Philander Chase
Encyclopedia
Philander Chase was an Episcopal Church bishop
, educator, and pioneer of the United States western frontier
in Ohio
and Illinois
.
, Chase was instrumental in establishing Trinity Church
in his hometown of Cornish, New Hampshire
.
In 1799 as a missionary, he helped to organize first congregation of what would become St. John's Episcopal Church, Canandaigua
, New York. In 1805 he was appointed as the founding Rector
of what is now Christ Church Cathedral, New Orleans
. He became the first Episcopal Bishop of Ohio
in 1819, and later the first Episcopal bishop of Illinois
, simultaneously serving as Presiding Bishop of the national church.
Upset by the lack of institutions of higher learning west of the Appalachian Mountains, Chase undertook a difficult fund-raising campaign both in the United States and in England to raise money for such a school to be located in Ohio
.
He became the founder and first president of Kenyon College
and Bexley Hall
seminary in Gambier
, Ohio
in 1824. Originally the college existed in Worthington
, Ohio
, but Chase chose to relocate the school on the remote hill of Gambier
to protect his students from the immorality (such as drinking and dancing) that could be found in cities.
As Kenyon College grew, Chase came into conflict with the teachers and the trustees of the college, as he desired more control over the direction of the college. After a quarrel with the Board of Trustees, Chase resigned his position as President of the college in 1831. He was succeeded by the Bishop Charles McIlvane.
After removing himself and his family to the Valley of Peace in central Ohio, Chase spent the final years of his life founding Jubilee College
and the surrounding frontier community near present-day Peoria, Illinois
, financed by arduous fund-raising journeys overseas.
Philander Chase was the uncle and caretaker of Salmon P. Chase
, future Chief Justice of the United States
.
He was the 18th
bishop consecrated in The Episcopal Church.
on September 22.
http://www.kenyon.edu/philanderchase.xml
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
, educator, and pioneer of the United States western frontier
History of the United States (1789–1849)
With the election of George Washington as the first president in 1789, the new government acted quickly to rebuild the nation's financial structure. Enacting the program of Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton, the government assumed the Revolutionary war debts of the state and the national...
in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
and Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
.
Life
In 1795 while still a student at Dartmouth CollegeDartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
, Chase was instrumental in establishing Trinity Church
Trinity Church (Cornish, New Hampshire)
Trinity Church is an historic church located at 833 Route 12A in Cornish, New Hampshire, in the United States. It began in 1793 as the Episcopal Society and became Trinity Episcopal Church in 1795. Instrumental in its establishment was Philander Chase, son of one of the three founders of Cornish...
in his hometown of Cornish, New Hampshire
Cornish, New Hampshire
Cornish is a town in Sullivan County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,640 at the 2010 census. Cornish has three covered bridges. Each August, it is home to the Cornish Fair.-History:...
.
In 1799 as a missionary, he helped to organize first congregation of what would become St. John's Episcopal Church, Canandaigua
St. John's Episcopal Church, Canandaigua
The Episcopal presence in Canandaigua,New York begins about 1799 with the St. Matthew Society, a missionary group. St. John's Episcopal Church was organized in 1814 and first met in the Ontario County, New York Court House in Canandaigua. St. John's erected a wooden church building in 1816. Bishop...
, New York. In 1805 he was appointed as the founding Rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of what is now Christ Church Cathedral, New Orleans
Christ Church Cathedral, New Orleans
Christ Church Cathedral, located today at 2919 St. Charles Avenue, in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the United States, was the first non-Roman Catholic church founded in the entire Louisiana Purchase territory...
. He became the first Episcopal Bishop of Ohio
Episcopal Diocese of Ohio
The Episcopal Diocese of Ohio is the diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America in the northern half of the state of Ohio.The see city is Cleveland, home of Trinity Cathedral, the cathedral of the diocese. Mark Hollingsworth, Jr...
in 1819, and later the first Episcopal bishop of Illinois
Episcopal Diocese of Chicago
The Episcopal Diocese of Chicago is the official organization of the Episcopal Church in Chicago and Northern Illinois, USA. The diocese is served by The Right Reverend Jeffrey D. Lee, who serves as Bishop of the diocese, and The Right Reverend Victor A. Scantlebury, who serves as Assistant Bishop...
, simultaneously serving as Presiding Bishop of the national church.
Upset by the lack of institutions of higher learning west of the Appalachian Mountains, Chase undertook a difficult fund-raising campaign both in the United States and in England to raise money for such a school to be located in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
He became the founder and first president of Kenyon College
Kenyon College
Kenyon College is a private liberal arts college in Gambier, Ohio, founded in 1824 by Bishop Philander Chase of The Episcopal Church, in parallel with the Bexley Hall seminary. It is the oldest private college in Ohio...
and Bexley Hall
Bexley Hall
Bexley Hall is a seminary in Bexley, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus.It is one of 11 official seminaries of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America,and identifies itself as liberal Anglo-Catholic in orientation.-History:...
seminary in Gambier
Gambier, Ohio
Gambier is a village in Knox County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,871 at the 2000 census.Gambier is the home of Kenyon College and was named after one of Kenyon College's early benefactors, Lord Gambier....
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
in 1824. Originally the college existed in Worthington
Worthington, Ohio
-Dissolution of the Company:By August 11, 1804 the plat maps were completed, payments or notes promising payments collected and deeds prepared for all sixteen thousand acres of the Scioto Company's purchase...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, but Chase chose to relocate the school on the remote hill of Gambier
Gambier, Ohio
Gambier is a village in Knox County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,871 at the 2000 census.Gambier is the home of Kenyon College and was named after one of Kenyon College's early benefactors, Lord Gambier....
to protect his students from the immorality (such as drinking and dancing) that could be found in cities.
As Kenyon College grew, Chase came into conflict with the teachers and the trustees of the college, as he desired more control over the direction of the college. After a quarrel with the Board of Trustees, Chase resigned his position as President of the college in 1831. He was succeeded by the Bishop Charles McIlvane.
After removing himself and his family to the Valley of Peace in central Ohio, Chase spent the final years of his life founding Jubilee College
Jubilee College State Park
Jubilee College State Park is an Illinois state park located 6 miles west of Peoria, Illinois. It contains Jubilee College State Historic Site, a frontier Illinois college active from 1840 to 1862....
and the surrounding frontier community near present-day Peoria, Illinois
Peoria, Illinois
Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
, financed by arduous fund-raising journeys overseas.
Philander Chase was the uncle and caretaker of Salmon P. Chase
Salmon P. Chase
Salmon Portland Chase was an American politician and jurist who served as U.S. Senator from Ohio and the 23rd Governor of Ohio; as U.S. Treasury Secretary under President Abraham Lincoln; and as the sixth Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.Chase was one of the most prominent members...
, future Chief Justice of the United States
Chief Justice of the United States
The Chief Justice of the United States is the head of the United States federal court system and the chief judge of the Supreme Court of the United States. The Chief Justice is one of nine Supreme Court justices; the other eight are the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States...
.
He was the 18th
Succession of Bishops of the Episcopal Church in the United States
This list consists of the bishops in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, an independent province of the Anglican Communion. This shows the historic succession of the episcopate within this denomination.-Key to chart:...
bishop consecrated in The Episcopal Church.
Veneration
Chase is honored with a feast day on the liturgical calendar of the Episcopal Church (USA)Calendar of saints (Episcopal Church in the United States of America)
The veneration of saints in the Episcopal Church is a continuation of an ancient tradition from the early Church which honors important people of the Christian faith. The usage of the term "saint" is similar to Roman Catholic and Orthodox traditions. Those in the Anglo-Catholic tradition may...
on September 22.
See also
List of Episcopal bishops (U.S.)http://www.kenyon.edu/philanderchase.xml
External links
- Who was Philander Chase? Biography at Kenyon College
- Papers of Philander Chase Kenyon College project to put documents online
- PhilanderChaseCorporation Land Trust Gambier, Ohio