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^•-' . V
:l
T.
TOQ]
R E PORT
or TBB
PROCEEDINGS OF THE MEETING
or TBB
lisiilii)!, Clergq ml Xm\^
OP THB
DI033SS OF QTTEBEC,,
HELD AT THB
NATIONAL SCHOOL HOUSE, QUEBEC,
ON THE 24th JUNE, 1858.
TAKEN FROM THE "QUEBEC MERCURY" OF THE
26th of that month j
TOQBTBBR WITH CBRTAIN ARTICLES FROM THAT JOURNAL, AND OTHERS, BEARUIQ
UPON THB SUBJECT OF
SVNODICAL ACTION.
QUEBEC :
PRINTED AT THE MERCURY" OFFICE.
1859.
•
No pains having been spared to give circulation
to newspapers and pamphlets setting forth a particular
class of views on subjects connected with Synodical
action, it has been thought desirable to collect to-
gether, and republish, certain articles which have
appeared from time to time, in the Quebec Mercury,
and Chronicle, and other papers, on the opposite
side of the question. It will be important to observe
that the two journals just mentioned are the only
secular papers in Quebec which, through their Edi-
tors or Proprietors, are connected with the Church
of England, although neither of them is under the
influence, in the least degree, of any ecclesiastical
authority ; and they therefore may be reasonably sup-
posed to represent the opinions of the majority of the
member? of that Church.
In the articles which follow, some slight omissions
have been made of passages which are either inap-
propriate in the present state of things, or too per-
sonal in their character to make it desirable to
republish them.
V
/^(^
890561
REPORT, &c.
From the Quebec Mermri/^ "itlh of June ^ 1858.
SYNOD MEETING OF THE CLERGY AND LAITY
OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND.
The general meeting of members of the Anglican Church,
of which a brief report Was given up to the hour of our last
publication, was attended by the greater portion, though not
all, ol the CXexgy of the Diocese, and about one hundred and
fifty lay members, of whom not more tjian ten had come in
from the country parishes specially for the meeting.
His Lordship the Bishop, as a tor of course occupied the
chair, and the Rev. S. Wood opci the meeting by reading
several appropriate prayers.
The Lord Bishop in introducing the subject which had
called the meeting together, said, that by permission of
Almighty God they had met for the purpose of considering and
adopting the act of parliament by which synodicjil powers had
been conferred on the bishop, clergy and laity of the church of
England, and framing a constitution and regulations for the go-
vernment of the churcii. His Lordship remarked that for a pe
riod of sixty-five years the affairs of the church had been con-
ducted without the exercise of this power, and it was but very
lately that the subject of synodical action had been prominently
brought forward. In 1851 the initiatory movement was made
in the matter by five bishops who assembled in (Quebec ; he
mentioned the fact of the subject having originated amongst
the Bishops, as an evidence of the confidence placed by them in
the laity. The adoption of certain regulations and resolutions
was the first step taken. Two years arterwurils his Loidsliip
went to England for the purpose of meeting tho metropolitan
of Australia (the Lord Bishop of Sydney,) to consault the high-
est authorities at home and to obtain power to act in the mat-
ter from the Imperial Parliament. Objections, however, arose
in England as to the eligibility of that course of procedure, and
it was afterward thought proper to apply to the Provincial
Legislature. The act, to adopt which they had met, was the
consequence of that application ; it had received the sanction
of royalty, and the power of Synodical action had thus
been constituted. His Lordship said that the present meeting
was not a synod, but simply a meeting to prepare the way for
the formation of a synod ; and in the furtherance of this object,
he had availed himself of the assistance of several gentlemen to
draw up certain resolutions, which would be submitted to the
consideration of the meeting. The first resolution had merely
reference to the adoption by this meeting of the Act of Parlia-
ment ; the second was for the purpose of establishing the
principle of representation in the synod when formed, and it was
open to all persons, members of the church, to propose such
alterations therein, and amendments thereto, as were consis-
tent with the general principles which governed the church. He
hoped and trusted fhat the consideration of the subject and the
action taken upon it by this meeting would be such as would
receive the approbation of the church, the clergy, and the laity
of the Church of England, not only through all the places
whose interests are identified in thiit action, but throughout
the world ; and that whatever discussion took [)lace it would
be marked by that cool and calm reflection, that christian
candour and gentleness, corresponding with the importance of
the subject, and not with minds clouded or prejudiced by per-
sonal ideas or considerations. His Lordship concluded by
saying that they would now proceed to consider what that
synodical action would be, without which they had done for
sixty-five years ; and he hoped that the first steps taken would
be successful ones. Referring again to the fact that the move-
ment originated with the bishops, and the feeling towards the
laity manifested by their so doing, he sat down.
Revd. A. W. Mountain, was appointed Secretary to the
meeting, and read the following Act of the Provincial Parlia-
ment authorizing Svnodical Action : —
i Li)idslii|)
Btropolitan
the liigli-
1 the niat-
jvcr, arose
edure, and
Provincial
, was the
s sanction
Iiad thus
it meeting
lie way for
this ohject,
'ntlcn^en to
itted to the
lacl merely
tofParlia-
ishing the
and it was
pose such
?re consis-
■hurch. He
?ct and the
U as would
1(1 the laity
the places
throughout
e it would
t christian
pnrtance of
:ed hy per-
icluded by
what that
id done for
ken would
the move-
uwards the
iry to the
nal Parlia-
ACT to enable the Members of the I'nitoi] Church of Kngiand and
Ireland in Canada, to meet in Synod. (19 & 20 Vic., rap. 141,
Passed by both houses oflmperitd Parhament, 13th June, 1856.)
Whereas, doubts exist whether the members of the United Church
of England and Irehind, in this Provitife, have the power of regula-
ting the affairs of their Church in matters relating to discipline, and
necessary to order and good governmrnt, audit is just that such
doubts hhould be removed in order that ibcy may be punnilled to
exercise the same rights of self government that ore enjoyed by
other rel'gious communities ; therefore, Her Majesty, by and wittj
the advice and consent of the Legislative Councd and Assembly of
Canada, enacts as follows : —
1. The Bishops, Clerjiy, and I.aity, members of the United
Church of Kiigland and Ireland, in this Province, may meet in their
several Dioceses, which arc now, or may be herf^nfter cont^tituted in
this Province, and in such manner and by sucii proceedings at
they shall adopt, frame coiistitutiotis, and make legulaiions for enfor-
cing discipline in the Church, for the appointment, deposition, depri-
vation, or removal of any person beaiing (fTice therein, of what-
ever order or degree, any rights of the Crown to the contnuy
notwiihsianding, for the convenient and orderly management of the
property, affairs and interests of the t luirch in matters relaiitg to
and alTecting only the said Church, and the oniecrs and members
thereof, and not in any manner interfering with the rights, privileges
or interests of other religious eommuniiies, or of any person or per-
sons not being a mcml)er or mendjers of the said United Church of
England and Ireland ; Provided always that such constitutions and
regulations shall apply only to the Diocese or Dioceses adopting the
same,
II The Bishopp, Clergy, and Laity, mcnd)crs of the United
Church of Eng' id and Ireland, in this Province, may meet in
general Assembly »/;thin this Province, by pucii Hepresentativcs as
Bhall be determined and declared by them in their several Dioceses ;
and in such general Assembly frame a cons-litution and regulations
for ihe general management and good government of the said
Church in this Province ; provided alvvayf", that nothing in this act
contained shall authorise the imposition of any rate or lax upon any
person or persons whomsoever, whether belonging to the said
Church or not, or the infliction of any | unishment, fine, or pejully
upon any person, other than his suspension or removal from an office
in the said Church or exclusion from the meetings or proceedings of
the Diocesan or General Synods ; and provided also, nothing in the
Baid constitution, regulations, or any of them, shall be contrary to
any law or statutes now or hereafter in force in this Province.
hr
'i
It was tlioii moved by the Hon. W. Sheppard, «ecorided
by iho Revd. D. Falloon,'D. D.
I. —That we, (he Bishop, Clergy, and Laity of the Doicese
of Quebec legally convened, adopt the Act of the Provincial
Parliament entitled " An Act to enable the members of the
United Church of England and Ireland to meet in Synod."
The first resolution was then put to (he meeting and unani-
mously adopted.
The second Resolution was proposed bv the Revd. S. S.
Wood, M.A., seconded by the Revd. E. C' Parkin.
2. — That pending the adoption of a constitution by the Synod
at its first meeting, the Synod shall consist of the Bishop of (he
Diocese, of the clergy of (ho same, being in Priests Orders, in-
stituted or licensed to the cure of souls, or being Principals or
JVofessors of Divinity in any College, or being head masters
of Schools under the jurisdiction (in cither case) of the Bishop,
and not being under ecclesiastical censure : and of lay Repre-
sentafivcs, as horeaftcr to be provided.
Rev(\. Mr. Wood said, in moving the resolution, that he
hoped it would not meet with opposition, as he disliked op-
position verv much. There were occasions when an open and
manly opposition was required, and no one admired more than
he did opposition of that nature; the opposition he disliked was
that of a factious nature, and he hoped that nothing of that
de^-r ^';ption wouM characterize the proceedings of the present
meeting. He was not much in favor of long speeches, and
indeed there was nothing in the resolution which would enable
a person to make a long speech upon it.
Mr. Jeffrey Hale here rose and said that he had an
amendrnent to propose. The idea of this amendment
had arisen in his mind from what he had heard at thaf
meeting, and of course, he had not yet put it upon paper.
Previous to doing so, he would explain the opinion which, al-
though he was no lawyer, he entertained on the subject under
discussion. He doubted very much whether this meeting
could delegate its power of forming a constitution to any other
parties. The act distinctly stated that the bishop, clergy, and
laity of the Church of England must meet and frame their con-
stitution and regulations themselves ; no one else could
frame the constitution. In laying tlie foundation of our edifice
therefore it would bo but wise to lay it surelv. The bod y
, leconded
ho Doicese
Provincial
crs of t!)e
t'norl."
nd unani-
evd. S. S.
the Synod
lop of tho
Orders, in-
incipals or
d masters
le Bishop,
\y Rcpre-
n, (liat he
silked op-
opeii and
more than
diked was
ig of that
he present
Laches, and
lild enable
had an
nendment
at thaf
on paper,
vhich, al-
3ct under
mceling
iny other
rgy, and
their con-
Ise couUl
ur edifice
he bod V
inentionod in the n.solutioii jus<. rend, might, ii is true, frHine a
constitution and reguhitions ; but that constitution and those
regulations would not be tho constitution or regulations of the
Church of Kngland in synod assembled, and might, conse-
quently, bo easily alfected, and dilliculties would arise which
would bo very hard to get over. This meeting was called
together fo- the purpose of framing a constitution and regula-
tions for the government of the Church, for tho delegation of
their power to do so to another body the act made no provi-
sion whatever. He would ihercfbre respectfully suggest that
those gentlemen evetj although they possessed much more
wisdom than he did, had, in framing the resolution, followed a
course not in accordance with the provisions of tho Act of
Parliainent. lie would therefore, move an amendment to the
following elfect : —
That a committee consisting ot twelve members, be ap-
pointed by ballot for the purpose of framing the draft of a con-
stitution for the regulation of tho Church of England of this
diocese ; the same to be suhmitted to a public mcetmg of the
members of the Church of England of t!iis diocese for their
sanction and approval, at such date as might be decided on.
Mr. George Hall, tho acting Mayor, bogged permission to
enquire whether Mr. Hale's opinion was supported by that of
any of the legal gentlemen he saw present.''
Mr. Andrew Stuart, advocate, having then been called
upon by the unanimous voice of the meeting to give his opinion
on the subject, said :— That the Act gave the ciiurch powers
of government as described in tho second clause of tjiat docu-
ment, by means of the bishop, clergy, and laity, and therefore,
that a constitution for its government must be given by the
members of the church as therein designated. These members
could, however, he thought, appoint a Committee to draft or
draw up a constitution, the members of the church having full
power to alter, accept, or reject such constitution, accordiiiff
as they thought proper. The Act conferred no powers of
government on a Synod ; the church was to be governed alone
by means of a constitution and regulations drawn up by the
njembers designated as the bishop, cleigv, and laity. He
therefore concurred in the view of the Act taken by Mr. Hale
,P®,,^^^'^' ^^r. Wood here begged permission' to enquire
ot the Chair whether it was undej-stood that the voiincr was to
be by orders. This enquiry created a decided maniTbstation
uf ()|){)Ositiiiii uinoii^ t!i(j luy members pie&cnt, iVum which
imnnunt the discusiiun became irregular, anil our ruporter was
unable to note the proceedings with any thing like accuracy.
The question was repeatedly raised whether the meeting
did not already ct)tjstituto a Synod.
Mr. James Btdl Forsyth maintained that such was the case
from the inomont that the first Resolution had been passed,
and that, this point eskiblished, the right of the Clergy to vote
by orders, could not be duiied them.
The llevd. Mr. Parkin could not conceal his surprise that,
constituted as the assemblagi? was in the proportion of twenty
laity to one clergynnn,— a feeling should exist against the
right of the clergy to vote as they considered they had the right
of doing.
Mr. ilall expressed his surprise that the clergy should wish
to set themselves in a position adverse to the will of the laity.
Mr. Parkin maintained in reply, that the present meeting,
constituted as it was, could not by any means be looked upon
as a representation of the laity, lie insisted th.at it was self-
evident, the clergy were members of the Church of England,
while proof was requisite that every layman was a member of
that church.
The Bishop stated that it was hi:i conviction that, the clergy
having with one voice decided against the motion of Mr. Hale,
the amendment was rejected.
The cry of" question," on Mr. Hale's motion, being raised
by Colonel Fitzgerald and other gentlemen,
The Bishop again stated that he was under the im-
pression that the Clergy had declared their view on the sub-
ject.
The Lord Bishop here remarked that the words of the act
were, with regard to Mr. Stuart's observation on the powers
of Synods, that the bishop, clergy and laity " were to meet in
Synod."
From this point in the discussion of the subject, an animated
and by no means orderly system of debate prevailed, several
clerical gentlemen opposing Mr. Hale's amendment, and main-
taining tliat in no way could the government of the church be
more etficiently worked out than by the formation of a Synod
by the present meeting, and the further election and sending
in of representatives from the dilTerent parishes, who would no
doubt submit to the wislics of a constituted majority.
IVoin which
•■porter was
e accuracy,
lie meeting
as the case
eon passed,
rgy to vote
rpriso that,
1 of twenty
against tiie
id the right
bould wish
)f the laity.
[It meeting,
okcd upon
it was self-
>r England,
member of
the clergy
Mr. Hale,
L'ing raised
r the im-
n the sub-
of the act
he powers
to meet in
1 animated
:1, several
and main-
church be
>i a Synod
1 sending
I would no
They o[)[),)9tjJ Mr. Hale's amendment on the principle thai
at presoijt it wouhl disfrancliiso the people of their parishes.
To thi.s it was replied by Mr. ILilo that no such intentions
wore oiilertuinod or .»tliuwn by tliu amciulmciit ; it delegated no
power to the coinmitt'ie which would he formed sl?ould the
ainen.lment be adopted ; it was leaving the work ot the many
to a tew who w.)uld have no power to fnuno a constitution,
but who wouhl merely submit surh suggestions for the framing
of that constitution to the assembled members of the church,
those meujbers accepting o.- rejecting suth suggestions as they
considere 1 desirabh; or otherwise'.
Mr. Hall cn(|uired whether h'<>;al advice had been taken by
the Bisho[) and the gentlemen who had drawn up the resolution
now before I hu tnefting, pr* . ious to their having done so.
^ The opinions of M-,-eral legal gentlemen including Messrs.
Kerr and Campbell were given, all tutiding in favor of the in-
terpretation of ilm act as titken by ,Mr. Hale.
Several observations were then made by various parties in
no way complimentary to the talents of Mr. Cameron in draw-
ing up ac(s of Parliament, or the infallibility of his opinion.
In reply, the Bishop stated that in drawing up the resolu-
tion they had been guided by the welfare of the church at
largo, and by the opinion of Mr. Cameron, the gentleman who
had Iramed and presented the Act itself.
Mr. Hale now objected to the decision of the chair, which
was, as he stated, a deviation from the general rule at all meet-
ings. He would not acknowledge that the clergy had the
right of voting separately from the" rest of the meeting.
^ Mr. Kerr, advocate, here stepped forward, on the part of
five professional gentlemtn present, w ho had requested him to
express their professional view of the right of tliu clergy. It
was only by courtesy, in their opinion, that the light is given
by the meeting, and would be given on the occasion. The
clergy should not arrogate to themselves the right of voting
by orders, and even the authoritv of John Hillyard Cameron
was not generally approved. Notwithstanding that gentle-
man's eminence, the act he had produced at the suggestion of
his fellow churchmen in Toronto, was since its piTssage, ad-
mitted 10 be nothing else than a hideous absurditv .
Mr. Forsyth concurred with Mr. Hale's amendment in all
tbmgs save one ; and that was the number of the committee,
B
10
i i
twelve, which he consideretl far too small; he could not well
see how it could he named oiit of this large meeting.
Mr. Hale agreed to withdraw the words '"by ballot," and
also that the committee should consist of an equal number
of Clergy and Laity, which he desired it to be understood, was
his intention in originally proposing the amendment.
On the question of how the vote for the ap[)ointment of the
proposed Lommittee was to be taken, a very animated and
irregular discussion arose ; the Clergy supported by the Bishop,
asserting and maintaining their right to vote by orders ; a pro-
cedure which it was contended would leave the Laity in a
minority. This claim on their part, at the present meeting,
was strongly repudiated by Messrs, Hale, Hall, Eadon,
and others.
The llevd. E. W. Sewell, whose rising was greeted with
the loudest applause of the day, urged, as a senior minister of
the diocese, that his brethren of the clergy would on this
occasion throw aside any claim they might have to vote by
orders.
The Chair being again called on by Sheriflf Seweil and a
number of other gentlemen, to decide the point of whether the
Clergy were entitled to vote by orders.
His Lordship stated that, with all deterence to the attain*
ments of the professional gentlemen who had given their opin-
ion of the Act by which the proceedings were governed, he
held to his original view of the intent of the law, and with the
Honorable Mr^ Cameron's written notes of his construction of
it in his hands (which document the Bishop read to the meeting)
he could not set aside that right,
Mr. T. W. Lloyd thought there could be no doubt that
voting by orders at present would be illegal. If the Clergy
were determined that they would not vote save by orders, and
if the Laity would not concede that point, business could not
be carried on.
Mr. Kerr, in answer to the Bishop, said decidedly that the
Laity, according to the law, were not authorised to give their
assent to the Clergy voting by orders.
Mr. G. Hall then addressed the meeting on the necessity of
their acting with due reflection ; the course pointed out by
Mr. Hale and supported by Mi. Stuart, was the only true
course which could be adopted, and he begged the mfieting to
iUi not well
)aIlot," and
jual number
irstood, was
ment of the
inflated and
the Bishop,
ers ; a pro-
Laity in a
[it meeting,
ill, Eadon,
reeted with
minister of
lid on this
to vote by
?weii and a
vhether the
the attain-
their opin-
verned, he
id with the
itruction of
le meeting)
doubt that
he Clergy
)rders, and
s could not
lly that the
I give their
lecessity of
id out by
only true
meeting to
u
pause and cun*ider well every bearing of the subject before
they took action upon it. The subject was a most important
one ; they were met to decide on a matter which would affect
not only themselves but their children after them.
The Revd. Mr. Balfour siynified his opinion that the clergy
holdmg the position of one against a thousand, no combined
action would ever result, and they would be compelled alto-
gether to withdraw.
Capt. Rhodes stated that he was tlie only member of his own
cjngregaiion present. This assembly was only a representa-
tion of a party ^of the city (.f Quebec. He was con-
vinced his congregation would be most reluctant to accept
the decision of the present assemblage on any point. He
therefore propo.sed an adjournment to this day two months.
The Revd. S. S. Wood, senior clergyman of the entire dio-
cese, and a minister eminent for Ins talents and usefulness to
the Church, here rose and begged from his very heart and soul
to disclaim the shadow of a wish to override the laity, He
solemnly declared that he could not sit in a meeting where
there was a disposition of any one order to overrule the others.
Mr. Wood hereupon left the inoeting.
Prof. Thompson said that any liigli-lianded measure carried
here, would, in all probability,' be not acquiesced in by the
country congregations, and tiias an extensive schism might
arise in the church.
The Revd. Mr. Balfour deemed it strange that, after voting
themselves a Synod, the meeting were yet in doubt as to whe-
ther they constituted a Synod or not.
The Revd. H. Burrage, M.A., proposed an adjourninent to
that day month. All the clergy around him from the country
parishes were, like himself, unaccompanied by a single lay re-
presentative, and it was butjustjwhen such important questions
of detail were discussed, that the laity should have notification
thereof, and rpporlunily to attend
Col. Fitzgerald said that if the meeting was properly con-
stituted when the act was adopted, why was it not constituted
now ?
The Bit^hop gave an explanation which had been made
alreatly.
The Bishop several times left the ch.tir as he saw no pos'iibi-
lity of proceeding without the (.rinci[)le being acknowledged
of the <lorgy having (lie right to vote as a sepaiato body.
12
Among the speakers who evinced warmth, the Kevd. Mr.
Roe declared against admitting any promiscuous assemblage to
assume the rights of legislative action, that had no precedent
m the history of the world, in any instance, save durino- the
French Revolution. "
During the height of the discussion, it is deeplvto be lamented
that any portion of the lay element should have'so far for-rotten
themselves as to have taunted the clergy with such gi-os,s° lan-
guage as " Church-emptiers," " Bcavens" and " Fjsh-eaters"
Repeatedly als.), to the manifest disrespect of the same class
towards Ihe chair, it could not but be noticed that much need-
less loud conversation and shudling, or movinir about, was kept
up, whenever his lordship addressed the assemblage.
The Revd. Mr. Parkin had a paper i)ut into his hands, con-
taining the printed names of twelve persons, as the ballot ticket
of a party. The Revd. gentleman, though (he proceedino-s
were drawing to a close, reiterated the assertion that the ckr«%
came as mdependent and unfettered individuals, while that
paper clearly established upon whom the imputation lay of a
deliberate intent to overrule the will of the meetin«-.
Several propositions of adjournment wore made, one of
which was carried to the tirst Wednesday in September,
when his Lordship with much emotion pronounced the bene-
diction.
I
AMERICAN VIKVV OF THE QUEBEC SYNOD MEETING.
(From the New York Church Journal, July 14.)
1 he Quebec Mercury giy. 5. us a full account of the opening
meelini? (o form a Diorcsan Synod, under the Colonial Act. To
us, who have for so many years enjoyed the power of freely
legislating for ourselves in fcclesiastiral m.itters, (he crude attempts
of those who are yet iiovicrs in the noble art, afford sometimes
matter of wonder. We insprt a long report of the first meeting of
the Quebec Synod, where the Assembly finally adjourned without
doing anything but adopt the Coloniai Act. And ihe reason why
they did nothing else, was beranso (he laity would not consent
(hat the rlrigy should vote a« a separate order ! This a!)';;rd
le Hevd. Mr.
ssemblage to
no precedent
ve during the
behnnenfed
' far forgotten
:h gross lan-
' Fisli-eaters"
le same class
it much need-
i)iit, was kept
> hands, con-
e ballot ticket
proceedings
lat the clfrgy
^, while that
uion lay of a
adc, one of
1 September,
:'ed the bene-
MKKTING.
14)
' the opening
lial Act. To
per of freely
rude attempts
rd sometimes
rst meeting of
irned without
e reason why
not consent
Thij abnird
13
•Jtreme of radicalism would .wamp Bishop, pri.sts, d.acons, und./
the vast numerical majority of lay votes. An extreme so wild a,
this has ne^r. we believe, been even temporarily adopted in any
diocese of these United States ; nor have „e ever heard of any
diocese where any sane man has ever ventured to propose it.
Lverywhere among us, a* a mailer of course, the clergy and (he
bnty have coordinate powers. In some dioceses the Bishop alone
forms a third coordinate power, as indeed, ouj-ht always to be tlie
Oise : but oven where this is not expressed in the law, there h
hardly ;. Diocese where it is not the case in fad.
In the present instance, the words of the Coloni.l Act are clear
and express. 'J he legislative power is uiven to « The Bishops,
Uergy and Laity, members of the U.Mted Church of Kngland and
ire uiuj. J hey are mentioned distinctly, us being dislfnct Orders,
and in their action, the consent of the zeholc three is requisite,
otherwise it is no action at all. « The Bishops, Cler-y, and I'aity,"
says tli^ act, '' may meel and frame conslilutions a..d make resiu-
latwns, kc. If when they " meetr there be no » laity "there.
It is evident that no bubiness can be transacted ; and no other con-
struction than this would be tolerated by (he laity themselves. By
the same reasoning, the presence ol the 'Bishops^ and the 'Clersv'
IS et|Ui.lly indispensable to a valid '^ meeting'^ of (he Body.
But .f this be so as to the « meeting;^ it is equally so as to the
Jramnig of constilnt ions'' and (he « making of re<rulalions."
Ihe same use of the same phrase settles bot^i points in one
stroke. Hence in the transaction of business, if the /«//?/ op.
pose a measure, it is not the work of (he "Bishops, CIcrJv,
and Lrti/j/," (herefcre it is nothing. If (he clergy do not agree id
It, It IS not the work of -Bishops, clergjj, and Laity ; therefore
It IS nothing If (he Bis/iops refuse their sanction, it is not the work
of the <' G.^Ao;,,, Clergy and Laity ;" therefore it is nothing. So
long as each of the three is distinctly recognized in (he law, they
must each have distinctive rights in all action nnderthe law.
\yhat makes this clearer, is, that preiisdy (he same language is
used in the second section, concerning the Provincial A^semb\y,
asm the hrst section concerning the Diocesan Synod. This Pro-
vincial Assembly would be a body corresponding with our General
Convention. And when (he several Bishops of (he Province come
together, shall it be said (hat the whole Episcopate and ihe repre-
sentatives of the wholeof the Clergy,shall be over-ridden complete-
ly by a numerical superiority of laymen ?
It is in admirable keeping, (hat those who advocate such a
wild extreme of radicalis
taunt the clergy with gross and insulting lang
m as this, should be found, in debate, (o
uagr, and to shuffle
i
14
the aged a.id venerable Bishop, wheneter he tt.ldressed the meeting.
Shame ! Such a course btfjts such a ciuse, indeed ; but the so ber
•econd thought of the laity themselves will destroy efery chance of
• uccess for a notion, which, if successful \vou\i— with laitu of such
a /eM/;cr— soon destroy the Church. The Bishop and his Clerey
did nobly well in bearing kindly and patiently with the insultin«
treatment they received, and yet standing firmly lo the dear rights
of their Orders. The iihho^ at present, and until the adoption
of a Constitution, concentrates all the ecclesiastical power of the
Dioces-J in his own hands : and there it will he likely to remain
and uu^hl to remain, until the laity are willing (o render to others
that fairness and justice which in this whole matter of Synodical
action, which the Bishops and Clergy are so careful and so happy to
coticede to the laity. We doubt not that " Apostles, and elders
and brethren" will agree harmoniously and courteously on the Ist
VNednesday in September.
{From the New York Church Journal, lUh Aug., 1858.)
Quebec, July 28, 1S58.
Messrs. Editors :— Having observed, in a recent number
of your paper, an account of tbe proceedings of a meeting held
m this city last month, with somo editorial remarks upon them,
I am prompted, in justice to this Diocese, to crave your per-
mission to offer a few observations, with the view of settin»-
some points in the right light before persons at a distance'!
who, from ignorance of the real state of the case, mav be led
to form very erroneous impressions. You are aware "that it is
now several years since a movement originated with the
Bishops of several Colonial Dioceses for procurino- the co-
operation, not of their clergy only, but also of the'laity, by
means of synodical action, and divesting themselves of some
degreeofill-defined power and painful responsibilitv in the
management of ecclesiastical affairs. The same obstacfes which
stand in the way of the freedom of action of our Mother Church in
this behalf, were supposed to beset us in the Colonies, and differ-
ent plans were devised, and measures introduced at differ-
periods into the Imperial and som<
) the Imperial i „_
for our relief. That relief was finally affurded (
Colony by means of the following steps
.egislat
ures.
o us in this
15
ej the meeting.
but the 80 ber
!»ery chance of
A laitif of such
and his Clergy
th the insulting
the clear rights
il the adoption
power of the
iely to remain,
iider to others
r of Synodical
ind so happy to
?s, and elders,
isly on the liit
\ug., 1858.)
28, 1S58.
Bcent number
meeting held
s upon them,
ive your per-
^v of setting
a distance,
may be led
are (hat it is
;d with the
rinp- the co-
the laity, by
ves of some
lility in the
tacles which
er Church in
fs, and differ-
ed at differ-
.egislatuies,
us in this
1. A resoluti.»n adopted by the Legislature to address the
Queen on our behalf, for the passing of an Imperial Act to
declare that the Colonies were not affected by the statutes
which impede the action of the Church at Home ; and an
address from both houses ol Parliament, founded on the reso-
lution.
2. An Address to the Crown, on the same subject, from the
Canadian Bishopss, forwarded and recommended by the Gover-
nor General.
3. The riome Government, being advised that difficulties
lay in (he way of imperial legislation on the subject, authorized
and recommended the Governor General of Canada to procure
the passing of an act by the Colonial Legislature empowering
the Bishops, Clergy, and Laity "to form representative
bodies," and giving to such bodies the right to frame constitu-
tions, and, generally, to exercise the functi(ms of Synods.
4. A Bill was accordingly brought in, not by (he Govern-
ment, but by an independtmt member, the Hon. J. Hillyard
Cameron, and having been passed without difficult v, became
law on the proclamation of Her Majesty's assent in 'l857.
The Bishop of Toronto had anticipated the action of the Legis-
lature, and assembled his Synod, calling together his cler^v and
lay delegates. His Synod was in session at the time that the
bill was mtroduced into the Provincial Parliament and with
the view of throwing the weight of the influence of the Synod
into the scale, his lordship, followed bv his clergy and /aw
delegates^ maile his appearance in the House of Assembly In
this Diocese it was thought better to wait the issue of legislation
on the subject, and in the Autumn of last year, the clergy and
lay delegates, to be chosen by every parish, mission, or chapelrv
were summoned to meet in June,' 1 858. As the time of elec-
tion of delegates drew near, it was made to appear (hat, accord-
ing to the view taken by some legal authorities of the literal
wording of the Act, the Bishop could not proceed without
summomng, in the first instance, ull the laity of the Diocese •
a proceeding so manifestly absurd and impracticable, that if
adopted It must be only proformd, to satisfy (he real or sup-
posed requirements of the Act. The Bishop of the newly
constituted Diocese of Huron had. as a measure of safety fol-
lowed tins course. At the meeting in that Diocese, certain
preliminary resolutions were passed, providing for the repre-
IG
•entdtion of tfie lai(y. " pending the aifoptior. of a Constitulion
by the Synod itself." The Bishop of Quebec having deter
mined to do the same, although his own conviction of the
legality and correclness of his original course was imchan-ed.
revoked the summons to the Synod, and called, instead, a pre
I.m.nary meeting of lie clergy an.i laity, for the purposes of
adopting the Act and m.Icing provision for the representation
of the laily. Not a word was hear<l of objection to this course,
t^very thing went on smoothly. Every one understood that a
meelnig ot a kw laymen of Quebec could not be supposed to
represent the Diocese, and that the business of the mcetino-
would be simply and formally disposed of, as had been done in
Huron. N.. one was specially invited to come, and nuiny of
the clergy were excused from undertaking a journey wliich
would involve needless inconvenience and ext)cnse. But there
vvere some parties who thought they had discovered even more
than had been supposed in the Act : they beat un for recruits,
organized an opposition, and the result waslhe disoraceful oro-
ceedmgs which you have already chronicled. lf°the case of
any other than merely formal action had been con(emr)Iated
measures would of course have been taken for admitting none
but members of the Church, and for securing the attendance of
well-affected people. But, as it was, there was but a small
attendance of true Churchmen, and there were no means of
ascertaming the qualification of voters, the public, in point of
tact, being admitted, though the members of the Church of
h.ngland only were invited. One minister of the Weslevans
was certainly counted among the voters ; and one gentleman
seconded a resolution ^t this meeting, as well as at another
ol which I shall speak presently, who declared upofi oath, not
many years ago, that he considered himself as belonging to /Jo
Lhurch. I here were others who took a prominent part in the
proceedings whose claims to membership would certainly b(ar
very little sifting : and some who habitually forsake the assem-
bling of the saints together for public worship, but were not
ashamed to take a prominent part in what ought to have been
religious proceedings. It would be most unjust, therefore,
to his Diocese to take this meeting as a Rumple of its state of
feeling. wish ,t were possible for " all" its members to be
together " in one place" ; for I do not h
in such a case, lew dioceses would
esitate to affirm that,
present an assemblage
mg
to the I
I accord in
Toronto
much as
I lished, tl
been irre
a Constitution
having deter
viction of tlie
fis imchariived,
i listen (I, a pro
10 purposes of
representation
.0 this course,
erstood that a
■i supposed to
the mcetincj
been done in
and uuiny of
urney vviiich
:e. But there
ed even more
f) for recruits,
■^graceful pro-
(' the case of
;on(empIated,
niittiiig none
tittendance of
s but a small
no means of
', in point of
e Church of
3 Wesleyans
e gentleman
IS at another
o/i oath, not
mging to no
nt part in the
ertainly biar
e the assem-
)ut Were not
o have been
t, therefore,
f its state of
iiiibers to be
affirm that,
assemblage
17
si;ri:!;t:^s;i;^'j:;^-;^l^
ly poor and widely.'^aS ' r 'm ' t^Grif :Th"r^^^^"^-
Vermont, with extra )rdin'irv imn„ r ° ^^^ Trontier of
venient travelling, iTt3b^^/'!''''^^" ^"'^'^ ^' con-
details from a, e" re, r°":- ' '•'"" ^^^" ^'^ '"»<> t^'«^.^e
point, the TbJol 1: ::/;:■;;;,;;>, ;:- J^-ese. Up to this
of the laity had ■xuu■^v T\ V ^'''V''^'''S^or the representation
't was only t oi 2 '^T.^^^ ''^'l'^'^ «-^^n^^<^ ^v all parties
wording of the IctTlnf i^' ''"' ''' '""^^''"''^ ''^'^^^^ '» ">e
'aify at larc^e No 0! i ..■""' ^'^^''■'^^Y t.» convene the
legislature ? in fact • 'l' '^"''"'''' ^'"^ intention of t le
the bill, and bv no' r"'"" "I- ^'^^ ^'"''^''^'^ ^vho dre v
vvhich assent, Vac.7in''"''''r ""''^^ Legislaturl
manner, lor not soeci. v 1j "^T'^'J '" "" ''''y courteous
Act sto^l, and as H^ h L' "f ^'' '^'^ P"'"^' ^s the
be careful to cZf^m IX to" if j"?'"^^^!:'^"' '^' ^^^'
benefit of that protect! R.^ '• ^'*^ we should lose the
appear that the^A t is not e^"ab in^ f^ " '""■'' '" ^^ °"^^ »«
ing us from clisabilifies bu c L .Hn '"'' -'".^ ' ""^ ^^'^'^^-
»vonderful notions, so r^Lv hpw i. ^ "'^ '■'^''*^- ^^ '"any
Bishop, determined to b IS fc^^ f?^' ^'^^^ ^^e
might steer clear of -ill Hiffl ' . ^ ^ ""^ '^S^' ^^^^'^e* that he
<Jay fi:,ed for t^e adiied f' r "V''' 1'^ ^^ Septem'ber (the
the seat of governmirf 'r thT ^"^^' undertakes a journey to
of the law tffic "s oAh ' cX'^^ of procuring tte opinion
lions taken were some ofThpm n ^^T P"'"^'' '^^« «bjec.
^he Legislature waHonllin ^ "^'"'^ '. '"^' ^^'^ ^«/c«/io« ot
persons in' two different toe e^ "1^1^'"' V '"''"^"^'^'
gettmgridofallthedifficEnV t^r^^ "T f '^'^ °^
to the Leffislature f,.r n 11 ! ^^^® ^^''"''' be to apply
accordingly undertaken bv^ explanatory Act. This was
Toronto! for the vhole (LIT rr\ "^ '^' Church in
much as. if the view held b".^'''; ■^''7^'^ '^ i"^"'^«d> inas-
lisbed,theproceiLalaLha?^^^^ ^^ ^^^«b.
been Irrp^nLr ..V- "i?!...'®^/ ^^.^.'» Toronto and Huron hav
en irregular and invalid. The bill
passes the Legislative Cou
n-
IS
cil, when O'jr friends here conceive an ahirm, aii<l initJHfe a
course of proceedings, the first step in \vhic!i is to ciiuse the
editor of a I Tes/ryan paper to " understand' that the Hishop
had put measures in train for passing- the Rill before leaving
Quebec, and then undertaken the journey, and <lespatched the
business quietly, " or, as some think, clandestinely.'^'' The
liberties of the people are in danger ; the laity of the Diocese
have been betrayed by him who has been their Bishop fur
twenty-two years, and has gone in and out among the people
of Quebec as their Rector for nearly Iwice that lei'gth of time.
On the strength of this anonymous understanding^ a public
meeting must be called, vehement indignation expressed, the
perfidy of the Bishop denounced, and the hill stopped ! Un-
fortunately for those interested, it becomes known that the
*' understanding" is directly opposed to the " facts" of the
rase. The public meeting, notwithstanding, proceeds — called
by anonymous placards, it is avoided by intelligent Churchmen
with scarcely an exception.
It included a large number of persons not belonging 'to the
Church — and a reference to the resolutions (*) will shew what
manner of spirit </jci/ are of, who while they promise liberty
to the Churchmen of Quebec, would disfranchise six sevenths
of the Diocese, and while they make the ir boast of enlighten-
ment, intelligence, and justice, would establish the principle
that the Episcopal Church is to be governed, not even by
Bishops, Clergy, and Lay fiepresentatives — nor yet by
Bishops, clergy, and laity at large, acting in concert, in their
several orders, but by an indiscriminate majority of such a
body — in other words, by a majority of the laity in any one
town where the Synod might happen to meet !
This is the body that is to exercise all the powers conferred
by the act— of en/orcm^" discipline — appointing to, or remov-
ing from^ ecclesiastical offices of whatever grade, &c. ! !
I am truly sorry to have intruded at such length upon your
space, and I will now conclude with mentioning two points,
which help to throw light on the consistency and fairness of
these proceedings. 1. The honorable gentleman (a sincere
(riendofthe Church) who intn)duce(l into the Legislature the
{•) See Report of P.oeeedings, in Appendix (A) to Address of L.y Associa-
rion, p.p., 7,8.
19
iiiil iniliHtc n
to cause llie
It llie Bisliop
ofore leovinji
espatcheil the
tnc/?y.'' The
llie Diocese
ir Bishop fur
g the people
riigth of time,
w^'-, a puhlic
k; pressed, the
opped ! Un-
•wn that the
'acts" of the
ceeds — called
it Churchmen
angirg to the
ill shew what
romise liberty
i six sevenths
t of enlighten-
the principle
, not even bv
-nor yet by
ncert, in their
ty of such a
\y in any one
irers conferred
to, or remov'
re, &c. ! !
th upon your
ig two points,
Hid fairness of
m (a sincere
legislature the
i of L'y Associa*
uieusores so fraught with uunger to the laity — though he no
doubt thought it would commend itseltto all reasonable men-
was the same who in the Synod, held last month at Toronto,
secorideil the proposal f)r abolishing the Episcopal veto. Yet
even his name was not a suflicient protection. He will be
surprised probably to find himself '* insidiously" curtailing the
rights of the laity ! I shnll be mucii surprised if he does not
now vsee the need of the veto, 3. The Act of 1856 was pas-
sed by a Legislature neither prv)fes3ing, nor expected, to know
anything of the Constitution of the Church, but witli the actual
living reality of a Church Synod before their eyes at the time,
in their own House. They suppose I, in the innocence of
their hearts, that they were simply performing an act of justice
in declaring it lawful for such a body to meet in Synod — they
called this body the Bishops^ clergy and laity : and having
set them free from doubts and disabilities, and so done all that
they intended, or were asked to do, they parted company with
them, in hope to meet no more, — in which hope 1 am afraid
some of your readers', and perhaps yourself, will part with
your faithful servant.
M. A.
(From the Quebec Mercury^ July 29.)
At the meeting held on Monday evening in the Court
House in connection with the establishment of a diocesan
Synod, the resolutions proposed were (as we have stated) passed
without any oppositit)n. In fairness we should have added
that it could not well be otherwise, for the meeting was got
up bj parties of the same way of thinking ; and as it had not
been announced by whom the meeting was called together,
whether by churchmen or by dissenters, few members of tho
Anglican Church, who usually take an interest in public
demonstrations of the kind, were present. Mr. Okill Stuart
alone raised his voice against the imprudent and unadvisable
nature of the proceedings. Mr. Cameron's Act had been found
defective and impracticable in Upper Canada as well as in this
diocese, and hence an amended Act had become requisite. All
person' ^iin^erely desiring to see a Synod established in a liar.
20
i"g any .mpedimeD., in ,| e ;»! "''' ''" "''" '» «'oid ,hro *.
'al^n ,„ decide np„„ I,/, p„i„?"':^ 'V" n>ee. by repZet
came lo bloiv, '*^^™f "'" '"emberj olilT'o. '"l"""'"'
'eFetmed'""/" 5'="s'and in .1, Dio «:"„'; o" ';? ^"P"-"
Quebec „ ^ " meeling in OubI,»^ • 9"e'"><! can be
pa", "bo":^':-.""" ''' ^^'^-KriziT^ f'^^'y <"
People in o„!k "^■^' members of iJ,o ri, , Promrneni
'vere' convt, d'a^Tf' """^ '•' very ™ius?ir,u' 1°^ ^"S'""*
RepreseWa/iTeri:' ^^j'^-ance from Qaebef'' ^'""''' ">
'egalityof n ,-'''^.^^" seem to We I k^^'\^^ ^^^e
^'^at object invf^u- t/'""' ^'"^^«s expfeLvrrn^'?'"''""
H"jion5. i liey are sf) ac-
h the work-
^y^'id throve'.
: t'ie passing
I the Upper
^ wliiit the
merely de-
'.V represen-
ry matters.
' House, it
nee to the
language
'"mportanf
fi itclmUy
motJerate^
ifing con-
ling could
y kind are
constitu-
t-an, they
ns. It has
be people
the peo-
'ynodieal
imed the
suppose
c can be
liefl/ of
ominent
'ngland
tneeting
'. The
ting in
lirch in
Or mis-
e have
ut (he
meron
d with
which
s^) ac-
2i
<<isiinction. are sure , i r ^f '"''^ ^^
discussed. But sud. 1 1 ''"fP ."f'°" ^'^ery question which is
to be practised ;",";;;::'•; '"^-'i' <iil|)7lallying ought no
nice legal distinctions C,on bload"""' ""r "'-''"'""^ "!'""
every member of the Church Tn ^ "'^ ' >'^"^'-«' Principle.. If
such a meetini., what ro ,m n n "*'''''^ '^^'"^ »'^ come to
to hold them *? Wl at r ^" ?. '"*'"'*' ^' '«^g« «^"""fih
in such an assemble . tS T'/T''' '' ^^^^^-^"^
adjournment, and perhaps ff !r Tl i ^^ " ''^^'etual virtual
by some fortunate circZ^'p'' ^' '^'^ !'^.«0'Tie centuries
circumstance a Synod might be etablished.
viS^zS!J;t^?^^;tr;>f'"r^"^^''^ ^^^- "'^' »^-
establishini Svnods of he^ W "^'^^,^'"'^^i»'S the moans of
d.ocesesofthe^rovinc .^Ve i^^^ S'"'''' '" ''" «--^-'
t!on, which has been forwarded in r'^ r '.""''-^ "^'''« P«''-
■^'gnatures, we understand vee t f' "^- ''^V""' '^•" ' ^he
"light have been wiih Zl\ ^"^ "P '" '^ ^^^^^ 'lour.s and
Cameron's Act, .^ e pr :, '7 T'''''''^''- '*'''» Mr
are disposed to'do) Siin./ f.'T °^ ^"^'' ^^^^^^ ''«^vyerJ
^vould prove impricS^^ '/ ,' . '^!'", •''"' "^^ ^''''^ '^l'''-'N
at variance with British con'toH "''/'''^''.'" « "tanner totally
^>ance foreseen anci prJdS ' ^mluy "'7;' "^^ " ^i---
such sentiments was exniainel .n .^' . ^ ''.^ ^""-rectness of
:"'t'cle ofthisjournalini^".f,'"'l '"'""tained in a [eadimr
•ngs at the late^nois ' " 2a ! f "^T '^1 ^'^"^^'^'^ P^^^^ 3?
School-house. Professe 1//0 J^. "^ '"»' ''"''' '" "^« National
"fa whole nation provhee,?' '" ''""'y^'' ^'"^ assembla^'e
;;«^t plain, may suit^e . Xfcan bctr?' '" "" "'^ "•- "" ""«
t'ie un icensed will and poll" ??'',' "'" ^^'•^'^ '« g'-atifv the
»«age has disclaimed such 'Yc J "^'Vl ^'""'^titutional
^kvs, assemble for ledsLi 1 n ' """^ "^^ people, now-a-
representatiues p.- Sj ^""^ purposes in (he i,ersip« oftHc^-
-ntation isse:ure?;>^t.r dls^":'""^ '^T^^^^^ -P-
'- v.c,ni,y of '.ead-^u.:";:,''^^^;,^;.-J^ - ^- P^-i
«riL lieu Bill jcnicdjes il
Ml
IP
22
I
II
m
Jillt^t'd iiici)tisi.sl< inii'8 t»f Mr. Citaioron's Ad in (his rcspecl ;
iiiiil will a[)|ieai' l.> iill mo li-ratt) and praclic ul pursotis Hbiiii<l>inl-
ly libcriil in ils ilftaih. This is ihu rosiih, inorenvor, i)f the
best opinions ihat ((inid be collected on the snbjcct conjointly
with (he l)iocc8( s ofL'ppcr t'iiiuida; but the hill and the |)c(ition
speak for (heinseUes. — With re^anl (o ilie tneeiiiig, ludd on
Monday evening;, in (h« Court House, n i»rief and candid state-
ment ot the proceedings Was giveri ,'ri the Clironicle of Tues-
day ; and it was perfectly well niu'r' stood (hat the resoludons
were passed (here and then vvidi such unanimity, because the
ineeling consisted only of (hose who appear to unite in taking
an opposite view of the matter and n lew t)lher persons of va-
rious denominations attending from motives of curiosity, in
the announcement thct such a meeting was to he held, it was
not staled by whom it wa^ called ; and most of (he leading
members of the K[)iscopaI community, who are usually present
at public meetings connected with the interests of (he Church,
declined for that reason (o attend. Mr. Okill Stuart, who
entered fortuitously lor (he purpose of introducing a friend from
Kingston, was (hd only person who spoke against the course of
proceedings ; and he could not avoid deprecating the obstruc-
lions, which were being ptrhaps undesignedly made to impede
the passage of the explanatory and amended Bill, introduced for
the purpose of removing difliculties, and of clearing the way
towards the establishment of Synodic-al action in the dilTcrent
dioceses on a sound and legal basis.- -'1 here has been much
misapprehension in this matter, and consequently much heat
and excitement line followed ; but, really now, cannot the
members of the Cluiich -f F.nglati 1 in this city, for once in a
way, with so iti ,')"i(c. i. id solen •, an j)bject in view, agree to
sink mir.or difiuicnces ol opinion, to avoid disputes on mere
technicalities, and to combine their exertions in securing an
efTective and a properly constituted synod ?
An Act to explain and amend the Act intituled " Act to enable
" the Members of the United Church of England and Ire-
" land in Canada, to- meet in Svnod."
Whereas doubts exist whether in the Act passed^in the
Session held in (he nineteenth ami twentieth vears of Her
Majesty's lloign, intituled, " An Act to enable the Mend)ers
'^ot (he United Church ofEni;l,iiid and Ireland in (\iiuida, to
Sid
on mere
tlif |)ur-
s; and all
Jg"//!^ to
irs, wlu»
" ;neot in Synoi,'' s'.nicient provnion is iiuulf Cir iImj i(|ir<'-
seiitaliuM of ihu K.iity '>| ilie Un't«;il Cliiu.li of l^iiglatid ami
Irolaiid ill tlifj Synods !iy Jlie said Art antl h ijBfd Id bo litdd,
and it is expcdi'iit lt):it ttucli doubts slioul I b« removed :
Therefore, li»;r Mijesty, by and with tlio advicr and consent
of ihe Loirislativu (joiMrd and Assomblv td' Canad.i enacts as
follows :
1. For all the ^-urin^es of the aforesaid Act 'lo Laity shall
meet by ropi-i!s,'tUiifi'>!i ; and untd it shrdi t)e v crwis* deter-
mined by the Syn id in each Diocese, « ne or t. le litde^^ato
(not exceeding three in any case,) may be elecleu at lli< annual
Easter meetings in Oil di parish, mission or cure wilhin the
diocese^ or in caS'S i here there may be more one con-
gregation in any parish mission or cure, then each such
congregation., or at a i.ictjting to be specially call'
pose by each Clergyman having a s(?parate cure oi s
laymen within such />«;•( >7t, mission or cure or bi
such congregation, of :lie full age of iwenty-ont^
shall declare themselves, in writing, at such tneetii gn, to bo
members of the United (Jhuich of England and Irelai ', and to
belonj; to no other ieliyio is denomination, shouh uive the
right of voting at such elecion. Each delegate shai receive
from the Chairman of the i leeting a certificate of his election,
which he shall produce, v. hen called upon so to do, t the
Synod ; and the first meeti g of such Synoil shall be caP d by
ihe Bishop of the Diocese at such time and place as he shall
think fit ; Provided always, hat no business shall be transacted
by the Synod of any DioccM unless at least one fourth of the
Clergy of such Diocese sha be present, and at least one
fourth of the Congregation within the same be represented
by at least one delegate.
2. All proceedings heretofire had in any Diocese under the
aforesaid Act, which have been comformable to the provisions
of this Act, shall be held to be valid, as it the same had taken
place after the passing of this A t. (*)
The following is a copy of the Petition forwarded to the
Legislature from members of t e Anglican Church, residing
in Quebec, in favor of the f.)reg )ing explanatory Act relating
to the formation of Synods in the several dioceses of the Pro-
vince : —
(•) The Act ishfre prinUd r 3 it ac nally passcil, \vi h amentlments, not as it
npreireil in the Chronicle o( 29 h July. The dmendmenu are in i'alics.
24
moved. ^penient that such doubts should be re-
unJ^llll^J;;!;^,;"^]-^-. that „o action can be taken
-,| Lait, of a Diocese" t^ ""'"^^ '' ''' ^-'-P' Cle.g,
i ^^^^^y'^^^l'iJ^^^^ --"^^>'e the whCe of
I tion : and that to summ n tLm fh'"' • '^''P' ^^ representa-
unfairness to the membl s Z r^^'T' ■ ^''""'^' ^"^ «" «^t of
of the Diocese, wl^ wo^^^^^^^ '" ^^" other portions
«''are in the proceedings- ""^ ^' ^^^'"^'^^ ^^^m any
That the intention nf/Nn f„ ■ i .
'iyslem which i( is impZhL , ^I '"' "'" '" i"l'-'«l"co a
precedent whatever ^rbeflH''"'{ ,""•' "?'' '''"■ ""'i''' "»
members <,rthe Ch.nX.f pT ' /"r '""P'^ '" «'!"'<' 'I'<=
;.n.ler which they we e ,"„„,«"! ""r ^"'"^ r'"'"' '"'"bilities
'i'fb.v Iei;alizin<, such svTlT ' ."?'' '" '''^""^ ^""h re-
been hehi in ,he%i";V-7:',!„^,^, r'? f"".-; known ,„ |„,e
said Act, in which tl^lL-tv acted L^h'''' "" '""'^'"« "f"'"
That such intenii.m ,„•! ""^''.''y '^<'" representatives.
H:!:JLl'^"--"-^''eTh^;;h7'L-;f„rJsrh-
fin.''t:v^;::;i;r^fj;™,- ^--|J-i.a.i„n.i„ e.pre.i„, .heir
;5,^^^^ n,a>.ri., crtheUE-VlThtrX"^:,-:
"f the Legisla,ure'i„''rhi's";r,i:„Tar' '° '"'""'" '"' '"'^""°"
A., f"el!''A^drew^"A':''Black'"G'6r-^.'''<i"' ^"^ ^"''-"•. »'•
'»!>, J. M. Fraser J Belt F,, ' ^•°'" Stuart, G. Pember-
Burstall, VVm. Pe ry Wm Pr ^''''p' lY' P""«™b, Henry
'"O, Ed. Burstall, ^ U Bel, \ ■ \f '"''"'' "• Pember-
W H. Anderson, H. LeMesurier' U W^F;"'-"","""'
O Connor, B. Cole, H. G. For«- h r ' m li '^'f'^^'' ^- "•
K'fn'in, H. Petrv. Clk W H t ,' . '*v"<»-'"zambert, H.
iil'tone, Sc , &c„ &c" ' '''"'""' "• '^'''.v. C. H, E.
25
(From the Quebec Morning Chronicle, Jul^ 30, 1858.)
VVe have been charged by a correspondent with unfairness
m having omitted certain words in the copy of the new Bill
for the establishment of Synods, which appeared in yesterday's
Chronicle. We were very anxious to ascertain what unfor-
tunate omission had been made, and on applymg to ourcorres-
poncent, we found out (hat three or four words had been ac-
cidentally omitted, which words our correspondent thought of
great importance. Fortunately we find the meaning is com-
plete without them ; but the words were in the printed copy
given to be set up, and as the document reads correctly without
them, the omission escaped notice in the correction of the Press.
^^ Ihe sentence runs thus, the words omitted being italicised •
One or more delegates (not exceeding three in any case) may
be elected at the annual Easter meetings in each Parish or
at meetings to be specially calleii for the purpose by each
clergyman having a separate cure of souls." The meanin^r
manifestly is that every cure in the diocese will have the
privilege of sending lay delegates, and the word parish is
actually inapplicable for general purpose in the Anglican diocese
ot (Quebec ; perhaps the word ' missions ' might have been
introduced, but the word ' euro ' is of more general appli-
cation and includes both parishes and missions, as well as-
regularly organised congregations under ministers of their own.
While on this subject, we should wish to take the opportunity
ot alluding to the report, which appeared in a cotemporary, of
Mr. Okill Stuart's speech at the meeting held in the Court
House on Monday evening. The report says that Mr. Stuart
spoke at great length on representation by delegation, which
(he maintained) was capable of producing all necessary effects.
Now this portion of his remarks would seem almost designedly
to have been kept back, inasmuch as it received, and could
receive no satisfactory answer. It is quite obvious that in a
diocese extending from the entrance of the Gulf of St. Law-
rerice to the confines of Vermont, covering immense territories,
unless some system be adopted to enable remote missions to
be represented at any Synodical meeting held in Quebec, tiie
members of the Church of England in those remnte districts
would bo ill a manner wholly excluded from taking part in the
so much lauded self-government. The cfTect, in truth, would
D
26
wh.ch would press unfairlv on all the members of he chu ch
atanyd,,,, ef the city, and em.bl.s them to send reJe
sentat.ves chosen by themselves to attend to thei ?n en^ts
The number of clergy, licensed to cures in the fee bv ft'
Bishop, amounts to something like forty -if the hi»
( from the QuebecMorning Chronicle, Jug. 17, 1858.)
The Bill explaining and amentlinir the Act ms.P,i !,.»
enable the members of the AnoUvnn cLTuin r . '' ^''"' '^
SynoJhasnovv became iavv As ,| 1 Pvn T^' ^^ '"^'*'' '"
partly in ('eference to 1 1 1 ^.' !'"* ^'^P'-'na'^ry Act wns Cmmed
Quebec, an I f^rttfe General 7'"""" T'^ '^^'''"'•'•^^ of persons !n
»ufficient proviLn w ri ' fnrT ^'^^^"'"^'"g'^«"'>'« " whether
intheS,n^dsouthori;.^r;ie ?vL^^^^ ,Y ./!'^ '^"^
«> be hoped, that no further ob'tr.ictions.vili ^^.'' ' '^ '' ""^
mentof «ynodicaI action i hi; d e"' ^1"'"? '''^"'^'^■
promote moie amicatili- fp«i;r„. "',^\ »' "'oiild perhaps tend to
of future prore^ngs if riZ nnH^T "I ""'"'"'''^ '" ^^' -""••««
the genuine f- ts llf t'h 'it/r c^m " l^f^ ""tf ''r^'"'^
excite distrust and d-fference of opin on '^ Ifo "''r '"^''>' '°
orders, and the so- called riglu of vp o .I'v '^"?''"" «f ^^'ingby
shop have been cited as U)n pin? T "^"' °" "'^J^^"-' ofthe Bi-
The'se t.o ite:S t^vTro: ^tsV^^
same question. It is wp 1,0110.1 "^ m '^'^^''^"t phases ofthe
of the' EpilpaVi:' If ST'^^^^^^^^^^ ^3'-^'
different orders:- The BisI on hppT^. '''""''' ^""^'«' "^ 'hree
dioceeein Priests' orders 1" IR ^'^'^'y^''' °' "'her Clergv of ,he
any rate the cfioces/s in C da^^^^^^^^ of the Lai.;.." m
Melbourne, Adelaide, New Ze.1 n^X' 1 h ' ". r i^'°^"^/^ ^"'^
-r,esian.), «t, ., &o.., have all mdepeiidently
27
arnved a ,h.» conclusion ; and have placed these three ordert
oranac.u.lmajomy.neach order, is requisite for c.-.rrying any
measure On .he meeting of Synod .he Clergy and Lai.y ae
asse.nl.ied logeiher in ,he same apartment, and ,he U shop if
arrvotLT',"- ^"'' ''-»'->• ma'y continue to delibe a.e ' 'act
Kut^fKuld any clerical or lay member perceive that there is a
ecev'e l","^:;"^' "^''" "^^-^ "^^'^'' "g--^ " measure favor ly
t ken bv on '' ^""r"'\^«=^^'"^'y. '•« -y ^"ernand that ,he vo-es li
rise hat l' "'V"'"'r ^"^"""^ ^'^ pressed.-llence it\nay
arise, that when only one Bisl^.op is present (as must Kenerallv be the
c.^.n diocesan >ynod.s) ifhe cLn.lt consc^ienti..usl,' a ,o le
concu. then, by withholding his consent, he not onlv anneais in
^."STh ''' "^ '" ','" T "' ^^^^^'^'"g '^'^ Veto Voj r :
^^!:^Z'""' -'Y '^' ^r ■'''''' «"^' ^'^3 Laity respectively
Smlr . '^-'""'^ *''" ^^•^'^'■^•^•^' «'-^^^'-- 'il'ereisiniuchan
.n.t tut.or, an evident, m.ta.ion of the monarchical and constitutional
relusdl of the Noyal sanction would be a nc^aiivt- not an active
rrit'vio:; : r-^r?^^'^"^.' ^^'^^'^ ^-" '^^^ ^-^"o "ar : :
UnitldT. , r^^ ^l'"""^". ''""g^'-""^ and impracticable. Jn the
r^th r tl ih': ' "^'r-'^f "'" '"'"^""y ^''"«^^'he republica'
rather than the monarchical practice, this nepaiive power is
waT'ifJh Tr''"'"^"S°' ^'" ^'^'"'P'- "'' he'mC'^iv':
of L n? ""?'"■' " n^^"S''^ "P ^"^'' 'he repeated approval
ifkJlvto 7 ''' '"■''"'■'■• ^"' '''^ "'«'^"P andbi'scle.gyareno
thl -IH tv Tn'T-^' 'T'^'^'^F'-^'' "•"' '^-^^ '■'^^'y '« ^«"^P'K "gains
the iHity. Jn tne Stales the Bishop has also the p.-uer of
l!T"tc1s':;'" g-eral synod of Hisho'ps, who can thLl^'s rai^
the eHetts of any local ag.tnlion, and prevent any violent and
partial changes in the discipline or rtdmg principles o^
J here ,s not yet any general Episcopal synod in this Conner- ard
unt. there will he Ihequestion 'may'sta.,d over. Buim Iced 'these
points and any other deba'eable matters m„>t be pra ti a U . Lp!
.«.o consideration, «hen the conventional syXs J"'; 2
proper steps are pursued to draw up a constitution uu canons '^r
INewYork.in discussing the advantaees of svnod.I t-iof •> Mb a
mend from Canada, said : that .he system was one ortheTew";afe.
guards of conservatism left in the States, and svorked effectively j
28
that the laity never sought to over-reaeh or overwhelm the influence
and power of the clergy; they thought that church matters xvere
tikely to be best managed by persons professionally educated and
professionally connecte I with them. Of course when called upon to
assist in temporalities, the laymen of the church acted with zeal and
liberality, nor would they neglect their duty in resisting useless inno-
vations and in maintaining the conservative principles and character
of their beloved and respected ecclesiastical institutions.
(From the Quebec Mercurj/, August 19, 1858.)
In connection with the subject of Synodical action on the part of
the Members of the Church of England, we publish the following
diocesan circular just issued to his clergy by the Lord Bishoo of
Quebec. '
(Circular.)
BarDFIELD, NEAR QuEBEC,
18th August, 1858.
Rev. and dear Sir,
You are aware that, in consequence of a particular construction
put upon the first clause of the enabling Act relative to Synodical
powers, I was induced, after full consultation with persons com-
petent to give advice in Church affairs, to revoke my Circular of
the 25th of September, 1857, summoning the Clergy and the Lay-
delegates, for whose election provision had been made, to meet at
Quebec, on the 9th of June last / and to issue another, summoning
a meeting to be held upon a different principle, on the 24th of that
month.
You are also aware that the reason for this postponement was not
that I had any misgiving in my own mind respecting the propriety or
the legality of the step which had been taken, but that we might
proceed to our task without being liable to be called in question
upon a point of law on which different opinions were held, and that
the initiation of our Synodical proceedings, might rest, in the eyes of
all men, upon a well-assured basis.
The construction to which I have referred, of the Act in question,
imports the necessity of calling together the membersof the Church
throughout the Dlocese,~that is to say, of calling together at Quebec
or some one other place, all the members of the Church scattered
here and there, chiefly in poor settlements and with wretchedly
29
imperfect facilitiea for travelling, from the Magdalen hlanda to
Stanstead,— the Cliurcli of England population at Quebec, constitut-
ing, BO far as ia ascertainable, perhaps not more than one sixth of
the whole number.
As it is evident upon the ver)' first aspect of the case, that even a
remote approximation to any expressed sense of the Diocese, could
not, by possibility, be arrived at in a meeting so called, I took it for
granted that, in common good faith, the meeting could only be
regarded as a pro forma proceeding lo satisfy iho real or supposed
requirements of the Law j and having conferred and concerted
arrangements with gentlemen of different sentiments upon Church
questions who all seemed to regard the matter in the same light, I
went down to the meeting with no other preparation than that
which enabled us to propose to its consideration the simple Kesolu-
tions already adopted in the correspondent case of the Diocese of
Huron, which were essential for setting the machinery of the Synod
in motion.
I shall not here enter into any description of what took place at the
Meeting when assembled. Whatever notice my duty may impose
it upon me to take of that unhappy scene, I reserve to be given, D.
v., in another form. Suffice it to say that an adjournment took
1 1 ' place to the ist of September : but not before it had become
apparent that great confusion and multiplied mischiefs must
ensue from the Act as interpreted to require a meeting of the
members of the Church otherwise than by representation, as well
as that extraordinary prejudice must be thence done to the rights
of the Diocese at large.
A Bill was subsequently introduced into the Provincial Parliament
through the intervention of some leading laymen in different Dioceses
of the Proviiice, for the remedy of these evils and the relief of the
Church, which Bill having become Law, the aforesaid adjourned
Meeting of necessity falls through; and you will consequently be
pleased to notify your Congregation or Congregations that no such
adjourned Meeting will take place, (f) The Meeting on St. John the
Baptist's day, was called for two objects : Istly, the adoption of the
Act, 2ndly, the establishment of the principle of representation :—
the former was disposed of upon the occasion : — the latter has been
provided for by the Legislature, and so far as the Laity are concerned,
any other mode of meeting than by representation U made illegal.
I cannot close this Circular without expressing my warm and
t The passing of the Bill (and I speak under advice) is by no meant the
only ground for setting sside the adjourned meeting ; but it is of itgetf a
pioper and sufficient ground.
30
tion passed l,y a iLe rnepr„ r . > •'""^' '" '''^ '^''^P^ "^ « '•esolu-
".y person. Ztu^TZ^^Zfu^l'ir^ "'''"'■ r^''"'''' »°
it vvusiMdml a great CO, if. r, f «'J"'.n.siratu,n „f ,|,e Dio.e.e.
Divine anproval in he ;[ :^ l.eart-„ext „> ,|.e hope ofihe
tne g ory cH' God. he good ^f Mi^Ch.nv'h ""T ^""^ " ^'"^''' ^^'^ «°
wlul I can p'u'sibf; ;:]:y.'""^°^' '" "'"« ^''"^'^ of disturbance,
I am,
Dear Sir,
Your aflectionale Brother in Christ,
G. J. Quebec.
(From the Quebec Mercury, August 31, 1858)
11. VV. Heneker, Esqr., one of the Church Watiens :1 ^
To the Right Revd. the Lord Bishop of Quebec.
yVe, the parishioners ot St. Peter's Chnr.-U ci ,
<les,re lo cxpres. ,o v„ur L,.,-,l.l.i| te very " ' .^'fir'''''
we feel «. your L„r<lship's kind visit ,„ uZ.f, L ff •
ot je.ope,ung of our Churcl, for Divi,>o Service ' "'"""="*'""
.i.e s,ro„gesffeeii„.v:rr:;;y.it :xra;e''r'^
bim;r».Trerifv^!^;irr.ssf%^'^r^-'>'''-'-
u,. -ii^.i ^, ,at anxiety, and ii the attached
31
feelings of a humble branch of »ho rh-.-^u •
ami harmonious aciion may be co-e.xistent. '"'<:"Sbion
Signed by
R- VV. Ueneker, J ,,, ,
Alex. Winter, J thurchwardens.
and (idy-Cour olliers.
His Lordship replied as follows :—
you'Lve'l't" h"'""''" '-'^''' "">■ kind a,Wre5s which
fs"hr;ut'a"i.t ::„:".;; r" "■V"'"" i-^"-' """'.
u„expcc.ed. °"""''"" '" "•? '"''"'S^ l-ecanse it was cnlireljl
J:i'':;:,t''u"et:n!:'' ''i'"^ '•""^"' «-i """' ^-um
i'.aveneve';';Ls'i\::L";:;ie' .';;;r:L';";:%k'i''-,H»!,'^
rabr^^-;;, ■';iiLtrr"tir''''"/""'"™ ^■■■-
Christian floc\, a'nT ^L' , rinen^.e't'.ho Di "■'""■!■ "[•='
«„r c.h.r,e, gives 'weigh. '^^^ :^:,,^;7l^ :^
promptuslodesrair "anJth? '^'""u ."!''« ^^ ^«". might
administration Tuch a 1 l.f/''P°"''^''^''- '''''^''^^^ ^" ^^'e
extrpmp rl "'/'"^^ '^ Uiocese, are often harrassinff in the
32
m
'I
suiVmoixyis m C.r.sl. Ami so lo.igas we can conscientious^
«ay to our lay brethren, in the maintenunre, for hTcommoJ
benefit of what wc conceive to he safe and primitive pS"
pies, that ' we preach not ourselves but Chris Jesus the oid
and ourselves their servants for Jesu«' sake," we daim hpir
o^lrte^^^^^^^^ '' ''' -' ^-''^' 'y ^^'^-^ aPPrecia^i^^Tf
For xyhatever little time it may please God that f shonir?
♦' abide in the flesh,^ (to be succeeded, as I pray by somp " 'l
who wdl more ably fill the charge,) the La'ity^oV L d" ce :
at large will, I am persuaded, do me the same justice, h Xeir
estimate of my fidelity to their interests, which has b'en
rendered by yourselves; and most cordially do I re pond ^
ihe hope and happy anticipation which you express tCthp
cooperation of the laity which we of the episcc!^ a Urde have
invited and have used long and at last successful eXvos ,o
put in tram, may be, as the experiment proceeds TaJrTed .1
in this asit is already in so many other Colon IDK^eTes ^^^
once with full advantage to the Church and with harmon ous
understanding between its different orders, in their united
I will only add,— with reference lo the occa^^inn ^vJ,; i
brought me here,-.that 1 am thankful to w tness thTLnrovP
ments in your Church, and I fervently pra^tlm he Crd^
applied by the patriarch to the solitary sp(,t\vhich he conse
crated as having there held Communion with the AlSv
may, in their best sense, be verified to your experience wfthn
hese walls.-This s none other than the house of Gorand
(his is the gate of heaven. ' "*^
{From the Quebec Mercury, 4lh September, 1858.)*
Our contemporary the Gazette has for some weeks leemerl «,;.!,
|..8Jl.e .„or,, wandering, and miets, i„^|,e vale c/^^^^Z^^
33
th.^^'^'r''^' '"; "atur.lly, ihougli by no .ncans logically assume*
Me U II ol iruth. Professing neutrality, lieBeemsto forget that hia
p.per bears lr.-^yeekly pro.f tl.ut he i. a violent partizan tha
J^^llT ^'f'''^ '"^ '''^'?'" ""S""^^' ""'^'"^^ •" l''e respectable sect
ofJN ethodisls, we may be allowed to doubt whether a Methodis
.. better able to jtulge of tbo alfuirs of the Church of Kngland hanTe
members of that Church. We wish it to be particularly un le "tood
hat we have not the remotest desire to quarrel with fhe pecuUar
.s es of any beet. But our excellent conien.porary must^ forg ve
us for not wishing to see ihe Clergy of our Church; as an O der
swamped, and the Bishop reduced to a nullity '
riie Act to amend the Act for Synodical meetings, &c., which
has now become law !s sufficiently liberal ia its terms to'sTtiafv
"Tr^n^Mi"'''!' '' '""".^ ^ "member of the Church of England^.
The most libera measures have been taken to ensure the due repre-
sentation of the la.ty at the forthcoming meeting. Each congrega-
l.on chooses as its delegates those who most possess its confidence-
the congregation will therefore have itself to blame if it selects un-
worthy representatives. The meeting, besides, is but a preliminary
meeting in which all points connected with Synodical actionrS
the veto downwards, must be discussed and arranged. It seemT
probable that members of the Church of England in this Province
win have more confidence in a meeting composed of delegates, duly
chosen by members of the Church, than ,nk mas. meeting cS
mgo. a variety of sects, ,n which any one could pour fotTh at wi 1
his views and his venom The recently passed acl\o ame.d the act
for Synodtcal meetings, &c will certainly prevent the recurrence o
those d. graceful scenes which took place at the meeting i„ the
National >chool House. This, perhaps, may render it unpopular
with certam people who have a morbid predilection for such stbrmy
reunions. But the great majority of the laity will, we feel satisfied!
be glad that the measures for the government of the Church will be
discussed and arranged with caln.ness and deliberation, not amid the
tumult and uproar of a heterogeneous mob.
(From the Church Journal, Oct. 13, 1858.)
-The SyMPATHisERs.-Our columns not long ago contained
an account of a meeting in Quebec, at whicli the Bishop and
B
34
Clergy were trctued itithe most unhandsome if not insultinc
manner, by soine who clnime.! to he insisting upon the "rights
of l.e la.ty." The Protestant Churchman cnp\o, a comlen.
seu repori of a second puhlic meeting, in which arc !«ct forth
«ht« complaints and chiimsof this chunorous ,,nr(v ; and eives
moreover f u I e.Iitorial en.h.rscmont to th. facJion; sayinchhat
It cannot but sympathize in the elForls afoot for (he rec^offni-
tion and maintenance of /«;/ rights in the Canadian Church."
ilie hrstcomphnnt made at that meet ini; was, that Ihe con-
Htitulion of the church in that Diocese was not to he submitted
t(» a general meetir>g of its incmbers/' instead of heing acted
on only hy ji.y deputies. Il ii„s Le a deprivation oi lay rights
here are no lay rights on this side of the line ; lor none of our
Uiocesan constitjiions have ever been submitted to any such
general meeting of members." Thev have all herome law
by He action of Conventions in which ihe laitv appeared only
by lay-delegates, as in all our other Church legislation.
IhelateExplanatory Act passed by the Provincial Pnrlia
ment,,sthcnfouv' fault with as "unfair" and " a<rainst the
will of those interested in the working of those alterations."
I3ut wliy ? ^ Because ^' the popular j>rinciplc of represcniatiofi
oy poputatton has been scouted, and the laity of the city
almost Ignored." . . . " UmW the amenll W ^ ^
Quebec would always be in a minorily.'' Calculations were
given showing that the lay delegates from the country would
be much more numerous than those from the cifv As-
tonishing ! Does " the recognition and maintenance' of lay
rights require that the aVy delegates should outnumber those
from the country parishes ? Then why does not the Protest-
ant Churchman commence agitating for '<■ lay rights" here at
home ? For it is precisely the same case in the Diocese of
iNew York. Of our 274 parishes, only about 50 are in this
city,-~a city, too, rather larger than even Quebec. Fn a full
Convention therefore the country would have a majority of
• w? '''',^' '.T^.'' *''^ ^''>'' "^^^ "^^'^"^f'v complains in Neiv Yo-k
Why should the Protestant Churchman lend itself to support
agitation in Quebec, on grounds which it would he ashamed to
act on at home ?
But'MhepopuIar principle of representation by population
has been scouted." What of it ? It is scouted here in New
Vnrkas welL The smallce^t parish organized a few davs a^o
35
)>
in a country village, has (lie «nme lay representation in our
LonventMn as the oldest and wealthiest parish (those only c.x-
cepted which have more than ono consecrated huildin.' aiid
more than one congre^^ation). Even country pati«h?s so
small that they cannot furnish three male communicants to be
deputies arc, as the Proleslant Chitrchmun contends, enti-
tied to the n-/i^ of being represented by 7iO«-coniniunicants.
And hero mi .New York, it clainis that it is an encroachment
upon the rights of the laity" to rrfuse to such a weak little
oiiuntrypansh, a position ecpjal, in Convention, to that of S
Ueorge s Jstuyvesant Sijuare, with its 800 •-ummnnicanis. But
tnero isno complaint here. I he laity in \ew York are not
conscious ol any oppression. Why does not the Protestant
Uiurckmnn con)njence the war for " lay rights" in New
York .? And if there is no cause <-f complaint "n New York
why does It sympathize with the faction in Quebec which is
iighUu^ agam^il precisely the same stale of ihiiii-s that ore-
vads all over the Church of the United States ^ ]^J a
pervades our General Convention as well; and the smiillest
rontier Diocese, with only six or eight clergymen, is entitled
to as largo a representation, and throws as heavy a vole ^&
this great Dio'.ese of New York with between 300 and 400
clergy, M there be oppression in the case, therefore, we
churchmen are universally oppressed here, in tlie United States '
VVhen it is remembered, on the one hand, that the late Act
oi the Frov.miul Parliament against which such clamors are
raised, was parsed after the utmo^-t ellorts its opponents could
miike; that it was passed by a mixed body of Romanists,
Churchmen, Dissenters, and Nolhingariarls ; that it was
passed by the very strong vote of seventi}-two to seven : and
that every Churchman in the Mouse voted in favor of it • and
when, ()n the other hand, it is seen that every organic point
on which sympathy is expressed by the Protestant Church-
maa is m agreement with the system in universal practice
among us, without serious complaint anywhere in the United
Slates— without complaint even from the Protestant Church
man here at home ; it will then be understood how utterly
empty are the pretexts of the faction in Quebec, and how -ra-
tuitously mischievous is the '* sympathy" so cordially expressed
by our contemporary. Indeed, the latter is so little creditable
in any respect, that we prefer considering it as merely— an
accident. / "
36
ill
(From (he Church Journal, Oct. 13, 185« )
DIOCESR OF HURON.
nr.rinl'n^'^T'r^ "^ '^1° !"'^ moetii,^M,f Syno.1, «,ul the sound
a Xr'f'M'""" "' '" ^"?^ Tollovving letter, wl.icl. furnishes
lerolT:!!! °<-'^"""t"f<''« proceedings th.n wo hnve had
an K-c. nV ? ""r '^ l^' ^■•"'"^' ^^'•'^^^^' '"'"^y "^^^ bo added
London r w ' ^r'' ^^''''-■"'" ^^•"'^''' ^^'''''' ''^^ ^old at
in. Tn ;. •' °". ^"''^">' ^'"*' ^^'^'"e««l^'y tl'e 2lM and 22,1
forwanUv r '"''*'^' many cf the olcrgy had been looking
w th vvlrh ."■' ^''"" "'^'"^'^>' ^'"'^'•^'^y' »ho principal objec°
tTon w ' \ 1 '''r '""''"'*^' ''^''"° ^'^^ "''^'Pt'^'" of a Constitu-
UDon wl i I i"''^;"'' '"'"'"'^^' *^" settlement <.f the principles
brcond '. w ' •:;^"™'"''^^'''''li'>" "f tl^« l^i'>cese should horoalter
draft of nP J''." '"•^'^^*>' ''^^^' ^'^''" •^'^'"'y occasioned by a
Ura tof a Constitution, put forth some months ago, by the Corn-
ice rlr"''^"'"/'r'' ^" ''"•'''"'■'" '^''' ^'"'y '-^t •-> g*^"^'''' "i^eting of
uarv r^^ "":^^"^^ "^^'^^ ^^'"^^«^' ^^'''^»' '°^>k place in Feb-
nrov^din/V ,V"^'"'^'''^ '^^ ^''^ P''''P"'^^^ Constitution-that
K: ^ f'V''' ^'''^''^" "^'^y representatives-gave the rioht
h Ihl /. ?'^ parochial meetings held for that purpose, notoSly
o the actual members of each congregation, hut also to " habi-
havpTvl^ f'f '? '" ^^^ '''^""^•" '^^^'''' P'ovision would evidently
JnL. ^ -^ ^''^ "^'^^ "^ ''^^''^^ ^^ Methodists and othe. dis-
frenZuf ^ '" '^^"7 of our more remote country parishes are
altCs^^ ^^""' worshippers in our congregations. And
^vmc^ifT themselves of the privilege, it xvas felt that the
DHn 1 ^"l ""' f " '''""'^' ^"^ ^ ^^'-''^"^ ^'i'>'ation of Church
!c M^^ ?' Z''^' ""^ ^''^ proposed articles was as follows :—
wiM, .nf .?' ''^'°'"^'*'" "» its first introduction shall become law
w inout the concurrence of the Bishop and a majority of the
of thfvv?1 T^ rf'?.*\ P"""^'^^"^' ^^^''^^' ordinarily, the votes
desirp Zt l-^r^ ''^'" ^" '"'^'^^ collectivelv ; but that at the
nesire of the Bishop, or at the rcpiest of five'clergymen, or of
hve laymen, the votes of each of the above named Orders shall
37
Joking
(Jl.S<
1)0 taken separately ; and if any .litrercnce Mill subsist wIumi such
vole isso taken, tl.on ihesi.l.jcct un I..t .lc.|.In«r..tioM sl,..|| stand
over lor consKleralio.i to the ensuing SynnJ, and il' (i.en passed
by a majority olihree-fourtl.suf the Cler^^v an-l Laity rU.ec-
ively, .t shall bo adopted." To thi.. proposition, "the obiec-
tion entertained by many of the Clergy, w.a if possible stron-
ger than to that previously alluded to. There was a very dec.)
conviction on the min-ls of not a lew, that the questioii at
issue was in reality nothing less than Episcopacy itself; that
.should the Bishop by the adoption of this Constitution, be
placed in such a position as, under certain circumstances, lo be
deprived ol his le;,rislative ^unctio^^ in the Diocese, his ofTue
wouM bo a mere sham. As the relative .strength ol the parties
•no winch the Diocese was divided on this great an<l fundamen-
al question, was not precisely known, the discus8ion was
looked brward to wiih the more anxiety, though not without a
steadlast detcrinin.ition to oppose to the utmost the adoi.tion
ol tlie proposed ariiclts. ^
The Clergy and Laity assembled on Tuesday mornin^r, the
-1st inst , and after attending divine service at St. Laul's Cv
Uietlral, adjourned to the ailjoining schoolhou-su, when the
byno( vvaa organized. The Bishop opened the procecdino.s
Uy a brief statement of the various matters of interest to the
IJiocese which had occurred since the meeting in F. bruarv
dwelling particularly on tho Act of the Legislature whi( h has
been recently passed explanatory of the Synod Act of 1856
and giving an account of his late confirmation tour, in the course*
01 winch, although he has yet gone through but a portion of the
Uiocese, he has confirmed nearly 1,000 persons. The rules
iot the preservation of order which formed part of the proposed
Constitution, having then been adopted, and declared to be of
force lor the prese:u meeting, the business of the day commen-
ced in earnest, with the consideration of the Constitution, the
articles of which were read and discussed seriatim.
Freviously tothis, however, it was announced that the Com-
mit ee had, before the assembling of the Synod, resolved on a
modiiication of (he Constitution they had previously put forth
and as article after article of the Constitution thus amended by
Uiem was read, it appeared that all those to which objection had
been taken, had been so altered as to meet the views of the most
conservative of Chuichmen. Under these circumstances, of
38
course the happiest unanimity prevailed. Discussion was
confined for the m..st part to matters of detail, and the constitu-
non of the Di .cese wa. established, as we hope, for all time to
come, on a sound and Catholic basis. The Vi'^cipal ieatures
ol the Constitution may be expressed in a d^yy words. Each
duly orgai.ized congregation in the Diocese is to have the pri-
viiege of sending to the Synod one, two, or three Lay represen-
tatives, according to its number of registered voters. The
voters are to record their names in a book as - Members of the
United Church of England and Ireland," and as belonoincr to
no other religious de^iomination. The lav representati?es''are
to be communicants of at least one year's standiui.. The
S^nod IS to meet annually ; this is in.i)erative, andit was a
point on winch the Committee laid much stress. The article
before given Nvas amended as follows :-'' No act or resolution
shall become aw without the concurrence of the Bishop, and
a majority of the Clergy and Laity present, provi.led that ordin-
arily the votes o the last mentioned orders shall be taken col-
lectively: but that at the desire of the Bishop, or at the re-
seda' Iv'" %7>^'^"'"'.r ""^^'^ py'"e",t'-y «l'all be taken
separately The consideration of the Constitution occupied
the feynod during the afternoon session of Tuesday, and the
morning session oi Wednesday. On Wednesday afternoon a
very animated debate took place on a motion to address the Le-
g.^ ature upon the question of religious instruction in Common
!5choo|.i, but a though all present were unanimous as to the
importance of the object, no definite plan for carrying it into
effec could be agreed upon, and the motion, with' a proposed
amendment, was ultimately withdrawn. f f ^^^
VVith the appointment of some Commitiees the business of
the Synod then terminated ; and all felt thankful for the impor-
tant results thus so happily attained. '
The evenings of Tuesday and Wednesday were devoted to
he atfairs of the Diocesan Church Society, which has recent-
ly received Its charter of incorporation from the Provincial Le-
gislature. The principal business in connection with this in-
shtution, also, was the adoption of a Constitution ; but in this
asm the former case, the discussion was confined to matters
of detail, the Constitution drafted by the Committee having, in
IN principles and general features, met withgeneral acceptance
llie most important ditference between the Constituhon of (he
A I
39
Church Society of Huron, and that of the Diocese of Toronta
consists .P. the arrangement that all moneys collected for the
Socety, or any of .ts objects, shall he pa ill into the General
Fund to be admm.stered by the Standi.Ig Committee instead
of m part by the Committees of District Associa on^/wh ch
are in fact now merged in the general body. '
Subsequently to the adoption of the Constitution, on the se.
cond evenmg, a question was brought up on which the interest
of the day concentrated itself. It arose out of a motion of M
Dewar, of Sandwich, to vest the Patronage of the Rector^s
wh.ch .s by Act of Parliament given to the" Church SyTn
he Bi8l^>p ofthe Diocese. This was, met by an amendment
to the effect that it ^ould be vested in the present BiXpTur
ing h.s l.fetime. A brief but very animated debate ensued
which bvfTR^'""'""' '''''^T'^ the announcement of
of satisfaction. One or two minor matters were then dispose
of, tie usual complimentary resolution to the Bishop was pissed
and the meeting was dismissed at the hour of midnigh , wit h
his Lordship's benediction. ° ' ""*"
Thus terminated the proceeding* of a meeting which was dis-
tinguished by a delightful unanimity, no lefs than b^ d ep
earnestness of feeling-a meeting which it is earnestly and con-
hdent ly anticipated, will be followed by many others, if not so
important in heir results, yet equally conducive to the wel/are
of our Jerusalem, and equally serving to illustrate the Divine
sen iment -Behold how good and joyful a thing it is, brethren,
to dwell together in unify." '
Faithfully yours, H. j-f
Diocese of Huron, C.W., September, 185S.
(From the Church Journal, November 10, 1858.)
Extract from Nova Scotia correspondence, containinLr
account of meeting ol Diocesan asseembly -^ »'«»iin^
You are probably aware that, according to the Constitution
of the Assembly, no measure can pass without the conr„r.-.nI
sanction of Bisiiop, Clergy, and Laity.
40
C.r,i«i(lerable umbrage bad been taken by some opp.,nenls
•fomT ; ? ^^'% '^-'ly^ tbus given to tbe Bisbop to^lissent
irom II e action oftbe other two bodies, but on tbis occasion
he Laty, whose (h.ssent t;g/oerf a measure concurred in bv
« veto "f '';? ""r""^- '^^';'^ «^^^ ^-^-^-^ ^^ ^^e obnoxi<.us
veto by the Lai.y, instead of by the dreaded Episcopos
tor't^'ror" l"r """'. ^r''' '^"'^^^^'-^"^ regulations^ '
delibe. i n °^• !;''"^;"^" clergymen, were passJd, after due
delibeia lon. Hitherto almost absolute power, in this and in
7:]^ p7T ';"''•"" "'''''' '" ''^ Bishop'ld'm^l'd"
d torvT , 'r'T^ V'^'\ '"y '^^'■"'^ oneofthecommen-
dator) fca ures of the Synodical scheme, that thereby the
H.shop calls in his clergy and laity to share 'with hirin^Mmors
an.f privileges from which they were before excluded
{From the Quebec Mercunj, December 11, 1858.)
MEETING OF iMEMBERS OF THIi: CIIUllCH OF
ENGLAND.
At a public meeting, convened in St. Paul's Church, Kino .
sey, in the Diocese of Quebec, on the second day of Decem-
ber inst. to express publicly their disapproval of certain con-
troversial and disorderly proceedings, for some time past car-
ried on by professe.1 members of said Church, within the city
or l^uebec, the tollowing resolutions were passed.
Whereas'^ a certain party m (he City of Quebec, professedly
members of the Church of .England, have of late factiously set
themselves in opposition to Ecclesiastical authority, sometimes
openly in public meetings, but more frequently covertiv and
over fictitious names through the public press, and published
pamphlets, have much disturbed the peace of the church • and
by misrepresentation, through misguided zeal or visionary
apprehension, have done much to bring her administration and
clergy into contempt ; weaken the confidence of her members-
and distract her unity ; to tbe great disparagement of our'
rciigion, the honor of Christ, and the "prosperity of His
41
Church in this Diocese ; holding her up irreverently and ron
emptuous y to the public gaze and ridicSle of al whLcoffat re*-
\7 ZIT T ^-n ^'i' '''''''^' -^ Zion.-It is hereby^
Chir;i. r '"'-''1"';^' '"'"^'"- convened in St. Paul's
Church, K.ngsey, ,n the Diocese of Quebec, and sneaking thp
^^v r"'-.'^'V"S''^'^" ^''^"^^h in'this p^r of tlo iocVse
tl S Z']r^\''.^'^^^ «nd regret, the spirit and conduct oi-
lier of A^n'f.'"}^. "' ""'■^"^^ ^'^'^^he fundamental prin
ciples of Apostolic Clinst.anity ; and deprecate their oro.
ceed.ngs, as inconsistent with iheir profession, grievous to^al
wel instructed churchmen, and me'riting the Semnation
ot all good and unprejudiced Christians.
2nd. Resolved,— That, whereas the said party have out
themselves forward as the index of Anglican iCtestan ism^?n
I'f s?vTe';" / -d'.ave organized a SoLty and con S 'a
self-styled Lay Committee of the Diocese of Quebec •" we
need no such champions of our liberty, we accept no't thdr
and excellent b.shop, and have full confidence in our cler/v •
and we beseech our brethren of Quebec to lay aside their Ifexl
andr.ansp.r.t and return to quietness, peaL and good oXr
. 3rd. Resolved,-That, whereas the said party have assailed
ma most unbecoming, uncharitable and unchritian manner
l^th tr"''''^°^^''W^"J'^S^' «" institution cloXS
merit ^Crof'Th '' Lr '^""'^ '" ^^^^^^^" C-«^«' '^^ one
Soffonl fhp r^'V"' r' ^^--^g^'-'ng against the preju-
aice oi sonn^, the apathy of others, and the difficulties which
n common w.th all, beset the incipien, stages of sSar'nti-
ut.ons ; and regardless of self-respect, have deTcended to
he use of lampoons, satire, and of vulga? and opprobious epi^
t l^f'^lwe'ctnotl"' ^"^ l-ofSsorsand^heTradua^^^^^^
inereoi,— vye cannot express our condemnation of such nn
worthy and suicidal conduct without heart-felt sorrow and
Shan^ls"'' ''"' "'" ''''' '""^^' ^^'^^^ '^ expert beueral
4th. Kesolved, That although the said party have spared no
pamsor expense to disseminate their principles far aJd wide
we have hitherto contemplated their movement in silent ni^v'
regardmg.tonly as in tr'uth it is,a local facTon, o e of tCe
occurrences spoken o hn Scnpture as temporarily permitted of
..on, as a iruil of our faiih and steadfastness
WILLIAM CARSON,
Senior Church Warden, Chairman.
(From the Quebec Mercury, Deer. 23.)
ADDRESS TO THE LoHTbisHOP OF QUEBEC,
to !L'bX;!'o?V'T'"'V" P"^'i«l»'"S ^>'e f-'lowing address
o tie Bishop of Quebec, fionuhe Mission of Framjton and
tha M.sion shows unm.stakeably the place which our vener-
aed B,,f holds m the afreclions of his people. We hope
M s S W. '"' T'^'}' 'f "^^^^^ ''y '^-^ othe^co fr;
To the Rt. Reverend the Lord Bishop of Quebec.
onTi^^^f'i."'^^''''^"'^'' J'eads of families, inhabitants of East
and West Frampton, Standon, and Cranbourne, re.pectMIy
pproachyour Lordship to offer our expressions of deep s mp^^^
thy ,n this time of trial, and to assure you of our unabati con-
acf: in I'k ,"i'^'=''.'-- «^ y-r ^o'i^^hip'^ intentions and
From the public prints, and more recently from your Lord-
ship's - Letter addressed to the Clergy and Laity of the D o-
cese '' we haye learned, and with much regret, L opposiUon
wh.ch has been offered, by a party in the city 'of QuXc, to
nation 'tV'^' j"^' ''^"^' ''^^'•^»' ^^^^^^ ^" -g^-' to S nod ca°
action, and he gross misr presentation to which your conduc
has been subjected For our pari, we beg to' assure your
Lordship of our unshaken reliance on the watchful care and zeal,
Tr tbi^ n-n'" '^^^"^'.r^r ''°" '^""" ^'^^^^'" '" "''^ administration
of tins Diocese. 1 he fact, that for more than twenty years you
haye sijpplied us with a resident Clergyman, though mir means
were altogether inadequate to his support, 'shcu^ the Sy
mteres which your Lordship has always taken in our welfare^
nni-fT P"""'' ""^ ^"'■''' '''^ *'"«^ *'^"t we are not ungrateful
and If the support and aficction of an humble portion of your
Lordship s flock can tend in the slightest degree to lessen the
anxiety incident to your high and%esponsiMe office, vve be.
respectfully to assure you of both. ^
In conclusion we heartily pray that your Lordship may long
be spared o preside oyer the Church in this Dioceie, and tl a^
your efforts to promote harmony among all parties in the
43
Church may be so blessed with success, that we may be all
joined together in unity of spirit and in the bond of peace
(Signed,) John Dillon, Andrew Ross, J. P.,
Thomas Hodgson, William Bagley,
Edward Anderson, Michael Armstrong,
James McClintick, Churchwardens,
And one hundre.l and four others, heads of families.
REPLY.
. Quebec, Deer. 17, 1858.
My Christian Friends,— I have received with feelings of
much gratihcation, the kind address in which you convev lo
me the assurance of your confidence in my administration of
this Diocese, and your appreciation of those labors in which
It has pleased Cod to use an unworthy instrument for effecting
some good in this portion of His Church.
Whatever (roubles have been caused by tlie Episcopal move-
ment for procuring Synodical action, it is a comfort to enjoy
the well assured feeling that they arc not chargeable upon the
author of that movement, either in originating, or in conduct-
ing the movement itself, and that they could not have been an-
ticipated as a consequence of any other exercise of the episco-
pal authority within the Diocese.
It is nothing new, however, in the history of the Church,
that men should encounter opposition and miscons-truction
when they are seeking, in all good will and simplicity of heart,
to work for the public good. We can only commit our cause
in prayer and faith, to Him who can make all things work to-
gether for good, and who can turn the hearts of men, as well
as guide the course of events according to His good pleasure.
We may well hope that the cause of peace and order in the
Church, and the preservation of those principles among us,
which essentially belong to the Anglican Communion, how-
ever rudely they may be assailed, or however perseveringly un-
dermined, will one day be seen to triumph, as well as that
many persons who have been carried away by colorable ap-
pearances will correct their own mistakes for themselves.
Meantime, I desire cordially to acknowledge the contribution of
your own efforts towards so happy an issue.
I am, my Christian friends,
Your affectionate servant in Christ,
x/r ,vn ^' ^' QUEBEC.
Messrs. Dillon, Ross, Hodgson, Bagley, Anderson, Armstrong,
McClintock, and other signers of the address.
44
{Vromthe London Guardian, Feb. 10, 1858.)
CHURCH SYNODS IN THK COLONIES.
P4b;te?ian t ere s t'hP C^ " '^' *^P'«^"Pal, '•>e'-e is the
what Cicero calls a temperamentum oi l\\ iU.ll aTZ
t|.ory the Church or^tli ..:rltr:::o HotsT Co^v^
fnio/ f^r I ^'"V '""tT ^'■'"'™^"^ '"'"'e its own Conoreffational
aT« Vh.. I't"';'- . ^"^ ^'"^'^ ^'^« Parliament lostKpedaUv
as a Church body, ,t can hardly be said that there is rea v anv
SSr?orfr""r"S'" ^'^^ ^''"^<^''- TVeHoU'esTf
XT. tl ■ ^" P^cUcal purposes are still a cinher • ami
active t ""''"f S-^^"r"'^f^'- Church is X^copaT^
Tnert anZ ^^ ^°'' "° ^'«"bt tho.e is an imri.ense amount of
makes itserfrf?''^'"'' '" "'^ ^''^^'^ '^° elements hat
Now air I if ^°"f ^vat.on, if „ot for progress.
be&v ^t^l^^^^^^ '«^^'^^'' ^f^f Present'stfte of things to
ill: . liome, Low Churchmen try to remedy it in
ional's^ter ,^^^^^^,^''^'\-g -pieties on af.urei; Co t^^^^^
-e divided „„ ,„e ^t^howX":; "^^X' t'T:
.0 see ,he lai.y admi.led a'a dl i„c td t 'o .he cT,S^
of working the Church system efleclually but throu/hThP
ofMelbournlld hide IdN^^^yH Toronto, the Bishops
dently arrived at ,t coiclufi^Mhf ,trc L n"™ ,"" ""','•""•
of the outMion limn l>v it. , '^ '" "" '"''''' solution
eou«lf„„.in„ nt I I'"' '""P^romentum of all three on an
roti»reh^-tifr^f-- -j:i '-oZ?I
I '
45
liistory can it be called a Medievalism ; it is no attempt to
regain ecclesiastical power, but a simple expression of a prin-
ciple contained in the U.tory and idea of the Church of Eng-
land, and the outward visible body of its life.
These remarks are suggested by the papers relating to the
JMew Zealand Church Constitution th .1 have lately reached us •
rom which It would seem that the Bishop has been labourintr
tor ten years past to establish the result at which the Church
has just arrived. It would appear that for fifteen years he had
been ma/^-re Im an autocrat, and that no one felt more nain-
tully than himself the evils of such a svstem, in which all the
onus of power and of obloquy fell upon his shoulders alone,
there was hardly a clergyman, or a church, or a schoolhouse.
or a churchyard in the colony, for the maintenance of which
lie was not made responsible. If a window was broken in
the church, the Bishop was held to blame till it was mended,
bentlemen sat in church with their umbrellas over their heads,
because the Bishop, who had advanced most of the money iJx
the building, did not also see to the securing of the saddleboard
that had been warped by the sun. To such minutie were
Episcopal autocrats reduced, and deservedly so, if it had been
ot their own choosing ; but the position was forced upon them :
and the great duty and labour was to impress the clergy and
the laity with a due sense of their own responsibility in re-
gard to the maintenance of their own church in the colony.
Ihis wasno easy task. The plan proposed was unlike the
existing state of^ tnjngs in England ; and there is a strong
Conservative feeling in the breast of the most Democratic col-
onist, t was not then till many other minds, lay and clerical,
were duly impressed with the real need of the Church, and
alter ten years' patient discussion and ventilation of (he sub-
ject, that at last in May, 1857, two Bishops, eight clergy, and
seven laymen, met in Synod for a whole month, and pro-
duced a Church Constitution, of which we can only say at
present that it seems promising and feasible. Of the eight
Clergy, lour were missionary Archdeacons, summoned to
represent tt,e natives, the other four were elected ; the seven
laymen were elected deputies from all parts of the diocese.
thrL^^^"" principles of the Constitution are-first, that those
c«n Lc -'^ '''; ^"''^ egi='ative purposes, equal, and nothing
can pass into a law without the assent of a majority of eachi
vr«^y'A'!''«M"S'' ^''" Prayer book and the Authorised
Version of he Bible remam unaltered by the Church at home,
the colonial branch binds itself to the full acceptance of the
46
i-ormulariesof ihe Mother Church and its Authorised VVrsiun
but leaves .tse f at liberty to acceptor decline any future
alteration made by the Church at home.
This General fcJynod will depute its powers to diocesan
bynocls (*) ftnd local vestries, still holding and exercisin- a su.
pervision over all, and a power of revoking abused authority. As
lar as can be judged from the unanimity that prevailed ihrou<rh-
out the hrst session, we augur good results for its workino- "in
countries where the Voluntary system prevails, nothing slfort of
the co-operation of all orders will seem to meet its d^tficuKies
and dangers. We have the more confidence of this result when
we see that the p an devised is in such full accordance with the
principles of the Primitive Church, and with the theory, at least,
of our own English branch of the Church Universal
(From the Sherbrookc Times, January 6, 1859.)
V
One of the great doctrines of Christianity is " Peace on
Earth, good will towards men," and happy would it be if the
practice of Christians were at all in accordance with the doc-
trine But unfortunately this divine precept, so often enun-
ciated, wou d seem to bear a ditferent interpretation from the
literal one, if we may judge by the discord which but too often
prevails in every branch of the Church.
How is it that amongst christians so much strife and opposi-
tion, so much bickering, so much envv, hatred and malice
should be apparent to evety eye. It is not merely that sect is
so frequently arrayed against sect, but the evil displays itself
still more forcibly amongst the followers of the same creed.
Purely strife is not a necessary ingredient of the Christian
tZlTl', ;!' " ^u^^'' °" ^'•''h' g°°^' ^'" towards men" was
heralded forth as the result of the coming of the Saviour. No '
the evi is m ourselves. If every christian were in his own
person to endeavor to heal wounds and reconcile difficulties,
rather than by obstinate adhesion to his own views, to create
trouble, and widen the gulf between himself and others, whose
main objects are after all identical with his own, but who
«?cno',i ^ hlf';S'*''"^''°.° °f ^iocesan Sjnods to be similar to that of the general
Sjnod : but the queation of an appeal to the general Synod from the veto of
any on, order to rest with each Diocese to decide for itfel?.'' 5t?ResoIu!ro2
47
l>appen to think (liire.eiitly a« to tlic mtmis of obtaining tlic
end, the result would bo such as would rejoice the heart of
every good man, and the intluence of Christianity itself would
oe lar wider and deei)er spread amongst the masses of the
people.
How can a man or community, with any show of propriety,
incu cale doctrines of sobriety and temperance, when the ex-
ample and the prece|)t are so widely separated ?
W^e are led to tliese remarks hy the perusal of a pamphlet
recently issued by the Lay Association of the members of the
Church of England in the Diocese of Quebec.
We would ask firstly, is such an association necessary or
even desirable ? Why in a Christian community put class
against class ? Are not the interests of the Clergy and Laity
identical .-' Why endeavor to raise uj) antagonis^m between
the people ani their ministers in religion ?
But to the pamphlet itself. Grave°charges are made against
the Bishop, (*) it being asserted that alter a ceilain meeting
held in Quebec in June last, for the purpose of determining as
to the acceptance or not, ofSynodical action in this Diocese, and
after the vote of acceptance was passed, further proceedings
were stayed by violent conduct on the part of both Clergy
and Laity ; that a vote of adjournment wascarried, in the hope
that time and reflection might tend to allay the bitter feelings
drawn out, but that in the meantime the Bishop took advan-
tage of the sitting of Parliament to can.se an amendment Qf the
act to be passed, authorising and requiring the appointment of
Lay delegates to meet in synod, and legislate on the internal
(•) Note by Com;;i7cr.— Net withstanding; this, which seems to be
sufficiently plain, the advocates of the Lay Association, in order to
disarm opposition, are henrd to say, whilejthey are circulating this rery
pamphlet, that they have nothing to bring against the present Bishop.
but simply desire to put matters on such a footing as that if he
should have an unworthy successor, he might be restrained from doing
mischief. Surely such inconsistency must be easily seen through. The
pame parties put themselves forward as the champions of the rights of
the laity throughout the Diocese ; but no one can read the foregoing extracts,
without perceiving, clearly enough, that the object of the Bishop has, all
along, been to secure to the Laity of the country their just rights, of which
those who oppose him wjuH have deprived them by keeping the control of
every thing in the hands of a mass meeting at Quebec. Defeated in this at-
tempt, they now endeavor •' by good words and fair speeches, to deceive the
hearts of the simple," (f) when they profess to be the friends of the people,
ft is impossible to avoid this conclusion, except on the charitable supposition
(which one willingly indulges) that they are deceived themselves.
(t) Romans, XVI. 17, Read the whole patsogf.
48
.ir.irs of the Ch.ircl,.-This is the charge, u.ul a Lay Assocla-
tion .8 formo,, ileiiouncin^r the conduct ol the Bishop and his
immediate fo lovyers ; letter follows letter in the puhlic press,
and a pamphlet is issued, warning the laity that their rights are
being mvaded and that they must come forward in defence of
trieir religious freedom.
Surely this must be considered as 'somewhat violent conduct,
and to the outside observer, would tend to shew the wisdom of
not allowing Quebec, en masse, to legislate for the whole Di-
ocese.
To us, resident at a distance from the scene of trouble,
the conduct of the Bishop in securing the rights of the ChurcJ.
in the Diocese in general, by allowing re>esentation in fair
libeVal'^'oUc ^^ ^^^^^^ ^'■^'" ''''^'y P^''''*^ ^^'^"^s the most
Mass meetings are not the place for calm discussion, and
the vital questions at -ssue can only \>o met by quiet temperate
conduct on 'he part of all. '
We are clearly of opinion that the Bishop has in this in-
stance, shown a promptitude and energy of character in applyinff
an immediate remedy to the evil felt, and acknowledged by all
which ought to earn for him the thanks of the diocese at large.'
No doubt he r It Ihit time and discussion, instead of allaying
the spirit of d.scord, was only exciting it, and he would
naturally think that another exhibition, similar to that of the
June meeting, would do incalculuble harm to the cause of the
Church over which he presided.
Again, in the appointment of delegates he has only carried
ou the wishes of both parties. The extremest reformer could
T Ko ^ yr'/^!" ^^'l ^'^"'^'^ °^ delegates is left entirely in
the hands of the Laity themselves.
We have felt it our duty thus to allude to this pamphlet, and
we earnestly hope that the good sense of the people in the
townships, to whom we more particularly address ourselves,
will lead them to avoid joining any exclusive party in the
Ohurch ; and when the time for action arrives, let another
i^bnstian maxim overrule all their actions, " Whatsoever ye
do, do all to the glory of God."