Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1892, volume 3).djvu/249

Rh When the war between Russia and Turkey began, in 1877, Admiral Hobart was placed in command of the Turkish fleet in the Black sea, and formally withdrew from the British service. On 8 Jan., 1881, the sultan raised him to the rank of " Mushir," and Marshal of the Empire, an honor never before conferred on a Christian. He wrote "Sketches from My Life " (New York, 1887).

HOBART, John Henry, P. E. bishop, b. in Philadelphia, Pa., 14 Sept., 1775 ; d. in Auburn, N. Y., 12 Sept., 1830. In direct descent, he stood fifth in the line from the founder of the family at Hingham, Mass. The intervening generations pre- sent a succession of names of repute in the colonial history of New England, including many Puritan ministers. His grandfather was the first of the family to leave New England and unite with the Episcopal church. By the death of his father he was left, when but a year old, to the sole charge of a mother, to whose training the rich fruit of his after-life must in no small degree be referred. His school-days were spent in Philadelphia, and he was ready in his sixteenth year for the junior class at Princeton, where he was entered in 1791. The two years that followed made so deep an impres- sion that, after an interval spent in the unconge- nial air of a counting-house, he accepted a tutorship in the college in 1795, which he held until admitted to holy orders in June, 1798. The permanent traits of his mind and character developed dur- ing these early years with marked distinctness. From 1798 till 1811 was the period of his minis- terial activity in the diaconate and priesthood. In the humbler office he served in several parishes ; but, when ordained priest in 1800, he had just been appointed one of the assistant clergy of Trinity church, New York, to the rectorship of which he was afterward elected. About this time he mar- ried a daughter of the Rev. Thomas Bradbury Chandler (q. v.). The duties of a large city parish were discharged by Dr. Hobart with marked suc- cess and great increase of popularity. In preach- ing he had a clear and pointed style, an earnest and animated manner, and a strong, melodious voice. In 1804 he published a " Companion for the Altar,'" largely original, and also a volume on " Festivals and Pasts," on the basis of an English work so styled; in 1805, a "Companion to the Book of Common Prayer," and a " Clergyman's Compan- ion"; in 1806, a collection of controversial es- lys ; and in 1807 his " Apology for Apostolic Or- der." These works were designed to instruct shurchmen in the elements of their own ecclesiasti- il institutions and usages. Although a name for 'gressive churchmanship became attached to Dr. fobart, he never addressed his instructions or ap- peals to any except those to whom he had an offi- cial right to speak. Among them primarily, these productions were widely and rapidly circulated, the " Festivals and Fasts " reaching its 27th edi- tion. They are regarded as having contributed in a marked degree to the vigorous and rapid growth of the Episcopal church during the first half of this century, and to the prevalence of that type of churchmanship which they attractively presented. " Apology " was a somewhat larger and more The critical work, and on its re-publication in England first attracted attention to its author there. The natural result of ability displayed in so many and various forms was that, when, "in 1811, the failing health of Bishop Moore called for the election of an assistant bishop, the foremost name among the clergy was that of Dr. Hobart. and the choice fell upon him with substantial unanimity. He had previously filled many important posts in connec- tion with the diocesan and general conventions. The episcopate thus begun lasted for nineteen years. At this period of her history, the condition of the church that committed to him this great trust seemed to call for precisely the man he was. From her connection with the Church of England, she was politically an object of suspicion, which was but slowly dying away. She was regarded with strong prejudice and dislike by many whose sympathies were Puritanic. To the American people at large she was personally a stranger in garb and manners. What were her principles, why she existed in this country at all, why she was so ready to enter places that others had occu- pied before her, were questions to be answered promptly and effectively. To say that Bishop Ho- bart lived and labored to give the answer fairly indicates the sum of his history in the latter half of his life. He was the most outspoken of men ; he had no concealments or reserves. Whatever was distinctive, theological, or ecclesiastical in the system he upheld, he set forth with the utmost plainness and in every feature, never hesitating or showing any nervousness as to the possible result. The opportunity, if not the provocation, to con- troversy thus afforded was ample, and full use was made of it by his opponents, so that pamphlets on both sides flew over the field of dispute like leaves in autumn — except his were never dry but only somewhat crisp. His readiness in such pro- ductions was remarkable, and greatly enhanced his reputation. But the cause he had at heart did not suffer by this vehement frankness ; and person- ally he gained friends even among those who op- posed him. No stronger com- mendation could he have desired than the words of his most emi- nent and formi- dable adversary, the Rev. Dr. John Mason : " Were I compelled to en- trust the safety of my country to any one man. that man should be John Henry Ho- bart." By the side of this gen- erous eulogium may be placed the opinion of the distinguished jurist, Brockholst Livingston: "Na- ture fitted him for a leader. . . . Had he stud- ied law he would have been upon the bench ; in the army, a major-general at least; in the state, nothing under prime-minister." During these years of varied and engrossing labor, his pen continued active. He produced " The Christian's Manual " (New York, 1814), and an " Essav on the State of the Departed " (New York, 1814) ; and in 1818 undertook the re-publication of D'Oyley and Mant's familv Bible, which largely occupied him for five years (2 vols., 1818-20). lie was also ac- tive in founding the General theological seminary in New York city, and in 1821 was chosen pro- fessor of pastoral theology. His health, which had been somewhat shaken in his boyhood by his persistent application to study, broke down under all this labor, and a long period of cessation from it and absence from its scene were deemed neces- sary. The years 1824-'5 were spent in Europe.