Monday, August 17, 2015

The Rev. Dr. Samuel Johnson, the Rev. Timothy Cutler and the Rev. Dr. Thomas Bradbury Chandler

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Today the Episcopal Church remembers the life and ministry of 3 Americans who started out as Congregationalist ministers, but became Anglican priests: the Rev. Dr. Samuel Johnson, the Rev. Timothy Cutler and the Rev. Thomas Chandler.
 
1.     The Rev. Dr. Samuel Johnson (14 October 1696 – 6 January 1772)
 
He was a clergyman, educator, and philosopher in colonial British North America, and a major proponent of both Anglicanism and the philosophy of George Berkeley in the colonies. Johnson served as the first president of King's College (the predecessor of Columbia University).
 
Born in Guilford, Connecticut, Johnson graduated from Yale College in 1716. Johnson first became Congregationalist minister of a church in West Haven; however, Johnson left to seek ordination in the Church of England. Upon his return to Connecticut, he opened the first Anglican church in the colony at Stratford in 1724 where he remained until 1754, when the vestrymen of the Anglican Trinity Church in New York City considered him the logical choice to serve as after the first president of King's College.
 
Although he was reluctant to leave his family in Connecticut, Johnson took the position. He worked to keep the college Anglican and in the early years of the school, Johnson was the sole professor teaching classics and philosophy. When his wife died of smallpox, Johnson returned to his ministry at Stratford in 1763, where he died.
 
2.     The Rev. Timothy Cutler (31 May 1684 – 17 August 1765)
 
He was an Anglican clergyman and rector of Yale College. Cutler was born in Charlestown, Massachusetts, graduated from Harvard College, and on 11 January 1709, having come from Massachusetts to Connecticut with the recommendation of being “one of the best preachers both colonies afforded,” he was ordained pastor of the Congregational Church in Stratford. Cutler served until March 1718 when, conditions at Yale College calling imperatively for a resident rector, he undertook that office at the request of the trustees. The new rectorship opened auspiciously and an era of prosperity seemed at hand when, on 13 September 722, the rector, with Tutor Daniel Browne and several Congregational clergymen, met with the trustees, and asked advice with regard to entering the Church of England. On 17 October, the trustees voted to "excuse the Rev. Mr. Cutler from all further services as Rector of Yale College."
 
After a visit to London, where he was ordained, with Samuel Johnson, by the Bishop of Norwich in March 1723. Cutler became rector of the newly formed Christ Church, Boston (commonly known as Old North Church), where he remained until his death. With the exception of four sermons, two preached before the Connecticut General Assembly, May 9, 1717, and Oct. 18, 1719, he left no published works.
 
3.     The Rev. Dr. Thomas Bradbury Chandler (26 April 1726 - 17 June 1790)
 
He was an Anglican clergyman serving 43 years as rector of St. John’s, Elizabeth, New Jersey. He was a pupil of Samuel Johnson and was involved in the promotion of the Church of England in America prior to the American Revolution. Chandler’s major work is An Appeal to the Public, in behalf of the Church of England in America. A strong Loyalist, he fled to England in 1775, but returned to the new formed United States of America in 1785.
 
Let us pray:  God of your pilgrim people, you called Samuel Johnson, Timothy Cutler and Thomas Chandler to leave their spiritual home and embrace the Anglican way: We give you thanks for their devoted service in building up your Church and shepherding your flock in colonial times; and we pray that, like them, we may follow where your Spirit leads and be ever eager to feed the hearts and minds of those entrusted to our care, in the Name of Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
 
CALENDAR REMINDERS
 
Seaside Seniors on Thursday, 20 August at 11 AM.
 
Blessing of the Backpacks on Sunday, 23 August at the 9 AM Eucharist.
 
St. Augustine’s Feast Day on Sunday, 30 August.  The Rev. Dr. Tom Bain will be our preacher, and we will have a baptism as well.  Pot luck lunch to follow.  PLEASE REMEMBER TO BRING CANNED GOODS (ESPECIALLY CANNED TUNA, SALMON AND CHICKEN) FOR THE EVENT.
 
"In the Name of God" Blood Drive: These 3 distinct Galveston religious communities are promoting hope and inclusion by co-hosting the first annual "In The Name of God" Blood Drive at the Galveston Islamic Center, 921 Broadway, Galveston Texas 77550, on Friday, 4 September 2015, from 11 AM to 4 PM. Co-sponsoring the event is the Galveston Islamic Center, Congregation B’nai Israel, and St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church. The donated blood will be for patients at Galveston’s UTMB and Shriners Children’s Hospitals.
 
Please remember everyone on our Prayer List.
 
Your servant in Christ,
 
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

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