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THE LIFE
OF
BISHOP BOWEN,
OF
SOUTH CAROLINA.
BY
. ,
JOHN N. NORTON, A.M.
EECTOE OF ASCHXSION CUCILCII, FRANKFORT, KE.>TUCK f ; ACTUOB
OF "FULL PROOF OF THE MINISTRY," " BOSSKFt B ) iA''.ioU,''
"SHORT SERMONS," 1 "LIFE OF BISH'JP C2CE3,"'
ETC., ETC.
" His piety, wisdom, and talents rendered him an able counsellor in the gen-
eral affairs of the Church, as well as a faithful overseer in the important Diocese
over which he presided for nearly twenty-one years."
Bishop De Lancet.
NEW YORK:
General Protestant Hpfsco^al S. School SHtafon,
anu M;urcIi 33ooft .Society,
762 BROADWAY.
1859.
. THBHEWtOWC
PUBLIC LIBRAE?
I
I
TIUOeN FOUNDATIONS
L J
, . FnUreci accovcKng'to Act of Congress, in the year 1859,
<<<,
', ( ,' P,V tlie (f , EH,il?AI,.6KdTHSTANT EPISCOPAL SUNDAY" SCHOOL UNION
. and CnuRCii Book Society,
Iu tjie CftiV'.i.'Cjfiicf- b 5he District Court of the United States for the Southern
, .' ', District of New York.
REXNIE, LINDSAY & CO.,
Stbrkotypkrs and Electuotypbr^
81, S3. A 85 Centry-str^ t,
New York.
TO
THE REVEREM CHRISTIAN HAXCKEL, D.D.
BECTOE OF ST. PAUL/ 8 CIICRCIJ, RADCUFFEBOROUGH,
* , * # ' *
THE OLDEST PRESBYiTEft V V .' '.>'
> , , i ' , j
OF THE DIOCESE OF SOUTH <5 A>*R *!) L*frf A , ' \
i
THE INTIMATE FRIEND! 01
i i |
DEHON, BOWEN, AND GADSDEN,
WHO STILL SURVIVES TO DO TIIAT WORK "WHICH THEY LOVED SO "WELL,
THIS LITTLE MEMORIAL
IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED.
> i > .> j j > >
> > > > i > i i
> ' * j i
"Rest faithful Shepherd! rest, your task is done;
Rest for your Pastor saith :
' To Me the charge resign
True to thy trust, thou good and faithful one I
Enter My heavenly fold,
Partake of bliss divine
The streams to -which thou erst
Wastwo<i<; thy* flock to lead,
The'fmJturesMjkeJ-e by thee
MY*shef> Stfere* taught to feed,
iVrfe Jill SKfrJass'd by higher joys
*FJ> r tjiefcjby love decreed"
* ' ' 'Best faithful Shepherd ! rest.
%
. *
^PejtV.^'ikqfnJ "Watchman! rest, the night is past;
Eest for a glorious day
Bursts on thy wearied eyes!
Spent was the night in vigil, prayer, and fast,
Lest Zion to the foe
Should fall a sacrifice
Eest where no ruthless storm
Thy watchfire can destroy ;
Eest where no ambush'd foe
God's Israel can annoy;
Securely rest in perfect peace
In Israel's Keeper's joy !
Eest wakeful Watchman I rest '
PREFACE.
South Carolina may well be proud of her Bishops
Dehon, Bowen, Gadsden ! Where could purer or
more devoted men be found ? ,* . ;
* * ' >
Had the due order of events been' observed, the
biography of Bishop Bowen should have, az>pea?ed
before that of his successor; but circumstances, over
which the author had no control, rendered this', im-
possible.
While materials for the lives of Dehon and Gads-
den were found ready to his hand, those requisite for
the biography of Bishop Bowen, could only be got
together after months of diligent inquiry, and patient
waiting.
Many thanks are here returned to Mrs. Anna
Bowen Stock (a daughter of Bishop Bowen), the
Rev. C. P. Gadsden, the Rev. Paul Trapier, and the
Rev. Dr. Hanckel, for the kind assistance which they
have rendered.
THE LATE METHODIST BISHOP WAUGH.
" "We take from an editorial in the Christian Advocate and Journal, a
brief sketch of this eminent Christian gentleman. We have been struck
with the remarks in the last paragraph.
" If a man so intimately acquainted with the working of the whole Meth-
odist system, juid-on.;* of j?uch judgment as Bishop Waugh, who 'loved
'prfc^adly*4h*Qour#h f, tis choice, 1 if 'he at time even felt painful so-
'licitude for its mtuWfeto, what inference with regard to its fate may
_ .not,otho>rs,draw, wh6 yiew that Church from a less favorable stand-point ?
'.""WeMH'v'^hcAudJbf a Bishop in the Episcopal Church who ever felt
fthy soHdt'uUe db'out its future fate, or for a moment doubted of its per-
' RxaVienbe ali'd.'itftiimte triumph.
' ' 'MpdiYidua'. -members have been dissatisfied at its slow progress, and
...<'"
1 some have doubted of its usefulness and success in particular localities.
But the great body of its members, if they have not seen their good ship
with a cloud of sails set to catch every passing breeze, have rejoiced in the
belief that she was well ballasted, staunch, and able to outride any coming
tempest And we see not how it could be otherwise with those who be-
lieve their Church is a branch of that true Church, against which the gates
of hell shall not prevail, and with whose Ministry Christ has promised to
be even unto the end of the world." Western (Garnbier, 0.) Episco-
palian.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
FAGS
Distance between the birth-place of heroes, and the battle-field of
life Boston and Charleston The Congregational minister and his
son A prophecy which no one would have believed Well-chosen
Christian name A whole biography crowded Into a note Coining
into the Church Removal to South Carolina The father's illness
A messenger of eight years old goes for a doctor The fatherless . . 13
CHAPTER IE
The house of mourning The Father of tiie fatherless Sympathizing
friends Dr. Robert Smith The child U father to the man Traits
of character in Nathaniel Bowen which attracted the notice of Dr.
Smith Becomes a member of his family Close attention to stndy
Graduates at Charleston College Labors as a teacher Seeking a
Cetter opening Eyes turned towards New England Visit to Mr.
Dehon, a friend of his boyhood Extract from his autobiography. .
o.o
CHAPTER III.
Arrival at Boston Studies with Dr. Parker Letter to his old bene-
factorUnfriendly climate Ordination as Deacon Temporary
charge of St. John's Church, Providence The first Bishop of South
Carolina The six months' engagement ended Return to South
Carolina "Warm reception Ministerial services Charleston Or-
phan House Difficulties Good accomplished 26
CHAPTER IV.
A removal to the North, and speedy return to the South Ordained
Priest Soundness of judgment in a delicate case Deplorable con-
dition of the Church in South Carolina What a young clergyman
10 CONTENTS.
PAGE
was able to accomplish A convention called Mr. Bowen, secretary
Extra labors Becomes rector of Grace Church, New York
Marriage Old Grace Church Nine years summed up in a few lines
Dr. Berrian's testimony A most important change 35
CHAPTER V.
A solemn record Tbe inmost thoughts of the soul at the undertaking
of a great work The need of humility A Bishop well acquainted
with the wants of his Diocese Important measures encouraged
Intimacy with Bishop llobart Interesting letter A young laborer
introduced Presage of prosperity Friendly hopes and desires 42
CHAPTER VI.
Not physically robust, but still busy and useful The crutch Con-
ventional address of 1S22 Visitation to the Northwestern portion
of the Diocese Pendleton and Greenvi'.le Consecration of a new
church Familiar names and pleasant associations The rector of
Grace Church, New York, in his first parish A cheerful anecdote
to remove all dulness The dry sermon 43
CHAPTER VII.
One more letter from Bishop llobart View at head of Seneca Lake
Pultney ville People hungering for the bread of life Touching
6cene at Unadilla " What shall we do for clergymen?" Bishop
Eowen's labors as rector of St. Michael's Church The Rev. Fred-
erick Dalcho History of the Church in South Carolina The pres-
ent Bishop of Florida, as a deacon Bishop Bowen's visit to Geor-
giaGeneral Convention of 1S23 Theological seminary Before
the days of the "Memorial" "Stand up like a man, and set the
tune" 56
CHAPTER VIII.
The Eev. Mr. Trapier'a interesting reminiscences Bishop Bowen as
he appeared in 1S25 His mode of travelling Manners and habits
The love of rural scenery A life of pain Fondness for children
Remembrance of favors The friends of his youth Kindness to
young men Students of divinity Establishing a young clergyman
in bis parish Official visitations Sternness when duty called for it. 65
CONTEXTS. 11
CHAPTER IX.
PAGB
A sad year Two children taken away in a month One hour in the
House of Bishops Resignation to God's will Example of patience
Extract from a sermon Labors in the midst of trials Important
suggestions Each denomination should have its own place of wor-
sliip Training the young for Confirmation Well-deserved com-
pliment to Dr. Gadsden The interest felt by South Carolina in the
Sunday School Union Origin of the Children's Magazine Bishop
Bowen's views about the Sunday School Union 77
CHAPTER X.
Another breathing-spell Mr. Trapier's reminiscences resumed
Bishop Bowen's impaired health Departure for Liverpool Sea-
sickness "My lord!" Sunday at Skibbereen Crowds of beg-
gars Distribution of alms Town of Ossory and its little cathedral
"Welcome from the English Bishops Enjoyment of scenery Pil-
grimage to Lutterworth Kind attentions 83
CHAPTER XL
A continuation of pleasant memories The Bishop's own letters-
Chester Glorious England Oxford and its lions London St.
Paul's Anniversary meetings The Eev. Daniel "Wilson, late
Bishop of Calcutta Bishop Dehon's reputation abroad Distin-
guished characters Bishop of London Two names well known
with us Independence day Recollections of Dublin St. Patrick's
Cathedral Castles and churches 96
CHAPTER XII.
A few more English items Farnham Castle Bishop Sumner Ex-
amination of candidates Baronial hall Guide to the drawing-
room A relative of Charleston friends "Waverley Abbey Dinner
party Ordination Sunday Mr. Marriott Bust of Bishop Dehou
Lambeth Old associations House of Lords Salisbury Dean
Parson District Bible Society Faithful clergymen Wilton Ab-
bey Bath Small hopes of recovery Setting sail 104
CHAPTER XIII.
Bishop Bowen's Conventional address of 1S31 The death of two no-
ble Bishops Fitting tribute to their memories Bishop Eavenscroft
12 CONTENTS.
PA
His character fairly sketched Bishnp Hobart Tlis activity and
real His frankness and generosity of soul, and other kindred qual-
itiesA great necessity, which Bishop Ilwen did not live long
enough to see supplied Church schools wise counsels 117
CHAPTER XIV.
Far from being well Gradual inroarls of disease Vigor of mind un-
subdued-Periodical religious excitements Valuable admonitions
"Revivals" Dangers of an eccentric enthusiasm Differences of
opinion among brethren Proper regard for the externals of religion
Taste for Church architecture One way toquiet a disturbed mind
A Bishop's peculiar troubles Kindness to the poor 12G
CHAPTER XV.
Care of the colored population Solemn admonitions Example of Dr.
Gadsden True view of Sunday Schools Never to be neglected by
the clergy The abundant labors of an invalid Attendance at Gen-
eral Conventions Duties at home ' Where there is a will, there
is a way"' Churches rising up from the ashes Tokens of prosper-
ity Mercies and afflictions Death of two clergymen Catechism
for the negroes Mr. Bowen's self-denying labors 1G5
CHAPTER XVI.
The Convention of 1S09 Bishop Bowen's last address The claims
of Missions A graphic picture drawn from real lite The subject
of Church schools once more Voice from the tomb Sectarian
education Objections answered Institutions which have special
claims on Churchmen 141
CHAPTER XVII.
ITealth rapidly declining Change of climate preferred Setting his
house in order Increasing sufferings Visits of the clergy Child-
like humility The last Sunday Prayers for a family in affliction
Death Burial Funeral sermon Resolutions at the Convention
of 1S40 Publication of Sermons Tribute from England Conclu-
sion 150
LIFE
OF
BISHOP BOWEN.
tffeRpttr first.
DISTANCE BETWEEN THE BIRTH-PLACE OF IIEEOES, AND
TnE BATTLE-FIELD OF LIFE BOSTON AND CHARLESTON
THE CONGREGATIONAL MINISTER AND HIS SON A
PROPHECY WHICH NO ONE WOULD HAVE BELIEVED
WELL-CnOSEN CHRISTIAN NAME A WHOLE EIOGRAPnY
CROWDED INTO A NOTE COMING INTO THE CnUECn
REMOVAL TO SOUTH CAROLINA THE FATHER'S ILLNESS
A MESSENGER OF EIGHT TEARS OLD GOES FOR A DOC-
TOR THE FATHERLESS.
T often happens that the birth-place of
a great man is far distant from the
region where the battle of life is to be
fought. !N"one of those who saw the
infant Napoleon at his father's house
in the little island of Corsica, wonld
have dreamed for a moment that he would
2
14 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
one day be known throughout the world as
the mighty Emperor of France.
And so, too, of those who have been con-
spicuous in a nobler calling than that of a war-
rior with "garments rolled in blood" (Isaiah
ix. 5), even the service of the " Prince of
Peace," in whose glorious cause they have
gladly, laid down their lives. On the 27th of
June, 1779, a child was born in Boston, the
State of Massachusetts, in whom the people of
South Carolina were, in* after years, to feel the
deepest interest. lie was the son of Mr. Penuel
Bowen, a Congregational minister of that city,
a man most highly respected by all who
knew him,
The little boy first saw the light of day in
very unsettled and distressing times. The war
of the Revolution was at its height. That very
year (1770) the British forces plundered Xew
Haven, and destroyed several thriving New
England towns.
In the distant colony of South Carolina,
LIFE OF EiSIIOP BOWEX. 15
where our little hero was in clue time to figure
as a man, the din of war was heard, and its
desolations sadly felt. Charleston, the city
which was ere long to be his home, after a
brave defence surrendered to the enemy.
In those gloomy times which tried men's
souls, there was little opportunity to think of
the welfare of the Church ; and even the faith-
ful few among the sons of South Carolina, who
yet held fast to the ancient faith, would scarcely
have believed a prophet's words had he ven-
tured to foretell that their future Bishop had
just been born.
And stranger still would this prediction have
appeared, had it been added then that the son
of a Puritan divine'" was to be this distinguished
leader of the Lord's sacramental host.
" Pexuel Bowen was born at Woodstock, Conn.: was
graduated at Harvard College in 1762 ; was ordained as
Colleague Pastor, with the Rev. Samuel Checkley, of New
South Church, in Boston, April 30, 1766 ; was dismissed at
his own request, May 9, 1772 ; went to South Carolina
early in 1787, took orders in the Episcopal Church, and be-
J- 6 LIFE OF 1 BISHOP BOWEN.
We have mentioned the birth-day of our
hero, but we have not given his Christian name.
It was Nathaniel. Like him of whom we
read in the Gospel, the son of the Congrega-
tional minister was distinguished through life
for his guileless simplicity of heart. Mr.
Bowen's mind must have passed through a
severe and painful struggle before he could
bring himself to acknowledge that he had
hitherto been laboring under a serious mistake
in regard to the Church, and that he must re-
nounce his former claims to be. a minister of
the Gospel, and seek for lawful authority at the
] muds of a Bishop. But he was a conscien-
tious, straightforward man, and when the
way of duty seemed plainly marked out
before him, he allowed nothing to prevent
him from going forward therein. He ac-
cordingly resigned his office as a Congrega-
came rector of St. John's Parish, Colleton ; and died in Oc-
tober of the same year." Sjmtgues Annals of American Pul-
pit, vol. i. p. 708.
LIFE OF EISIIOP EOWEN. 17
tional minister, and took orders in the Episco-
pal Chnrch.
We do not so much wonder at such changes
in our day, when the Church has grown to be
a large and powerful body, but in Mr. Bowen's
time the case was quite different, Her adver-
saries were the chief, and her enemies pros-
pered. None but those whose judgmc aU had
been convinced by careful study that the Epis-
copal Church was really a branch of the king-
dom of God, which was built upon the founda-
tion of the Apostles and Prophets, our Divine
Saviour himself being the chief corner-stone,
would have exposed themselves to the oppro-
brium and self-sacrifice which such a change of
relations necessarily brought with it.
In 1787, Mr. Bowen removed with his family
from New England to South Carolina. His
son Nathaniel was then eight years of age.
The sudden change from the cool and bracing
climate of the North to those mild regions
where the rough blasts of winter are almost
18 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
unknown, proved to be most unfavorable for
health. Mr. Bowen, indeed, entered upon his
duties as minister of St. John's parish, Colleton,
but the people had hardly begun to appreciate
his worth before they were called to part with
him forever. In October, the same year of
his coming among them, he was carried off by
death.
Quite an affecting incident is told of Na-
thaniel in connection with his father's illness.
The eldest son had been left behind in Massa-
chusetts when the family removed to the South.
Mr. Bdwen's household in Carolina consisted
of himself, and wife, and four children ; Na-
thaniel, the second son, being the eldest one at
home.
"While his father was suffering from that at-
tack of sickness which was to prove so fatal to
him, it became necessary to send to Charleston
for a physician. We may readily picture to
ourselves the manly little fellow of eight years
crossing over in a boat from John's Island, and
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN. 19
traversing the streets of a strange city in pur-
suit of help. The first physician to whom he
applied, declined going. lie then wended his
way to the residence of Dr. David Ramsay,
who hesitated on account of professional en-
gagements Charleston being then visited with
a terrible epidemic.
The earnestness and anxiety of the child,
however, so interested the good wife of the
physician, that she urged him to comply with
the request, and he accompanied Xatlianiel to
the island.
But all efforts to stem the course of the fell
disease were vain, and we close our first chap-
ter at that mournful period in our hero's his-
tory when he realized the meaning of that ex-
pressive word -fatherless.
DfcagUr K0tti.
THE HOUSE OF MOURNING THE FATHER OF TnE FATHER-
LESS SYMPATHIZING FRIENDS DR. ROBERT SMITn
" THE CHILD IS FATIIER TO THE MAN 1 ' TRAITS OF
CHARACTER IN NATHANIEL BOWEN WHICH ATTRACTED
TIIE NOTICE OF DR. SMITn BECOMES A MEMBER OF HIS
FAMILY CLOSE ATTENTION TO STUDY GRADUATES AT
CHARLESTON COLLEGE LABORS AS A TEACHER SEEK-
ING A BETTER OPENING EYES TURNED TOWARDS NEW
ENGLAND YISIT TO MR. DEIION, A FRIEND OF HIS BOY-
HOOD EXTRACT FROM 1113 AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
ONE but those whose faith has been
'^fhf tried by the same sad affliction can
Sg understand what Mrs. Bowen's feel-
ings must have been when she found
^ herself a widow, in a strange land,
with four fatherless children looking to her for
support. But there was a blessed promise of
the Bible which sustained her. "Leave thy
fatherless children, I will preserve them alive:
and let thy widows trust in we," (Jeremiah
xlix. 11th verse.)
LITE OF BISHOP BOWEN. 21
Our heavenly Father never fails those who
pnt their trust in Him. The proverbial liber-
ality of the South was experienced in many
ways, and the widow and her orphan charge
were made to feel that although so far distant
from their native land they were still in the
midst of kind and sympathizing friends.
Nathaniel, whose earnestness and manly
courage had attracted the attention of Dr.
Ramsay, as mentioned in the last chapter, soon
found in Dr. Robert Smith, then rector of St.
Philip's Church, Charleston, a true and devoted
friend. It will be remembered bv those who
have read the life of Bishop Dehon in a former
volume of this series, that Dr. Smith afterwards
became the first Bishop of South Carolina.
The^re is a world of truth in the adage, that
" the child is father to the man." So it proved
in the case of Nathaniel Bowen. The same
frankness, and sincerity, and nobility of soul,
which distinguished him in riper years, warmed
the heart of Dr. Smith towards him when he
22 LIFE OF BISHOP EOWEN.
first met him as an orphan boy. The good
clergyman took him home to his own house
and treated him as a son. Being then the head
of Charleston College, he introduced the lad to
the privileges which were there afforded, and
so diligent was Nathaniel in his studies, and so
ambitious to improve, that w T hen only fifteen
years and four months old he had completed
the whole course and received the degree of
A.B. This was in 1794. The better that Dr.
Smith became acquainted with the amiable
youth, the more reason he found for loving
him, and it was with extreme reluctance that
he allowed him to seek another home, when a
delicate sense of propriety suggested to Na-
thaniel that he was now old enough to provide
for himself. Although little has been saj^I thus
far of his religious history, we can assure our
readers that, like his Divine Lord, he had been
increasing day by day in heavenly wisdom,
and in favor with God and man.
At eighteen years of age he became a student
LIFE OF BISHOP BO WEN. 23
of theology, having long before made np his
mind to devote himself to the holy ministry.
The voice of the departed had spoken from the
tomb, and it had not been unheeded. " He
loved to vi>it the scenes of his father's minis-
try ; to speak of him, to repeat his sentiments ;
and when a young man, to cherish the hope,
encouraged by his friends in the parish, that it
would be the sphere of his own ministry, and
at a very early date, after the re-erection of the
parish church, he placed on its walls a tribute
of filial affection.*' :: '
Soon after leaving college, young Bowen be-
gan to act as an instructor. His skill in im-
parting knowledge, and his tact in government,
were really wonderful in one who was a mere
stripling in age ; and he possessed the happy
faculty of winning the affections of his pupils,
which rendered his efforts for their improve-
ment most satisfactory.
Funeral discourse of Dr. Gadsden, afterwards Bishop of
South Carolina.
24: LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
The advantages for pursuing Ills theological
studies not being as great at Charleston as he
desired, he went to Maryland in the summer
of 1798, seeking employment as a teacher in
some place where his own improvement could
at the same time be promoted. Disappointed
here, he accepted proposals made to him in
Virginia, and entered upon his duties ; when
failing health and depressed spirits led him to
seek another position before the close of the
year.
His thoughts were now directed towards his
kindred in New England, where he hoped that
he might find the situation he desired. He
reached Rhode Island in August, 1799, on his
way to Boston, and after greeting his relatives
in Providence he went on to Newport. The
object of this visit was to renew his acquaint-
ance with the Rev. Theodore Dehon, who had
once been a school-mate of his in his boyhood.
It was very remarkable that these two young
men, who were thus reviving the friendship of
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWFN. 25
their earlier days, were destined to be called,
in succession, to fill the office of Bishop in the
diocese of South Carolina. Mr. Bowen thus
refers to this visit to Mr. Delion in an imper-
fect biographical sketch of his own life : " He
received and recognized me kindly, and offered
me advice and assistance as far as circum-
stances would permit. The impression can
never be removed or weakened of the effect
upon my mind and feelings of the first appear-
ance which I witnessed of this singularly ex-
cellent young minister, afterwards so eminent
in the desk and pulpit. It was inspiring, and
put into me new and additional desires of suc-
cess in the purpose I had been contemplating.
Never before had I been affected, and never
since have I been, with the public ministrations
of the Church as I was on this occasion."
3
ARRIVAL AT BOSTON STUDIES WITn DR. PARKER LETTER
TO HIS OLD BENEFACTOR UNFRIENDLY CLIMATE ORDI-
NATION AS DEACON TEMPORARY CHARGE OF ST. JOHN'S
CnURCII, PROVIDENCE THE FIRST BISHOP OF SOUTH
CAROLINA THE SIX MONTHS' ENGAGEMENT ENDED RE-
TURN TO SOUTn CAROLINA WARM RECEPTION. MINIS-
TERIAL SERVICES CHARLESTON ORPHAN HOUSE DIFFI-
CULTIES GOOD ACCOMPLISHED.
j$|}j\ AYING finished his visit to his friends
(Q By in Khode Island, young Bo wen
f^i proceeded to Boston, and in the
^Ka autumn of 1799 we find him quietly
settled down to the systematic study
of divinity, under the supervision of the
Rev. Dr. Parker, then rector of Trinity Church,
and afterwards Bishop of Massachusetts.
But while thus finding friends to cheer and
aid him in the place of his birth, his thoughts
often travelled back to the State of his adop-
tion, and his grateful sense of obligation to
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEX. 27
good Dr. Smith is shown in his letters to that
estimable benefactor.
We take great pleasure in making brief ex-
tracts from a few of them, which have been
preserved.
Writing to Dr. Smith, from Boston, in Sep-
tember, 1799, he thus speaks of his plans and
prospects for the future :
" Having, after much deliberation, resolved
on a residence here for the ensuing winter, I
hasten to make you acquainted with it. In my
last to you, in reply to your friendly favor of
June 29, I mentioned having formed a resolu-
tion to spend a year at least, if I possibly could
be disengaged from any employment which
might throw obstructions in the way of my pur-
suit of professional studies. The same reasons
which brought me to such a determination will,
I doubt not, induce you to give it your appro-
bation. In the execution of this plan I prom-
ise myself much benefit, and hope it will en-
able me to prepare in a proper manner for a
28 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
life of usefulness to myself and society, and to
lay the foundation for such a character as may
entitle me to the esteem and respect of all
those whose good- will and approbation I value.
" Dr. Parker, in a friendly manner, offers me
his assistance and the use of his library. I
shall board with Mr. Hill, in the neighborhood
of Dr. Parker, and shall endeavor to make such
a use of my time as to be ready for Orders in
the ensuing summer."
Mr. Bowen found the climate of Boston too
cold for him, and his health soon be2;an to
suffer very seriously from, this cause; but he
determined to persevere until the desire of his
heart had been accomplished, in obtaining ad-
mission to the ministry of the Church. lie
was ordained deacon, in Trinity Church, Bos-
ton, on the 3d of June, 1800, by Dr. Bass, the
Bishop of Massachusetts. It was not until the
close of that month that he became twenty-one
years of age.
Although really anxious to return to South
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN. 29
Carolina, and to devote himself to the Church
within her borders, he accepted the temporary
charge of St. John's Church, Providence,
Rhode Island. We find him referring to this,
in a letter to Bishop Smith, dated June ISth,
1S00. [It should have been mentioned before
that Mr. Bowen's kind benefactor had been
consecrated Bishop of South Carolina in 1795.]
The following is an extract from the letter
just referred to :
" Feeling, as I do, the justice of your claims
on my active gratitude, to be at any time
called upon to render you or any of your
friends such services as may be in my power,
affords, and ever will afford, me the highest
gratification. I date, you observe, sir, from
Providence : the church in this place having
been vacated some time since by the res-
ignation of Mr. Clarke, who, for a number
of years, had been it rector, an invitation,
was given me to supply it. Conscious of my
very inadequate preparation for the engage-
80 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
merits of professional life, it was my intention
decidedly to decline accepting the invitation.
The forcible advice of my worthy and valu-
able friend, Dr. Parker, removed my scruples,
and making use of your last letter to me as
a letter dimissory, I presented myself for Or-
ders at the late Convention of the Episcopal
Church of this State, to have consented tem-
porarily to supply the church in this place.
The terms on which I remain with tliem, are
the same with those on which my friend oc-
cupied the Church of St. Mark's during the
last winter. The entire absence of those al-
lurements which pre vailed on him to abandon
Carolina, and convert a temporary into a per-
manent eno-ajxement, renders it in no decree
probable that I shall spend more than the
summer here. Indeed, I am satisfied no oilers
*or prospects whatever would induce me to
-withhold myself from Carolina."
In September of the same year, he writes
.again to Bishop Smith, and remarks, in refer-
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN. 31
ence to his speedy departure for the South:
"I contemplate my return to you, sir, as to
an affectionate father, from whom I have been
long painfully separated."
The ministrations of the young clergyman
had been so acceptable to the members of St.
John's, that, at the close of six months, when
his temporary engagements terminated, he was
urged to accept the rectorship, but promptly
declined, under an impression of the para-
mount duty of serving the Church in Carolina.
He thus speaks of his return thither, in the
biographical sketch from which we have made
extracts before :
" I arrived in Charleston in December, 1800,
and was received by my friend and patron, at
his rectory, with a great degree of kindness,
and became again one of his family, experi-
encing at .his hands all necessary aid and en-
couragement. It was his desire that I should
take charge of St. Thomas' parish, then vacant.
There were reasons, however, which disin-
32 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
clinecl me to go into this situation, the chief
of which was my strong predilection for St.
John's, Colleton, then also vacant, which had
been my father's parish, and where were some
of my father's friends, who desired me to come
among them. I waived the proposal of St.
Thomas. In January, 1801, I received an ap-
plication to become the minister of the church
on the Island of St. Helena. This also I de-
clined ; and in the course of the winter the
Commissioners of the Charleston Orphan
House having planned the office of a chaplain
to the institution, the office was urged upon
my acceptance. The Bishop advised my ac-
cepting this appointment, and mentioned as
an inducement to it, the assurance given that
I should have, besides the chaplaincy, the
charge of a congregation, occupying a chapel
to be built in Yanderhorst-street, back of the
Orphan House."
lie accepted the invitation, and faithfully
discharged the duties of his office until the
LIFE OF EI3IIOP BO WEN. 33
summer of the same year, when, although he
had given general satisfaction, motives of deli-
cacy induced him to resign his charge, as a
controversy was opened in a newspaper as to
the authority and expediency of instituting a
chaplaincy. Knowing that the objections pro-
ceeded from individuals of the various denomi-
nations of Christians in Charleston, who pre-
ferred the plan of inviting the ministers in the
city, in rotation, to hold Divine service for the
orphans on the Lord's day, he determined to
retire. Often, however, did he afterwards
declare his conviction, that an arrangement,
which made no provision for pastoral super-
vision and instruction of the children during
the week, was defective; while he and some
of the clergy expressed their willingness to
remedy the defect, so far as the children of
Episcopalians were concerned, by teaching
them statedly, and regarding them as a part
of their charge. That his ministry for the or-
phans, though it was limited to a few months,
3i LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
was useful, may be inferred from the fact that,
at this long interval, there is well remembered
the impressive style and manner of a discourse
delivered to them from the appropriate text:
" Silver and gold have I none, but such as I
have give I unto thee." *
* Biographical Sketch prefixed to Sermons of Bishop
Bowen, vol. i. p. 18.
t
i
dlmln JwiL
A REMOVAL TO TIIE XORTIT, AND SPEEDY RETURN TO TIIE
SOUTH ORDAINED PRIEST SOUNDNESS OF JUDGMENT IN
A DELICATE CASE DEPLORABLE CONDITION OF TIIE
CnURCII IN SOUTH CAROLINA WHAT A YOUNG CLERGY-
MAN WAS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH A CONVENTION CALLED
MR. BOWEN, SECRETARY EXTRA LABORS BECOME:}
RECTOR OF GRACE CHURCn, NEW YORK MARRIAGE
OLD GRACE CHURCH NINE YEARS SUMMED UP IN A
FEW LINES DR. BERRIAN'S TESTIMONY A MOST IM-
PORTANT CHARGE.
N the month of August, 1801, Mr.
Bowen returned once more to Rhode
Island, and became the minister of St.
John's Church, Providence, where, it
will be remembered, that he formerly
served under a temporary engagement.
The next spring he was invited to go back
to Charleston, as the assistant-minister of the
old parish of St. Michael's, of which the Rev. .s
Dr. Jenkins was rector. Having been a* in
36 LIFE OF BISHOP BO WEN.
mitted to Priest's Orders in Newburyport by
the venerable Bishop Bass, we find him, in the
autumn of 1802, again hastening to South
Carolina. . '
Among his letters at this period is one to the
vestry of St. Michael's, which illustrates the
soundness of his judgment, and the readiness
with which he sacrificed his own advantage to
what he believed to be an important principle.
He had been called to the parish under the
title of co-rector a title which he considered
as irregular, and dangerous to the welfare of
the Church. He therefore urged the vestry
to bestow upon him the humbler name of assist-
ant-minister.
The correctness of this position was sooh
generally acknowledged, and the old system of
co -rectorships was discountenanced by a reso-
lution of the General Convention of 180S.
When Dr. Jenkins resigned the charge of
St. Michael's, and accepted that of St. Philip's,
~ y \ Bowen became his successor.
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN. 37
At this period the diocese of South Carolina
was in a most deplorable condition. Bishop
Smith had died in 1801 ; the Convention had
not assembled for several years ; and there was
no Standing Committee to look after its affairs.
Although Mr. Bowen was the youngest
clergyman in the State (being then only twenty-
five), he exercised a wonderful influence in
arousing the slumbering energies of Churchmen,
and in bringing forth order out of almost hope-
less confusion.
In February, ISOi, a Convention was held,
and the subject of this memoir was elected
secretary. The rules of order were chiefly
prepared by him, and while he sought for no
honorable or conspicuous position, he did not
shrink from the performance of any duty, how-
ever difficult or discouraging. Mr. Bowen's
efforts for the welfare of the Church were not
confined to Charleston, but he gave all the
time which could possibly be spared from hi3
parish to abundant and successful labors in
4
38 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
destitute places. Through his agency several
old decaying churches were revived, and he
took great pains to make the acquaintance of
young men, and to direct their attention to-
wards the ministry. lie gave them the free
use of his books ; extended to them the hospi-
talities of his house ; assumed the oversight of
their studies ; and, in short, did every tiling in
his power to advance the cause of the Gospel.
The young rector of St. Michael's received
many invitations to remove to other spheres of
labor, but he resisted all such applications un-
til 1809, when various considerations led him
to accept the rectorship of Grace Church, in
the city of New York. About three years
previous to this, he had married Miss JanS
Blake, a lady of extensive family connections,
and whose sterling virtues shed a constant
brightness over his wedded life.
Grace Church, the charge of which Mr.
Bowen now consented to assume, was a new
parish, organized in 1S04 being an offshoot
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN. 39
from old Trinity. The plain building which
was first erected for the congregation, stood at
the corner of Broadway and Rector-street, and
could boast of few claims to architectural per-
fection. According to the old-fashioned ar-
rangements of those times, the desk of the
clerk, whose business it was to lead in the re-
sponses and singing, occupied a conspicuous
place in front of the reading-desk which the
clergyman occupied."
Upon turning to the journal of the New York
Convention for 1810, we find Mr. Bowen's first
report of the condition of his parish, from which
it appears that it only numbered fifty com-
municants at that clay. In the year 1818, when
Jie resigned the charge, it embraced one hun-
dred and fifty.
He was highly esteemed by the members of
his flock, and when the time for their final
e A description of Grace Church will be found in the
old Churchman's Magazine for January and February,
1609.
40 LIFE OF BISnOP BOWEN.
separation came, they parted from him with
extreme regret.
Dr. Berrian remarks, in his history of Trinity
Church (p. 226) : " I was honored with Mr.
Bowen's friendship in the early part of my
ministry, and enjoyed in some degree his confi-
dence as well as his regard ; and was, there-
fore, accustomed to hea*r him talk on all sub-
jects with perfect freedom. There was every
thing in his position to render it easy and
pleasant to him, yet such was his attachment
to the manner, habits, and character of the
people of the South, as to make it evident, from
expressions which often dropped from him,
that he not only regretted he had left them,
but yearned for his return. This longing, a
few years after, was gratified, in a way which
relieved him from all embarrassment in the in-
dulgence of it, for he was elected to the
Bishopric of South Carolina under circum-
stances which, in his estimation, made it his
duty to accept it."
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWESf. 41
The Episcopate of South Carolina was left
vacant by the untimely death of Bishop Dehon,
August 6th, 1817. Dr. Bowen was chosen to
succeed him, and at the same time the vestry
of St. Michael's called him to be their rector.
His parishioners at Grace Church were so
unwilling to let him go, that several gentlemen
pledged themselves to make a handsome pro-
vision for his family, in the event of his death.
The voice from South Carolina, however,
seemed to be too imperative, and too plainly a
voice from God, and he took up his final de-
parture for his old and much-loved home.
40
tyifUt $itt\.
A SOLEMN RECORD THE INMOST THOUGHTS OF TTTE SOUL
AT THE UNDERTAKING OF A GREAT WORK THE NEED
OF HUMILITY A BISHOP WELL ACQUAINTED WITn THE
WANTS OF HIS DIOCESE IMPORTANT MEASURES EN-
COURAGED INTIMACY WITH BISHOP nOBAET INTER-
ESTING LETTER A YOUNG LABORER INTRODUCED
PRESAGE OF PROSPERITY FRIENDLY HOPES AND DE-
SIRES.
'wT>\ R- BOWEN makes this solemn record,
in his private memorandum-book, un-
der the date of October 8th, 1818 :
" On this day I was solemnly con-
secrated at Philadelphia to the office
of a Bishop in the Protestant Episco-
pal Church Dr. White presiding, and Dr.
Hob art, Dr. Croes, and Dr. Kemp assisting.
There was nothing in the office, or its adminis-
tration, that seemed calculated to give deeper
solemnity than already existed to the feelings
&nd impressions with which I approached it.
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN. 43
I was penetrated, I trust, with, my unworthi-
ness ; and the constant prayer which my heart
was dictating was, ^Lord, in mercy, let not the
unworthiness of the instrument selected he vis-
ited on Thy Church, in which he is appointed
to minister?
" The pride of distinction, so ordinarily sup-
posed to attach to this elevation in the Church,
I certainly did not feel. It seems not to have
demanded an effort to prevent such a feeling
from predominating in my mind. The dread
of the effects of the insufficiency which I felt
for so great a responsibility has prevailed over
worse and less becoming feelings. ' Whoso-
ever will be chief among you, let him be your
servant.' Humility, as the indispensable re-
quisite of elevated station in the ministry,
could not be more forcibly inculcated. Yet
I have been supposed not to have it. God for-
bid I should not have !"
At the time of his elevation to the Episco-
pate of South Carolina, Dr. Bowen was in the
44 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
very prime of life, having just entered upon
his fortieth year. He was intimately acquaint-
ed with the wants of the diocese, and he set
about the great work which he had undertaken
to perform, in a way which a stranger, called
from a distant region, would not have been
able to do.
Among other important measures, he secured
the founding of a hospital in Charleston, with
a clergyman to look after the spiritual welfare
of its inmates, and of the neighboring people.
He also encouraged the great cause of mis-
sions ; urged upon the clergy the duty of giv-
ing more religious instruction to the colored
population ; and did every thing he could to
promote the usefulness of the General Theolo-
gical Seminary, in the endowment of which
the diocese of South Carolina had shown her-
self most liberal.
Bishop Bo wen and Bishop Hob art were
great friends, and I have been looking out for
a favorable opening for introducing an inter-
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN. 45
esting letter written by the latter, when his
friend first occupied the position of rector of
St. Michael's. Although out of the due course
of the narrative, it is too good to be lost :
" New York, November 19, 180G.
"Rev. and Dear Sir:
" I have been so long expecting the grati-
fication of a letter from you, that even the few
lines you did me the favor to write to me by
Mr. Simons were a treat to me. In the ami-
able disposition of Mr. Simons I have found
much satisfaction ; his theological attainments
are certainly not inconsiderable, and he pos-
sesses popular talents for the ministry which,
if judiciously cultivated, and guided, as I trust
they will be, by an unaffected and ardent de-
sire to promote the extension of the Gospel and
the eternal interests of men, will render him
highly useful. For much of his past improve-
ment I suspect he is indebted to you, and I
certainly feel much satisfaction in the expecta-
46 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
tion that lie will be disposed to resort to you
as a guide and a counsellor. However strong
Lis principles, lie is young and inexperienced,
and the blandishments of the world, so dan-
gerous to that firm and dignified spirit of piety
which alone can give respectability and suc-
cess to the ministry, may render it occasion-
ally necessary for some mentor to counsel and
regard him. At present, he certainly mani-
fests an attachment to religion and our excel-
lent Church, honorable to himself and to those
who have contributed to excite it.
" I trust it is a presage of the future pros-
perity of our Church in Carolina that young
men of genius and principle, natives of the
State, are coming forward in the ministry.
Till the laborers in the vineyard possess talents
and principle, we cannot expect to see those
hedges restored, and those vines extending
their luxuriant branches which the ' wild boar
out of the wood hath rooted up, and the wild
beast of the field devoured.' May an end at
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEtf. 47
length be put to their ravages by a succession
of pastors, equally eminent for their talents,
their piety, and zeal. You promise me a
longer letter. I shall wait anxiously the ful-
filment of your promise. It will give me
great pleasure at all times to hear from you,
and to give as cordial a welcome as in my
power to those of your friends whom you do
me the favor to introduce to me. Mr. Simons
has thrown out the expectation, that probably
he may supply your place next summer or
fall, while you make an excursion to the north-
ward. This will give us all great pleasure,
and to none more so than to one who always
remembers with pleasure the short interview
which he had with you here, and often re-
grets that another has not since occurred.
" Rev. and Dear Sir,
" Your faithful and affectionate
. " Friend and brother,
"J. H. HoBART."
&I]iti
tx Buti.
NOT PHYSICALLY ROBUST, BUT STILL BUSY AND USEFUL
THE CRUTCH CONVENTIONAL ADDRESS OF 1822
VISITATION TO THE NORTHWESTERN PORTION OF THE
DIOCESE PENDLETON AND GREENVILLE CONSECRA-
TION OF A NEW CnURCH FAMILIAR NAMES AND
PLEASANT ASSOCIATIONS THE RECTOR OF GRACE
CnURCII, NEW TORE, IN HIS FIRST PARISH A CHEER-
FUL ANECDOTE TO REMOVE ALL DULNESS THE DRY
SERMON.
HE life of Bishop Bowen affords one
of those striking examples of a man
^?^1 whose physical constitution was far
"iJ^jja from being robust, accomplishing
more than many who have been
blessed with unimpaired health.
Within a year or two after his consecration,
there were painful symptoms of a premature
decay of body, while the mind retained its ac-
customed vigor. In 1821, he was obliged, for
a season, to use a crutch.
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN. 49
The Bishop thus feelingly alludes to these
trials, in his address to the Convention of the
following year :
" It has afforded great solace to the afflic-
tion, under which it has pleased God that I
should labor, during so large a portion of the
year which has elapsed, since we last met each
other here, that I have, in no period of it,
been rendered entirely unable to discharge the
duties appertaining to the relation in which I
am required, at present, to address you. In-
deed, the Divine goodness which, in all periods
of the infirmity with which I have been vis-
ited, still enabled me to attend to almost every
demand of diocesan dutv which occurred,
claims my utmost gratitude."
I shall quote two or three passages from
this address, as recalling names and associa-
tions which will interest many readers :
" Under circumstances which imperiously
required it, I was absent during part of the
summer from the diocese. A journey, how-
50 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
ever, in the prosecution of the main object of
such absence, through the northwestern ex-
tremity of the State, was made to me the
happy occasion of fulfilling a duty, to which
engagements of a stronger claim, and more
immediate urgency, had before put it out of
my power to attend. I mean that of visiting
congregations which, by the means of the So-
ciety for the Advancement of Christianity in
South Carolina, had been formed in the dis-
tricts of Pendleton and Greenville. I found
there the Society's missionary, the Rev. Mr.
Dickinson, who, by appointment of each of
the congregations, has become the minister of
both, faithfully performing the laborious duties
of his station. At Pendleton, measures have
been taken towards the erection of a church ;
a Sunday-school has been instituted, and there
is reason to hope that the seed sown in a seem-
ingly unfriendly soil will spring up and flour-
ish to the Divine glory, through that sound
and wholesome edification of the people which
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN. 51
will manifest its influence in an ameliorated
moral aspect of society.
"Besides these places, I have visited offi-
cially Trinity Church, Columbia ; Claremont
Church, Stateburg ; St. Mark's, Clarendon ;
and St. Stephen's, Pineville. At these
churches, with the exception of that at Clare-
mont, I administered Confirmation. This rite
was administered also at Pendleton. In St.
Mark's parish, Clarendon, the new building,
provided by the liberality of a few individuals
in lieu of the parish church, which was de-
stroyed in the Revolutionary war, and near its
site was consecrated to .the worship of Al-
mighty God, according to the form and usage
of our Church ; and the Rev. J. W. Ch aider,
under whose faithful and useful ministry,
partly as a missionary of the Society, the
parish, within the last year and a half, had
become reinstated in the enjoyment of Divine
worship, was admitted by me to the holy Or-
der of Priests the Eev. Mr. Delevaux, of St.
52 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
Matthew's parish, and the Eev. Mr. Folker, of
Columbia, being present and assisting me in
both solemnities. It is highly grateful to me
to haA T e it in my power to state also, that exer-
tions made by the Rev. Mr. Chanler, to form
a congregation in the village of Manchester,
distant about fourteen miles from his parish
church, have been so far successful as that
vestrymen and wardens have been elected at a
meeting held for the purpose, who have regu-
larly invited Mr. Chanler to hold service as
their minister, under suitable temporary ar-
rangements. It is hoped that a place of wor-
ship, proper to the congregation thus formed,
will not lon^ be wanting.
" No other ordination has been held in this
diocese within the year.
"Mr. Thomas Ii. Taylor, who was reported
last year as a candidate for Orders, was in No-
vember last ordained a Deacon in Philadel-
phia, by virtue of letters diinissory from this
diocese.
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN. 53
" Five persons have been received as candi-
dates for Holy Orders, viz. : Paul Trapier
Keith, Francis linger Rutledge, Mellish J.
Motte, William P. Coffin, and Benjamin lin-
ger Flemming. These, together with some re-
ported at prior Conventions, make the whole
number of candidates at present belonging to
the diocese, to be seven.
"The Pev. Mr. Tavlor, mentioned above as
recently admitted to Deacon's Orders, having
been appointed, in conformity with the Thir-
teenth Canon of the General Convention, to
officiate at the chapel, near Korth Santee
Ferry, has been engaged by the proprietors of
that chapel to serve them until the first Sun-
day in June."
The young clergyman here spoken of, as be-
ginning his labors at this humble station, is
the present venerable rector of Grace Church,
ETew York.
As we have been dwelling on some sober
topics in this chapter, we will bring it to a
5*
54: LIFE OF BISHOP EOWEN.
close by relating an anecdote of Bishop Bowen,
which will throw some cheerfulness over its
gloomier details. Grave as he was, he was
not too serious to relish the ludicrous, or to
jest innocently and pleasantly.
On one of his visitations, in crossing the
Santee River at Murray's Ferry, in company
with one of his clergy, the boat in which
they were was upset, and the two travellers
were plunged into the water. Happily it
was not deep, and they escaped without dif-
ficulty. Their baggage also was saved, but
not without a good drenching. When in
the shelter of a tavern near the river the
presbyter opened his trunk, he found his
manuscript sermons, of which lie had a pack-
age with him, much the worse i'<>r their wettinsr,
and he began to bewail his misfortune. The
Bishop watched him for a while in silence, and
then with a smile (as the clergyman himself
relates the adventure), said to him, "Is the
LIFE OF BISHOP BO WEN. 00
sermon you preached last Sunday in that
bundle?" On being answered in the affirma-
tive, he replied, " Well, I think you wrong to
grieve over its present moist condition ; it was
rather dry."
&U$Ux St\ttnt\.
ONE MORE LETTER FROM BISHOP IIOBART YIEW AT HEAD
OF SENECA LAKE PULTNEYVILLE PEOPLE HUNGERING
FOR THE BREAD OF LIFE TOUCHING SCENE AT UNA-
DILLA "WHAT SnALL WE DO FOR CLERGYMEN?"
BISHOP BOWEN'S LABORS AS A RECTOR OF ST. MICFIAEl's
CHURCH THE EEY. FREDERICK DALCnO HISTORY OF
TnE CHURCH IN SOUTn CAROLINA THE PRESENT BISHOP
OF FLORIDA AS A DEACON BISHOP BOWEN'S YISIT TO
GEORGIA GENERAL COXYENTION OF 1823 THEOLOGI-
CAL SEMINARY BEFORE THE DAYS OF THE " MEMO-
RIAL"- -" STAND UP LIKE A MAN AND SET THE TUNE."
E have treasured up one more letter
from Bishop Iiobart r which, was
written to his friend Mr. Bowen
when the latter was rector of Grace
Church, ISTew York, the Bishop being
absent from the city on a visitation :
"Meredith, Sept. 13th, 1812.
" My dear Sir :
" I have often thought of you and my
Mends in New York during my peregrinations,
LTFK OF BISHOP BOWEN. 57
which have been considerably diversified : at
the head of the Seneca Lake, I was on the
high ground, whence the waters flowed into
the St. Lawrence, the Mississippi, and. the Sus-
quehanna ; and now I am writing on the
mountains where originate the east branch of
the Susquehanna and. the waters of the Dela-
ware. At Pultneyville, on Lake Ontario, I
almost fancied myself on the shores of the At-
lantic at Hockaway. I have felt inexpressibly
gratified at the eagerness with which the peo-
ple, wherever I have been, crowded to receive
the bread of life, and sick at heart that there
were so few clergy of our Church to distribute
it to them. There would, be ample employ-
ment for a dozen clergymen in the Western
district, besides the few already there. Oh,
my dear sir, what good could be done by the
vestry of Trinity Church ! Episcopalians are
scattered throughout these western counties,
and there are no shepherds to collect them. A
venerable old gentleman, who came to-day a
58 LIFE OF BISHOP BO WEN".
great many miles to attend service, accosted
me : ' I must speak to you, though I am a
stranger; I cannot help it. Oh, if we could
but have a clergyman here he would raise up
congregations among us, I am sure, very soon.
I have been twenty years in this country, and
have been deprived of the privilege of attend-
ing the services of my Church, and now when
I hear them it makes my blood run so warm
that it seems as if it would be too much for
me ;' and his eyes shone dim with tears. This
was at Unadilla, a new congregation near the
junction of the river of that name with the east
branch of the Susquehanna. Six or eight per-
sons have subscribed more than a thousand
dollars fur a church. The frame is up, and is
nearly inclosed. I officiated in it to more than
three hundred people. What shall we do for
clergymen? AVe must have a theological
school. I anticipate much pleasure in again
meeting you. Dr. Kowden is with me, and
bears the journey very well. lie rested at
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEX. 59
Geneva while I went a fatiguing journey to
the head of Seneca Lake.
" I have come on seventeen miles since ser-
vice to-day on my way to Stamford, where I
have appointed service for 11 o'clock to-mor-
row, and shall have to ride to-morrow, before
service, twenty-five miles. I heard of you from
Mr. Low, whom I saw at Geneva. Remember
me to Mrs. Bowen, and believe me,
" Very truly and affectionately yours,
" J. II. HOBART."
I trust that my readers will not lose sight of
the fact, that while Bishop Bowen was laboring
most indefatigably for the Church throughout
his diocese, he was rector also of St. Michael's
Church, Charleston, where, of course, his duties
were not li*lit. It was a laro-e and influential
parish, numbering, in 1823, four hundred and
sixty-five communicants.
His hands were held up, however, by an
able and efficient assistant, the Rev. Frederick
60 LIFE OF BISHOP BO WEN.
Dalcho ; who, besides his parochial duties,
found time to write an interesting history of
the Church in South Carolina.
It is pleasant to trace the career of the clergy
from their first setting out as humble mission-
aries of the Cross, until we find them, at last,
fulfilling the higher duties of the ministry.
Thus, in 1824, we discover among the deacons
ordained by Bishop Bowen, the name of Fran-
cis Ii. Itutledge, now Bishop of Florida.
During the same year, in spite of bodily in-
firmities, the good Bishop crossed over into
Georgia, and administered the right of Con-
firmation in Christ Church, Savannah, and St.
Paul's Church, Augusta. Having attended
the General Convention of the Church, which
met in Philadelphia the preceding year, Bishop
Bowen informs his own Convention of the ac-
tion of that important body, and expresses the
warmest interest in the prosperity of the Gen-
eral Theological Seminary: "It continues to
do great good to the Church," he remarks,
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN. 61
" and our own diocese is experiencing its
benefits, in the preparation of its candidates
for Orders, to enter on their sacred calling
with suitable qualifications."
In our own time, when what is called the
"memorial movement," has aroused the at-
tention of Churchmen to the necessity of al-
lowing more liberty in adapting our services
to the wants of those who are laboring in the
missionary field, it will be interesting to ob-
serve how the good men of the past genera-
tion felt the want of some such discretionary
power. The following amusing letter from a
clergyman in one of the interior towns of South
Carolina, addressed to Bishop Bowen, will be
read with interest :
" The opening for the Church is a good one,
but success, under God, depends upon con-
tinuing to occupy the field. In this place and
the neighborhood there is not a single Episco-
palian, but the people are disposed to receive
favorably any minister, and should he be
62 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
blessed in winning souls to Christ, there will
be no difficulty in establishing the Church.
The place is an important one, for although
but few families are as yet permanently settled
here, yet the probability is that in a few years
it will become a large village.
" As to the manner in which I have con-
ducted the services, you cannot regret more
than I do that I have considered it necessary
to use only a part of the Liturgy. Every part
is full of instruction and devotion, and when
practicable the whole should be performed.
But here it is, at present, impracticable. There
is not a Prayer-book, out of my own family, in
the place, and but a single nominal Episcopa-
lian, who arrived two days ago. Of some of
the material here for a congregation, you may
form an idea from a circumstance which oc-
curred last Sundav. I was about commencing;
the service, when an old man arose, and ad-
dressing me as ' Stranger,' stated that he was
very deaf, and requested permission to take a
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN. 63
seat by my side. I, of course, made room for
him. On giving out the hymn, I requested
that some one of the congregation would set
the tune. There being some hesitation, my
neighbor called out to one of the congregation,
' Come, brother , stand up like a man,
and set the tune. Don't be ashamed.' ' Why,
I don't think I can line it [remember the
words], and I hain't got no book.' After
service, when I was on the point of beginning
the sermon, the old man entered into conver-
sation with a negro at the outside of the pa-
vilion, and in a tone loud enough to be heard
throughout the congregation. After preach-
ing to the negroes, I was about dismissing
them, when he interrupted me with, ' Well,
stranger, I am told you can siig my favorite
hyme ; won't you sing it for me.' He proved
to be the Baptist preacher of the neighbor-
hood, who had brought out a great part of
his congregation to hear whether I ' preached
Christ Jesus or not.' He had been brought
64 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
up in the ' Old Episcopalian Church,' but had
been for fifty years a preacher among the Bap-
tists, With several members of his church,
he united in inviting me to ' go out and preach
to his people.' I hope to do so on Saturday
next. Be assured, Right He v. and dear Sir,
that I shall not hesitate to introduce our full
service so soon as I can do so with a chance
of aid from others."
CfcapUr (Bigbtlj.
THE REV. MR. TRAPIER S INTERESTING REMINISCENCES
BISnOP BOTYEN A3 nE APPEARED IN 1825 HIS MODE
OF TRAVELLING MANNERS AND HABITS THE LOYE
OF RURAL SCENERY A LIFE OF PAIN FONDNESS FOR
CHILDREN REMEMBRANCE OF FAYORS THE FRIEND*
OF niS YOUTn KINDNESS TO YOUNG MEN STUDENTS
OF DIVINITY ESTABLISHING A YOUNG CLERGYMAN IN
HIS PARISH OFFICIAL VISITATIONS STEENNESS WHEN
DUTY CALLED FOR IT.
HE writer having applied to the Rev.
Paul Trapier to furnish him with
some materials for this memoir, he
very kindly responded to the request,
and our readers will no doubt agree
with us in the opinion, that this
chapter is one of the most interesting in the
whole volume.
"My earliest distinct impressions of Bish-
op Bowen," remarks Mr. Trapier, " begin
with the year 1825. He was then an old-
6*
66 LIFE OF BISHOP BO WEN.
looking man; his hair gray, his complexion
dark, his step feeble, his stature tall, and his
person stately, though somewhat bent. This
appearance of age was premature, owing to a
weakness in his legs, from which he had long
been enduring pain, often severe, and more
and more so, the older he grew, till his life
was shortened by it.
" It hindered him from taking much exercise
on foot, and made it trying to him to travel in
public conveyances. He therefore went about
his diocese, usually in his own carriage, by
easy stages, stopping at night generally at the
house of some friend, where he was always
welcome, his courteous manners and instruc-
tive conversation rendering his society as
pleasant as it was useful. Particularly did he
like to .stay thus with his clergy, to whom lie
used, on such occasions, to give out the rich
stores of his extensive reading, in remarks
highly interesting to them.
"The quiet of the country was especially
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN. 67
grateful to him, wearied as he was by the toils
of a city rectorship, besides that which \ came
upon him daily, the care of all the churches ;'
and pleasant was it to be with him when, at
the end of his day's journey, he would recline
for rest, if in winter, before the fire, or, if in
summer, on the piazza, and yielding himself to
the soothing influences of this domestic scene,
would entertain the grown persons present with
his edifying conversation, and draw the chil-
dren to him in his own affectionate way, for
there were traits in his character peculiarly
attractive to those who knew him intimately.
This indeed was necessary ere those traits could
be noticed, for he was naturally reserved, and
rendered more so probably from his being ha-
bitually more or less in pain. His. dignified
aspect, moreover, was rather overawing to the
young, but when, in the privacy of the homes
of those he loved, he felt himself at ease, all
this passed away, and the traits referred to
came out in all their beauty.
68 LIFE OF BISHOP BO WEN.
" One of these was his genuine relish for the
beauties of nature. As the calm hour of even-
ing drew near, and the sun was about to set,
often would he bring a chair from the sitting-
room, place it where he could look out upon
the green lawn, the wide-spreading branches
of the live-oaks, and the parterres of flowers
in front of some retired country parsonage,
and sit with a smile of silent and benign satis-
faction; or would express in words of pious
gratitude his sense of God's goodness in bless-
ing us with a world so lovely, though for crea-
tures so sinful. The singing of the birds was
sweet to his benevolent heart, as significant of
the happiness of those creatures, for whom his
heavenly Father thus provided. The ' sigh-
ing ' of the wind in the tops of the pine-trees
was as music to his ears, and seemed to tran-
quillize his soul; and often has he been heard
to say that the very stillness of the dense forest
was a treat to him after the turmoil of the city,
and that the hum of insects was refreshing to
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN. 69
his spirit, wearied with the quick steps and
loud voices, and yet more with the sharp con-
flict of mind with mind, to which he was ac-
customed in the busy haunts of men. With a
heart so ready to find fellowship with the irra-
tional, and even the lifeless portions of creation,
this good man, it might well be presumed, was
yet more alive to all that concerned those who
were of the same nature with himself: espe-
cially was he fond of children, not that he
showed it by much of mere caressing, neither
did he lavish praises upon them ; but his eye
would beam with singular tenderness, and his
voice melt to tones of unusual mildness, as he
drew to him some little one, and without say-
ing a word, would seat the child upon his knee.
To his own children, and in the latter years of
his life, to his grandchildren, he was most af-
fectionate, delighting to call them to him ; to
stand by and watch them at their play, and to
call them by terms of endearment ; encouraging
them to express their affection for him in ways
70 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
which a bystander might have said were great
liberties to take with a Bishop.
" Scarcely less lovely was another trait of this
right reverend father. He never forgot a favor.
"When he was a. boy, he had been in the habit
of dining every Sunday at the house of a good
lady and gentleman, who lived near the church
where he used to worship; and, many years
after, when he had long been a Bishop, the
former of those friends of his, by that time a
widow, numbered him still almost every week
among her guests ; neither did he give up his
visits to the house after she, too, had gone to
her rest. His faithful friendship was continued
to her daughters, and to the children of the
third and fourth generation ; all of whom, to
the day of his death, were ever receiving to-
kens of his regard.
"This unchanging fidelity of feeling seemed
to endear to him even the lifeless things which
had belonged to those he loved; and he has
been heard to express emotion at sight of the
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN". 71
chair on which he had been wont to see the
friend seated, who was to be there no more.
In his boyhood he ha'd been at school with
some of the sons of the most respectable fami-
lies in South Carolina. In their holidays they
had often had him to stay with them at their
homes in the country ; and these were the ones
towards whom he retained through life a friend-
ship, always ready to show itself by sympathy
with them in their sorrows, as well as by grat-
ification at their success in their respective pur-
suits. This interest in them sometimes seemed
unaccountable to those who were not in the
secret of it, but it was beautiful in the eyes of
those who were. In his chair as President of
the Convention of the Church in his diocese,
when one of these, his early associates, rose to
speak, he was sure to lean forward in an atti-
tude of earnest attention, and his face would
light up with a satisfaction, greater at times
than others might have thought called for by
the value of the remarks of the speaker ; but
72 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
therefore only the more significant of the re-
gard felt for him by his right reverend friend.
" It was only in keeping with these traits of
his, that when called by his Saviour to watch
over young men who were to be in the sacred
ministry, he proved himself indeed a 'father
in God' to them. This was the position in
which I was standing to him when I began to
know him intimately. One of my most affect-
ing reminiscences is of an interview with him
in his study, soon after I had offered myself a
candidate for Orders. He spoke to me so
kindly, and yet so discreetly, that what he said
went quite to my heart, and tended scarcely
less than any previous event of my life to
awaken me to a somewhat proper sense of the
momentousness of the step I was about to take.
Especially do I remember to this day, with a
thrill of emotion, the solemnity with which he
read to me the impressive words of the Canon,
wherein the candidate is enjoined to see that
he possesses those qualifications which cannot
LIFE OF BISHOP EOWEN. 73
be brought to any outward test. His prayer
with me before we parted was a fitting conclu-
sion to so interesting an interview. Neither
did his care for his candidates end with this
initiatory endeavor to give them a right direc-
tion at the outset of their course. He followed
it up by wise counsel, making them useful sug-
gestions for the choice of their books, and for
the right way of reading them ; and giving
them hints, too, about their behavior, with
faithful rebuke if needful, though administered
with mild and gentle consideration.
"After their ordination he continued the
same watchfulness, and many were the judi-
cious improvements for which they were in-
debted to him in their several models of
preaching, in the topics and style of their
sermons, in the manner of their delivery, and
in whatever, in short, might promote their
efficiency in the sacred ministry. Neither did
he refrain from giving them pain, if requisite,
by plain-spoken faithfulness in correction of
74 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
things amiss, whether in their temper or their
conduct.
" His paternal solicitude led him even to go
sometimes with them, when they were taking
charge of their parishes, to introduce them to
their people, and to put them into the way of
getting on in their, till then, untried positions.
I never shall forget his ride with me into the
country the week before I was to enter on my
first parochial charge. "We went together in
his carriage. It was through the thick woods
of the low country, early in autumn, on a clear,
cool day. For miles we met no one. The
genial atmosphere, the richly colored foliage,
and the stillness were in harmony with the
purpose of our excursion. He sj)oke to me
of the work before me ; and ' the old man
eloquent' was warmed to a holy fervor as he
set before me its responsibilities and its conso-
lations, its trials and its rewards. JSTor was he
content till he had gone with me into the ven-
erable old church, one of the relics of Colonial
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEX. 75
days, and had told me of predecessors of
mine, long since gone to their rest, and had
walked with me among the tombs which lie
around the building, in memorial of the an-
cient dead, leaving me under impressions well
suited to prepare me for the ministrations of
the next Sunday.
"Equally powerful in appeal to the best
feelings of the heart were the greetings with
which he used to receive me in the after years
of my ministry ; his pressure of the hand, so
significant of gratification, if there was any
thing to please ; and his grave look, itself
a rebuke sufficient, if he noticed any thing
amiss.
" His official visitations were always in-
centives to increased exertion. His clergy
looked forward to them with expectations of
good, nor did his quiet smile and kind word
of approval ever fail to testify to his pleasure
in their faithfulness, though, it must be ad-
mitted, that when he met with any thing to
f 6 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
displease him, his frown could be stern, espe-
cially if lie even suspected any want of that
straightforward sincerity for which he was
himself eminent."
]mtn tJintlj.
A SAD TEAR TWO CHILDREN TAKEN AWAY IN A MONTH
ONE HOUR IN TIIE IIOUSE OF BISHOPS RESIGNATION
TO GOD'S WILL EXAMPLE OF PATIENCE EXTRACT
FROM A SERMON LABORS IN TnE MIDST OF TRIALS
IMPORTANT SUGGESTIONS EACH DENOMINATION SnALL
HAVE ITS OWN PLACE OF WORSHIP TRAINING TnE
YOUNG FOR CONFIRMATION WELL-DESERYED COMPLI-
MENT TO DR. GADSDEN TIIE INTEREST FELT BY SOUTH
CAROLINA IN TIIE SUNDAY-SCnOOL UNION ORIGIN OF
THE "CHILDREN'S MAGAZINE' 1 BISHOP BOWEN's VIEWS
ABOUT THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION.
HE year 1826 was a sad one in Bishop
Bowen's life. Within the space of a
single month he lost his eldest daugh-
ter and his oldest son, by death. The
first of these afflictions occurred dur-
ing his absence from home, in attend-
ance on his duties in the General Convention..
We find this melancholy record in his private
register :
" On the morning of the second day of the-
t-
78 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWKN.
session, the overwhelming and astounding in-
telligence reached me of the death of my dear
and most beloved eldest daughter, whom I had
left as well as usual. It was impossible for
me so to recover myself from the effects ol
this, as to be able to resume my place in the
House of Bishops, except for one hour on the
fourth day, when I went and offered a Canon
on a matter, with respect to which I had for
some time indulged great solicitude the Or-
daining by one Bishop of candidates, or the
receiving as candidates, persons who had been
refused by another."
In writing to a friend, on the death of
his daughter, he thus expresses himself: "I
have resigned my child to God's gracious and
wise disposal, and deeply, sorely smitten as I
.am, will commit to* His merciful hand the
-wound which it has made. O God! thy will
be done. I would not on this occasion be
unmindful of what becomes me as a Chris-
tian, a Christian parent, or a Christian minis-
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN. 79
ter. All these characters alike I have too ill
sustained, and if God corrects and chastens
me, even in His displeasure, let me not strive
with Him, but humble myself under His
mighty hand until He shall lift me up." These
sentiments were illustrated in his deportment,
in an instructive and affecting manner, when
prostrate beneath the second blow.
The Bishop had hardly returned to Charles-
ton when the second stroke fell upon him, in
the death of his son, John Blake, aged fifteen
years. The useful influence of his example
on this occasion, and its favorable impression,
were felt and acknowledged. One of the pres-
byters of his diocese thus adverted to the cir-
cumstance in 1839, when calling the attention
of his flock to the removal of their chief shep-
herd from earth :
" He, too, had his bitter tribulations, and
had you seen him, my brethren, as we did,
when two children, very dear, were almost
simultaneously taken from him, you would
80 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
have been instructively convinced that lie had
deeply learned the sentiment of the text, and
felt that the Saviour had overcome the world.
Two children, the one the earliest of the com-
panions God had thus given him, the other his
only hope of succession in the priesthood by
descent, like that of Aaron's line, were just
taken from him, while, through the more than
common sensitiveness of his natural tempera-
ment, his demeanor said intelligibly : ' The
Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away ;
blessed be the name of the Lord.' Years
have passed since he thus stood forth as our
example, but his works do follow him in the
still fresh impression he then made."
The Christian not only discharges his duty,
but consults his true happiness by being
"steadfast, and immovable, and abounding in
the work of the Lord,''' even while Buffering
under the afflicting rod of his Heavenly
Father. Bishop Bowen acted upon this prin-
ciple, and while his house was thus mantled
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN. 81
in gloom, the interest of the Church was not
neglected.
One of the first passages, in his address to
the Convention of 1828, contains a suggestion
of no little practical importance: 4? Early after
the adjournment of the last Convention, I
visited St. Bartholomew's parish, and, assisted
by the Rev. Mr. Delavaux, consecrated a new
chapel erected at Walterborough. The erec-
tion of this chapel is the result of the experi-
ence which had shown both the minister and
people of the parish the inconsistency of the
use, in common, by congregations of different
denominations, of the same place of worship,
with the edification or comfort of either, as
well as with the brotherlv kindness and char-
ity which, notwithstanding difference of reli-
gious sentiment and conduct, it is the sacredly
bounden duty of the ministry of our Church,
' as much as in them lieth, to maintain and set
forth among all Christian people.' "
There is another most important paragraph
82 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
further on, in which he speaks of the necessity
of preparing the young for Confirmation, and
makes honorable mention of the faithfulness
of Dr. Gadsden in this particular, a clergyman
who was afterwards to succeed him as Bishop.
"The whole number of persons confirmed is
considerably less than usual, amounting only
to eighty-eight. The frequency with which the
rite is administered among us prevents that
the number of the subjects of it should on
any one occasion, in any place, be great. Per-
haps, at the same time, the clergy may not, in
all instances, maintain that pastoral influence
with the younger portions of their congrega-
tions, which is indispensable to the effect of
their persuasion of them to the duty of sub-
mitting themselves to this rite. It is a prin-
cipal character of an effective ministry, they
must be aware, that it induce men to fear the
Lord from their youth. There is little hope,
in general^ to be entertained that they will
ever become sound members of the Church,
life: of bishop bowebt. 83
and followers of the Lord, to their best happi-
ness and good, who are not early impressed
with religions truth, and early led to incorpo-
rate its modifying and controlling counsel,
both with the purposes of the will and the
affections of the heart. To the instruction of
the young, therefore, by regular seasons cf
catechising, and in careful, habitual prepara-
tion of them for the voluntary assumption of
the obligations of the Christian character and
life, I would affectionately beseech my breth-
ren in the ministry to attach the utmost iui-
portance. I must not be supposed to consider
myself individually, in any worthy degree,
their example in this essential particular; but
I would refer them to an example which, from
its nearness to me, is better known than any
other, of judicious fidelity, zeal, and industry
in it, of which I would earnestly supplicate
the Spirit of grace to make them all to profit,
in the conduct of the ministry at St. Philip's
Church in this city. They to whom I allude
84 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
will not, I am sure, consider me as having any
motive to a reference which may bear to them
an aspect of indelicacy, but the anxiety I feel
that a pastoral office, in this most important
circumstance, should in all cases among us be
fulfilled. Were I acquainted with a better
model of the conduct, from which the best re-
sults for the Church may always be expected,
a mention of them, by which they cannot be
personally gratified, should have been with-
held;'
The writer is gratified to find, on examining
the old reports of our Sunday-school Union,
from the time of its first annual meeting in
1 s j27, now lively an interest was manifested in
its welfare by the diocese of South Carolina.
Those were the days of " small things," indeed,
in the affairs of this noble institution. The
books for children were very few, consisting,
for the most part, of little primer stories, such
as Mrs. Sherwood's " Raven and the Dove,"
and others with which we are all familiar.
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN. 85
The next year we find the present Bishop of
Maryland, then quite a young man in the
ministry, acting as the Secretary of the Union,
and then that delightful little periodical, the
" Children's Magazine,' 1 began its useful career,
the idea of its publication having been sug-
gested by him. The several Sunday-schools
in Charleston, and other places, report the
number of copies for which they subscribe.-
Those who saw it then, with its coarse paper
covers and its rough wood-cuts, would scarcely
recognize it now, so wonderfully has its ap-
pearance been improved.
Bishop Bowen thus expresses himself with
reference to the Union, in his address to the
Convention of 1S30 :
" The Sunday-school Union of the Protestant
Episcopal Church is eminently entitled to our
patronage. A union of the different portions
of our own Church, in the prosecution of this
or any other religious charity, does, I confess,
seem to me reasonably to be entitled to our
8
86 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEff.
preference to union charities of various de-
nominations ; in which, while a willingness, as
far as possible, to merge sectarian peculiarities
in great and general interests of truth and
benefit is an actuating principle, a spirit of
jealous vigilance is kept continually awake
against measures that may unwittingly, at
least, compromise some point that is deemed
essential ; and the personal and party sensibil-
ities of individuals, unwarily commingled, are
with difficulty restrained from an unseemly
exhibition of their influence. It is a mistake
to suppose that the danger of this evil can be
avoided by keeping things essential to the in-
tegrity of religion, in the sense of differing
denominations, out of every question brought
up in union proceedings. This cannot be done.
Until we can actually be one in religious faith
and sentiment, may we not, therefore, be rea-
sonably persuaded of the expediency of being
actually distinct in religious action? Such
distinctness does not imply, of any necessity,
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN. S7
religions opposition and discord. This, I sin-
cerely believe, to be more likely to come of
well-meant attempts to combine the varieties
of religious character and denomination in any
common religious business. Nor can I see
that this distinctness of proceeding, as to the
interest of religion, may not consist with all
bounden love of the disciples of the Son of
God, one towards another."
ANOTHER BREATniNG-SPELL MR. TRAPIER's REMINIS-
CENCES RESUMED BISHOP BOWEN's IMPAIRED HEALTH
DEPARTURE FOR LIVERPOOL SEASICKNESS " MX
LORD!" SUNDAY AT SKIBBEREEN CROWDS OF BEG-
GARSDISTRIBUTION OF ALMS TOWN OF OSSORT, AND
ITS LITTLE CATHEDRAL WELCOME FROM THE ENGLISH
BISHOPS ENJOYMENT OF SCENERY PILGRIMAGE TO
LUTTERWORTH KIND ATTENTIONS.
|^\ KD here we are happy to allow our
fjkfy readers another breathing-spell, while
we introduce a second instalment
X J of Mr. Trapier's interesting reminis-
cences.
" In the year 1831, Bishop Bowen's
health became so much impaired that a visit
to Europe was prescribed by his physician,
and at his request I became his travelling
companion. There were no steamers then,
and we embarked in a sailing-vessel from
Charleston for Liverpool. She was a slow
WP
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN. 89
sailer, and we were thirty-five days in going,
and fifty -nine in returning, meeting with head
winds and storms both ways, and being more
than once in imminent danger. The Bishop
was sick most of the time, not leaving his
state-room, nor even his birth, for days to-
gether. But never did his patience fail. To
murmur escaped him, though he was able to
take scarcely any food, and often in pain. Still
he would lie quietly with his Bible and his
Prayer-book, or other volume, for hours alone,
but occupied.
"His fellow-passengers gradually grew to
know him well, and to like him, much. They
called him, familiarly, ' Bishop,' till that title
came to be used invariably in speaking to him,
or of him. Detained for several days by head
winds off the southern coast of Ireland, we
released ourselves from confinement by em-
barking in a little fishing-smack near Cape
Clear, and went into a small port called Crook-
haven. There one of the natives coming on
8*
90 LIFE OF BISHOP BO WEN.
board, and hearing us call Dr. Bowen by his
usual title, began at once to address him as
'My lord V that being the well-known style of
English and Irish bishops. Our Bishop was
restive under it, and looked annoyed, but bore
it for a while, till, as the man came out with
the words at almost every breath, and was
overwhelming in his obsequiousness, he could
stand it no longer, and said to him : ' My
friend, there are no lords in the country I
came from, except One. 5 Thenceforth we all
were forbidden to call him by his usual appel-
lation, it being, as he told us, a ' bad travelling
title ;' but, in fact, because it grated on the
ears of his humilitv.
" We spent the next Sunday at the town of
Skibbereen, where he had hoped to enjoy, for
the first time in his life, the comfort of wor-
shipping witli his brethren of the Church of
England and Ireland, but was detained at his
hotel by indisposition, from the fatigues of the
day before. From the window of his chani-
LIFE OF ElSnOP BOWEN. 91
ber he saw the crowds of beggars which
abound in that wretched Romish population,
and so deeply was he moved by it, that it
seemed to weigh upon his spirits through the
day. The next morning, when we were about
to set out in a post-chaise for Cork, he got the
landlord to change for him some pieces of gold
into pence, with which he loaded his pocket,
that he might give to the miserable objects
who beset our steps wherever we went. Ac-
cordingly, for miles, whenever we stopped for
a moment, as some of these climbed up on the
wheels of the vehicle, and thrust their maimed
arms and disfigured faces into the windows,
and besought an alms, he would give out of
his store, which was of course soon exhausted.
But during all his ride in Ireland, he spoke of
it as a serious drawback from the pleasure of
seeing the luxuriant and, in many places,
richly cultivated country, evidently the abode
of some men of princely wealth, that he was
thus forced to witness in contrast so much of
92 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
poverty and suffering, which it was out of his
power to relieve.
"We passed through the town of Ossory,
where there is a small but ancient cathedral.
The Bishop, though wearied, would go to see
it. Few sights could be more impressive than
that of his hoary head, as he bent in reverence
on entering the hallowed precincts, at sight of
the full-length figures of saints and warriors
of the size of life, recumbent on the altar-
tombs, on either side of the nave ; and passed
through the screen into the choir, where the
praises of God had been sung for ages, which,
to an American, seemed to stretch far back
into remote antiquity. All the rest of that
day his thoughts were evidently reverting to
this vision long wished for, and at length real-
ized, and his mind, which venerated the an-
cient and the sacred, was dwelling with calm
but earnest satisfaction on what he had seen.
" His high position in the Church at home,
of course, secured for him a welcome to the
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN. 93
homes of the English bishops. He spent
several days at the palaces of his brethren of
London and of Winchester. There he was
noted, as for his quiet dignity, so yet more for
his meekness and lowliness. Several who saw
him, in intercourse with his ecclesiastical
equals, remarked to me, 'How modest the
Bishop of South Carolina is!' Indeed they
appeared to be not a little surprised, when, on
the announcement of his name at the portals
of their splendid mansions, they came out to
greet him, and saw but ajj ain post-chaise, and
no servant, nor any otLrer companion than his
presbyter, whom they persisted in calling his
4 private chaplain,' though often assured that
American bishops could not afford so ex-
pensive a luxury.
"He enjoyed fully the charms of English
scenery, with its thousands of associations,
historical, sacred, and domestic ; and in his
choice of places to visit, sought out those
which had been consecrated rather by the
94 LIFE OF BISHOP EOWEN.
lowlier graces of the Christian, than by the
more glaring deeds of the warrior and the
statesman.
" Thus he went on a pilgrimage to Lutter-
worth, and into the pulpit where the ' morn-
ing-star of the Reformation' (Wickliffe) had
preached, and gazed with reverence' at even
the garment which had been worn by that
fearless man. From the same feeling, of all
the places in Oxford he was interested most
in the spot where Cranmer and Latimer, by
the flames of their martyrdom, lighted that
* candle/- which Sas^flSt since been, nor ever
will be, put out in England, or in these United
States.
" While in search of such places, he did not
suffer himself to forget the claims of friend-
ship, nor the feelings of the humblest of his
clergy or his people. lie turned aside several
times from his regular route, and at the cost
of a day, or even two, of his precious time,
went in search of some relative of theirs. One
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN". 95
of these was the sister of one of his presby-
ters, a poor and pious woman. She lived in a
plain cottage, in a small and out of the way
village. But he sought and found her; and,
seated by her side in her little room, gladdened
her heart by pleasant tidings of her long- ab-
sent and far-distant brother, while his own face
was beaming with benevolence, as he felt that
the pleasure he gave was an anjrple reward for
the delay it required. T^e are sure that he
took with him from England the blessing of
several whom he had cheered by these kind
attentions, and was doubly welcomed at home
for the good news he brought back with him."
A CONTINUATION OF PLEASANT MEMORIES THE BISHOP^
OWN LETTERS CHESTER GLORIOUS ENGLAND OXFORD
AND ITS LIONS LONDON ST- PAUL'S ANNIVERSARY
MEETINGS THE REV. DANIEL WILSON, LATE BISHOP OF
CALCUTTA BISHOP DEHORS REPUTATION ABROAD
DISTINGUISHED CHARACTERS BISHOP OF LONDON TWO
NAMES WELL-KNOWN WITn US INDEPENDENCE-DAT
RECOLLECTIONS OF DUBLIN ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL
CASTLES AND CHURCHES.
Y the hind permission of a member
of Bishop Bowen's family, Ave are
permitted to continue the pleasant
\%A memoirs of English travel, contained
in Mr. Trapier's communication, by
({noting from the Bishop's letters sent
home during that period :
'Chester, June 11, 1831.
" We go from this to-day to Chester, on our
way to London, delighted with the reception
LIFE OF BISHOP BO WEN. 97
we have met with in England, and with the
country thus far. It is, indeed, a glorious
country. Clouds hang over its political sky ;
may God, in His mercy, disperse them before
they break in a devastating tempest."
" Oxford. June 20th.
. " "We left our friends at Cheltenham on
Saturday, and came on to this city of colleges,
thinking to pass the Sunday extremely to our
satisfaction, where so much learning and piety
united ought always to be taken into the pul-
pits.
" To-day we have been very politely waited
on by a member of the University, to whom
we had taken a letter of introduction, and have
been shown Christ Church College (founded
by Cardinal Wolsey), with its magnificent hall
and gallery of portraits ; its beautiful library,
adorned with very many paintings, some of
which are by the first masters ; and its vener-
able cathedral, where Cranmer was exhibited
93 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN. .
to the gaze and scorn of the deluded people
(perhaps, however, there being as many among
them who honored him for his learning and
piety, and sympathized in all his feelings, as
of those who felt with Ins Popish persecutors),
while he went through the taunting and hu-
miliating formalities of degradation by the
delegates of Rome, just before his execution.
We visited St. Mary's Church, of which I had
always heard so much. It was here that
Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer, those martyrs
of the Reformation, were appointed their dis-
putation with Popish doctors, and required
to defend their opinions against the enemies
of truth in power, and the unrelenting per-
secutors of its adherents. A7e have seen also
the Radcliff Library, founded by the cele-
brated physician of that name."
" Loxdon, July 1, 1831.
" On Tuesday we made our visit to St.
Paul's Church, the next architectural wonder
LITE OF BISHOP BOWEX. 00
in Europe to St. Peter's at Pome. From this
we went to attend the meeting of the ' Society
for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign
Parts.' The meeting of this venerable Society,
at this time, was unexpected to me. Their an-
niversary is in February, I think. For some
reasons it was postponed this year, and I had
the rare good fortune of being present at it.
I was received, by the introduction of a friend,
in the committee-room, before the hour of
meeting, with great cordiality, and became
acquainted with the Archbishop of Canter-
bury, the Bishop of London, and many other
bishops and dignitaries whom I had yet no op-
portunity of seeing. The Rev. Daniel "Wilson,
whose work (' On the Evidences of Christian-
ity') I had thought so highly of, was among
those who very politely expressed their pleas-
ure at seeing the Bishop of South Carolina.
It is obvious that it is much owing to the as-
sociation, which at once brings before them
the idea of another Bishop of South Carolina,
100 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
that I am so kindly greeted by these distin-
guished ministers of the Church of England.
It is a gratifying evidence of the influence
which Bishop Dehoirs sermons have had to
recommend our Church to their esteem. The
hour having come for the Archbishop's taking
the chair, I was kindly invited to take my
place among the Society on the platform, and
was thus advantageously seated for observing
the business and proceedings of the day.
Several of the Bishops, and some noblemen,
spoke in a manner that gratified me much.
But the Bishop of London appeared to me to
be the supreme man of business, as well as
speaker. The Archbishop (Dr. Ilowley) pre-
sided with a mild dignity and firmness that
delighted me. I cannot detail to you the pro-
ceedings, and must satisfy myself with saying,
that I experienced a pleasure in being so favor-
ably present at this meeting, that was beyond
price, and the sense of which will last me long.
The Bishops of Quebec and Kova Scotia were
LIFE OF BISIIOP BOWEN. 101
present, with whom I was, of course, quite at
home."
"July 4th.
" I returned last night from a visit paid, by
special invitation, to the Bishop of London, at
his palace at Fulham. The invitation was to
dine and pass the night, both on Saturday and
Sunday.
" The visit was, in every way, most pleasant.
The Bishop is remarkable for the freedom and
affability of his deportment, placing his guests
perfectly at their ease, and that immediately.
" We had a small company at dinner on
Saturday, some of whom remained at the
palace over Sunday. The Bishop of Quebec
(Dr. Stewart) was one of these, and a Mr.
Sinclair, a member of Parliament from Scot-
land.
"Yesterday the Bishop himself preached,
both morning and afternoon, in the chapel of
the palace, the neighboring parish church of
Fulham (where Sherlock, Gibson, Lowth, and
9*
102 LIFE OF BISHOP BO WEN.
many of the Bishops of London have been
buried) being shut up on account of repairs.
" The discourses of the Bishop were highly
interesting, as well as his manner of uttering
them. We left him with regret, and strongly
impressed with the various excellence of his
character.
" Remember me to friends at church. Not
a Sunday passes, indeed not a day, without
their occupying my prayers and thoughts most
anxiously.
"The 4th of July! I do not forget its
claims on my feelings as an American.
" I must not close this, however, without
telling you of the very high gratification de-
rived from my visit to Dublin. To me it was
worth the voyage across the Atlantic. The
old Christ Church Cathedral and St. Patrick's
are anions the finest Gothic buildings in the
kingdom. They are indescribably solemn,
grand, and beautiful. Christ Church is the
oldest, and has been for some time partly in
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN. 103
ruins. It is now undergoing some repairs.
But in Ireland they can hardly afford to re-
place things where they were. These noble
and most magnificent churches were the result
of the whole wealth of the kingdom, put under
contribution for the pomp of the Church. In
later days, and since the Reformation, the case
is altered ; useful, but not so expensive build-
insrs are now erected. The remains of ancient
architecture in Egypt, Greece, etc., attest the
same thing which I have said of these castles
and churches in England and Ireland. They
imply the wealth of the whole country , for-
cibly so appropriated, so far as was necessary
for the purpose."
&lmUx %totlit\.
A FEW MOEE EXGLISH ITEMS FAEXnAM CASTLE
BISHOP BUMNEfi EXAMINATION OF CAXDIDATES BA-
EOXIAL HALL GUIDE TO THE DRAWIXG-ROOM A
RELATIVE OF CnAELESTOX FEIEXDS WAYEELEY AB-
BEY DIXXEE-PAETY OEDIXATIOX SUNDAY MB. MAR-
RIOTT BUST OF BISHOP DEHOX LAMBETH OLD
ASSOCIATIONS HOUSE OF LOEDS SALISBURY DEAN
PAESOX DISTRICT BIBLE SOCIETY FAITHFUL CLEEGY-
MEX WILTOX ABBEY BATn SMALL HOPES OF RE-
COVERY SETTIXG SAIL.
f E have one chapter left of Bishop
1 D
V
Bowen's English items. Our read-
*e
era will be sorry that this is all :
w^
"Faenham Castle, July 8, 1831.
"I am here on a visit, by previous
engagement, of a week, to spend two or three
days with the Bishop of Winchester (Dr.
Charles II. Sumner), one of the most interest-
ing men whom I have met with in England.
We arrived yesterday afternoon, having come
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN. 105
the whole way from Mr. L 's, forty miles,
between ten o'clock and five, in a post-chaise.
" Rapid travelling is a matter of course in
England. The Bishop, on our arrival, was
occupied with the examination of a number of
candidates for Orders (about twenty), who are
all to be ordained here on Sunday ; an occa-
sion of peculiar interest, and on account of
the occurrence of which the Bishop was kind
enough to propose to me to be with him. I
was introduced at once to mv chamber, and
Mr. T. to his, next to mine, where, as is the
case always in England, every thing was
found which is necessary to the comfort of the
travelling visitor. "When I had dressed and
refreshed myself a little, the Bishop (having
got through with the labors of the day) came
to visit me, and having sat a few minutes,
occupying the time with the most free and
friendly conversation, took his leave until the
dinner-bell should summon us to the draw-
ing-room at a quarter before seven. Here
106 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
at that hour were assembled, besides the
Bishop's family, all the young men that
are to be ordained, some deacons, and some
priests, making, in all, a company of about
thirty.
" We went to dinner in the great baronial
hall of the castle, of which the description is
so familiar in Scott's novels, although this, as
well as most other apartments of the building,
has been much modernized by bishops resident
here since the time of Charles II.
" The castle itself is a most venerable and
magnificent structure, having innumerable
apartments ; and, as to its plan, is so intricate
and perplexed that it is by no means easy to
avoid losing one's self, in going from one part
of it to the other. The inhabitants of such
buildings are so well aware of this, that they
make it a part of their hospitality to intimate
that when you wish to leave vour chamber,
you must call a servant, by ringing your bell.
I could certainly never have found my way to
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN. 107
the drawing-room without this help, nor can I
venture to-day to go without a guide.
u The Mr. IToare, of a visit to whom I wrote
you, is here with his wife, and our time passes
very pleasantly. By the way, among the
clergy at dinner with the Bishop yesterday,
I found a Mr. II., who is a relation of our
friends in Charleston, and a very amiable and
worthy clergyman. I will stop for the pres-
ent, as we are to take a drive of a few miles
to see some ruins, and Moore Park, the seat
formerly of Sir William Temple, where Swift,
when a subject of Sir William's patronage, in
his earlier life, used to spend much time. . . .
" Yv r e have had our drive, and been much
delighted. The ruin is that of an abbey
(Waverley Abbey), founded in old times, and
some of it is in good preservation. We passed
also close to a grotto, where Swift is said, when
he was Sir William Temple's guest, to have
delighted to retire for reading.
" At dinner, at half-past six, all the candi-
108 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
dates were again assembled, and nothing could
exceed the interest of the scene, of the Bishop
and these young men about to be sent forth,
under his auspices, to labor in the vineyard,
thus holding free and' social intercourse at his
own table, and receiving from his manner and
conversation the additional impression of the
office they are to administer, thus so favorably
afforded. With the Bishop and his family, I
have been myself greatly delighted, and it is
peculiarly gratifying to me to see my amiable
fellow-traveller, by this visit, brought into in-
tercourse, the most familiar, with many clergy-
men of the Church of England, from whom he
cannot but receive the most favorable impres-
sions of the body.
" The courtesy and kindness which we ex-
perienced from them is more than we expected,
and such as to make us everywhere very much
at home, while the sacred character of these
ministers of Christ exhibits itself always in a
manner that induces respect and esteem."
LIFE OF BISHOP BO WEN. 109
"Farniiam Castle, Sunday, July 10.
" We have to-day been gratified, in a very
high degree indeed, by being present, under
the most favorable circumstances imaginable,
at an English Ordination. Every thing was
solemn and interesting, and I was particularly
happy of the opportunity, the first since I
have been in England, of attending the Com-
munion. Again these many subjects of his
superintendence have dined with their Bishop,
and to-night they disperse."
" London, July 16, 1831.
" Yesterday Mr. Marriott, the very worthy
lawyer, magistrate, etc., who was principally
instrumental in the republication, in England,
of Bishop Dehon's sermons, called and re-
mained to dinner, and until late in the even-
ing. The interest which this good man takes
in our Church in America is warm, affection-
ate, and effectually practical. The bust of
Bishop Dehon, by Mr. Cogdel, was received
10
110 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
by him, and passed over to the Secretary of
the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel
in Foreign Parts. He is not the Secretary of
either Society, nor has been.
"The bust, he thinks, was by mistake sent
to the Society which has it, as it was the So-
ciety for the Promotion of Christian Knowl-
edge which occasioned the publication of the
sermons. My impression is, that Mr. Cogdel
intended it for the Society for the Propagation
of the Gospel, of which a clergyman by the
name of Hamilton is the Secretary, and whom
I shall get to acknowledge Mr. Cogdel's highly
acceptable present.
" To-morrow I shall visit the Archbishop's
palace at Lambeth, he having kindly offered
to go with me, or if he cannot go on account
of the pressure of business upon him, now
very great, to send some one with me to show
me the apartments. I cannot leave England
without seeing this. It is a place of prodigious
interest to me. Bishops White and Provost
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWF.X. Ill
were consecrated in the chapel of the palace,
and this alone might reasonably make me de-
sirous to see it ; but, besides this, it has been
the residence of so many men famous in the
history of the Church of England, that I shall
be delighted to visit the scene of their interest-
ing lives. . . .
"My visit to Lambeth Palace, which was
deferred until to-day, has been made, and I
have found it highly interesting. The Arch-
bishop sent to say, that the pressure of busi-
ness would not let him accompany me, but
that I should have every facility I required.
He is expending an immense sum in repairs,
probably not less than 50,000. I have, of
course, seen where Bishops White and Provost
were consecrated. That alone was worth the
trouble. But there is much to interest one,
in looking at the magnificent hall, which the
present Archbishop has converted into a
library, beautifully fitted up for the purpose ;
and the Lollard's Tower, where the unfor-
112 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
tunate prisoners, indicted and condemned for
heresy in the time of Henry Y., with Lord
Cobham at their head, were chained to the
wall the iron fastenings, in the wall, being
still shown to which they were secured. The
new apartments which the Archbishop is
malum: will be most beautiful and convenient.
On our return from Lambeth, we found the
streets leading to Mr. W.'s lodgings, where I
had engaged to go, obstructed by the parade
of their Majesties, going in state to the House
of Lords, to return thanks for the bill which
had been passed last week, for granting the
Queen a dower. It was with difficulty we
could get along.
The military and policemen lined the streets,
and coaches and carriages innumerable blocked
up every avenue. The people of London rush
in immense crowds to all such scenes, and idle-
ness and vice are the order of the day. 1 ct
these pageants are necessary, especially at
present, to amuse the popular mind, and di-
LIFE OF BISHOP EOWEN. 113
vert it from the irritating subject of the oppo-
sition to the ' Reform Bill,' now pending in
Parliament."
" Salisbury, July 17th.
" On arriving here I sent word to the Dean
(Dr. Parson), whom I had met at the Bishop
of Winchester's, and who had requested me
to be his guest when I came to Salisbury, that
I would wait on him in the evening. In less
than an hour the Dean came in search of me,
and most cordially and aifectionately welcom-
ing me to Salisbury, urged me to go at once
to the Deanery, or, at least, order my baggage
there immediately, and come to dinner at five.
To this I consented ; and going at the ap-
pointed hour, I found several of the clergy of
the neighborhood, who had come to Salisbury
to attend a meeting of the District Bible So-
ciety, assembled to partake of the amiable
Dean's hospitality. The company of these-
gentlemen proved to me very agreeable, with
the character and conversation of some of
10-
Hi LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
whom I was much, struck. The Secretary of
the Society, especially, I found a man of ex-
cellent sense, and of manners indicating the
character of the sound-minded Christian pas-
tor. "With others, the conversation was free
and full about their Church and ours. My
acquaintance among them has led me to
esteem them very highly. I have, indeed, yet
never met with any but pious, zealous, and
faithful ministers of the Gospel among the
clergy of the Church of England. The Dean
of Salisbury, with whom I took up my abode
by his friendly invitation, is one against whom,
I am sure, the charge can never lie, of any
want of faithfulness in his ministry. His in-
dividual character interests me greatly, a*s well
.as his ecclesiastical.
"Mr. T. and Mr. M. got back yesterday;
.and the Dean rode out with us to give us
& sight of w Wilton Abbey,' the seat of the
Earl of Pembroke, with which we were de-
lighted."
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN. 115
" Bath, August 24th.
" I am here for the benefit of the bathing,
which I hope and think is felt. So far, there-
t
fore, I am encouraged to hope that I may re-
turn home considerably better. That I shall
be quite rid of the complaint that is distress-
ing me, is more than I ought to expect. May
God only enable me, by His blessing on the
means which I have been pursuing for the re-
covery of my strength, to be of some use still
to the Church ; or should He see fit that I
should continue under His afflicting hand, to
acquiesce with a true resignation in the wise
and just appointments of His will. It has
been a great blessing to me to be all this sum-
mer exempt from pain."
The following is the conclusion of a letter
written on leaving London :
" We sail to-morrow in the ' Lady Rowena,'
Heally, the kindness I have experienced in
England lays me under great obligation to
116 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
the very many who have extended it to me ;
and, above all, to Him who is the great
source of all good, and who makes His crea-
tures kindly to help and comfort one an- i
other."
BISHOP BGWEX's COXVEXTIOXAL ADDRESS FOP. 1831 TIIK
DEATH OF TWO NOBLE BISHOPS FITTING TRIBUTE TO
TnEIR MEMORIES BISHOP RATEXSCROFT niS CHARAC-
TER FAIRLY SKETCHED BISnOP nOBART HIS ACTIVITY
AXD ZEAL HIS FRANKNESS AXD GENEROSITY OF SOUL,
AXD OTHER KINDRED QUALITIES A GREAT XECESSITY,
wnicn Bisnop BO WEN did xot live loxg enough to
SEE SUPPLIED CHURCH SCHOOLS "WISE COUXSELS.
T tlie Convention of the Diocese of
South Carolina, which met in Feb-
ruary, of the same year in which
Bishop Bowen went to Europe, he
mentioned, in most fitting words, the
great loss which the American Church
had recently sustained, in the death of Bishops
Bavenscroft and Hobart. He had known and
loved them both, and our readers will be glad
to see the touching tribute to departed worth,
which came fresh from his bleeding heart.
Bishop Bavenscroft had died on the 5th of
118 LITE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
March, 1830. His right reverend brother of
South Carolina thus speaks of this sad event :
"When, in March, the death of the Bishop
of North Carolina was announced, we felt and
mourned the afflicting dispensation. Although
the intercourse of business, or of society, was
less between us and our brethren of that dio-
cese than of others generally, yet we had seen
in Dr. Baveriscroft a man of God, singularly
qualified, as an agent of His grace, to bear His
truth, in all its perfection and effect, to the
minds of a numerous population, long wander-
ing as sheep without a shepherd, and becoming
more and more estranged from the Church,
and the influence of its offices. We saw him
bearing, before a world at enmity with God,
the stamp of holiness to the Lord, so visibly
Impressed upon him as to awaken an awe and
reverence seldom excited by individual charac-
ter; and we saw, mingled with the stern and
uncompromising advocacy of all that he held
to be the truth and will of God, the tenderness
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEX. 119
and gentleness of the real lover of immortal
souls, ever ready to coin fort the feeble-minded,
support the iceah, and he patient toioards all
?ne?i. None could know this excellent prelate
without admiration of his energetic, ardent,
ever-active devotion of himself, soul) body, and
spirit, to the objects of his sacred calling; or,
without finding his respect and homage indis-
putably required for intellectual powers of un-
common compass, and for principles of con-
duct than which none more elevated or pure
could actuate a human being. None could
have the experience of him, which the inter-
course of business or society gives, without
loving in him an integrity, bright and clear
as the unclouded mid-day sun; a frankness
that made bare his heart, with all its feelings
and motives, to all who chose to know them ;
a benevolence that would have made no sacri-
fice of self objectionable for a moment, in the
service of the humblest of his fellow-creatures ;
a temper which, however seemingly marked
120 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
with harshness and austerity, at the distance
at which he was seen and known by the gen-
erality of men, in the execution of the high
commission of God's ambassador to guilty men,
yet made him blandly accessible to all of
every rank or age, and tenderly welcome to
his counsel, his sympathy, and his aid. How,
therefore, could we forbear to mourn with our
brethren of North Carolina the death of their
beloved and most honored Bishop ? He was,
indeed, reasonably to be lamented by all the
members alike of our household of faith. The
influences of his ministry, as distinguished for
its apostolical purity, piety, and fortitude, as
its ability, were becoming universally diffused.
Only a few years had been allotted to this so
highly-valued man, to do the work to which
he had seemed, in an almost extraordinary
manner, to be called. Filling vj) his time
with work, and his work with spirit, he was
enabled, in that comparatively small space of
years, to accomplish much in strengthening,
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN. 121
establishing, and settling the Church in which
he presided ; and if some error of policy has
been attributed to his administration (certainly
no other could be), it was the error of virtue
which, with no real admirer of honest zeal like
his, could be the possible subject of reproach."
The Church had not recovered from the
shock occasioned by Bishop Eavenscroft's
death, when another trial came. Bishop Ho-
bart died on the field of active labor, and in
the very prime of his days, on the 12th of Sep-
tember, 1830.
Bishop Bowen thus gave utterance to his
grief :
" There are those among us who long, with
personal intimacy, were conversant with the
excellencies of the late lamented Bishop Ho-
bart ; and who admired and loved in him a
rare combination of qualities of mind and
heart, fitting him, in any walk or scene of
life, to appear in a manner that could not but
bring him honor. In the Church, we saw
11
122 LIFti OF BISHOP BO WEN".
those qualities exerted in the production of an
effect that, lias, perhaps, been seldom seen in
any individual instance among us, so extensive
and bo memorable. Constitutionally active,
energetic, and strong, both in mind and body,
he early gave all his powers to a service to
which the most fervent piety, from early
youth, had dedicated him ; and never was
there a minister of Christ, whose life was more
constantly, more indefatigably, more entirely
devoted to the dnties to which his Ordination
pledged him. Of the effect of the noble talent
continually exerted by Dr. Ilobart in this ser-
vice; of the consuming zeal, which gave him
a living sacrifice to its claims upon his time,
lii- thoughts, his action ; of the wise and most
skilful conduct with "which he was unweari-
edly putting its interest forward ; the frank-
ness and suavity, the benevolent and generous
temper, with which he was always winning
friends, hound to it the more strongly, for the
love even of him who had been the instru-
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN. 123
incut of their attachmenl to it, I could aot
pretend to speak, without a detail of eulogium,
for which this i- not the occasion, and whose
length, if it were, I could aol possibly make
consistent with our business here, [ndeed, In
nothing that I could utter before you on the
subject, could I speak either your sense of the
value of the character, and services of Bishop
Hobart to the Protestant Episcopal Church in
these United States, or my own."
Bishop Bowen had passed away before our
Church had provided for the wants of her chil-
dren, by the establishment of institutions of
learning, of jrade, for males and female .
where her sons might grow up as the young
plants, and her daughters become as the pol-
ished corners of the temple. He felt the Lack
of such.schools most deeply; and, m the con-
clusion of the address from which we have
drawn so largely, thus boldly speaks his mind.
May his wise counsels never be forgotten :
"The children of our congregations soon
124 LIFE OF BISHOP BO WEN.
cease to be subjects of our Sunday-school in-
struction, and then are so removed by one of
the greatest, I could almost say, of all possible
evils to us as a Church, our want of schools,
conducted in conformity with the doctrines
and principles we profess, that, in general,
without extraordinary care on the parents'
part, Sunday-school impressions become swept
utterly away without the benefit remaining
of any others, of which we can avail our-
selves, for the formation, by our pastoral la-
bors, of sound religious character. I beseech
you, brethren, to let this evil be laid seriously
to heart. It is our dutv, to the utmost that
we can, to provide that the children of our
churches be committed to no other schools,
but such as are Episcopalian in their charac-
ter not for the sake of keeping our children
Episcopalians (however proper it may be for
us to desire to keep them so), but for the sake
of keeping thorn Christians; because the char-
acter of religious instruction, at other schools,
LIFE OF BISnOP BOWEN. 125
will be either neutral, which is of no avail ; or
decidedly sectarian, of which parents will not
avail themselves; or, for fear of jealousy and
discontent, none at all. Let Sunday-schools,
under the unhappy circumstances to which, as
to this important interest, we are subject, be
availed of to the utmost. "We may, in some
degree, succeed by their means to form the
religious character for life, and make our chil-
dren the children of God before the world
and its evil shall make them unchangeably
theirs."
11
FAR FROM BEJNG WELL GRADUAL INROADS OF DISEASE
VIGOR OF MIND UNSUBDUED PERIODICAL RELIGIOUS
EXCITEMENTS VALUABLE ADMONITIONS a REVIVALS"
DANGERS OF AN ECCENTRIC ENTHUSIASM DIFFER-
ENCES OF OPINION AMONG BRETHREN PROPER RE-
GARD FOR TnE EXTERNALS OF RELIGION TASTE FOR
CHURCH ARCHITECTURE ONE "WAY TO QUIET A DIS-
TURBED MIND A BISHOP'S PECULIAR TROUBLES
KINDNESS TO THE POOR.
LTIIOUGH Bishop Bowen felt the
vv benefit of his excursion abroad, in
f^~s^C ^ ie temporary alleviation of his suf-
^ ferings, ho was by no means restored
to health. His disease was unsub-
dued, and it gradually grew worse
and worse, lie, indeed, struggled on for sev-
eral years longer, but lie was never free from
its painful inflictions.
It was really wonderful how one, who was
such a martyr to suffering, could accomplish
so much for the Church. His mind retained
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEX. 127
its original vigor, and the counsels which lie
gave to the clergy and laity of his diocese
were worthy of his better days.
As seasons of unusual religions interest re-
turn, as it were, almost periodically, his re-
marks on this subject, in his address of 1S32,
are too valuable to be lost, and will be appro-
priate to all times :
" In some portions of the diocese an extra-
ordinary religious action has produced an ex-
citement more than usual. Of the effects of
this, were our hopes to be influenced by the
example of similar occurrences at other sea-
sons, under different auspices and in other
places, we should be bound to suspend them
until time should show whether the work of
men had received a sufficiently legible impress
of the Spirit of God. Decidedly persuaded
that the name of ' revivals,' with the sense
commonlv affixed to it, given to such occur-
rences, assumes for them more than we are
authorized to admit of special Divine interpo-
128 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
sition and blessing, I will not refuse to ac-
knowledge any satisfactory evidence which a
happy change of individual and social reli-
gious character may afford, that peculiar exer-
tions of zeal have produced results making a
befitting subject for the Church's joy. With
respect to such exertions of zeal, however, in
gathering the people to religious assemblings
for several successive days to the sospension,
or at least the interruption, in a greaf degree,
of the engagements of common life, pursued
under the authority of the law from Keaven,
which gives to mankind six days for labor
in all that they have to do I cannot hut be
strongly persuaded, at least of their inexpedi-
ency, except under rare and very peculiar cir-
cumstances. In all places where the regular
ministry of the Word and Sacraments is had,
and the offices of the Church are celebrated
on the Lord's day, under circumstances imply-
ing their generally happy influence, and be
speaking the satisfaction of the people with
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN. 129
the manner of their administration, I could not
receive any other impression of such assem-
blings than that they must tend more to con-
fusion than edification. I need not state more
particularly the character of the exceptions to
which I allude. Nor need I indulge the ap-
prehension, I trust, of the existence anywhere
within our borders of an eccentric enthusiasm,
which, under the name of zeal, will mistake
the religion of imagination, feeling, and words
for that of the judgment, and the heart, and
life, and postpone, in importance, the approved
order and doctrine of the Church, having in-
dispensable claims to be observed, to every
temporary and varying device of individual
caprice or pride. I am happy in knowing, as
yet, nothing among us that can, in any de-
gree, merit the imputation. of such error ; and
will only further remark of the excitement
which the extraordinary movements referred
to are made to produce, that, in general, its
tendency is to the rejection of the proper in-
130 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
fluence of pastoral counsel and authority, and
to admit of no confinement of its operation
within limits of the Church's prescribing ; and
that where such is the case, and any other
effect comes from it than that which exhibits
our congregations more grounded and settled
in the sober, Scriptural, practical Christianity
of our Church, its influence becomes a reason-
able matter of regret. That such good effect
may, by an adequate vigilance, discretion, and
ability, on the part of ministers, be made to
come from it, I would not dispute ; but that
the exertion of the same vigilance, discretion,
and ability, combined with the utmost pos-
sible activity, in the ordinary noiseless tenor
of our Church's way of ministry, is more to
be relied on fur an influence, gladdening to the
souls of those who love the Lord Jesus Christ
in sincerity, and approved of III m of whom
the whole body of the Church is governed and
sanctified, is my sincere and deliberate convic-
tion. I shall regret, at the same time, to differ,
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEff. 131
in entertaining such, convictions, from any of
my brethren."
"While Bishoj) Bowen's well-balanced mind
never gave undue prominence to the externals
of religion, he was too wise a man not to
know that a proper regard for such things was
very important in its place. Thus his refined
taste was always gratified to behold improve-
ments in church buildings, and in the more
orderly arrangements for public worship.
The venerable Dr. Hanckel, rector of St.
Paul's Church, Badcliffeborough, thus alludes
to this, in a letter to the writer : " He was fond
of the chaste and beautiful in architectural
efforts or designs, and again and again has he
stood with me and admired the harmonious
proportions of the church of which I am the
rector, and said that the contemplation soothed
his feelings ; and that he often went by it, on his
way home, to view it, when chafed or disturbed
in mind, by any thing that affected the peace
or prosperity of the Church, in his diocese."
132 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
The office of a Bishop calls for the possession
of uncommon prudence and decision ; and it is
universally acknowledged that Bishop Bowen
possessed these qualities in a high degree.
Although he lived in a trying period of the
Church's history, he proved himself a most
skilful pilot, and the harmony among the
clergy and people of his charge remained un-
interrupted to the last.
We have been so constantly occupied in
tracing Bishop Bowen's career, as an overseer
of a large diocese, that we are afraid that our
readers may lose sight of the fact that, dur-
ing all this period, he has been discharging his
duties, as a parish minister, with the most
commendable faithfulness.
Not content with instructing the people in
church, he went about from house to house;
and while the wealthy and the refined rejoiced
in their pastor's visits, the humblest dwelling
of the poor was often cheered by his welcome
presence.
\mhx |iftmtth
CARE FOR TnE COLORED POPULATION SOLEMN ADMO-
NITIONS EXAMPLE OF DR. GADSDEN TRUE VIEW OF
SUNDAY-SCHOOLS NEVER TO BE NEGLECTED BY THE
CLERGY TnE ABUNDANT LABORS OF AN INVALID
ATTENDANCE AT GENERAL CONVENTIONS DUTIES AT
HOME "WHERE THERE IS A WILL, THERE IS A WAY"
CHURCHES RISING UP FROM THE ASnES TOKENS OF
PROSPERITY MERCIES AND AFFLICTIONS DEATn OF
TWO CLERGYMEN CATECHISM FOR THE NEGROES MR.
BOONE 1 S SELF-DENYING LABORS.
HE colored population, forming so
large and interesting a portion of the
. ^ flock over which God has placed His
ministering servants to watch, was
never lost sight of by Bishop Bo wen ;
and he availed himself of every suit-
able opportunity to impress upon the minds
of the clergy their solemn obligation to look
after their spiritual welfare. The example of
good Dr. Gadsden, in St. Philip's Church, was
frequently referred to as one which should
12
134 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
incite others to imitate his faithfulness, and
as affording the clearest evidence of God's
blessing.
Tlie Bishop wa no less frequent in his sug-
gestions in regard to the proper management
of Sunday-schools. We have no room for ex-
tended quotations, but a single sentence pre-
sents tliis subject in its true light: " The Sun-
dav-school should be the minister's school, con-
J 7
ducted under his authority and inspection, by
such suitable assistants as he may obtain, the
lessons of which should be prepared under the
observation and with the help of parents."*
>n'o one who takes up one of Bishop Bowen's
addresses, at this period, and reads of his abun-
dant laborSj would suppose that he could pos-
sibly have been an invalid, suffering daily
from the encroachments of disease. lie is
generally found in his place, at each assembly
of the General Convention, giving the weight
" Conventional Address for 1835." Journal, p. 14.
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEX. 135
of lils mature judgment, whenever questions
of importance required. Xo duty was neg-
lected at home ; and, if disabled from the per-
formance of it in one way, he was pretty sure
of devising some method by which it might be
accomplished in another.
At the Convention of 1836, he mentions,
with lively satisfaction, that two of the places
of public worship in Charleston, which had
been destroyed by fire, had risen once more
from their ashes (St. Stephen's Chapel and
St. Philip's Church). The number of clergy-
men was also increasing, and the laity were
active and liberal.
The Bishop's address for the following year
begins with an enumeration of the mercies
and afflictions which an all-wise Providence
had sent. " I would acknowledge before you,
with affectionate gratitude, the Divine good-
ness, so far extended to me, as to admit of
my going through the duties of the year,
without any interruption from ill-health. In
136 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
only one instance have I been prevented from
attending the regular stated offices of the
Church; nor on any occasion of specially ap-
pointed duty have I been unable, from that
cause, to fulfil my engagement. At the same
time I rejoice with you, brethren, towards God,
that among those occupied in the pastoral
ministry of our churches generally, the same
blessing has so abounded, during seasons of
more than usual sickness and affliction, that
they have almost all been permitted, with
little or no interruption, to prosecute their
work.
"But rejoicing in that we have received good
at the hand of God, we are called to the exer-
cise of resignation, under the experience also
of calamity. Two valued ministers have been
removed from us by death. Dr. Dalcho was
taken to his rest in the month of November
last, after a short acute illness ; and has left a
name honored by his industry and faithfulness
in the ministry, and his various labors for the
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN. 137
edification and good of the Church. In the
office of Secretary of this body for many
years, yon will readily recall, and will retain
with interest in your minds, the memory of
his amiable, patient, and faithful conduct. lie
served St. Michael's Church from the year
1819 ; and although disabled as to the duties
which he long with so cheerful assiduity per-
formed, was continued and supported, as an
assistant minister of that Church until his
death. The death of Mr. Cobia, late assistant
minister of St. Philip's Church, is a signally
affecting providence. Gifts of uncommon ex-
cellence, and proportionate acquirements re-
sulting from uncommon industry and ardor in
the improvement of the best advantages, had
in his case been devoted to the service of
Christ in the ministry of his Church, with a
zeal and energy, a fidelity and holiness, which
f . made his name a praise in all our Zion, are
the promise of his life the fond delight iiim-
who love her prosperity and honor, j^e but
12*
138 LIFE OF BISHOP BO WEN.
although of so short a term, had his ministry
been marked with singular efficiency and suc-
cess. Arrested by disease in the third year of
its progress, he continued for fourteen months,
a living sacrifice to claims on his time and
strength, which, in the zeal of his dedication
of himself to the ministry, he had perhaps es-
timated with error, and was, in February last,
called to the reward of him who is ' faithful
imto death.' I mourn with you, brethren, in
him, a loss to our Church, and the whole
Christian community, of one who, in the high
estimation in which he was held, was not
overvalued, and who cannot fail to be re-
membered among us, with lasting esteem
and honor."
He mentions that a Catechism for the in-
struction of the negroes, which had been care-
fully prepared, would soon be ready for dis-
l a: bution ; and he expresses the hope that
namuy prove instrumental in doing great
in the l
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN. 139
Among the clergy who took an active part
in the work of evangelizing the slave popula-
tion, the name of the present Bishop of China
appears conspicuous.
" The Hev. Mr. Boone, whom I have men-
tioned as serving at the church at Goose-Creek,
at my request, chiefly for the benefit of the
neighboring plantations, has given a signal ex-
ample of self-devoting zeal. During the whole
of the summer months, he gave himself, at
great expense of personal convenience, to this
work, going on every Sunday from the city, a
distance of sixteen miles, and after holding
service for a large congregation of these peo-
ple, and instructing them at the Church and
elsewhere, returning, as was necessary, in the
evening. I regret, that with a disposition to
be thus useful in the ample field of missionary
work, which there is among ourselves, this
esteemed minister could not be retained in the
service of the diocese. Having destined him-
self to that of foreign missions, we have but
140 LIFE OF BISHOP EOWEN.
to let our prayers go up for him, that wherever
his lot of labor may be cast, the blessing of
the Spirit of grace and love may abide with
him, to strengthen, comfort, prosper, and re-
ward him."
(S^apter SnUnttfr.
THE CONVENTION OF 1839 BISIIOP BOWEX S LAST AD-
DRESS TIIE CLAIMS OF MISSIONS A GRAPIIIO PICTURE
DRAWN FROM REAL LIFE TIIE SUBJECT OF CnURCH
SCHOOLS ONCE MORE VOICE FROM TIIE TOMB SEC-
TARIAN EDUCATION OBJECTIONS ANSWERED INSTITU-
TIONS WHICH IIAYE SPECIAL CLAIMS ON CIIUECIIMEN.
HE Convention which met in St.
Michael's Church, Charleston, Feb-
ruary lGth, 1839, was the last which
Bishop Bowen was ever to attend.
His address was earnest, and touched
upon various points of interest to the
diocese, and the Church at large.
He urged upon all, the duty of doing more
for the cause of missions. As this is the last
occasion when his solemn admonitions were to
be uttered, our readers will not be sorry to
have the whole passage before them.
" It is especially painful to consider the in-
adequacy of our means of supporting minis-
142 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
ters as missionaries. Tlie utmost that the
treasury of our General Board of Missions will
admit of, in the way of provision for the field
of evangelical labor in our ^Northwestern, West-
ern, and Southwestern States and Territories,
is inadequate to their supply with even the
necessaries of life ; and the precarious and
scanty contributions of the people among whom
they serve, go not far, in many instances, to
make up the deficiency. The picture drawn
from the sad reality which he had often pain-
fully witnessed, by the Bishop of Tennessee,
when presenting the claims of our missionary
interests, in his sermon before the Board of
Missions, during the sitting of our late Gen-
eral Convention, is indisputably faithful, and I
cannot but place it before you. ' I am con-
vinced,' says the eloquent preacher, ' that the
support given to our missionaries is inade-
quate. I am intimately acquainted with many
of them, with their trials, wants, and difficul-
ties, and justice requires me to declare that,
LITE OF BISHOP BOWEN. 143
with hardly an exception, I do not know a
more zealous, self-denying, and laborious body
of men upon earth. I could present to you a
picture, upon this subject, the outlines and
shades all true to real life, the contemplation
of which would stir in every one here the
sacred source of sympathetic tears, but that
I apprehend your own favored circumstances
would hardly permit you to realize its fidelity.
I could take you to more than one little vil-
lage in the far West, where you should see an
humble and faithful minister of the Gospel,
toiling day after day, through years of weari-
ness and patient endurance in the school-house,
to eke out a scanty but outwardly decent sup-
port for himself and family ; the marrow dry-
ing up, the meanwhile, in his bones ; the flesh
wasting from his body, and the spirit breaking
and dying in his heart, under the pressure of
incessant toil, and under the withering blight
of neglect and contempt. *You should see him
at nightfall, wending Ins heavy way to his
144: LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
comfortless home, to seek, in the privacy of his
lonely retirement, communion with his God,
as a balm to heal the wounds of his anxious
heart. You should see him on Sunday, walk-
ing with downcast eyes, and bent form, to
some deserted store-house, or abandoned tene-
ment, to meet a little congregation for worship,
and to preach, to them the riches of redeeming
love. The next day finds him again engaged
in the drudgery of the school-room ; his only
solace the consciousness that he is faithfully
striving to do his duty the hope that the set
time to bless his humble labors will presently
come that his brethren will sympathize with
him, and will help him with a liberal hand
and a praying heart, at least that others will
enter upon his labors, when he is gone, and
received to his reward in heaven. Thus he
lives through years, over the dreary hours of
which no ray of light is shed, save that which
beams dimly from distant and often deferred
iiope, till disgust and weariness insupportable
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN. 145
come over his spirit, and lie flies from the
scene of his mortifications and trials, to find
in some other spot a resting-place, where
he may again begin to sow in hope, and
water with his tears. Believe me, brethren,
I speak the words of truth and soberness,
when I declare to yon, that this is no over-
wrought picture, and that fancy has borrowed
nothing from her stores, to give strength to
its colors.' "
We had occasion to* notice, at a much
earlier period of his Episcopate, how urgent
the Bishop was with reference to the sup-
port of Church schools. His remarks on this
subject, offered, as it were, with his dying
breath, should be regarded as a voice from
the grave :
" It was gratifying, in a rery high degree, to
him who addresses you, to find, at length, the
interest of education, as a real and most im-
portant interest of religion and the Church,
receiving the attention of our clergy and laity
l
o
146 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
assembled in the General Convention. It has
always seemed to many having a sincere con-
cern for the Church, that the oversight of pro-
vision for the education of ouf own youth,
under our own auspices, had been vitally in-
jurious. How far it may be too late to redeem
what has thus been lost, to that which we con-
sider the interest of truth and piety, in our
borders, experience must be had to show.
Schools and academies, it is hoped, will soon,
under the influence of the sentiment which
lias manifested itself, be instituted, in addition
to those already happily in operation ; and the
wish, in which they had their origin, be made
good, to incorporate the principles of Christian
truth, as the only principles of virtue and hap-
piness, with the whole character of the mind
and life, in their growth to maturity. There
is still, however, a very prevailing objection
among members of our communion, and
among them almost alone, to what is termed
sectarian education. I freely confess that 1
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN. 147
tliink the sentiment erroneous. Yon cannot
now be detained with the argument, which
might show it to be so. All the denomina-
tions into which the Christian world has be-
come divided, it must suffice me at present to
remark, have long since practically evinced
their sense of the necessity of conforming the
minds of their young, by education, to their
peculiar principles, in order that their instruc-
tion in religion might be of any permanent
avail ; and it is time, perhaps, that Protestant
Episcopalians should cease to he afraid, where
no fear reasonably is, of being reproached
with the bigotry of being, in some degree,
consistent. It is time for all to countenance
no more ^liberalizing away of all the moral
influences of education. There is, surely, no
bigotry in desiring to transmit to others, who
are in their generation to follow us, the prin-
ciples which we hold ourselves ; and I see not
how this can be, without elementary and aca-
demic education, at least not at enmity with
148 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
those principles. All our missionary action
abroad, that has now any prospect of success,
has taken education for its ground. If educa-
tion is thus recognized as a proper instrument
of conversion, may we not recognize its im-
portance as a principle of stability and safety ?
It may be proper to mention, in connection
with this subject, St. Paul's College, on Long
Island, in the diocese of New York ; Wash-
ington College, Hartford, in that of Connecti-
cut : the academy which has been instituted
by the Bishop of Vermont, at Burlington ;
and the Episcopal Academy of Raleigh, North
Carolina, as designed to carry into effect the
principle here had in view. The Bishop of
New Jersey has essayed also, "\Mfch his char-
acteristic energy of zeal, in this important,
department of good ; and Kenyon College,
Ohio, will claim the confidence of the Church,
it is believed, as giving opportunity of re-
ligious education, according to the views
which are entertained among Protestant Epis-
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN. 149
copalians, without encroaching on any claim
which. Christians of other denominations may
have, to the general advantage of the insti-
tution."
13*
HEALTH RAPIDLY DECLINING CHANGE OF CLIMATE PRE-
FERRED SETTING HIS HOUSE IN OPDER INCREASING
SUFFERINGS VISITS OF TnE CLERGY CHILD-LIKE HU-
MILITY THE LAST SUNDAY PRAYERS FOR A FAMILY
IN AFFLICTION DEATH BURIAL FUNERAL SERMON
RESOLUTIONS AT THE CONVENTION OF 1S40 TRIBUTE
FROM ENGLAND PUBLICATION OF SERMONS CONCLU-
SION.
URIKG the spring and summer of
1839, the friends of Bishop Bo wen
observed, with sorrow and alarm,
that his health began rapidly to de-
cline. A change of climate was ad-
vised; and though, after some hesita-
tion, he consented to make the experiment, his
feeble condition prevented him from setting
out on the journey. lie now turned all his
thoughts towards that event which seemed so
fast approaching his departure to a better
world. At length the time for his departure
drew nigh. His sufferings were severe and
\g0Jft)
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN. 151
lasted long, but they were not too severe, nor
did they last too long for his patience and sub-
mission. He was confined to his house for
weeks before his death ; and much prayer was
made of the Church for him. His clergy went
often to see him, and were always welcomed.
Their attentions seemed to soothe him. He
valued their affection, their conversation, and
their prayers. His spirit was more and more
meek. The grace of his child-like humility
shone brighter and brighter. lie was free
from self-reliance, and rested his soul with en-
tire confidence on the all-sufficiency of his
Saviour, and found peace in Him. He spoke
with beautiful composure of his willingness to
depart, and was occupied much with concern
for his diocese, expressing an earnest hope
that the blessing of their Divine Head would
rest upon the clergy and the people.
On Sunday, August 25th, as his parishion-
ers were about to assemble in the house of
God, he entered into his rest. The presbyter,
152 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
who had been his assistant-minister, regarding
the congregation as a household bereaved of
their father, used the prayers for a family in
affliction, and many a tear in that stricken
flock bore witness to the love they had for
their pastor, who, as presbyter and bishop,
had ministered to them longer than any one
they have had with them before or since. His
body was borne to the grave by his sorrowing
clergy, and now reposes by the side of his
predecessor, under the chancel of that church
within whose precincts, and to whose congre-
gation, lie had so long and so usefully minis-
tered.
Many sermons wore delivered upon the oc-
casion of Bishop Bowen's death ; but as Ave
have not' room for all, we shall give an extract
from one which was preached in St. Peter's
Church, Augusta, Georgia, by the rector :
"The present, my brethren, is the first op-
portunity which has occurred for noticing, from
this place, a dispensation of Divine Providence,
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN. 153
which is to be regarded as marking a 'day of
adversity' to the Church. Since we last as-
sembled here, it has pleased the Almighty
Head of the Church to transfer, from his
earthly labors to his heavenly reward, his
servant, the Eight Bev. Nathaniel Bowen,
Bishop of the diocese of South Carolina.
Bishop Bowen was also at the time of his
death, and had been for several years before,
Provisional Bishop of the diocese of Georgia,
kindly exercising Episcopal offices in our few
parishes, from time to time, as the claims of
his own diocese, and his somewhat impaired
health and strength, permitted. When the
' righteous perisheth,' we ought to i lay it to
heart ;' and especially when, as in the case be-
fore us, an eminent servant of God, connected
with us by more than ordinary ties, is taken
away, we may, and indeed it does but evince
a due sensibility to the hand of God, that we
should ' consider' well the extent of our be-
reavement in his removal, in order that we
154 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
may be affected with a due sense of gratitude
to Him who bestowed him upon us, as well as
our dependence upon Him who may, at any
moment, withdraw the blessing which he con-
fer* Upon such exercise of consideration, in
the present case, it requires but a very brief
view of the character of this most estimable
prelate to make us sensible that, in his re-
moval, the Church has sustained a heavy be-
reavement. Bishop Bowen well became, so
far as human nature can be ' equal to these
things,' the high, solemn, and responsible sta-
tion to which lie had been called in the
Church of Christ ; fulfilling its varied duties
with exemplary zeal and fidelity, with singu-
lar moderation, judgment, kindness, and for-
bearance, with marked advantage to the
Church, and with the general approbation of
its membei .
"In his principles, and in his whole influ-
ence, he was decidedly conservative, Ohl-
fashioned in his theology, and in his Church-
LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN, 155
manship sagacious, far-sighted, and wisely
heedful to the strong testimony of experience,
in favor of those ' old paths' which constitute
the best safeguards for the truth, he looked
upon the spirit of innovation in the Church
with habitual jealousy, and with undisguised
disapprobation. His judgment was most
excellent, and calculated to inspire the full-
est confidence in his exercise of the delicate
office of jniide and counsellor to the clergy.
And here, my brethren, I feel that I should do
injustice, both to his character and to my own
feelings, did I withhold my humble testimony,
that, whenever I have had occasion to resort
to him for Ins godly counsel and advice, on
questions of ministerial duty, while his prompt
attention to my application, the modesty with
which he was wont to intimate, rather than to
projxmnd) his opinion, and the affectionate
and paternal language of his communications,
have won my admiration and love ; my judg-
ment, at the same time, has never failed en-
156 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
tirely to acquiesce in the wisdom of liis deci-
sions. His manner, especially in the solemn
and interesting acts peculiar to the highest
order in the ministry, was characterized hy a
touching solemnity and impressiveness calcu-
lated to give their full effect to those inimitable
offices of the Church. -In some of these, we
have seen him officiate at this altar; and there
are not a few among us who, I feel persuaded,
will never forget God grant they never may
forget ! the earliest, affectionate, and paternal
manner in which, in the Apostolic rite of Con-
firmation, his venerable hands gently rested
upon their head-, while, with solemn voice, he
invoked on them, in the touching language of
the Church, a blessing from on high.
"Bishop Bowen was blessed with a strong and
>rous mind, which, having been well stored
with solid learning, enabled him, under the
direction of a calm and sober, yet deep and
sincere piety, and with no aid from oratory, to
command, as a preacher, the fixed attention of
LIFE OF BISHOr BOWES". 157
every serious hearer ; who never failed to find
himself richly rewarded by the strong sense
and the solid and edifying instruction with
which his discourses were replete. In the
character of parish minister, which he re-
tained up to the period of his death, he dis-
charged his duties with a degree of fidelity
and affection, which gave him a warm place
in the hearts of his parishioners. In private
life, few were more amiable or more estimable.
Refined, yet simple in his manners ; dignified,
yet easy of approach to all ; instructive in his
conversation, cheerful, bland, affectionate, his
whole deportment and intercourse were of a
nature strongly to recommend the practice of
pure and undefiled religion. His piety, while
exemplary, grave, and sedate, was wholly
exempt from affectation, austerity, or censori-
ousness. It was a living and an every-day
principle ; which, with nothing of mere occa-
sional flutter, evinced its genuineness and its
excellence in a spontaneous and equable flow
14
158 LIFE OF BISHOP fiOWEttV
of kindly feeling and Christian grace, diffusing
serenity and rational cheerfulness around it*
and making of his domestic circle a lovely
type of that quiet and happy home on high,
where it was evident that his thoughts and his
affections habitually dwelt.
" But, my brethren, this most estimable father
of our Church is gone! On earth, we shall
see his face no more. Let us fervently suppli-
cate that Divine grace, which will enable us,
' so to follow his good example, that with him
we may have our perfect consummation and
bliss in God's eternal and everlasting glory,
through dons Christ our Lord.'"
When the South Carolina Convention as-
sembled in 1S40, many tearful eyes were
turned to the vacant seat which good Bishop
Bowen formerly occupied. As soon as the
body was duly organized, the feelings of the
afflicted diocese were appropriately expressed
in the preamble and resolutions which follow:
M e have again met from the various parts
-LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN. 159
of our diocese in consultation for its welfare.
But we see before us the solemn emblems of
mourning shrouding the desk, where (at our
last meeting) sat the venerable form of our
much loved presiding officer. He is no longer
seen there. The place, which knew him be-
fore, will know him again no more. His mild
precepts and his candid and gentle reproofs
will be no more heard among us. May the
recollections of them still assist us in our pro-
ceedings, and prompt us to do all that we can
for the prosperity and unity of our Church.
We all feel the loss we have sustained, and
feel also called on, at this first meeting of our
Convention after his removal from us, to ex-
press our sense of the loss we have sustained,
and the love and veneration we feel for the
memory of the Eight Eev. Nathaniel Bowen,
late Bishop of this diocese. He was admirably
fitted for the sacred office which he held. Dis;-
nifled in manner, mild and conciliating, and
zealous, and indefatigable in his exertions for
160 LIFE OF BISHOP BOWEN.
the good of the Church over which he pre-
sided, he largely contributed to the extension
of the doctrines of our venerable Church
throughout the State ; and we trust his mem-
ory, in all parts of it, will be long cherished
and venerated. In accordance with the above
sentiments
" Resolved, That this Convention deeply re-
gret the loss it has sustained by the death of
the late Right Rev. Nathaniel Bowen. We
bow in resignation to the will of God, and
humbly implore Him to assist us, by the inspi-
ration of His Spirit, in the choice of another
to till his place. And also to give the grace
of the same Spirit to his successor, to enable
him to aid in the extension and influence of
His blessed Gospel, not only in this diocese, but
in the remotest parts of the world."
LIFE OF BISHOP BO WEN. 161
Tribute to the Character of Bishop Bowen by Editors
of the London Christian Observer.
" Bishop Bowen was not unknown to us at
the period of his visit to this country (Eng-
land) ; and he has left man)' a pleasing recol-
lection behind him, of his simple unassuming
manners ; of his solid acquirements in the-
ology, and also in the general standard liter-
ature of this country ; of the homage of his
understanding to the ecclesiastical system of
this country, as embodied in many individu-
als among its illustrious ornaments and sup-
ports ; and of the testimony of his heart to
many responding sentiments . of Christian
friendship, formed and cherished in his com-
pany, and not forgotten in his absence."
Two volumes of Bishop Bowen's sermons
were published after his decease, and in these,
he, being dead, is yet preaching to the world.
Id*
SUNDAY AT OATLANDS.
OR, QUIET BIBLE TALKS,
By Alice B. Haven (Cousin Alice),
Is a volume of Bible stories from the Old Testament, in-
woven with a family history which fixes the interest of
the children, as they read, more than a bald conversation
between mother and child, or teacher and pupil, would
do. There is to be a second part, promised for next year,
"Christmas atOatlands," to commence with the Gospels,
the same plan and story being continued. Godey's Lady's
Book, Feb., 1858.
o
SSittp oir Stings,
By the Author of the " Clarcinoiit Talcs,"
Has a sprightly lesson of kindness, gentleness, and indus-
try for the little people, who will be fascinated by the
story of the Hive and the Cottage. Godey' s Lady's Book,
Feb., 1858.
LIVES OF THE BISHOPS,
BY THE EEV. JOHN N. NORTON, A. M.,
Rector of the Church of the Ascension, Frankfort, Kentucky.
"We have just received two more of these charming and
model biographies. Bishop Dehon, of South Carolina,
and Bishop Gadsden, of the same diocese, are the subjects
of these two volumes. It is very high praise to say
that Mr. Norton has elaborated these volumes with even
more care than either of the preceding, and that the re-
sult is a more finished and delightful composition. We
have called this entire series, so far as it has gone, model
biographies, and we hope that they will become such.
They are just such graphic and faithful portraitures of
distinguished men as, in all but a very few exceptional
cases, should supersede the heavv octavos, sometimes of
several volumes, that are customarily devoted to a single
life. As this author has well said, ' ' Such a multitude
of good and useful men have lived and labored in the
world, that we can not well afford the time to read long
biographies of them all." The peculiar merit of Mr.
Norton in this series is, that he not only presents us with
all the facts that are worthy of record in a very brief
space, but so clothes those facts, in that marvellously
brief narrative, with all their circumstances and associa-
tions, as to give the most lively and interesting picture
of the man, his work, and his times.
The life of Bishop Gadsden contains a touching notice
of the late Rev. John B. Gallagher, who was some time a
presbyter in South Carolina. The people of Louisville
will long remember with affection and gratitude the man
whose soundness in the faith, and exemplary life, and
lovely character, so illustrated and advanced die caue of
virtue and religion in our city. Louisville Jjiirr t al.
2
THE BOY MISSIONARY.
BY MRS. JENNY MARSH PARKER.
The Boy Missionary is one of the best things the
Church Book Society has given us in a long while. The
idea is, to show how a poor little boy weak, sickly, and
not able to study much may have the spirit of a mis-
sionary, and may, among his fellows, do the work of a
missionary, too, even in boyhood ; while others, of more
brilliant parts and more commanding social position, look
forward to missionary life as something future and far
distant, and find their days brought to an end before
their work is even begun. The authoress, Jenny Marsh
Parker, shows no small knowledge of boy nature, and
the temptations incident to the life of boys in a country
village. Davie Hall will make many missionaries, both
for the Far West and for home. Church Journal.
25
BY MES. JENNY MARSH PARKER.
Tliis is one of the new publications of the Church Book
Society ; and an admirable one it is. We do not know
who Jenny Marsh Parker is, but she has made a charming
book, and one that is calculated to do a great deal of good,
by inculcating the lesson that with the spirit of Christ in
the heart, there is no sphere so narrow, and no position so
humble, but gives a chance to sow the seeds of goodness
that shall spring up in a great harvest long yeajs after the
hand that sowed them is decayed in the grave. It shows
how much a poor little sickly boy, with a lame back and
a head never free from pain, may do in a short life by the
power of love and kindness returning good for evil to
bad boys, and drawing them from the ways of vice and
6in. The story is simple, and very inartificial in its con-
struction ; but it is full of genuine pathos and of the true
spirit of moral beauty. It belongs to the same class of
books with that exquisite one, "The Ministering Chil-
dren" not equal to it, indeed, in extent, in variety of
interest, or in literary execution, but still breathing the
same spirit and teaching the same lesson : and we heartily
recommend it to parents. Churchman.
26
LIFE OF BISHOP HEBEE
BY THE EEV. J. N. NORTON.
This is one of the author's most interesting histories foi
the reading of the young. The subject has uncommon
interest, and is treated with a genial appreciation. Banner
of the Cross.
The Life of Heher is in Mr. Norton's best style. It
contains as much information about him as could be com-
pressed into so small a compass, and precisely that infor-
mation which it was most desirable to present to those
whom tender age or want of leisure might prevent from
seeking it in large volumes. The Monitor.
This little biography will be of peculiar use to those
who have not the means of obtaining, or the opportunity
of procuring, the larger memoirs of the eminent prelate to
whom it relates. It has the particular merit of much
pointedness and simplicity of style. Episcopal Recorder.
This volume presents the same characteristics as those
in the series which have preceded it, being written in a
style simple and lucid, yet forcible, and with evident
adaptation to those for whose use it is intended.
An abridgment of a larger Memoir was issued in this
country last year ; but the little book before us is designed
to Accomplish the same purpose in a much more happy
and effective manner. Churchman.
27
o5o n^nie touches more thrilliiigly the chords of Mis
6k nary Life in the Church than those of Heher and
Martyn ; and we need not say to any of those who are
familiar with Mr. Norton's other biographies, that he
seizes and presents to the mind, with vivid and lively
brevity, precisely those points which are most likely to
kindle somewhat of the spirit of Heber in the breast of
his readers. Church Journal.
This is another volume in that attractive series which
Mr. Norton has prepared, with such general acceptance,
foi the youth of the Church. It is written, like all it&
predecessors, with great simplicity and vigor. Christian
Witness.
A. valuable and interesting addition to the lives of the
Bishops. We can hardly imagine any species of religious
literature so useful to the young as the lives of really
eminent and holy men, told in a simple and truthful
manner. Southern Episcopalian.
Bishop Ileber's Missionary Hymn is the cherished
heart-possession of every Christian in our land. Here is
a short, but full, graphic, and beautiful delineation of
the noble and pious author of that hymn. Every one
whose soul is inspired from week to week by the stirring
song of the mighty Christian host
'From Greenland's icy mountains.
From India's coral strand''
will be eager to read this timely and fitting tribute to one
of the most attractive and beautiful character! of modern
history. Louisville Journal.
28
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