CHAPTER XI. A. D. 1811—Æt. 36. Annoyances of anonymous Critics-Letter to the Author-Letter from Dr. Kollock-His subsequent History--General Character of Episcopate from 1813-Amount and Variety of Duties-Pastoral Charge— Letter to a Member of his Church-Episcopal Charge-Interest taken in the Missionaries-Anecdote-Kindness of Heart-Rev. Mr. Buckley-Letter in relation to the Scheme of a new religious Magazine. THE first two years of Bishop Hobart's Episcopate were, as may well be imagined from the above narrative, years of trial and turmoil; hostility, personal as well as official, meeting him even in his nearest circles. Nor was the well-meant kindness of friends always without its annoyance. Among the minor objections made to him as Bishop, personal appearance and manners had not been forgotten. With a view to the removal of this stumbling-block, it was more than once recommended to him, by friends more zealous than wise, to throw off his old familiar manner and assume more dignity and reserve. His answer to one influential friend is remembered, and is what became him, and might have been expected from him;'Undignified,' said he, 'I must ever be, if I cannot be otherwise except by doing violence to my feelings and my nature.' But the form in which such advice generally came was that of anonymous letters, numbers of which have come into the author's hands, casually preserved among the Bishop's papers. From among these the following is selected, not only to give an idea of the variety of petty annoyances to which he was subjected, but also as touching a subject where it has been already acknowledged the critics had some ground to stand upon.' TO BISHOP HOBART, An Episcopalian, ardently devoted to the Bishop, and an admirer of his ministrations, yet wishing to have every thing perfect from him, and calculated to serve for an example in his Church, relies on the kindness and acknowledged candor of his pastor, to excuse him, if he points out some few inaccuracies, as he considers them, in his phraseology or pronunciation. Dezign and dizzemble, (like every other minister in the Church.) The River Jurdan. Gethered together. Baptism and schism, in three and two syllables, baptizum and schizum. Noo, doo, dooty, for new, due, duty; for join and enjoin, jyne and enjyne; sacrifice, it is believed, should be săcrifice; and sóvereign, súvrin; rātional, rătional. "We humbly beseech thee with thy favor" The writer contends (as, indeed, is adopted by one or two of our clergy) that it should be read, "those evils which the craft and subtlety of the devil, or man worketh against us"-meaning, that the craft and subtlety should be applied to the devil, (these being, perhaps, pre-eminently his characteristics,) and the other evils those (which) man worketh against us. The Bishop has fot a good fight at Ephesus, but has not yet quite gotten himself the victory. All things vis-able and invis-able. LAICUS.' The following note to the author, who was then residing at his quiet country parish of Hyde Park, shows how far these things moved him. Rev. and dear Sir, TO THE REV. J. McV. 'New-York, November 9, 1811. It gives me the greatest pleasure to see you so seriously engaged in the labors of your ministry. I almost envy you your happy retirement; with sufficient calls of duty to admit of your usefulness, and none of those perplexing cares that encroach on the plans of study and the joys of domestic life. A clergyman, usefully situated as you are, surrounded by all his friends, and with all the pleasures of rural life, has many things for which to be thankful. Perhaps, hereafter, the calls of duty may lead you to more public scenes, and then, I think, if you should feel as I do, you will more fully appreciate your present enjoyments. I am very sincerely yours, J. H. HOBART.' The following is the last letter found from an early friend, whose subsequent course was marked by trouble and error certainly not traceable to the intimacy this narrative commemo rates. FROM REV. DR. KOLLOCK. 'Savannah, 1811. My dear Hobart, It is late on Saturday afternoon, and my sermons are not finished for to-morrow, yet I cannot permit the Juno, which sails in the morning, to depart without a few lines to assure you that neither interposing seas nor difference of communion can diminish my love and esteem for you. Wherever my lot may be cast during the years I have to spend on earth, my heart shall ever be warmed with affection to you, and till its last throb, I shall not cease to regard you as a faithful, tender, and long-tried friend. Since my return I have been unusually occupied. I arrived in the height of sickness, and for some time was standing at the couches of the dying, and over the graves of the dead. How deeply ought such scenes to teach us to look for a more durable portion than this world can give! My health has never been better than since my arrival, and I hope soon to acquire again the habits of a student. I have become a true Presbyterian in my regimen. This produces such a lightness of body, and vigor of mind, that I shall persevere in it during my life. I have begun to my people the life of our Saviour in the form of sermons. I hope the study and contemplation of this "great exemplar" will not be lost upon myself, and will be useful to my flock. I shall devote all my powers to this course of sermons. They embrace subjects which deserve to engross all the energies of the mind. If you meet with any new works that are really good, and that will assist me, be so kind as to purchase them for me; and also, (if you are not using it, and if you do not feel any apprehension of its being lost on so long a voyage,) lend me Bishop Taylor's Great Exemplar. It shall be carefully used and safely returned. The pews of my church were rented about a fortnight since, at public auction, (which has always been the custom here,) for the ensuing year. The rents amounted to seven thousand six hundred and eightyeight dollars; a strong proof that the people are not indifferent to the public ordinances of religion. We want more churches here very much, and I find, with great delight, that the vestry of the unfinished Episcopal church have at last resolved to complete it. Next year they intend to have it ready for public worship, when they intend sending on a call to Mr. Beasley. Were he with me, I should indeed be happy. How proceeds the "bellum Episcopale?" have any new champions appeared on either side? Write me particularly concerning the progress of the controversy, though it does not appear to me of the same consequence as to you, yet I must be interested wherever you are one of the combatants. Adieu, my dear Hobart, it is so dark that I cannot see to proceed. Your sincere friend, H. KOLLOCK.' The subsequent trouble above alluded to in relation to this friend was his suspension from the ministerial office by the Presbytery to which he belonged, grounded upon his declaring himself |