The Rt. Rev. Philander Chase, D.D. was the founder and first President of Kenyon College serving from 1824 to 1831. Chase was also the first Episcopal Bishop of Ohio. This collection of his letters is kept in the College Archives and is available to researchers.
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.
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Letter to Philander Chase
William Heathcote DeLancey
8-11-1843Rev. DeLancey responds to Chase's letter of July 31, defending the ordination of Arthur Carey and arguing that Chase's concern about infiltration of Catholicism into the Episcopal Church is simply a "figment of the imagination." He, however, thanks Chase for bringing his attention to the formation of the Church in Texas.
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Letter to Laura Chase
Philander Chase
8-14-1843Philander Chase has read his granddaughter Laura's letter from July and is grateful for the updates on the health of the family. He asks her to inform him of Rachel Denison's health when she goes to visit her. He then writes that the drought has devastated most of his crops and he is struggling to plan for the winter. Finally, he updates Laura on the "Romanism" situation and his letter to the Bishops.
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Letter to Philander Chase
William Meade
8-14-1843Bishop Meade fears that there will be a revolt of Bishops at the next General Convention and that the Protestant Church is tearing itself apart.
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Letter to Philander Chase
Samuel A. McCorkey
8-14-1843Bishop McCorkey shares his opinion on the ordination of Arthur Carey. He explains the full process of objecting to an ordination, as it it too late to do this with Mr. Carey. He also believes Evangelicalism is a larger threat to the Church than Catholicism.
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Letter to Charles Gillett
Philander Chase
8-14-1843Philander Chase reviews the documents Rev. Gillett submitted to him on the approval and foundation of the Episcopal Church in Texas. He states that he has no objections, and offers a number of ways Gillett and the Bishops could go about getting the Church approved.
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Letter to Philander Chase
Samuel A. McCorkey
8-14-1843Bishop McCorkey continues his previous letter, sending his best wishes for the formation of the Episcopal Church in Texas, while insisting that the people there have control over their own church. He also writes that he is not concerned by dissenters in the Church, and is assured that God will take care of everything.
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Letter to Philander Chase
Henry Onderdonk
8-15-1843Bishop Onderdonk responds to Philander Chase concerning the ordination of Arthur Carey. He writes that he does not wish to express his opinion officially, but that he believes there is a fondness for extremism within the Church, and calls this "extremely annoying" and "foolish." He also writes about the Church in Texas and believes the candidates for bishop there have all been chosen in good faith.
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Letter to Philander Chase
Benjamin B. Smith
8-15-1843Bishop Smith believes that the General Convention should continue until the concerns of "Romanism" within the Protestant Church are addressed. He then writes off the record that he feels it is a shame that the Bishops did not defer Arthur Carey's ordination.
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Letter to Philander Chase
Thomas C. Brownell
8-16-1843Bishop Brownell believes that the ordination of Arthur Carey has brought shame to the Church. He adds that nothing can be done in Texas until the General Convention has convened.
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Letter to Philander Chase
Charles McIlvaine
8-16-1843Bishop McIlvaine wonders how long it will be before the Church can regain its good reputation following the Carey debacle. Further, he believes that any decisions made in Texas should wait until the General Convention.
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Letter to Philander Chase
C. E. Gadsden
8-18-1843Bishop Gadsden defends the ordination of Arthur Carey.
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Letter to Philander Chase
John Hopkins
8-18-1843Bishop 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.
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Letter to Philander Chase
John Johns
8-18-1843Bishop Johns agrees with Chase that Arthur Carey should not have been ordinated, and expresses worry about rising "evils" in the Episcopal Church.
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Letter to Philander Chase
John Prentiss Kewley Henshaw
8-19-1843Bishop Henshaw, who has recently been consecrated as the Bishop of Rhode Island, agrees with Chase that Carey's ordination was a mistake and that the rise of Romanism in the Episcopal Church is frightening.
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Letter to Philander Chase
Jackson Kemper
8-19-1843Bishop Kemper agrees that the ordination of Arthur Carey is "alarming" and denounces Romanism in the church, but also expresses concern for the "ungentlemanly epithets" used against Drs. Anthon and Smith in a recent issue of the Churchman.
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Letter to Philander Chase
Alfred Lee
8-21-1843Bishop Lee sympathizes with Chase's upset at Arthur Carey's ordination, but thinks there can be nothing done about it beyond the Church publicly disavowing "Romish tendencies." He also recommends the appointment of Mr. Franklin as a Western missionary.
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Letter to Philander Chase
William Rollinson Whittingham
8-22-1843Bishop Whittingham defends Arthur Carey, who is Whittingham's personal friend. He asserts that there is no Romanist threat to the Episcopal Church, and that the ordination of Mr Carey is actually a good thing.
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Letter to Philander Chase
Jackson Kemper
8-23-1843Bishop Kemper asks for Chase's help on three matters. Firstly, Kemper is trying to determine proper procedure for the trial of a deacon who has been accused of swearing, drunkenness, and abuse of his family. Second, Kemper wants the address of an Englishman named G. Kimball who sent him insulting letters. Third, Kemper wonders if he was correct in suspending a clergyman who forged signatures to a petition, without making this suspension known to the other bishops.
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Letter to Sarah Stocker
Philander Chase
8-29-1843Philander Chase asks Sarah Stocker and the ladies of Boston to spread information about his efforts in Illinois.
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Letter to Philander Chase
William Meade
10-14-1843Bishop Meade agrees with Chase that "Romanism" is a threat to the Church. He encourages Chase to write a letter to be presented at the next General Convention expressing his worries.
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Letter to Thomas Holme
Philander Chase
10-28-1843Philander Chase has taken in a poor English boy to be educated at Jubilee College. He asks Thomas Holme for further funding to pay the boy's tuition as his family cannot afford it at the moment.
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Letter to Laura Chase
Philander Chase
11-12-1843Chase reports on various matters going on around Jubilee before praising his wife and the efforts of women in general in helping institutions run smoothly. He then laments the financial troubles of Kenyon College and once again argues that he was not at fault for its falling into debt.
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Letter to Laura Chase
Philander Chase
11-13-1843Dudley and Sarah Chase have arrived at Jubilee. Although both of them were sick on their journey, their son (who they have named Alexander Wells) did well, and a large group gathered to meet them.
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Letter to Gerardus Clark
Philander Chase
11-25-1843Philander Chase thanks his lawyer Gerardus Clark for providing a report on the lawfulness of teaching Scripture in public schools. He laments his lack of income and writes about the progress of Jubilee College and the financial situation at Kenyon College.
