Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1868-01-17
Death of Bishop Hopkins.

Of our citizens, most eminent in his church,
and most widely known on both sides Of the
Atlantic, has suddenly passed away.
Bishop Hopkins was born in Dublin, Ire
land, on the Both Of January 1872. Ills
family was of English origin but had been for
/ 200 years domiciled in Ireland. When eight
years old he came to this country with his
parents. He was educated chiefly by his
mother, who was woman Of remarkable
ability. receiving his only academical training
in a school at Bordentown, NJ. After re-
ceivinr classical education with an ultimate
view to the law, he passed year in count
ing room in Philadelphia, and at 10 embark
ed with partner in the manufacture ofiron,
in the western part of Pennsylvania. On the
Sth of May 1916 he was united in marriage
to daughter of Caspar Otto Muller, retir-
ed merchant, formerly of Hamburger, Ger
many. and subsequently Of Baltimore. In
the prostration Of the iron business following
the peace of 1915. he abandoned it, in 1917,
and after six months study was admitted to
the bar, in Pittsburgh, Pa
In 1898, he left the law for the ministry,
was ordained az priest in 1924, and became
the rector of Trinity church in Pittsburgh.
Having shown decided artistic tastes before,
he was induced to study architecture by the
determination of his church 10 erect new
church edifcc, of which he became the ar
chitect lie soon became prominent in the
general conventions of his denomination
and in the diocesan convention of 1897, he
was candidate for the Office of Assistant
Bishop Of Pennsylvania, the members being
equally divided between him and Dr. H. L.
Onderdonk, whose election was secured by
Mr. Hopkins own vote.
In 1881 Mr.. Hopkins accepted call To
Trinity church, Boston, as Assistant minister,
and was soon after appointed Professor of
Systematic Divinity in the diocesan theolo-
gical Seminary of Massachusetts,.
In May 1892, the Episcopal churches Of
Vermont separated from the .' Eastern Do
cese" then composed of the States Of Massa-
chusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and
Vermont and were erected into a separate
diocese. y Of which Mr. Hopkins was elected
the first Bishop, the clerical ballots stand
ing seven for Mr.. HqRkins and SIX for Rev.
John :. Stone, also Of Boston In October
1881 he was consecrated by Bishop White, in
! General Convention at New York. Three
weeks after he removed with his family to
Burlington, and accepted the rectorship of
St Paul's church lie took hold Of the work
Of his diocese with Characteristic energy.
and in the first ten years of his episcopate
| consecrated ten new churches He also es-
tablished a school for boys, with which it
was his earnest desire to connect diocesan
seminary for the instruction of candidates for
Holy Orders and for such a school he raised
a fund, much of it collected by him in Eng
land. In erecting the extensive buildings
which he deemed necessary to carry out his
plans, he became involved degree which
finally involved the sacrifice of his private
property, and the project was abandoned,
only to be renewed and carried To successful
completion by him at q later day. In 1856
he resigned his rectorship, to devote himself
more entirely to the work of the diocese and
to the establishment of the 8. Vermont Epis-
copal Institute" To this he devoted much
Of the time of the later years of his life,
raising for it, in different parts Of the coun-
try, by his personal exertions, fund Of $40
600, and planning and experimenting the
erection of the edifice on Rock Point. which
stands monument of his perseverance, en-
ergy and taste, as well as of the respect in
which he was held by those whose hberahty
furnished the means for its erection.
On the death of Bishop Brownell, in 1868, |
Bishop Hopkins became by seniority of con-
secration, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal
church in the United States. The most nota-
bic event Of his later years was his attend |
ance upon the Lambeth Council of Bishops, |
in England, in September last. OF this he
was leading member, several important |
points of its action having been, as it is
known, largely determined by his influence.
He returned home on the Sd of last Novem-
Der, and was welcomed on his arrival by the |
clergymen of his diocese, with appropriate
services.
Bishop Hopkins was diligent writer, his
published works being, in addition to a num-
Der of pamphlet sermons and addresses, as
follows; " Christianity indicated, in a series
of seven discourses on the external evidences
of the New Testament 1898 1.-THE PRINT
tive Greed Examined and Explained" 1894
The Primitive Church. compared with the
Protestant Episcopal Church of the present
day" 1886; Essay on Gothic Architec-
ture,'' 1886; ''The Church of Rome in her
Primitive Purity, compared with the church
of Rome at the present day." 1887 Twelve
Canzonets, words and music, 1899: s.The
Novelties which disturb our Peace" 1S.4:
"Hlstory OF the Confessional, " 1850. REF
utation of Miners End of controversy, in
series Of Letters vols. 1851; sThe
American Citizen, his Rights and Duties
1857; The Bible view of Slavery" 1864
''The Law of Ritualism" 1866 .Historv of
the Church, in Verse for Sabbath Schools,
1866. Of the character of these works we
have no space, to speak to-day. -
Ten or twelve days since Bishop left home {
for his annual visitation in franklin County. {
which occupied week involving considerable
labor and exposure, most of the churches be-
ing away from the line of railroad. On
Sunday the 9Th he visited Plattsburgh, at the +
request of Bishop Potter Of n. Y, and admin
istered confirmation, and on Monday, started t