A history of Protestant Episcopal church in America

Preface

In giving the following pages to the press, their Author would desire, in the first place, to acknowledge the kindness which from many quarters, both in America and England, has supplied him with the materials for their composition. Never can he forget the ready aid which he has received from personal strangers on the other side of the Atlantic. To particularise any, where he cannot enumerate all, he feels to be impossible. He can only express his earnest wish that his volume were more worthy of their several contributions ; and his hope that, in stating openly and freely what seem to him to be the defects of the organisation or conduct of their body, he shall give no needless pain to any one. Convinced as he is that to draw a veil over such evils would be disloyalty to their common cause, he has felt under an imperative necessity of speaking openly and fully.

VI PREFACE.

But it would most deeply grieve him, were any cause of offence to be found in his words, or any thing which could sever those who should be so closely united as the Churchmen of England and America. On the subject to which he here especially refers, namely, the treatment of the coloured race, the use of the Church's moral influence alone, in its behalf, is that which he would claim. And this claim he advances under a humbling sense of the past deficiencies of members of his own communion. Still, in their behalf it must be urged, that they were afar from the sight, and therefore from the real knowledge, of the evils of colonial life. Those evils would not have been endured, had they been daily submitted to the eyes of the laity and clergy of the English Church.

On one other important point a few words must here be added to the following pages. Throughout their course the Author has felt oppressed by the recurring question, how he ouo'ht to deal with those other religious bodies by which the Protestant Episcopal Church in North America is so abundantly surrounded. To have entered into their history would, within the limits of this work, have been absolutely

PREFACE, Vll impossible ; and yet, to confine himself to the history of one department only of the vast host which bears the Christian name, must of necessity give to his work a narrow and one-sided tone. To avoid this wholly, he believes to have been impossible, and he has therefore submitted to it; writing the history, not of religion, but of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Only would he here protest against being supposed to entertain any intention of contemptuously passing by the many great deeds for Christ's truth wrought in that western world by the members of other societies, or of pronouncing by the way a decisive judgment on any of the intricate questions to which the co-existence of these various bodies must give birth. He has dealt with them only as they directly affect that communion whose history he writes ; and in doing so, he has endeavoured to treat them honestly and fairly, although from his limits, it must be, slightly and imperfectly.

Amongst those who in this country have assisted him with valuable materials, and to whom he would beg publicly to return his thanks, he may venture to enumerate his father's early friend, Thomas Clarkson ; the Rev.

Vlll PREFACE.

H. H. Norris, of Hackney ; Petty Vaughan, Esq.; the Lord Bishop of London,— who most liberally allowed him access to all the MS. treasures of the Fulham library ; the Rev. H. Caswall, — whose local knowledge made him able to revise those parts which touch upon existing institutions; and the Rev. Ernest Hawkins, Secretary to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts.

To the labours of that society the following pages repeatedly bear witness. They shew on this one stage how, throughout the coldness and negligence of the last century, w T hen, in this land at least, no other body so made head against the general apathy as to think of the foreign advancement of the Gospel as a Christian duty, this venerable society ever followed in the wake of our colonial extension, watched for opportunities of sowing the good seed, laboured ever noiselessly and unobserved in this great work, nurtured the faint beginnings of colonial piety, and has been, under God's grace, the one first instrument in preventing the upgrowth of positive infidelity, and in promoting the existence and spread of Christianity throughout those vast districts which make up our colonial empire —

PREFACE. IX the widest empire and the greatest trust which God ever committed to any people.

The Author feels that his labour will not have been in vain, if, by seeing what was attempted, and what was effected, in America, by this society, any of his readers are aroused to consider what are indeed its claims upon their grateful and affectionate support.

a2

Chapter I

Interest of general subject— Times of Queen Elizabeth— Influence of the Reformation — Martin Frobisher — His first voyage— A native kidnapped — Second and third voyages— Master Wolfali — Black ore — Sir Humphrey Gilbert — Letters patent — Religious purpose of colonisation— Prospect of its late fulfilment — Gilbert's second voyage— His death— Sir Walter Raleigh — His expeditions — Tobacco— Settlements — Raleigh's troubles : and death — Settlement of Virginia — Robert Hunt — James Town — Captain Smith— Trials of the Settlers — Starving time — Lord Delaware — Master Bucke — Whitaker — Pocohontas — Early laws

Chapter II

Virginian Company — Measures of Sir E. Sandys, Nicholas Ferrar, and others — Churches endowed — College founded — Mr. Thorpe — Indian massacre— Indian conquest — Effects of the massacre — Virginia in the Great Rebellion — Loyalty — Love of the Church — Effects of Puritan rule — King Charles II. proclaimed — Enactments of Legislature in behalf of the Church — Popish plots suspected 30

Chapter III

Neighbouring colonies— New York — New Jersey — Philadelphia — Carolina — Maryland — New England— Its settlement — Rise of Puritanism in England — Emigration, to Ley den, to New

Xll CONTENTS.

PAGE

England— Piety of the early Puritans— Their hatred of Church principles — Severity — Treatment of Indians — Proselyting spirit towards other communions 41

Chapter IV

Spiritual destitution of the colonies— Exertions of Bishop of London, Hon. Robert Boyle, and others— Drs. Blair and Bray sent as commissaries to Virginia and Maryland — New York conquered by English— Trinity Church endowed — Progress of the Church in New England — Boston petition for episcopal worship — Foundation of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel — Religious state of the colonies — Labours of the missionaries of the Venerable Society — Rev. George Keith — Violence of Quakers — Opposition from New England magistrates —Yale College— Leading Congregation alists join the Church — Progress of the Church at Newtown under Mr. Beach — Violence of Congregationalists — General state of the Church in Virginia — Mr. Whitefield — Spreading dissent— Rise of Anabaptists in Virginia— Resistance to the clergy — Low state of Church — Its causes— Clergy dependent on their flocks — Want of bishops — Attempts to obtain an American episcopate, in the reign of Charles II., of Queen Anne— Bishop Berkeley opposed by Walpoie— Supported by Archbishop Seeker — Efforts in the colonies— Zeal of northern colonies— Virginia refuses to jcin in the attempt— Causes of this refusal 84

Chapter V

Revolutionary war — Loyalty of the Northern clergy— Persecution — Virginian clergy generally loyal— Treated with violence —Thomas Jefferson — Zeal of the Anabaptists — Their hatred to the Church — Repeal of all former acts in its favour — Incomes of the clergy stopped — They are stripped even of the glebes and churches— Conduct of the Methodists — John Wesley persuaded to consecrate Dr. Coke — Low state of the Church at the end of the war — Religion at a low ebb — The revolutionary war a consequence of the Church not having been planted in America . , , . . .171

CONTENTS.

Chapter VI. Page

Depression of the Church — Parties — And Opinions— Attempted organisation in the south— Mr. White — Conventions in Virginia and Philadelphia — Agreement on common principles — First movements for general union — General voluntary meeting at New York — Want of episcopate — Movement amongst the eastern clergy — They elect Dr. Seabury bishop — He sails for England — Disappointed of consecration there — Dr. Berkeley and the Scotch bishops — Dr. Seabury applies to them — Opposition — His consecration — And return — First convention at Philadelphia — Difference of opinion — Dr. White — Proposed liturgy — Application to the English prelates for the apostolical succession — Their objections to some changes in the liturgy — These reconsidered — Drs. White and Provoost embark for England— Are consecrated at Lambeth — Return to America, April 1787 187

Chapter VII

Convention assembles— Case of Dr. Bass— -Bishop Seabury joins the Convention — The Liturgy — First and succeeding consecrations — Period of depression — Its causes — Ecclesiastical constitution — Parish — Diocese — Convention — Laity in convention — Anglo-Saxon usage — Difficulties of true organisation in America — Neglect of the mother-country .... 220

Chapter VIII

Death and character of Bishop Seabury — Bishop White— Bishop Provoost — His character — Resigns the episcopal jurisdiction

— Nomination and consecration of Bishop Moore — His character — Improvement of the state of the Church — Maryland

— Bishop Claggett — Party spirit — Bishop Claggett applies for a suffragan — Division of convention in 1812— Method of electing a bishop — The laity negative the nomination of the clergy — Convention of 1813— No attempt at an election made — Dr. Kemp elected suffragan in 1814 — Consequent party feuds — Bishop Claggett's death — Dr. Kemp succeeds

XIV CONTENTS.

PA.GE

— His death — Renewed contests as to the episcopate — Bishop Stone elected — Troubles on his death — The see vacant — State of Delaware— No bishop — Application to Maryland — Refused — Decay of the Church there — And in Virginia— Issue of the long struggle with the Anabaptists and others — The glebes confiscated — Prostration of the Church . . . 260

Chapter IX. 1811, 12

Death of Bp. Madison — Renewal of diocesan convention — Election of Dr. Bracken to the episcopate — He refuses it — Dr. Moore elected — His early life — Ministerial success — He visits the diocese — Stirs up the spirit of Churchmen — Revival of the Church — Growth of Church principles — Improved canons — Theological seminary founded — And poor scholars' fund — Dr. Meade elected suffragan, with a restriction — Conduct of the^ house of bishops — Removal of restrictions—Bishop B. Moore of New York applies for an assistant bishop — Dr. J. H. Hobart elected — His origin and youth — First ministerial charge in Pennsylvania — Removes to New York — His studies — Publications — Services in state and general convention — Controversy with Dr. Mason

— Elected bishop — Opposition — Bishop Provoost's claim to the bishopric of New York — Disallowed by the convention

— Bishop "White's treatment of Bishop Hobart — And high esteem for him

Chapter X

Episcopate of Bishop Hobart — Two first years of opposition — Rise of Church societies — Effect upon the laity— New tone of feeling and action — Bishop Hobart with his clergy — His language as to the Church of Rome— His visitations — General spread of the Church —Increase of bishoprics — State of i; the West" — Need of missionary pastors — Pioneers of the Church —Lay readers — Samuel Gunn — His early years — Labours — Removal to Ohio — Consecration of Bishop Chase — His life- Founds Kenyon College — Its building — Students — Their missionary excursions — How received — Funds for domestic

CONTENTS, XV

PAGE

purposes — J ackson Kemper — Bishop Hobart's canon — His labours amongst the Indians — Oneida reserves — Eleazer Williams— His history—- The bishop's visit . .31!

Chapter XI

American education — Temper of American youth — Jealousy of high education— Absence of theological training — Foundation of the General Theological Seminary — Its success— Bishop Hobart's connexion with it — His death — And character — Bishop B. T. Onderdonk succeeds— Increase of the episcopate —Bishops Ravenscroft and Ives of North Carolina — Bishop Meade of Virginia — And H. U. Onderdonk, assistant bishop of Pennsylvania— Bishop Chase of Ohio — Resigns his bishopric — Consecrations of Bishops M'llvaine of Ohio, Hopkins of Vermont, Smith of Kentucky, and Doane of New Jersey- Change of feeling as to the episcopate — Convention of 1835— Bishop Chase of Illinois — Division of dioceses — New organisation of missionary board — The missionary bishop — Bishop Kemper consecrated — Success of the new plan — Subsequent growth of the Church — Bishop White's illness — Death and character 357

Chapter. XII

Present influence of the Episcopal Church — Rapid extension — Estimated numbers — Clergy — Extent and population of dioceses — Influence on the moral character of the people — Favourable symptoms — Sects — Revivals — Socinianism— Sober tone of the Church — Duelling — Its character in America — Instance — Church resists duels — Canon — Instance — Unfavourable symptoms — Divorce — Marriage — Treatment of the coloured race — The great sore of America — State of negroes in the South, religious, moral, physical— Slave-breeding states

— Internal slave-trade — Duty of the Church to testify — Her silence — Participation — Palliation of these evils — State of the coloured population in the North — Insults — Degradation

— Caste — Duty of the Church — Her silence — Case of General Theological Seminary — Alexander Crummell — Estimate of her influence — Her small hold on the poor — Architecture and arrangement of churches — Pew-rent system — Prospects

XVI CONTENTS.

PAGE

of the Church — Danger from indifference to formal truth — . Chaplains to Congress — Thomas Jefferson — Romanism — Its schismatical rise in America — Spread in the West — Promises a refuge from the sects — Courts democracy — Main resistance from the Church — How she may be strong — Need of adhering to her own principles — Of a high moral tone — The slave-question — Favourable promise — Higher principles — More care of the poor — Coloured race — Gains on the population—Conclusion 396

•ssouri and Indiana.

Delaware.

Maine. \ Alabama,

;son Kemper, D.D. :

'' Missionary bishop.

Michigan.

Florida.

S. A. M'Coskrey

THE

AMERICAN CHURCH.

Chapter I

Interest of general subject — Times of Queen Elizabeth— Influence of the Reformation — Martin Frobisher — His first voyage — A native kidnapped — Second and third voyages — Master Wolf all— Black ore — Sir Humphrey Gilbert — Letters patent — Religious purpose of colonisation — Prospect of its late fulfilment — Gilbert's second voyage — His death— Sir Walter Raleigh — His expeditions — Tobacco — Settlements — Raleigh's troubles : and death— Settlement of Virginia — Robert Hunt— James Town— Captain Smith — Trials of the Settlers — Starving time— Lord Delaware — Master Bucke — Whitaker — Pocohontas— Early laws.

Few subjects can be more full of interest to members of the Church of England than the history of the Church in America. Indeed, the Church in every daughter nation has large claims on the affections of the mother state ; and other circumstances here combine to strengthen the strait bands of Christian love. Our long neglect of our bounden duty, fol-

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^ AMERICAN CHURCH.

lowed as it has been by God's merciful acceptance of our latest service, may well call out our affection for this child of our old age. Full of interest is it also to watch the up-growth of such a body amongst institutions so unlike our own ; to note its various nourishment and well-proportioned increase in the western wilderness into which it has been given wings to fly.

Such a narrative is full also of instruction. Many are the grounds for self-upbraiding and humiliation which it brings before us ; and rich are its lessons as to the true treatment in religious matters of the dependent colonies of any Christian people.

The age of Elizabeth, fertile in great men, produced especially great naval heroes : all the circumstances of the nation favoured their production. The fierce hostility of Spain forced upon England especial attention to her navy. The service of the sea had not as yet grown into a separate "profession ; to equip and to command a ship became a common practice of ambitious courtiers, and even of independent country gentlemen. The rich plate fleets of Spain often repaid the expense of fitting out an expedition, and not seldom was a goodly inheritance sold to furnish forth the daring adventurer. To this inducement was added the alluring hope of making profitable foreign settlements. The mines of Spanish America glittered before the eyes of many an ardent Englishman ; and he eagerly exchanged his patrimony here for the hope of those golden acres

MARTIN FROBISHER. 6

which he expected to possess on the other side of the Atlantic, on the easy terms of paying to the Queen the fifth part of all precious metals.

Other causes, moreover, were at work preparing the way for extensive emigration. The reformation of religion had restored to its full vigour the national life of England, which even popery had not been strong enough to stifle utterly ; and one of the first fruits of this revival was, its sending forth its race beyond the narrow limits of their own land. This tendency to wander has always marked the Anglo-Saxon family ; and the formation of a middle class, by the diffusion of wealth and the spread of mercantile adventure, at once set the current into active motion. It was accordingly in the reign of Elizabeth that the first attempt was made to found an English colony on the shores of America.

The first steps which led to the vast undertaking are not a little curious. Among the stirring spirits of the time none adventured more in maritime exploits than Captain Martin Frobisher. He " being persuaded of a new and nearer passage to Cataya 1 than by Cape de Buona Speranza, which the Portuguese yearly use, determined with himself to go and make full proof thereof." 2 After many delays he accordingly set forth upon the loth of June, 1576, in two barques of twenty and twenty-five tons bur-

1 i.e. China.

2 Hackluyt's Collection of Early Voyages, vol. iii. p. 85.

den, provisioned for twelve months, on this dangerous voyage. Deserted by his second barque, this gallant man pushed on in those unknown regions, amidst " cruel storms of snow and haile, great islands of yce, and mighty deere that seemed to be mankinde, which ranne at him so that hardly he escaped with his life :"* until he discovered the straits which bear his name. 2 Having advanced so far, and finding the cold still increasing, he turned his face homeward ; but first being desirous to bring thence some token of his travel, he wrought what, in the temper of the times, is termed by his biographer " a pretty policy." Knowing that the natives " greatly delighted in toyes and belles, he rang a pretty low bell, making signs that he would give him the same who would come and fetch it : and because they would not come within his danger, for feare, he flung one bell unto them, which of purpose he threw short, that it might fall into the sea and be lost ; and to make them more greedy of the matter, he rang a louder bell, so that in the end one of them came neere the ship side to receive the belle, and was taken himself; for the captain being readily provided, let the bell fall, and caught the man fast, and plucked him with maine force, boat and all, into his barke ; which strange infidell, whose like was never seene, read,

1 Hackluyt, vol. iii. pp. 67, 68, 87.

2 Frobisher's Straits, lying to the north of Cape Farewell and West Greenland, long. 42 W., lat. 63 N.

EAKLY VOYAGES.

nor heard of before, was a sufficient witness of the captains farre and tedious travell." 1

But the native thus cruelly kidnapped was not the only specimen they gathered. They brought home also " some floures, some greene grass, and one a piece of blacke stone, much like to a sea-cole in coloure, which by the weight seemed to be some kind of metall or minerall." This was " a thing of no account at first sight, in the judgement of the captain;" but after his return " it fortuned a gentlewoman, one of the adventurers wives, to have a piece thereof, which by chance she threw and burned in the fire so long, that at the length being taken forth and quenched in a little vinegar, it glistered with a bright marquesset of gold ;" whereupon, having been adjudged by certain goldfiners in London " to holde golde, and that very nobly for the quantity," it inflamed the public mind w T ith notions of the great wealth of those parts ; and in the hope of rivalling the mines of Peru, another expedition was shortly afterwards set forth.

The captain's " special commission" on this voyage was directed to the searching for this golden ore ; and so high was expectation raised, that he was admitted, before he sailed, into the Queen's presence ; and after " kissing her highness' hand, with gracious countenance and comfortable words, departed towards his charge." He sailed with three ships on

AMERICAN CHURCH.

the 25th of May, 1577, hoping to bring home vast spoils of gold from the frozen shores of the meta incognita. On reaching this inhospitable coast these expectations were increased by their finding" spiders, which, as many affirm, are signes of great store of gold," 1 and by the assurance that streams flowed into the sea beneath the frozen surface, " by which the earth within is kept warmer, and springs have their recourse, which is the only nutriment of golde and minerals." 2

When, therefore, the expedition reached the straits, no new discoveries were attempted ; but having, " with five poore miners and the help of a few gentlemen and soldiers," who laboured so hard that, by " overstraining, they received hurts not a little dangerous," " reasonably well filled their shippes," they set sail with about 200 tons of ore, " every man therewithal well comforted," and reached home safely on the 23d day of September.

The captain of the returning expedition repaired to Windsor, " to advertise her Majesty of his prosperous proceedings." These were considered of so promising a character, that a larger expedition was soon planned, which was to carry out a " number of chosen soldiers and discreet men, who should be assigned to inhabit there." For this purpose forty mariners, thirty miners, and thirty soldiers, besides gentlemen, goldfiners, bakers, carpenters, and other

1 Hackluyt, vol. iii. pp. 63, 88. 2 Ibid. p. 64.

EARLY VOYAGES. /

necessary persons, were embarked on board of" fifteen sayle of goode ships," which set off from Harwich on the 31st of May.

The name of one other adventurer must not be left unrecorded, since a higher object than the thirst of gold led him to face the dangers of the frozen

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sea. This was one " Master Wolfall, a learned man, appointed by her Majesty's council to be their minister and preacher, who, being well seated and settled at home in his owne countrey, with a good and large living, having a good honest woman to wife and very towardly children, being of good reputation amongst the best, refused not to take in hand this painfull voyage, for the only care he had to save soules and to reform those infidels, if it were possible, to Christianitie." 1

Frobisher again acted as admiral ; but the season was less favourable than it had been in former years. The straits were closed ; and they were " forced many times to stemme and strike great rocks of yce, and so, as it were, make way through mighty mountaines." The icebergs were so vast, that, under the action of the sun, their tops melted and poured down streams " which made a pretie brooke, able to drive a mill." One bark was struck by such a floating island, and " sunk down therewith in the sight of the whole fleete ;" whilst the rest " were fame to submit themselves and their

1 Hackluyt, vol. iii p. llti.

b AMERICAN CHURCH.

ships to the mercy of the unmercyful yce, strengthening the sides of their ships with juncks of cables, beds, mastes, plankes, and such like, which being hanged overboard, on the sides of their ships, might the better defend them from the outrageous sway and stroke of the said yce." 1 " The brunt," however, " of these so great and extreme dangers, the painfull mariners and poore miners overcame," and about the beginning of iVugust, they reached their former harbour in safety ;" for which " they highly praysed God, and altogether, upon their knees, gave Him due, humble, and heartie thanks." Upon such occasions, " Master Wolfall celebrated a communion upon land, at the partaking whereof was the captaine and many other gentlemen, and souldiers, mariners, and miners, with him. The celebration of the Divine mystery was the first signe, seale, and confirmation of Christ's name, death, and passion ever knowen in these quarters."

But it was soon found that the main object of the expedition must be abandoned. The fear of death from cold and hunger possessed those who were selected to remain, and they threatened a mutiny. In the quaint language of their historian, they did " greatly feare being driven to seek sowre sallets amongst the cold cliffs ;" and it was at length resolved that they should defer the intended settlement until another year, and return home, laden with the

1 Hackluyt, vol. iii. p. 109, &c.

SIR HUMPHREY GILBERT. y

black ore which promised gold. When this delusion was discovered we are not told ; but, after this voyage, the "black ore" is. never mentioned further.

Such were the first attempts at forming an English settlement in America ; fruitless in themselves, and yet preparing the way for wiser and more successful efforts. Men with nobler aims than finding ore of gold were soon engaged in the work. Sir Humphrey Gilbert, himself a courtier of Queen Elizabeth, and nearly connected with that " prince of courtesy," Sir Walter Raleigh, was " the first of our nation that caused people to erect an habitation and government in these countreys." Instead of seeking to discover mines and acquire great riches suddenly, he desired " to prosecute effectually the full possession of these so ample and pleasant countreys for the crown and people of England." Amidst the motives given for this his so " virtuous and heroical minde," are " the honour of God, compassion of poore infidels captived by the devil (it seeming probable that God hath reserved these Gentiles to be reduced into Christian civility by the English nation), advancement of his honest and well-disposed countrymen willing to accompany him in such honourable actions, and reliefe of sundry people within this realme distressed."

These were great and noble ends, and they were not lightly undertaken ; he knew that " the carriage of God's word into those very mighty and vast countreys, was a high and excellent matter, likely to excite God's heavy judgements if it were intermeddled in with base purposes."

His preparations were suitable to these convictions. He sacrificed the bulk of his fortune at home, in order to complete the equipment of his ships ; and gathered a numerous party of volunteers to settle this new land. The letters patent, which were granted to him by the Queen, proceed upon the supposition, that the spread of the Christian faith amongst the natives justified such settlements. His patent granted him " free power and liberty to discover all such heathen lands as were not actually possessed by any Christian prince or people." To his settlers were secured the rights of Englishmen, whilst to himself was assigned the sole jurisdiction, civil and military, of the country within 200 leagues of his settlement, " provided always, that the statutes he devized should be, as near as conveniently might, agreeable to the laws and policy of England; and provided also, that they be not against the true Christian faith professed in the Church of England."

The most marked feature of the whole adventure is this repeated recognition of the making known the faith of Christ as its leading object : and far as after years fell below these early aspirations, and long, therefore, as this blessed end has been deferred, we at least who look across the broad Atlantic to the orderly and happy increase of the daughter Church, are allowed to witness much of its completion. Few sights can call more loudly for deep gra-

CAUSES OF DIVISION. 11

titude to God. Our own peculiar situation must make us watch with an unusual love the welfare of this body ; for, as an independent national communion, this is our only offspring ; and we are separated more or less from all around us. Old divisions, centuries ago, have parted widely the East from the West ; whilst, nearer home, the deep pollutions and schismatical violence of Rome have rudely shivered the visible unity of Christendom ; dividing us through our recovered purity of doctrine from all in union with herself, and leading to our separation from the mass of the reformed communions through that want of apostolic order w T ith which the clinging curse of her old corruption has afflicted them. There are few sadder thoughts for faithful hearts than those which spring from the consideration of these multiplied divisions. Those who remember that their Lord's last prayer for His disciples was, that " they all might be one," must long earnestly for that time when, in visible oneness, " the Holy Church throughout all the world shall acknowledge Him." They must weep for the remembrance of those early ages, when those that believed in Christ in different lands were all seen by the joints of the common episcopate to be of one body and in communion with each other.