to all under whose observation the Parish Record may come in future years, the most unjust and unfair impression of the acts of this body; and thus keep alive a state of feeling which has too long existed, and which your committee believe the Vestry desires to see altogether done away.
And when we reflect that all to which these statements and letters relate, to the minutest detail, is a matter of record, in the books of the Vestry and Corporation kept for that purpose, and that under no circumstances would such matter be admis- sible in a book set apart for a purpose so entirely distinct, the
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impropriety of allowing the Parish Record to be so disfigured, must be apparent to all.
Your committee would therefore respectfully recommend that the matter to which your attention is called, be expunged from the Parish Record before they transfer it to the Rector-elect, and that in its place the following entries be made :
"Rev. A. G. Mercer, D. D., resigned the Rectorship of this Parish, April 21st, 1860.
"During the next eleven months the following named Clergy- men officiated in Trinity Church, by invitation of the Wardens. [Here followed a list of names, numbering 33 in all. ]
"February, 1861. Rev. O. S. Prescott was invited by the Wardens to the temporary charge of the Parish, and on the first Sunday in the month entered upon his duties.
"At the Easter Meeting of the Corporation, April 1, 1861, Rev. O. S. Prescott was elected Minister for one year.
"At a Special Meeting of the Corporation, called for this purpose, Feb. 7th, 1862, Rev. O. S. Prescott was elected Rector.
"At the Easter Meeting of the Corporation, April 4th, 1863, Rev. O. S. Prescott sent in his resignation of the Rectorship of the Parish from and after the tenth day from the date on which the acceptance of said Rectorship by his successor should be made known to him.
"July 20th, 1863. Rev. O. S. Prescott was informed by the Wardens, a committee appointed for that purpose, of the elec- tion of his successor, and on the 30th of the same month he closed his connection with the Parish."
All of which is respectfully submitted.
GEORGE C. MASON, SAMUEL ENGS, Committee.
Voted: that whereas the Parish Record, when received from Rev. O. S. Prescott by the committee appointed by the Cor- poration, was found to contain matter believed to be foreign to the purpose for which the book is set apart, and not proper to
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remain there, the Wardens be, and they are appointed a com- mittee, to bring the subject matter to the knowledge of the Bishop of the Diocese, for his decision as to the legality of expunging the matter referred to from the Parish Record, or putting in said Record an explanation from the Vestry, taken from the Records of the Vestry; and the committee are further instructed to carry out the suggestions in their report, if sus- tained in so doing by the Bishop's decision.
October 31, 1863. Meeting of the Vestry. Present: Rev. J. H. Black, Rector; George C. Mason, Samuel Engs, Wardens; Marshall C. Slocum, William Cornell, Job T. Langley, James Birckhead and John H. Cozzens, Vestrymen.
Voted: that the Treasurer, under the sanction of a commit- tee authorized to take legal advice before acting, be authorized to make such change or changes in the lease of land now held by William B. Wilson, as will admit of two parties, instead of one, holding the property, the applicant to pay all expenses; and that Benjamin Finch and M. C. Slocum be that committee.
Voted: that the following report of the committee to take advice from the Bishop, in regard to the propriety of expunging from the Parish Record the matter referred to in their report read at the last meeting, be accepted: That the Bishop could not advise them in the premises, other than to recommend them to take legal advice; but not wishing to carry the matter beyond the Church, they had transferred the books to Rev. Mr. Black, without alteration or change of any kind.
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