New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-18
PULPIT SKETCHES.
THE REV. MORGAN DIX, s. d. T., RECTOR
OF TRINITY PARISH.

Unlike most of the celebrated clergymen
of York. Dr. Dix is in the tTuest sense, citizen 10
the manor born, and represents the best results OF us
social academic and professional culture so that from
early boybood TO the climacteIfc of hs exceptional
distinctions he has, with the subtraction OF less than
three years, lived his life and wrought his work as
schooboy, as collegian. seminaran and as an &C.
cesiastIc in the city Of New-iork Everybody KNOWS
that churches and parishes among other great activities
of tie city, seek reinforcement by periodic TRANSMISSION
of rural or transatlantic blood and bran ara tha al
most every commanding pulpit with most brilliant posi-
tons the learned professions as well as IN the world OF
finance is manned from outlying and provincial world
Among DR.. Dix's noted contemporaries, scarcely
an apprecisble proportion are city born. The
sons of rich men and great men,
i, is proverbial may inherit stations and fortune
while they rarely enhance either But Dr. Dix with his
hereditary ten talents has added other ten. full in the
face of community which still holds his fathers history
and citizenship in honorable remembrance.
It's cult enterprise TO reach that side OF pnohc
man. In which people have the velies interest ana Whch
should enter into every deliberate estimate OF dis'h
gushed personality; for the best and strongest do not
wear the heart the sleeve, and instnctively sur
round themselves with reservation of privacy wich
means rest and life But enough OF DE-
Dix may be frankly, yet leSi'inateH'
studied TO place man who is often misuhuersloou u!
something like just light An Intimate kno"euge Vi
planning his subsequent career home OF an almost CD
solete fashion I'm which home life was unreserVcdly ne
life; and everything without and within maze 10 pay
tribute TO its 10y and brghtness enriched Win thou
saud many ued influences CT the most sensitive culture
opd refinement the most distinguished social ntimaces,
the best things of art music, literature behavior; ana
within and penetrating all the rest orderly reverent re-
ugious lie There was scholarship without pedantry
1nd elegance OF easy fortunes without faint OF Noup
tuousness indulgence; home In which parents were
crowned with the honor Of their children whom their turn
were strengthened and enriched in the lives of their
parents
HIS EDUCATION AND EARLY WORK.
Dr. Dix is an alumnus Columbia College-leadng his
class in honors-and is heoogan of the General Theo
logical Seminary, in Twent1ethst During those seven
years Of preparation laid day by day. without break
or disorder the foundations Of work and methods on
which alone a symmetrical manhood can be Quilt lie
seemed 10 comprehend at the outset that genius was IN
ausry He seemed enlisted like soldier from the start
nccepting as matter Of well az conscience
every particular Of service and routne nothing was held
trivial or unmporant There has rarely been seen
Young man. who remained all the while the admiration OF
his professors and the model Of manly Christian
scholarship in his own set. He was wonderful at work
and duty and temptation or allurement could touch
him; he quite admirable in froc and playful
ness in the leisure for recreation. But the grave
burden OF his conservation seemed upon him. and there
was an undertone Of awe and knghtly devotion in his
first and sernOnstudies. Ii may be fairly said
that Dr. Dix entered the ministry at period of maturity
and rpeness Of conviction which few men ever reach
until meridian; aud while the rest feeling their way
ont toward theological terrarma, he was doing his
best work and dealing his best blows from the be-
ginning For he took his theological position promptly,
sodly and finality. II sunsavory and unpopular
enough in day. and wseacres shook their heads and
bestowed weatherwise cautions in abundance But with
him II was not matter OF 1.-the courage OF his convic
tions sure, necessary honesty OF his eonvic
TONS By temperament and conviction Dr. DIX Is DIS
tinctly conservative; and in the turgic and theoogc
drift which Ia popularity styled Rualism he has found
himself steadily resisting the Hotspurs whose unwsdoIn
and crude conception Of the movement seemed IN his
Judgment TO threaten II with dscredt and mischief No
man reyerenees law in Church State more profoundly
and whatever advancement IN lturgc obscrvances he
might desire must be made In obedience to ecclesatca
prescription or the unchaenged usages OF the Church
He is rather renovatora restOrer OF the sequesered
estates OF the Church as he received making it his
duty and business to so far as in him les that In
the beauty holiness, she shall suffer wrong or loss at
the hands OF no man.
He was ordained deacon in 1852 and was called as
rector assistant to St. Marks Parish Philadelphia under
the Rev. ]. p B. Wilmer aferwarl Bishop of louisiana
While in this position he was ordained priest by Bishop
Alonzo Potter and became assistant minister Of st.
Marks or coadutor with DR.. Wilmer. In 1854 he re-
signed and after brief absence in Europe in search OF
health he was called assistant minister in Trinity
Parish Dr. Berran then being rector aud was assigned
to the charge OF ST. Paul's Chapel
IL was the unseang OF fresh and unlocked for spring
of spiritual vigOr and purpose For the young minister
had very positive views of ministerial life and behavior
as well as Of pulpit service. Turning his back on old
time associations, he made bachelors homo 10 little
obscure house in Hubertst, near Hudson. He seemed
TO seek and find his mission among the poor,
unfriended neglected and suffering among the
abandoned aud prOnigate His bare, haltascetic life
raised % stir OF comment among the easy going,
dining-Out clergy Of the time, and there was
something OF a fut;er among his workers
I'm the parish who slow to interpret the sngularty
OF the youngest assistant Very the pulpit Of St
Pauls was touched with new inspiration. The people
began flock TO the old chapel ana crowd ts benches
and galleries. great Sunday and parish and industrial
schools organized and the churchyard seemed alive
with happyaced little people waiting 10 greet the com
ing and going minister This new influence followed him
in his appointed circuit in routine through the other
churches OF the parish and before long It was pretty
well understood that new, strong preacher was
abroad among the people.
MADE hector OF TIE GREAT PARISH.
Owing 70 the growing in0rmtes and advanced age OF
DIR Bcrran il was found expedient create the office OF
assistant rector and in 1880 Dr. DIX was elected to this
responsible and very delicate position. Crises were con
tnually arising that would have sorely strained
the bravest and strongest He had been elevated over
the heads OF the older assistants, among whom were
the abes and most accomplished clergy
men OF the city 10 position each one Of them might have
coveted and indeed looked forward TO without presun'
ton The young and intrepid official kept on In the hum
BILE his simple transformations lfe never elaed
or cast down. but always duty with the early soldier
like gravity somewhat deepened inultng himself to
severes and hardships Of clerical life almost undreamed
OF before among the Episcopal clergy lie succeeded to
the recor.hp of the parish in 1862 on the death OF Dr.
Berran and took up his residence ia the old rectory ad
tong st. Johns chapel in Varlckst, without materially
,~.n1oa fnY mt anne
little mention OF It record when commonly
set the clergy down class luxurious favores OF for
tune The rector always had young deacon In his resi-
dence as his sole companion, with two three de-