(This book was originally published prior to 1923, and rep...)
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Alexander Burgess was born on October 31, 1819 and descended from Thomas Burgess, who came from England about 1630, and ultimately established himself in Sandwich, Massachussets. One of Thomas's descendants, who also bore the name Thomas, made his home in Providence, Rhode Island, and in 1803 married Mary Mackie of Scotch descent, whose home was in Wareham, Massachussets. These were the parents of Alexander Burgess, who was born in Providence.
Following in the footsteps of his father, Alexander prepared himself for admission to Brown University, and graduated in the class of 1838. He then went to the General Theological Seminary, New York, to fit himself for the Episcopal ministry, graduating from that institution in 1841.
Burgess was ordained deacon November 3, 1842, by the Rt. Rev. Alexander Viets Griswold, bishop of what was then known as the Eastern Diocese, which included all of New England except Connecticut, and was advanced to the priesthood, November 1, 1843, by the Rt. Rev. John P. K. Henshaw, bishop of Rhode Island, that part of the Eastern Diocese having within the year elected its own bishop.
On December 11, 1842, Burgess took charge of St. Stephen's Church, East Haddam, Connecticut, remaining there about a year, when he was called to the rectorship of St. Mark's Church, Augusta, Maine. After serving over ten years in this charge he completed a rectorship of nearly thirteen years in St. Luke's Church, Portland. From there he went to be rector of St. John's Church, Brooklyn, Long Island, but remained only three years, when he assumed the rectorship of Christ Church, Springfield, Massachussets.
In whatever diocese he served he was chosen for positions of importance and responsibility. In the dioceses of Maine, Long Island, and Massachusetts he was almost continuously from 1845 to 1877 a member of their respective standing committees.
He was elected as a deputy to eight general conventions from the Diocese of Maine, and to three from the Diocese of Massachusetts. At the last convention in which he served as a deputy, that of 1877, he was made the president of the House of Deputies.
At a special convention held February 26, 1878, Burgess was elected bishop on the forty-fourth ballot, and on May 15, 1878, in Christ Church, Springfield, Massachussets, he was consecrated the first Bishop of Quincy. It was a difficult field to which Bishop Burgess had been called, and the work was pioneer work.
Before this convention there came an application from the Diocese of Illinois asking that two additional dioceses might be set up within the limits of the State of Illinois. This application was granted, and one of these dioceses became the Diocese of Quincy.
He died in St. Albans, Vermont, and was buried there.
Alexander Burgess was especially skilled in the canon law of the Church, and an able parliamentarian. Though possessed of rich intellectual gifts, yet in his busy life as pastor and bishop, he also found time for some literary work as well. In his professional life he was elected as a deputy to eight general conventions from the Diocese of Maine, and to three from the Diocese of Massachusetts. Then the major achievement followed at the last convention in which he served as a deputy, he was made the president of the House of Deputies in 1877. At a special convention held February 26, 1878, Burgess was elected bishop on the forty-fourth ballot, and on May 15, 1878, in Christ Church, Springfield, Massachussets, he was consecrated the first Bishop of Quincy. It was a difficult field to which Bishop Burgess had been called, and the work was pioneer work, which he coped well with.
(This book was originally published prior to 1923, and rep...)
He was an Eastern man by birth and education, and all his ministry hitherto had been in the East. But he adapted himself to the new conditions, and by his strong scriptural preaching, by his faithful and sympathetic labors, and by his broadmindedness, he started the new diocese well on its way.
Burgess was twice married: in September 1845 to Mary Williams Selden, who died April 22, 1856; and on June 1, 1858, to Maria Annette Howard, daughter of the Hon. Joseph Howard of Portland, Maine, who died January 4, 1899.
In 1869 he published a Memoir of his brother, George Burgess, the Bishop of Maine, which, however, was more a compilation of the impressions of others than an original production.
