CHAPTER VI.

Object of Mr. Hobart in his Publications--Attacked by Rev. Dr. Linn - Miscellanies'-Answered by Mr. Hobart and others' Collection of Essays,' &c.-Reviewed in the 'Christian Magazine'-'Apology for Apostolic Order and its Advocates'-Justification of MannerCharacter of Dr. Mason-Examination of the Argument-Result of it upon the Church-Letters.

THAT offences must needs come is one of the 'trials' of the Christian, but the wo' is upon him by whom they come.' This leads to the inquiry, In what spirit and with what motive did Mr. Hobart publish those opinions which all admit it was his duty to maintain?

On this point his exculpation is complete. He addressed himself to the members of his own communion; he wrote as a teacher to his own people, instructing them—which, as already seen, they stood greatly in need of-in the doctrines and discipline of their own Church; and in thus doing was answerable certainly to none without.

Nor were the positions laid down by him either novel or strange, that other Christian denominations should feel as if they had a right to take offence at their promulgation: they were doctrines as old as the earliest age of Christianity, and deduced from what all acknowledged,

the union of the Gospel of CHRIST with the Church of CHRIST. That he taught these doctrines plainly was because he believed them truly that he urged them warmly was because his heart was in the argument; that he devoted himself to the task was because he felt it his duty to instruct those whom GOD had committed to his care: * but the real offence was, that he taught them eloquently and efficiently, and thus aroused the jealousy of those against whose interests they seemed to militate.

While thus engaged, he was publicly denounced by name for maintaining such opinions, and challenged to defend them that under such defiance he hesitated not to enter the lists, surely needs no apology; on the contrary, it was due both to himself and the Church: that he quitted not the field while an opponent remained, was equally a matter of common right, in him also of peculiar character, for he was by nature ardent, fearless, and persevering, ready in a good cause to go 'even to the death.' The particulars of this controversy were shortly these:

* Among the questions asked and answered at ordination to the priesthood, and consequently acquiring the solemnity of an oath, or vow, was the following; 'Will you be ready, with all faithful diligence, to banish and drive away from the Church all erroneous and strange doctrines, contrary to God's Word?' To which he had publicly answered, 'I will; the LORD being my helper.'-(Ordering of Priests.)

In the summer of 1805, shortly after the publication of his 'Companion for the Festivals and Fasts,' there appeared in the Albany Sentinel,' a paper of wide circulation published at the seat of government in the Diocese, an attack upon the principles laid down by him in that work, and that not casually done, but systematically maintained and carried on, though under the harmless title of 'Miscellanies' for several successive months, the production, it was understood, of the Rev. Dr. Linn, one of the ablest ministers of the Presbyterian communion in our country.

Under these circumstances what was Mr. Hobart's course of duty? Had it been like his a work didactic in its character, and addressed to the members of a particular society, Mr. Hobart would doubtless have accorded to others the privilege he exercised himself, of instructing those whom they were called to instruct, and passed it by without notice. But such was not its character: it was controversial alike in form and spirit, while the medium chosen addressed the argument to the reading public at large, showing conclusively that the object of the writer was not an official but a popular one; a willingness, in short, to awaken again those political as well as religious prejudices by which the Episcopal Church had been at one period

and that not far removed-trampled, as it were, in the very dust.

But one course, therefore, remained to Mr. Hobart, and that was to plead the cause before that tribunal of public opinion, before which not himself but his adversary had brought it. He addressed himself, therefore, to the columns of the same paper, claiming a right to be heard. The defence was managed by himself, aided by two college friends, whose names are already familiar to the reader, Rev. Frederick Beasley, and Thomas Y. How. His own papers are distinguished throughout by the signatures Detector' and 'Vindex.'

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Upon the termination of the contest, which he considered to be a triumph for the Church, in order to foreclose future controversy, he proceeded to put forth, in a permanent form, both the attack and the defence at large. Both were included in a volume, published under his own name, in February, 1806, bearing the title of 'A Collection of Essays on the Subject of Episcopacy,' in which, as stated in the Preface, the arguments for and against Episcopacy are presented to the reader.'

But he had yet to meet a more powerful antagonist. About this time, and dictated probably by the above discussion, notice was given, throughout the country, of a forthcoming reli

gious periodical in the city of New-York, supported by the Presbyterian communion, to be entitled 'The Christian's Magazine,' and under the direction of the Rev. Dr. Mason, whose name and reputation are already before the reader. The learning and talents of this gentleman, who was to be both its proprietor and editor, gave to the work a high reputation, even before its appearance. The publication of the first number was, therefore, looked forward to with anxious expectation by both friends and foes, it being understood that it would contain from the pen of the editor a complete settlement of the whole question of Episcopacy, in the form of a review of Mr. Hobart's work, and a quietus,' as was said, to the aspiring ambition of that young Churchman.'

In accordance with this language, the expected review came forth, and had there been any doubt of its author, the talent it evinced, as well as its keen and contemptuous satire, would have sufficiently indicated the source. It was not only a condemnatory review, but a bitter attack, holding up to public odium both Mr. Hobart and his opinions. They are positions,' says Dr. Mason, in language of which we may be allowed to doubt the classical taste as well as the Christian charity, 'of such deep-toned horror, as may well make one's hair stand up

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