by Laura Chase Smith, Dutton Press, 1903 Chapter XVIII TOIL AND POVERTY In this way the father writes of Philander (Junior): "In the retrospect of the year 1820, the first object which presents itself to the memory, is the dear image of my son Philander, who came to me in March of that year, from a sea voyage." While preparing for college, Philander spent his time in part teaching a country school, where during his leisure hours, he wrote to his brother George in this manner: "I am no boaster, and though I yield the palm to you in study, I will give you a short history of my campaign in the field of literature. In the first two weeks of my residence here, I had no books, and I rummaged Mr. E.'s library until I found the "Edinburgh Encyclopedia", down to he letters Ch., and at once commenced reading. Soon after came books from home, and I must refer you to the following catalogue: Gilli's "Greece". four volumes, "Percival and Persus", "Lord of Isles", "Pleasures of Memory and Hope", "Soyman and Almena" <silly thing>. Sillimans's "Travels", Terrence's "Comedies", "Tactus", Mrs. West's "Letters to her Son", Mrs. West's "Letters to a Lady", "Tibullus and Propertius". Am now reading "Longinus" <tough enough>. I have renewed the study of Hebrew, and have studied a little in "Euripdes" and "Graca Majora". One may be a little surprised to read this list even these days of superior advantages, especially as this lad was but sixteen, and was at the time teaching a large country school. His father remarks long after this dear boy had entered into rest, that when the time came for Philander to enter Harvard, he sent him alone to be examined and to take his place according to his merits. The examination was long, with no one to vouch for his attainments, and as usual, very critical. It resulted in his taking his place in the junior class nearly at the head, thus mounting over two years. His brother George, one year older, also entered the junior class at Yale under similar circumstances. Young Philander passed with great credit through his collegiate course, and was in his senior year when his father left the Eastern for the Western States, Such was his moral and religious deportment that he was admitted as lay-reader and a candidate for Holy Orders, under the supervision of Bishop Griswold. This was done at the instance of Commodore MacDonough, who had for some time past known his pious and manly character, and, being well assured of his competent learning, had asked him to become a teacher on board the "Guerriere", of which vessel he had the command, and go with him to Russia and thence to the Mediterranean in the place and with the pay of Chaplain. Few officers ever united the character of piety and bravery more intimately than Commodore MacDonnough. It was this truth, known for several years past by young Philander <for his father had prepared and presented the Commodore for confirmation at Hartford>, that caused him to accept an offer of such great importance while yet young. Philander's life was brief indeed, after his return from his long journey abroad, but it was full. In his short day of strenuous toil, how great was the work he accomplished before his lovely spirit went away into the life beyond! "In this voyage," says the Rev. Mr. Rutledge of Haleston, S. C., in his obituary sermon printed in 1824, "he had opportunities of visiting many cities in the north of Europe as well as Rome, that city of palaces, where he remained some time, and also to tread the classic shore of the Mediterranean with the feelings of a Christian and a scholar. The performance of his duties in one of the most difficult of all stations for a youth not yet twenty was much assisted by his having for a commander one in whose heart was the spirit of the Lord; that his labors were valuable and beneficial on board the frigate I have often heard his commanding officer declare." During the Bishop's travels in the year 1820 he administered the rite of confirmation at Portsmouth, Ohio, and a man presented himself who seemed acquainted in an unusual way with the worship of the Church. Upon inquiry, he said he had derived his information from a "little square book" which had lost its title page, the name of the author, and the place where it was printed. All he knew of it was that he had brought it from Vermont to Ohio, and since then he had read it, many times, compared it with his Bible and liked it well. It proved to be a copy of the "little square book" by Jones of Nayland, which the Rev. J.C. Ogden of Vermont printed so many years ago with the little money saved carefully for such a much needed overcoat to protect himself from the wintry storms of Vermont, but which he gave up and concluded to "turn his old coat," that he might give to his people what they needed to learn, paying the printer himself. This for the love of God and the souls of men. In this case it found its way to one soul at least long years after. In the fall of 1820 and the winter of 1821, matters came to a crisis. To show how little interest existed, at this time, in the affairs of Ohio, while Mr. Chase had been toiling there without support or missionary aid, had organized many parishes, been elected Bishop in 1818, and duly consecrated on the 11th of January, 1819, and for two years borne the burden and heat of the day without money or price, it is only necessary to mention that in the report of the General Convention of 1820 on the state of the Church in different dioceses, we find the following words: "From the remote region of Ohio little information has come, but several congregations are known to have gathered, one at Dayton and one at Miami." One would suppose that the Convention had never heard that a Bishop had been consecrated for Ohio, and that almost with his life's blood he had begun his great work. At this time, in fact the Bishop was entering upon a great struggle. He returned from a wintry visitation. Remember --- no comfortable cars or steamers in those days, only rough wagons or horses' backs, through mud and snow and sleet, bogs and corduroy at best. He found little ease in his home-coming for either soul or body. Three parishes to be supplied near Worthington, his home hitherto comfortable, but now, not a dollar remained after paying the hired man and no promise for a future supply. There was but one way. He must do the work of the man himself, -- that is haul and cut the wood, thresh the grain by hand, build the fires, feed the cattle and horses, ---all this, besides "the care for the churches," No discharge from this Christian warfare. When all this came upon him there arose in his breast a secret and painful doubt: "Have I been right in accepting this office? Am I being punished by this distress for past errors and mistakes? It was an agonizing thought that for me, at this time there was no time for study or thought; my heart sank at the need of being forced 'to daub with untempered mortar.' " ............ At the close of the Bishop's address at the Convention of 1820, he urged the formation of a Diocesan Missionary Society, also the appointment of a "day of humiliation, fasting, and prayer, in which all members of our communion may join, in which after confession of sin they may beseech the Great Head of the Church to take pity of this part of His Mystical Body, that He would not leave it comfortless, but would send forth, and maintain faithful ministers to guide, foster, and feed it." The last Friday in August was the day appointed for this service. Young Philander, then in deacon's orders, was selected to bear this message to the bishops and make a personal application for aid. This duty he performed, and though the claims of the General Missionary Society were then being urged, the young deacon returned with $2,910.19. Thus a star of hope dawned, and temporary relief came to the little band of the Bishop and six clergy. End ChapterXVIII Harriet M. Chase hatchase@uswest.net