Hobart, John Henry, Dd

Hobart, John Henry, D.D.

Protestant Episcopal bishop of New York, was born Sept. 14, 1775. In 1788 he entered the College of Philadelphia, but soon after went to Princeton, where he passed A.B. in 1793 with high honor. In 1798 he took charge of two suburban churches near Philadelphia. The two following years he was called to New Brunswick, next to Hempstead, Long Island, and later became assistant minister of Trinity, New York. In 1799 he was chosen secretary to the House of Bishops, and subsequently to the Convention, and one of the deputies to the General Convention in 1801. In 1806 he was made D.D. by Union College, and in 1811 he was elected assistant bishop of New York. Afterwards he became diocesan of New York, and rector of Trinity Church. He was especially instrumental in the establishment of the General Theological Seminary, in which he held the chair of pastoral theology and pulpit eloquence. In 1823, his health becoming enfeebled, a voyage to Europe was deemed desirable, and he remained there above two years. He preached in Rome when Protestant worship was barely tolerated, and made an effective appeal in behalf of the Waldenses. In his journey through the Italian States he encountered much annoyance, and when at Milan was examined before the civil magistrates as to the object of his tour. He defended himself with a freedom and frankness that left little doubt of his honesty. When in London he published two volumes of Discourses preached in America, which drew forth warm expressions of approbation from the leading periodicals. On his return, he resumed his various duties with zeal and energy, devoting himself to the promotion of every good work, and feeling a special interest in the cause of the Indians. He died at Auburn- Sept. 10, 1830. His publications include A Companion to the Altar (N. York, 1804, 8vo; many editions since) — Festivals and Fasts (N. York, 1804, 12mo; over twenty editions): — Apology for Apostolic Order (N. Y. 1807, 8vo; 1844, 8vo): — The State of departed Spirits ((new ed. N. York, 1846, 12mo): — Clergyman's Companion (new ed. 1855, 12mo): — Christian's Manual (12mo; several editions); besides numerous charges and occasional discourses (reprinted, New York, 2 vols. 8vo). His Posthumous Works, with a Memoir by the Rev. Dr. Berrian, were issued in 1833 (N.Y. 3 vols. 8vo). See Schroeder,

Memoir of Bp. Hobart (N. Y. 1833, 12mo); M'Vickar, Early and professional Years of Hobart (N. York, 1836, 12mo); Christian Spectator, 9, 79; Allibone, Dictionary of Authors, 1, 854; Sprague, Annals, 5, 440; Christian Journal, vol. xiv; Episcopal Church Reg. A fine tribute is paid to bishop Hobart as an author by Lowndes in his British Literature, p. 656, 833.