When this action became known the friends of Dr. Schroeder in the Parish, and especially in St. Paul's Chapel, were indignant. They asserted with vehemence that their pastor had been treated with indignity and injustice, and that a spirit of rivalry and favoritism was being fostered in the Parish. Many messages of sympathy were brought and sent to him in this trying emergency. His supporters used the newspapers of the city for their statements, appeals, and arraignments of the Vestry, and the journalists rejoiced to take part in the fray. Several of the city clergy and prominent laymen in the other parishes of the city were warmly enlisted in the cause of Dr. Schroeder. Much then written was written under the impulse of strong and excited feeling.

Still, though Dr. Schroeder felt himself sorely injured and aggrieved, he acted with his characteristic courtesy and moderation. He deemed it necessary to publish a small pamphlet entitled Documents, containing his correspondence with Dr. Berrian, and the official notice of the action of the Vestry, with a few brief comments. In his prefatory note he states that he printed these documents "to prevent error and misapprehension in regard to the subject of them." He says: "The case is simply this: One of the Assistant Ministers of Trinity Parish is to be elevated by the sudden and wrongful depressing of another." He comments on "long established and well known usage," and thus concludes :

"The measure either is, or is not, important. If it be unimportant, why should the Vestry introduce and agitate the subject to the disquiet of the Parish? If on the other hand it be important what warrant have they for displacing me, and putting me in such an attitude that I cannot, in the opinion of my clerical brethren, continue to officiate in the parish with proper self respect and a due regard for my future influence and usefulness?"

An answer was prepared by a layman, which he entitled A Brief Statement. The whole controversy is treated in a satirical vein but with candor and good sense, the evident intention being to silence opponents of the Vestry's action. He is especially severe upon Dr. Schroeder's allegation that it was the intention of the Vestry to elevate Dr. Wainwright. He gives in full the letter of Dr. Berrian to Dr. Schroeder of April 26, 1836, and one from Dr. Berrian to Dr. Wainwright of January 28, 1839. The reasons given by Dr. Schroeder for his resignation he calls "unimportant." 1

1

To this Dr. Schroeder replied in a "Letter" maintaining his position and traversing the whole ground of the controversy. He includes in this publication a letter from Dr. Anthon upon precedence and correspondence with the Rector on supplying his place at St. Paul's for the feast of the Epiphany, Sunday, January 6th, and gives, in an appendix, letters from the committees of St. Paul's Chapel congregation, the Sunday-school, the ladies, and a farewell address signed by one hundred and fourteen men worshipping in that chapel. He reaffirms as the cause of his resignation the "being displaced from my grade," and endeavors to fortify his attitude by argument. This ended the publications directly bearing upon this unhappy episode.

While the resignation was being discussed in conversation, the daily press, and pamphlets, the Vestry was awaiting some intimation that Dr. Schroeder withdrew from the position he had taken. As no assurance was given,

1 A Brief Statement Touching the Rev. Dr. Schroeder's late Publication Entitled Documents Concerning Recent Measures of the Vestry of Trinity Church in the City of New York. Submitted to the Consideration of the Members of the Congregation of Trinity Church, New York.

Letter to the Members of the Congregations of the Parish of Trinity Church. By Rev. J. F. Schroeder, D.D., with an Appendix.

final action was taken on his letter at the regular meeting, January 14, 1839. The Rector having stated, on interrogation, that the Senior Assistant had not officiated in the Parish since sending his letter of January 5th, a preamble and resolutions were offered, embodying the facts of the case, the resolutions of the special meeting, and the concluding paragraph of Dr. Schroeder's letter to the Rector; whereupon it was "resolved, that the conditional resignation contained in the above letter of Dr. Schroeder, under the circumstances above stated, having by the terms thereof become absolute, such resignation be, and the same is hereby accepted." It was also resolved to continue his salary until December 1st, to continue his house rent until May 1st, and to cancel the note for fifteen hundred dollars advanced to him for his European tour.1

Thus, so far as the principal actor was concerned, the "Schroeder Episode" ended. As for the ground swell which followed the storm, there is more to come in the next chapter of this work, to which the ingenuous reader is referred, with the assurance that it will surprise him even more than that which has been already related on this painful subject.

'Records, liber iii., folio 228.

CHAPTER VIII.

PAROCHIAL MATTERS.

Dr. Hodges Appointed Organist-Repairs to Roof of Trinity Church-Erection of Houses for the Assistant Clergy-Congregation of St. Paul's Chapel Memorializes Vestry to be Set Off as a Separate Parish-Memorial Presented to the Vestry-Referred to a. Special Committee-Who Report Adversely to the MemorialistsSchroeder Controversy Closed - Unstable Condition of Trinity Church - Repairs Ordered Plans for a New Building Accepted Mr. Richard Upjohn Appointed Architect.

A

N event of no small importance in the history of church music in the United States occurred at this time. On the 14th of January, 1839, the Rector nominated Edward Hodges, Doctor in Music, as an organist in the Parish, "at the usual salary." His appointment was speedily confirmed by the Vestry. The new Music Committee amply justified its existence by securing this musical genius. A native of Bristol, England, trained from boyhood in the best and most severe school of English cathedral music, he had been from his youth a composer and performer of rare skill and originality. He knew the theory and practice of music, understood the mechanical construction of the organ, and other musical instruments, and had invented improvements in them. A visit to Canada, where he had been appointed organist of St. James's Cathedral, Toronto, had been extended to New York. There he had renewed his acquaintance with Dr. Wainwright, formed that of others in Trinity Parish, and was induced to remain, at least temporarily, in the city. With his entrance upon his position improvement and

1 Records, liber iii., folio 231.

progress in sacred music in the parish, diocese, and country was both systematic and rapid. His influence was more strongly felt as years passed by.

A number of minor matters received attention at this time. The Rev. Professor Ogilby was temporarily appointed to supply the place of Dr. Schroeder.1 The Standing Committee recommended that a house for an Assistant Minister be built "on Lot No. 92, fronting on Vesey St."; and suggested that a similar house be built "on the rear of the ground attached to St. John's Chapel, or elsewhere on land belonging to the Corporation," for the accommodation of another of the clergy. Alarm continuing to be felt about the roof of Trinity Church, steps were taken to cause a careful survey of the building by the most competent builders that could be found, with a view to securing the safety of the structure. It was finally determined that the Committee of Supplies and Repairs "do forthwith take all needful measures for putting a new roof on said church, and that they be further directed to procure a suitable plan on which to finish the interior of said church, together with an estimate of the expense, and that they report thereon to the Vestry at its next meeting."

A modification of the terms for the annual grant for the salary of the Bishop was made at the request of a committee of the Diocesan Convention. It was agreed to continue it for thirteen years whether the fund should sooner be made up to $90,000 or not.

We must now return to the story of the Schroeder controversy, and relate what followed on his resignation and withdrawal from the Parish. The immediate result was a well organized and persistent attempt by a considerable number of the congregation of St. Paul's Chapel to

1 Records, liber iii., folio 231.

2 Ibid folio 223.

3 Ibid folio 234.