(for readers of CT River Valley List; some will be repetition, as I had posted part and parcel re Rev. Wetmore. However, to maintain some sense of continuity, thought it would be wise to include you in this one also) Chapter VII IN THE WILDERNESS Immediately <and this seemed to be the motto then> after Philander Chase's ordination to deacon orders, he was appointed itinerant missionary to the northern and western part of the Diocese of New York. At that time there was practically but three clergymen in the all the vast diocese above the Highlands. They were Rev. Thomas Ellison, Albany; the Rev. Daniel Nash, Ostego; and ____ Urquhart, officiating a short time at Johnstown, afterwards degraded. (?) The young deacon went back from his ordination at New York City to Albany in a sloop. He says that voyage frequently took a week, but every tide set him forward a little, so that he was not wholly hopeless, even with the wind ahead. The journey must have been pleasant after all; it was spring-time in the world around him, ........ The Rev. Mr. Wetmore had, before his ordination been employed by the Missionary Society in the Diocese of New York, which was the first organization of the kind in the Episcopal Church of America. With good fidelity had he worked on the head-waters of the Delaware and Unadilla Rivers in Paris and Duanesburg. His (Rev. Wetmore) health had failed and he was now a resident of Schenectady. The young deacon, Rev. Philander Chase was named in his place as an itenerient missionary. The first baptism at which he officiated was in Albany, and the candidate was, it is said Mrs. Pomeroy, a sister of Fenimore Cooper. His first sermons after his ordination were in New York City, Lansingburg and Troy. About this time he wrote the following sentences of true, humble, sincerity, which in a youth of his age glowing with life and love and joyous hopes, are really remarkable, under these very peculiar circumstances: "The Church in America was then in her infancy, hardly had she begun to rear her head, or make her voice heard among the daughters of Zion; and I myself but a youth, the least learned and experienced of her ministers. Instead of being held up by older Christian men, and by the encouraging voice of numerous congregations among whom I might go in and out, I found in reality no people as yet gathered together to bid me even welcome. ............. Yet, all this time, he was separated from his young wife and his two little sons, and one must remember that in the years of our Lord 1798-99 there was little communication by mail or otherwise with the then wilderness of western and northern New York and the little settlement in Vermont. Many, doubtless, were anxious and lonely hours of his young wife, his parents and brethren. >From his own record of his early missionary work he seems to have been especially encourage by friends in Troy. A feeling of profound gratitude is apparent in his memorial of those who generously helped him onward in his difficult and unknown way. He writes: Years after, I met them in other scenes with the joy of the weary traveler when suddenly finding both light and shelter." And who could more beautifully and sweetly express his loving kindness than this man towards his kindred and friends? Perhaps this gracious quality is what so soon became a power, giving him a charm for "all sorts and conditions of men." enabling him to overcome difficulties which would conquer almost the bravest of men whom Nature had refused to endow with this gift. The secret of it was, then as now, the utter absence of self-consciousness and the absorbing desire to bring about the work in the shortest time possible. >From Troy, Lansingburg, and Waterford, Mr. Chase proceeded to hold services at Stillwater, Fort Edward, Kingsbury, and Lake George, also at Thurman's Patent, a country just being settled west of Lake George, where he organized a parish. At Hampton, on the borders of Vermont, he remained several weeks and organized a parish. Returning to Albany and taking sweet counsel with good Mr. Wetmore at Schenectady, he went forward to Utica. On his way he preached at a church built for the Indians at the expense of the Venerable Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. He also visited Johnstown, where before the Revolution Sir William Johnstown had built a stone church, with an organ, and endowed it with a glebe for the support of a clergyman. This glebe and church had been seized at the time of the war; the church had been recovered, but the glebe was then supporting a Presbyterian minister, while the rector was then barely supported by the few churchmen remaining in the parish. He also visited a tribe of both Mohawks and Oneidasm drew near their little cabins with much pleasure as the snow was two feet deep., and the wind swept over the clersing, bitterly cold. Shenandoah and his warriors were not at home, but the found the queen and the queen-mother and the princess sitting around the floor on a clean-swept hearth, the smoke issuing from an aperutre in the roof.. He was cheered with the comfort of this peaceful dwelling; as the royal dames sat around the boiling pot, making strings and garters, he thought of King Alfred under similar circumstances. This tribe of partly civilized Indians was afterwards removed to Duck Creek, a reservation in Wisconsin <territory>, near Green Bay, and was for a long time under the charge of the Rev. Solomon Davis. It is still a very important and large mission in the Diocese of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, with many Indian communicants. Going onward, the deacon reached Utica, then a small hamlet. The stumps of the forest were yet standing in the streets, if streets they could be termed,when scarily two of them were fenced out. Colonel Walker received him in a small cottage, which he then occupied. It was by this gentleman's encouragement that he succeeded in organizing a parish. Colonel Walker was for a long period the friend and secretary of Washington, and by his aid this parish, the first in that city, was organized according to the act of legislature which the Rev. Mr. Ellison had two winters before drawn up, and procured its passage through the legislature. The parish was organized under the name, "The Rector, Wardens, and Vestrymen of Trinity Church, Utica." Fifty years later the founder says: "Situated as this little place then, when so few things seemed permanent, when there was much coming and going, and scarcely a plurality of persons acted and thought together, this was indeed the day of small things, which not being despised and neglected. ....... Mr. Chase then went to Paris (NY) in the same county. Here he found the families of the Blakesleys, Seymours, and the Doolittles, all of whom were already interested in the growth, and progress of the Church, through the efforts of a Mr. Aiken, a layman; and so earnest had he been, that a parish had been formed and the Rev. Mr. Wetmore had officiated there for some time. The Doolittle family long after moved to Wisconsin, and were always there after faithful members of the church of their fathers. To go on with the story of missionary work in the now five great diocese in New York, with on missionary and he a deacon not yet twenty-four. This was a little more than a hundred years ago. No civilized men greeted the young missionary as he passed through what are now large and busy cities, Salina and Syracuse. There were two cabins to be seen and these were uninhabited, as they were used for boiling salt. (huh?) Imagine, the desolate picture in winter! Where Auburn now stands he remained for some time. A Mr. Bostwick, from Lanesboro, Massachusetts, had then just moved hither with his young and interesting family, and was living in a log cabin on the public road. Here divine service was held, attended by the settlers and their families, just opening their farms in the vicinity. Many children were baptized, including several of the young Bostwicks, so that soon there were many hearts interested in the formation of a regular parish, which took place soon after; and it was an event particularly pleasing to the young deacon, as its members were young men of understanding and earnest piety. It was twenty-four years after this when the Bishop came again to this place. Here he found his old friend, Mr. Bostwick. A church now occupied a spot near the site of the log cabin where Mr. Bostwick's children were baptized, and where the parish was organized. there it stood where the tall trees so lately occupied the ground and shut out the light of heaven. It was a beautiful building, well finished with pews and an organ, pulpit and altar. "this is the tree which you planted. May it bear much fruit for the Heavenly Husbandman," said Mr. Bostwick to the Bishop (Chase) In the winter 1798-99 the missionary visited Canandahqua, as it was called by the Indians, who then lingered in great numbers, reluctant to leave this lovely spot, the home of their fathers. Here he was received most kindly by the Hon. Moses Atwater, Mr. Sanborn, and others. The Court House was then so far finished as to accommodate a congregation. The neighbors and those friendly to the Church meet for several Sundays. The result was the organization of a parish. End Chapter VII Harriet M. Chase hatchase@uswest.net