Charles Henry Wharton
Encyclopedia
Charles Henry Wharton was a clergyman.
The family plantation, Notley Hall, was presented to his grandfather by Lord Baltimore. In 1760 he was sent to the English Jesuit College at St Omer, where he was very studious, and acquired the Latin tongue with such proficiency as to converse in it.
He was ordered deacon in June, 1772, and priest the following September, both in the Roman Catholic Church
. At the close of the American Revolution
he resided at Worcester, England, as chaplain to the Roman Catholics in that city. There he addressed a poetical epistle to George Washington
, with a sketch of his life, which was published for the benefit of American prisoners in England (Annapolis, 1779; London, 1780).
He returned to what had become the United States in 1783 in the first vessel that sailed after the peace. In May, 1784, having adopted the views of the Church of England
, he published his celebrated "Letter to the Roman Catholics of Worcester" (Philadelphia, 1784), and became rector of Immanuel Church, New Castle, Delaware
. At the general convention of 1785 he was on the committee to "draft an ecclesiastical constitution for the Protestant Episcopal church in the United States", also on the committee "to prepare a form of prayer and thanksgiving for the Fourth of July", and that to Americanize the Book of Common Prayer
. In 1786 he was elected a mere-bet of the American philosophical society.
After ten years' further residence in Delaware, he became, in 1798, rector of St. Mary's Church, Burlington, New Jersey. In 1801 he accepted the presidency of Columbia College
, New York, and was to assume the position at the August commencement ceremonies, but he did not appear for them, and resigned in the fall. He returned to his rectorship in Burlington, which he held till his death in 1833.
He was always president of the standing committee of the diocese and a deputy to the general convention, and among the first in scholarship and influence of the clergy of his church in the United States. The testimony of his contemporaries and his numerous publications pronounced him an accomplished divine, a gifted poet, and an able controversialist. At the time of his decease he was the senior presbyter of the Protestant Episcopal Church
. Besides the works already mentioned, he published "Reply to an Address [by Bishop Carroll] to the Roman Catholics of the United States" (Philadelphia, 1785); "Inquiry into the Proofs of the Divinity of Christ" (1796); and "Concise View of the Principal Points of Controversy between the Protestant and Roman Churches" (New York, 1817). In 1813-14 he was co-editor, with Reverend Dr. Abercrombie, of the Quarterly Theological Magazine and Religious Repository. His "Remains," with a memoir, were published by Bishop George W. Doane (2 vols., Philadelphia, 1834).
The family plantation, Notley Hall, was presented to his grandfather by Lord Baltimore. In 1760 he was sent to the English Jesuit College at St Omer, where he was very studious, and acquired the Latin tongue with such proficiency as to converse in it.
He was ordered deacon in June, 1772, and priest the following September, both in the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. At the close of the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
he resided at Worcester, England, as chaplain to the Roman Catholics in that city. There he addressed a poetical epistle to George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
, with a sketch of his life, which was published for the benefit of American prisoners in England (Annapolis, 1779; London, 1780).
He returned to what had become the United States in 1783 in the first vessel that sailed after the peace. In May, 1784, having adopted the views of the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
, he published his celebrated "Letter to the Roman Catholics of Worcester" (Philadelphia, 1784), and became rector of Immanuel Church, New Castle, Delaware
New Castle, Delaware
New Castle is a city in New Castle County, Delaware, six miles south of Wilmington, situated on the Delaware River. In 1900, 3,380 people lived here; in 1910, 3,351...
. At the general convention of 1785 he was on the committee to "draft an ecclesiastical constitution for the Protestant Episcopal church in the United States", also on the committee "to prepare a form of prayer and thanksgiving for the Fourth of July", and that to Americanize the Book of Common Prayer
Book of Common Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer is the short title of a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion, as well as by the Continuing Anglican, "Anglican realignment" and other Anglican churches. The original book, published in 1549 , in the reign of Edward VI, was a product of the English...
. In 1786 he was elected a mere-bet of the American philosophical society.
After ten years' further residence in Delaware, he became, in 1798, rector of St. Mary's Church, Burlington, New Jersey. In 1801 he accepted the presidency of Columbia College
Columbia 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...
, New York, and was to assume the position at the August commencement ceremonies, but he did not appear for them, and resigned in the fall. He returned to his rectorship in Burlington, which he held till his death in 1833.
He was always president of the standing committee of the diocese and a deputy to the general convention, and among the first in scholarship and influence of the clergy of his church in the United States. The testimony of his contemporaries and his numerous publications pronounced him an accomplished divine, a gifted poet, and an able controversialist. At the time of his decease he was the senior presbyter of the Protestant Episcopal Church
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
. Besides the works already mentioned, he published "Reply to an Address [by Bishop Carroll] to the Roman Catholics of the United States" (Philadelphia, 1785); "Inquiry into the Proofs of the Divinity of Christ" (1796); and "Concise View of the Principal Points of Controversy between the Protestant and Roman Churches" (New York, 1817). In 1813-14 he was co-editor, with Reverend Dr. Abercrombie, of the Quarterly Theological Magazine and Religious Repository. His "Remains," with a memoir, were published by Bishop George W. Doane (2 vols., Philadelphia, 1834).