Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1868-03-06
The Death of Bishop Hopkins.

overthrows the others.
The Death of Bishop Hopkins.
The Right Rev. John Henry Hopkins,
d. ID. LII D., Oxon., Bishop of Yer
mont, died at the Episcopal residence
near Burlington, on Thursday, the 9th of
January, at the ripe age of seventy-six
years. This intelligence will awaken pro
found surprise wherever he was known,
as his unimpaired vigor of mind and
body, his erect and energetic bearing, his
kindling countenance, and his habits of
unremitting activity, all promised a re-
markable longevity. Of late years, es-
pecially, his travels have been almost
apostolic in their extent; yet even now,
while the dreadful castigation is filing
our ears which he but yesterday admin
istered to the pusillanimous Dean of
Westminster, who presumed to address
an apology to him as presiding Bishop
of the American Episcopal Church, in
selfpalliation for shutting the doors of
Westminster Abbey in the face of the
Pan-Anglican Council, the venerable pri-
mate is hurriedly summoned to a better
service in better world.
Bishop Hopkins had begun life as a
young lawyer, of rare promise and as
sured success, in Pittsburgh, Penn, when
he received Orders in the Episcopal
Church, and was called to the rectorship
of Trinity parish of that city. His ad-
vancement was rapid, and we find him
succeeding to positions Of growing impor-
tance until his conservation to the Epis-
copate of Vermont took place in 1882,
which he filled for 36 years.
On many accounts, he may be regard
ed as great Bishop in a small and un-
| influential diocese. In certain depart
ments of learning he was admitted to be
the foremost of his learned brethren. In
patristic theology, Church history, canon
law, and ecclesiastical Jurisprudence, his
position of pre-eminence was unchalleng-
ed. As controversalist it is enough to
say that Miners End of Controversy, a
Roman Catholic handbook of proselyt-
ism-specious, sophistical, and ingenious
was, under his hands, literally squelch-
ed into insignifcance. His published
works, now quite generally out of print
are numerous, and learned Contributions
to the theological literature of the Epis.
copal Church. In this way he did moth.
ing specifically everything bore marks
of conscientious and Jealous labor. Hi:
last work is little brochure on the Law
of Ritualism argument based or
Scriptural and historical grounds in be-
half of the beauty of holiness in the pub
lie services of his Church.
Bishop Hopkins next to his scholarly
attainments, in which he reminds US
strongly of some of the solid English di
vines, will be remembered for his remark
able versatility of mind. He was one o.
the most elegantly accomplished men o.
his day and ministry. He was deeply
read theologian and historian genera
and accurate linguist; persevering ant
successful worker in the cause of educa
ton: one of the earliest of lecturers s
technical and capable architect (and few
things are more beautiful than reminis
cences of the Bishop and his children
designing, building, and decorating the
Burlington church with their Owl
hands,; an artist of noticeable profcien
cy in oil and water colors; well-reaG
musician; belles-lettres scholar; in
deed, it was hard to find highway oil
byway of ingenious investigation wher'
the Bishop had not left his footprint.
As an ecclesiastic, his idiosyncrasie
were so pronounced, and his individual
: ty so sharply developed, that he was a
} best a poor and unpalatable "part,
, man." Low and High Church in turn
: contended for him; yet, while he salts
} fed the exactions of neither school, it j
/ just to his memory to say that he Sc
t forth and maintained the best element
of both-thus demonstrating in his owl
experience the essential unity and har
mony of his own Church.
E As man he was ardent, brave, gene
| rous, and loveable; as a preacher, yer,
r impressive, logical in his method, read
: and powerful as an extempore speaker
: and living protest against all plush an