February 28th, 1867

Get a letter from Prof. Huntington saying he had shown my letter to Bishop Williams, who said there was no doubt of my election. I wrote a full letter to Prof. Huntington reaffirming that I was not indisposed to consider the question if directly brought before me, but I said that Bishop Coxe would be with Bishop Williams on Saturday, and after that interview, all thoughts on the subject might be put an end to.

February 25th, 1867

Met Bishop Coxe at Canandaigua on my way home, and told him all about Havana. I mentioned to him Prof. Huntington’s letter to me. He dissuaded me from going to Hartford, and said he would do all in his power to prevent it. Went in the evening to tell the Bridges about Havana.

February 24th, 1867

Havana.

 After service go with Mr. Elbert Cook to look at the College building. Examine it all over. Find it very strongly built, and well suited to educational purposes. Mr. Cook expressed a strong desire to secure it to Bishop Coxe for a girls’ school, and said he would labor to that end, and give money to secure it. Mr. Cook appeared well, I thought: frank, candid and honest.

I went up to Havana at Bishop Coxe’s request, to look into this matter, and to officiate in the parish- divided for two years through Mr. Charles Cook’s influence, and only brought together last Sunday for the first time, when Bishop Coxe officiated for them. He wished me to go and carry forward, and deepen, the good impression.

February 22nd, 1867

Washington’s Birthday, and a holiday in College. Exercises in Linden Hall in the evening. The Performances were creditable. Last night two milliner’s signs were carried off, and Miss Bridge’s gate – by students, no doubt.

February 20th, 1867

Preside at Trinity Church over the business meeting of the Convocation. Matters were talked over; a secretary and treasurer were chosen, and a committee appointed to prepare a plan of organization.

The Convocation was considered a successful one. A good, earnest, hopeful spirit prevailed, and there seemed to be excellent openings for missionary work.

February 19th, 1867

The Convocation to be formed of Ontario and adjacent counties, is now met here to organize.

February 17th, 1867

Early Communion at nine. The Alpha Delt’s were almost the only students present.

February 13th, 1867

I got a letter this morning from Rev. Prof. John P. Huntington of Trinity College, asking me to say “yes” to the question whether I would take the Presidency of Trinity College, and I “would be unanimously elected by the Board of trustees”. I wrote to say I would consider the question kindly, if brought before me in any tangible form.

I was sorry that Huntington wrote to me on this subject of the Presidency of Trinity College, and I have felt disturbed and anxious about it. I really think it was impossible that I might be induced to accept that position. Sill I could not fairly address myself to the subject till it was put more authoritatively. What a change for me to go back to Hartford!

February 9th, 1867

Finished directing catalogues to the Clergy of New York Diocese. Go to Syracuse and call on Judge Comstock and talk over the Law of Trusts with him, as it exists in this country. He said that Mr. Douglas’ idea that the founder could interpret statutes in case of disagreement, was no law of America, and could not be maintained here. He said that the statutes justified me in doing what I had done.

February 8th, 1867

At 7 P.M. acted as Chaplain and President at the first meeting of the DeLancey Association – to consist of students looking forward to Holy Orders – for the purpose of aiding and encouraging each other in maintaining a high Christian character, and of imparting information to each other on the state of missions, and of the Church, &c. I opened it with the Lord’s Prayer and Collects, and we sang a hymn. We adopted a constitution and some by-laws. There were present Southgate, Wells, Neely and Brown (seniors), Bostwick and Van Voast (juniors) and others.

It was an interesting meeting. Exercises were assigned for the next meeting – an essay from Wells and one from Southgate for the meeting four weeks hence. We propose to meet every two weeks on Friday evening. I hope for much good from this Association.

February 6th, 1867

Go to Lockport to attend the funeral of Washington Hunt.

February 4th, 1867

Wrote out Constitution for the DeLancey Association- a proposed Association of all those students who are looking to entering the Ministry, for mutual improvement.

February 1st, 1867

Sent for M—and C— and demerited them twenty-five each for talking in Chapel last evening and this morning.

Southgate, Wells and Neely called to see me about the DeLancey Association.