Vestry correspondence, 1880-1889

Vestry correspondence, 1880-1889

1880/1889

ChristChurch.VestryCorrespondence1880-1887_1-7-0-8

1.7.0.8; F63(b)

Correspondence pertains to many topics, including the separation of Christ Church Chapel from Christ Church, theological disputes regarding private confession, and church administrative matters.

Noteworthy events detailed in the correspondence include Assistant Minister G. Woolsey Hodge defending his theological position and use of private confession against the Rector's demands for his resignation; Tobias Wagner objecting to women being allowed to vote on the release of the Chapel property; and Bishop William Bacon Stevens withdrawing a proposed compromise between the Chapel and Christ Church due to the Chapel congregation taking forcible possession of the building to form a new parish (Church of the Holy Communion). Additional letters concern financial transactions for Christ Church Hospital, the assignment of a pew for the Bishop's family, and Thomas H. Montgomery's resignation as Treasurer of the Endowment Fund.

Pennsylvania--Philadelphia

Christ Church, Philadelphia, PA

8 documents

tiff

http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

eng

Text

This collection documents the controversy surrounding the separation of Christ Church Chapel from Christ Church, Philadelphia, in the 1880s. The most substantial item is a letter from Assistant Minister George Woolsey Hodge to the Vestry (14 January 1880) responding to the Rector's demand for his resignation. Hodge argues he holds his office by the same tenure as the Rector and cannot be removed except by ecclesiastical process [p.7]. He defends the teaching of private confession by the Rev. Mr. Percival, insisting it was misunderstood, and quotes the 1871 pastoral letter of the House of Bishops, which permits but does not compel private confession [p.4-p.5]. He denies violating any pledge regarding liturgical variations, noting no such pledge was ever exacted, and cites his introduction of weekly communion and a surpliced choir with prior notice to the Rector [p.8-p.9]. He compares the practice of varied customs among chapels to Trinity Church, New York [p.9-p.10], and closes with an apology and a farewell after ten years of service [p.10-p.11].

Tobias Wagner objects to votes cast by women on the release of the Chapel property, arguing women are not entitled to vote for Vestrymen [p.13]. Thomas C. Hand, holding a proxy for the ill George H. Flanagan, protests the refusal of Flanagan's vote against the separation as an infringement of his rights as a pewholder [p.14]. Bishop William Bacon Stevens withdraws his compromise plan (22 March 1880), citing the Chapel Committee's forcible possession of the Chapel, its effort to charter a new parish (the Church of the Holy Communion), and its disregard for diocesan canons [p.15r-p.15v].

W. H. Lansdale reports resigning from the trust holding title under the deed from James McCoy, with no transfer of property having been made [p.16r]. George E. Hoffman conveys resolutions from Christ Church Hospital requesting assignment of a $5,000 bond and mortgage and authorization to sell U.S. government loans held in trust [p.17r-p.17v]. Bishop Stevens thanks the Vestry for assigning a pew for the use of the Bishop's family [p.18r-p.18v]. Finally, Thomas H. Montgomery submits his resignation as a Vestry member and Treasurer of the Endowment Fund (10 May 1889) [p.19].

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