Introduction

Biography

Howard was the son of Fran­cis Le­ba­ron Rob­bins and Lu­cy Mor­ton Hart­pence, and hus­band of Ma­ry Lou­ise Bay­lis.

He was edu­cat­ed at Yale Uni­ver­si­ty (BA 1899) and the Epis­co­pal Theo­lo­gic­al Se­mi­na­ry (BD 1903).

Robbins was or­dained a dea­con in 1903, and priest in 1904. He served a num­ber of posts:

• Curate of St. Pe­ter’s, Mor­ri­stown, New Jer­sey
• Rector of St. Paul’s, En­gle­wood, New Jer­sey (1905–11
• Rector of Church of the In­ca­rn­ation, New York Ci­ty (1911–17)
• Dean of the Ca­thed­ral of St. John the Di­vine, New York Ci­ty (1917–29)
• Professor of Pas­tor­al Theo­lo­gy at Ge­ne­ral Theo­lo­gic­al Se­mi­na­ry (re­tired 1941).

He was on the Joint Com­mis­sion that re­vised The Hym­nal, and sev­er­al of his hymns ap­peared in The Hym­nal 1940.