CONTENTS—First Church in New York, 1633—First Dominie, Rev.
Everardus Bogardus—The Dutch, Huguenots, Pilgrims—Transporting
ministers and churches—First Rector of New York, Wm. Vesey—Henry
Barclay, 1746—First Catholic Bishop in America, 1789—Episcopalian
Bishop, 1796—Moral state of Pioneers in Canada—Religion—No
ministers—No striking immorality—Feared God and honored their
King—The Fathers of Upper Canada—Religious views—A hundred years
ago—“Carousing and Dancing”—Rev. Dr. John Ogilvie—First Protestant
Clergyman in Canada—Chaplain 1759, at Niagara—A Missionary—
Successor of Dr. Barclay, New York—Death, 1774—Rev. John Doughty—A
Graduate Ordained—At Peekskill—Schenectady—A Loyalist—A Prisoner—
To Canada—Chaplain—To England—Returns—Missionary—Resigns—Rev. Dr.
John Stuart—First Clergyman to settle—His Memoir—The “Father of
the U. C. Church”—Mission Work—The Five Nations—The Dutch—Rev. Mr.
Freeman—Translator—Rev. Mr. Andrews—Rev. Mr. Spencer Woodbridge,
Howley—New England Missionaries—Rev. Dr. Whelock—The Indian
Converts—The London Society—Rev. Mr. Inglis—John Stuart selected
missionary—A Native of Pennsylvania—Irish descent—A Graduate,
Phil. Coll.—Joins Church of England—To England—Ordination—Holy
Orders 1770—Enters upon his work.
THE FIRST PROTESTANT CLERGYMAN IN AMERICA.
According to the Rev. J. B. Wakley, “The Reformed Dutch Church was the
first organized in New Amsterdam, (New York). This year, 1633, the first
church edifice was erected on this island, (Manhatten). It was built on
what is called Broad Street. It was a small frail wooden building. The
name of the first Dominie is preserved, the Rev. Everardus Bogardus. He
came over from Holland with the celebrated Wanter Van Twiller. The Dutch
and the Huguenots, as well as the Pilgrims, brought the church, the
school-master, and their Bibles with them. They erected a dwelling for
the Rev. Mr. Bogardus to reside in. This was the first parsonage built
on the island, if not in America. This first minister in New Amsterdam
met with a sad end. After spending some years in the new world, in
returning to his native land, he, with eighty-one others, was lost off
the coast of Wales. The Bogarts are probably descended from this pioneer
minister, he having left children behind him in America, or some near
connection. The first Rector of the Church of England in New York, was
the Rev. William Vesey, pastor of Trinity Church. The Rev. Dr. Henry
Barclay was the second Rector, who had previously been catechist for ten
years to the Mohawk Indians. He became Rector October 22, 1746.” He was
the father of the late Thomas Barclay, Consul-General of His British
Majesty in the United States, and grandfather of Mr. Anthony Barclay,
late British Consul at New York, who was under the necessity of
returning home during the Russian war, in consequence of the jealousy
and partiality of the American Government.
We find it stated that Dr. Carroll, of Maryland, was the first Catholic
Bishop in America, 1789.
Dr. Seabury, Bishop of Connecticut, was the first Episcopalian Bishop of
that State, he died in 1796.
The circumstances of the settlers in Upper Canada were not such as would
conduce to a growth of religion and morality. Apart from the effect upon
them resulting from a civil war, and being driven away from home—
isolated in a wilderness, far removed from civilization; there were
circumstances inimical to the observance of religious duties. The
earnest contest for life, the daily struggle for food, and more
especially, the absence of ministers of the gospel, all combined to
create a feeling of indifference, if not a looseness of morals. In a few
instances, there was on the part of the settlers, a departure from that
strict virtue, which obtains at the present time, and in which they had
been trained. But on the whole, there was a close adherence, and a
severe determination to serve the God of their fathers. From many a log
cabin ascended the faithful prayer of the followers of Luther; of the
conscientious Episcopalian, and the zealous Methodist and Baptist. Yet,
for years, to some the word of life was not preached; and then but
rarely by the devoted missionary as he traveled his tedious round of the
wilderness. After ten years, the average of inhabitants to the square
miles, was only seven. This paucity of inhabitants, prevented regular
religious sermons by clergymen, as it did the formation of well taught
schools. This absence of educational and religious advantages, it might
be expected, would naturally lead to a demoralized state of society, but
such was not the case with the settlers of the ten townships. This
sparseness of population, arose in part, it must be mentioned, from the
system pursued by government, of reserving tracts of land, of granting
to the clergy, and to non-resident owners, all of which remained to
embarrass the separated settlers, and prevent advance of civilization,
by begetting ignorance and indifference to religion.
When it is remembered how great had been the trials of the refugees
during the continuation of the war; when we call to mind the school of
training belonging to a camp life; and still more, when it is taken into
consideration to how great an extent the settlers were removed from the
salutary influences of civilized life, it at once strikes the thoughtful
mind as surprising, that the early colonist did not relapse into a state
of non-religion and gross immorality. But it is a remarkable fact that
the loyalists who planted Upper Canada, not only honored their King, but
feared God, and in a very eminent degree fulfilled the later commandment
to love one another. Certainly there were exceptions. Even yet are
remembered the names of a few who availed themselves of their neighbors’
necessities to acquire property; and the story still floats down the
stream of time, that there were those who had plenty and to spare of
government stores, while the people were enduring the distress of the
“Hungry Year.” But even these reports lack confirmation, and even if
true, are the more conspicuous by their singularity. There is no
intention or desire to clothe the founders of Upper Canada with a
character to which they are not entitled, to suppress in any respect
facts that would tend to derogate the standing of the loyalists. This is
unnecessary to place them upon an elevated ground, but were it not, it
would be contrary to the writer’s feelings, and unfair to the reader.
There will be occasion to allude to a few instances, where gross evils
manifested themselves, yet after all, they are but the dark corners
which only serve to bring out the more glowing colors of the picture
presented. In arriving at a just estimate of their state of morals, it
is necessary to take into consideration, that many of the views held by
truly religious men a hundred years ago, differed widely from those held
by many to day. Reference is made to certain kinds of amusements then
unhesitatingly indulged in, which to-day are looked upon as inimical to
sound Christianity. One of these is the habit of using intoxicating
liquors. It was also charged against them, that they were “wofully
addicted to carousing and dancing.”
REV. JOHN OGILVIE, D.D.
This divine was probably the first Protestant clergyman that ever
officiated in Canada. He did so in the capacity of chaplain to a British
Regiment in an expedition to Fort Niagara, in 1759, when that French
stronghold was surrendered. Dr. Ogilvie, was a native of New York, and a
graduate of Yale college. He was employed by the Society for the
Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, as a missionary with
success. In 1765 he succeeded the Rev. Dr. Barclay, as Rector of Trinity
Church, New York. He died in 1774. “A portrait of him is still preserved
in the vestry office of Trinity Church.” The next Protestant clergyman
we believe, was the Rev. John Doughty.
“An Episcopal minister. He graduated at King’s College, New York, in
1770. He was ordained in England for the church at Peekskill, but was
soon transferred to Schenectady. In 1775, political troubles put an end
to divine service, and he suffered much at the hands of the popular
party. In 1777, he obtained leave to depart to Canada, (after having
been twice a prisoner,) where he became chaplain of the “King’s Royal
Regiment,” of New York. In 1781 he went to England; but returned to
Canada in 1784, and officiated as missionary at Sorel. He resigned his
connection with the society for the propagation of the gospel in foreign
parts, in 1803.”—(_Sabine._)
The first clergyman to settle in Canada, and one of the refugee pioneers
at the first settlement of Kingston, was the Rev. John Stuart. We are
fortunate in having before us a transcript of the memoir of this
distinguished person.
“_Memoirs of the Rev. John Stuart, D.D., father of the Upper Canada
Church. He opened the first academy at Cataraqui—Kingston 1786.
The last missionary to the Mohawks._”
“The conversion and civilization of the American Indians, engaged the
attention of Europeans at an early date.” The Jesuits first gave
attention to the Mohawks, 1642, a few years later, Father Joynes laid
down his life on the Mohawk River. The first colonizers, the Dutch did
not give the subject much attention. “The government of New York, did
not make any effort to Christianize the five nations, further than to
pay, for some time a small salary to the clergyman, at Albany, to attend
to the wants of such Indians, as might apply to him.” The Rev. Mr.
Freeman, translated into the Mohawk language, the Church of England
Prayer Book, with some passages of the Old and New Testament. “In 1712
Mr. Andrews was sent as a missionary to the Mohawk, by the society, for
propagating the gospel, and a church was built at the mouth of the
Schoharie creek, but that missionary soon abandoned the place. As he was
the first, so he was the last that resided among them for a great many
years. After that the only ministration was at Albany. In 1748, the Rev.
Mr. Spencer, Mr. Woodbridge and Howly, were sent successively by the
people of New England,” to this field of labor.
The French war soon interrupted this, and not until 1761, was anything
more done, when the Rev. Dr. Wheelock, directed his attention to that
quarter, with missionaries, and schoolmasters. The testimony mainly of
all these mentioned, who labored among the Indians, is to the effect
that, although they were quick to learn, and would for a time live a
Christian life, they mostly all lapsed into their former savage state.
“The necessity of having missionaries of the Church of England, resident
among the Mohawks, was again brought before the society for promoting of
the gospel, a few years before the revolution, both by Sir William
Johnson, and the Rev. Mr. Inglis, of New York, the last of whom also
laid the subject before the government of England, in the form of a
memorial. In 1770 the society again consented to ordain a missionary for
the exclusive service of the Mohawks. John Stuart, who was selected for
this purpose, was born at Harrisburgh, in Pennsylvania, in 1730. The
family mansion in which he was born was still standing in 1836.” His
father, an Irishman, came to America in 1730. John Stuart had two
brothers who sided with the Americans. When he “graduated at the college
of Philadelphia, he made up his mind to join the communion of the Church
of England.” His father being a Presbyterian, this was extremely
distasteful to him. But his father finally consenting, he proceeded to
England for ordination, and received Holy Orders in 1770, and was
appointed missionary to the Mohawks at Fort Hunter.