Levi Silliman Ives
Encyclopedia
Levi Silliman Ives was an American
theologian and bishop.
and was brought up on his father's farm in Turin, New York
. Ives served during the first year of the War of 1812
and studied at Hamilton College, but in 1819 left the Presbyterian
for the Episcopal Church
, and studied in New York
under Bishop John Henry Hobart
, whose daughter, Rebecca, he married in 1822. That year he was ordained a deacon by Bishop Hobart. In 1823 he was ordained a priest in Philadelphia by Bishop William White
.
, from 1823 to 1827; later he served as assistant minister at Trinity Church, New York, and as rector at St. James Church, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
, until 1831.
Ives was elected bishop of North Carolina
in 1831. He was the 25th bishop of the ECUSA, and was consecrated by bishops William White, Henry Ustick Onderdonk
, and Benjamin Treadwell Onderdonk
. As a bishop he took great interest in the education and religious training of the black community. Having become deeply attracted to the Oxford Movement
while studying Church history, Ives founded a religious community called the Brotherhood of the Holy Cross at Valle Crucis, North Carolina
. Its members, a few clergymen and zealous laymen, observed a community rule and preached Tractarian
ideas. Observers grew worried, however, that Ives had started to move away from the teachings of the Episcopal Church and was embracing "Romish" practices such as private confession to a priest and prayers to the Virgin Mary and the saints. In 1848 he was arraigned before the Episcopal Church for heterodox practices, but was pardoned after dissolving the Brotherhood and providing a written pledge that he would prohibit any liturgical practice not authorized by the Episcopal Church in the Book of Common Prayer
.
church. In 1852, after obtaining a six-month leave of absence, the 55-year-old cleric left for Europe with his wife. They went to Rome, where, on December 22, 1852, he sent a letter to the Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in North Carolina resigning his office of Bishop of North Carolina in view of his decision to join the Catholic Church. Ives was the first Protestant bishop since the 17th Century to convert to Catholicism. Signalling his prominence, it was Pope Pius IX
who received him into the Church on December 26, 1852. Some months later, his wife, too, converted to Catholicism.
In the spring of 1854 Ives published his apologia, The Trials of a Mind in its Progress to Catholicism. After two years in Rome, the Iveses returned to New York. As a lay Roman Catholic, whose marriage barred him from the priesthood, Ives spent his last years as a professor
of rhetoric at St. John's College (now Fordham University
). He also lectured at St. Joseph's Seminary, Dunwoodie
and the convents of the Sacred Heart and Sisters of Charity, as well as concerning himself in charity work.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
theologian and bishop.
Early life
Ives was born at Meriden, ConnecticutMeriden, Connecticut
Meriden is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 59,653.-History:...
and was brought up on his father's farm in Turin, New York
Turin, New York
Turin, New York may refer to:* Turin , New York, located in Lewis County* Turin , New York, located within the Town of Turin...
. Ives served during the first year of the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
and studied at Hamilton College, but in 1819 left the Presbyterian
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
for the 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...
, and studied in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
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...
, whose daughter, Rebecca, he married in 1822. That year he was ordained a deacon by Bishop Hobart. In 1823 he was ordained a priest in Philadelphia by Bishop William White
William 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...
.
Episcopal Church career
Ives was rector of Trinity Church, Southwark, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaSouthwark, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Southwark was originally the Southwark District, a colonial era municipality in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Today, it is a neighborhood in the South Philadelphia section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
, from 1823 to 1827; later he served as assistant minister at Trinity Church, New York, and as rector at St. James Church, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
, until 1831.
Ives was elected bishop of North Carolina
Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina
The Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, founded in 1817, roughly corresponds to the segment of the U.S. state of North Carolina between I-77 in the west and I-95 in the east, including the most populous area of the state. Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Raleigh, Cary, and Durham are the...
in 1831. He was the 25th bishop of the ECUSA, and was consecrated by bishops William White, 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...
, and Benjamin Treadwell Onderdonk
Benjamin Treadwell Onderdonk
Benjamin Treadwell Onderdonk was the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York from 1830–1861.- Early years :...
. As a bishop he took great interest in the education and religious training of the black community. Having become deeply attracted to 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...
while studying Church history, Ives founded a religious community called the Brotherhood of the Holy Cross at Valle Crucis, North Carolina
Valle Crucis, North Carolina
Valle Crucis is an unincorporated community located in Watauga County, North Carolina, United States. The name of the town is Latin for "Vale of the Cross," a reference to a valley in the area where three streams converge to form a shape similar to an archbishop's cross...
. Its members, a few clergymen and zealous laymen, observed a community rule and preached Tractarian
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...
ideas. Observers grew worried, however, that Ives had started to move away from the teachings of the Episcopal Church and was embracing "Romish" practices such as private confession to a priest and prayers to the Virgin Mary and the saints. In 1848 he was arraigned before the Episcopal Church for heterodox practices, but was pardoned after dissolving the Brotherhood and providing a written pledge that he would prohibit any liturgical practice not authorized by the Episcopal Church in 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...
.
Conversion to Roman Catholicism
Despite these concessions, Ives's theological convictions continued to evolve until he was no longer able to accept that his denomination was a branch of the true CatholicCatholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
church. In 1852, after obtaining a six-month leave of absence, the 55-year-old cleric left for Europe with his wife. They went to Rome, where, on December 22, 1852, he sent a letter to the Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in North Carolina resigning his office of Bishop of North Carolina in view of his decision to join the Catholic Church. Ives was the first Protestant bishop since the 17th Century to convert to Catholicism. Signalling his prominence, it was Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
who received him into the Church on December 26, 1852. Some months later, his wife, too, converted to Catholicism.
In the spring of 1854 Ives published his apologia, The Trials of a Mind in its Progress to Catholicism. After two years in Rome, the Iveses returned to New York. As a lay Roman Catholic, whose marriage barred him from the priesthood, Ives spent his last years as a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of rhetoric at St. John's College (now Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
). He also lectured at St. Joseph's Seminary, Dunwoodie
St. Joseph's Seminary, Dunwoodie
St. Joseph's Seminary and College, sometimes referred to as Dunwoodie, after the Yonkers, New York neighborhood it is located in, is the major seminary of the Archdiocese of New York. Its primary mission is to form men for the priesthood in the Catholic Church...
and the convents of the Sacred Heart and Sisters of Charity, as well as concerning himself in charity work.
External links
- Documents by and about L. S. Ives from Project CanterburyProject CanterburyProject Canterbury is an online archive of material related to the history of Anglicanism. It was founded by Richard Mammana, Jr. in 1999, and is hosted by the non-profit Society of Archbishop Justus...