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The Philander Chase letters were written in the 18th and 19th century and therefore may contain language that we understand today as harmful or offensive. You may encounter paternalist descriptions of Native Americans, racial slurs, or sexism. For more information, see our policy page.
Description
Philander Chase recounts a summary of his personal history, including his time in New York, Connecticut, New Orleans, and Ohio.
Date
1835
Keywords
Indiana, Vermont, New Orleans, Ohio, Gambier Hill, niece, college
Recommended Citation
Chase, Philander, "A Statement of some facts in Bp. Chase's history" (1835). Philander Chase Letters. 1036.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/chase_letters/1036
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Transcript
A statement of some facts in Bp. C’s history as connected with his public ministry.
He was [?] and educated a Congregationalist. Conformed to the Episcopal Church while in College (Dartmouth 1771.) While a junior [and] senior in that seminary (A.D 1795-99) read prayers and [printed] sermons as a Lay Reader in [Hartland], [Safford], and Bethel in Vermont and in [Cornish New Hampshire]. His principal labours in this way were confined to Bethel where he kept school two winters among his relations.
AD.
1797. He went to reside in the City of Albany where he kept the City School and studied theology being admitted as a Candidate for Order under the [Episcopate] of the Rt. Rev. Sam [Provost] of New York.
98. Ordained a Deacon and appointed a Missionary in the New Settlements and borders of the State of New York. In this work he continued till the year 1800.
A Church on the [?] was organized by him. [Countless] at [?] on the border of Vermont, another at [?], another at [Utica], another at [Auburn] and some others. The whole country west of [Stonarabia] was then new mostly covered with a dense forest and roads [bad]. The state road from [Utica] to Geneva had then just been opened, settlements just begun. At Auburn there was [then] but one house besides H[ardenbury’s] Tavern [?] belonging to a [Mr. Bostick] where his children [he thinks] and in [?] her he baptized, while the cabin was in the [rudest] condition.
From 1800 to 1805 having in that period [?] priest[s] orders, he continued a settler [m?] at Poughkeepsie [Dutchess] County. In the month of this time being but partially supported by his salary he kept a school for his main [tenants].
1805. Through advice from physicians from [Bp. Benjamin Moors] then his beloved [Diocesan] for the benefit of his wife's health he went to New Orleans. Preached the [Spirit’s] sermon in Louisiana. #
All his goods were shipped in a [vessel] other than that in which he and his wife were embarked. This vessel was [bust] at [sea].
This providential [?] obliged him to open a school in that city which proved very successful, though his patrons kindly paid him high [tuition] money for their children for only half the days attendance on duty.
Having left his children at the North in care of his brother in Vermont and having witnessed a perfect recovery of his wife’s health
# The Church of the Religious institution which officers had called him. [?] Bp. Moore to officiate [in] N Orleans being of too lax a character he pro[cured] an amendment by the Legislature making it subject to the [?] of the R. Episocopal Church: This is the charter now existing.
He returned from that place [##] to the north in the year 1811 and was [chosen] Rector of [Christ] Church Hartford in the Diocese of Connecticut. There he lived happily and was well supported in the [bosom] of society most estimable.
Why then did he leave Hartford? Answer - The Missionary Spirit which he had imbibed at every breath while witnessing the spirit[ual] rants of his fellow Christians when settling a New Country in the Western parts of the York had never left him. It visited his pillow by night, and in the day season gave as light in the prismatic [glass] a tinge of [?] radiency to every object. The parting was sad but motives of duty made it inevitable.
Of what was done by him in the then wilds of Ohio and [through] its pathless forests and deep muddy roads - while seeking the lambs of Christ’s fold in [founding a building of the Church in [?] the Christian world is already sufficiently app[rised]. From the facts recorded in various forms the [Herton] and will collect the materials for his biography.
# This he did with great regret on account of the many excellent individuals to whom he bade adieu: but the education of his sons (two, both since dead) he thought his duty to return. The Con[p]eration owed [?] if he [?] but by 170 as may appear by [?] these books. This has not been hard: [?] any part of it.
Both his mistakes and his sufferings will be weighed in the Balance by impartial [posterity]. He left his beloved “Gambier Hill” from whence he was the first to clear away the [thick]wood and by [?] on the cold ground in over [?] the work to plant the standard of the Cross of Christ, on the month of Sept. 1831.
Although the path of duty now seemed painful beyond all other portions of his chequered life yet the hand of a kind and merciful providence never forsook him. Having [?] a temporary [residence] on the [uncultivated] lands of his dear niece where he [?] [preached] the gospel every Lord's day, he had leisure to turn his thoughts to [scenes] of future usefulness. The first duty was to provide bread for his young family. Then at the age of 15. 11. [?]. His friend of [Steubenville] visited him to visit with him the country of St. Joseph in the [?] of Michigan and the state of Indiana. This he did in a journey of nearly [300] miles [?] back and found the [same] to exceed in the fertility of beauty any things he had ever before been. Here by the assistance of some loose remains of his shallow substance the [?] donations from his loved Brother the [Hon] Judge [Chase] of [Vermont] he [purchased] at Congress [?] [s]ome lands of the first and finest quality. The place of his choice [was] far away in the Wilderness distant many miles from any settlements. This was no objection to one who had conceived himself deeply injured by those who had p[rofessed] to be his friends. Solitude was necessary to prayer and prayer was necessary to the attainment of that heavenly [?] without which no healing could be found in the balm of “Gilead.” Activity also he deemed necessary both in body and mind and this could under his circumstances be practiced only in a place far removed [?] public gaze. To this place he moved his family. His habitation was humble; but the God who supported him was with him and his beloved ones. [?] divine services were in [?] and the Holy ordinance of redeeming love never neglected. Means were used and incipient steps were taken to commence a school for Christian learning. The Rev. Sam[uel] Chase who had married his niece had opened it with much promise and a building 30 by 20 two stories high had been nearly finished when he was unexpectedly made acquainted with [higher sphere] of duty [?] opened to his view in the still for the [week].
See his letter to [Mess.] Dyer of [?] Richmond and his report to [the] Bishops referred to the Domestic Missionary Society for the [rest].
# The name which he gave to this beautiful place.