James De Koven

Background

James De Koven was born on September 19, 1831 in Middletown, Connecticut, United States. He was the son of Henry Louis and Margaret (Sebor) de Koven.

Education

Graduating from Columbia College in 1851, second in his class, he attended the General Theological Seminary, was graduated in 1854, and was immediately ordained deacon.

Career

The Protestant Episcopal Church in America had reflected the Oxford disputes during the forties and the Home-Mission group had associated itself at that time with the high-church party, toward which De Koven was inclined. Quite naturally, therefore, he chose the Home Mission field for his labors.

In 1855 Bishop Kemper, who was still missionary bishop of the Northwest, ordained him to the priesthood. His life in the West began strenuously.

During his first year he became assistant rector of a church at Delafield, Wisconsin, and professor of ecclesiastical history at Nashotah Theological Seminary, and was also placed in charge of St. John’s Hall, a preparatory school for Nashotah. Bishop Kemper transferred him in 1859 to Racine College where he was made rector, or warden. Racine developed greatly under his charge—not in size only, but in definiteness of policy as well. It was but natural that a man of his convictions should feel that the greatest problem in education lay, in the misguiding influence of science and the weakening of faith. He discussed this problem in 1874 in a general report on the educational needs of the times. Inevitably, the strict ceremonial observed at Racine aroused adverse criticism, and many disquieting rumors—mostly false—in regard to the “papal abominations” encouraged at that institution disturbed the bosoms of low churchmen.

From 1868 to the end of his life, De Koven represented his diocese in the General Convention. His gifts as a debater, his incisive wit, and his thorough knowledge of ecclesiastical history made him feared as well as admired in the lower house.

The great speech of his life was delivered upon this subject in 1874. In it he movingly explained the attitude of the sincere ritualist and refuted all charges of Romanism. Church partisanship was particularly acrimonious in the seventies. De Koven was attacked in religious papers and in the secular press. In 1871 Rev. James Craik of Louisville, Kentucky, even accused the rector of Racine of idolatrous views and practises. De Koven was not the man to sit silent under such an onslaught, and replied in the Church Journal and Gospel Messenger.

His published works are mostly sermons, tracts, and letters regarding religious controversies. Some of his papers were included in an undated collection, covering the years 1870-75, which was published under the title, Tracts by Dr. De Koven and Others. The year after his death Sermons Preached on Various Occasions was published, with a preface by Morgan Dix. The diocese of Massachusetts failed to elect him bishop in 1873 by a few votes only. On the death of Bishop Kemper in 1874, he lost the election of Wisconsin by his failure to command the lay vote. On this occasion a series of garbled and misleading allegations concerning candles on the altar, incense during ceremonies, and auricular confession assumed great importance. In 1875 he was elected Bishop of Illinois but the Standing Committee of the General Convention refused to accept his election because of his opinions on the Eucharist, and he withdrew his acceptance. Trinity Church of New York City and St. Mark’s in Philadelphia both called him to their parishes, but he declined these invitations and remained at Racine, where he died in March 1879. He left his property, including his library and all his papers, to Racine College.

Achievements

• DeKoven's greatest contribution to the Church was his opposition to the low-church effort to dictate ritualistic uniformity. He fought this attempt with ardor and ability, and he won his cause.

Works

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  • Sermons: Preached on Various Occasions (Classic Reprint)

    (Excerpt from Sermons: Preached on Various Occasions Thus...)

  • A Theological Defence for the REV. James de Koven to the Council Held at Milwaukee, February 11th and 12th, 1874

    ( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)

  • A Manual of Instruction for Confirmation Classes

    (This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. T...)

Connections

Father:

Henry Louis de Koven

Mother:

Margaret (Sebor) de Koven