i GEORGIA CONVENTION
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OF THE
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH. §
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1848.
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The next Convention will meet in the City of Macon
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itMUAi
OF THE
Proceedings
OF THE
TWENTY-SIXTH ANNUAL CONVENTION
OF THE
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
IN THE DIOCESE OF GEORGIA :
held in st. james' church,
MARIETTA, GA.,
COMMENCING ON THE 4TH DAY OF MAY, 1848.
MARIETTA;
Printed attlie Advocate Office*
1848.
LIST OF THE CLERGY
op the
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL. CHURCH,
IN THE DIOCESE OF GEORGIA.
Rt. Rev. STEPHEN ELLIOTT, Jr., D. D., Bishop of the Dio¬
cese, residing at Montpelier—P. O., Macon.
Rev. #THEODQRE B. BARTOW, Chaplain to the Naval Asy¬
lum, Philadelphia, Penn.
" SENECA G. BRAGG, Assistant Rector of St. Luke's
Church, Montpelier—P. O., Macon.
" *EDMUND P. BROWN, Rector of Christ Chirrch, St.
Simon's Island.
a *WM, D. CAIRNS, Rector of Trinity Church, Columbus.
« * WILLIAM J. ELLIS, Apalachicola, Florida.
" *JOHN FIELDING, Beaufort, S, C.
u EDWARD E. FORD, D. D., Rector of St. Paul's Church,
Augusta.
" WILLIAM D. HARLOW, Rector of the Church of the
Messiah, St. Mary's.
" JOHN J. HUNT, Missionary at Atlanta and Jonesboro';
residence, Marietta.
" RICHARD JOHNSON, Rector of Zion Church,Talbotton.
" WILLIAM JOHNSON, Rector of St. Stephen's Church,
Milledgeville.
" ^GARDINER JONES.
" *BENJAMIN F. MOWER, Rector of Grace Church,
Clarkesville.
« EDWARD NEUFVILLE, D. D., Rector of Christ Church,
Savannah.
" THOMAS F. SCOTT, Rector of St. James' Church, Marietta.
" WM. BACON STEVENS, M. D., Professor, &c., and Rec¬
tor of Emmanuel Church, Athens.
" JOSEPH A. SHANKLIN, Rector of Christ Church, Macon.
« THOMPSON L. SMITH, Missionary in Cass and Floyd
counties—P. O., Cassville.
" *OWEN P. THACKARA.
" *GEORGE WHITE, residing in Savannah.
" *RUFUS M. WHITE, Rector of St. John's Church, Sa¬
vannah.
" WILLIAM C. WILLIAMS, Missionary to the Negroes on
Ogeechee River—P. O., Savannah.
« J. A. WOODWARD.
*Not present at Convention.
LIST OF LAY DELEGATES
TO THE
Twenty-Sixth Annual Convention?
DIOCESE OF GEORGIA.
From Christ Church, Savannah:
JAMES POTTER,
♦WILLIAM H. CUYLER,
♦NORMAN WALLACE.
From St. Pauls' Church. Augusta:
gerard Mclaughlin,
GEORGE PARROT,
GEORGE W. MORGAN.
From Christ Church, Macon:
NATHAN C. MUNROE,
L. N. WHITTLE,
Dr. C. T. GUINTARD.
From Trinity Church, Columbus:
♦Dr. EDWARD T. TAYLOR,
♦WHITBY FOSTER,
♦Major THOMAS M. NELSON.
From St. John's Church, Savannah:
H. H. STOTESBURY,
Dr. THOMAS STEWARTSON
From St. Stephen's Church, Milledgeville:
Dr. JOHN R. COTTING,
♦Dr. C. J. PAINE,
♦WILLIAM B. T1NSLEY
From St. James'Church, Marietta:
WILLIAM ROOT,
SAMUEL C. HOUSE,
LEVI AYRES.
From Emmanuel Church, Athens:
•FIELDING BRADFORD,
JAMES BANCROFT,
♦Dr. WILLIAM E. DEARING
From the Church of the Messiah, St. Mary's:
♦MILLER HALLOWS,
*F. DE LIESSLINE,
♦J. M. SMITH.
From the Church of the Ascension, Cass county:
WILLIAM MACLEAN.
From Zion Church, Talbotton:
♦LEVI B. SMITH,
Dr. GEORGE W. JONES,
♦ALLEN F. OWEN.
From St. Philips' Church, Atlanta:
SAMUEL G. JONES,
*GUY L. WARREN,
♦Dr. N. L. ANGIER.
From Christ Church, St. Simon's; Grace Church, Clarkesville; St. An¬
drew's, Darien ; St. David's, Glynn county, and St. Peter's, Rome, no cer¬
tificates of the election of Lay Delegates were received.
♦ Not present at Convention,
JOURNAL.
St. James' Church, Marietta, >
4th MAY, 1848. 5
This being the time and place appointed for holding the Twenty-
Sixth Annual Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in
the Diocese of Georgia, Morning Prayer was read by the Rev. T.
F. Scott, and in the absence of the Rev. R. M. White, a Sermon
was preached by the Rev. Richard Johnson, from Mark 8 : 1—3.
The Rt. Rev. the Bishop of the Diocese called the Convention
to order, and the list of the Clergy being called, the following
answered to their names :
Rt. Rev. STEPHEN ELLIOTT, Jr., D. D.
Rev. SENECA G. BRAGG,
" WILLIAM D. HARLOW,
« JOHN J. HUNT,
" RICHARD JOHNSON,
" WILLIAM JOHNSON,
" THOMAS F. SCOTT,
" JOSEPH A. SHANKLIN,
" THOMPSON L. SMITH,
" WM. BACON STEVENS,
" WILLIAM C. WILLIAMS.
The certificates of Lay Delegates were presented, and referred
to Rev. Messrs. Bragg, R. Johnson and Sbanklin, who reported that
the following persons have been duly appointed to attend this Con¬
vention, viz :
St. Paul's Church, Jlugusta—Gerard McLaughlin, Geo. Parrot,
George W. Morgan.
Christ Church, Macon—Nathan C. Munroe, L.N. Whittle,Dr.
C. T. Quintard.
St. John's Church, Savannah—H. H. Stotesburry, Dr. Thomas
Stewarts on.
St. Stephens' Church, Milledgeville—Dr. John R. Cotting, Dr.
Paine, William B. Tinsley.
St. 3am.es'' Church, Marietta—William Root, Samuel C. House,
Levi Ayres.
Church of the Ascension, Cass county—William Maclean.
The Delegates being called, the following answered to their
names :
G. McLaughlin, William Root,
N. C. Munroe, S. C. House,
C. T. Quintard, Levi Ayres,
H. H. Stotesbury, W. Maclean.
J. R. Cotting.
6
And there being a Constitutional quorum present, the Conven¬
tion was declared to be duly organized.
h was Resolved, That the Rules of Order of the last Conven¬
tion be adopted for the government of this body.
The Convention proceeded to ballot for a Secretary, when the
Rev. Thomas F. Scott was unanimously re-elected, and by con¬
sent of Convention, appointed the Rev. J. A. Shanklin his Assistant.
The Bishop appointed the following Standing Committees of
Convention : "
On the Slate of the Church—Rev. Messrs. Bragg, Stevens and
Hunt.
On Unfinished Business—Rev. W. Johnson, and Messrs. Root
and Quintard.
On Finance—Messrs. Munroe, McLaughlin and House.
On the admission of new Parishes—Rev. Mr. Shanklin, and
Messrs. Cotting and Stotesbury.
Applications were presented by Zion Church, Talbotton, and
the Church of the Messiah, St. Mary's, asking to be received into
union with the Convention. These were read aud' referred to the
Committee on the admission of new Parishes, who made the fol¬
lowing
REPORT.
The Committee on the admission of new Parishes have examined
the papers submitted by Zion Church, and the Church of the Mes¬
siah, St. Mary's, and find that they have been duly organized ac¬
cording to the Canons ; and recommend that they be received into
full connection with the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Dio¬
cese of Georgia.
The report was adopted, and these Churches were accordingly
received into connection with the Convention.
Certificates of the election of Lay Delegates were presented from
the same Churches, and referred to the Committee on Elections,
who reported that the following persons have been duly appointed :
From Zion Church, Talbotton—Levi B. Smith, George W.
Jones, Allen F. Owen.
From the Church of the Messiah, St. Marfs—Miller Hallows,
F. De Liessline, J. M. Smith.
And their names being called, Dr. George W. Jones answered
and took his seat.
After Prayers by the Bishop, Convention adjourned to the hour
of public worship to-morrow morning.
At night, Evening Prayer was read by Rev. J. A. Shanklin, and a
Sermon preached by Rev. W. B. Stevens.
7
Fi'hlay Morning, 5tli May, I§4§»
Morning Prayer was read by the Rev. William Johnson, and a
Sermon preached by the Rev. J. A. Sbanklin.
After service, the Convention was called to order. Present as on
yesterday, together with the Rev. Edw. Neufville, D. D., and the
Rev. Edw. E. Ford, D. D., and Messrs. Geo. Parrot, Geo. W. Mor¬
gan, L. N. Whittle, and Dr. Stevvartson.
The minutes of yesterday's proceedings were read and confirmed.
Certificates of the election of Lay Delegates were presented
from Christ Church, Savannah ; Emmanuel Church, Athens, and
St. Philips' Church, Atlanta; and were referred to the Committee
on Elections, who reported that the following persons have been
duly appointed :
From Christ Church, Savannah—James Potter, William H.
Cuyler, Norman Wallace.
From Emmanuel Church, Athens—Fielding Bradford, James
Bancroft, Dr. William E. Dearing.
From St. Philips' Church, Atlanta—Samuel G. Jones, Guy L.
Warren, Dr. N. L. Angier.
And their names being called, Messrs. Potter, Bancroft and Jones
answered, and took their seats.
The Bishop then read his Annual Address.— [See appendix A.]
The Parochial Reports were read, and ordered to be printed.—
[See appendix B.]
The Standing Committee made the following report, which was
accepted:
The Standing Committee of the Diocese report, that their action
has been confined to the recommendation of Mr. Wesley Pierce
Gahagan as a candidate for Holy Orders.
Savannah, May, 1848. Edw'd Nepfville, President.
The Committee on Missions made the following report, which,
together with the reports of the Treasurer of the- Committee on
Missions, and of the Treasurer of the Diocese, was referred to the
Committee on Finance:
The Committee on Missions report, that the sum of $51172 97
has been contributed by the Churches of the Diocese within the
last year, which, added to the balance in hand, and the amount re¬
ceived from the Treasurer of the Diocese under a resolution of
the Convention, (see page 32, Journal of 1847,) makes an aggre¬
gate of $1312 86.
The arrearage to one of the Missionaries, referred to in the last
annual report, has been paid, and but for the still further diminu-
8
lion of the contributions of the different Churches as compared
with the last year, all the calculations on which the Committee
based their operations would have been realized, and the salaries
paid up in full to this date. Stephen Elliott, Jr.
The Committee on Unfinished Business made the following re¬
port, which was accepted :
The Committee on Unfinished Business respectfully report, that
they have examined the Journal of 1847, and find, on pages 27and
28, the following resolutions laid over until the present Conven¬
tion, viz :
" Resolved, That the Right Rev. the Bishop of the Diocese be,
and he is hereby respectfully requested by this Convention, to ad¬
mit from time to time, as circumstances may seem to render it de¬
sirable, to the Holy Order of Deacons, such persons, and under
such restrictions, as are contemplated by the sixth Canon of the
General Convention of 1844.
" Resolved, That the following amendment be made to the
fourth article of the Constitution, and inserted as a second section :
" Sec. 2. No Deacon, ordained under the provisions of the sixth
Canon of the General Convention of 1844, shall, in any case, be
entitled to a seat or vote in this Convention, any thing in the pre¬
vious part of this article to the contrary notwithstanding."
The committee find also on p. 33 of Jour. 1847, the following
resolutions, viz:
" Resolved, That the words ' with substitutes'1 be inserted after
the word ' preachers,' in the sixth article of the Constitution.
" Resolved, That for the purpose of collecting and preserving
the Journals of the Diocese from its commencement, it be recom¬
mended to the consideration of the next Convention to raise a fund
to defray the expense of the publication of said Journals."
Wm. Johnson, Chairman.
The resolutions reported from pages 27, 28, of the Journal of
1847, were referred to a special committee, of which the Bishop
should be the chairman. The chair appointed Rev. Drs. Ford and
Stevens and Messrs. Munroe and Potter.
The amendment to the sixth article of the Constitution was
adopted.
The remaining resolution from page 33 of the same Journal,
was indefinitely postponed.
It was Resolved, That the next meeting of the Convention be
held in the city of Macon, on Thursday after the first Monday of
May, 1849.
9
4)r. George W. Jones obtained leave of absence from,Convention.
The following resolution was offered :
Resolved, That the future Conventions of the Diocese be held
in the city of Macon, on Thursday after the first Monday in May
in each year.
The A yes and Nays were called for, and the resolution was lost:
Ayes 4, Nays 21.
Messrs. Morgan and Samuel G. Jones obtained leave of absence
after to-day.
After Prayers by the Bishop, Convention adjourned to the hour
of public worship to-morrow morning.
At night, Evening Prayer was read by the Rev. Dr. Stevens, and
an adult was baptised, and a Sermon preached by the Bishop.
Saturday Morning, 6th May, 1818.
Morning Prayer was read by the Rev. W. D. Harlow, and a
Sermon was preached by the Rev. W. Johnson.
After service, the Convention was called to order, and the min¬
utes of yesterday's proceedings were read and confirmed.
The Committee on Finance made the following report, which
was accepted :
The Committee on Finance, to whom were referred the accounts
of the Treasurer of the Diocese and of the Treasurer of the Dio¬
cesan Missionary Fund, respectfully report that the accounts have
received a careful examination, and that the payments are fully sus¬
tained by the proper vouchers, except in one case in the missiona¬
ry account, where the remittance had not reached the missionary
previous to his leaving his station for this convention—the mis¬
sionary fund being fully disbursed by the treasurer, and the treasu¬
rer of the Diocese having a balance in his hands of twelve dollars
and ninety-two cents ($12 92.) All of which is respectfully
submitted. N. C. Munroe,
Samuel C. House,
G. McLaughlin.
The Committee on the state of the Church made the following
report, which was accepted :
The Committee on the state of the Church respectfully report,
that, after carefully examining the reports of the condition of nearly
all the Parishes and Missionary stations, and comparing them with
those of last year, we have found cause for thankfulness to the
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10
Divine Head of the Church, in manifest tokens of His continued
and increasing favor. Instead, however, of presenting to the Con¬
vention a condensed statement of the particulars embraced in the
reports, we would refer to them in connexion with the annual ad¬
dress of our Bishop, as furnishing numerous and gratifying evi¬
dences of the prosperity of the Diocese. We trust that the sources
of intelligence from every field of labor may be such as to admit
of a full and accurate statement of the condition of each Parish
and Station at our next Convention.
Seneca G. Bragg, Chairman.
Convention then proceeded to the election of Treasurers, Com¬
mittees, and Delegates to the General Convention, which resulted
as follows :
Treasurer of the Diocese—William S. Williford, of Macon.
Treasurer of the Committee on Missions—Rev. Edward Neuf-
ville, D. D., of Savannah.
standing committee.
Of the Clergy. Of the Laity.
Rev. Edward Neufville, D. D, Win. B. Bulloch,
Rev. Edward E. Ford, D. D. Wm. P. Hunter,
Rev. S. G. Bragg. Robt. M. Charlton,
committee on missions.
Of the Clergy: Of the Laity.
Rev. Edward Neufville, D. D. N. C. Munroe,
Rev. J. A. Shanklin. • W. S. Williford,
L. N. Whittle.
delegates to the general convention.
Of the Clergy. Of the Laity.
Rev. Edward Neufville, D. D. James Potter, Esq.
Rev. Edward E. Ford, D. D. Hon. John M. Berrien.
Rev. Seneca G. Bragg. Nathan C. Munroe, Esq.
Rev. Thomas F.Scott. Major Thomas M. Nelson.
The Committee, to whom was referred the report of the Com¬
mittee on Unfinished Business, made the following report, which
was accepted :
The Committee, to whom were referred the resolutions orr the
27th and 28th pages of the Journal of 1847, to wit:
" Resolved, That the Right Rev. the Bishop of the Diocese be
and is hereby respectfully requested by this Convention to admit,
from time to time, as circumstances may seem to render it de¬
sirable, to the Holy Order of Deacons, such persons, and under
11-
such restrictions, as are contemplated by the sixth Canon of the
General Convention of 1844.
" Resolved, That the following amendment be made to the
fourth article of the Constitution, and inserted as a second section f
" Sec. 2. No Deacon, ordained under the provisions of the sixth
Canon of the General Convention of 1844, shall, in any case, be
entitled to a seat or vote in this Convention, any thing in the pre¬
vious part of this article to the contrary notwithstanding."
Respectfully report, that, as there is no immediate demand for
the services of such Deacons in the Diocese of Georgia, these res¬
olutions be laid over for consideration, until such time as the ne¬
cessities of our Diocese and the experience of those who have
adopted this Canon may guide us in a decision upon the subject.
Stephen Elliott, Jr.,
Chairman of the Committee.
The reporFwas laid on the table for the purpose of introducing
the following resolution :
Resolved, That the Right Rev. the Bishop of the Diocese be
and is hereby respectfully requested by this Convention to admit,
from time to time, as circumstances may seem to render it desira¬
ble, to the Holy Order of Deacons, such persons, and under such
restrictions as are contemplated by the fifth Canon of the General
Convention of 1847.
And the question being put, this resolution was lost.
The report of the Committee was then taken up and adopted.
Resolved, That one thousand copies of the Journal of this
Convention be printed under the direction of the Secretary.
Resolved, That article XI of the Constitution be referred to a
committee to report to the next Convention what modification, if
any, should be made as to the time of the election of Delegates to
the General Convention, and the appointment of their substitutes.
Rev. Drs. Neufville and Ford, Rev. Mr. Scott, Dr. Stewartson
and Mr. Munroe were appointed as the committee.
Resolved, That the Treasurer be directed to pay the Rev. Dr.
Neufville the sum of $23 for the quota of this Diocese to the
last General Convention, which the late Treasurer was prevented
from doing by a deficiency in the amounts received from the differ¬
ent Parishes; and also the bill for reprinting 100 copies of the
Journals of 1827, 1828, amounting to $19.
Resolved, That the sum of $15 be annually appropriated to the
Secretary for contingent expenses of his office.
Rev. J. A. Shanklin was appointed to preach the next Conven¬
tion sermon, and Rev. William Johnson his substitute.
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Rev. Richard Johnson was appointed to preach the next Mis¬
sionary Sermon, and Rev. W. C. Williams his substitute.
Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention be hereby ten¬
dered to William P. Hunter, Esq., late Treasurer of the Diocese1,
for his long and faithful labors in the duties of that office.
After Prayers by the Bishop, Convention adjourned to Monday
morning at half-past 7 o'clock.
On Sunday, Morning Prayer was read by the Rev. Dr. Neufville \
two persons were confirmed by the Bishop, and a Sermon was
preached by the Rev. Dr. Ford,
In the afternoon, the Ante-Communion Office was read by Rev.
Thomas F. Scott, a Sermon was preached by Rev. W. C. Williams,
and the Holy Communion was administered by the Bishop, assist¬
ed by the Rev. Mr. Scott.
The collection at the Offertory, amounting to <$23 80, was ap¬
propriated to the education of candidates for Holy Orders.
At night, Evening Prayer was read by the Rev. Dr. Neufville ;
the Missionary Sermon was preached by Rev. J. A. Shanklin, and
a collection made in aid of Diocesan Missions, amounting to
$51 32.
Monday Morning:, 8th May, 1848.
Convention was called to order, and Prayers were offered by the
Bishop.
The minutes of Saturday's proceedings were read and confirmed.
A certificate of the election of Lay Delegates was presented from
Trinity Church, Columbus, and referred to the Committee on Elec¬
tions, who reported that the following persons had been duly ap¬
pointed : Dr. Edward T. Taylor, Whitby Foster and Maj. Thomas
M. Nelson.
A Parochial report was also presented from Christ Church, St,
Simon's Island, which was ordered to be printed with the Parochial
reports.
After an Address and Prayers by the Bishop, Convention ad¬
journed sine die.
STEPHEN ELLIOTT, Jr.,
Bishop of the Diocese of Georgia«
Thomas F. Scott, Secretary.
13
APPENDIX B.
CHRIST CHURCH, SAVANNAH.
Rev. Edward JVeufville, D. D., Rector.
Baptisms—white infants 22, white adults 2, coloured infants 11— 35
Confirmed, 7
Marriages, - - - - - 3
Burials, - - - - - - 19
Communicants—added 7, died 5, removed 9— - - 153
Sunday School—Teachers - - - 12
" Pupils - 90
CONTRIBUTIONS.
To Diocesan Missions, - - - $504 19
" Domestic " - - - - 164 95
" Foreign 186 60
Church at Atlanta, .... 131 00
Education of candidates for Orders, - - - .100 00
Church at Talbotton, ....
The children of the Sunday School have contributed (included above in
the aggregate return) $31 to the Chinese, $22 to the African and $7 to Dio¬
cesan Missions, besides $5 to the Chapel at Montpelier.
Of the amount contributed to Diocesan Missions, $141 was by the La¬
dies' Missionary Association.
'' The Bible, Prayer Book and Tract Society" has distributed 112 Prayer
Books, 26 Bibles and a number of Tracts.
The Sunday School for coloured children is still kept up, and the pupils
have contributed $20 for the education of a child in Africa.
Of the number of those who have gone to their rest and their reward with¬
in thepast year, the name of Miss Elizabeth Wilkins is worthy of especial
notice, as well for " the alms-deeds which she did" while yet alive, as for
the memorial she has left of her affection " for the house of God and the
offices thereof," as manifested by a bequest of fifteen shares of Planters'
Bank Stock to die Ladies' Missionary Association of Christ Church, and
five shares of State Bank Stock to the fund for the education of candidates
for Orders, besides a residuary legacy of several hundred dollars to the
funds of Christ Church, whereof she was for many years a communicant.
This is the third member of the same family who, in the final distribution
of wordly goods, has remembered Zion with substantial tokens of interest
in her enlargement and prosperity.
14
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, AUGUSTA.
Rev. Edward E. Ford, D. D.7 Rector.
Baptisms—adults 3, children 12—total - - 15
Confirmed, - 19
Communicants—added (including' 9 transferred from other
Church congregations) 19, removed 11, died 1—present
number ------ 115
Marriages, - - - - - 4
Burials, ^ - - - .- - - 8
MISSIONARY COLLECTIONS.
For General Board of Missions—Domestic, - $34 00
Foreign, - 64 00
Diocesan, 90 27
Total, ----- 188 27
Communion alms, - - * - - 236 00
The sum of $101 was contributed through a collection, in the Church, to
aid in the erection of a place of worship in Atlanta.
The white Sunday School contains about 90 children, under the Rector as
superintendent, three male and five female teachers. The coloured school
about 45 children, under the Rector, three male and three female teachers.
During the past year the interior of the Church, including the walls and
ceiling, as well as the wood work, has been painted, part of the expense of
which, viz: to the amount of $237, has been raised by the Ladies' Working
Association. Important repairs have also been put .upon the Church, and
(he Parsonage lias been greatly improved, and painted within and without.
In addition to this important contribution to the comfort of the Rector and
his family, he has to acknowledge a donation from the ladies of the Congre¬
gation, not less delicately bestowed than generously conceived, of a lot of
neat and useful house furniture.
The Rector takes pleasure in stating that the Lenten Services were better
attended, and seemingly with more solemn interest, than in any previous
year during his connexion with the Parish. They consisted of the regular
Morning and Evening Prayer on Wednesdays and Fridays, until Passion
Week, when the services were daily, morning and evening, with the addi¬
tion of appropriate readings.
The children of the Parish are catechised monthly, in Church, by the
Rector.
CHRIST CHURCH, MACON.
Rev. J. A. Slianklin, Rector.
Baptisms—adult 1, infants 15—total - - - 16
Confirmed, ----- 4
Communicants—added 8, removed 3, died 4—present number, 81
Marriages, - - - - - - 4
Funerals. f6 not of the Congregation,) - - 14
Sunday School—1 superintendent,4 male and 4 female teachers; regis¬
tered scholars 50, average attendance about 40.
15
CONTRIBUTIONS.
To Diocesan Missions, - - - - $175 Off
" Domestic " - - - - - 50 00
" Foreign " 50 00
" Jewish . " - - - - - 14 25
"• other purposes, - 115 05
By the Ladies'Association, - - - - 275 00
Total, - - - - . $079 30
The condition of this Parish is on the whole encouraging. The atten^
dance on the services of the Sanctuary has been good, and while we lament
the want of deep and extendedueligious interest among the impenitont, yet
the attention on the part of the people leads us to hope that better things are
in store for us.
TRINITY CHURCH, COLUMBUS.
Rev. Wm. D. Cairns, Rector.
Baptisms—-adults 2, infants 17—total - - - 19
Confirmed, - 12
Communicants—added 12, removed 3, died 3— - - 146
Marriages, - 8
Burials—adults 3, infants 4— 7
COLLECTIONS.
At "Offertory," ----- $267 72>£,
For Diocesan Missions—Ladies' Society, - - - 60 00
" Domestic Missions—general, - - - 70 00
" Foreign Missions " - - - - 70 00
" China—S. School „ 8 50'
Total, - - - - - 476 22^
The Right Rev. the Bishop having recently visited this Parish, the Rec¬
tor respectfully refers flie Convention to his report of its condition, in pre¬
ference to making any representations of his own.
Columbus, May 2, 1848.
CHRIST CLIUCH, ST. SIMON'S.
Rev. E. P. Brown, Rector.
Within the four years of my connection with the Parish of St. Simon's,
one half the families of the Island have moved: away. The result is, that
those who remain are unable longer, without aid, to support the continued
services of a minister. Whether such aid shall be given, it is not for the
Rector to say; certain, however, it is, that a most interesting work—a work
strictly missionary, if not on the part of the white population, at least on
the part of the black—remains yet to be accomplished—for the sake of. which
work, if the Providence of God be so, it will still give me pleasure to re-
main upon the Island.
Confirmations—white 4, negroes 12— - - - 16
Baptisms—adult, coloured I; infants, white 1, coloured8— 10
Marriages, - - - 1
Burials, ------ 1
Communicants—19 white, 33 coloured— - - 52
Missionary contributions, - - - - $25 00
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ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, SAVANNAH.
Rev. Rufus M. White, Rector.
Baptisms—adults 2, children 11, - - - - 13
Confirmed, - 8
Communicants—died 2, removed 4, added 23, - - 100fl
Burials, ------ 9
CONTRIBUTIONS.
To Diocesan Missions - - - $234 20
General Domestic Missions - 189 20
Foreign Missions - - - - 82 50
Christmas and Easter collection for education of candidates
for Orders, - - - - • 95 00
To Zion Church, Taibotton, - - - 100 00
To Church at New Albany, Indiana, - 25 00
Other contributions to Foreign Missions have been made, as heretofore,
through the medium of " Societies,"and the Ladies' Association still main¬
tains its usefulness to the Church.
To Rev. Richard Johnson we are greatly indebted for important services
performed in the Parish, in the absence of the Rector, during the last summer.
The Parish School and Orphan Asylum minister, as in former years,
blessings to many poor children. In the former, several ladies belonging to*
Christ Church render constant and valuable assistance as teachers; and to¬
ward the support of the latter, we receive from that congregation nearly two
hundred dollars, partly in individual subscriptions from several of its mem¬
bers, and partly, in an annual allowance by its Rector, from the communion
offerings. E ver may the two congregations evince, by such co-operation in
Christian works and Christian charities, their unity of spirit, as well as of
organization, in Christ's Holy Catholic Church.
GRACE CHURCH, CLARKESVILLE.
Rev. B. F. Mower, Rector.
Communicants, - - - - - 13
Baptism, ----- l
Sunday School—scholars, - - - - 24
" " teachers, - - - - 4
Weekly offerings for Diocesan Missions, - $21 80
Quarterly collections for Diocesan Missions, - - 23 35
Communion Offerings, - - - - - 43 88
$89 03
Though absent from this Parish four months during the winter, the Sun¬
day School was continued. It was continued by those who, up to the time
of my leaving, had been senior pupils, and who now fill in the Sunday
School the office of teachers. The labor of these young persons during my
absence, in keeping together the school, was altogether unlooked for by me.
I had left, supposing that the school would be closed until my return. It
was, therefore, a subject of joy and gratitude that God put it into their hearts
to engage in this good work, thus keeping together those who would other¬
wise, in 6.11 probability, have been lost to the teaching of our Church, through
the instrumentality of her Sunday School.
In reviewing this portion of my work since my entrance upon the duties
of this Parish, I would take this opportunity to state, that the result has
been highly gratifying. At first, there were no pupils to be obtained ; now
several families send constantly- The attention and interest of the children
are perceptibly increasing.
The Church, in this place, is much restricted in her operations, by her
small number of pews. Most of these are rented to those who remain with
us only during the summer ; so that, whert they are here, other people are
excluded. The renting of pews would be no hindrance to the growth of
this Church if there were a sufficient number of pews always free ; but as
this is not the case, as there were but five pews free last year, and these in
widely separated parts of the Church, persons who would otherwise htfve
attended upon our services, preferred to go where thqy were welcome to any
seat they chose. The only remedy of this evil, is the enlargement of the
building, so as to meet the wants of this growing summer Church.
ST. STEPHEN'S CHURCH, MILLEDGEVILLE.
Rev. Wm. Johnson, Rector.
The actual state of this Parish is shown by the following statistics:
Baptisms—white adult 1, white infants 5, coloured infants 5—total ll
Communicants, (3 added) - - - 17
Burials, infants, (one not being of this Parish) - - 2
Amount of alms taken at communion, - $25 32
The communion is administered on the first Sunday of every month.
Service is performed on Sundays twice, and once on each of the principal
holy days ; also once a week during Lent, and every day in Passion Week.
At the Bishop's visitation, no persons were ready for confirmation.
Since that, two have joined the communion, and are waiting for the Bisho p
to visit us again.
During the first year of my ministrations in this Parish, there seemed to
be little or no change, and there was no promise of better things. But a
firm reliance on the power which the Church has, by virtue of its divine
origin, kept us from despair. The Rector now has it in his power to say
that the congregation, though still small, is in perfect harmony, and that
the fruit of this desirable state begins tq be seen. He acknowledges uni¬
form kindness and affection, and extra attention, from his little flock ; and
he hopes he will be excused for stating here, that, since he came into the
charge of the Parish, no difficulty has ever attended his receiving his sala¬
ry quarterly ; and this is the more gratifying inasmuch as it is made up by
a very small number.
ST. JAMES' CHURCH, MARIETTA
Rev. Thos. F. Scott, Rector,
Communicants—added 10, removed 1—present number
Confirmations, -
Baptisms—infants -
Mar riages,
Funerals, - - " " ~
For Diocesan Missions, - - -
Communion Offerings,
For Jewish Mission, - - •
Bishop's Fund, -
Convention Fund, *
Parochial purposes, -
3
26
2
■ - 6
2
,5
$9 81
- 38 21
5 00
, - 100 00
10 00
- 198 87
$361 89
18
The Sunday School continues without any material alteration. The
children are publicly examined once a month.
The congregation and number of communicants are still gradually in¬
creasing.
The Female Seminary is prosperous. Our number is full; and we are
gradually enlargingour means of prosecuting more thoroughly the work so
generously confided to our hands.
There is but little of marked religious interest in the congregation, while
it is probably true that as our town increases in prosperity, there is an in¬
creased appearance of irreligion.
A regular service is conducted twice in the month some six miles in the
country, with promising appearances of success. We hope to erect a con¬
venient Chapel at this point in the course of the year.
Respectfully submitted.
EMMANUEL CHURCH, ATHENS.
Rev. Wm. Bacon Stevens, M. _D., Rector.
Baptisms—infants, whites 3, coloured 1 - - 4
Marriages, (by Rev. Mr. Scott,) - 1
Confirmed, - - - - - ? ' 3
Burials, (one not of the congregation,) - 2
Communicants—removed and died 8, added 6— - ,23
Collections for'Church purposes, of which over $300 were to pay
debton Organ, - $470 19
Of the communicants reported above, three are "candidates for Orders"
in this Diocese; one of whom is at the Theological Seminary of Virginia,
and the others are pursuing their studies with the Rector.
The connection of the present Rector with this Parish will cease on the
last Sunday in July, as he has- accepted the repeated, earnest and unani¬
mous invitation to the Rectorship of St. Andrew's Church, Philadelphia.
Painful will be the hour which severs him from his first Parish, and from
a flock which, under the guidance of the great Shepherd, he has gathered
into the fold of the Church; but the voice of God, speaking through His
providences, does, in his interpretation of them, call him away to more ar¬
duous toil in a distant, yet important portion of the vineyard of the Lord.
Nor can he part with this Diocese but with feelings of deep regret. In it
he was first admitted to the communion of the Protestant Episcopal Church.
Here he received the Scriptural rite of confirmation—here, under his be¬
loved Diocesan, he studied for the Ministry, and in the Mother Church of
this Diocese he received from his hands those commissions which constitu¬
ted him a Deacon and Presbyter of our Holy Apostolic Church. To sepa¬
rate himself from such ties and sympathies, cannot be done without a sor¬
row of heart beyond the power of language to express. His earnest prayer
is, that God may give to his beloved Parish a Minister after his own heart,
who shall break unto them the bread of life, and that He may pour out upon
this Diocese and upon its beloved chief Shepherd such a blessing as that
this State shall indeed become Emmanuel's land, a mountain of holiness,
19
ST. LUKE'S CHURCH, MONTPELIEK.
Right Rev. Stephen Elliott^ Jr., Rector.
Rev. S. G. Bragg, Assistant Rector.
Baptisms—white adults 4, white infants 4— - - 8
Burials, a negro, ----- i
Confirmations—Pupils of the School 8, Teacher 1— - 9
Sunday School—Teachers - - - - 2
Papils - - - 84
Communicajits, ----- 25
CONTRIBUTIONS.
China Miss'ion, - - - - - $75
African Mission, ----- 65
Bishop Chase, - - - - - 25
Church at Atlanta, - 50
Diocesan Missions, - - - - - 27
$242
CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH, ST. MARY'S.
Rev. W. D. Harlow, Missionary.
Communicants, - - - - - 19
" added by removals, - 2
" " baptism, - - - 1
from other communions, - - 1
" lost by removal, - 1
" present number, - • - - 22
Baptisms—adult 1, infant 1— .- - - - 2
Burials—2 not of the congregation, - ' - 3
White Sunday School—Teachers - - - 4
Scholars, ... 12
Coloured Sunday School—Teachers, - - 12
Scholars, - - - 60
CONTRIBUTIONS.
To purchase an Organ, - - - - $200
" carpeting, cushioning, &c. of Church, - - 60
$260
We have no confirmations to report, as the Bishop has not made us his
annual visit. There are several candidates in waiting. We shall have
our Organ in a week or two, and then we shall be complete as to all the fix¬
tures of our little Church, and ready to have it consecrated to the entire wor¬
ship of Almighty God. Our coloured Sunday School is in a very flourish¬
ing condition; and besides having preached regularly twice on every Sab¬
bath since I have been in charge, although in feeble health, I have superin¬
tended the exercises of this school. I have also preached at one burial, ana
held the regular Good Friday services. On account of having delayed the
communion for the expected visit of the Bishop, it has been adminis¬
tered but once, We have also established a weekly Bible class, -"h-'-sa
20
promises to be very beneficial to our little Church. An interest lias been
excited with the younger part of the congregation in. Scripture knowledge,
which they never before possessed. In addition to our services for the
whites, we have held several for the blacks, and have experimentally falsi¬
fied the assertion of an eminent Minister at the North, that our sublime
Liturgy is not suitable for the uneducated and country people. But this I
had several times before done in the West, where our services had never be¬
fore been performed. More than once, on such occasions^, have I had the
people come around me after the conclusion of the services, and take me by
the hand, with a hearty shake, saying : " Well, I do like your prayers so
much." Respectfully submitted.
St. Mary's. (Ga ) April 28, 1848.
ASCENSION, CASS COUNTY, AND ST. PETER'S, ROME,
Rev. Thompson L. Smith, Missionary.
The present Missionary took charge of the stations in Cass and Floyd
in January last.
The number of the communicants at Ascension Church is yet small. A
Sunday School has recently been commenced. Services are held there two
Sundays in every month. In the afternoon of each Sabbath, services are
held for a large and attentive coloured congregation.
At Rome, the Missionary found that services had been suspended for
some time, but he is happy to report that the location and materials for build¬
ing up a Church are now more promising than at any former period. But
there is great need of a Church building in which to worship God after the
form which we love. Our little fiock here has been bandied about from place
to place till we have at last taken refuge in the Court House; but our con¬
stant prayer is that God would incline the hearts of our stronger Churches
to lend us a helping hand towards putting up at least a small Chapel. Our
pretensions are humble, we only wish to taisesix hundred dollars. With
this, we might at least shelter ourselves from the inclemency of winter and
the heat of summer, and be content to worship God under our own vine and
fig-tree, with none to ipolest or make us afraid.'
OGEECHEE MISSION.
Rev. W. C. Williams, Missionary.
Baptisms—infants, coloured 3; adult, white 1— - - 4
Communicants—died 1, withdrawn 1, suspended 1, added 2— 9
Funerals—1 white, 12 coloured— - - 13
Pupils connected with the Mission schools, about - » 120
Contributions for Africa, - - - $10
The bounds of the Mission have been enlarged since the last annual re¬
port, by the addition of another plantation. The Missionary regrets to
say that the indifference to the concerns of eternity mentioned in his lastj
still continues ; but bethinks there are many circumstances to encourage
him to believe that the work of the Lord will yet prosper among these be*
21
nighted people. Time is necessary to enlighten ignorance, to overcome pre¬
judice and to remove superstition, but in due season the Church will reap
if she faints not. Unless this time is given, and the Church is prepared to
wait in faith, she had better not enter on the work ; but if she is, and will
sustain the Mission with her prayers, the day will come when many who
are now sunk in ignorance and sin, will be turned " from darkness to light,
from the power of Satan unto God." The schools appear to be in a pros¬
perous condition.
ATLANTA AND JONESBORO'.
Rev. John J. Hunt, Missionary.
My services for the past year have been bestowed at these points, with
an occasional service for brethren in other Parishes. e
The same obstacle to success, as well as the convenient performance of
our services, exists yet as last reported, which is the want of a suitable
house. The Church contracted for was to have been completed by Christ¬
mas, but from the neglect of the contractor, is yet unfinished, though we
hope in a few weeks to be ready for consecration. It was desired- and ex¬
pected that it should have been ready by the meeting of the Convention.
One of our warmest supporters has removed, and we anticipate the re¬
moval of one of our Wardens. Their places, we trust, will be in some
degree supplied by others who may come in. There have been two infant
baptisms. The number of communicants, as last reported, five.
REPORT OF 41EV. RICHARD JOHNSON,
Rector of Zion Churchy Talbotton,
And officiating as a Missionary there.
Immediately after my return from the last Convention, I discontinued my
visits to Griliin, and confined my attention to Talbotton. In June last,
an Episcopal Church was organized there, and"due-notice given to the
Bishop. On the 14th of June, I repaired .to Savannah to take charge of
Christ Church, during the absence of the Rector. In December, I returned
to my station, with funds and a subscription list worth together about
$1800, for the purpose of erecting an Episcopal Church in Talbotton; with
which work, I have just been able to make a beginning. I trust to report it
■'erelong completed. I preach every Sunday to a congregation averaging
about 200 persons. The Sunday School numbers about 25 pupils and 4
teachers. A library of 100 volumes has been recently presented to the
school. The Rector takes this opportunity of acknowledging his indebted¬
ness to the industry of a small party of ladies in Savannah, together with
one lady in Talbotton, and the Rector of Christ Church, Savannah, for all
the contributions which have been made to the Sunday School. The Church
in Talbotton is indebted chiefly to the Episcopalians in Beaufort, (So. Ca.)
and its neighborhood, and in Savannah, for the subscription which pro
vides it with a house of worship. Of this sum, about $800 is subscribed
by the congregation in the town of Beaufort, about $400 on St, Helena, on
Hilton Head and at Bluffton, and the balance chiefly in Savannah.
22
U. S. NAVAL ASYLUM, \
Philadelphia, April 24th, 1848.
Right Rev. and very Dear Sir :
Since my report of last year, my duties have been unvaried and constant.
I have baptised three, and buried eight. The number of the inmates is
about the same as at the time of your visit in October last. Of these,
seventy p.re upright, respectable men—many of them consistent Chris¬
tians- The great want of the institution is employment; they have nothing
to do, and as they are advanced in life, it is not easy to engage them in any
enterprise, but of their own choosing. If labour were made compulsory, it
would be felt to be a hardship by men whose work has been finished for life.
The only interruption in my services was from an attack of illness in the
spring, in consequence of which the third service on Sunday has not been
resumed. We have a Sunday School in the afternoon for the children of
the household. I wish I could report to you a large number of penitents
converted to God ; but I continue to hope and pray for this result. Though
the promises of the Gospel are principally to the young, 1 trust that He who
" measures life by love," will yet accept the dregs of their existence from
these aged servants of their country.
* Baptisms—adult 1, children 2— - - 3
Burials, - - - - - 8.
Most truly and respectfully,
With esteem and affection, yours,
THEO. B. BARTOW.
Right Rev. Bishop Elliott.
* The wife and children of Lieut. Stellwagen.
APALA.CHICOLA, May 5, 1848.
Right Rev. and Dear Sir:
During the year ending on the first of March, I have celebrated Divine
service 87 times. Once being»unexpectedty called upon at a fourth of July
Qglebration, held on the third, having no Prayer Book, I used extempore
service, and preached. On all other occasions, I have used the service in
its integrity when preaching to the whites. With the blacks, I have thought
myself at liberty to exercise what I thought a sound discretion in regard
to the portions I should use. I have preached to the whites 85 times, to the
blacks 53 times-
Baptised—3 whites, 12 coloured, infants— - - 15
Celebrated matrimony, coloured, - 3
Administered communion—white 1, coloured 7— - 8
(Signed) W. J. ELLIS.
APPENDIX A.
Brethren of the Clergy and Laity :
Again am I permitted at this annual meeting of our Ecclesiasti¬
cal body to rejoice with you at the continued and increasing pros¬
perity of our Diocese. If, at some points, our Churches have
suffered from the depressing effects of emigration, and an absorp¬
tion of property into a few hands, at other and more points
have they been steadily enlarging their number of Communicants,
and planting themselves upon a firmer and more permanent basis.
With one or two exceptions, our Parishes are entirely freed from
Church debt, and our Diocesan Missionary Treasury is in better
condition than it has been for years. Every thing promises a sea¬
son of decided enlargement in our operations, and of increase both
of Parishes and Clergymen. May the counsels in which we are
about to engage be so overruled by the guidance of the Holy Ghost
as that these prospects may be more than realized, and we be ena¬
bled to say at its close, that God has been with us of a truth.
Much of this prosperity is owing, under God, to the adhesion
of our Clergy to their places of labour. Instead of perpetually
shifting their Parishes, they have been, for the times in which we
live, uncommonly permanent. During the past year, no Clergy¬
man has transferred his Canonical residence from the Diocese, and
but very few changes have taken place within it. Our larger
Churches are, with one exception, occupied by the same Rectors
who filled their pulpits at my election, and I trust the bond may
continue until Death shall call away the incumbents to the rest of
their Lord. Permanence in his field of labor is much more an
element of ministerial success than is commonly supposed, and it
should be a very important and providential developement of cir¬
cumstances that would induce a Minister of the Gospel to forego
its advantages. Let me dwell, for a little while, upon this topic,
as it needs very earnest consideration and a much deeper incorpo¬
ration into the spirit of our minds than it has obtained.
The distinctive feature of our Church, in its external organiza
lion, is its Episcopacy, and our American branch of the Church of
Christ has thought the permanence of the relation between the
Bishop and his Diocese to be of such paramount importance, as to
determine, by legislative enactments, that there shall be no trans¬
ference of a Bishop from one Diocese to another, and has sur¬
rounded his resignation with checks of the most stringent kind.
The second order of the Ministry has been left more free to act,
according to its inclination and sense of duty, but still the spirit of
the Church, as manifested in its view of the relation of Bishop and
Diocese, must more or less shadow forth her view of the relation
of Pastor and people. Although for very wise and sufficient rea¬
sons she has not undertaken to regulate by law the separation of a
Minister from his people, except under very peculiar circumstances,
yet has her legislation in regard to the Episcopal office, exhibited
her sense of the sacredness of the ties which unite the Pastor and
his flock. Her voice has been uttered, at least indirectly, against
any frequent or rash severance of the Ministerial relation, and her
whole spirit forbids the supposition that her sanction is given to
the frequency of change which is beginning to render the Pastoral
tie a matter merely of convenience or of interest. By hot forbid¬
ding the change of the relation, she has declared, that there are
circumstances which make it not only expedient, but proper, while
at the same time, by making the Episcopal tie almost irrevocable,
she has pronounced against a too ready dissolution of the relation¬
ship which binds her lower Ministry to the Flock over which the
Holy Ghost has made them overseers.
In this, her solemn judgment, the Church is acting in strict ac¬
cordance both with Scripture and the highest reason. Scripture
teaches us that it is the Holy Ghost who guides the Church in her
Ministerial arrangements, moving the.smitten creature to take upon
himself the sacred office, and then leading him into his field of
holy labor. The Minister theoretically places himself under the
guidance of the Holy Ghost, and moves neither forward nor back¬
ward, neither to the right hand nor the left, save us he may discern
the pillar of cloud and of fire, lifting and settling itself. Wherever
the Holy Spirit places him by those marks and tokens which he
has given us for judgment, there should he abide until the same
Divine presence as palpably directs him elsewhere. This is the
theory, but how little is it regarded in practice; and every day are
we called upon to witness in the Church the most liasty abandon¬
ment of a Flock upon grounds altogether insufficient. The merest
matter ot convenience is enough to determine a point of eternal
importance, and souls are weighed in the balances with earthly
25
Considerations that should never be permitted to conflict with theif
interests. No wonder that with such a contradiction of the whole
theory of Scripture and of the ordination offices of the Church,
there should be a lack of blessing upon their ministrations, and
that our Zion should be called to mourn, in her length and breadth,
the unsteady growth of her principles and the slow devclopement
of those fruits of the Spirit, which stand very much connected
with a permanent Pastoral relationship.
The highest reason, too, is in harmony.with this Scriptural view
of the Pastoral office. Our Lord knew what was in man, knew
how much he was a creature of affection and of sympathy, and in
the arrangement of the Church linked the Ministerial office as
closely as possible with the hearts of his creatures. While our
Holy Religion, from its incipiency to its consummation, is a reli¬
gion of love, no where is that love more manifest than in the in-
, timate connexion which has been established between the Pastor
and his people. The offices of Christianity stand connected with
all the tenderest associations of human life, and their administra¬
tion brings the Pastor into contact with his people at all those
moments of joy and of sorrow which become the treasures of the
heart. From the cradle to the grave, there is nothing in the family
circle of most solemn and interesting which is not associated with
the Minister of the Parish, and as he advances in age, he becomes
the depository of feelings and of affections which never can be
given to another.. There gradually cluster around him an interest
and a love which are the growth of years, and which swell his
influence far beyond any mere improvement of his powers or his
experience. His people no longer sit in judgment upon an aged
Pastor, as he goes in and out among them, bearing them before the
Mercy Seat, but they look upon him as children upon a parent,
and listen to his counsels with hearts warmed towards him by the
holiest affection. They no longer consider whether he is the elo¬
quent orator or the accomplished scholar—he has been their friend^
iheir guide, their counsellor in times when their hearts were buoy¬
ant with joy or smitten with grief, and they feel resting upon litem
all those associations which disarm criticism and make his very
presence pleasurable. Those who are now the chief actors upon
the scene in which he has labored, were children whom he receiv¬
ed from their mothers'' arms, and introduced into the congrega¬
tion of Christ's Flock—whose religious education he has directed
in the Sunday School—whose plans of life he has counselled
and assisted—whose weaknesses and infirmities he has borne
and covered. Complete confidence has been bestowed upon
him—such confidence as nothing but time and experience can
4
gain—and his plans and even wishes are iea*dily adopted and cheer¬
fully carried out. Such influence as this no man should lightly
give up—-he can gain it no where e]se, for it takes almost a life¬
time to gain ; and he severs, in a whole generation, feelings and
associations which they can never create again in an equal degree.
The increase in influence is not merely in proportion to the dura¬
tion of a Minister's connexion with a Parish, but after a certain
confidence has been gained, it increases with a rapidity that can
scarcely be estimated by the Minister himself.
During the last Convention, I admitted in Christ Church, Sa¬
vannah, to the Holy Order of Priesthood, the Rev. Thompson L.
Smith. This was my only official act duri'ng the session of the
Convention, and is recorded here because it occurred subsequently
to the delivery of my annual address. Mr. Smith is acting as Mis¬
sionary to the congregations in Cass and Floyd counties.
On the 15th May, I commenced my annual visitation of St.
Paul's Church, Augusta. 1 found every thing in a very prosperous
condition, and confirmed twelve persons, thus adding to the Church
many interesting members.
On the 11th June, my usual services were begun in Trinity
Church, Columbus. I officiated several days far this Parish, and
confirmed six persons. At a subsequent visitation in the first week
of April of the present year, I confirmed six more. This Church
continues to flourish under the ministrations of the Rev. Mr. Cairns,
and' it has become necessary to build additional pews for the ac¬
commodation of the increasing congregation. Upon both occa¬
sions of my presence with this people, I had occasion to witness
the justice of the remarks made in the opening of my address, in
the rapidly increasing confidence which the steady ministrations of
its Pastor is gaining for him, not only in, but out of the borders of
the Church.
Early in June, I visited St. James' Church, Marietta^ attended
the examination of the Female Seminary in connexion with that
Church, and confirmed two persons. 1 was very much gratified
with the proficiency of the pupils in their various studies, and felt
that any recommendation I had publicly given of this Seminary was
amply redeemed by what I witnessed upon that interesting occasion.
1 did not, at this time, proceed any further West in my visitation,
as the stations in Cass and Floyd were without a Missionary. Nor
have I yet thought it expedient to visit them, as Mr. Smith has too
recently taken charge of them to be in readiness for any Episcopal
services. I shall take an early opportunity of giving them a
thorough visitation.
Early in August, I visited Emmanuel Church, Athens, and con-
27
firmed three persons, two of whom were students in the Universi¬
ty of Georgia. One of these has since become a candidate for the
Ministry in this Diocese, and is pursuing his studies in the Theo¬
logical Seminary <of Virginia, while another has been deterred from
a like dedication of himself to the service of the Church only by
circumstances altogether beyond his control. We trust that in due
time his way may be clearly opened for the fulfilment of his heart's
desire.
It is with the deepest regret that I learn by a communication
from Dr. Stevens, that his connexion with Emmanuel Church and
the University will soon cease. In this rupture of his Pastoral and
Professional connexion, our beloved brother, after long and prayer¬
ful consideration, has believed himself to see the guiding hand of
the Holy Ghost, and however much we may lament his loss, we
cannot but feel that it may well be so, when we remember how
long and pertinaciously he has been called to take charge of the
interesting congregation which was gathered and watched over by
that faithful Minister of the Gospel, whose praise is in all the
Churches—the Rev. Dr. Bedell. Not only will our brother be a
sad loss to his own little Flock, but our University and the State
will feel that one'of their most useful sons and brightest ornaments
has been taken from them. Let our prayer for him be that the
Spirit of his Master may rest upon him in double measure, and that
he may find grace and strength sufficient for the very responsible
charge which has been laid upon him. ' May he always remember
that without Christ he can do nothing—that with him he can do
♦
all things.
From Athens, I proceeded to Grace Church, Clarkesville, and
spent several days in visiting the families of this increasing con¬
gregation. I found no candidates for confirmation at Clarkesville,
but this is owing, in some measure, to the nature of the Flock, of
which Mr. Mower has the oversight. Being almost entirely a
summer congregation, and made up of families removing into the
Parish from other Churches of the Diocese, the official acts con¬
nected with these families are performed at other points anterior to
their connexion with Grace Church. The increasing number of
families which is settling in this neighborhood already admonishes
the Parish of the want of new sittings, and it cannot be long be¬
fore something will have to be done for the accommodation of the
swelling tide of population which is setting towards that beautiful
and healthful region of country. This is another instance of the
complete success of perseverance in the maintenance of the Church
through almost unexampled difficulties. It was not until two Mis¬
sionaries had abandoned the Parish almost in despair, that any evi-
28
tlence was given of its probable prosperity, and now one Church
can scarcely contain the accumulated worshippers.
Late in September, [ left the Diocese for attendance upon the
General Convention which assembled in New York in October
last. The session was an unusually protracted one, and although
there was not much positive legislation, yet many principles were
adjusted which will be of future importance to the Church. You
will bear with me while I touch upon one or two of these, and
tthew you their bearing upon the harmony and interests of the
Church.
A very serious defect was found to exist in the judicial functions
of the House of Bishops, which, while it had power to try and
sentence one of its members for any violation of either the Moral
or Canon Law, seemed not to possess the right, at least by posi¬
tive enactment, to reconsider, or modify or reverse that, sentence.
Having assembled as a Court, and performed its functions and ad¬
journed, it was supposed impossible for the same bodv to reassem¬
ble for reconsideration or reversal. To prevent any discord upon
a subject as delicate as this, the Convention passed a Canon (the
second, of 1847) by which the Bishops of the Church are entitled,
under certain conditions, for which 1 refer you to the Canon, to
remit and terminate or else modify any judicial sentence that may
have been imposed by Bishops acting collectively as a Court. This
settles a "Very vexed question, which might, at some future time,
have given the Church infinite trouble anil vexation.
Another principle was likewise, settled, which gave rise to long
and exceedingly able debates in the House of Clerical and Lay
Deputies—debates conducted, very much to the credit of that
House, with infinite good temper and Christian courtesy—establish¬
ing the relation between indefinite suspension and jurisdiction. It
was decided, and justly, in my opinion, that the jurisdiction of a
Bishop was not voided by a sentence of indefinite suspension, and
while a Canon was passed requiring in all future sentences, where
the penalty of suspension was inflicted, that it should specify terms
and limits to the sentence, provision was made for the particular
case which brought up the discussion of these principles. It was
enacted that the Convention'or Standing Committee of a Diocese
having a Bishop laboring under a disability to perform Episcopal
offices, might invite any Bishop, Assistant Bishop or Missionary
Bishop to perform Episcopal offices in that Diocese. By the same
Canon, the Convention of such Diocese may place it under the
full Episcopal charge and authority of the Bishop of another Dio¬
cese, ot of a Missionary Bishop, until such time as the disability
be removed.
29
The General Convention also manifested, by its modification of
the sixth Canon of 1844 and the ninth of 1841, a disposition to
render the Ministry of the Church more accessible to men of
strength of natural understanding and aptitude to teach, who may
not have been able to obtain, front untoward circumstances in early
life, all the learning of the schools. I confess that I am glad to
see the Church legislating in this direction, for while I value
scholarship and education in the Ministry most highly—while all
my natural tastes and early predilections are that way—I feel that
there is something wanting in the Church which a Ministry of this
sort may supply. The Church'should never hamper herself with
laws which may disable her from using all the talent and earnest¬
ness which may lie in.her way, but should stand prepared, acting
under the general tone and spirit of her institutions, to embrace
and work up, for her edification and the glory of her Lord, every
thing-of zeal and devotion that may develope itself among her
sons, however humble their position in life or untoward the cir¬
cumstances of their boyhood. Many a burning spirit has been
lost to our Ministry by the iarge requisitions which our Canons
made of learning and of age. The relaxation to which 1 allude
in the two Canons," has reference to the age of the parlies claiming
the privileges of those Canons.
The debates in the Missionary Society were also protracted and
interesting, and as 1 took an active part in them, 1 feel desirous to
place before you the views which I advocated, and the reasons of
those views. As difficulty had long existed both in the Foreign
Committee and in the Board of Missions, with respect to the man¬
agement of the Constantinopolitan Mission, an effort was made, in
which J heartily concurred, to modify the organization of the Com¬
mittees of the Board of Missions in such wise as to permit addi¬
tional Committees to be raised, having a Bishop at their head, for
the conduct of such Missions as were under the superintendence of
a Foreign Missionary Bishop. This would have brought our For¬
eign Missionary Bishops, in their correspondence and operations,
in immediate connexion with their Peers, and if the Committees
had been organized in good faith, would have given those Bishops
a co-operation in which there would have been no sacrifice of con¬
science on either side, while harmony would have produced in¬
creased efficiency, i did not perceive any difficulty in the adjust¬
ment of the details of this arrangement, for it would have been
only necessary to carry out the principles upon which the Mission¬
ary contributions are now permitted to be made, to secure to each
Mission its proper share of the funds of the Church. As at pres¬
ent organized, every Parish and every individual has the privilege
30
of designating the particular Mission to which its funds shall be
appropriated, and by adhering to this principle, and dividing the
unappropriated monies in equal proportion among the several Mis¬
sions, no collision could take place, and the same Treasurers could
manage all the fiscal concerns of the Society. 1 fear that unless some
such plan is adopted, there will be increasing difficulty in our Mis¬
sionary operations, which may lead to unhappy results. There is
but one way of acting harmoniously, where radical difference of
opinion exists, and that is by so regulating our organizations as to
allow the fullest scope for individual conscientiousness that is com¬
patible with their practical working.
Upon my return to Montpelier in November, I had again the
pleasure of finding an interesting state of religious feeling among
the pupils of the School, which terminated in the confirmation of
eight of the pupils and one of the teachers. OurSchoolhas con¬
tinued, through the Ecclesiastical year, to be always as full of
pupils as we could desire, and with the increase of numbers which
our enlarged accommodation has enabled us to make, there has
been a corresponding increase of public favor and patronage. !
regret- to say that no interest has been taken by the Church gener¬
ally in our request for a Chapel, and J shall have to ask of the
Rectors of the Churches to give me a collection in each of their
Churches for this purpose during my visitation of the current year.
In the month of December, 1 visited a part of Middle Florida,
and found that at its annual meeting in the early part of December,
which I was unable to attend, the Convention had wisely exonera¬
ted me from my provisional charge of the Diocese. During the
three years in which 1 had charge of the Diocese, I had been en¬
tirely unable to visit any of the remoter Parishes,and could see no
prospect of ever being able to do so. Meanwhile, the provisional
charge which was vested in me, prevented those Churches from
procuring Episcopal services from other Bishops without the long
previous delay of correspondence with me—a correspondence
lying frequently for weeks at my residence, while I was absent in
remote parts of my Diocese. Under these circumstances, a return
to the old arrangement was decidedly the part o( wisdom, and gen¬
eral invitations have been extended to the Bishops of Alabama,
Georgia and South Carolina to perform Episcopal services at such
times as may be convenient for them. It will give me pleasure to
render such services as maj' be in my power.
The last Sunday in January, I visited St. Stephen^ Church, Mil-
ledgeville, and spent some days in the Parish very pleasantly. 1
found our Brother laboring under great discouragements, but not at
all inclined either to faint or grow weary in his labors. Our flock
31
at that point continues very much the same, having neither increased
nor diminished during the interval of my visitations.
During the month of April, I was occupied in the visitation of
the Eastern 'part of my Diocese, St. Simon's, St. Andrew's, and St.
David's, Glynn county. The two former of these Parishes I found
suffering from emigration to a lamentable degree, and while the
Rev. Mr. Brown still maintains his post upon the island, it is with
extreme difficulty that a proper compensation can be raised for his
services. The absorption of property into a few hands upon the
island, has likewise very much diminished his white congregation.
The change was very marked since my last visitation. The negroes
upon the island continue to form a very interesting portion of his
flock, and he cannot be too highly commended for his laborious
devotion to their spiritual wants. He presented seventeen candi¬
dates for confirmation, four of whom were white and thirteen
coloured.
St. Andrew's Parish is, for the present, without a Rector, Mr.
Smith having resigned his charge of the united Parishes of St. An¬
drew's and St. David's, and removed to Cass and Floyd counties.
This Parish is in a very depressed condition, arising mainly from
the great emigration of the original members of the congregation
and from the consequent impoverishment of the town. It is also
laboring under the pressure of debt, but 1 have reason to believe
that an effort will be made the next Fall fo relieve itself from its
embarrassment, and once again become an active and working Par¬
ish. Let it have, my Brethren, your sympathy and prayers and
brotherly aid.
St. David's, Glynn county, is in a more prosperous condition.
Although without a Pastor, it is not for lack of interest or means
that they find themselves in this condition. They make a very
liberal offer of support, and are preparing to build a Parsonage for
the accommodation of any future Rector. This is a very interest¬
ing field of labor, and calls loudly for some pious and well learned
man to occupy its borders.
During Passion Week, my time was spent with the Churches of
Savannah, and on Easter Sunday I confirmed in Christ Church fif¬
teen persons, seven of whom were from that Parish and eight from
St. John's. These'Churches are both increasing in strength, and
growing, I trust, in spirituality and in power.
I spent one night with the Rev. Mr. Williams, and preached for
his interesting charge upon the Ogeechee. I know no field of labor
in the Diocese more worthy of the zeal and devotedness of s
Christian heart than this, and trust that our Brother may be long
spared to feed these servants with the bread of life. 1 have stiR
32
to lament that so few of our Ministers are willing to etfter upon
this service, and nothing can be said to tlie masters of theic obli¬
gations and responsibilities so long as we find the Clergy of the
Church declining this work. It is indeed an arduous and self-sacri¬
ficing labor, calling for infinite faith and patience, but having with
it the promise of rich blessings and the assurance of a certain reward.
The first Sunday after Easter was spent-with Christ Church,
Macon, when 1 had the happiness of admitting into connexion with
the Church, through confirmation, four persons, who will, I trust,
prove a rich blessing to the cause of Christ. This Parish is in a
state of growing prosperity, and is beginning to feel straitened in its
present borders.
During the past year, I have transferred no Clergyman from this
Diocese, and have received the Rev. Mr. Harlow from that of Ken¬
tucky. This makes the present number of Clergy canonically con¬
nected with the Diocese of Georgia twenty-four.
Since our last. Convention, Mr. Wesley P. Gahagan has become
a candidate for Orders, and tis pursuing his studies at the Theologi¬
cal Seminary of Virginia, and Mr. Geo. McAuley has been trans¬
ferred from the Diocese of New York. These, with Mr. Perdue,
are our candidates for Orders.
The subject of an Ecclesiastical Gazette was carried up to the last
General Convention with your consent and approbation. It was
most respectfully received by that body and referred to able Com¬
mittees of both Houses, but owing to the absorbing interest of the
topics which occupied the attention of that assembly, the Commit¬
tees were not convened, and therefore made no report in the case.
At some future day, it is not improbable that the matter will receive
the sanction of the Church.
Nothing has been sent down for your consideration as a Con¬
ventional body, save a proposition to alter the first article of the
Constitution of the Church, so as to substitute the first Wednesday
in September for the first Wednesday in October as the time for
holding the session of the General Convention.
All which is respectfully submitted, with the prayer that the
Great Head of the Church may so direct and prosper you in all
your consultations, that they may conduce to the glory of God
and the extension of the kingdom of the Redeemer.
STEPHEN ELLIOTT, Jr.
Bishop of the Diocese of Georgia.
33
Diocese of Georgia,
IN ACCOUNT WITH W. P. HUNTER, TREASURER.
1847. DR.
May 10. To cash paid Rt. Rev. S.Elliott, Jr., on acc'tsalary 1847,
as per voucher credit, - 210 00
" To cash paid Rev. Edw. Neufville, Treasurer Diocese
Missionary Committee, per resolution of Convention, 125 00
July 21. To cash paid Rev. Thos. F. Scott, Secretary of the Con¬
vention, for printing Journals of 1847, - - 90 00
Dec. 6. To cash paid Rt. Rev. S. Elliott's draft on account of
salary for 1847, .... 300 00
1848.
Jan. 17. '« « « « 650 00
Mar. 1. " " " per receipt, 100 00
April 22. " « " « 250 00
April29. « « «* « 355 00
May 1, " " " " 100 00
May 1. To balance carried down, - - - 12 92
$2,192 92
1847. CR.
May '4. By balance account rendered this date - - $92 92
5. By cash received of Trinity Church, Columbus, quota
Bishop's fund for 1847, ... 100 00
5. Do- do. for expenses to Convention for 1847, - 15 00
6. By cash received from Christ Church, Macon, for bal¬
ance quota to Bishop's fund for 1846, - - 110 00
7. Do. do. for expenses of Convention for 1847, - 15 00
7. By cash received from St. Paul's Church, Augusta, for
expenses of Convention for 1847, - - 15 00
7. Do. do. St. Stephens', Milledgeville, do. do. - 15 00
7. Do. do. St. James', Marietta, do. do. - 15 00
7. Do. do. St. Andrews', Darien, do. do. - 15 00
8. Do. do. Grace Church, Clarkesville, do. do. - 15 00
June 15. Do. do. Christ Church, Savannah, do. do. - 15 00
15. Do. do. St. John's Church, do. do. do. - 15 00
July 21. Do- do. St. James' Church, Marietta, on account,
quota Bishop's fund for 1847, - - 25 00
Nov. 13. Do- do. do. do. do. do. 25 00
26. Do. do. St. Paul's, Augusta, do. do. 250 00
1848.
Jan. 17. Do. do. Christ Church, in full, do. do- 650 00
Feb. 19. Do. do. Christ Church, Macon, do. do. 100 00
Mar. 26. Do. do. do. do. do. do. 10.0 00
Aprill9. Do. do. St. James'Church, Marietta, do. do- 50 00
22. Do. do. Christ Church, St. Simon's, do. do. 100 00
24. Do. do. St. Paul's Church, Augusta, do. do. 250 00
25. Do. do- St. John's Church, Savannah, do. do. 105 00
May 1. Do. do. Christ Church, Macon, in full, do- do- 100 00
$2,192 92
1848.
Mayl. By balance brought down, - - - 12 92
W. P. HUNTER,
Treasurer Diocese of Georgia,
F. E. Savannah, May 1st, 1848,
34
Report of the Rev. JEdw. Neufvtlle,
TREASURER OF THE COMMITTEE ON MISSIONS.
RE CAPITTJLA TION.
Received from Christ Church, Savannah,
" " St John's Church, Savannah, -
" " Christ Church, Macon,
" " St. Paul's Church, Augusta, -
" " Grace Church, Clarkesville,
" " Christ Church, St Simon's,
" " St. James' Church, Marietta,
M " Individual donations
" " Treasurer of the Diocese, -
" " balance from last year,
" " Convention collection,
Paid to Rev. T. F. Scott, -
" Rev. J. J. Hunt,
" Rev. B. F. Mower,
" Rich'd Johnson,
DR.
$504 19
- 238 71
175 00
- 82 00
45 15
- 21 50
8 09
8 00
125 00
- 14 89
90 33
$1,312 80
CR.
- $712 80
300 00
- 150 00
150 00
$1,312 80
EDW'D NEUFVILLE, Treasure*.
E. E. Savannah, May 1st, 1848.
35
CONSTITUTION
OF THE
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH*
IN THE DIOCESE OF GEORGIA.
ARTICLE I.
The Church of this Diocese, as a constituent part of the Protestant Epis¬
copal Church of the United States of America, accedes to, recognises, and
adopts the General Constitution of that Church, and acknowledges its au¬
thority accordingly.
ARTICLE II.
A Convention of this Church shall be held at such time of each year and
place as the previous Convention may appoint: provided, however, that no
Convention shall be opened for the transaction of business, unless there be
present at least two Clergymen and Delegates from two Congregations.
And in case no Convention be formed, the standing officers of the last Con¬
vention shall hold their respective offices until successors shall be appointed.
ARTICLE III.
The Bishop, or, if the Episcopate be vaceut, the Standing Committee,
shall have power, when it appears requisite for the good of the Church, to
call a Special Convention, by a circular letter to the several Churches.
There shall not be less than four weeks notice previous to the day appointed,
and such meeting shall be holden when the authority calling it shall deter¬
mine, and at such Special Convention, no other business shall be transacted
than that stated in the notice calling the Convention.
ARTICLE IV.
The Convention shall be composed of Clergymen and Laymen. Every
Clergyman in good standing, regularly settled and continuously exercising
clerical functions in an existing Parish, or who shall have been six months
last past performing Missionary duties, under the direction of the Ecclesi¬
astical authority of this Diocese, shall be entitled to all the privileges of a
member of this Convention; and every duly recognised Minister of this
Church, canonically -resident for six months last past within the Diocese,
being engaged in the business of literary instruction, or disabled by reason
of age or infirmity from exercising Clerical functions, shall be entitled to
all the privileges of a member of the Convention, with the exception of a
right to vote.
Each Church or Congregation in union with this Convention shall be en¬
titled to a representation by one Lay Delegate or more, not exceeding three,
to be chosen from its oyvn body by the Wardens and Vestrymen thereof:
Provided, however, that the Minister, or, in his absence, the Delegate or
Delegates present at any Convention may supply any vacancy in the dele¬
gation, if he or they should find, at the place of meeting, a member or mem¬
bers of the Congregation which they are empowered to represent.
36
ARTICLE V.
New Parishes may be admitted into union with this Convention, by a
majority of votes: Provided, that they shall have laid before the Convention
written evidence, subscribed by the Wardens, that they accede to the Con¬
stitution and Canons of this Church, and are regularly organized by the
election of two "Wardens, and any number of Vestrymen at discretion,
not exceeding eight.
ARTICLE VI.
Every meeting of the Convention shall be opened with Morning Prayer,
and a Sermon, delivered on the first day of the Convention, by a Preacher
appointed at the preceding Convention ; a Sermon on Missions shall also
be preached some time during the sitting of each Convention, when a collec¬
tion shall be made in aid of Missions within this Diocese. The appoint¬
ment of both Preachers with substitutes shall be made by the Bishop, or,
in his absence, by the President of the Convention.
ARTICLE VII.
The Convention shall deliberate and act as one body, unless when any
member shall call for a division on any question, in which case each Cleri¬
cal member shall be entitled to one vote, and the Lay Delegates of each Con¬
gregation jointly to one vote; and a majority of both orders shall be neces¬
sary to a decision.
ARTICLE VIII.
The Bishop of the Diocese shall be ex-officio President of the Convention.
In case there be no Bishop, or, in his absence, a presiding officer shall be
elected from among the Clerical members present.
ARTICLE IX.
At each annual meeting of the Convention, a Secretary and Treasurer
shall be chosen, to hold their respective offices until the next annual Conven¬
tion, or until successors shall be appointed.
It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to receive, or cause to be received, at
each annual Convention, the assessments upon the Parishes of this Diocese
for defraying the incidental expenses of the Convention and the support of
the Episcopate—and also to pay to the Bishop quarterly, in advance, the
amount of salary pledged to him by this Convention ; making a faithful
return of all these his acts in his annual report to the Convention of this
Church.
ARTICLE X.
A Standing Committee shall be chosen at each annual meeting of this
Convention, to consist of three Clerical and three Lay members; of the
time and place of whose meetings due notice in writing shall be given to all
the members thereof at least one week before the time of such meeting. At
a meeting thus notified, any four members shall constitute a quorum. The
Standing Committee shall meet as soon as practicable after their election,
and choose a President and Secretary from among their own number, and
it shall be the duty of the President to call a meeting of the Committee when¬
ever he shall be required to do so by any three members of the Committee.
Vacancies in this Committee, caused by death, resignation, or otherwise,
shall be supplied by the suffrages of the remaining members.
ARTICLE XI.
The Convention shall annually elect four Clergymen and four Laymen
as Deputies to the General Convention, and to any Special General Con¬
vention which may be held in the recess of this Convention, who shall be
empowered, in the absence of one or more of their colleagues, to appoint in
37
the place of such Delegate or Delegates any citizen or citizens of this State !
Provided, that such citizen or citizens be a member or members of the Pro¬
testant Episcopal Church in this Diocese ; or, if it be inconvenient for any
Delegate or Delegates to proceed to the place of meeting, the Bishop is au¬
thorized to appoint others in their place. In case of a vacancy in the Epis¬
copate, the power hereby conferred on the Bishop shall be exercised by the
Standing Committee.
ARTICLE XII.
A proposition for altering and amending this Constitution shall be intro¬
duced in writing, and considered in Convention ; and if approved by a
majority, shall lie over to the next Convention, when, upon consideration
again, if it be approved by a majority of the Convention, it shall be adopted.
ARTICLE XIII.
In all elections by ballot, a majority of votes shall be required for a
choice.
CANONS.
CANON I.
Each Church duly represented in this Convention shall pay or cause to
be paid into the hands of the Treasurer of the Convention the sum of ten
dollars annually, for defraying the incidental expenses of the Convention.
CANON II.
In case any Clergyman of this Diocese shall be accused of error in doc¬
trine, immorality of life, or neglect or transgression of any of the Canons
of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States, or this Diocese, it
shall be the duty of any two or more Clergymen, or of the Wardens and
Vestrymen of the Church of which he is Rector, or to which he may belong,
who shall have knowledge or belief of such misdemeanor, to represent the
same to the Bishop, or, in case there be no Bishop, to the Standing Commit¬
tee of the Diocese. In the event of such representation, it shall be the duty
of the Bishop, or, if there be no Bishop, the Standing Committee, if he or
they shall deem the charge or charges worthy of investigation, forthwith to
notify the accused of such charges, together with the time and place ap¬
pointed for his trial. The mode of trial shall be as follows : xhe Bishop, or
Standing Committee, as the case may be, shall appoint a number of Presby¬
ters, not less than five, of whom the person accused may select a majority,
by whom to be tried. The result oi the trial shall be made known to the
Bishop, or, if there be no Bishop, to the Standing Committee, who shall pro¬
nounce and execute, or cause to be pronounced and executed, such sentence
as'may be awarded, should the same by him or them be deemed just and
proper.
Should the sentence be suspension or degredation from the Ministry, the
Bishop, or Provisional Bishop, or, should there be none, some neighboring
Bishop, shall be required to pronounce the same.
Should it be impossible to obtain from this Diocese the requisite number
of Presbyters to constitute a board of trial, the deficiency may be supplied
from a neighboring Diocese.
Should any Clergyman accused and cited for trial according to the pro¬
visions of this Canon, neglect or refuse to obey the citation, such neglect or
refusal shall be considered as an acknowledgment of the truth of the charges
preferred against him, and sentence shall be pronounced accordingly.
38
CANON III.
The Convention shall appoint annually, by ballot, a Commlttfee of two
Clergymen and three Laymen, of which Committee the Bishop of the Dio¬
cese, when there is oae, shall be ex-oficio Chairman; whose duty it shall be
to take in charge the Missionary, Bible, Common Prayer Book, Tract and
Sunday School operations of the Church in this Diocese; and it shall be
further the duty of this Committee to make a full report of all their proceed¬
ings to each succeeding annual Convention.
CANON IV.
It shall be the duty of the Vestry of each Church in connexion with this
Diocese to pay, or cause to be paid, into the hands of the Treasurer of the..
Convention, at each annual meeting of the Convention, the amount :of the
assessment laid upon the Churches respectively represented by them, for the
support of the Episcopate of this Diocese.
CANON V. ,
Section 1. Whenever any number of persons shall associate to form an
Episcopal Congregation, they shall adopt articles of association for their
government, in which they shall acknowledge and accede to the Constitu¬
tion, Canons, Doctrines, Discipline and Worship of the Protestant Episco¬
pal Church in the United States, and the Constitution and Canons of-the
Diocese of Georgia; they shall assume a suitable name -by whitih their
Church or Parish shall be designated, and elect two Wardens and any num¬
ber of Vestrymen at discretion, not exceeding eight. A certified copy of
the articles of association, and of the proceedings at their adoption, signed
by the Wardens, shall then be laid before the Convention, and if approved
by that body, Delegates from such Congregation or Parish may take seats
in the Convention, and the Congregation shall be considered as united to
the Convention and subject to its decisions.
Section 2. The election of Wardens and Vestrymen in every Parish
thus constituted, shall take place annually on Easter Monday, unless some
other time be specified in the act of incorporation, with the assent of the
Ecclesiastical authority of the Diocese.
J 0'
RULES OF ORDER,
Rule 1. The business of each day shall be introduced by the Order for
Daily Morning Prayer and a Sermon.
Rule 2. When the President takes the Chair, no member shall continue
standing, or shall stand up, unless to address the Chair.
Rule 3'. The order of doing business in the Convention shall be as fol¬
lows: 1st. The appointment of a Secretary by ballot. 2. The appointment
of Committees of the Convention, and Special Committees. 3. The an¬
nual address of the Bishop. 4. The reading of the Parochial reports.
5. Reports from Committees of the Diocese. 6. Reports from the Treasu¬
rers. 7. Reports from Committees appointed at the last Convention. 8. Re¬
ports from Committees. 9. Election by ballot of Treasurers, Standing
Committee of the Diocese, Diocesan Missionary Committee, and Deputies
to the General Convention.
Rule 4. When any member is about to speak in debate, or present any
matter to the Convention, he shall, with due respect, address himself to the
President, confining himself strictly to the point in debate.
Rule 5. No member shall absent himself from the service of the Con¬
vention, unless he have leave, or be unable to attend.
39
Rule 6. No member shall speak more than twice in the same debate,
without leave of the Convention.
Rule- 7. A question, being once determined, shall stand as the judgment
of the Convention, and shall not be drawn into debate the same session,
unless with the consent of two-thirds of the Convention : Provided always,
that any member of the Convention voting in favor of any question, may,
on the same day in which the vote is taken, or on the succeeding day, move
a reconsideration of said vote.
Rule 8. No motion shall be debated, or shall be considered as before the
Convention, unless seconded, reduced to writing, and read by the Secretary.
Rule 9. When amotion is under consideration, no other motion shall be
made, except to amend, to divide, to commit, or to postpone ; a motion to
adjourn, however, shall always be in order, and shall be decided without
debate.
Rule 10. A question on amendment shall be decided before the original
motion.
Rule 11. Every member who shall be present when the question is put,
shhll vote, unless personally interested, or excused by the Convention from
voting.
Rule 12. When the Convention is about to rise, or adjourn, every mem¬
ber shall keep his seat until the President shall leave the chair.
STANDING RESOLUTIONS
For providing a Permanent Fund for the support of the Epis¬
copate, adopted 1841.
Resolved, That, as it is important that the formation of a permanent
fund for the support of the Episcopate in this Diocese be at once commenced,
each Rector of a Parish is requested, annually, to call the attention of his
Parishoners to the subject, and invite contributions for the object in such
mode as he may deem most expedient. That the Standing Committee of
the Diocese be Trustees of this fund, to whom all the collections are to be
paid over by the respective Rectors, and* the amount thus paid over be in¬
vested by the said Trustees in what may appear to them the most safe and
profitable manner—the interest annually received to be added to the princi¬
pal, so that for the present the fund may be accumulating. And further,
Resolved, That the Standing Committee, as Trustees aforesaid, he re¬
quested toweport to each annual Convention the amount received during the
year, the sources from which received, and the manner in which the same
rs invested.
Of the Organization of New Parishes, adopted 1842.
Resolved, That in the organization of new Parishes, the following form
of declaration be recommended, and the meeting in which it is adopted be
held and conducted according to the provisions of Canon V:—
40
" We, the subscribers, assembled for the purpose of organizing a C hutch
[or Parish] of the Protestant Episcopal Church in , county pif * —j
and State of Georgia, after due notice given, do hereby agree to form u
Church [or Parish] to be known by the name of Church,———, and
as such, do hereby acknowledge and accede to the Doctrine, Discipline and
Worship, the Constitution and Canons of the Protestant Episcopal Chureh
in the United States of America, and the Constitution and Canons of iithe
same Church in the Diocese of Georgia; and we do accordingly appoint A
B and C D to be the first Wardens, and E F, G H, I J, to be the first Vestry¬
men of Church, to continue in office until Easter Monday, A.D.——
and until others be chosen in their place. And an election of Wardens and
Vestrymen shall hereafter be held on Easter Monday of each successive
year.
" Witness our hands at , county of -, and State of Georgia,
this day of — , in the year of our Lord —5 "
On the use of Churches, adopted 1842.
On motion, it was unanimously
Resolved, That it be recommended to the Vestries of our Churches in
this Diocese to discourage the use of the Churches under their care for all
" u/nhallowed, wordily and common uses"
•:o:>
Tlie Style or Title of Churches.
The proper style for a duly incorporated Congregation is, " The Recto?,-
Church Wardens and Vestry, (or else the Church Wardens and Vestry) of
• Church in The first blank being left for the name of the
Church, the other for that of theplace.
Form of a Certificate.
Of Appointment as a Delegate to the Diocesan Convention.
This certifies, that at a meeting of the Rector, Wardens and Vestry, (or
Wardens and Vestry, if no Rector were present,) of , held on the
day of , the following person (or persons, as the case may be,)
viz: KL, MN and O P, were duly elected to represent this Church in the
next Convention of this Diocese, to be held in - , on the ——:— day
of , 18—.
The above certificate shall be signed by the Rector, if present, or in his
absence, by one of the Wardens or Secretary of the Vestry.
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Right Rev. STEPHEN ELLIOTT, Jr., D. D.,
Bishop of the Diocese of Georgia ; P. O., Macon.
Rev. THOMAS F. SCOTT, Marietta,
Secretary of the Convention.
Rev. EDW'D NEUFVILLE, D. D., Savannah,
President of the Standing Committee.
Mr. W. S. WILLIFORD, Macon,
Treasurer of the Diocese.
Rev. EDW'D NEUFVILLE, D. D., Savannah,
Treasurer of the Missionary Committee.
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