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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
Bishop Hopkins agrees with Chase's disdain of Carey's ordination, and also fears the rise of "Romanism." He hopes to write and circulate a short book expressing these thoughts. He also writes that he does not think the church of Texas should be an independent entity.
Date
8-18-1843
Keywords
Catholicism, Protestant Church, Texas, religion, Arthur Carey, General Convention
Recommended Citation
Hopkins, John, "Letter to Philander Chase" (1843). Philander Chase Letters. 1202.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/chase_letters/1202
Rights Statement
Transcript
Burlington Vt. August 18, 1843
Right Rev. and dear Sir,
I returned last night from my journey to Providence (where I took my part in the Consecration of the bishop of Rhode Island according to your arrangement,) and was most interested by your kind letters of the 28th & 31 Ult’o to which I hasten to reply.
In my last, addressed to you at St. Louis, I anticipated one of your inquiries by stating my unqualified dissatisfaction & [reject] at the ordination of Mr. Carey, as stated in the pamphlet of Rev’d Drs. Smith & Anthon. Since then, I have read the explanation of Rev’d Mr. Haight, and Mr. Carey’s letter; and although I confess that my first impressions have been somewhat modified by these, yet I cannot say that my difficulties are removed. Taking the whole together, I have no hesitation in saying that I could not have ordained the candidate under such circumstances, nor do I think that a sound view of the [System] of the Church would justify the act. I heartily concur with your sentiments in disallowing alike the errors of Geneva and those of Rome, although I presume we should both agree in thinking the latter by far the most dangerous to the purity and integrity of the Gospel. With you, and I trust, the great books of the Church, “I stand on the ground of the Church of England, after she was cleansed of the [Lepers] of papal Rome,” and have no idea that she can be [im]protestantized, without utter ruin to her true doctrines and character.
With regard to the ‘doing’ of anything to check the progress of these dangerous novelties of opinion, I had resolved to speak my sentiments openly in my next Cha[p.] and to append still more, so as to make a little book of some 100 pages or more, for general circulation. I trust that a general expression amongst the bishops of a similar kind, may be useful; & should deeply lament the necessity of any further action.
On the subject of Texas, I quite concur in the necessity of guarding, in the strongest manner, against heresy, before [we] give them the episcopate, but I doubt, as yet, whether the surest mode in doing this might not be to consider them a part of ourselves. The Kingdom of Christ needs not, & indeed, ought not needlessly, to be split up into independent parts, mainly because of the changeable arrangements of political governments. In our own case, this course could not be helped, owing to the peculiar connexions between Church & State in the Mother Country. All this, however, must lie over, most probably, until the meeting of Gen’l Convention. If not, as it will be a new and important matter, I will give it my best attention whenever you may require the action of the bishops, and I trust that the Providence of God will order it rightly.
With my cordial thanks for your kind expressions of affection and esteem, and my earnest prayer that you may be guided and [prospered] in all things by the divine blessing. I remain,
Yr faithful & affectionate
friend & brother in Christ
John [M.] Hopkins