Benjamin Treadwell Onderdonk
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Treadwell Onderdonk (b. July 15, 1791, New York
- April 30, 1861, New York
) was the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York
from 1830–1861.
) where he was president of the Philolexian Society
.
He studied theology under Bishop John Henry Hobart
.
He was a member of a prominent Hempstead
family and was married to Eliza Handy.
While he presided over the Diocese during a period of expansion and was instrumental in the creation of numerous parishes, he is best remembered as one of the most controversial figures in the history of the Diocese of New York, and indeed the ECUSA.
, Onderdonk became embroiled in a controversy surrounding the ordination of Arthur Carey
. Carey, whose detractors even acknowledged as being a man of superb intellect, dedication and of an excellent Christian character, was greatly influenced by the Oxford Movement. As his ordination approached, Carey was examined by Rev. Dr. Hugh Smith, Rector of St. Peter’s, New York (where he had been assigned).
During this interview, Carey professed views which were sympathetic to Roman Catholicism and thereafter, Smith and certain other clergy and laymen opposed Carey's ordination. At Smith’s insistence Onderdonk conducted an inquiry, which ultimately found Carey suitable for ordination, which was celebrated in 1843. The dispute did not end there, and a number of letters were published accusing Carey and ultimately Onderdonk of being overly sympathetic to Roman Catholicism.
This controversy spread beyond the Diocese and at least one other Diocese, the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio
adopted a resolution condemning Onderdonk.
, Bishop of Virginia
(later the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the Confederate States of America) received a number of affidavits of women who alleged that Onderdonk had made improper advances towards them and had engaged in improper touching. This eventually resulted in a trial before the House of Bishops. Throughout, Onderdonk maintained his innocence. By all accounts the trial was a bitter affair, with Onderdonk making accusations of a secret conspiracy to remove him due to his theological views by falsifying charges and Meade accusing the Onderdonk faction of witness intimidation. The trial resulted in the suspension of Onderdonk.
Whether the trial was an appropriate act to punish a Bishop for improper behavior or a conspiracy to silence a proponent of the Oxford Movement
may be ultimately unknowable. The debate continued in published letters throughout Onderdonk’s life and indeed continues today. What is clear though, as William Manross notes in A History of the American Episcopal Church (1935), was that the verdict against Onderdonk reflects "the bitter party feeling which prevailed at the time, especially as the voting throughout the trial was pretty much along party lines, all of the evangelicals voting to condemn Bishop Onderdonk and most, though not all, of the High Churchmen voting to acquit him."
Following his suspension, Onderdonk remained Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York
but was suspended from performing his duties. Provisional Bishops were consecrated to fill his duties. They were Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright I
, consecrated to serve as Provisional Bishop in place of Bishop Onderdonk, 1845–1854 and Horatio Potter
consecrated in 1854 to serve as Provisional Bishop in place of Onderdonk; became diocesan in 1861. His brother, Henry Ustick Onderdonk
, Bishop of Pennsylvania, was also suspended upon allegations of intemperance during the same time period.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
- April 30, 1861, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
) was the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York
Episcopal Diocese of New York
The Episcopal Diocese of New York is a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, encompassing the boroughs of Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island in New York City, and the New York state counties of Westchester, Rockland, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Sullivan, and...
from 1830–1861.
Early years
Onderdonk was a graduate of Columbia College (now Columbia UniversityColumbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
) where he was president of the Philolexian Society
Philolexian Society
The Philolexian Society of Columbia University is one of the oldest college literary societies in the United States, and the oldest student group at Columbia...
.
He studied theology under Bishop John Henry Hobart
John Henry Hobart
John Henry Hobart was the third Episcopal bishop of New York .He vigorously promoted the extension of the Episcopal Church in Central and Western New York...
.
He was a member of a prominent Hempstead
Hempstead (village), New York
Hempstead is a village located in the town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 53,891 at the 2010 census.Hofstra University is located on the border between Hempstead and Uniondale.-Foundation:...
family and was married to Eliza Handy.
While he presided over the Diocese during a period of expansion and was instrumental in the creation of numerous parishes, he is best remembered as one of the most controversial figures in the history of the Diocese of New York, and indeed the ECUSA.
Consecrators
- William WhiteWilliam White (Bishop of Pennsylvania)The Most Reverend William White was the first and fourth Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, USA , the first Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania , and the second United States Senate Chaplain...
, Bishop of Pennsylvania, Presiding Bishop of the ECUSA - Thomas Church BrownellThomas Church BrownellThomas Church Brownell was founder of Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, and Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church from 1852 until his death....
, Bishop of Connecticut - Henry U. Onderdonk, Bishop of Pennsylvania, older brother of Benjamin Treadwell Onderdonk
The Carey Affair
An aggressive supporter of the Oxford MovementOxford Movement
The Oxford Movement was a movement of High Church Anglicans, eventually developing into Anglo-Catholicism. The movement, whose members were often associated with the University of Oxford, argued for the reinstatement of lost Christian traditions of faith and their inclusion into Anglican liturgy...
, Onderdonk became embroiled in a controversy surrounding the ordination of Arthur Carey
Arthur Carey
Arthur Carey was an Episcopal churchman known for his support of the Oxford Movement. His controversial ordination sparked heated debate not only within the Episcopal Church but in the United States in general....
. Carey, whose detractors even acknowledged as being a man of superb intellect, dedication and of an excellent Christian character, was greatly influenced by the Oxford Movement. As his ordination approached, Carey was examined by Rev. Dr. Hugh Smith, Rector of St. Peter’s, New York (where he had been assigned).
During this interview, Carey professed views which were sympathetic to Roman Catholicism and thereafter, Smith and certain other clergy and laymen opposed Carey's ordination. At Smith’s insistence Onderdonk conducted an inquiry, which ultimately found Carey suitable for ordination, which was celebrated in 1843. The dispute did not end there, and a number of letters were published accusing Carey and ultimately Onderdonk of being overly sympathetic to Roman Catholicism.
This controversy spread beyond the Diocese and at least one other Diocese, the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio
Episcopal Diocese of Ohio
The Episcopal Diocese of Ohio is the diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America in the northern half of the state of Ohio.The see city is Cleveland, home of Trinity Cathedral, the cathedral of the diocese. Mark Hollingsworth, Jr...
adopted a resolution condemning Onderdonk.
Allegations of misconduct
As the Carey controversy was ongoing, William MeadeWilliam Meade
William Meade , was a United States Episcopal bishop.The son of Richard Kidder Meade , one of George Washington's aides during the War of Independence, he was born near Millwood, in what is now Clarke County, Virginia. He graduated as valedictorian in 1808 at the college of New Jersey ; studied...
, Bishop of Virginia
Episcopal Diocese of Virginia
The Diocese of Virginia is a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America encompassing 38 counties in the northern and central parts of the state of Virginia. The diocese was organized in 1785 and is one of the Episcopal Church's nine original dioceses. However, the diocese has...
(later the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the Confederate States of America) received a number of affidavits of women who alleged that Onderdonk had made improper advances towards them and had engaged in improper touching. This eventually resulted in a trial before the House of Bishops. Throughout, Onderdonk maintained his innocence. By all accounts the trial was a bitter affair, with Onderdonk making accusations of a secret conspiracy to remove him due to his theological views by falsifying charges and Meade accusing the Onderdonk faction of witness intimidation. The trial resulted in the suspension of Onderdonk.
Whether the trial was an appropriate act to punish a Bishop for improper behavior or a conspiracy to silence a proponent of the Oxford Movement
Oxford Movement
The Oxford Movement was a movement of High Church Anglicans, eventually developing into Anglo-Catholicism. The movement, whose members were often associated with the University of Oxford, argued for the reinstatement of lost Christian traditions of faith and their inclusion into Anglican liturgy...
may be ultimately unknowable. The debate continued in published letters throughout Onderdonk’s life and indeed continues today. What is clear though, as William Manross notes in A History of the American Episcopal Church (1935), was that the verdict against Onderdonk reflects "the bitter party feeling which prevailed at the time, especially as the voting throughout the trial was pretty much along party lines, all of the evangelicals voting to condemn Bishop Onderdonk and most, though not all, of the High Churchmen voting to acquit him."
Following his suspension, Onderdonk remained Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York
Episcopal Diocese of New York
The Episcopal Diocese of New York is a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, encompassing the boroughs of Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island in New York City, and the New York state counties of Westchester, Rockland, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Sullivan, and...
but was suspended from performing his duties. Provisional Bishops were consecrated to fill his duties. They were Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright I
Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright I
Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright I was an Episcopal bishop.-Biography:He was born in England in 1792 to Peter Wainwright and Elizabeth Mayhew. His father Peter, was a tobacconist who emigrated from England to Boston before the American Revolution.His mother was the daughter of Rev...
, consecrated to serve as Provisional Bishop in place of Bishop Onderdonk, 1845–1854 and Horatio Potter
Horatio Potter
The Right Reverend Horatio Potter , was an Episcopal Bishop in the Diocese of New York.The youngest brother of Bishop Alonzo Potter, he was born near Beekman , Dutchess County, New York on 9 February 1802, to Quaker farmers Joseph and Anne Potter...
consecrated in 1854 to serve as Provisional Bishop in place of Onderdonk; became diocesan in 1861. His brother, Henry Ustick Onderdonk
Henry Ustick Onderdonk
Henry Ustick Onderdonk was the second Episcopal bishop of Pennsylvania.-Early life:Onderdonk was born in New York City. He studied at Columbia University, receiving his degree in 1805, and then traveled to Britain for further education, receiving his medical degree from the University of Edinburgh...
, Bishop of Pennsylvania, was also suspended upon allegations of intemperance during the same time period.