\ 
 
FROM THE LIBRARY OF 
 
 REV. LOUIS FITZGERALD BENSON. D. D. 
 
 BEQUEATHED BY HIM TO 
 
 THE LIBRARY OF 
 
 PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 
 
 /^^-/6 
 

APR 22 1932 ^ 
 
 HANDBOOK 
 
 OF THE 
 
 GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 OF THE 
 GIVING 
 
 ITS HISTORY AND CONSTITUTION, 1785-1880. 
 
 WILLIAM STEVENS PERRY, D.D., LL.D., 
 
 BISHOP OF IOWA, 
 
 LATE SECRETARY OP THE HOUSE OP DEPUTIES, AND HISTORIOGRAPHER 
 OP THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 
 
 New York : 
 THOMAS ^WHITTAKKR, 
 
 2 and 3, BIBLE HOUSE. 
 1881. 
 
COPYKIGHT, 1881. 
 BY 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 Inteoduction xiii-xiv 
 
 The Preliminary Meetings, 1784 1-7 
 
 Minutes of informal Meeting at New-Brunswick, 1, 2 ; 
 The " Broadside" Proceedings of October 6tli, 3, 4 ; Fun- 
 damental Principles of Union, 4 ; Additional Particulars, 
 5-7 ; Choice of Bishop of Connecticut, 5 ; Clergy of 
 Massachusetts and Rhode Island unwilling to take active 
 Measures, 6 ; Appointment of Clerical Examiners recom- 
 mended, 6 ; Notices of representative Men who were 
 Members of the Preliminary Convention, 6, 7. 
 
 The Convention of 1785 8-43 
 
 Organization of Convention, 8 ; The Subject of Alte- 
 rations in the Liturgy referred, 8 ; Action respecting, 
 9-12 ; The " Fourth of July" to be observed, 10 ; Ap- 
 pointment of an annual Day of *' Thanksgiving," 10 ; Ar- 
 ticles as amended, referred to next Convention, 11 ; Read- 
 ing and Singing Psalms, and Kalendar of Lessons to be 
 appended to Prayer-Book, 13 ; the " General Ecclesiastical 
 Constitution," 12-15 ; Correspondence between Bishop 
 Seabury and the Rev. Dr. White, 15-18 ; Address to the 
 English Archbishops and Bishops asking for the Succession, 
 18-22; Notices of the "Proposed Book," 22-25 ; The 
 " Alterations " comprised in the ' ' Proposed " Book, 25-34 ; 
 The Proposed Articles of Religion, 34-39 ; The Table of 
 Holy Days, 40 ; The Reception of the " Proposed Book," 
 40, 41 ; Notices of Editions of this Work, 41, 42. 
 
 The Conventions of 1786 43-62 
 
 The Convention in Philadelphia (June), 43-50 ; Organi- 
 zation, 43 ; Opposition to Bishop Seabury, 43, 44 ; Address 
 to the English Prelates, 44-46 ; Changes in the Constitu- 
 
]V CONTEXTS. 
 
 lion, 47, 49 ; Influence of a Memorial from New-Jersey, 
 50 ; Letters from the Archbishops, 50-56. 
 
 The Adjourned Convention in Wilmington (Octo- 
 ber), 56-61 ; " An Act of the General Coitvention," 56-59 ; 
 The Restoration of the omitted Clause in the Apostles' 
 Creed, 50, 51 ; the Rejection of the Athanasian Creed, 51 ; 
 The Refusal to sign the Testimonials of the Bishop -elect 
 of Maryland, 60, 61 ; The Consecration of Bishops White 
 and Provoost, 61, 62. 
 
 The Conventions of 1789 63-77 
 
 The Convention in Philadelphia (July), 63-71 ; The 
 Application from the Clergy of Massachusetts and Nsw- 
 Hampshire for the Consecration of the Rev. Edward Bass, 
 63-65 ; Resolutions adopted by the Convention respecting 
 the Application, 65, 66 ; Further Proceedings, 66, 67 ; Ca- 
 nons adopted at this Convention, 67-70 ; Death of the 
 Bishop-elect of Virginia, 71. 
 
 The Adjourned Convention in Philadelphia (Sep- 
 tember and October). Union of the C hurches, 71 ; Organi- 
 zation of the two Houses, 71 ; Adoption of a Liturgy, 71- 
 73 ; Further Proceedings, 73, 74 ; The Change of Art. 3 of 
 the Constitution, 74, 75 ; Proposal of a full Negative on the 
 lower House for the Bishops, 75 ; Record of the adhesion 
 of Bishop Seabury and the New-England Deputies to the 
 Constitution, 75 ; Views of the Bishop of Connecticut 
 respecting the Athanasian Creed, 76 ; Misunderstanding as 
 to the printing of the Clause in the Apostles' Creed, " He 
 descended into Hell," 76, 77 ; The " Selections of Psalms," 
 77. 
 The Convention of 1792 78-83 
 
 Organization, 78 ; The first American Consecration, 78 ; 
 The Rule providing for the Presidency of the House of 
 Bishops changed, 79 ; Action resi)ecting the Comprehen- 
 sion of the Methodists, 79-81 ; the first Missionary Docu- 
 ment of the Church, 81, 82 ; Changes in the "Ordinal," 
 82 ; Postponement of the consideration of the Articles of 
 Religion, 82, 83 ; Information of the Accession of the Church 
 in North-Cnroliua received, 83 ; Number of Clergy, 83. 
 
CONTENTS. V 
 
 The Convention op 1795 84-88 
 
 Organization, 84 ; Refusal of Testimonials of the Bishop- 
 elect of Vermont, 84, 85 ; Action respecting " the Strictures 
 on the Love of Power in the Prelacy," 85-88 ; Permission 
 to place a "Protest" on record, denied, 87; Failure of 
 Bishop-elect of North-Carolina to attend, 87, 88 ; Further 
 Measures adopted, 88. 
 
 The Special, Convention of 1799 89-95 
 
 Circumstances attending the Call of this Convention, 89 ; 
 The Testimonials of the Bishop-elect of New-Jersey referred 
 back to the Diocesan Convention, 89, 90 ; Measures adopted, 
 90 ; Articles of Religion published by order of the House 
 of Deputies, 90-95. 
 
 The Convention op 1801 96-103 
 
 Organization, 96 ; Direct Refusal to sign the Testimonials 
 of the Bishop-elect of New-Jersey, 96 ; Resignation of the 
 Bishop (Provoost) of New-York, and Action relative to the 
 Consecration of a Coadjutor, (B. Moore), 96-98 ; Action re- 
 specting the " Articles," 98, 99 ; Adoption of the " XXXIX 
 Articles" with the necessary Changes, 99-101 ; Bishop 
 White's Opinion respecting the Articles, 101, 102 ; Defeat 
 of Proposal requiring that Lay Deputies should be Com- 
 municants, 102, 103. 
 
 The Convention op 1804 .104-107 
 
 Change of the Time of Meeting, 104 ; Enactment of 
 additional Canons, 105, 106 ; Adoption of Office of In- 
 duction, 105; "Course of Ecclesiastical Studies" set forth, 
 106; Action respecting the notorious " Ammi Rogers," 
 106, 107 ; Provision for the closing Exercises of Con- 
 vention, 107. 
 
 The Convention op 1808 108-112 
 
 A " full Negative" given to the House of Bishops, 108 ; 
 Appeal from Ammi Rogers, and Action thereon, 108-110 ; 
 Opinion of the House of Bishops respecting the Obligation 
 of English Table of Degrees wathin which Marriage can 
 not be celebrated, llO ; Proposed Alteration of Art. 8 of the 
 Constitution, 110, 111 ; A " Pastoral Letter" set forth, 111 ; 
 
Vi CONTENTS. 
 
 Associated Rectorships disapproved, 111 ; Hymns added, 
 111 ; Title of Office of Induction changed, 111 ; Concur- 
 rent Resolutions respecting the Burial of Duellists and the 
 Marriage of Divorced Persona, 111, 112 ; Comments of 
 Bishop White, 113. 
 
 The Convention of 1811 113-115 
 
 Ratification of Constitutional Provision (Art. 8) respect- 
 ing Changes in Prayer-Book and Offices, 113 ; Consecration 
 of Bishops-elect delayed, 113 ; Failure of Measures for the 
 Choice and Support of a Western Missionary Bishop, 113, 
 114 ; Modification of Rule respecting Burial of Duellists, 
 114; The " State of the Church," 114; Circumstances at- 
 tending the Consecration of Bishops Hobart and Griswold, 
 114, 115. 
 
 The Convention of 1814 116-120 
 
 Evidences of new Life, 116 ; Decision with respect to 
 the Effect of the Removal of a Deputy after Election, 
 116 ; The Holy Communion made a Part of the Opening 
 Services of Conventions, 116 ; The Republication of the 
 Journals ordered, 116, 117 ; The Condition of the Church at 
 the South, 117 ; Opinion of the Bishops respecting clerical 
 Dress, 117 ; Standing recommended during the singing of 
 Psalms or Hymns, 117, 118 ; Refusal of Bishops to sanc- 
 tion a devotional Work, 118 ; Identity with the Cliurch of 
 England declared, 118, 110 ; Opinion of the Bishops re- 
 specting the Wanner of receiving into the Church "Per- 
 sons not baptized within its Pale," 119 ; A Pastoral Letter 
 set forth, 120. 
 
 The Convention op 1817 121-123 
 
 Organization of a Theological Seminary determined 
 upon, 121 ; Expression of Disapprobation of worldly and 
 licentious Amusements, 121, 122 ; Designation of a Stand- 
 ard Bible requested, 122 ; French Prayer- Book set forth, 
 
 122 ; Catechetical Instruction and Lectures enjomed, 122, 
 
 123 ; The State of the Church encouraging, 123. 
 
 The Convention of 1820 124-127 
 
 Admission of Maine into Union, 124 ; Change of Loca- 
 tion of General Seminary from New York to New-IIaven 
 
CONTENTS. Vll 
 
 determined upon, 124 ; Opinion of tlie Bishops respecting 
 private Baptisms and Qualifications of Sponsors solicited, 
 124 ; Standard Prayer-Book established,124,125 ; "Offices" 
 declared " of equal Authority with the Book of Common 
 Prayer," 125 ; Formation of a Missionary Society deter- 
 mined upon, 125 ; Discussion respecting the opening Ser- 
 mon, 126 ; Bishop White's view respecting Baptismal Re- 
 generation, 126 ; View of the Bishops respecting the offi- 
 ciating in our Churches of Persons not regularly ordained, 
 126, 127 ; The Church extending, 127. 
 
 The Special Convention of 1821 128-133 
 
 Occasion of this Session, 128 ; Transfer of the General 
 Seminary to New-York, and its Organization, 128, 129 ; 
 The Constitution of the Missionary Society perfected, 129 ; 
 Opinion of the Bishops concerning the last Rubric in the 
 Communion Service, 129-132 ; Recommendation of the 
 Missionary Society, 132, 133. 
 
 The Convention of 1823 134-136 
 
 Reception of Georgia into Union, 134 ; Canons enacted, 
 134 ; The General Seminary commended to the Support 
 of the whole Church, 135 ; The Supply of Clergy insuffi- 
 cient, 135 ; Action respecting Affiliation with Societies of 
 a political Character, 135 ; Original Editions of the Jour- 
 nals presented by Bishop White, 136. 
 
 The Convention of 1826 137-141 
 
 Bishop Hobart's Resolutions respecting abbreviated 
 Services, 137-139 ; Action thereon, 139, 140 ; Resolution 
 respecting the Authority of the Psalms and Hymns, 140 ; 
 Proposal to put the Articles on the same Footing with the 
 Prayer-Book in respect to Alterations, 141 ; Canon requir- 
 ing three Years' Candidateship previous to Ordination, 
 141. 
 
 The Convention of 1829 142-144 
 
 Notice of Members of the House of Deputies, 142 ; Ken- 
 tucky and Tennessee admitted into Union, 142 ; Applica- 
 tion for the Consecration of Rev. William Meade as "As- 
 sistant or Suffragan," 142 ; The constitutional Change re- 
 
Vlll CONTENTS. 
 
 specting Alterations of the Articles adopted, 142, 143 ; 
 Bishop Hobart's Resolutions withdrawn, 143 ; Notices of 
 the State of the Church, 143 ; Provision for Expenses, 
 144 ; Canons enacted, 144. 
 
 The Convention of 1832 145-152 
 
 The Resignation of the Bishop of Ohio (P. Chase), 145 ; 
 Action of the two Houses thereon, 145-147 ; the " Pre- 
 siding Bishop," 147 ; Opinion of the Bishops respecting 
 Postures in the Communion Office, 147-149 ; a " Declara- 
 tion" concerning an Error in one of the Prayer-Book 
 Offices, 149 ; Changes in the Rubrics proposed, 150 ; Tlie 
 Revision of the Canons, 150 ; " Ratification" of the Selec- 
 tions from the Psalms in Metre, 150, 151 ; Admission of 
 Alabama and Michigan into Union, 151 ; Defeat of Pro- 
 posal to make the Representation in the House of Depu- 
 ties depend upon the number of Clergy in the various 
 Dioceses, 151, 152 ; The " South- Western Diocese," 152. 
 
 The Convention op 1835 153-155 
 
 Illinois admitted into Union, 153 ; Constitution of Board 
 of Missions adopted, 153 ; Missionary Bishops elected, 
 153, 154 ; Conservator of Documents appointed, 154 ; 
 Recommendations of Bishops advising discontinuance 
 of Lord's Prayer and Collect before Sermon, and advi- 
 sing the saying of the Confession with the Minister, 
 and regulating the Mode of printing of the "Amen" in 
 certain cases, 154 ; Division of Dioceses provided for, 154 ; 
 The word right in place of north adopted in the Rubric 
 before the Commission Office, 155 ; Grateful acknowledg- 
 ment of the presence of Bishop White, 155. 
 
 The Convention op 1838 156-158 
 
 The Decease of the Presiding Bishop, 156 ; Admission 
 of Indiana, Florida, and Louisiana into Union, 156 ; The 
 Division of the Diocese of New-York ratified, 156 ; Pro- 
 posed Changes in the Constitution, 157 ; Correspondence 
 with For(;ign Prelates, 157 ; Rules to be observed in 
 printing the Book of Common Prayer, 157, 158 ; Historio- 
 graphers appointed, 158 ; Canons adopted, 158. 
 
CONTENTS. ix 
 
 The Convention of 1841. * 159-163 
 
 Missouri admitted into Union, 159 ; Election of Mis- 
 sionary Bishops, 159 ; The Provision of more ample Free 
 Sittings recommended, 159, 160 ; Contested seats, 160 ; 
 Majority and Minority Reports respecting the requirement 
 of Six Months' Candidateship of Ministers of the Denomi- 
 nations applying for Orders, 160-162 ; Election of a Bishop 
 for Louisiana, 162 ; Recommendation respecting Missions 
 to the Jews, 162 ; Christian Education in Church 
 Institutions commended, 162 ; Action respecting Mar- 
 riages prohibited by the Law of God, 163 ; Correspond- 
 ence with the Archbishoj) of Canterbury and other Bish- 
 ops, 163. 
 
 Tii^ Convention of 1844 164-178 
 
 Comments of Bishop Burgess respecting this Session, 
 164, 165 ; Article 10 added to the Constitution, 166 ; Ac- 
 tion of the House of Deputies respecting the Oxford 
 Movement, 166-171 ; Reference of the Testimonials of the 
 Bishop -elect of Mississippi to the Diocesan Convention, 
 171 ; Opinion of the Bishops respecting the six months' 
 probation required of Ministers applying for Holy Orders, 
 171, 172 ; Recommendation concerning the Paper on which 
 portions of the Prayer Book should be printed, 172 ; The 
 Meeting of the Convention in places other than Churches 
 advised, 172, 173 ; Precedent as to the excusing Members 
 from voting, and granting permission to enter their rea- 
 sons on the Journal, 173 ; Choice of Missionary Bishop of 
 Cape Palnias, 173, 174 ; Form of Foreign Missionary Bish- 
 op's testimonial, 174 ; Proposal for Reduction of Number 
 of Deputies to General Convention, 174 ; Continuance of 
 the Session of the House of Bishops after the Adjourn 
 meut of the House of Deputies, 174, 175 ; the Resigna- 
 tion and Suspension of the Bishop of Pennsylvania, 
 175-177 ; Visitation of the General Theological Seminary, 
 177, 178. 
 
 The Convention of 1847 179-181 
 
 Wisconsin admitted into Union, 179 ; Suspension of the 
 Bishop of New- York, 179 ; Canonical Enactments, 179. 
 
X CONTENTS. 
 
 180 ; Canon of Suffragan Bisliops referred, 180 ; Mode of 
 Appointment of Supplemental Deputies, 180 ; Refusal to 
 sign the Testimonials of the Assistant Bishop-elect of 
 Illinois, 180, 181. 
 
 The Convention of 1850 182-184 
 
 Canonical enactments, 182 ; Texas admitted into Union, 
 182 ; Canon of Suffragan Bishops postponed, 183 ; Resig- 
 nation of the Missionary Bishop to Turkey accepted, 183 ; 
 The Missionary work recommended to the support of the 
 Church, 183 ; Election of Dr. Payne as Missionary Bishop 
 to Africa, 183 ; Action respecting Lay Helpers, 183 ; Reso- 
 lution concerning the Provincial System, 183, 184 ; Rights 
 of Bishops on Visitations, 184. 
 
 The Convention of 1853 185-106 
 
 The Deposition of the Bishop of North-Carolina, 185- 
 187 ; Canonical Enactments, 187, 188 ; Iowa admitted into 
 Union, 188 ; Missionary Bishops appointed for California 
 and Oregon, 188 ; The " Memorial " in favor of Liturgical 
 Relaxation and Church Comprehension, 188-191 ; Report 
 concerning the Interposition of the Civil Courts in the 
 Administration of Discipline, 192, 193 ; The Question of 
 the Provincial System referred, 194 ; Passage of a Canon 
 under the Provision of Art. 3 of the Constitution, 194, 
 195 ; Proposed Amendments to the Constitution, 19G. 
 
 The Convention of 185G 197-201 
 
 California admitted into Union, 197 ; Action of the 
 House of Bishops on the " Memorial," 197, 198 ; the 
 " Tune Book," 198, 199 ; Canons enacted, 199, 200 ; Re- 
 mission of the Sentence of Suspension passed on the 
 Bishop of Pennsylvania, 200, 201 ; The Nomination of a 
 Missionary Bishop of Nebraska not confirmed, 201 ; Deci- 
 sion that a Question lost by non-concurrence of Orders is 
 not determined in the Negative, 201 ; Refusal to accept 
 the Resignation of the Bishop of Illinois, 201. 
 
 The Convention of 1859 202-208 
 
 Minnesota and Kansas admitted into Union, 202 ; The 
 Episcopate made coextensive with the limits of the United 
 
CONTENTS. XI 
 
 States, 202 ; Appointment of a Lay Committee, 202, 203 ; 
 Canons adopted, 203 ; Importance of Christian Education 
 recognized, 204 ; Action of the House of Deputies con- 
 cerning the " Memorial," 204, 205 ; Systematic Offerings 
 commended, 206 ; Need of more Laborers expressed, 206 ; 
 Action referring to Church Music, 206-208. 
 
 The Convention op 1862 209-217 
 
 Action respecting the State of the Country, 209-211 ; 
 Order of Public Worship on the Day of Fasting, Humilia- 
 tion, and Prayer, 211-214 ; Committees appointed, 214, 215 . 
 Standard Bible recommended, 215 ; Change of Boundaries 
 of Dioceses, 215-217 ; The Pastoral, 217. 
 
 The Convention op 1865 218-220 
 
 Presence of the Metropolitan of Canada and other Digni- 
 taries, 218 ; Division of Pennsylvania, 219 ; The Reunion 
 of the Church, 219 ; The Reception of the Bishop of 
 Alabama, 219 ; Federate Councils allowed, 219 ; Additional 
 Hymns licensed, 219, 220 ; The List of Communicants, 220 ; 
 Resolution respecting the Eastern Churches, 220 ; Desig- 
 nation of Dioceses, 220, 221 ; Recommendation respecting 
 Postures at Baptism and Confirmation, 221 ; Service of 
 Thanksgiving for the Restoration of Peace, 221-224 ; 
 Election of Bishops, 224 ; Resolutions on Christian Educa- 
 tion, 224, 235 ; On Missions, 225, 226 ; Authority of Rubric 
 at the end of the Metrical Hymns, 226, 227 ; Alleged 
 Typographical Errors in the Table of Proper Psalms for 
 Certain Days, 227-229. 
 
 The Convention of 1868 230-243 
 
 Nebraska admitted into Union, 230 ; Maryland, New- 
 York, and Western New- York divided, 230 ; Membership 
 of the Board of Missions increased, 230 ; Grammatical Inac- 
 curacy in the " Invocation," 231, 232 ; Recommendation of 
 the Bishops as to the Collect, Epistle, and Gospel to be read 
 when a Sunday and Holy Day come together, 232 ; Reports 
 on the Conduct of Public Worship (majority), 232-234 ; 
 (minority), 234-236 ; Action thereon, 236, 237 ; Memorials 
 respecting the Use of the Prayer Book, 238 ; Resolutions 
 on Christian Education, 238, 239 ; Missionary Resolutions, 
 
xii CONTEKTS. 
 
 239 ; Maintenance of tlie Clergy, 239 ; Action respecting 
 Hymnody, 239, 240 ; Establishment of an Indian Mission- 
 ary Jurisdiction, 240; Resolutions of tlie Bishops on the 
 Lambeth Conference, 340-342 ; Canon of Divorce, 343. 
 
 The Convention of 1871 244-273 
 
 Presence of the Lord Bishop of Lichfield and other 
 Dignitaries of the English Church, 244, 245 ; Report of the 
 Committee of the House of Bishops on Ritual, 245-250 ; 
 Action of the House of Deputies thereon, 250-263 ; Speech 
 of the Rev. Dr. De Koven, of Wisconsin, 262-264 , Declara- 
 tion of the Bishops in Council on the Meaning of the Word 
 " Regenerate," 264-266 ; The Chicago Fire, 266 ; Adoption 
 of the Hymnal, 267, 268 ; Typographical Error in Art. 2 of 
 the Constitution, 268, 269 ; Removal of Constitutional 
 Restrictions upon the Division of Dioceses, 269 ; Arkansas 
 admitted into Union, 369 ; Revision of the Canons on Theo- 
 logical Education, 269 ; Adoption of a Standard Prayer 
 Book, 270 ; Establishment of the Boundaries of the Juris- 
 diction of Niobrara, 270 ; The Jubilee of the Missionary 
 Society, 270 ; Report of the Committee on the State of 
 the Church, 371 ; The Institution of an Order of Evange- 
 lists, and the Organization of the Services of Christian 
 Women, 271 ; The Increase of Missionary Bishops recom- 
 mended, 271, 373; Action of the Bishops concerning the 
 New Translation of the Bible, 373; The Alt-Catholic 
 Movement, 373 ; The Provincial System, 272 ; Canons 
 adopted, 273. 
 
 The Convention of 1874 274-301 
 
 Increased Attendance, 274 ; The Opening Services, and 
 Sermon by Bishop Selwyn, 375, 6 ; Organization of the Two 
 Houses, 376, 7 ; The Refusal to confirm the Election of the 
 Rev. Dr. Seymour to the Episcopate of Illinois, 377, 8 ; Doc- 
 trinal Positions and Statements of the Bishop-elect, 378-380 ; 
 The late Rev. Dr. Andrews's Summary of the Result, 281 ; 
 The Canon on Ritual, 281, 3 ; Reversal of Previous Preced- 
 ent respecting the Constitutional *' Three Days" allowed 
 the House of Bishops for determining with respect to any 
 Measure proposed by the Lower House for Joint Ac- 
 tion, 383, 3 ; Adoption of Amendment to Article 4 of the 
 
CONTENTS. Xlll 
 
 Constitution, 283 ; Proposed Changes to be acted upon 
 finally in 1877, 283, 4 ; Relations with the Canadian 
 Church, 284 ; Change of Title of the Lower House, 285 ; 
 Republication of Journals of Early Conventions, 285, 6 ; The 
 Question of the Filioque, 286; The Hymnal, 286, 7 ; Short- 
 ened Services and Separation of Services, 287, 8 ; The Lam- 
 beth Conference, 288 ; German Version of the Book of Com- 
 mon Prayer, 289, 90 ; Proposed Relaxation of Rubrics in 
 Baptismal Office, 290 ; Canon on Church Music, 291 ; Ques- 
 tions referred to next Convention, 291, 2 ; Creation of 
 New Dioceses, 292 ; Covenant with the Haitien Church, 
 292-5 ; Action respecting the Defection of the late Assistant 
 Bishop of Kentucky, 295-7 ; Standing Orders respecting 
 Election of a Bishop or Confirmation of a Bishop-elect, 
 
 297, 8 ; Minute respecting the decease of Bishop Payne, 
 
 298, 9 ; Christian Education, 299 ; The Old-Catholic Move- 
 ment, 299-300 ; Report on State of the Church, 300, 1. 
 
 Convention op 1877 ' • . • .302-320 
 
 Meeting in Boston, 302 ; large representation, 302 ; pres- 
 ence of Rev. Crauf urd Tait, 303 ; Admission of New Dio- 
 ceses, 303, 304 ; Defeat of Proposed Amendments to the 
 Constitution, 304 ; Changes in Constitution and Canons, 
 304-313 ; Resolution on Christian Education, 313, 314 ; Ac- 
 tion respecting Missionary Bishopric of New Mexico and 
 Arizona, 314 ; Report on the Force of Joint Resolutions, 
 314-317 ; Matters alluded to in Report of the Committee on 
 the State of the Church, 318 ; Closing Words of Report, 
 318, 319 ; Close of Pastoral Letter, 319, 320. 
 
 Convention of 1880 321-336 
 
 Attendance of Bishop of Edinburgh and Bishop Herzog, 
 321 ; Place of Meeting, 321 ; Prominence given to Mission- 
 ary Work and Organization, 322 ; Increase of Missionary 
 Episcopate, 322 ; Advantages of the two Houses sitting to- 
 gether, 323 ; The Observance of the Approaching Centen- 
 nial of the Organization of the Church, 324 ; Report on 
 the Functions of Rectors, and Wardens and Vestrymen, 
 325 ; Changes in the Canons, 327 ; Provision for Shorten- 
 ed Services, 327 ; Powers of Federate Council in Hlinois, 
 
XIV CONTENTS. 
 
 328 ; Committee on Liturgical Enrichment, 329 ; Action 
 respecting Polygamy and the Protection of the Indians, 
 330; Addition of the " Evangelical Hymns" to the Hym- 
 nal, 330 ; Changes in Boundaries of Western Sees, 331 ; 
 the New Lectionary, 331 ; Minute respecting Resignation 
 of Bishop of Michigan, 331 ; Covenant with the Church in 
 Mexico, 331 ; other Matters under Discussion, 336 ; the 
 Pastoral, 336. 
 
 Convention of 1883 337-340 
 
 Appendix T 341-355 
 
 Summaries of Statistics of Church Progress, 1829-1880 
 inclusive, 341-355. 
 
 Appendix II 356-363 
 
 Rules of Order of the House of Bishops, 356-359 ; Rules 
 of Order of the House of Deputies, 360-363. 
 
 Appendix III 364-365 
 
 Declaration of the House of Bishops, 1880, respecting a 
 Declaration of the Lambeth Conference of 1878. . .364-365 
 
mTEODUOTIOK 
 
 At the preliminary meeting in 1784 for tlie 
 organization of tlie American Church, severed 
 from the mother Chm'ch of England, by the change 
 in the political condition of the state, it was de- 
 termined as one of the " fundamental articles" of 
 the proposed union "that there shall be a General 
 Convention of the Episcopal Church in the United 
 States of America." In 1789, when the present 
 Constitution of the American Church was adopted, 
 the first Article of this instrument provided for 
 the triennial meeting of the Church in General 
 Convention, and, on the appearance of a representa- 
 tion of "this Church, in a majority of dioceses 
 which shall have adopted this Constitution," for its 
 proceeding to business. At all meetings of the 
 Church in General Convention " the Church in each 
 Diocese" is entitled to a representation of both the 
 clergy and the laity, not exceeding four of each 
 order. The Bishops of the Church form a sepa- 
 rate House, and the concurrence of both Houses is 
 necessary to give validity to any legislation. To 
 
16 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 the Church in General Convention belongs the 
 right to propose, and, at the subsequent meeting, 
 to ratify, changes in the Constitution ; in the Book 
 of Common Prayer or other Offices of the Church ; 
 and in the Articles of Eeligion. The Church may 
 enact canons, which are of obligation on the whole 
 body of the faithful, at any meeting in General 
 Convention. It provides in the Constitution of its 
 representative body for the trying of Bishops by a 
 Court composed of Bishops only ; it prescribes a 
 form of declaration to be subscribed prior to -ordi- 
 nation ; for the provision of Bishops for foreign 
 countries ; and for the erection of dioceses. Other 
 matters of temporary or lasting interest come 
 within its cognizance at these triennial meetings ; 
 and it is the purpose of this volume to trace, 
 briefly and yet with sufficient fulness, the various 
 measures which have from time to time occupied 
 the attention of this representative body of the 
 American Church. The increasing difficulty of 
 procuring sets of the Journals of General Conven- 
 tions renders the provision of some such manual 
 desirable. It is to supply this acknowledged want 
 that the present volume has been prepared. 
 
THE PEELIMINAET MEETINGS, 1784. 
 
 A SINGLE sheet of foolscap, faded and yellow 
 with age, contains the records of the preliminary 
 gathering of clergy and laity, out of which grew 
 the independent organization of the American 
 Church. These minutes, without preface or sig- 
 nature, but bearing the attestation of the venerable 
 Eishop White that they were in the handwriting of 
 the Eev. Eenjamin Moore, afterwards Eishop of 
 IS'ew-York, are appended to a record of a meeting 
 of the " Corporation for the Eelief of Widows and 
 Orphans of Clergymen of the Church of England," 
 in Pennsylvania, :^^ew-Jersey, and ]S^ew-York. 
 They are a fitting introduction to the history of 
 the Conventions of which they detail the initiatory 
 steps. We copy them from the original ms. as 
 preserved among the Eishop White papers in the 
 archives of the General Convention. They are as 
 follows : 
 
 At New Brunswick, Tuesday, 11 May, 1784, several Members 
 of the Episcopal Church, both of tlie Clergy & Laity, from the 
 States of New York, New Jersey & Pennsylvania were assembled 
 together ; present, Tlie Rev^ D^ White, Rev<i D^ Magaw, Rev^ 
 M' Beach, Rev* M>- Bloomer, ReV^ M-- Frazer, Rev<i M' Ogden 
 Rev^ M^ BlackweU, Rev^ M^ Boden, Rev^ M' Beni- Moore' 
 Rev^ M^ Tho« Moore, James Parker, John Stevens, John Den- 
 nis, Esquires, Col. Hoyt, & Col. Furman. 
 
 It was agreed that the Rev^ Mess" Beach, Bloomer, & B 
 
2 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 Moore be requested to wait upon the Clergy of Connecticut, 
 who are to be convened on the Wednesday in Trinity Week 
 next ensuing, for the Purpose of soliciting their Concurrence 
 with us in such Measures as may be deemed conducive to the 
 Union & Prosperity of the Episcopal Churches in the States of 
 America. 
 
 Also agreed by the Gentlemen present, that the undermen- 
 tioned Persons be requested to correspond with each other, & 
 with any other Persons, for the Purpose of forming a Conti- 
 nental Representation of the Episcopal Church, & for the 
 better INIanagement of other Concerns of the said Church. 
 
 Rev'i Mess" Bloomer, Provoost, & B. Moore for New York. 
 
 Rev^ Mess" Beach, Ogden, & Ayres for New Jersey. 
 
 Rev^ D'' White, D"" Magaw, & M"" Blackwell for Pennsylvania. 
 
 Any one of which Persons of each State respectively, to cor- 
 respond with the others, without consulting his Colleagues of 
 the same State, whenever it may be deemed expedient.* 
 
 The " Corporation for tlie Eelief of Widows 
 and Orphans" had appointed " the Tuesday after 
 the Feast of St. Michael next ensuing," as the 
 time of tlieir meeting, which was to be held in the 
 city of New- York, and by common consent there 
 gathered at the same time the leading clergy and 
 laity from various portions of the land. A sin- 
 gle " Broadside " sheet gives the journal of their 
 proceedings. It is of sufficient interest to be re- 
 printed in full as one of the rarest, as well as most 
 interesting, documents of our ecclesiastical history : 
 
 * Endorsed by Bishop White as follows : " The Original of 
 y« Minutes of y*-' Meeting in N. Brunswick in May 1784 : in 
 y« Hand Writing of y*^ rev*^ Benjamin (since Bp.) Moore of N. 
 York." Tlie correspondence between the Rev, Abraham 
 Beach, at whose suggestion this meeting was held, and the 
 Rev. Dr. White, is printed in full in Perry's Reprint of Jour- 
 nals of General Conventions, 1785-1835, III., pp. 8-13. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 6 
 
 At a Conuntion of Clergymen and Lay Deputies of the Pro- 
 testant Episcopal | Church in the United States of America, held 
 in New-Tork, October Uh \ andWi, 1784 : Present as follows; \ 
 
 Revd. Samuel Parker, A.M., Massachusetts and Rhode- 
 Island, I Revd. John R. Marshal, A.M., Connecticut. | 
 
 NEW- YORK. 
 
 f Esquires. 
 
 Revd. Samuel Provoost, A.M. Revd. Thomas Moore, 
 Revd. Abraham Beach, A.M. Hon. James Duane, 
 Revd. Benjamin Moore, A.M. Marinus Willet 
 Revd. Joshua Bloomer, A.M. John Alsop, 
 Revd. Leonard Cutting, A.M. 
 
 new-jersey. 
 
 Revd. Uzal Ogden, John Chetwood, Esquire, 
 
 John de Hart, Esquire, Mr. Samuel Spragg. 
 
 PENNSYLVANIA. 
 
 Revd. William White, D.D. Richard Willing, ) 
 Revd. Samuel Magaw. D.D. Samuel Powell, >• Esquires. 
 Rev. Joseph Hutchins, A.M. Richard Peters, ) 
 Matthew Clarkson, Esquire. 
 
 DELAWARE STATE. 
 
 Revd. Sydenham Thorn, Revd. Charles Wharton, 
 
 Mr. Robert Clay. | 
 
 MARYLAND. 
 
 Revd. William Smith, D.D. 
 
 N.B. The Revd. Mr. Griffith, from the State of Virginia, 
 was present by Permission. The Clergy of that State being 
 restricted | by Laws yet in force there, were not at liberty to 
 send Delegates, or consent to any Alterations in the Order, 
 Government, Doctrine, or j Worship of the Church. | 
 
4 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 THE Body now assembled, recommend to the Clergy and 
 Congregations | of tlieir Communion in the States repre- 
 sented as above, and propose to | those of the other States not 
 represented, That as soon as they shall | have organized or 
 associated themselves in the States to which they respectively ( 
 belong, agreeably to such Rules as they shall think proper, 
 they unite in a general | ecclesiastical Constitution, on the fol- 
 lowing fundamental Principles. | 
 
 I. That there shall be a general Convention of the Episcopal 
 Church in the | United States of America. | 
 
 II. That the Episcopal Church in each State, send Deputies 
 to the Convention, | consisting of Clergy and Laity. | 
 
 III. That associated Congregations in two or more States, 
 may send Deputies | jointly. | 
 
 IV. That the said Church shall maintain the Doctrines of the 
 Gospel as now | held by the Church of England ; and shall 
 adhere to the Liturgy of the | said Church as far as shall be 
 consistent with the American Revolution, | and the Constitu- 
 tions of the respective States. | 
 
 V. That in every State where there shall be a Bishop duly 
 consecrated and settled, | he shall be considered as a Member 
 of the Convention, ex Officio. \ 
 
 VI. That the Clergy and Laity assembled in Convention, 
 shall deliberate in one | Body, but shall vote seperately ; and 
 the Concurrence of both shall be | necessary to give Validity 
 to every Measure. | 
 
 VII. That the first Meeting of the Convention shall be 
 at Pldladd'plda the | Tuesday before the Feast of St. Michael 
 next ; to which it is hoped and | earnestly desired, That the 
 Episcopal Churches in the respective States, | will send tlieir 
 Clerical and Lay Deputies, duly instructed and authorized | 
 to proceed on the necessary Business herein proposed for their 
 Deliberation. | 
 
 iSigned by Order of the Convention, \ 
 
 W^iLLiAM Smith, D.D., President* I 
 
 * Reprinted verhatim et literatim from Bishop White's copy 
 of " the short printed account of the proceedings of this meet- 
 ing," which tlie Bishop tells us in his "Memoirs of the 
 Church" (second edition, p. 80), " was in very few hands at 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 5 
 
 Among the archives of the General Convention 
 there is a paper endorsed by Bishop White " as in 
 y^ Hand writing of Dr. Wilham Smith, who pre- 
 sided," containing a few additional particulars with 
 reference to this preliminary meeting. From this 
 paper we learn that letters were read from the 
 clergy of Massachusetts and Connecticut, the pur- 
 port of which may be gathered from references 
 to them in Bishop White's " Memoirs of the 
 Church," and in the case of the communications 
 from the clergy of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, 
 from the original mss., which are still preserved 
 among the archives of the General Convention.* 
 The Connecticut clergy, with the co-operation of 
 some of their brethren in ]^ew-York, had already 
 taken measures for organization and for securing 
 the Episcopal office. Immediately on the prospect 
 of peace, ten of the clergy remaining in Connecticut 
 had convened at Woodbury and made choice of the 
 Rev. Samuel Seabury, D.D., as their Bishop, and 
 sent him abroad for consecration, with instructions 
 to seek it first from the Bishops of the Mother 
 Church of England, and, in the event of failure, to 
 apply to the Bishops of the Church in Scotland. 
 Pending the success of this application, the Con- 
 necticut clergy were unwilling to proceed further 
 
 the time, and is probably at this time generally destroyed and 
 lost," A limited edition (twenty-five only in number) of a, fac- 
 simile of this " Broadside " wag issued in Philadelphia in 1863, 
 copies of which can be distinguished with difBculty from the 
 two or three " originals" which still exist. 
 
 * Vide Bishop White's " Memoirs of the Church" (second 
 edition), pp. 80, 81 ; and Perry's *' Reprint of Early Jour- 
 nals," III., pp. 63-66. 
 
6 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 in tlie attempt to reorganize the Church, while 
 their bretliren of Massachusetts and Ehode Island, 
 though appointing the Rev. Samuel Parker, of 
 Boston, as their delegate to tlie meeting in New- 
 York, were unwilling to empower their representa- 
 tive Avith any further authority than " to deliberate 
 and propose." The ^' Fundamental Principles," 
 adopted at this preliminary meeting, were prepared 
 by a committee consisting of the Hev. Drs. Smith 
 and White, the Pev. Messrs. Parker and Provoost, 
 and Messrs. Clarkson, De Hart, Clay, and Duane ; 
 and this same committee were instructed to propose 
 " a proper substitute for the State Prayers in the 
 Liturgy," to be adopted for temporary use, but 
 neither the printed nor the ms. records in our 
 hands furnish any evidence that this duty was 
 performed. It was, however, recommended that a 
 committee of Clerical Examiners should be ap- 
 pointed in each State to consider the application of 
 persons desirous of ofliciating as lay readers, and 
 the congregations were advised not to suffer any 
 layman to officiate in their churches without the 
 certificate of these Examiners that they were duly 
 qualified. This was a matter of vital importance 
 at this time, when scores and even hmidreds of 
 churches were destitute of clerical ministrations. 
 Measures so practical and evincing such prudence 
 and care prove that it was under a profound sense 
 of the danger threatening their beloved church 
 that the clergy and laity, forming this preliminary 
 Convention, addressed themselves to their task, 
 and few as their numbers were, their faitli and zeal 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 7 
 
 reaped an abundant reward. Of the Clergy 
 present, four, White, Pro voost, Moore, and Parker, 
 became Bishops of the Church their labors helped to 
 perpetuate ; three. Smith, Griffith, and Ogden, were 
 Bishops-elect but were never consecrated ; while 
 one, Wharton, a recent convert from the Church of 
 Rome, w^as an unsuccessful candidate for this high 
 office. The laity, fewer still in number, were men 
 of note and reputation, and it was a fair augury 
 for the future of the Church that even in this its 
 darkest hour such worthy and reputable rej)resen- 
 tative men were found ready to further her for- 
 tunes or share her fate. 
 
THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 THE CONVENTION OF 1785. 
 
 By the first of the " Fundamental Principles" 
 agreed upon at the gathering in October, 1784, it 
 was determined " that there shall be a General 
 Convention of the Episcopal Church in the United 
 States of America," and the seventh of these 
 " Principles" designated Philadelphia as the place, 
 and " the Tuesday before the Feast of St. Michael " 
 as the time, of the first meeting. At the time 
 appointed, September 27th and 28th, 1785, sixteen 
 of the Clergy and twenty-six of the Laity, thirteen 
 of whom were from Pennsylvania and six from 
 Delaware, met and organized by the choice of tlie 
 Eev. Dr. White as President, and the Eev. David 
 Griffith, subsequently Bishop-elect of Virginia, as 
 Secretary. The " Fundamental Principles" of 
 1784 were considered and formally approved, with 
 the exception of the fourth, instead of which a 
 resolution was adopted — 
 
 " That a Committee be appointed, consisting of one clerical 
 and one lay deputy from the Church in each State, to consider 
 of and report such alterations in the Liturgy, as shall render it 
 consistent with the American Revolution and the Constitutions 
 of the respective States : and such further alterations in the 
 Liturgy as it may be advisable for this Convention to recom- 
 mend to the consideration of the Church here represented." 
 
OF THE AMEKICAN CHURCH. 9 
 
 The sixtli '' Fundamental Principle" was ex- 
 plained as meaning tliat tlie Deputies were to vote 
 \)j States and not individually. A committee was 
 also appointed to report a draft of an Ecclesiastical 
 Constitution for the Protestant Episcopal Church 
 in the United States of America, and to this com- 
 mittee was subsequently assigned the duty of 
 "preparing the necessary and proposed alterations 
 in the Liturgy." This committee, comprising the 
 moving spirits of the Convention, consisted of the 
 following members, namely : the Pev. Mr. Pro- 
 voost and the Hon. Mr. Duane, for New- York ; 
 tlie Pev. Mr. Beach and Mr. Dennis, for New- 
 Jersey ; the Pev. Dr. White and Mr. Peters, for 
 Pennsylvania; the Pev^ Dr. Wharton and Mr. 
 Sykes, for Delaware ; the Pev. Dr. Smith and Dr. 
 Cradock, for Maryland ; the Pev. Mr. Griffith and 
 Mr. Page, for Yirginia ; and the Pev. Dr. Purcell 
 and the Hon. Mr. Pead, for South-Carolina. 
 
 Thus on the very day of assembling, September 
 2Sth, the work of organization and revision was 
 fully entered upon. Two days later, on the 30th 
 of September, to this same committee w^as assigned 
 the further duty of preparing and reporting "a 
 plan for obtaining the consecration of Bishops, 
 together with an address to the Most Peverend the 
 Archbishops, and the Pight Peverend the Bishops 
 of the Cliurch of England for that purpose." On 
 Saturday, October 1st, the draft of alterations in 
 the Liturgy, the draft of a general Ecclesiastical 
 Constitution, and "the further alterations to be 
 proposed in the Liturgy/' wjere reported tq the 
 
10 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 Convention. On Monday, the 3d of October, the 
 task of considering these alterations, paragraph by 
 paragraph, was continued ; and on Tuesday, while 
 clerks w^ere transcribing the alterations in the 
 Liturgy, the Ecclesiastical Constitution w^as agreed 
 upon, and the address to the English Archbishops 
 and Bishops received. On AVednesday it was 
 
 Ordered, that the transcribed copy of the " Alterations in the 
 Liturgy, to render it consistent with the American Revolution 
 and the Constitution of the respective States," be read and 
 considered by paragraphs ; 
 
 which being done, there followed, thick and fast, 
 the final acceptance of the work of the Committee, 
 as shown in the action we give below from the 
 Journal of the Convention : 
 
 Resolved, — That the Liturgy shall be used in this Church as 
 accommodated to the Revolution, agreeably to the alterations 
 now approved of and ratified by this Convention, 
 
 On motion. Resolved, — That the Fourth of July shall be 
 observed by this Church for ever, as a day of thanksgiving to 
 Almighty God for the inestimable blessings of religious and 
 civil liberty vouchsafed to the United States of America. 
 
 On motion, Resolved, — That the first Tuesday in November in 
 every year for ever, shall be observed by this Church as a day 
 of general thanksgiving to Almighty God for the fruits of 
 the earth, and for all the other blessings of his merciful provi- 
 dence. 
 
 Ordered, that a Conmiittee be appointed to prepare a Form 
 of Prayer and Thanksgiving for the Fourth of July ; and a 
 Committee was accordingly appointed, viz., the Rev, Dr. 
 Smith, the' Rev, Dr. Magaw, the Rev. Dr. Wharton, and the 
 Rev. Mr. Campbell. 
 
 Ordered, that the alterations in the Liturgy to be proposed * 
 
 * The careful reader will notice that only the alterations 
 rendered necessary by the political changes which had taken 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHUKCll. 11 
 
 totliis Cliurcli, be read and considered by paragraphs; and tlie 
 Convention made some progress therein. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Smith, from the Committee to prepare a Form 
 of Prayer and Thanksgiving for the Fourth of July, reported 
 that they had prepared the same. 
 
 Ordered, that it be now received and read. 
 
 Ordered, that the said Report be read and considered by 
 paragraphs ; which being done, 
 
 Resolved,— liliSii the said form of prayer be used in this 
 Church, on the fourth of July, for ever. 
 
 Then the Convention adjourned to 6 o'clock this evening. 
 
 Wednesday Evening, 6 o'clock. 
 
 The Convention met according to adjournment. 
 
 Ordered, that the consideration of the proposed alterations 
 in the Liturgy be resumed. 
 
 Ordered, that the same be again read and considered by para- 
 graphs ; which being done, and tbe alterations agreed to, 
 
 Resolved,— 'Vli'A.i the said alterations be proposed and recom- 
 mended to the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the States from 
 which there are deputies to this Convention. 
 
 Ordered, that the alterations made in the articles be again 
 read ; which being done, 
 
 Ordered, that the same be read and considered by para- 
 graphs ; which being done, and some time spent thereon, 
 
 Resolved,— T\\2ii the Articles, as now altered, be recommend- 
 ed to this Church, to be by them adopted in the next General 
 
 Convention. 
 
 ******* 
 
 Resolved,— li\\sX a Committee be appointed to publish the 
 
 Book of Common Prayer with the alterations, as well as those 
 
 now ratified, in order to render the Liturgy consistent with the 
 
 American Revolution and the Constitutions- of the respective 
 
 place were adopted by this Convention, The further altera- 
 tions in the Liturgy which were printed in the ' ' Proposed 
 Book" and to which reference will be made subsequently, 
 were not adopted, but were merely proposed for the acceptance 
 of the Church in the various States. They were never adopted 
 by the Church. 
 
12 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 States, as the alterations and new offices recommended to this 
 Church ; and that the book be accompanied with a proper Pre- 
 face or Address, setting forth the reason and expediency of 
 the alterations ; and that the Committee have the liberty to 
 make verbal and grammatical corrections, but in such manner 
 as that nothing in form or substance be altered. 
 
 The Committee appointed were the Rev. Dr. White (Presi- 
 dent), the Rev. Dr. Smith, and the Rev. Dr. Wharton. 
 ******* 
 
 Jiesolved,— That the same Committee be authorized to pub- 
 lish, with the Book of Common Prayer, such of the reading 
 and singing Psalms, and such a Kalendar of proper lessons for 
 the different Sundays and Holy-days throughout the year, as 
 they may think proper. 
 
 ******* 
 
 0)1 motion, liesohed,— That the Rev. Dr. Smith be requested 
 to prepare and preach a sermon suited to the solemn occasion 
 of the present Convention on Friday next ; and that the 
 service be then read as proposed for future use. 
 
 Oil Friday, tlie Ttli of October, tlie Convention 
 attended divine service in Christ Chnrcli, Pliiladel- 
 pliia, and tlie Liturgy as altered was read by tlie 
 Eev. Dr. White, and a sermon suited to the occa- 
 sion was preaclied by the leading spirit in this work 
 of revision, the Eev. Dr. William Smith. The 
 same day the Convention of 1785 adjourned. 
 
 Our notice of this important session would not 
 be complete if we failed to give in full the Consti- 
 tution which it provided for the Church in the 
 United States. In view of subsequent changes, 
 and as embodying the principles underlying our 
 organization, this document becomes of the iirst im- 
 portance, and will claim the attentive study of all 
 who would acquaint themselves with our history or 
 the principles of our ecclesiastical legislation. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 13 
 
 A General Ecclesiastical Constitution op ihe Pro- 
 testant Episcopal Church in the United States of 
 America. 
 
 Whereas, in the course of Divine Providence, the Protestant 
 Episcopal Church in the United States of America is become 
 independent of all foreign authority, civil and ecclesiastical : 
 
 And whereas, at a meeting of Clerical and Lay Deputies of the 
 said Church, in sundry of the said States, viz., in the States of 
 Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New 
 Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland, held in the 
 city of New York on the 6th and 7th days of October, in the 
 year of our Lord, 1784, it was recommended to this Church in 
 tlie said States represented as aforesaid, and proposed to this 
 Church in the States not represented, that they should send 
 Deputies to a Convention to be held in the city of Philadelphia, 
 on the Tuesday before the Feast of St. Michael in this present 
 year, in order to unite in a Constitution of ecclesiastical gov- 
 ernment, agreeably to certain fundamental principles, express- 
 ed in the said recommendation and proposal. 
 
 And whereas, in consequence of the said recommendation 
 and proposal, Clerical and Lay Deputies have been duly ap> 
 pointed from the said Church in the States of New York, New 
 Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and 
 South Carolina. 
 
 The said Deputies being now assembled, and taking into 
 consideration the importance of maintaining uniformity in 
 doctrine, discipline and worship in the said Church, do here- 
 by determine, and declare, 
 
 I. That there shall be a General Convention of the Protes- 
 tant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, which 
 shall be held in the city of Philadelphia on the third Tuesday 
 in June, in the year of our Lord 1786, and for ever after once 
 in three years, on the third Tuesday of June, in such place as 
 shall be determined by the Convention ; and special meetings 
 may be held at such other times and in such place as shall be 
 hereafter provided for ; and this Church, in a majority of the 
 States aforesaid, shall be represented before they proceed to 
 business ; except that the representation of this Church from 
 
li THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 two States sliall be sufficient to adjourn ; and in all business of 
 the Convention freedom of debate shall be allowed. 
 
 II. There shall be a representation of both Clergy and Laity 
 of the Church in each State, which shall consist of one or more 
 Deputies, not exceeding four of each Order ; and in all ques- 
 tions, the said Church in each State shall have one vote ; and 
 a majority of suffrages shall be conclusive. 
 
 III. In the said Church in every State represented in this 
 Convention, there shall be a Convention consisting of the Clergy 
 and Lay Deputies of the congregation, 
 
 IV. " The Book of Common Prayer, and Administration of 
 the Sacraments and other Kites and Ceremonies of the Church, 
 according to the use of the Church of England," shall be con- 
 tinued to be used by this Church, as the same is altered by this 
 Convention, in a certain instrument of writing passed by their 
 authority, intituled, " Alterations of the Liturgy of the Protes- 
 tant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, in order 
 to render the same conformable to the American Revolution 
 and the Constitutions of the respective States. " 
 
 V. In every State where there shall be a Bishop duly conse- 
 crated and settled, and who shall have acceded to the articles 
 of this General Ecclesiastical Constitution, he shall be con- 
 sidered as a member of the Convention ex officio. 
 
 VI. The Bishop or Bishops in every State shall be chosen 
 agreeably to such rules as shall be fixed by the respective Con- 
 ventions ; and every Bishop of this Church shall confine the 
 exercise of his Episcopal office to his proper jurisdiction, unless 
 requested to ordain or confirm by any church destitute of a 
 Bishop. 
 
 VII. A Protestant Episcopal Church in any of the United 
 States not now represented, may at any time hereafter be ad 
 mitted, on acceding to the articles of this union. 
 
 VIII. Every clergyman, whether bishop, or presbyter, or 
 deacon, shall be amenable to the authority of the Convention 
 in the State to which he belongs, so far as relates to suspension 
 or removal from office ; and the Convention in each State shall 
 institute rules for their conduct, and an equitable mode of trial. 
 
 IX. And whereas it is represented to this Convention to be 
 the desire of the Protestant Episcoj)al Church in these States, 
 that there may be further alterations of the Liturgy than such 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 15 
 
 as are made necessary by the American Revolution ; therefore 
 the " Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacra- 
 ments and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, accord- 
 ing to the use of the Church of England," as altered by an in- 
 strument of writing passed under the authority of this Conven- 
 tion, intituled " Alterations ia the Book of Common Prayer 
 and Administration of the Sacraments and other Rites and 
 Ceremonies of the Church, according to the use of the Church 
 of England, proposed and recommended to the Protestant Epis- 
 copal Church in the United States of America," shall be used 
 in this Church when the same shall liave been ratified by the 
 Conventions which have respectively sent Deputies to this Ge- 
 neral Convention. 
 
 X. No person shall be ordained or permitted to officiate as a 
 minister in this Church, until he shall have subscribed the fol- 
 lowing declaration : "I do believe the Holy Scriptures of the 
 Old and New Testament to be the word of God, and to contain 
 all things necessary to salvation ; and I do solemnly engage to 
 conform to the doctrines and worship of the Protestant Episco- 
 pal Church, as settled and determined in the Book of Common 
 Prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments, set forth by 
 the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in 
 these United States." 
 
 XI. This General Ecclesiastical Constitution, when ratified 
 by the Church in the different States, shall be considered as 
 fundamental, and shall be unalterable by the Convention of the 
 Church in any State. * 
 
 The interesting and valual.)le " Memoirs of the 
 Church," bj Bishop) White, fnrnisli lis with infor- 
 mation respecting this Convention beyond the pub- 
 lished record of proceedings from which we have so 
 largely qnoted. Subsequent to the j^reliminary 
 
 * The student of this period of our history should consult 
 Bishop White's remarks upon this Constitution, which will be 
 found in the " Memoirs of the Church," pp. 96-99, and also in 
 the "Reprint of the Journals," already referred to, III., pp. 
 209-213. 
 
 \ 
 
16 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 meeting in Kcw-York in October, ITSJ:, tlie applica- 
 tion of the Clergy of Connecticut to the Bishops of 
 Scotland for the consecration of the Kev. Dr. Sea- 
 bury to the Episcopate had been successful, and ere 
 the assembling of the Convention of 1TS5, in Phila- 
 delphia, the Bishop of Connecticut had been gladly 
 received by the clergy of his diocese, which soon 
 practically embraced the whole of New-England, 
 and had entered npon his duties with apostolic zeal 
 and fidelity. The clergy of Connecticut, who, as 
 we have seen, had held aloof from co-operation with 
 their brethren of the Middle and Southern States 
 in their efforts for organization, in consequence of 
 their expectancy of securing a Bishop of their o^\ti, 
 and who had from the lirst deprecated the admission 
 of the laity into the councils of the Church, at once 
 invited the Southern clergy to meet them in Convo- 
 cation during the summer of 1785, at New-IIaven. 
 The reply from the Kev. Dr. White and the Philadel- 
 ])hia clergy was courteous and congratulatory, though 
 the invitation was declined. Instead of the meeting 
 in Connecticut, they nrged upon the Clergy at the 
 northward attendance upon the Convention of Phi- 
 ladelphia. These mutual offices of courtesy and 
 good-will opened the way for an interesting corre- 
 spondence between the Bishop of Connecticut and 
 Dr. William Smith, who had been elected to the 
 Episcopate of Maryland, and who was, perhaps, the 
 foremost man next to the judicious and amiable 
 AVliite in the work of organization undertaken at 
 the southward. In this letter, which was transmit- 
 ted through the llev. Dr. Thomas Bradbury Chand- 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 17 
 
 ler, of New-Jersej, — who had lately declined the 
 appointment to the Bishopric of Nova Scotia, ten- 
 dered him by the English Crown,— Bishop Seabury 
 stated his objections to sundry measures of the va- 
 rious preliminary conventions at the southward, at 
 the same time tendering his services in aid of the ef- 
 fort to secure the Episcopate in the English line, 
 and oif ering to ordain candidates for the Middle and 
 Southern States, until their application for a Bishop 
 of their own had met with success. The objections 
 urged by the Bishop of Connecticut were three — that 
 the fundamental principles were too many and too 
 precise ; that the power of the Bishops was too 
 much circumscribed ; and that the laity were admit- 
 ted into synods where they might " sit in judgment 
 on bishops and presbyters," even when deposition 
 might be the event. The Bishop waived his objec- 
 tions to giving the laity a voice in the choice of their 
 bishop, provided "party and confusion" could be 
 avoided, but counseled in this, as in all things, the 
 effort to bring " Church government as near to 
 the primitive pattern as may be." The letter clos- 
 ed with earnest expression of a desire for union, and 
 hearty prayers that tlie Spirit of God might be with 
 the approaching Convention in Philadelphia, of 
 which the Bishop well and wisely said, — " Its deter- 
 minations will influence many of the American 
 States, and posterity will be materially affected by 
 them." The letter was frank and dignified, express- 
 ed in the writer's usual courteous style, and was ac- 
 companied with a copy of the Bishop's letter of 
 conse^cration. The communication of this letter to 
 
18 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 the Philadelphia Convention excited '' some animad- 
 versions." Bishop White tells us that '' a few of 
 the lay gentlemen spoke more warmly than the oc- 
 casion seemed to justify, considering that the letter 
 appeared to contain the honest senthnents of the 
 Avriter, delivered in inoffensive terms."* But the 
 sound sense of the clergy, who remembered that 
 this expression of the Bishop's views was occasion- 
 ed by the invitation which had been extended to 
 him and to his clergy to be present at Philadelphia, 
 quieted the excitement and turned the whole agita- 
 tion to use in securing unanimity in the application 
 to England for the Episcopate. In fact, Bishop 
 Seabury indicated in his letter the means for secur- 
 ing this desired end. The action of the Convention 
 in this matter is summed up in the address and re- 
 solves which we append. With a few verbal altera- 
 tions, they are the composition of the excellent 
 White, and are well worthy of remembrance from 
 their dignified and courteous style, and the careful 
 avoidance of fawning or flattery. The resolutions 
 were as follows : — 
 
 Resolved : I. That tliis Convention address tlie Arclibish- 
 ops and Bishops of the Church of England, requesting thoni to 
 confer the Episcopal character on such persons as shall be cho- 
 sen and recommended to them for that purpose from the Con- 
 ventions of this Church in the respective States. 
 
 II. That it be recommended to the said Conventions that they 
 elect persons for this purpose. 
 
 III. That it be further recommended to the different Conven- 
 tions, at their next respective sessions, to appoint committees, 
 
 * Memoirs of the Church, p. 100. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 19 
 
 ■with powers to correspond with tlie English bishops, for the 
 carrying of these resohitions into effect ; and that until such 
 committees shall be appointed, they be requested to direct any 
 communications which they may be pleased to make on this 
 subject to the committee, consisting of the Rev, Dr. White, 
 (President), the Rev. Dr. Smith, the Rev. Mr. Provost, the Hon. 
 James Duane, and Samuel Powell and Richard Peters, Es- 
 quires. 
 
 IV. That it be further recommended to the different Conven- 
 tions, that they pay especial attention to the making it appear 
 to their Lordships, that the persons who shall be sent 'to them 
 for consecration are desired in the character of Bishops, as well 
 by the Laity as by the Clergy of this Church in the said States, 
 respectively ; and that they will be received by them in that 
 character on their return. 
 
 V. And in order to assure their Lordships of the legality of 
 the present proposed application, that the Deputies now assem- 
 bled be desired to make a respectful address to the civil rulers 
 of the States in which they respectively reside, to certify that 
 the said application is not contrary to the Constitutions and 
 laws of the same. 
 
 VI. And whereas the Bishops of this Church will not be en- 
 titled to any of such temporal honours as are due to the Arch- 
 bishops and Bishops of the Parent Church, in quality of Lords 
 of Parliament ; and whereas the reputation and usefulness 
 of our Bishops will considerably depend on their taking no 
 higher titles or stile than will be due to their spiritual employ- 
 ments ; that it be recommended to this Church, in the States 
 here represented, to provide that their respective Bishops may 
 be called " The Rt. Rev. A. B., Bishop of the Protestant Epis- 
 copal Church in C. D. ," and, as a Bishop, may have no other 
 title, and may not use any such stile as is usually descriptive 
 of temporal }x>wer and precedency. 
 
 To THE Most Reverend and Right Reverend the 
 Archbishops op Canterbury and York, and the 
 Bishops of the Church of England. 
 
 We the Clerical and Lay Deputies of the Protestant Episco- 
 pal Church in sundry of the United States of America, think it 
 
20 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 our duty to address your Lordships on a subject deeply in- 
 teresting, not only to ourselves and those whom we represent, 
 but, as we conceive, to the common cause of Christianity. 
 
 Our forefathers, when they left the land of their nativity, 
 did not leave the bosom of that Church over which your Lord- 
 ships now preside ; but, as well from a veneration for Episco- 
 pal government, as from an attachment to the admirable 
 services of our Liturgy, continued in willing connection with 
 their ecclesiastical superiors in England, and were subjected 
 to many local inconveniences, rather than break the unity of 
 the Church to which they belonged. 
 
 When it pleased the Supreme Ruler of the universe, that 
 this part of the British empire should be free, sovereign, and 
 independent, it became the most important concern of the 
 members of our Communion to provide for its continuance. 
 And while, in accomplishing of this, they kept in view that 
 Avise and liberal part of the system of the Church of England 
 which excludes as well the claiming as the acknowledging of 
 sucli spiritual subjection as may be inconsistent with the civil 
 duties of her children ; it was nevertheless their earnest desire 
 and resolution to retain the venerable form of Episcopal 
 government handed down to them, as they conceive, from the 
 time of the Apostles, and endeared to them by the remem- 
 brance of the holy Bishops of the primitive Church, of the 
 blessed Martyrs who reformed the doctrine and worship of the 
 Church of England, and of the many great and pious Prelates 
 who have adorned that Church in every succeeding age. But 
 however general the desire of compleating the Orders of our 
 Ministry, so diffused and unconnected were the members of 
 our Communion over this extensive country, that much time 
 and negociation were necessary for the forming a representative 
 body of the greater number of Episcopalians in these States ; 
 and owing to the same causes, it Avas not until this Convention 
 that sufficient powers could be procured for the addressing 
 your Lordships on this subject. 
 
 The petition which we offer to your Venerable Body is, — 
 that from a tender regard to the religious interests of thousands 
 in this rising empire, professing the same religious principles 
 with the Church of England, you will be pleased to confer the 
 Episcopal character on such persons as shall be recommended 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 21 
 
 by this Church in the several States here represented— full 
 satisfaction being given of the sufficiency of the persons recom- 
 mended, and of its being the intention of the general body of 
 the Episcopalians in the said States respectively, to receive 
 them in the quality of Bishops. 
 
 Whether this our request will meet with insurmountable 
 impediments, from the political regulations of the kingdom in 
 which your Lordships fill such distinguished stations, it is not 
 for us to foresee. We have not been ascertained that any 
 such will exist ; and are humbly of opinion, that as citizens of 
 these States, interested in their prosperity, and religiously re- 
 garding the allegiance which we owe them, it is to an ecclesi- 
 astical source only we can apply in the present exigency. 
 
 It may be of consequence to observe, that in these States 
 there is a separation between the concerns of policy and those 
 of religion ; that, accordingly, our civil rulers cannot officially 
 join in the present application ; that, however, we are far from 
 apprehending the opposition or even displeasure of any of 
 those honorable personages ; and finally, that in this business 
 we are justified by the Constitutions of the States, which are 
 the foundations and controul of all our laws. On this point 
 we beg leave to refer to the enclosed extracts from the Con- 
 stitutions of the respective States of which we are citizens, and 
 we flatter ourselves that they must be satisfactory. 
 
 Thus, we have stated to your Lordships the nature and the 
 grounds of our application ; which we have thought it most 
 respectful and most suitable to the magnitude of the object, to 
 address to your Lordships for your deliberation before any 
 person is sent over to carry them into effect. Whatever may 
 be the event, no time will efface the remembrance of the past 
 services of your Lordships and your predecessors. The Arch- 
 bishops of Canterbury were not prevented, even by the weighty 
 concerns of their high stations, from attending to the interests 
 of this distant branch of the Church under their care. The 
 Bishops of London were our Diocesans ; and the uninterrupted 
 although voluntary submission of our congregations, will re- 
 main a perpetual proof of their mild and paternal government. 
 All the Bishops of England, with other distinguished charac- 
 ters, as well ecclesiastical as civil, have concurred in forming 
 and carrying on the benevolent views of the Society for Pro- 
 
22 THE GENERAL CONVENTION" 
 
 pagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts : a Society to whom, 
 under God, the prosperity of our Churcli is in an eminent de- 
 gree to be ascribed. It is our earnest wish to be permitted to 
 make, through your Lordships, this just acknowledgment to 
 that venerable Society ; a tribute of gratitude which we the 
 rather take this opportunity of paying, as while they thought 
 it necessary to withdraw their pecuniary at^sistance from our 
 Ministers, they have endeared their past favors by a benevolent 
 declaration, that it is far from their thoughts to alienate their 
 affection from their brethren now under another government — 
 with the pious wish, that their former exertions may still con- 
 tinue to bring forth the fruits they aimed at of pure religion 
 and virtue. Our hearts are penetrated with the most lively 
 gratitude by these generous sentiments ; the long succession 
 of former benefits passes in review before us ; we pray that our 
 Church may be a lasting monument of the usefulness of so 
 worthy a body ; and that her sons may never cease to be kindly 
 aifectioned to the members of that Church, the Fathers of which 
 have so tenderly watched over her infancy. 
 
 For your Lordships in particular, we most sincerely wish and 
 pray, that you may long continue the ornaments of the Church 
 of England, and at last receive the reward of the righteous 
 from the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls. 
 
 We are, with all the respect which is due to your exalted 
 and venerable characters and stations, 
 Your Lordships 
 
 Most obedient and 
 
 Most humble Servants, 
 Signed by the CiiERicAL and Lay Deputies 
 OF THE Convention. 
 In Convention : 
 Christ Church, Philadelphia, 
 October 5th, 1785. 
 
 Full as has been our presentation of the action 
 of tlie Convention of 1785, we should greatly err 
 if we dismissed its consideration w^ithout tracing 
 still farther than we may learn from the extracts 
 from the records which we have given, the story 
 
OF THE A]\[EKICAN CHUKCIT. 23 
 
 of the preparation and reception of tlie " Proposed 
 Book," as it has always been styled." We turn 
 from the pages of the Journal, which indicate with 
 sufficient clearness the haste with which the altera- 
 tions were proposed and tentatively adopted, to the 
 MS. authorities in the archives of the Church, and 
 to the brief but pertinent recollections of Bishop 
 White, for the fuller history of these liturgical 
 changes. As the result of the action of the Con- 
 vention, certain alterations rendered imj^erative 
 by the issue of the war for independence were 
 ^' aj)proved of and ratified. "f Further changes, 
 comprising a thorough review of the Liturgy and 
 Articles of Keligion, were " proposed and recom- 
 mended ":}: for adoption at a subsequent Conven- 
 tion. These alterations, ]3repared by a subdivision 
 of the Committee on tlie changes in the Prayer 
 Book, were presented to the Convention without 
 reconsideration by the whole Committee ; and even 
 in Convention " there were but few points canvassed 
 with any material difference of opinion. "§ These 
 changes were mainly the work of the Rev. Dr. 
 William Smith, a giftod but erratic man, who re- 
 ceived the thanks of the Convention for the as- 
 sistance he thus rendered in perfecting the press- 
 ing business before them ; and to whom, with the 
 
 * Nothing can be more incorrect and wanting in historical 
 accuracy than to speak of this vohime as the " Bishop White 
 Prayer Book." If any name were thus to be used in connection 
 with this compilation, it should be that of the Rev. Dr. Wil- 
 liam Smith. 
 
 f Journal of a Convention, etc., 1785, p. 12. 
 
 :t Ibid., pp. 12,13. 
 
 § Bishop White, Memoirs of the Church, p. 103. 
 
24 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 Rev. Drs. White and Wharton, the duty of pub- 
 lishing the " Proposed Book " was specially assign- 
 ed. Authority was given to this Committee to 
 prepare '^ a proper preface or address, setting forth 
 the reason and expediency of the alterations.'''" 
 Permission was accorded to them '' to make verbal 
 and grammatical corrections ; but in such a man- 
 ner, that nothing in form or substance be alter- 
 ed ;"f and the preparation and publication of a 
 Psalter, a Kalendar of proper Lessons and Metrical 
 Psalms was also made their duty. With these 
 ample powers the Committee set about their work ; 
 Dr. White, the chairman, at Philadelphia, Dr. 
 Smith, at his college and parish in Maryland, and 
 Dr. Wharton of Delaware, by an occasional com- 
 munication and by a visit now and then to his col- 
 leagues, all engaged and deeply interested in their 
 task. Few more interesting or instructive contri- 
 butions to our ecclesiastical history are to be found 
 than the familiar and often carelessly written com- 
 munications, prepared with no idea of preservation 
 and much less with a view to publication, which 
 passed between the members of the Commit- 
 tee in the prosecution of their work. It was 
 only as the result of an after-thought on the part of 
 Dr. Smith that these letters were preserved at all, 
 and passing subsequently into the hands of Bishop 
 White and forming a portion of his papers now on 
 tile among the archives of the Church, they are 
 
 * Journal of a Convention, etc., 1785, p. 17. 
 t Ibid. ^ 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 25 
 
 printed in Ml among the illustrative notes and doc- 
 uments appended to the Keprint of Journals of Gen- 
 eral Conventions issued under authority of the Con- 
 vention itself.* The alterations themselves, printed 
 from the original mss. still preserved among the 
 Archives of the Church, we give below.f Theii 
 importance as exhibiting the doctrinal and liturgi- 
 cal views of the leading men who moulded our insti- 
 tutions and settled our discipline and worship at 
 this epoch of our history can not be over-estimated. 
 Events now occurring make this record one of 
 value ; and no one careful to acquaint himself with 
 the history of the Church or the Convention will 
 be repelled by the requirement of time and atten- 
 tion which their study demands. 
 
 Alterations agreed upon & confirmed in Convention for ren- 
 dering the Liturgy conformable to the Principles of the 
 American Revolution, and the Constitutions of the several 
 States. 
 
 1. That in the suffrages after the Creed, instead of Lord, 
 save the King, be said Lord, Mess & preserve these United 
 
 Statts. 
 
 2d. That the prayer for the Royal family, in morning & 
 
 evening service, be omitted. 
 
 3d. That in the Litany the 15th, 16th, 17th, & 18th petitions 
 be omitted, and that instead of the 20th & 21st petitions, be 
 substituted the following— T/mi it may please Thee to endue 
 the Congress of these United States, & all others in authority 
 
 * Vide vol. iii., pp. 109, 110, 125, 198. . 
 
 + Thev are also contained in Bishop Whites Memoirs, pp. 
 363-377' and in Perry's Introduction to Proctor on the Com- 
 mon Prayer (New-York, 1868), pp. xiv.— xxvi. Vide also 
 Perry's Reprint of the Journals of Early Conventions, IIL, pp. 
 110-125. 
 
20 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 legislative execidive^ & Judicial with grace, ivisdom & under- 
 standing, to execute Justice and to maititaiii truth. 
 
 4tli. That when the Litany ia not said, the prayer for the 
 high Court of Parliament be thus altered,—" Most gracious God, 
 we humbly beseech thee, as for these United States in general, so 
 especially for their Delegates i)i Congress, that thou wouldest he 
 pleased to direct & prosjmr all their consultations to the advance- 
 ment of thy glory, the good of thy Church, the safety, honour & 
 icelfare of thy people, that all things may he so ordered & settled 
 hy their endeavors upon the best & surest foundations, that 
 2)eace & happiness, truth & justice, religion & 'piety, may he es- 
 tablished among us for all generations," &c. to the end, k y" 
 " Prayer for the K'gs Majesty," altered as follows : viz. — A 
 Prayer for our civil Rulers. Lord, our heavenly Father, 
 y^ high & mighty Uuler of y" Universe, who dost from thy 
 Throne, behold all y^ Dioellers upon Earth; most heartily we 
 beffcech thee, with thy Favour to behold all in Authority, legisla- 
 tive, executive and Judicial in these United States; & so re- 
 plenish them with y^ Grace of thy holy Spirit, that they may 
 aZicay incline to thy loill & walk in thy way. Endue them 
 plenteously with heavenly Gifts, grant them in Health cfc Wealth 
 long to live & that after this Life, they may attain everlasting 
 Joy cf; Felicity, through Jesus X' our Lord. Amen. 
 
 5tli, That the 1st. Collect for the King in the Communion 
 Service be omitted, and that the Second be altered as follows 
 — instead of " the hearts of Kings are in thy rule & governance" 
 be said — " That the hearts of all Rulers are in thy governance, 
 &c., and instead of the words — heart of George thy servant, 
 insert, — so to direct the Rulers of these states, that in all their 
 thoughts, (&c." changing the singular pronouns to the plural. 
 
 7th. That in the answer in the Catechism to the question — 
 What is thy duty towards thy neighbour? for to honour and 
 obey the king, be substituted — to honour & obey my civil rulers, 
 to submit myself, &c. 
 
 8th. That instead of the observation of the 5th of Novem- 
 b(!r, the 30th of January, the 29th of May, & the 25th of Oc- 
 tober, y« following service be used on y*-' 4th of July, being 
 the Anniversary of Independence. 
 
 9th. That in y« Forms of Prayer to be used at Sea, in y" 
 Prayer " eternal God, dc" instead of these Words—" unto 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 27 
 
 our most gracious Sovereign Lord K. George and Ms King- 
 doms," be inserted y« Words— " to the U. States of A." ^nd 
 that instead of the Word ''Island" be inserted y« Word 
 " Country ; & in y« Collect " Almighty Ood, y' Sovereign 
 Commander," be omitted y« Words—" y' Honour of our Sove- 
 reign," & the Words " r honour of our Country" inserted. 
 
 Service for the ^th of July. 
 
 With ye sentences before Morning & Evening Prayer. 
 The Lord hath been mindful of us, and he shall bless us ; 
 he shall bless them that fear him, both small & great. O that 
 men would therefore praise the Lord, for his Goodness, and 
 declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of men. 
 
 Hymn, instead of the Venite. 
 
 My Song shall be alway of the loving kindness of the Lord : 
 with my mouth will I ever be showing forth his truth from 
 one generation to another. \^Psal. 89 : 1.] 
 
 The merciful and gracious Lord hath so done his marvellous 
 works : that they ought to be had in remembrance. {PsaL 
 111 : 4.] 
 
 Who can express the noble acts of the Lord : or show forth 
 all his praise ? [Psal. 106 : 2.] 
 
 The works of the Lord are great : sought out of all them 
 that have pleasure therein. {Psal. Ill : 2,] 
 
 For he will not always be chiding : neither keepeth he his 
 anger for ever. [Psal. 103 : 9. J 
 
 He hath not dealt with us after our sins : nor rewarded us 
 according to our wickedness. [Verse 10.] 
 
 For look how high the heaven is in comparison of the earth ; 
 so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. [ Verse 11.] 
 
 Yea, like as a father pitieth his own children : even so is 
 the Lord merciful unto them that fear him. [ Verse 11.] 
 
 Thou, O God, hast proved us : thou also hast tried us, like 
 as silver is tried. [Psal. 66 : 9.] 
 
 Thou didst remember us in our low estate, and redeem us 
 from our enemies : for thy mercy endureth for ever. [Psal. 
 136 : 23, 24.] 
 
28 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 Proper Psalms, 118, except v. 10, 11, 12, 13, 22d, 2ad, to con- 
 clude with V. 24. 
 
 1. Lesson — Deut. 8. 2d. Less : Tliess. 5, verse 12th — 33d, 
 both inclusive. 
 
 Collect for the day. 
 
 Almighty God, who hast in all ages showed forth thy power 
 & mercy in the wonderful preservation of thy church, and in 
 the protection of every nation & people professing thy holy and 
 eternal truth, and putting their sure trust in thee ; We yield 
 thee our unfeigned thanks and praise for all thy public mer- 
 cies, and more especially for that signal and wonderful mani- 
 festation of thy Providence which we commemorate this day ; 
 wherefore not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy Name 
 be ascribed all honour and glory, in all churches of the Saints, 
 from generation to generation, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 Amen. 
 
 A Tlianksgwing for the day, to be said after the General 
 Thanksgiving. 
 
 O God, whose Name is excellent in all the earth, and thy 
 Glory above the heavens ; who as on this day didst inspire and 
 direct the hearts of our Delegates in Congress, to lay the per- 
 petual foundations of peace, liberty & safety ; we bless and 
 adore thy glorious Majesty, for this thy loving kindness & Pro- 
 vidence. And we humbly pray that the devout sense of this 
 signal mercy may renew and increase in us a Spirit of love & 
 thankfulness to thee its only author, a Spirit of peaceable sub- 
 mission to the laws & government of our country, and a spirit of 
 fervent zeal for our holy religion, which thou hast preserved & 
 secured to us and our posterity. May we improve these ines- 
 timable blessings for the advancement of religion, liberty, and 
 science throughout this land, 'till the wilderness and solitary 
 place be made glad throuj^h us, and the Desert rejoice & blos- 
 Bom as the rose. This we beg, etc.* 
 
 * The Epistle and the Gospel were added by the committee, 
 agreeably to an authority which they conceived to be vested in 
 them. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHUKCH. 29 
 
 Alterations in y® Book of Common Prayer & Administration 
 of y^ Sacraments, & otlier Rites & Ceremonies of y^ Church, 
 according to y^ Use of y® Ch^^ of Engl'^ proposed & recommend- 
 ed to y« Prot* Epis* Church in y« U. States of America.* 
 
 Tlie Order for Morning Service Daily throughout the year. 
 
 The following Sentences of Scripture are ordered to be 
 prefixed to the usual Sentences, viz. — 
 
 1. The Lord is in his Holy Temple ; let all the Earth keep 
 silence before Him. Hah. 2 : 20.f 
 
 From the Rising of the Sun to the Going down of the Same, 
 my Name shall be great among the Gentiles, and in every 
 Place Incense shall be offered unto my Name, and a pure Of- 
 fering ; for my Name shall be great among the Heathen, saith 
 the Lord of Hosts. Malachi [1 : 11.] 
 
 [Let the words of my Mouth, and the meditation of my Heart, 
 be alway acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my Strength and 
 my Redeemer. Psal. 19 : 14.] :}: 
 
 2. That the Rubric preceding the Absolution be altered 
 thus — "A declaration to he made hy the Minister alone, standing, 
 concerning the forgiveness of Sins." % 
 
 3. That, in the Lord's prayer, the word who be substituted 
 in lieu of which, and that those who trespass stand instead of 
 ''them that trespass^' 
 
 4. That the Gloria Patri be omitted after the " come let us 
 sing," and in every other Place, where, by the present Rubric, 
 it is ordered to be inserted, to "the end of the" Reading 
 Psalms, when shall be said or sung Gloria Patri, &c. , or Glwy 
 "be to God on high, and in earth peace, good-will toicards men, 
 d'C, at y*^ discretion of y« Minister. 
 
 5. That in the Te Deum, instead of honourahle it be adora- 
 ble, true, and only Son, and, instead of didst not abhor the Vir- 
 gin's womb — didst humble thyself to he horn of a pure Virgin. 
 
 6. That until a proper selection of Psalms be made, each 
 Minister be allowed to use such as he may chuse. 
 
 * In the handwriting of Bishop White. 
 
 \ The words, " N.B. — A solemn pause here," are stricken 
 out. 
 
 X Not in the MS., nor in the " Proposed Book." 
 § Transposed in the " Proposed Book." 
 
80 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 7. That tlie same liberty be allowed, respecting tlie lessons. 
 
 8. Tbat the article in the Apostles Creed, He descended into 
 Hell, be omitted. 
 
 9. That the Athanasian and the Nicene Creeds be entirely- 
 omitted. 
 
 10. That after the Response, ''and with tJiy Spirit," aW he 
 omitted to the words, Lord show thy mercy upon its, which 
 the Minister shall pronounce still kneeling. 
 
 11. That in the ^n&rage," make thy cJiosen People joyful," the 
 word chosen be omitted, and also the following Suffrages, to 
 "0 God make clean our hearts wit?dn us." 
 
 12. That the Rubric after these words, " and take not thy 
 Holy Spirit from us," be omitted. Then the two collects to be 
 said : in y« collect for grace, y® words, "he ordered," to be omit- 
 ted, & y^ word " he " inserted, instead of "to do always that is." 
 
 13. In the collect for the Clergy and People, read Almighty 
 and everlasting God, send doiDn upon all BisJiops and other Pas- 
 tors, and the Congregations committed, &c., to the end. 
 
 14.* 
 
 15. That the Lord's prayer after the Litany, and the subse- 
 quent Rubrick, be omitted. 
 
 16. That the short Litany be read as follows, " Son of God, 
 we heseech thee to hear us. Son of God, ice heseech thee 
 to hear us. Lamh of God, that takest away the sins of the 
 World, Grant us thy peace. Christ, hear us. Lord, have 
 mercy upon us and deal 7iot with us according to our Sins, nei- 
 ther reward us according to our iniquities." After which, omit 
 the words, "Let us pray." 
 
 17. Tliat the Gloria Patri, after Lord arise, dr., be omit- 
 ted ; as also Let us pray, after we put our trust in thee. 
 
 18. That in the following prayer, instead of righteously hare 
 deserved, it he justly have deserved. 
 
 19. That in the 1st. warning for Communion, the word dam- 
 nation, following these words increase your, (tc, be read con- 
 demnation ; and the two j)aragraphs after these words, or else 
 
 * Here is a mistake in the Manuscript : the article being 
 found to be a repetition of part of the 4th. Vide Bp. White's 
 Memoirs of the Church, p. 867, where " 18th " is a misprint for 
 "4th." 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 31 
 
 come not to that holy table, be omitted, & tlie following one be 
 read," & if there he any of you, who hy these means, cannot quiet 
 their conscience, d:c." The words, learned and discreet, epithets 
 given to the ministers, to be also omitted. 
 
 20. In the exhortation to the communion, let it run thus— 
 "For as the benefit is great, &c., to drink his blood, so is the 
 danger great, if we receive the same unworthily. Judge there- 
 fore yourselves, &c." 
 
 21. That in the rubrick preceeding the absolution, instead of 
 pronounce this absolution, it be, Then shall the minister stand 
 up, & turning to the people, say. 
 
 22. That in the baptism of infants, parents may be admitted 
 as Sponsors. 
 
 23. That the minister, in speaking to the Sponsors, after 
 these words, vouchsafe to release him, say — release him from Sin, 
 & in the second prayer, instead of remission of his Sins, read 
 remission of Sin. 
 
 24. That in y« questions add'^ to the Sponsors, & y« An- 
 swers, instead of y* present Form, it be as follows — 
 
 25. Dost thou believe the articles of the christian faith, as con- 
 tained in the Apostles' creed, and icilt thou endeavour to 7iave 
 this child instructed accordingly ? Answ : / do believe them, 
 and, by God's help, will endeavour so to do. 
 
 Wilt thou endeavour to have him brought up in ^ the fear of 
 God, and to obey God's holy will & commandments f Answ : / 
 yyill, by God's assistance. 
 
 26. That the sign of ihe cross may be omitted, if particularly 
 desired by the Sponsors or Parents, and the prayer to be thus 
 altered (by the direction of a short rubric) We receive this child 
 into the congregation of Christ's flock, & pray that hereafter he 
 may never be ashamed, &c., to the end. 
 
 27. That the address. Seeing now dearly beloved, &c. be 
 omitted. 
 
 28. That the prayer after the Lord's prayer, be thus chang- 
 ed. We yield thee hearty thanks, &c. to receive this Infant as 
 thine otcn child by baptism, & to incorporate him, dc. 
 
 29. That in the following exhortation, the words to renounce 
 the devil and all his works, and in the charge to the Sponsors, 
 the words vulgar tongue be omitted. 
 
32 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 30. That the forms of private baptism & of Confirmation, be 
 made conformable to tliese alterations, 
 
 31. That in the exhortation before matrimony, all between 
 these words holy matrimony, & thtrefore if any man, &c., be 
 omitted. 
 
 32. That the words I plight thee my troth be omitted in both 
 places, and also the words icith my body I thee worship ; and 
 also pledged their troth either to other. 
 
 33. That all after the blessing be omitted. 
 
 34. In the Burial Service, instead of the two Psalms, take 
 the following verses of both, viz. Ps. 39, Verses 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 
 13, & Psalm 90, to v. 13. In y« Rubric, y« words " iinlaptied 
 or " be omitted. 
 
 For the Declaration & form of interment, beginning — Foras- 
 much as, &c., insert the following — viz. "Forasmuch as it 
 hath pleased Almighty God, in his loise Providence, to take out of 
 this world the soul of our deceased brother {sister) lying noicbefore 
 us ; We therefore commit his [her) body to the ground, earth to 
 earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust ; (thus at sea — to the deep to 
 be turned into corruption) looking for the general resurrection in 
 the last day, and the life of the world to come, thro' our Lord 
 Jesus Christ ; at whose second coming in glorioits Majesty, to 
 judge the icorld, the earth and the sea shall give up their dead, 
 and the corruptible bodies of those who sleep in him shall be 
 changed, and made like unto his own glorious body, according to 
 the mighty icorking, whereby he is able to subdue all things unto 
 Himself" 
 
 In the sentence " / heard a voice, tfr." insert " icho " for 
 " which." 
 
 The prayer following the Lord's prayer to be omitted. In 
 tlie next collect, leave out the words "as our hope is this our 
 brother doth." For i7ie7n that insert those who. 
 
 35. In the visitation of the Sick, instead of the absolution as 
 it now stands, insert the declaration of forgiveness which is 
 appointed for the communion Service, or, either of the two col- 
 lects, which are taken from the Commination office, and appro- 
 priated to Ash Wednesday may be used. 
 
 In the Psalm, omit the 3d, 6th, 8th, 9th, & 11th verses. In 
 the "Commendatory prayer," for miserable & naughty say 
 " Vain & miserable." Strike out the word purged. 
 
" OF THE AMERICAN CHL:KCH. 33 
 
 In the prayer " for persons troubled in mind " omit all tliat 
 stands between the words "afflicted Servant,'' and ''his Soul is 
 full &c. , & instead thereof say " afflicted Servant, ichose Soul is 
 full of trouble," & strike out the particle "But" & proceed, " 
 merciful God," &c. 
 
 36. A form of Prayer & visitation of Prisoners for notorious 
 crimes, and especially persons under sentence of death, being 
 much wanted, the form entituled "Prayers for persons un- 
 der sentence of death, agreed upon in a Synod of the Arch- 
 bishops and bishops, and the rest of the clergy of Ireland, at 
 Dublin, in the year 1711," as it now stands in the book of Com- 
 mon Prayer of the church of Ireland, is agreed upon, and or- 
 dered to be adopted, with the following alterations, viz : 
 
 For the absolution, take the same declaration of forgiveness, 
 or either of the Collects above directed for the visitation of the 
 Sick. The sliort Collect "0 Saviour of the world," to be left out, 
 & for the word Frailness say Frailty. 
 
 37. In the Catechism, besides the alteration respecting the 
 civil Powers, alter as follows : viz. What is your name ? N. 
 M. When did you receive this name ? I received it in Bap- 
 tism, whereby I became a member of the Christian Church. 
 What was promised for you in Baptism ? That I should be in- 
 structed to believe the articles of the Christian faith, as con- 
 tained in the Apostles' Creed, & to obey God's Holy Will, and 
 keep his commandments. 
 
 '• Dost thou think thou art hound to believe all the articles of 
 th", Christian faith, as contained in this Creed, and t> obey God's 
 Holy Will & keep his Commandme7its f" " Yes verily," &c. 
 
 Instead of the words " verily & indeed taken," say — " Spirit- 
 ually taken.'' 
 
 Answer to Question Hoic many sacraments ? " Two, Baptism 
 & y^ Lord's Supper." 
 
 38. Instead of a particular Service for the Churching of 
 women, & Psalms, the following special prayer is to be intro- 
 duced, after the General Thanksgiving ; viz. This to be said, 
 when any Woman desires to return thanks, &c. " Almighty 
 God, we give thee most humble & hearty thanks, for that thou 
 
 'hast been graciously pleased to preserve this Woman, thy 
 Servant, through the great Pains and Perils of childbirth. 
 Incline her, we beseech thee, to show forth Her Thankfulness, 
 
81 THE GENERAL CONVEXTION" 
 
 for this thy great mercy, not only Avitli lier lips, but by a holy 
 and virtuous life. Be pleased, O God, so to establish her 
 health, that she may lead the remainder of her days to thy 
 Honour &, Glory, thro' Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen." 
 
 39. The Comminatlon office for Ash Wednesday to be discon- 
 tinued,* and therefore the three collects, the first beginning, 
 1**. " Lord, we beseech thee,'' — 2°^^. " most mighty God," — 3'"'. 
 " Turn us, Good Lord,'' shall be continued among the occa- 
 sional prayers ; and used after the Collect on Ash Wednesday, 
 and on such other occasions as the Minister shall think fit. 
 
 Ar'ticles of Ueligion. 
 
 1. Of Faith ill' the Holy Trinity. 
 
 There is but one living, true, and eternal God, the Father 
 Almighty, without body, parts or passions ; of infinite power, 
 wisdom and goodness ; the maker and preserver of all things, 
 both visible and invisible : and One Lord Jesus Christ, Son of 
 God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, very and true 
 God ; who came down from heaven, took man's nature in the 
 womb of the blessed Virgin of her substance, and was God and 
 man in one person, whereof is one Christ ; who truly suffered, 
 Avas crucified, dead and buried, to reconcile his Father to us, 
 and to be a sacrifice for the sins of all men ; He rose again from 
 death, ascended into Heaven, and there sitteth untill he shall 
 return to judge the world at the last day : and one Holy Spirit, 
 the Lord & giver of Life, of the same divine nature with the 
 Father and the Son. 
 
 2. Of the sufficiency of the Holy Scnptures for Salvation. 
 
 Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation : 
 so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved 
 thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be 
 believed as an Article of Faith, or be thought requisite or neces- 
 
 * The words " as it is considered rather as a discouragement 
 to sincere Christians from coming to church on that day, than 
 an encouragement," Avhich are in the MS., are stricken out. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHUKCH. 35 
 
 sary to salvation. In the name of the Holy Scriptures we do 
 understand the canonical Books of the Old & New Testament. 
 
 Of the names & numbers of the Canonical Books. 
 
 Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua 
 Judges, Ruth, The 1st book of Samuel, The 2d book of'samuel' 
 The 1st book of Kings, The 2d book of Kings, The 1st book of 
 Chronicles, The 2d book of Chronicles, The 1st book of Esdras 
 The 2d book of Esdras, The book of Hester, The book of Job' 
 The Psalms, The Proverbs, Ecclesiastes or Preacher, Cantica 
 or Songs of Solomon, Four Prophets the greater, Twelve Pro- 
 phets the Lesser. 
 
 And the other Books the Church doth read for example of 
 life, and instruction of manners ; but yet doth it not apply 
 them to establish any doctrine : such are these following. 
 
 The 3d Book of Esdras, The 4th Book of Esdras, The Book 
 of Tobias, The Book of Judith, The rest of the book of Hester, 
 The book of Wisdom, Jesus the son of Sirach, Baruch the 
 Prophet, The Song of the three Children, The story of Susanna, 
 Of Bel and the Dragon, The prayer of Manasses, The 1st book 
 of Maccabees, The 2d book of Maccabees. 
 
 All the books of the New Testament, as they are commonly 
 received, We do receive and account them canonical. 
 
 3. Of the Old & New Testament. 
 
 There is a perfect harmony and agreement between the old 
 Testament and the new, for in both everlasting life is offered 
 to mankind by Christ, who is the only Mediator between God 
 and man ; being both God & man : and altho' the law given by 
 Moses, as to ceremonies & the civil precepts of it, doth not bind 
 Christians : yet all such are oblig'd to observe the moral com- 
 mandments which he delivered. 
 
 4. Of Creeds. 
 
 The creed, commonly called the Apostles' Creed, ought to be 
 received k believed ; because it may be proved by the Holy 
 Scriptures. 
 
36 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 5. Of Original Sin. 
 
 By tlie fall of Adam, the nature of man is become so corrupt, 
 as to be greatly depraved, having departed from its primitive 
 innocence, and that original righteousness in which it was at 
 first created by God, For we are now so naturally inclined to 
 do evil that the flesh is continually striving to act contrary to 
 the Spirit of God, which corrupt inclination still remains even 
 in the regenerate ; but tho' there is no man living who sinneth 
 not ; yet we must use our sincere endeavors to keep the whole 
 law of God, so far as we possibly can. 
 
 6. Of Free Will 
 
 The Condition of man after the fall of Adam is such, that 
 he cannot turn and prepare himself by his C)wn natural strength 
 and good works to faith and calling upon God : Wherefore we 
 have no power to do good works, pleasing and acceptable to 
 God, without the grace of God by Christ giving us a good will, 
 and working with us, when we have that good will. 
 
 7. Of the Justification of Man. 
 
 We are accounted righteous before God only for the merit of 
 our Lord k Saviour Jesus Christ by faith, & not for our own 
 works, or deservings. Wherefore that we are justified by faith 
 only, is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort. 
 
 8. Of Good Works. 
 
 Albeit that good works, which are the fruits of Faith & fol- 
 low after Justification, cannot put away our sins, & endure the 
 severity of God's judgment ; yet are they pleasing & accept- 
 able to God in Christ, & do spring out necessarily of a true & 
 lively faith, insomuch that by them a lively faith may be p,s 
 evidently known, as a Tree discerned by the Fruit. 
 
 9. Of Christ alone without Sin. 
 
 Christ by taking human nature on him, was made like unto 
 us in all things, sm only excepted. He was a lamb without 
 spot ; and by the sacrifice of himself once offered, made atone- 
 ment & propitiation for the sins of the world ; and sin was not 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 37 
 
 in him. But all mankind besides, tlio' baptized & born again 
 in Christ, do ofEend in many things. For if we say we have 
 no Sin, we deceive ourselves, & the truth is not in us. 
 
 10. Of Sin after Baptism. 
 
 They who fall into Sin after Baptism may be renewed by 
 repentance ; for tho' after we have received God's grace, we 
 may depart from it by falling into sin ; yet, thro' the assistance 
 of his Holy Spirit, we may by repentance & the amendment of 
 our lives, be restored again to his favour. God will not deny 
 repentance of sins to those who truly repent, and do that which 
 is lawful & right ; but all such thro' his mercy in Christ Jesus, 
 shall save their souls alive. 
 
 11. [Of Predestination-I 
 
 Predestination to Life, with respect to every man's salvation, 
 is the everlasting purpose of God, secret to us : and the right 
 knowledge of what is revealed concerning it, is full of comfort 
 to such truly religious Christians, as feel in themselves the 
 Spirit of Christ, mortifying the works of their flesh and their 
 earthly affections, & raising their minds to heavenly things. 
 But we must receive God's promises as they be generally de- 
 clared in Holy Scripture, and do his will, as therein is expressly 
 directed ; for without Holiness of Life no man shall be saved. 
 
 12. Of obtaining Eternal Salvation only hy the Name of Gliriat. 
 
 They are to be accounted presumptuous, who say, that every 
 man shall be saved by the Law or Sect which he professeth, 
 so that he be diligent to frame his life according to that Law, 
 and the light of nature. For Holy Scripture doth set out unto 
 us, only the Name of Jes. Christ, whereby men must be saved. 
 
 13. Of the Church and its authority. 
 
 The visible Church of Christ is a congregation of faithful 
 men, wherein the pure word of God is preached, & the 
 sacraments are duly administered, according to Christ's ordi- 
 nance in all things necessary & requisite : And every Church 
 hath power to ordain, change & abolish rites & ceremonies, 
 
88 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 for the more decent order & good government thereof, so 
 that all things be done to edifying. But it is not lawful for 
 the Church to ordain anything contrary to God's word ; nor 
 so to expound the Scripture, as to make one part seem re- 
 pugnant to another ; nor to- decree or enforce anything to be 
 believed as necessary to salvation, that is contrary to God's 
 holy word. General councils & Churches are liable to err, & 
 have erred, even in matters of Faith & Doctrine, as well as in 
 their ceremonies. 
 
 14. Of Ministering i/i the Congregation. 
 It is not lawful for any man to take upon him the office of 
 public preaching, or ministering the Sacraments in the Con- 
 gregation, before he be lawfully called, and sent to execute 
 the same. And those we ought to judge lawfully called & 
 sent, who are chosen & called to this work by men who have 
 public authority given unto them in the^ congregation, to call 
 & send Ministers into the Lord's vineyard. 
 
 15. Of the Sacraments. 
 
 Sacraments ordained of Christ, be not only badges or tokens 
 of Christian men's profession : but rather they be certain sure 
 witnesses, and effectual signs of Grace, and God's good will 
 towards us, by the which he doth work invisibly in us, and 
 doth not only quicken, but also strengthen &, confirm our faith 
 in him. 
 
 There are Two Sacraments ordained of Christ our Lord in 
 the Gospel, that is to say. Baptism & the Supper of the Lord. 
 
 16. Of Baptism. 
 
 Baptism is not only a Sign of profession and mark of dif- 
 ference, whereby Christian Men are discerned from others that 
 be not Christened; but it is also a sign of regeneration or new 
 Birth, whereby as by an Instrument, they that receive Bap- 
 tism rightly, are grafted into the Church, the promises of the 
 forgiveness of sin, and of our Adoption to be the Sons of God, 
 by the Holy Ghost, are visibly sign'd & sealed ; Faith is con- 
 firm'd, and Grace increas'd by virtue of prayer unto God. 
 The Baptism of young Children is in any wise to be retained 
 in the Church, as moi-t agreeable with the Institution of Christ. 
 
OF THE AMEBIC AN CHURCH. 39 
 
 17. Of the Lord's Supper. 
 
 The Supper of the Lord is not only a Sign of the Love that 
 Christians ought to have among themselves one to another ; 
 but rather is a Sacrament of our redemption by Christ's 
 death : Insomuch that to such as rightly, worthily and with 
 faith receive the same, the Bread which we break, is a par- 
 taking of the Body of Christ: and likewise the Cup of Blessing, 
 is a partaking of the Blood of Christ. 
 
 Transubstantiation (or the change of the substance of Bread 
 & Wine) in the Supper of the Lord cannot be proved by Holy 
 Writ ; but is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture, over- 
 throweth the nature of a Sacrament, and hath given occasion 
 to many superstitions. 
 
 The Body of Christ is given, taken & eaten in the Supper of 
 the Lord only after an heavenly & spiritual manner. And 
 the mean whereby the Body of Christ is received and eaten in 
 the Supper is Faith. 
 
 18. Of the one Oblation of Christ upon the Cross. 
 
 The offering of Christ once made, is that perfect redemption, 
 propitiation & satisfaction for all the sins of the whole 
 world, both original and actual; and there is none other satis- 
 faction for sin, but that alone. 
 
 19. Of Bishops & Ministers. 
 
 The Book of Consecration of Bishops and ordering of Priests 
 & Deacons ; except such part as requires any oaths or sub- 
 scriptions inconsistent with the American Revolution, is to be 
 adopted as containing all things necessary to such consecration 
 & ordering. 
 
 20. Of a Christian Man's Oath. 
 
 The Christian Religion doth not prohibit any man from 
 taking an oath, when required by the Magistrate in testimony 
 of Truth ; But all vain & rash swearing is forbidden by the 
 Holy Scriptures.* 
 
 _ * W^e have given these " Alterations," etc., 'oerhatim et 
 literatim, from the original mss. among the Convention 
 archives as they appear ere they were pruned and polished by 
 
40 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 The original manuscripts of the preceding " Alterations, 
 &c.," are still preserved among the manuscripts in the archives 
 of the Church. Immediately following these papers, and 
 apparently omitted from Bp. White's printed copy by inadver- 
 tence, is another sheet, containing — 
 
 Tlie Table of Holy Days. 
 
 The following Days are to be kept Holy by this Ch'li. Viz. 
 
 All the Sundays in the year in the Order enumerated in the 
 Table of Proper Lessons with their respective Services. 
 
 Christmas 
 
 Circumcision 
 
 Epiphany 
 
 Easter Day, Monday and Tuesday 
 
 Ascension Day 
 
 Whitsunday, Monday and Tuesday 
 
 The following Days are to be observed as Days of Fasting. 
 Viz. 
 
 Good Friday and Ashwednesday 
 
 The following Days are to be observed as Days of Thanks- 
 giving Viz, The 4th of July in Commemoration of American 
 independence, and the first Thursday in November as a Day 
 of Gen'l Thanksgiving. 
 
 The " Proposed Book " was hardly out of the 
 printer's hand before it was evident, to quote the 
 language of Bishop White, " that, in regard to the 
 Liturgy, the labors of the Convention had not 
 reached their ol)ject."* The Conventions of Penn- 
 
 the Committee of Revision, who were appointed to prepare 
 the new Prayer-Book for the press. The comparison of the 
 Articles as they are printed above, with those that appear in 
 the " Proposed Book" and in Bp. White's Memoirs, will of it- 
 self alone prove the liberties taken by Drs. Smith and White 
 by virtue of their appointment " to make verbal and gramma- 
 tical corrections." It is hardly a question whether, in view of 
 the restriction of the Convention, "that nothing in form or 
 substance be altered," they did not greatly exceed their powers. 
 * Memoirs of the Church, p. 113. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 41 
 
 sylvania, Maryland, Yirginia, and South-Carolina 
 proposed amendments. I^ew- Jersey rejected the 
 book, and J^ew-York postponed the question of its 
 ratification. No convention was held in Delaware, 
 while in Kew-England its introduction was never 
 attempted, save in isolated cases. Maryland re- 
 quired the restoration of the Nicene Creed and the 
 addition of an " Invocation" to the Consecration 
 Prayer in the Communion Ofiice.* Yirginia took 
 exceptions to the rubric before the Communion 
 Office allowing the minister to repel an evil liver 
 from the Holy Table f ; while Pennsylvania, in 
 addition to the Maryland amendments, asked the 
 addition of a question and answer in the Baptismal 
 Office, enjoining the instruction of the child in the 
 faith of the Apostles' Creed, and suggested further 
 changes in the Burial Service and in the Articles.:]: 
 The changes proposed in South-Carolina comprised 
 alterations and omissions in almost every part of 
 the Liturgy.§ In short, the book was condemned 
 at the outset. Its use was but temporary and local, 
 and the volume itself speedily sunk into obscurity, 
 making it now one of the rarest of the books illus- 
 trative of our Ecclesiastical annals. It was, how- 
 
 * Perry's " Reprint of the Journals," III., pp 199, 200. 
 
 f Journals of Virginia Conventions, appended to Hawks's 
 Ecclesiastical Contributions, I., p. 16, Appendix. White's 
 Memoirs of the Church, p. 112. 
 
 X Journal of the Meetings which led to the institution of 
 a Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State 
 of Pennsylvania, together with the Journals of the first six 
 Conventions. Philadelphia, 1790 ; pp. 15, 16. 
 
 ii Dulcho's " History of the Church in South-Carolina," pp. 
 47i-3. 
 
42 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 ever, reprinted in London in 1789, doubtless through 
 the agency of the celebrated Granville Sharp, and 
 a reissue appeared at Bath, England, in 1847, form- 
 ing the fifth volume of Hall's " Eeliquise Liturgi- 
 cse"; while an edition following the English reprint 
 of 1789, but omitting the Visitation Office and the 
 Articles, was published in New- York in 1873 in 
 the interest of the " Cummins schism." Such 
 is, in brief, the history of this hasty, crude, and 
 unsatisfactory compilation, which failed utterly to 
 establish itself in the American church. It was, 
 and will ever be, only the " Proposed Book "; and 
 the question of its adoption was not even considered 
 by the following General Conventions. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 43 
 
 THE CONVENTIONS OF 1786. 
 
 On Tuesday, the 20th of June, 1786, the Con- 
 vention, agreeably to previous appointment, as- 
 sembled in Christ Church, Philadelphia, and on 
 the Thursday following organized, by the choice of 
 the Kev. David Griffith, of Virginia, as president, 
 and the Hon. Francis Hopkinson as secretary. We 
 have in Bishop White's* own words allusion to the 
 fact that "the Convention assembled under cir- 
 cumstances, which bore strong appearances of a 
 dissolution of the union, in this early stage of it." 
 The answer of the English Archbishops and 
 Bishops had been cautious. There had grown up a 
 jealousy, partly on political and partly on personal 
 grounds, in the minds of some of the members of 
 the Convention, of the Bishop of Connecticut ; and 
 the Convention of New- York, under the inspira- 
 tion of Mr. Provoostf, had instructed its deputies 
 "not to consent to any acts that may imply the 
 validity of Dr. Seabury's ordinations." The session 
 of 1786 was barely opened when the Kev. Eobert 
 Smith, afterwards the iirst Bishop of South-Caro- 
 lina, offered a resolution evidently intended to 
 bring into dispute the validity of the Scottish Epis- 
 copacy, and the question was raised at a subse- 
 quent stage of the proceedings. But the judicious 
 application of " the previous question" checked 
 
 * Memoirs, p. 115, 
 
 f Ft^e Connecticut Church Documents, II., pp. 298, 299. 
 
44: THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 the debate, and the Convention declined to " enter 
 into the opposition to the Scottish succession," * 
 Avhich, so far as the clergy were concerned, was 
 confined to the Rev. Mr. Provoost and the Eev. 
 Eobert Smith. A resolution w^as carried unani- 
 mously, on the motion of the Rev. Dr. White, 
 recommending the church in the States represented 
 not to receive to the pastoral charge clergymen 
 professing canonical subjection to any Bishop other 
 than those who may be settled in these States 
 respectively. This resolution was offered to meet 
 the allegation made on the floor of Convention that 
 Bishop Seabary re(|uired a pledge of canonical 
 obedience from those who received Holy Orders at 
 his hands, wherever they might reside. But the 
 charge was denied by a deputy who had been 
 ordained by the Bishop of Connecticut, and since, 
 as Bishop White expressly states, there was never 
 " any ground "f for the measures than this appre- 
 hension, the resolution was carried without opposi- 
 tion. The unfriendliness of this action and the 
 spirit which prompted the persistent opposition of 
 Provoost and Robert Smith to Bishop Seabury, 
 were followed by years of alienation and dissension 
 which came but little short of perpetuating a 
 schism in the infant Church. 
 
 The letter from England, though cautious, was 
 not discouraging, and a reply was at once prepared 
 acknowledging the kindness of the communication, 
 renewing the request for the succession, and repeat- 
 
 * Bishop White, Memoirs, p. 116. 
 
 f Memoirs, p. 116. Connecticut Church Documents, II. 
 300. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 45 
 
 ing the assurances previously given of attachment 
 to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of the 
 Mother Church. This address, drafted by the Rev. 
 Dr. William Smith, but modified on the motion of 
 the Hon. John Jay, is as follows : 
 
 To THE Most Reverend and Right Reverend Fathers 
 IN God, the Archbishops and Bishops of the Church 
 OF England. 
 
 Most Wortliy and Venerable Prelates : 
 
 We, the Clerical and Lay Deputies of the Protestant Episco- 
 pal Church in the States of New York, New Jersey, Pennsyl- 
 vania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and South Carolina, have 
 received the friendly and affectionate letter which your Lord- 
 ships did us the honour to write on the 24th day of February, 
 and for which we request you to accept our sincere and grateful 
 acknowledgments. 
 
 It gives us pleasure to be assured, that the success of our 
 application will probably meet with no greater obstacles than 
 what have arisen from doubts respecting the extent of the 
 alterations we have made and proposed ; and we are happy to 
 learn, that as no political impediments oppose us here, those 
 which at present exist in England may be removed. 
 
 While doubts remain of our*continuing to hold the same es- 
 sential articles of faith and discipline with the Church of Eng- 
 land, we acknowledge the propriety of suspending a compli- 
 ance with our request. 
 
 We are unanimous and explicit in assuring your Lordships, 
 that we neither have departed, nor propose to depart from the 
 doctrines of your Church. We have retained the same disci- 
 pline and forms of worship as far as was consistent with our 
 civil Constitutions ; and we have made no alterations or omis- 
 sions in the Book of Common Prayer but such as that considera- 
 tion prescribed, and such as were calculated to remove objec- 
 tions which it appeared to us more conducive to union and 
 general content to obviate than to dispute. It is well known, 
 that many great and pious men of the Church of England 
 have long wished for a revision of the Liturgy, which it was 
 
46 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 deemed imprudent to hazard, lest it might become a precedent 
 for repeated and improper alterations. This is with us the 
 proper season for such a revision. We are now settling and 
 ordering the affairs of our Church, and if wisely done, we shall 
 have reason to promise ourselves all the advantages that can 
 result from stability and union. 
 
 We are anxious to complete our Episcopal system by means 
 of the Church of England. We esteem and prefer it, and with 
 gratitude acknowledge the patronage and favours for which, 
 while connected, we have constantly been indebted to that 
 Church. These considerations, added to that of agreement in 
 faith and worship, press us to repeat our former request, and 
 to endeavour to remove your present hesitation, by sending you 
 our proposed Ecclesiastical Constitution and Book of Common 
 Prayer. 
 
 These documents, we trust, will afford a full answer to every 
 question that can arise on the subject. We consider your 
 Lordships' letter as very candid and kind. We repose full 
 confidence in the assurance it gives ; and that confidence, to- 
 gether with the liberality and cathohcism of your venerable 
 body, leads us to flatter ourselves, that you will not disclaim 
 a branch of your Church merely for having been, in your 
 Lordships' opinion, if that should be the case, pruned rather 
 more closely than its separation made absolutely necessary. 
 
 We have only to add, that as our Church in sundry of these 
 States have already proceeded to the election of persons to be 
 sent for consecration, and others may soon proceed to the same, 
 we pray to be favoured with as speedy an answer to this our 
 second address, as in your great goodness you were pleased to 
 give to our fonner one. 
 
 We are, 
 With great and sincere respect. 
 
 Most worthy and venerable Prelates, 
 Your obedient and 
 
 Very humble servants. 
 Signed by the President and Members 
 OF THE Convention. 
 
 In Convention : 
 Clirist Church, Philadelphia, 
 June 20, 1786. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 47 
 
 This application went on its mission with no 
 little advantage from the passage by the Convention 
 of certain alterations in the constitution which 
 rendered it more acceptable to the English pre- 
 lates. These changes we give as an important 
 part of the history of this important document, 
 as well as revealing an increased conservatism on 
 the part of the American Church. A comparison 
 with the constitution of 1785, as given before, will 
 put the reader in possession of the constitution as 
 submitted to the English prelates, and will indicate 
 the tendency towards sounder views which prevailed 
 at this session. 
 
 The Preamble, contained in three clauses or sec- 
 tions, was agreed to without alteration. 
 
 In Sect. I., " Of the Constitution," the triennial 
 meetings of the General Convention were changed 
 from the third Tuesday in June to the fourth Tues- 
 day in July. 
 
 in Sect. II., after the words " of each Order," the 
 words ''chosen by the Convention of each State" 
 were inserted. 
 
 Sects. III. and lY. were agreed to. 
 
 In Sect. Y., from the words '' this general Eccle- 
 siastical Constitution," dele the Avord " general," 
 and insert the same before the word " Convention," 
 in the next line, so that the sentence will read thus 
 
 "he shall be considered as a member of the 
 
 General Convention ex officio, and a Bishop shall 
 always preside in the General Convention, if any 
 of the Episcopal Order be present." 
 
 In Sect. YL, dele the words " by the respective 
 
48 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 Conventions," and insert " by the Convention of 
 that State." After the words " to ordain or con- 
 hrm," insert '' or perform any other act of the Epis- 
 copal office." 
 
 Sect. VII. agreed to. 
 
 Sect. YIII., after the words — "equitable mode 
 of trial," add these words, — " And at every trial of 
 a Bishop, there shall be one or more of the Episco- 
 pal Order present ; and none but a Bishop shall 
 pronounce sentence of deposition or degradation 
 from the Ministry on any Clergyman, whether 
 Bishop, or Presbyter, or Deacon." 
 
 In Sect. IX. Instead of the words, " to be the 
 desire," insert " to be the general desire." After 
 the words, " therefore the," dele the whole subse- 
 quent part of the section, and in place thereof in- 
 sert as follows : " Book of Common Prayer and 
 Administration of Sacraments, and other Eites and 
 Ceremonies, as revised and proposed to the use of 
 the Protestant Episcopal Church, at a Convention 
 of the said Church, in the States of E'ew-York, 
 IvTew- Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, 
 Virginia, and South-Carolina, may be used by this 
 Church in such of the States as have adopted, or 
 may adopt, the same in their particular Conven- 
 tions, till further provision is made in this case, by 
 the first General Convention which shall assemble 
 witli sufficient power to ratify a Book of Common 
 Prayer for the Church in these States." 
 
 In Sect. X. dele the whole of this section, and in 
 place thereof insert as follows : 
 
 " No person shall be ordained until due examina- 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 49 
 
 tion had by the Bishop and two Presbyters, and 
 exhibiting testimonials of his moral conduct for three 
 years past, signed by the Minister and a majority 
 of the Vestry of the Church where he last resided; 
 or permitted to officiate as a Minister in this Church 
 until he has exhibited his Letters of Ordination 
 and subscribed the following declaration: 'I do 
 believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and Kew 
 Testament to be the word of God, and to contain 
 all things necessary to salvation : and I do solemnly 
 engage to conform to the doctrines and worship of 
 the Protestant Episcopal Church in these United 
 
 States.' " 
 
 In Sect. XI. dele the whole, and in place thereof 
 insert as follows : 
 
 " This Constitution of the Protestant Episcopal 
 Church in the United States of America, when 
 ratified by the Church in a majority of the States 
 assembled in General Convention, with sufficient 
 power for the purpose of such ratilication, shall be 
 unalterable by the Convention of any particular 
 State, which hath been represented at the time of 
 said ratification." 
 
 From the title of the Constitution dele the word 
 " Ecclesiastical." 
 
 As Bishop White well expresses it, " in the pre- 
 ceding year, the points alluded to were determined 
 on wirti too much warmth, and without investiga- 
 tion proportioned to the importance of the subjects. 
 The decisions of that day were now reversed— not 
 to say without a division, but without even an op- 
 
60 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 position.-'* Among the influences tendinoj to pro- 
 mote this moderation, as we learn from Bishop 
 "White, was the presentation of a memorial from 
 the Convention of the Church in New-Jersey, 
 which by the freedom of its criticisms upon the 
 proceedings of the last Convention, and by its 
 earnest advocacy of a change of action in cer- 
 tain important particulars, " was among the causes 
 w^hich prevented the disorganizing of the Ame- 
 rican Church." f The author of this Memorial 
 was the Rev. Thomas Bradbury Chandler, D.D., 
 the friend and correspondent of Seabury. Prior 
 to adjournment, a Committee of Correspondence 
 was appointed and empow^ered to call a General 
 Convention, at Wilmington, in Delaware, when 
 they should deem it necessary. The expected con- 
 tingency was not long delayed. Soon after the 
 rising of the Convention, a letter from the Arch- 
 bishops came to hand ; long as it is, its importance 
 can not be over-estimated ; it serves as a formal and 
 authoritative " concordat " between the mother and 
 the daughter Church accompanying the transmission 
 of the long-desired Apostolic succession. 
 
 To THE Committee op the General Convention at Phila- 
 delphia, THE Rev. Dr. White, President, the Rev. Dr. 
 Smith, the Rev. Mr. Provost, the Hon. James Duane, 
 Samuel Powell, and Richard Peters, Esqrs. 
 
 Mr. President and Gentlemen : 
 
 Influenced by the same sentiments of fraternal regard ex- 
 pressed by the Arclibisliops and Bishops in their answer to 
 
 * Memoirs, p. 117. f Ibid. p. 120. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH 51 
 
 your address, we desire you to be persuaded, that if we have 
 not yet been able to comply with your request, the delay has 
 proceeded from no tardiness on our part. The only cause of it 
 has been the uncertainty in which we were left by receiving 
 your address, unaccompanied by those communications with re- 
 gard to your Liturgy, Articles and Ecclesiastical Constitution, 
 without the knowledge of which we could not presume to ap- 
 ply to the Legislature for such powers as were necessary to the 
 completion of your wishes. The Journal of your Convention, 
 and the first part of your Liturgy, did not reach us till more 
 than two months after our receipt of your address ; and we 
 were not in possession of the remaining part of it, and of your 
 articles, until the last day of April. The whole of your com- 
 munications was then, with as little delay as possible, taken 
 into consideration at a meeting of the Archbishops and fifteen 
 of the Bishops, being all who were then in London and able 
 to attend ; and it was impossible not to observe with concern, 
 that if the essential doctrines of our common faith were retain- 
 ed, less respect, however, was paid to our Liturgy than its own 
 excellence, and your declared attachment to it, had led us to 
 expect : not to mention a variety of verbal alterations, of the 
 necessity or propriety of which we are by no means satisfied, 
 we saw with grief that two of the Confessions of our Christian 
 faith, respectable for their antiquity, have been entirely laid 
 aside ; and that even in that called the Apostles' Creed, an arti- 
 cle is omitted which was thought necessary to be inserted, with 
 a view to a particular heresy, in a very early age of the Church, 
 and has ever since had the venerable sanction of universal re- 
 ception. Nevertheless, as a proof of the sincere desire which 
 we feel to continue in spiritual communion with the mem- 
 bers of your Church in America, and to complete the Orders of 
 your Ministry, and trusting that the communications which we 
 shall make to you, on the subject of these and some other 
 alterations, will have their desired effect, we have, even 
 under these circumstances, prepared a Bill for conveying to us 
 the powers necessary for this purpose. It will in a few days 
 be presented to Parliament, and we have the best reasons to 
 hope that it will receive the assent of the Legislature. This 
 Bill will enable the Archbishops and Bishops to give Episcopal 
 consecration to the persons who shall be recommended, with- 
 
52 THE GENEKAL CONVENTION 
 
 out requiring from them any oaths or subscriptions inconsistent 
 with the situation in which the late Revolution has placed 
 them ; upon condition that the full satisfaction of the suffi- 
 ciency of the persons recommended, which you offer to us in 
 your address, be given to the Archbishops and Bishops. You 
 will doubtless receive it as a mark both of our friendly dispo- 
 sition toward you, and of our desire to avoid all delay on this 
 occasion, that we have taken this earliest opportunity of convey- 
 ing to you this intelligence, and that we proceed (as supposing 
 ourselves invested with that power which for your sakes we have 
 requested) to state to you particularly the several heads upon 
 which that satisfaction which you offer will be accepted, and the 
 mode in which it may be given. Tlie anxiety which is shown by 
 the Church of England to prevent the intrusion of unqualified 
 persons into even the inferior offices of our Ministry, confirms 
 our own sentiments, and points it out to be our duty, very earn- 
 estly to require the most decisive proofs of the qualifications of 
 those who may be offered for admission to that Order to which 
 the superintendence of those offices is committed. At our 
 several Ordinations of a Deacon and a Priest, the candidate 
 submits himself to the examination of the Bishop as to his pro- 
 ficiency in learning ; he gives the proper security of his sound- 
 ness in the Faith by the subscriptions which are made previous- 
 ly necessary ; he is required to bring testimonials of his vir- 
 tuous conversation during the three preceding years ; and that 
 no mode of inquiry may be omitted, public notice of his offer- 
 ing himself to be ordained is given in the Parish church where 
 he resides or ministers, and the people are solemnly called 
 upon to declare if they know any impediment, for the which 
 he ought not to be admitted. At the time of Ordination, too, 
 the same solemn call is made on the congregation then present. 
 Examination, subscription, and testimonials are not indeed 
 repeated at the consecration of an English bishop, because the 
 person to be consecrated has added to the securities given at 
 his former ordinations, that sanction which arises from hi^ 
 having constantly lived and exercised his ministry under the 
 eyes and observation of his country. But the objects of our 
 present consideration are very differently circumstanced ; their 
 sufficiency in learning, the soundness of their faith, and th^ 
 purity of their manners, are not matters of notoriety here- 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 53 
 
 Means, therefore, must be found to satisfy the Archbishop who 
 consecrates, and the Bishops who present them, that, in the 
 words of our Church, "they be apt and meet for their learning 
 and godly conversation, to exercise their ministry duly to the 
 honour of God and the edifying of his Church, and to be 
 wholesome examples and patterns to the flock of Christ. " 
 
 With regard to the first qualification, sufficiency in good 
 learning, we apprehend that the subjecting a person, who is to 
 be admitted to the office of a Bishop in the Church, to that ex- 
 amination which is required previous to the ordination of Priests 
 and Deacons, might lessen that reverend estimation which 
 ought never to be separated from the Episcopal character : we 
 therefore do not require any further satisfaction on this point, 
 than will be given to us by the forms of testimonials in the an- 
 nexed paper,* fully trusting that those who sign them will ba 
 well aware, how greatly incompetence in this respect must les- 
 sen the weight and authority of the Bishop and affect the credit 
 of the Episcopal Church. 
 
 Under the second head, that of subscription, our desire is to 
 require that subscription only to be repeated, which you have 
 already been called upon to make by the Tenth Article of your 
 Ecclesiastical Constitution : but we should forget the duty 
 which we owe to our own Church, and act inconsistently with 
 that sincere regard which we bear to yours, if we were not ex- 
 plicit in declaring, that, after the disposition we have shown 
 to comply with the prayer of your address, we think it now in- 
 cumbent upon you to use your utmost exertions also for the 
 removal of any stumbling-block of offence which may possibly 
 prove an obstacle to the success of it. We therefore most 
 earnestly exhort you, that previously to the time of your 
 making such subscription, you restore to its integrity the 
 Apostles' Creed, in which you have omitted an article, merely, 
 as it seems, from misapprehension of the sense in which it is 
 understood by our Church ; nor can we help adding, that we 
 hope you will think it but a decent proof of the attachment 
 which you profess to the services of your Liturgy, to give to 
 the other two Creeds a place in your Book of Common Prayer, 
 
 * These Testimonials, which are still in use, are not ap- 
 pended. 
 
54 THE GENERAT. CONVENTION 
 
 even though the use of them should be left discretional. We 
 should be inexcusable, too, if, at the time when you are re- 
 questing the establishment of Bishops in your Church, we did 
 not strongly represent to you that the Eighth Article of your Ec- 
 clesiastical Constitution appears to us to be a degradation of 
 the Clerical, and still more of the Episcopal character. We 
 persuade ourselves, that in your ensuing Convention some al- 
 teration will be thought necessary in this article, before this 
 reaches you ; or, if not, that due attention will be given to it 
 in consequence of our representation. 
 
 On the third and last head, which respects purity of manners, 
 the reputation of the Church, both in England and America, 
 and the interest of our common Christianity, is so deeply 
 concerned in it, that we feel it our indispensable duty to pro- 
 vide, on this subject, the most effectual securities. It is pre- 
 sumed, that the same previous public notice of the intention of 
 the person to be consecrated, will be given in the Church where 
 he resides in America, for the same reasons, and therefore 
 nearly in the same form with that used in England before our 
 Ordinations. The call upon the persons present at the time of 
 consecration, must be deemed of little use before a congrega- 
 tion composed of those to whom the person to be consecrated is 
 unknown. The testimonials signed by persons living in Eng- 
 land admit of reference and examination, and the characters of 
 those who give them are subject to scrutiny, and in cases of 
 criminal deceit to punishment. In proportion as these circum- 
 stances are less applicable to testimonials from America, those 
 testimonials must be more explicit, and supported by a greater 
 number of signatures. We therefore think it necessary that 
 the several persons, candidates for Episcopal consecration, 
 should bring to us, both a testimonial from tbe General Con- 
 vention of the Protestant Episcopal Church, with as many sig- 
 natures as can be obtained, and a more particular one, from the 
 respective Conventions in those States which recommend them. 
 It will appear from the tenor of the letters testimonial used in 
 England,' a form of which is annexed, that the ministers who 
 sign them bear testimony to the qualifications of the candidates 
 on their own personal knowledge. Such a testimony is not to 
 be expected from the members of the General Convention 
 of. the Episcopal Church in America on this occasion. We 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 55 
 
 think it sufficient, therefore, that they declare they know no 
 impediment, but believe the person to be consecrated is of a 
 virtuous life and sound faith. We have sent you such a form 
 as appears to us proper to be used for that purpose. More 
 specific declarations must be made by the members of the Con- 
 vention in each State from which the persons offered for conse- 
 cration are respectively recommended ; their personal knov/- 
 ledge of them there can be no doubt of ; we trust, therefore, 
 they will have no objection to the adoption of the form of a 
 testimonial which is annexed, and drawn upon the same princi- 
 ples, and containing the same attestations of personal know- 
 ledge with that above mentioned, as required previously to our 
 Ordinations. We trust we shall receive these testimonials 
 signed by such a majority in each Convention that recommend, 
 as to leave no doubt of the fitness of the candidates upon the 
 minds of those whose consciences are concerned in the consecra- 
 tion of them. 
 
 Thus much we have thought it right to communicate to you, 
 without reserve, at present, intending to give you farther in- 
 formation as soon as we are able. In the mean time, we pray 
 God to direct your counsels in this very weighty matter, and 
 are, 
 
 Mr. President and gentlemen. 
 
 Your affectionate Brethren, 
 
 J. CANTUAR. 
 
 W. EBOR. 
 
 Another letter, brief, but to the point, continued 
 and concluded this interesting correspondence : 
 To THE Committee op the General Convention, etc., 
 
 ETC. 
 
 Canterbury, July 4th, 1786. 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 The enclosed Act being now passed, I have the satisfaction 
 of communicating it to you. It is accompanied by a copy of a 
 letter, and some forms of testimonials, which I sent you by the 
 packet of last month. It is the opinion here, that no more 
 than three bishops should be consecrated for the United States 
 
56 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 of America, wlio may consecrate otliers at tlieir return, if more 
 be found necessary. But whether we can consecrate any or 
 not, must yet depend on the answers we may receive to what 
 we have written. 
 
 I am your humble servant, 
 
 J. CANTUAR. 
 
 Copies of these letters, forwarded by post or by 
 special messengers, bore north and south the assur- 
 ance that the wish of the American Church for the 
 Episcopate in the Enghsh line, wanted but a little 
 of full accomplishment, and the mails shortly car- 
 ried far and wide the call for the reassembling of 
 the Convention for immediate action to secure this 
 end. 
 
 On the 10th of October the Convention met. 
 The president, the Kev. Dr. Griffith, being absent, 
 the Kev. Dr. Provoost presided. The session of 
 this adjourned meeting was brief, lasting but two 
 days, but its action, which we give below, w^as of 
 marked importance : 
 
 An Act of the General Convention op Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies of the Protestant Episcopal Church, 
 in the States of New- York, New-Jersey, Pi:nnsyl- 
 vania, Delaware, and South-Carolina, held at Wil- 
 mington, IN THE State of Delaware, on Wednesday 
 the 11th op October, 1786. 
 
 Whereas, at a General Convention of Clerical and Lay De- 
 puties of the Protestant Episcopal Church in sundry of the 
 United States of America, viz., New-York, New-Jersey, 
 Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and South-Caro- 
 lina, holden at the City of Pliiladelphia, on the Tuesday before 
 the Feast of St. Michael, in the year of our Lord 1785, and divers 
 subsequent days, it was agreed and declared, that. " The Book 
 of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and 
 
OF THK AAIERICAN CHURCH. 57 
 
 other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, according to the use 
 of the Church of England," should be continued to be used by 
 this Church, as the same was altered by the said Convention, 
 in a certain instrument of -writing, passed by their authority, 
 entituled, " Alterations of the Liturgy of the Protestant Episco- 
 pal Church in the United States of America, in order to render 
 the same conformable to the American Revolution, and the Con- 
 stitutions of the respective States." And it was further agreed 
 and declared, that the Book of Common Prayer and Adminis- 
 tration of the Sacraments, and other Rites and Ceremonies of 
 the Church, according to the use of the Church of England, as 
 altered by an instrument of writing passed under the authority 
 of the aforesaid Convention, entituled, " Alterations in the Book 
 of Common Prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments and 
 other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, according to the use 
 of the Church of England, proposed and recommended to the 
 Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, 
 should be used in this Church, when the same should have been 
 ratified by the Conventions which had respectively sent deputies 
 to the said General Convention." And thereupon the said Con- 
 vention, anxious to compleat their Episcopal system by means 
 of the Chur;'h of England, did subscribe and transmit an 
 address to tlie Most Reverend and Right Reverend the Arch- 
 bishops of Canterbury and York, and the Bishops of the Church 
 of England, earnestly entreating that venerable body to confer 
 the Episcopal character on such persons as should be recom- 
 mended by this Church in the several States so represented. 
 
 And whereas the Clerical and Lay Deputies of tliis Church, 
 have received the most friendly and affectionate letters, in an- 
 swer to th 3 said address, from the said Archbishops and Bishops, 
 opening a fair i)r.:)sp?ct of the success of their said applications, 
 but at the same time earnestly exhorting this Convention to 
 use their utmost exertions for the removal of certain objections 
 by them made, against some parts of the alterations in the 
 Book of Common Prayer and Rites and Ceremonies of this 
 Church, lai^t mentioned. In pursuance whereof, this present 
 General Convention hath b.'en called and is now assembled : 
 and being sincerely desirous to give every satisfaction to their 
 Lordships which will be consistent with the union and general 
 content of the Church thoy represent, and declaring their stead- 
 
58 THE (rKNEKAIi CONVENTION 
 
 fast resolutiou to maintain the same essential Articles of Faitli 
 and Discipline with the Church of England : 
 
 Now, therefore, the said Deputies do hereby determine and 
 declare, 
 
 First, — That in the Creed commonly called the Apostles' 
 Creed, these words, " He descended into Hell," shall be and 
 continue a part of that Creed. 
 
 Secondly,— That the Nicene Creed shall also be inserted in 
 .the said Book of Common Prayer, immediately after the Apos- 
 tles' Creed, prefaced with the Kubrick (or this). 
 
 And whereas, — In consequence of the objections expressed 
 by their Ijordships to the alterations in the Book of Common 
 Prayer last mentioned, the Conventions in some.of the States 
 represented in this General Convention have suspended the 
 ratification and use of the said Book of Common Prayer, by 
 reason whereof it will be improper that persons to be conse- 
 crated or ordained as Bishops, Priests, or Deacons respectively, 
 should subscribe the declaration contained in the Tenth Article 
 of the General Ecclesiastical Constitution without some modi- 
 fication : 
 
 Therefore, it is hereby determined and declared, 
 .Thirdly,— That the second clause so to be subscribed by 
 a Bishop, Priest, or Deacon of this Church, in any of the States 
 which have not already ratified or used the last-mentioned 
 Book of Common Prayer, shall be in the words following : 
 " And I do solemnly engage to conform to the doctrine and wor- 
 ship of the Protestant Episcopal Church, according to the use 
 of the Church of England, as the same is altered by the General 
 Convention, in a certain instrument of writing passed by their 
 authority, entituled, ' Alterations of the Liturgy of the Protes- 
 ant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, in order 
 to render the same conformable to the American Revolution, 
 ajid the Constitutions of the respective States,' until the new 
 Book of Common Prayer, recommended by the General Con- 
 vention, shall be ratified or used in tlie State in which I am 
 — (Bishop, Priest, or Deacon, as the ca.^e m ly be) — by the au- 
 thority of the Convention thereof. And I do further solemnly 
 engage, that when the said new Book of Common Prayer shall 
 be ratified or used by the authority of the Convention in the 
 State for which I am consecrated a Bishop — (or ordained a 
 
OF THE AMEHICAX CHUKClf. 59 
 
 Priest or Deacon)-! will conform to the doctrines and worship 
 of the Protestant Episcopal Church, as settled and determined 
 in the last-mentioned Book of Common Prayer and Adminis- 
 tration of the Sacraments, set forth by the General Convention 
 of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States." 
 And it is hereby further determined and declared, 
 That these words in the Preface to the new proposed Book 
 of Common Prayer, viz., "In the Creed, commonly called 
 'the Apostles Creed,' one clause is omitted, as being of uncer- 
 tam meaning, and "-together with the note referred to in that 
 place, be, from henceforth, no part of the Preface to the said 
 proposed Book of Common Prayer. 
 
 And it is hereby further determined and declared 
 That the Fourth Article of Religion in the new proposed 
 Book of Common Prayer, be altered to render it conformable 
 to the adoption of the Nicene Creed, as follows: "Of the 
 Creeds. The two Creeds, namely, that commonly called the 
 Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed, ought to be received and 
 believed, because they," etc., etc. 
 
 Bone in General Convention, at Wilmington, in the 
 State of Delaware, the day and year first aforesaid. 
 
 The votes on the question as to tlie restoration 
 of the words ^' He descended into Hell," in tlie 
 Apostles' Creed, were as follows : 
 
 NEW-Y0KK.-Rev. Dr. Provoost. Aye ; Mr. Duane, Aye ; Mr 
 Rutherford, No.— Divided. 
 
 NEW-JERSEY.-Rev. Mr. Ogden, Aye ; Rev. Mr. Frazer, Aye ; 
 Mr. Wallace, Aye; Mr. Cox, No ; Mr. Waddel, Aye -Aye 
 
 PENNSYLVANIA.-Bev. Dr. White, Aye ; Rev. Dr. Magaw 
 Aye ; Rev. Mr. Blackwell, Aye ; Mr. Hopkinson, No ; Mr.' 
 Powel, No ; Mr. Gilpin, No.— Divided. 
 
 Delaware.— Rev. Dr. Wharton, No ; Rev. Mr. Thorne, Aye; 
 Mr. Sykes, Aye ; Mr. Grantham, No.— Divided. 
 
 South-Carolina.— Rev. Robert Smith, Aye ; Mr. Rutledge 
 Aye. — Aye. ' 
 
 The adoption of the report of the committee on 
 this question was the result, not of a majority of 
 
00 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 votes in its favor, but of the nullity of the votes of 
 those churches in which the clergy and the laity were 
 divided. The vote restoring the Nicene Creed was 
 unanimous. On the question of admitting the 
 Creed commonly called the Athanasian, the votes 
 were as follows : 
 
 New- York. — Rev. Dr. Provoost, No ; Mr. Diiane, No ; Mr. 
 Rutherford, No. — Nay. 
 
 New- Jersey. — Rev. Mr. Ogden, No ; Rev. Mr. Frazer, No ; 
 Mr. Cox, No ; Mr. Wallace, Aye ; Mr.Waddel, Aye. — Divided. 
 
 Pennsylvania. — Rev. Dr. Wliite, No ; Rev. Dr. Magaw, 
 No ; Rev. Mr. Blackwell, No ; Mr. Hopkinson, No ; Mr. Powel, 
 No ; Mr. Gilpin, No. — Nay. 
 
 Delaware. — Rev. Dr. Wharton, No ; Rev. Mr. Thorne, Aye ; 
 Mr. Sykes, No ; Mr. Grantham, No. — Divided. 
 
 South-Carolina.— Rev. Robert Smith, No ; Mr. Rutledge. 
 No, — Nay. 
 
 And so it was determined in the negative. 
 
 At this Convention the testimonials of the Rev. 
 Dr. White, as Bishop-elect of Pennsylvania, the Rev. 
 Dr. Provoost, as Bishop-elect of New- York, and the 
 Rev. Dr. Griffith, as Bishop-elect of Yirginia, were 
 signed by the members; and, though there is no 
 mention of the fact in the records,'^ the application 
 of the Rev. Dr. William Smith, the Bishop -elect of 
 Maryland, for a similar recommendation, as we learn 
 from the Bishop White mss., was refused. Dr. 
 Smith, though present at the Convention, was de- 
 prived of his vote, it being decided that a clerical 
 or lay delegate only could not represent a State. 
 
 * Bishop Wliite in his Memoirs passes over this occurrence 
 in silence, unless a paragraph on p. 133 should be construed as 
 rof erring to it. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 61 
 
 The refusal to recommend Dr. Smith for consecra- 
 tion was occasioned by the charge of irregularities 
 in life. It speaks well for the courage of the mem- 
 bers of this Convention that they could thus refuse, 
 on moral grounds, to gratify the ambition of per- 
 haps the foremost man in intellect and reputation 
 in the churches represented therein. It is also to 
 be remembered, that the disappointed candidate for 
 the Church's highest honors, displayed in after life 
 no rankling sense of this severe rebuke, and no di- 
 minution of his zeal for the Church for which he 
 had labored so long. As has well been said by a dis- 
 tinguished prelate of our Church, the late Bishop 
 Burgess of Maine, " No assembly of the American 
 Church has occupied itself with transactions of 
 greater pregnancy than those which in October, 
 1786, were settled by the voices of twenty men in 
 two days." 
 
 On Tuesday, the 2d of November, 1786, the Kev. 
 Drs. "White and Provoost embarked for England, 
 and after a passage of three weeks, landed at Fal- 
 mouth. The story of the various steps preceding 
 the consecration is detailed in Bishop White's Me- 
 moirs of the Church. The solemn act of conferring 
 the long-sought Apostolical succession on the Ame- 
 rican candidates, took place in the chapel of Lam- 
 beth Palace, on Sunday, the 4th of February, 1787. 
 The two Archbishops, and the Bishops of Bath and 
 Wells, and Peterborough, united in the imposition 
 of hands. On the evening of the following day, 
 the Bishops of Pennsylvania and New-York left 
 London on their homeward journey, and after a voy- 
 
62 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 age of seven weeks, landed at New- York on the after- 
 noon of Easter Sunday, April the 7th. Thus was 
 completed the " struggle for the Episcopate" in the 
 English line. It may not be out of place to quote, in 
 passing, the words of the sagacious Parker, of Bos- 
 ton, afterwards Bishop of Massachusetts, addressed 
 to White. " I am firmly of the opinion that we 
 should never have obtained the succession from 
 England, had he, [Bishop Seabury,] or some other, 
 not have obtained it iirst from Scotland."* 
 
 *Ck)im. Ch. Documents, ii., p. 301. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 63 
 
 THE CO^YENTIOKS OF 1789. 
 
 As the three eventful years subsequent to the 
 Conventions of 1786 were drawing to a close, 
 measures were taken at the suggestion of Bishop 
 White, and under the direction of Dr. Parker, for 
 a union of the churches in Xew-Eno-land with 
 those in the Middle and Southern States. These 
 efforts took form in the following application to the 
 Convention of 1789, which assembled on 28th of 
 July, under the presidency of the Bishop of Penn- 
 sylvania, Bishop Provoost being absent : 
 
 The good providence of Almighty God, the fountain of all 
 goodness, having lately blessed the Protestant Episcopal 
 Church in the United States of America, by supplying it with 
 a complete and entire Ministry, and affording to many of her 
 communion the benefit of the labours, advice, and government 
 of the successors of the Apostles : 
 
 We, Presbyters of said Church in the States of Massachusetts 
 and New-Hampshire, deeply impressed with the most lively grat- 
 itude to the Supreme Governor of the universe, for his goodness 
 in this respect, and with the most ardent love to his Church, 
 and concern for the interest of her sons, that they may enjoy 
 all the means that Christ, the great Shepherd and Bishop of 
 souls, has instituted for leading his followers into the ways of 
 truth and holiness, and preservhig his Church in the unity of 
 the spirit and the bond of peace, to the end that the people 
 committed to our respective charges may enjoy the benefit and 
 advantage of those offices, the administration of which belongs 
 to the highest Order of the Ministry, and to encourage and 
 wromote, as far as in us lies, a union of the whole Episcopal 
 
64 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 C'liurcli in these States, and to perfect and compact this mys- 
 tical body of Christ, do hereby nominate, elect, and appoint, 
 tlie Rev. Edward Bass, a Presbyter of said Church, and Rec- 
 tor of St. Paul's, in Nevvburyport, to be our Bishop ; and we 
 do promise and engage to receive him as such, when canonical- 
 ly consecrated, and invested with the apostolic office and 
 powers by the Right Reverend the Bishops hereafter named, 
 and to render him all that canonical obedience and submission 
 which, by the laws of Christ, and the constitution of our 
 Church, is due to so important an office. 
 
 And we now address the Right Reverend the Bishops in the 
 States of Connecticut, New York, and Pennsylvania, praying 
 their united assistance in consecrating our said brother, and 
 canonically investing him wdth the apostolic office and powers. 
 This request we are induced to make, from a long acquaint- 
 ance with him, and from a perfect knowledge of his being 
 possessed of that love to God, and benevolence to men, that 
 piety, learning, and good morals, that prudence and discretion, 
 requisite to so exalted a station, as well as that personal respect 
 and attachment of the communion at large in these States, 
 wbich will make him a valuable acquisition to the Order, and, 
 we trust, a rich blessing to the Church. 
 
 Done at a meeting of the Presbyters whose names are under- 
 written, held at Salem, in the County of Essex, and Common- 
 wealth of Massachusetts, the fourth day of June, Anno Salutis, 
 1789. 
 
 Samuel Pakker, Rector of Trinity Church, Boston. 
 
 T. Fitch Oliver, Rector of St. Michael's Church, Mar- 
 blehead. 
 
 John Cousens Ogden, Rector of Queen's Chapel, Ports- 
 mouth, N. H. 
 
 William Montague, Minister of Christ Church, Boston. 
 
 TiLLOTSON Brunson, Assistant Minister of Christ 
 Church, Boston. 
 A true copy. Attest : Samuei^ Parker. 
 
 At the meeting aforesaid, 
 
 Voted, — That the Rev. Samuel Parker be authorised and 
 empowered to transmit copies of the foregoing Act, to be by 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 65 
 
 him attested, to the Right Reverend the Bishops in Connecti- 
 cut, New- York, and Pennsylvania ; and that lie be appointed 
 our agent, to appear at any Convocation to be holden at Penn- 
 sylvania or New-York, and to treat upon any measures that 
 may tend to promote an union of the Episcopal Church 
 throughout the United States of America, or that may prove 
 advantageous to the interests of said Church. 
 
 EDWARD BASS, Chairman. 
 A true copy. Attest : Samuel Parker. 
 
 The Convention, as we learn from Bishop 
 Whitej* " manifested a strong desire of complying 
 with" this request. The sole obstacle to the plan 
 arose from the implied obligation on the part of 
 the two Bishops in the English line to complete the 
 Canonical number (three) in the same line ere pro- 
 ceeding to transmit the powers they had received. 
 After a week's discussion, the Convention adopted 
 the following resolutions : 
 
 Ut. Eesolved, — That a complete Order of Bishops, derived 
 as well under the English as the Scots line of Episcopacy, doth 
 now subsist within the United States of America, in the per- 
 sons of the Right Rev. William White, D.D., Bishop of the 
 Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of Pennsylvania ; 
 the Right Rev. Samuel Provoost, D.D., Bishop of the said 
 Church in the State of New- York, and the Right Rev. Samuel 
 Seabury, D.D., Bishop of said Church in the State of Con- 
 necticut. 
 
 2d. Resolved,— Thsii the said three Bishops are fully com- 
 petent to every proper act and duty of the Episcopal office and 
 character in these United States, as well in respect to the con- 
 secration of other Bishops, and the ordering of Priests and 
 Deacons, as for the government of the Church, according to 
 such rules, Canons, and institutions as now are, or hereafter 
 may be, duly made and ordained by the Church in that case. 
 
 * Memoirs, p. 142. 
 
66 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 3d!. Resolved, — Tliat in Christian cliarity, as well as of duty, 
 necessity, and expediency, the Churches represented in this 
 Convention ought to contribute, in every manner in their 
 power, towards supplying the wants, and granting every just 
 and reasonable request of their sister Churches in these States ; 
 and, therefore, 
 
 Uh. Resolved, — That the Right Rev. Dr. White and the 
 Right Rev. Dr. Provoost be, and they hereby are, requested to 
 join with the Right Rev. Dr. Seabury, in complying with the 
 prayer of the Clergy of the States of Massachusetts and New 
 Hampshire, for the consecration of the Rev. Edward Bass, 
 Bishop-elect of the Churches in the said States ; but, that 
 before the said Bishops comply with the request aforesaid, it 
 be proposed to the Churches in the New-England States to 
 meet the Churches of these States, with the said three Bishops, 
 in an adjourned Convention, to settle certain articles of union 
 and discipline among all the churches, previous to such con- 
 secration. 
 
 bth. Resolved, — That if any difficulty or delicacy, in respect 
 to the Archbishops and Bishops of England, shall remain with 
 ".he Right Rev. Drs. White and Provoost, or either of them, 
 concerning their compliance with the above request, this Con- 
 vention will address the Archbishops and Bishops, and hope 
 thereby to remove the difficulty. 
 
 This action, and the unanimous expression by 
 formal resohition"^ of confidence in the validity of 
 Bishop Seabury's consecration, led the way to union. 
 The other business of this session, which continued 
 
 * We quote from the Journal this important resolution, 
 which did away with the unfriendly action in 1786, to which 
 we have earlier referred : 
 
 " A letter was also read from the Right Rev. Dr. Seabury, 
 Bishop of the Church in Connecticut, to the Right Rev. Dr. 
 White, and one from the same gentleman to the Rev. Dr. 
 Smith. 
 
 " Upon reading the said letters, it appearing that Bishop 
 Seabury lay under some misapprehensions concerning an entry 
 in the Minutes of a former Convention, as intending some 
 doubt of the validity of his consecration, 
 
 " Resolved unanimously, — That it is the opinion of this Con- 
 vention, that the consecration of the Right Rev. Dr. Seabury 
 to the Episcopal office is valid." 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 67 
 
 for tliirteen dajSj and in which seven States were 
 represented by seventeen clergymen and sixteen 
 laymen,^ consisted in the adoption of an address 
 to the President of the United States, and also an 
 address to the Archbishops for their good offices in 
 imparting the Episcopal offices to the American 
 Church ; the adoption of Articles I., 11., lY., Y.,YI., 
 YII. of the Constitution, as proposed at the last 
 Convention as a rule of conduct for the present 
 session, and the postponement of the consideration 
 of the remaining articles, and the adoption of a 
 body of Canons. These Canons Ave give in full : 
 
 Canons for the Government op the Protestant Epis- 
 copal Church in the United States of America, 
 agreed on and ratified in the General Convention 
 OP SAID Church, held in the City op Philadelphia, 
 from the 28th Day of July to the 8th Day op 
 August, 1789, inclusuve. 
 
 Canon 1. 
 In tliis Church there shall always be three Orders in the 
 Ministry, viz., Bishops, Priests, and Deacons. 
 
 Canon 3. 
 
 Every Bishop elect, before his consecration, shall produce to 
 the Bishops, to whom he is presented for that holy office, from 
 the Convention by whom he is elected a Bishop, and from the 
 General Convention, or a Committee of that body appointed to 
 act in their recess, certificates, respectively in the following 
 words, viz. : 
 Testimony from the Members of the Convention in the State 
 
 from whence the person is recommended for Consecration. 
 
 We whose names are underwritten, fully sensible how im- 
 
 * One of the lay deputies, Robert Andrews, of Virginia, a 
 Professor in the College of William and Mary at Williams- 
 burg had received Holy Orders, but had relinquished the 
 exercise of the Ministry. ( Vide Wliite's Memoirs, p. 146.) 
 
68 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 portant it is, that the sacred office of a Bishop should not be 
 unworthily conferred, and firmly persuaded that it is our duty 
 to bear testimony on this solemn occasion without partiality or 
 affection, do, in the presence of Almighty God, testify, that A. 
 B. is not, so far as we are informed, justly liable to evil report, 
 either for error in religion or for viciousness of life ; and that 
 we do not know or believe there is any impediment or notable 
 crime for which he ought not to be consecrated to that holy 
 office. We do, moreover, jointly and severally declare that, 
 having personally known him for three years last past, we do 
 in our consciences believe him to be of such sufficiency in 
 good learning, such soundness in the faith, and of such vir- 
 tuous and pure manners and godly conversation, that he is apt 
 and meet to exercise the Office of a Bishop, to the honor of 
 God and the edifying of his Church, and to be an wholesome 
 example to the flock of Christ 
 
 Testimony from the General Convention. 
 
 We whose names are underwritten, fully sensible how im- 
 portant it is that the sacred office of a Bishop should not be 
 unworthily conferred, and firmly persuaded that it is our 
 duty to bear our testimony on this solemn occasion without 
 partiality or affection, do, in the presence of Almighty God, 
 testify that A.B. is not, so far as we are informed, justly liable 
 to evil report either for error in religion or for viciousness of 
 life ; and that we do not know or believe there is any impedi- 
 ment or notable crime, on account of which he ought not to be 
 consecrated to that holy office, but that he hath, as we believe, 
 led his life, for the three years last past, piously, soberly, and 
 honestly. 
 
 Canon 3. 
 
 Every Bishop in this Church shall, as often as may be con- 
 venient, visit the churches within his Diocese or district, for 
 the purposes of examining the state of his Church, inspecting 
 the behavior of the clergy, and administering the apostolic 
 rite of Confirmation. 
 
 Canon 4. 
 
 Deacon's Orders shall not be conferred on any person until 
 he shall be twenty-one years old, nor Priest's Orders on any 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 69 
 
 one until he shall be twenty-four years old ; and, except on 
 urgent occasion, unless he hath been a Deacon one year. No 
 man shall be consecrated a Bishop of this Church until he 
 shall be thirty years old. 
 
 Canon 5. 
 
 No person shall be ordained either Deacon or Priest, unless 
 he shall produce a satisfactory certificate from some Church, 
 parish, or congregation, that he is engaged with them, and 
 that they will receive him as their minister and allow him a 
 reasonable support ; or unless he be engaged as a professor, 
 tutor or instructor of youth, in some college, academy, or gene- 
 ral seminary of learning, duly incorporated ; or unless the 
 Standing Committee of the Church in the State for which he 
 is to be ordained, shall certify to the Bishop their full belief 
 and expectation, that he will be received and settled as a pas- 
 tor by some one of the vacant churches in that State. 
 
 Canon 6. 
 
 Every candidate for Holy Orders shall be recommended to 
 the Bishop by a Standing Committee of the Convention of the 
 State wherein he resides, which recommendation shall be sign- 
 ed by the names of a majority of the Committee, and shall be 
 in the following words : 
 
 We, whose names are hereunder written, testify that A. B., 
 for the space of three years last past, hath lived piously, so- 
 berly, and honestly : Nor hath he at any time, as far as we 
 know or believe, written, taught, or held, anything contrary 
 to the doctrine or discipline of the Protestant Episcopal Church. 
 And, moreover, we think him a person worthy to be admitted 
 to the sacred order of priest. In witness whereof we have 
 hereunto set our hands. Dated the . . . day of . . . 
 in the year of our Lord . . . 
 
 But before a Standing Committee of any State shall proceed 
 to recommend any candidate, as aforesaid, to the Bishop, such 
 candidate shall produce testimonials of his good morals and or- 
 derly conduct for three years last past, from the Minister and 
 Vestry of the parish where he has resided, or from the Vestry 
 
70 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 alone if tlie parish be vacant — a publication of his intention to 
 
 apply for Holy Orders having been previously made by such 
 
 Minister or Vestry, 
 
 Canon 7. 
 
 In every State in which there is no Standing Committee, 
 Buch Committee shall be appointed at its next ensuing Conven- 
 tion ; and in the mean time, every candidate for Holy Orders 
 shall be recommended according to the regulations or usage of 
 the Church in each State, and the requisitions of the Bishop to 
 
 whom he applies. 
 
 Canon 8. 
 
 No person shall be ordained in this Church until he shall 
 
 have satisfied the Bishop and the two Presbyters, by whom he 
 
 shall be examined, that he is sufficiently acquainted with the 
 
 New Testament in the original Greek, and can give an account 
 
 of his faith in the Latin tongue, either in writing or otherwise, 
 
 as may be required. 
 
 Canon 9. 
 
 Agreeably to the practice of the primitive Church, the stated 
 times of Ordination shall be on the Sundays following the Em- 
 ber weeks, viz., the Second Sunday in Lent, the Feast of Tri- 
 nity, and the Sundays after the Wednesdays following the 
 fourteenth day of September and the thirteenth of December. 
 
 Canon 10. 
 No person, not a member of this Church, who shall profess 
 to be episcopally ordained, shall be permitted to officiate there- 
 in, until he shall have exhibited to the Vestry of the Church 
 in which he shall offer to officiate, a certificate signed by the 
 Bishop of the Diocese or district, or, where there is no Bishop, 
 by three Clergymen of the Standing Committee of the Conven- 
 tion of that State, that his Letters of Orders are authentic, and 
 given by some Bishop whose authority is acknowledged by 
 this Church, and also satisfactory evidence of his moral cha- 
 racter. 
 
 Signed, by order of the Convention, 
 
 WILLIAM WHITE, 
 Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Common- 
 wealth of Pennsyhania, and Pr cedent of the Convention^ 
 Francis Hopkinson, Secretary. 
 
OF THE AMERICAX CHURCH. 71 
 
 During the session, the amiable Griffitli entered 
 into rest. His relinquishment of the Episcopate of 
 Virginia, to which he had been elected, had been 
 communicated to the Convention at its opening sit- 
 ting. The circumstances occasioning this failure 
 on the part of the Church in Virginia to secure tlie 
 consecration of her first Bishop-elect, as they are 
 detailed in the correspondence of Bishop White,"^ 
 reveal painful proofs of the decline of the Church 
 in this State. 
 
 At the adjourned Convention, which met on the 
 29th of September, and continued in session until 
 the 16th of October, Bishop Seaburj, with clerical 
 deputies representing Connecticut, Massachusetts, 
 and New-Hampshire, appeared, and, after effecting 
 a modification of the third article of the Constitu- 
 tion, so as to secure the right of the bishops, when 
 sitting as a separate House, to originate and propose 
 acts for the concurrence of the other House of Con- 
 vention and a negative on the action of the Lower 
 House, acceded to the Constitution, and took their 
 seats as members of the Convention. There being, 
 agreeably to the Constitution, the number of bishops 
 requisite for the formation of a separate House, the 
 two bishops present (Bishop Provoost being absent) 
 withdrew and organized, with Bishop Seabury as 
 President, and the Pev. Joseph Clarkson as Secre- 
 tary. The House of Deputies elected the Pev. Dr. 
 Smith as their President. 
 
 The chief business of the session was the adop- 
 
 * Among the archives of the Church. 
 
Y2 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 tion of a Liturgy. No effort for the acceptance of 
 the '' Proposed Book " was made. Dr. Parker, of 
 Massachusetts, representing as he did the general 
 sentiment at the Northward, urged that the Eng- 
 lish Prayer Book should be made the ground of the 
 proceedings, without any reference to the book ten- 
 tatively set forth in 1785. And although this 
 course was not formally adopted, the resolutions 
 adopted were so worded as to imply that there was 
 no book of authority in existence. The latitude of 
 change this course seemed to indicate was lessened 
 by the general disposition of the members of the 
 Convention to vary the book as little as possible 
 from the English model. 
 
 The provision of a Prayer Book was assigned to 
 five committees-: one on the Calendar and Tables 
 of Lessons, with the Collects, Epistles, and Gospels ; 
 another on the Morning and Evening Service ; a 
 third on the Litany and occasional prayers and 
 thanksgivings ; a fourth on the order for the admin- 
 istration of the Holy Communion ; and a fifth to 
 report in what manner the Psahns should be used. 
 The reports of each committee, when adopted, were 
 transmitted to the House of Bishops, from whence 
 they were returned with amendments. From the 
 bishops were received, in the first instance, the vari- 
 ous Ofiices to be adopted for use in the American 
 Church. The alterations, other than those of a po- 
 litical nature, were mainly verbal, together with the 
 omission of repetitions ; the addition of Selections 
 of Psalms to be used at the discretion of the minis- 
 ter ; an Office for the Visitation of Prisoners, from 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHUKCH. 73 
 
 the Irish Prayer Book; a service of Prayer and 
 Thanksgiving for the fruits of the earth, from the 
 " Proposed Book," and an Order of Family Prayer. 
 Besides these, Bishop Seabury secured the restora- 
 tion to the Consecration Prayer of the Oblation and 
 Invocation found in King Edward YI.'s First 
 Prayer Book, and retained in the Scotch Office. In 
 this restoration, he gained for the American Church 
 a closer conformity in her Eucharistic office to the 
 primitive forms, and fully answered the require- 
 ment of the " Concordat " he had signed on his con- 
 secration, binding him to an effort to bring his 
 Church in accord with the Scottish Church in this 
 matter. The deliberations were conducted with 
 great harmony, and the result was the setting forth 
 of the present Book of Common Prayer, to be in use 
 from the 1st of October, 1790. The adoption of tlie 
 XXXIX Articles of Peligion of the Church of En- 
 gland, excepting the XXXYIth and XXXYIIth, 
 was proposed by the House of Bishops, but the 
 consideration of this matter was iinally referred 
 to a subsequent Convention. The Psalms in metre, 
 and twenty-seven hymns, the foundation of our late 
 hymnal, were also set forth ; the canons were in- 
 creased by the enactment of eight, requiring the 
 exclusive use of the Prayer Book as now establish- 
 ed, stating the duty of ministers in regard to Epis- 
 copal visitations, directing the censure of notorious 
 crimes and scandals, enforcing the sober conversa- 
 tion required in ministers, providing for the duo 
 celebration of Sundays, the preparation of a regular 
 list of the ministers of the Church, and the giving 
 
74 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 notice of the induction and dismission of ministers.' 
 The union of the Churches having been thus hap- 
 pily effected, and the validity of Bishop Seabury's 
 consecration fully and unanimously endorsed by 
 the Convention, the consecration of Dr. Bass, the 
 Bishop-elect of Massachusetts, was not pressed at 
 this time, and another year witnessed the comple- 
 tion of the canonical number of bishops in the An- 
 glican line, by the consecration in England of Rev. 
 Dr. Madison for Virginia, who, with Bishops 
 White and Provoost, and the Bishop of Connecti- 
 cut, united in the consecration of Dr. Claggett at 
 the next Convention in New- York, in 1792, thus 
 accomplishing the union of the two lines of succes- 
 sion, which had been the object sought by the clergy 
 of Massachusetts and New-Hampshire in the elec- 
 tion of Dr. Bass. 
 
 The change in the Constitution which secured 
 the adhesion of Seabury and the churchmen of New- 
 England was as follows : 
 
 Art. 3. The Bishops of this Church, when there shall be 
 three or more, shall, whenever General Conventions are held, 
 form a separate House, with a right to originate and propose 
 acts for the concurrence of the House of Deputies, composed 
 of Clergy and Laity ; and when any proposed act shall have 
 passed the House of Deputies, the same shall be transmitted to 
 the House of Bishops, who shall have a negative thereupon, 
 unless adhered to by four-fifths of the other House : and all 
 acts of the Convention shall be authenticated by both Houses. 
 And, in all cases, the House of Bishops shall signify to the 
 Convention their approbation or disapprobation, the latter, 
 with their reasons in writing, within three days after the pro- 
 posed act shall have l)een reported to them for concurrence ; 
 and, in failure thereof, it shall have the operation of a law. 
 But until there shall be three or more Bishops, as aforesaid. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. VO 
 
 any Bishop attending a General Convention, shall be a mem- 
 ber ex officio, and shall vote with the Clerical Deputies of the 
 State to which he belongs : and a Bishop shall then preside. 
 
 This action, as we learn from Bishop White,* 
 would have been more decided, and the House of 
 Bishops invested with a full negative on the pro- 
 ceedings of the House of Deputies, but for the op- 
 position of a lay deputy from Yirginia. As it was, a 
 resolution was adopted — 
 
 That it be made known to the several State Conventions, that 
 it is proposed to consider and determine, in the next General 
 Convention, on the propriety of investing the House of Bishops 
 with a full negative upon the proceedings of the other House. 
 
 In this compromise the New-England deputies 
 finally acquiesced, and a single sheet of foolscap, 
 preserved among the archives of the Church, which 
 we give below, is the record of the formal union of 
 the separated Churches in the land : 
 
 We do hereby agree to the Constitution of the Church as 
 modified this Day in the Convention, 2d October, 1789. 
 
 Samuel Seabury, D.D., Bp., 
 Epl. Ch'ch Connect. 
 Connecticut. 
 Abraham Jarvis, A.M., 
 Rector of Christ's Church, Middletoun. 
 
 Bel A Hubbard, A.M., 
 Rector of Trinity Church, New Haven. 
 Samuel Parker, D.D. 
 Rect^ Trin^y Church, Boston, Massachusetts, & Clerical 
 Deputy for Massachusetts & New Hampshire.\ 
 
 * Memoirs, pp. 145, 146. 
 
 f Copied verbatim et literatim from the original ms. in the 
 keeping of the author. 
 
76 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 One measure, quite dear to Bishop Seabury's 
 heart, was rejected. It was the permissory use of 
 the Athanasian Creed. This was agreed to by the 
 House of Bishops, but negatived in the House of 
 Deputies, who, even after conference with the 
 Bishoj)s, '^ would not allow of the Creed in any 
 shape."* Had its use been allowed, it was the 
 avowed intention of the Bishop of Pennsylvania 
 never to read it. The view of his brother of Con- 
 necticut is concisely and clearly stated in a letter 
 addressed by him to the Rev. Dr. Parker, after the 
 Convention rose : 
 
 With regard to tlie propriety of reading the Athanasian 
 Creed, I never was fully convinced. With regard to the im- 
 propriety of banishing it out of the Prayer Book, I am clear ; 
 and I look upon it, that those gentlemen who rigidly insisted 
 upon its being read as usual, and those who insisted on its 
 being thrown out, both acted from the same uncandid, uncom- 
 plying temper. They seemed to me to have aimed at forcing 
 their own opinion on their brethren. And I do hope, though 
 possibly I hope in vain, that Christian charity and love of 
 union will some time bring that Creed into this book, were it 
 only to stand as articles of faith stand, and to show that we 
 do not renounce the Catholic doctrine of the Trinity, as held 
 by the Western Church, f 
 
 A misunderstanding between the two Houses, 
 w^ith respect to the mode of printing the clause in 
 the Apostles' Creed, " He descended into Hell," 
 gave occasion for uneasiness among the clergy at 
 the ]^orth ; but at the next General Convention, in 
 
 * Vide Bishop White's Memoirs, pp. 149, 150. 
 f The original of this interesting letter is in the poaseesionof 
 the author. It is dated December 29. 1790. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 77 
 
 1792, the matter was definitely settled as the House 
 of Bishops originally intended, and as it now stands. 
 In consequence of this misunderstanding, this clause 
 appeared in the first edition of the new Prayer 
 Book in italic letters, and between parenthetical 
 marks. 
 
 It is to be noted as a part of the history of the 
 American Prayer Book and of this Convention, that 
 the expedient of substituting the " Selections of 
 Psalms " for the Psalter did not have the approval 
 of the Bishops. Bishop White suggested, instead, 
 the plan of giving " the ofiiciating minister the lib- 
 erty to select psalms at his discretion," and urged 
 this course on the ground that it would avoid " the 
 practice of reading the psalms, without any regard 
 to their suitableness to the general circumstances 
 and state of mind of a mixed congregation," while 
 another argument was, " that the number and 
 length of the psalms depending on the choice of the 
 minister, there would be great encouragement to 
 the introduction of the practice of singing this part 
 of the service, instead of repeating the verses by 
 the minister and the clerk alternately."* But, 
 though some of the omissions were " capricious," and 
 the selections '^ made with too little deliberation," 
 the persistency of the House of Deputies prevailed, 
 and the " Selections of Psalms " were allowed. 
 
 * Memoirs, p. 152. 
 
73 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 THE CONTENTION OF 1792. 
 
 Nine States were represented in the Convention 
 which met in Trinity Church, New- York, on the 
 11th of September, 1792. Five Bishops, with nine- 
 teen clerical and fourteen lay deputies, were in at- 
 tendance, and the session lasted seven days. On 
 Monday, September 17th, the Rev. Thomas John 
 Claggett, D.D., w^as consecrated Bishop of Mary- 
 land, the sermon on that interesting occasion, the 
 first American Consecration, being delivered by the 
 Eev. Dr. William Smith, whose election to the same 
 Episcopate the iirst Convention of 1786 had refus- 
 ed to confirm. Bishop Provoost, who, through the 
 courtesy of Bishop Seabury, had become Presiding 
 Bishop, was the consecrator, assisted by the Bishop 
 of Connecticut and Ehode Island, and the Bishops 
 of Pennsylvania and Virginia. At this consecra- 
 tion, the succession, as transmitted through the Scot- 
 tish and English lines, was united, and through tlie 
 first Bishop of Maryland, every subsequent Ameri- 
 can Bishop can trace his Episcopal lineage to the 
 first American prelate. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. William Smith was re-elected presi- 
 dent of the House of Deputies, and the Rev. John 
 Bisset, secretary. The procediugs were opened 
 with a sermon by Bishop Seabury. Lay deputies" 
 from Connecticut and Rhode Island appeared for 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 79 
 
 the first time at this session, and the representatives 
 of the Church in the last-mentioned State formally 
 acceded to the Constitution of the general Church. 
 The proposed amendment to the Constitution, giving 
 the House of Bishops a negative upon the proceed- 
 ings of the House of Deputies was rejected, but 
 the proposition was renewed for action at the next 
 session. The consideration of the Articles of Ee- 
 ligion was postponed. The Ordinal was set forth, 
 and several new canons, evidently growing out of 
 the exigencies of the time, and relating mainly to 
 the discipline of the clergy, were enacted. A joint 
 committee was aj)pointed to compare the Book of 
 Common Prayer, as published in 1790, mth the ori- 
 ginal acts of the Convention of 1789, and to pro- 
 vide for authentic editions of the book in the fu- 
 ture. A joint committee was also appointed " for 
 prej^aring a plan of supporting missionaries to 
 preach the gospel on the frontiers of the United 
 States." Copies of the Jom'nal were ordered to be 
 sent to the Archbishop of Canterbury for the use of 
 the English bishops. In the House of Bishops, the 
 rule adopted in 1789, providing for the presidency 
 according to seniority of consecration, was changed, 
 and " rotation, beginning from the Xorth," substi- 
 tuted. The Bishop of Yirginia, as we learn from 
 Bishop TThite, — the record being silent as to the 
 matter, — offered a proposition tending to a compre- 
 hension of the Methodist societies in the Church, a 
 subject which had earlier occasioned a correspondence 
 between the Eev. Thomas Coke, LL.D., one of the 
 '' superintendents" of that body in America, and 
 
80 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 the Bishops of Connecticut and Pennsylvania.* 
 This proposition, as agreed to by the House of 
 Bishops, was as follows : 
 
 The Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of 
 America, ever bearing in mind the sacred obligation which at- 
 tends all the followers of Christ, to avoid divisions among 
 themselves ; and anxious to promote that union for which our 
 Lord and Saviour so earnestly prayed ; do hereby declare to 
 the Christian world, that, uninfluenced by any other considera- 
 tions than those of duty as Christians, and an earnest desire 
 for the prosperity of pure Christianity, and the furtherance of 
 our holy religion, -they are ready and willing to unite and 
 form one body with any religious society, which shall be influ- 
 enced by tlie same Catholic spirit. And in order that this 
 Christian end may be the more easily effected, they further de- 
 clare, that all things in which the great essentials of Christian- 
 ity and the characteristic principles of their Church are not 
 concerned, they are willing to leave to future discussion ; 
 being ready to alter or modify those points which, in the opin- 
 ion of the Protestant Episcopal Church, are subject to human 
 alteration. And it is hereby recommended to tlie State conven- 
 tions, to adopt such measures or propose such conferences with 
 Christians of other denominations, as to themselves may be 
 Jhought most prudent ; and report accordingly to the ensuing 
 General Convention.f 
 
 This proposition was communicated to the House 
 of Deputies, but, although a few gentlemen who 
 were cognizant of the correspondence between Dr. 
 Coke and Bishop White favored its consideration, 
 it was generally regarded as " preposterous," and 
 as " tending to produce distrust of the stability of 
 
 * The original of Dr. Coke's letter to Bishop White is pre- 
 served among the papers belonging to the General Convention, 
 in the keeping of the author. 
 
 f Bishop White's Memoirs, pp. 167, 168. 
 
OF THE AMElllCAN CHURCH. 8i 
 
 the system of tlie Episcopal Clmrcli, without the 
 least prospect of embracing any other religious 
 body." Agreeably to leave granted " as a matter 
 of indulgence," the Bishops withdrew the proposi- 
 tion, which, however, becomes the earliest recorded 
 document bearing upon the questions of Church 
 unity and comprehension, which have subsequently 
 from time to time agitated the American Church. 
 
 More successful were the measures proposed for 
 evangelizing the West. We give in full, as the 
 first missionary paper of the Church in its indepen- 
 dent organization, — 
 
 An Act of the General Convention, for supporting Missionaries 
 to preach the Gospel on the frontiers of the United States. 
 
 1. Resolved, — That it be recommended to the ministers of 
 this Church to preach a sermon in each of the churches under 
 their care, on the first Sunday of September in every year ; 
 and, if that day should not be adapted to tlie purpose, then on 
 such other Sunday as the minister and vestry or trustees of the 
 congregation shall appoint, for the purpose of collecting money 
 in order to carry into effect this charitable design. 
 
 2. That the money so collected be entered in a record to be 
 kept by the vestries or trustees of each congregaticm ; and by 
 the minister and church wardens or trustees be delivered to a 
 treasurer appointed by each State Convention, and by him 
 transmitted to a treasurer who shall be appointed as hereinaf- 
 ter directed. 
 
 3. That such missionaries as may be employed by this 
 Church, be authorized to make collections of money from such 
 congregations on the frontiers as may contribute, and render 
 an accurate account to the bishop of this Church in the State 
 of Pennsylvania, and the Standing Committee to be appointed 
 by this Convention, of the sums thus collected. 
 
 4. That the bishop of this Church in Pennsylvania, and the 
 said Standing Committee, frame an address to the members of 
 this Church, recommending this charitable design to their par- 
 
82 THE GfiNERAL CONVENTION 
 
 ticular attention, which address shall be read by every minis- 
 ter on the day appointed for the collection. 
 
 5. That the bishop of this Church in Pennsylvania, and the 
 said Standing Committee, have authority to appoint a secreta- 
 ry and a treasurer, the first to carry on the correspondence, and 
 the other to keep the accounts and the moneys of the institu- 
 tion. 
 
 6. That when it shall appear to the bishop of this Church in 
 Pennsylvania, and the Standing Committee to be appointed as 
 aforesaid, that sufficient funds have been provided for the above 
 purpose, they shall then employ such missionaries, allow such 
 salaries, and make such arrangements, as to them shall seem 
 best, reporting regularly their proceedings to each General 
 Convention. 
 
 The changes in the '' Ordinal" from the English 
 Offices were prepared by the Bishops. With refe- 
 rence to the nature of these alterations, Bishop 
 White informs us that " There was no material 
 difference of opinion, except in regard to the words 
 used by the Bishop at the ordination of Priests — ■ 
 ' Keceive ye the Holy Ghost,' and ^ Whose sins 
 thou dost forgive, they are forgiven, and whose sins 
 thou dost retain, they are retained.' Bishop Sea- 
 bury, who alone was tenacious of tliis form, consent- 
 ed at last, with great reluctance, to allow the alter- 
 native of another as it now stands."* 
 
 In postponing the consideration of the XXXIX 
 Articles to a future convention, the House of Depu- 
 ties were opposed to the House of Bishops. Of tlie 
 ' Bishops, as Bishop White informs us, " Seabury, 
 White, and Claggett were in faNor of the adoption 
 of Articles of Religion ; Madison was opposed to 
 such a course, and Provoost, who, as President, was 
 
 * Memoirs, p. 164. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 83 
 
 not called upon to vote on the question, was under- 
 stood to be in sympathy with the Bishop of Virgi- 
 nia. The unwillingness of the Deputies to consider 
 the subject, however, caused its postponement in 
 spite of the majority of the Bishops in its favor."* 
 
 Notice of the accession of the clergy and laity of 
 the Church of North-Carolina to the general Con- 
 stitution was received by letter and placed on file ; 
 and a note appended to the Journal informs us that 
 a clerical deputy from that State, the Kev. J. L. 
 Wilson, detained by contrary winds, did not reach 
 New-York until after the Convention had closed its 
 session. 
 
 Agreeably to the requirement of a canon adopted 
 at the last Convention, a list of the clergy of the 
 Church is printed in the Appendix to the JournaL 
 Including the Bishops, the number given is one 
 hundred and eighty-four, no lists having been hand- 
 ed in from New-Hampshire and Massachusetts, and 
 there being no mention of the number of clergy- 
 men at that time in North-Carolina and on the wes- 
 tern frontiers. With every allowance there could 
 not have been more than two hundred, — the repre- 
 sentatives of nearly two thousand who, with Eng- 
 lish orders, had labored on the American continent 
 since its earliest attempted settlement two hundred 
 and fifty years before. 
 
 * Memoirs, pp. 166, 167. 
 
84: THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 THE CONTENTION OF 1795. 
 
 No clerical or lay deputies from New-England 
 were in attendance upon the Convention of 1795, \ 
 which met in Christ Church, Philadelphia, on the 
 8th of September, and continued in session for ten 
 days. Intercourse between New- York and Phila- 
 delphia had been suspended by public authority, 
 some time before the meeting of the Convention, 
 in consequence of the prevailing epidemic, and but 
 seven States were represented by sixteen clergymen 
 and eight laymen. The Eev. Dr. William Smith, 
 D.D., of Pennsylvania, was elected President of 
 the House of Deputies, and the Rev. James Aber- 
 crombie, Secretary. The Bishop of New-York 
 preached the opening sermon. Testimonials in fa- 
 vor of the consecration of the Rev. Samuel Peters, 
 LL.D., to the Episcopate of Vermont were present- 
 ed, but the request of the Convention of that State 
 was refused, as Vermont had not acceded to the 
 Constitution of tlie Chui-ch. Had not this sufficient 
 reason existed, others would doubtless have hinder- 
 ed the success of such an application. Besides 
 " some personal circumstances, which prevented the 
 paying of much respect to the solicitation,"* the 
 fact that there was but one clergyman in the State, 
 and he but temporarily, was sufficient objection, and 
 the sole result of the request was the enactment of 
 
 * Bishop White's Memoirs, p. 174. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 
 
 85 
 
 a canon providing that the Church in a State shall 
 not be entitled to a resident Bishop unless there 
 shall be at least six presbyters residing and officiat- 
 ing therein. Another canon, growing out of an ex- 
 isting abuse, was enacted, forbidding the imion of 
 a congregation in one diocese with the Church in 
 any other diocese. 
 
 At this Convention South-Carolina, which at the 
 first had entered into the general union of the 
 Churches on condition that no Bishop should be 
 imposed upon the State, applied for the consecra- 
 tion of the Kev. Eobert Smith, D.D., to the Epis- 
 copate. There was reason to fear that this request 
 grew out of a desire and, in fact, a plan for seced- 
 ing from the general Church when once the 
 power of conferring orders had been secured in the 
 consecration of its Bishop. At least this purpose 
 was expressly avowed in a circular letter addressed 
 to the members of the Church in South-Carolina, 
 by " a select Committee of the United Episcopal 
 Churches in this State." This circular, which 
 appears to have been the composition of Henry 
 Purcell, D.D., assigned as the ground of this proba- 
 ble " secession of this State and Virginia from the 
 General Association," the " absolute negative" 
 which it was feared would, at the solicitation of the 
 Eastern States, be given to the House of Bishops. 
 But it was found on inquiry that the Convention 
 had not adopted the principles of this '' wretched 
 production," and the consecration of the Bishop- 
 elect of South-Carolina tool? place on Sunday, the 
 13th of September. 
 
86 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 But Dr. Purcell, in addition to his connection 
 with the discreditable circular already referred to, 
 had published a " licentious pamphlet " full of 
 " personal abuse," " principally levelled at Bishop 
 Seabury" on the ground of " his supposed author- 
 ship of a printed defense of the Episcopal nega- 
 tive." This paper was in fact written and ac- 
 knowledged by another divine ; and on Dr. Pur- 
 cell's presentation of the testimonials of Dr. Robert 
 Smith, as we learn from the Journal — 
 
 The attention cf the house was called by the Rev. Dr. 
 Andrews to the consideration of a pamphlet lately published, 
 entitled, " Strictures on the Love of Power in the Prelacy, by 
 a Member of the Protestant Episcopal Association in the 
 State of South Carolina," which he declared to be a virulent 
 attack upon the doctrines and discipline of our Church, and a 
 libel against the House of Bishops, and which was alleged to 
 be written by a member of this house. 
 
 Resolved, — That it be the order of the day for Monday next, 
 that the house, in Committee of the whole, enter upon the 
 investigation of this charge. 
 
 After debate, the House resolved that the pam- 
 phlet contained " very offensive and censurable 
 matter," and it was only on the presentation of a 
 written apology in which he professed " sorrow for 
 the publication," and at the earnest solicitation of 
 the Bishops, that Dr. Purcell escaped expulsion from 
 the House. His subsequent conduct gave ample 
 evidence that his '' professed penitence was insin- 
 cere, although it had been accompanied by a profu- 
 sion of tears."* The exposure of his conduct had 
 
 * Bishop White, Memoirs, pp. 175, 17& 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. S7 
 
 been mainly due to the Rev. Dr. Andrews, of Plii- 
 ladelpliia, and on the rising of the Convention the 
 pugnacious Purcell, clergyman though he was, 
 challenged Dr. Andrews to mortal combat, and was 
 consequently bound over before the civil courts to 
 keep the peace. The depositions and documents 
 concerning this shameful affair are preserved among 
 the papers of Bishop White, and that amiable pre- 
 late seems to have been roused to an unusual nidig- 
 nation towards the offender, who was shielded from 
 the punishment he richly merited by the friendship 
 of his Bishop and the support of his brethren at 
 
 the South. 
 
 One decision in connection wdth this unhappy 
 affair requires notice as establishing an important 
 precedent. To quote the words of Bishop White, 
 " The termination of this business, although pressed 
 by the Bishops, was not acquiesced in without con- 
 siderable opposition ; and, to the last, three very 
 respectable lay gentlemen, who were of a remark- 
 ably conciliatory character, pressed for permission 
 to enter their protest. It was not granted ; and as 
 this has been the only instance in which the ques- 
 tion of a right to protest has undergone discussion, 
 the recording of a denial of the right falls in with 
 the design of the present work."* 
 
 The Church in North-Carolina had elected to the 
 Episcopate a most worthy clergyman, the Rev. 
 Charles Pettigrew, and the testimonials of this 
 gentleman were laid before the Convention; but 
 
 * Memoirs, p. 175. 
 
88 THE GENERAL CONVENTIOX 
 
 owing to the interruption of travel occasioned Ly a 
 prevailing epidemic, the Rev. Mr. Pettigrew found 
 liimself unable to reach Philadelphia in time for 
 the Convention, and returned to his home without 
 accomplishing the end desired. 
 
 The Bishops expressed their content with the 
 legislation given by Art. III. of the Constitution 
 without the " absolute negative." A canon em- 
 powering the Bishops respectively to " compose a 
 form of prayer or thanksgiving for extraordinary 
 occasions" was adopted ; and legislation respecting 
 the preparatory exercises of candidates for the min- 
 istry ; and with reference to parochial boundaries was 
 enacted. The third, fourth, sixth and seventh canons 
 of 1789, and the fourth and sixth canons of 1792 
 were repealed, and in the stead of each new canons 
 were adopted. The churches in the several States 
 were called upon to send deputies to the next Con- 
 vention without fail, that further postponement of 
 the consideration of the Articles might be avoided. 
 The care of the missionary work was relegated to 
 the State Conventions ; and a joint committee was 
 appointed to prepare a course of study for candi- 
 dates for Holy Orders. The clergy list appended 
 to the Journal had increased to upwards of two 
 hundred names. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 89 
 
 THE CONVENTION OF 1799. 
 
 The prevalence of epidemic disease prevented 
 the Convention from assembling in Philadelphia 
 in September, 1798. The Bishops, agreeably 
 to a power invested in them when request- 
 ed by the Standing Committee, convened a Spe- 
 cial Convention, in place of the triennial meet- 
 ing, on the 11th of June of the following year. 
 Eight States, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Con- 
 necticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, 
 Delaware, and Virginia, were represented by nine- 
 teen clerical and ten lay deputies. The officers of 
 the last session were re-elected in the House of 
 Deputies. There was no opening sermon. Since 
 the last Convention Bishop Seabury had entered 
 into rest, and the Rev. Abraham Jarvis, D.D., had 
 been consecrated in his stead. The Rev. Dr. Ed- 
 ward Bass had been a second time elected to the 
 Episcopate of Massachusetts, and had received con- 
 secration. At this session, which continued for 
 eight days, the testimonials of the Rev. Uzal 
 Ogden, D.D., who had been elected to the Episco- 
 pate of New-Jersey, were presented for coniirma- 
 tion. The question being raised '' wdiether all the 
 priests who voted in the election were so qualified 
 as to constitute them a majority of the resident and 
 officiating priests in the said State according to the 
 meaning of the canon," this objection was made 
 the ostensible ground for suspending action. Bishop 
 White reveals '^ a more important reason at the 
 
90 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 bottom of the objection made."* Dr. Ogdeii '' was 
 considered by his brethren generally as being more 
 attached to the doctrines and the practices obtain- 
 ing in some other churches than to those of his 
 own."f 
 
 A proposed alteration in the Constitution, to the 
 effect that when the Church was not represented 
 in both Orders by a majority of the States, 
 the votes should be given by States without re- 
 gard to Orders, was defeated. A proposition to 
 substitute a quinquennial meeting of the Conven- 
 tion for a triennial, involving of course a change 
 in Article I. of the Constitution, was laid over 
 for consideration at the next session. Canons, of 
 the mode of calling special meetings ; of General 
 Conventions ; of consecrations during the recess of 
 General Convention ; explanatory of the term 
 " regularly officiating and resident minister ;" and 
 repealing in part Canon 4 of 1795 concerning the 
 learning of those to be ordained, were enacted. A 
 Form of Consecration of a church or chapel was 
 adopted ; a prayer was set forth to be used at 
 meetings of the Convention ; and the following 
 action was taken respecting tlie Articles of Reli- 
 gion by the House of Deputies^ and printed as an 
 Appendix to the Journal of that House : 
 
 Resolved unanimously , — That on account of the advanced 
 period of the present Session, and the thinness of the Conven- 
 tion, the consideration of the Articles, now reported and read, 
 be postponed ; and that the Secretary transcribe the Articles 
 
 ♦ Memoirs, p. 178. f Ibid. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 91 
 
 into tlie Journal of this Convention, to lie over for the consi- 
 deration of the next General Convention. 
 
 The Articles referred to are as follow. 
 
 I. Of Faith in the Holy Trinity. 
 
 There is but one living and true God, everlasting" ; of infinite 
 power, wisdom, and goodness ; the maker and preserver of all 
 things, visible and invisible. And in the unity of this God- 
 head there are three persons — the Father, the Son, and the 
 Holy Ghost ; our Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier, 
 
 n. Of the Holy Scriptuke, 
 
 Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation ; 
 so that whatsoever is not read therein, and can not be proved 
 thereby, is not to be received as an article of faith, nor deemed 
 necessary to salvation. 
 
 By Holy Scripture, we understand the canonical books of 
 the Old and New Testament. 
 
 THE NAMES AND NUMBER OF THE CANONICAL BOOKS 
 IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. 
 
 1. Genesis having 50 
 
 21. Ecclesiastes 
 
 having 
 
 12 
 
 2. Exodus 
 
 (( 
 
 40 
 
 22. The Song of Solomon " 
 
 8 
 
 3. Leviticus 
 
 " 
 
 27 
 
 23. Isaiah 
 
 " 
 
 66 
 
 4. Numbers 
 
 «' 
 
 36 
 
 24. Jeremiah 
 
 « 
 
 52 
 
 5. Deuteronomy 
 
 « 
 
 34 
 
 25. Lamentations 
 
 <( 
 
 5 
 
 6. Joshua 
 
 it 
 
 24 
 
 26. Ezekicl 
 
 " 
 
 48 
 
 7. Judges 
 
 (( 
 
 21 
 
 27. Daniel 
 
 " 
 
 12 
 
 8. Ruth 
 
 »« 
 
 4 
 
 28. Hosea 
 
 " 
 
 14 
 
 9. The 1st Book of Samuel 
 
 " 
 
 31 
 
 29. Joel 
 
 *'• 
 
 3 
 
 10. The 2d Book of Samuel 
 
 " 
 
 24 
 
 30. Amos 
 
 " 
 
 9 
 
 11. The l8t Book of Kings 
 
 " 
 
 23 
 
 31. Obadiah 
 
 a 
 
 1 
 
 12. The2d Book of Kings 
 
 " 
 
 25 
 
 32. Jonah 
 
 " 
 
 4 
 
 13. The 1st Book of Chronicles 
 
 29 
 
 33. Micah 
 
 " 
 
 T 
 
 14. Second Book of Chronicles 
 
 36 
 
 .34. Nahum 
 
 " 
 
 3 
 
 15. Ezra 
 
 
 10 
 
 35. Habakkuk 
 
 i< 
 
 3 
 
 16. Nehemiah 
 
 
 13 
 
 36. Zephaniah 
 
 " 
 
 3 
 
 17. The Book of Esther 
 
 
 10 
 
 37. Haggai 
 
 *' 
 
 2 
 
 18. The Book of Job 
 
 
 42 
 
 3S. Zechariah 
 
 u 
 
 14 
 
 19. The Psalms 
 
 
 150 
 
 39. Malachi 
 
 i« 
 
 4 
 
 20. The Proverbs 
 
 
 31 
 
 
 
 
92 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 CANONICAL BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. 
 
 CHAPS. CHAPS. 
 
 1. St. Matthew having 23 15.1st Epistle to Timotliy having « 
 
 2. St. Mark " 16 1(1. 2d Epistle to Timothy " 4 
 
 3. St. Luke " 24 IT. Epistle to Titus " 3 
 
 4. St. John •' 21 18. Epistle to Philemon " 1 
 
 5. The Acts of the Apostles " 23 19. Epistle to the Hebrews " 13 
 
 6. Epistle to the Romans " 16 20. Epistle of St. James *' 5 
 
 7. 1st Epistle to the Corinthians 16 21. 1st Epistle of St. Peter " 5 
 
 8. 2d Epistle to the Corinthians 13 22. 2d Epistle of St. Peter " 3 
 
 9. Epistle to the Galatians " 5 23. Ist Epistle of St. John " 5 
 
 10. Epistle to the Ephesians " 6 24. 2d Epistle of St. John " 1 
 
 11. Epistle to the Philipians " 4 25. 3d Epistle of St. John " 1 
 
 12. Epistle to the Colossians " 4 26. Epistle of St. Judc " 1 
 
 13. 1st Epistle to the Thessalonians 5 27. Revelation of St. John, the 
 
 14. 2d Epistle to the Thessalonians 3 Divine " 22 
 
 The Apocryplial books are read by tlie Church, for example 
 of life and instruction of manners, not for the establishment 
 of discipline or doctrine. 
 
 III. Of the Old and New Testament. 
 
 There is a perfect harmony and accordance between the Old 
 and New Testament ; for in both, " Pardon of sin and everlast- 
 ing life are offered to mankind through Christ, who is the only 
 mediator between God and man ;" and although Christians are 
 not bound to obey the civil and ceremonial precepts, yet are 
 they obliged to observe all the moral commandments of the 
 Mosaic dispensation. 
 
 IV. Of the Ckeeds. 
 
 The Nicene Creed and the Apostles' Creed ought to be re- 
 tained and believed, because every Article contained in them 
 may be proved by Holy Scripture. 
 
 V. Of the Transgression of ouk first Parents. 
 
 By the transgression of our first parents, they lost that pri- 
 mitive innocence and perfect holiness in which God had created 
 them ; and thus the nature of man became corrupted, and 
 prone to evil, so that there is no man living who sinneth not. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 
 VI. Of Justification. 
 
 oa 
 
 We are justified, or pardoned, hj God, not on account of our 
 own good works, but only through the merits and mediation 
 of our blessed Redeemer and Advocate, Jesus Christ. But 
 although good works cannot put away our sins, nor appear 
 perfect before God, yet are they pleasing and acceptable to God 
 in Christ, and essentially necessary to salvation— for Scripture 
 assures us, that " faith without works is dead," and that with- 
 out holiness no man shall see the Lord. 
 
 VII. Op Predestination and Election. 
 Being well assured, from Holy Scripture, of the eternal pur- 
 pose or promise of Redemption, according to which God sent 
 his Son to be the propitiation for the sins of the whole world, 
 and Christ Jesus gave himself a ransom for all ; we receive the 
 doctrine of predestination as consistent with, and agreeable to, 
 this most gracious and general scheme of salvation, which we 
 believe to be universal in the intention, however partial the 
 wickedness of mankind may render it in the application. 
 Under the impression of this belief, it is the duty of Christians 
 to be satisfied with and attend to the promises of God, as they 
 are generally set forth to us in Holy Scripture, without seeking 
 to be "wise above what is written," or plunging into the unre- 
 vealed secrets of either past or future eternity, but always re- 
 membering the distinction which in such cases Moses lays 
 down-" Secret things belong unto the Lord our God, but the 
 things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children 
 for ever, that we may do all the words of this law." 
 
 VIII. Op Salvation by Christ alone. 
 Holy Scripture declares, that "there is none other name 
 under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved, 
 but only the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." But we are not 
 authorized to assert, that men shall not be saved by the name of 
 Jesus Christ, to whom his gospel has not been promulgated. 
 W^e leave them to the uncovenanted mercies of God. 
 
 IX. Of the Church. 
 The visible Church of Christ is the whole multitude of be- 
 lievers, of whatsoever nation or language, dwelling on the face 
 
94 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 of the earth, among whom the pure word of God is preached, 
 the Sacraments duly administered, and the order of the priest- 
 hood observed, according to Christ's ordinance and appoint- 
 ment. 
 
 X. Op the Authority of the Church. 
 
 The Church has power to ordain, change, and abolish rites 
 and ceremonies, and to determine controversies of faith ; but 
 it is not lawful for the Church to ordain or command any thing 
 to be received or believed which is contrary to the Canon of 
 Scripture, or to expound one part of the same so as to be re- 
 pugnant to another. The Church, also, is the witness or keep- 
 er of Holy Writ, and must neither adulterate, nor add to, nor 
 take from the same. 
 
 XI. Of Ministering in the Church. 
 
 It is not lawful for any man to take upon him the office of 
 public preaching, or administe^'ing the Holy Sacraments, until 
 he be regularly ordained, and sent to execute the same. And 
 those we judge lawfully sent, who are ordained by the Bishops 
 of the Church. 
 
 XII. Op the Sacraments. 
 
 Sacraments were ordained by Christ, not only to be badges 
 or tokens of Christian profession, but to be outward and visi- 
 ble signs of inward and spiritual grace, by which He doth 
 work invisibly in us, and doth not only quicken, but doth also 
 strengthen and confirm our faith in Him. 
 
 XIII. Op B.VPTISM. 
 
 Baptism is an ordinance by which we are regenerated and 
 born again of water and the Holy Ghost, received into Christ's 
 Church, and made living members of the same. 
 
 XIV. Op the Lord's Supper. 
 
 The Supper of the Lord is not only a token of the love that 
 Cliristians ought to have towards one another, but rather a 
 pledge of our redemption by Christ's death. To such as 
 worthily receive the same, the bread which is broken is a 
 partaking of the body of Christ, and the cup of blessing is a 
 
OF THE AMEKICAN CHURCH. 95 
 
 partaking of the blood of Christ ; both which are spiritually- 
 received, for the preservation of our souls and bodies unto 
 everlasting life. 
 
 XV. Of the Oblation of Christ. 
 The oblation of the body of Christ, once made, is that per- 
 fect sacrifice, propitiation, and satisfaction, which was offered 
 for the sins of the whole world. And there is no other sacri- 
 fice, satisfaction, or atonement for sin, but that only. 
 
 XVI. Of Excommunicated Persons. 
 Whosoever is publicly excommunicated by the governors of 
 the Church, and cut ofE from the unity of the same, is to be 
 considered as an alien from the promises of the Gospel, until 
 he be openly reconciled, and received again into communion. 
 
 XVII. Op the Power of the Civil Magistrate. 
 The power of the civil magistrate extendeth to all men, as 
 well Clergy as Laity, in all things temporal— but hath no 
 authority in things purely spiritual. And we hold it to be the 
 duty of all men who are professors of the Gospel, to pay a 
 respectful obedience to the civil authority, regularly and legi- 
 timately constituted. 
 
 The clergy list appended to the Journal of 1799 
 contained the names of seven Bishops and two 
 hundred and twelve clergymen. 
 
96 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 THE CONYENTION OF 1801. 
 
 Seven States — Massachusetts, Connecticut, ]N"ew- 
 York, Kew-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and 
 Maryland — were represented in the Convention 
 which met in St. Michael's Church, city of Tren- 
 ton, JSTew- Jersey, from the 8th to tlie 12th of 
 September, 1801. Nineteen clerical and nine lay 
 deputies were in attendance at this brief session, 
 and the Eev. Abraham Beach, D.D., of New- York, 
 was chosen President, and the Rev. Ashbel Bald- 
 win, of Connecticut, Secretary, of the House of 
 Deputies, and Chaplain to the Convention. The 
 application of the Diocese of New-Jersey for the 
 consecration of the Bev. Dr. Ogden was met by 
 '^ a direct refusal to recommend " on a vote by 
 dioceses and orders.* The proposed change from 
 a triennial to a quinquennial Convention was de- 
 feated, and a further proposed alteration of Art. I., 
 making the third Tuesday of May as the time of 
 meeting, laid over for action in 1804. 
 
 The Convention was no sooner organized than a 
 call was made upon the House of Bishops by the 
 House of Deputies to know if any communication 
 had been received from the Bishop of New- York, 
 resigning his jurisdiction. This call elicited the 
 
 * The defeated Bishop-elect a few years afterwards joined 
 the Presbyterian body. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 97 
 
 following letter, which, as the iirst Episcopal resig- 
 nation in the American Church, we append, together 
 with the '' minute" of the House of Bishops with 
 i-ef erence to the question : 
 
 New- York, Sept. 7, 1801. 
 Right Rev. and Dear Sir : 
 
 I think it my duty to request that, as President of the House 
 of Bishops, you will inform that venerable body, that, induced 
 by ill health, and some melancholy occurrences in my family, 
 and an ardent wish to retire from all public employment, I re- 
 signed, at the last meeting of our Church Convention, my 
 jurisdiction as Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in 
 the State of New-York. 
 
 I am, with great regard, dear and right rev, sir, 
 Your affectionate brother, 
 
 Samuel Provoost. 
 
 Right Rev. Bishop White. 
 
 The House of Bishops having considered the subject brought 
 before them by the letter of Bishop Provoost, and by the mes- 
 sage from the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, touching 
 the same, can see no grounds on which to believe, that the 
 contemplated resignation is consistent with ecclesiastical order, 
 or with the practice of Episcopal churches in any ages, or with 
 the tenor of the Office of Consecration. Accordingly, while 
 they sympathize most tenderly with their brother Bishop Pro- 
 voost, on account of that ill health, and those melancholy oc- 
 currences which have led to the design in question, they judge 
 it to be inconsistent with the sacred trust committed to them, 
 to recognize the Bishop's act as an effectual resignation of his 
 Episcopal jurisdiction. Nevertheless, being sensible of the 
 present exigencies of the church of New- York, and approving 
 of their making provision for the actual discharge of the duties 
 of the Episcopacy, the Bishops of this house are ready to con- 
 secrate to the Office of a Bishop, any person who may be pre- 
 sented to them with the requisite testimonials from the Gene- 
 ral and State Conventions, and of whose religious, moral, and 
 literary character, due satisfaction may be given. But this 
 house must be understood to be explicit in their declaration, 
 
98 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 that tliey shall consider such a person as assistant or co-adjutor 
 Bishop during Bishop Provoost's life, although competent, in 
 point of character, to all the Episcopal duties ; the extent in 
 which the same shall he discharged by him, to be dependent 
 on such regulations as expediency may dictate to the Church 
 in New- York, grounded on the indisposition of Bishop Pro- 
 Yoost, and with his concurrence. 
 
 The publication by the House of Deputies in 
 1799, of the draft of seventeen Articles of Religion 
 reported by a committee of that House, is styled by 
 Bishop White as "an injudicious measure." It 
 was so from the fact that it rendered this draft lia- 
 ble "to be easily mistaken for the sense of at least 
 one of the Houses of the Convention."* Still, as 
 the Bishop proceeds to state, " it proved beneficial 
 in its unexpected consequences," by showing the 
 impossibility of agreement on any new draft of the 
 Articles, and thus preparing a way for the formal 
 acceptance of those of the Mother Church of Eng- 
 land. Bishop White is careful to state, in ac- 
 cordance with the principles which governed his 
 course with reference to the many " vexed ques- 
 tions" arising at the period of reorganizing the 
 American Church, that, with the exception of the 
 political portions, the XXXIX Articles were all 
 along " the acknowledged faith of the Church."f 
 Though " the opposite doctrine was held by many," 
 it " threatened unhappy consequences," and the only 
 precedent was " the very exceptionable manner of 
 doing business, adopted by the House of Clerical 
 
 * Memoirs, pp. 176-178, 179-187. f Ibid., p. 180. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 99 
 
 and Lay Deputies in the year 1789. That Honse, 
 in regard to every part of the Prayer Book on 
 which they acted, brought the office forward as a 
 matter originating with them, and not their altera- 
 tions, as affecting an office already known and of 
 obligation. It was answered that this was an as- 
 sumption of but one of the Houses of a single Con- 
 vention ; that the other House had even then 
 adopted a contrary course ; that the same had been 
 done in all the preceding Conventions, and that in 
 the only subsequent Convention in which there had 
 been any alteration of a former standard— meaning 
 of the Ordinal, altered in 1792— it had been so 
 acted on, as to acknowledge the obligation of the 
 old forms, with the exception of the political parts, 
 until altered. This seems conclusive reasonmg. 
 The Articles, to quote Bishop "White, " were there- 
 fore adopted by the two Houses of Convention, 
 without their altering of even the obsolete diction 
 in them; but with notices of such changes as 
 change of situation had rendered necessary."t The 
 action setting forth the Articles is as follows : 
 
 Resolution of the Bisliops, tlie Clergy, and Laity of the 
 Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, 
 in Convention, in the city of Trenton, the 12th day of Septem- 
 ber, in the year of our Lord 1801, respecting Articles of Re- 
 ligion. 
 
 The Articles of Religion are hereby ordered to be set forth 
 with the following directions, to be observed in all future 
 editions of the same ; that is to say— 
 
 The following to be the title, viz. : 
 
 Memoirs. f Bishop White, Memoirs, p. 32. 
 
100 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 " Articles of Religion, as established by the Bishops, the 
 Clergy, and the Laity of the Protestant Episcopal Church in 
 the United States of America, in Convention, on the 12th day 
 of September, in the year of our Lord 1801." 
 
 The Articles to stand as in the Book of Common Prayer of 
 the Church of England, with the following alterations and 
 omissions, viz. : 
 
 In the 8th Article, the word "three" in the title, and the 
 words " three — Athanasius' creed " in the Article, to be omit- 
 ted, and the Article to read thus : 
 
 AiiT. VIII. Op the Creeds. 
 
 " The Nicene Creed, and that which is commonly called the 
 Apostles' Creed, ought thoroughly to be received and believed, 
 for they may be proved by most certain warrants of Holy 
 Scripture." 
 
 Under the title " Article 21," the following note to be in- 
 serted, namely, 
 
 "The 21st of the former Aticles is omitted, because it is 
 partly of a local and civil nature, and is provided for, as to the 
 remaining parts of it, in other Articles." 
 
 The 35th Article to be inserted with the following note, 
 namely, 
 
 " This Article is received in this Church, so far as it declares 
 the Books of Homilies to be an explication of Christian doc- 
 trine, and instructive in piety and morals. But all references 
 to the constitution and laws of England are considered as in- 
 applicable to the circumstances of this Church ; which also 
 suspends the order for the reading of said homilies in churches 
 until a revision of them may conveniently be made, for the 
 clearing of them, as well from obsolete words and phrases, as 
 from the local references." 
 
 The 36tli Article, entitled " Of Consecration of Bishops and 
 Ministers," to read thus : 
 
 "The Book of Consecration of Bishops, and ordering of 
 Priests and Deacons, as set forth by the General Convention 
 of this Church in 1792, doth contain all things necessary to 
 
OF THE AMEEICAN CHURCH. 101 
 
 Buch consecration and ordering : neither liatli it any thing, 
 that, of itself, is superstitious and ungodly : and, therefore, 
 whosoever are consecrated or ordered according to said form, 
 we decree all such to be rightly, orderly, and lawfully conse- 
 crated and ordered." 
 
 The 37th Article to be omitted, and the following substituted 
 in its place : 
 
 "Op the Power op the Civil Magistrate. 
 " The power of the civil magistrate extendeth to all men, as 
 well Clergy as Laity, in all things temporal— but hath no 
 authority in things purely spiritual. And we hold it to be the 
 duty of all men who are professors of the gospel, to pay 
 respectful obedience to the civil authority, regularly and legiti- 
 mately constituted." 
 
 Adopted by the House op Bishops. 
 WILLIAM WHITE, D.D., Presiding Bishop. 
 Adopted by the House op Clerical and Lay Deputies. 
 ABRAHAM BEACH, D.D., President. 
 
 As there lias l)een more or less discussion with 
 reference to the nature of this action, it niaj be 
 well to add to our quotations from Bishop White's 
 opinions, the following important paragraph which 
 bears directly on this matter : 
 
 The object kept in View, in all the consultations held, and 
 the determinations formed,was the perpetuating of the Episco- 
 pal Church, on the ground of the general principles which she 
 had inherited from the Church of England ; and of not depart- 
 ing from them, except so far as either local circumstances 
 required, or some very important cause rendered proper. To 
 those acquainted with the system of the Church of England, 
 it must be evident that the object here stated was accomplish^ 
 ed on the ratification of the Articles.* 
 
 * Memoirs, p. 33. 
 
lir^ THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 It should further be noted in this connection that 
 it appears from the Journal of the Convention of 
 1804, that 
 
 A proposed Canon, concerning subscription to the Articles 
 of the Church, was negatived, under the impression that a 
 puflBcient subscription to the Articles is already required by the 
 7th Article of the Constitution.* 
 
 Permission was granted to certain churches in 
 the western part of the State of New-Hampshire, 
 and the eastern part of the State of Vermont, 
 which had acceded to the General Constitution, to 
 form a diocesan organization under a dispensation 
 from the operation of the eighth Canon of 1795. 
 Canons were adopted providing for the degradation 
 of those who discontinued the ministerial office 
 without lawful cause ; limiting the operation of 
 Canon 4 of 1795, providing for the dispensation 
 of branches of learning not strictly ecclesiastical ; 
 prescribing the mode of publishing authorized 
 editions of the Book of Common Prayer ; and add- 
 ing to Canon 1 of 1795, respecting Episcopal visita- 
 tions. A proposal emanating from the celebrated 
 Isaac Wilkins, D.D., of New- York, that lay deputies 
 to the General Convention should be communicants 
 of at least one year's standing, was defeated by the 
 following vote : 
 
 Clergy— Massachusetts, No ; Connecticut, Yea ; New- York 
 
 -.oo/^^'^y'® Reprint of Journals of General Conventions, 1785- 
 lodo, I., p. 301. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 103 
 
 Yea ; New-Jersey, No ; Pennsylvania, No ; Delaware, No ; 
 Maryland, No. 
 
 Laity — Connecticut, No ; New- York, Yea ; Delaware, No ; 
 Maryland, No. 
 
 Eight Bishops, and two hundred and three Pres- 
 byters and Deacons, are reported in the clergy 
 list. 
 
104 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 THE CONVENTION OF 1804. 
 
 Four Bishops, to whom one, Parker, of Massa- 
 chusetts, was added by consecration, and twenty 
 clerical and nine lay deputies from the seven 
 States represented at the preceding session, made 
 up the Convention of 1804, Avhicli met in Trinity 
 Church, New- York, on the eleventh, and adjourned 
 on the eighteenth of September. Bishop White 
 presided in the House of Bishops. The Rev. Dr. 
 Beach was re-elected President of the House of 
 Deputies, and the Rev. John Henry Hobart, 
 Secretary. The Right Rev. Benjamin Moore, 
 D.D., preached the opening sermon. The Con- 
 vention ratilied the proposed alteration in the 
 Constitution, changing the time of the meet- 
 ing of the Convention. This change was occa- 
 sioned in consequence of the prevalence of 
 epidemic disease in the autumn for several suc- 
 cessive years. Eleven canons were adopted, thelirst 
 concerning the election, and requiring the induction 
 of ministers ; the others, respecting the dissolution 
 of pastoral connection ;'^ concerning the removal of 
 clergymen ; respecting differences between minis- 
 
 * Tlie Canon grew out of a Memorial presented to tlie Con- 
 vention by Trinity Church, Newark, N. J., and had for its 
 occasion an unhappy dispute between that parish and its rec- 
 tor, the Rov. Uzal Ogden, D.D. Vide Bishop White's Me- 
 moirs, pp. 190, 191. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 105 
 
 ters and their congregations ; respecting clergymen 
 ordained by foreign Bishops; limiting the opera- 
 tion of Canon 6 of 1795,. respecting the testi- 
 monials of ministers of other religious bodies; 
 additional to the said Canon requiring candidates to 
 apply to their own diocesan for orders ; of candi- 
 dates for orders from portions of the United States 
 which had not acceded to the Constitution of the 
 Church ; of candidates who are refused orders ; 
 respecting lay readers ; and providing for an accu- 
 rate view of the state of tlie Church. The " Office 
 of Induction," the use of which was required by 
 Canon 1 of tliis Convention, was set forth. This 
 *^ Office" was closely copied from "An Office of 
 Induction, adopted by the Bishop and Clergy of 
 the Diocese of Connecticut, in Convocation, at 
 Derby, November 20th, 1799, by the Kev. William 
 Smith, D.D., Kector of St. Baul's Church, Nor- 
 Avalk." It was at the request of the Connecticut 
 Convention which met at Stratlield, June, 1799, 
 that Dr. Smith, a nephew of the celebrated divine 
 of the same name, to whom we have had occasion 
 to refer again and again, prepared this " Office," 
 which was formally accepted by the Convention, 
 at Litchfield, in 1804. So nearly alike is the Con- 
 necticut original and the office set forth by the 
 General Convention of 1804, "as to give to Con- 
 necticut the whole credit of providing for the 
 Church a service which, however much it may be 
 neglected in these days, was intended to impress 
 upon the pastor and his i)epple their intimate, 
 mutual, and solemn relations to each pther."* 
 
 * Beardriley's History of the Connecticut Church, II., p. 19. 
 
106 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 A " Course of Ecclesiastical Studies," which is 
 still (1874) appended to the Convention Journal, 
 was established by the House of Bishops, in pur- 
 suance of a request made by the preceding Con- 
 vention. 
 
 The case of the notorious Ammi Eogers came 
 before the House of Bishops at this Convention, 
 with the following " determination : " 
 
 After full inquiry, and fair examination of all the evidence 
 that could be procured, it appears to this house, that the said 
 Ammi Rogers had produced to the Standing Committee of New- 
 York (upon the strength of which he obtained Holy Orders) a 
 certificate, signed with the name of the Rev. Philo Perry, 
 which certificate was not written nor signed by him. 
 
 That the conduct of the said Ammi Rogers, in the State of 
 Connecticut, during his residence in that State, since he left 
 New-York, has been insulting, refractory, and schismatical in 
 the highest degree ; and were it tolerated, would prove sub- 
 versive of all order and discipline in the Church ; and that the 
 statement which he made in justification of his conduct, was a 
 mere tissue of equivocation and evasion, and of course served 
 rather to defeat than to establish his purpose. 
 
 Therefore, this house do approve of the proceedings of the 
 Church in Connecticut, in reproving the said Ammi Rogers, 
 and prohibiting him from the performance of any ministerial 
 duties within that diocese ; and, moreover, are of opinion, 
 that he deserves a severe ecclesiastical censure, that of degra- 
 dation from the ministry. 
 
 In regard to the question. To what authority is Mr. Rogers 
 amenable ? this house are sensible, that there not having been, 
 previously to the present Convention, any sufficient provision 
 for a case of a clergyman removing from one diocese to 
 another, it might easily happen that different sentiments 
 would arise as to this point. We are of opinion, that Mr. 
 Rogers' residence being in Connecticut, it is to the authority 
 of that diocese he is exclusively amenable. But as the impo- 
 sition practiced with a view to the Ministry was in New- York, 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 107 
 
 we recommend to the Bishop and Standing Committee of thai 
 State, to send to the Bishop in Connecticut such documents, 
 duly attested, of the measure referred to, as will be a ground 
 of procedure in that particular.^ 
 
 Provision was made for the publication of 
 authorized and standard copies of the Constitution 
 and Canons, and the Office of Induction. At the 
 suggestion of the House of Bishops, the adjourn- 
 ment of the Convention was accompanied by prayer 
 in the presence of the two Houses, the presiding 
 Bishop officiating. Two hundred and thirteen 
 names, inchiding seven Bishops, appear on the 
 clergy list, the returns for Virginia and South- 
 Carolina being the same as in previous years. 
 
 * For a review of this action on the part of the House of 
 Bishops, sitting on this question practically as a Court of Ap- 
 peal, vide Bishop White's Memoirs, pp. 188-190. 
 
108 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 THE C0:N^YENTI0N of 1808. 
 
 The States of Khode Island, Connecticut, New- 
 York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and 
 Maryland were represented by fourteen clerical 
 and thirteen lay deputies, in the Convention of 
 1808, which met at Baltimore, Md., and continued 
 in session from the 17th to the 26th of May, inclu- 
 sive. Two Bishops only. White and Claggett, 
 were present. In the House of Deputies, the 
 officers of the last session were re-elected. The 
 long proposed amendment to the Constitution giv- 
 ing an absolute negative to the House of Bishops, 
 was adopted by a vote practically unanimous, the 
 lay deputies of Pennsylvania alone opposing, and 
 that in consequence of a supposed failure to comply 
 with the constitutional requirement of communi- 
 cating the proposed change to the diocesan Conven- 
 tion.* The case of Ammi Kogers came before the 
 Convention on an appeal from this person " from 
 a sentence of degradation said to have been passed 
 on him, without trial or hearing, by the Eight Eev. 
 Bishop Jarvis, of Connecticut." As we learn from 
 Bishop White, " there was no doubt on the minds 
 of the two Bishops present, that there had been an 
 
 * Bishop White's Memoirs, p. 198. Compare Perry's Reprint 
 of the Journals, I,, p. 341. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 109 
 
 oversight in not granting to this man a trial, in the 
 Church in that State. But the oversight, if they 
 were correct in supposing one, was not theirs ; nor 
 was it in their power to correct it." * The action 
 taken by the House of Bishops is given below ; the 
 House of Deputies " properly refused to intermed- 
 dle." 
 
 This house having considered the contents of the aforesaid 
 papers, are of opinion that, agreeably to the Constitution of 
 this Church, they have no authority to act on an appeal in regard 
 to the matter stated; and there is no existing mode by which 
 any Bishop or Bishops of this Church can take cognizance of 
 the conduct of any other Bishop, unless at the desire of the 
 Convention of the diocese to which such a Bishop should 
 belong, and conformably to the rules of process by them estab- 
 lished. 
 
 And whereas this house acted on the concerns of the said 
 Ammi Rogers, in the session of 1804, as appears by the 
 Minutes, they now wish it to be known that their proceedings 
 at that time originated in his own petition, relative to the fol- 
 lowing points : 
 
 1st. Whether he belonged to the diocese of Connecticut, or 
 to that of New- York. 
 
 2dly. The recalling, which he proposed, of a circular letter 
 written by Bishop Jarvis, forbidding the petitioner to perform 
 divine service in the diocese, and the Clergy and Laity of the 
 same to countenance him as a Minister. 
 
 3dly. A candid and impartial inquiry into his conduct and 
 character. 
 
 On the first of the said points, the house then assembled, 
 being assured that both the parties were disposed to submit to 
 their determination, declared it to be, that Ammi Rogers was 
 a Clergyman, not of New-York, but of Connecticut. 
 
 The second point being a matter of internal concern of the 
 
 * Bishop White's Memoirs, p. 199. 
 
110 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 Church in Connecticut, was not acted on judicially by this 
 house; although, as their opinion was expected on both sides, 
 they expressed it as it was, approbatory of the measure. 
 
 On the third point, they were of the opinion that Ammi 
 Rogers, far from having been treated with injustice, had not 
 received a sentence suflSiciently severe. 
 
 To the opinions thus given, no addition or alteration is in- 
 tended by this house; and they finally dismiss the subject from 
 their consideration. 
 
 In response to a memorial from the Diocese of 
 Maryland asking the enactment of the English 
 Canon concerning marriages, which was referred to 
 the House of Bishops by the House of Deputies, 
 the following message was communicated : 
 
 The House of Bishops having taken into consideration the 
 message sent to them by the House of Clerical and Lay De- 
 puties, relative to the subject of marriage, as connected with 
 the table of degrees within which, according to the Canons of 
 the Church of England, marriage can not be celebrated, ob- 
 serve as follows : 
 
 Agreeably to the sentiment entertained by them, in relation 
 to the whole Ecclesiastical system, they consider that table as 
 now obligatory on tliis Church, and as what will remain so ; 
 unless there should hereafter appear cause to alter it, without 
 departing from the Word of God, or endangering the peace 
 and good order of this Church. They are, however, aware, 
 that reasons exist for making an express determination as to 
 the light in which this subject is to be considered. They 
 conceive so highly of the importance of it, and it is connected 
 with so many questions, both sacred and civil, that they doubt 
 the propriety of entering on it, without maturer consideration 
 than any expected length of the present Session will permit ; 
 and this opinion derives additional weight, both from there 
 being but few of their house present, and from there being 
 several of the churches not represented in this Convention. 
 
 It was 
 Resolved, — That it be made known to the several State Con- 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. Ill 
 
 ventions of this Churcli, that it is proposed to consider of, and 
 determine on, at the next General Convention, the propriety 
 of the following addition to the 8th article of the Constitution 
 of the Church : " No alteration or addition shall be made in the 
 Book of Common Prayer, or other offices of the Church, unless 
 the same shall be proposed in one General Convention, and by 
 a resolve thereof made known to the Convention of every 
 diocese or State, and adopted at the subsequent General Con- 
 vention. " 
 
 The whole body of Canons was revised and 
 amended. A Pastoral Letter was set forth by 
 the Bishops at the request of the House of Deputies. 
 Eesolutions were adopted, urging the propriety, 
 necessity, and duty of sending regularly a deputation 
 to the General Convention ; inviting the Church, 
 in States not yet received into union with the Con- 
 vention, to accede to the Constitution thereof; 
 advising the clergy in States or Territories where 
 the Church is still unorganized to organize and ac- 
 cede to the Constitution ; and taking measures for 
 sending a bishop into the States and Territories 
 where the Church is unorganized. A resolution 
 expressing disapproval of associated rectorships was 
 adopted. It was further resolved " to add thirty 
 hymns to the present number contained in the 
 Prayer Book, provided that a Rubric be annexed 
 thereto, directing that a certain portion, or portions, 
 of the Psalms of David, in metre, be sung at every 
 celebration of divine service." The title of the 
 Office of Induction was changed to " Office of 
 Institution," and its use made permissory. The 
 following concurrent resolutions were adopted ; 
 
112 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 1. Resolved, — That the Ministers of this Church ought not 
 to perform the funeral service in the case of any person who 
 shall give or accept a challenge to a duel. 
 
 2. Resolved, — That it is the sense of this Church, that it is in- 
 consistent with the law of God, and the Ministers of this 
 Church, therefore, shall not unite in matrimony any person 
 who is divorced, unless it be on account of the other party 
 having been guilty of adultery. 
 
 In concluding our notices of this Convention we 
 may quote the words of Bishop White : " On 
 a retrospect of the transactions of this Convention 
 there is entertained the trust that it did not end 
 without a general tendency to consolidate the com- 
 munion ; although, in the course of the business, 
 there had been displayed, more than in any other 
 Convention, the influence of some notions leading 
 far wide of that rational devotion, w^hicli this 
 Church has inherited from the Church of England. 
 The spirit here complained of, was rather moderated 
 than raised higher during the session. But it being 
 liable to be combined with schemes of personal 
 consequence, there is no foreseeing to what lengths 
 it may extend in future."* 
 
 Only one hundred and sixty-nine names appear 
 on the clergy list, there being no return from 
 Virginia. 
 
 * White's Memoirs, p. 208. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN" CHURCH. 113 
 
 THE COIS^YENTION OF 1811. 
 
 In 1811, the Convention met for the first and 
 only time in Kew-England. Its session, lasting but 
 four days, from May 21st to May 24:th, inclusive, 
 was held in Trinity Church, New-Haven. Nine 
 States were represented by twenty-five clerical and 
 twenty-tw^o lay deputies. Delaware, Virginia, and 
 South-Carolina sent no representatives. The Rev. 
 Dr. Isaac Wilkins, of New-York, was chosen Pre- 
 sident, and the Rev. Ashbel Baldwin, of Connecti- 
 cut, Secretary, of the House of Deputies. Bishop 
 White preached the opening sermon. The Con- 
 vention repealed the last (or 46th) of the Canons 
 as codified at the preceding session, " providing for 
 making known the Constitution and Canons," but 
 it enacted no new canons, and its legislation only 
 ratified the constitutional provision respecting 
 changes in the Prayer Book, still in force. The 
 testimonials of two Bishops-elect, Hobart and Gris- 
 wold, were presented, but owing to the presence 
 of but two bishops. White and Jarvis, the consecra- 
 tion was delayed till the aid of Bishop Provoost 
 could be had, which was with difliculty secured, 
 even in New-York, the place of his residence. The 
 measures proposed for the election and support of 
 a Missionary Bishop for the western frontiers had 
 failed of success, and the subject was committed in 
 
114 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 the care of the Bishops of Pennsylvania and Yirgi- 
 nia. Action was taken, tending to secure the 
 lands in Yermont, belonging to the venerable 
 Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in For- 
 eign Parts, of the Mother Church of England, for 
 the Church's use. The resolution adopted at the 
 last Convention, denying the use of the Burial 
 Service over the bodies of those killed in duel, was 
 modified so as to allow its use in cases where evi- 
 dence of sincere repentance was exhibited. It was 
 agreed not to take up, at present, the important 
 subject of marriages within certain degrees of con- 
 sanguinity and affinity. The report of the state of 
 the Church, now first presented, was encouraging, 
 save so far as the Southern States were concerned. 
 In Maryland the Church was " still in a deplorable 
 condition." In Virginia there was " danger of her 
 total ruin." The efforts of the Connecticut Con- 
 vention to obtain a college charter for the Cheshire 
 Academy were endorsed by resolution of both 
 Houses. A second Pastoral was set forth. One 
 hundred and seventy-eight names appear on the 
 clergy list, no returns being made from Delaware 
 and Virginia. 
 
 The Convention had been '' held under very 
 serious and well-founded apprehensions that the 
 American Church would be again subjected to the 
 necessity of having recourse to the Mother Church 
 for the Episcopacy ; or else of continuing it without 
 requiring the canonical number, which might be 
 productive of great disorder in future." Happily, 
 on the 29th of May, in Trinity Church in the city 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 115 
 
 of New- York, the Rev. Jolm Henry Ilobart, D.D., 
 was consecrated Bishop of New-York, and tlie E-ev. 
 Alexander Yiets Griswold, Bishop of the ^' Eastern 
 Diocese," comprising the States of Massachusetts, 
 (and afterwards Maine,) Rhode Island, JSTew-Hamp- 
 shire, and Yerniont. The consecration was ac- 
 complished by the aid of Bishop Provoost, "al- 
 though he had never performed any ecclesiastical 
 duty since the consecration of Bishop Moore in 
 1801." * No little discussion arose in consequence 
 of the omission by the presiding Bishop, at the 
 imposition of hands upon the Bishops-elect, of the 
 words, " In the name of the Father, and of the 
 Son, and of the Holy Ghost." It appeared on 
 investigation that these words formed "no part of 
 the form of the Church of England, under the 
 reign of Charles 11. ; were never in that of the 
 primitive Church ; and are not in the Roman 
 pontifical, at this day." f 
 
 * White's Memoirs, p, 209. f I^i^-' P- 215. 
 
116 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 THE CONYENTION OF 1814. 
 
 Eleven States were represented at the Conven- 
 tion held in Philadelphia, in 1814. Five bishops 
 and forty nine deputies, twenty-eight clerical and 
 twenty-one lay, were in attendance. The Rev. Dr. 
 Croes, of New-Jersey, was chosen President of the 
 lower House, and the Rev. Ashbel Baldwin, of 
 Connecticut, Secretary ; James Milnor, then a 
 Candidate for Orders, and lately a Member of 
 Congress and a rising politician, was appointed 
 Assistant Secretary. Evidences of a new life ap- 
 peared at the outset, for both South-Carolina and 
 Virginia were represented, and on the second day 
 of the session the Rev. Richard Channing Moore, 
 D.D., was consecrated Bishop of the latter State. 
 
 A lay member of the Church at Lexington, 
 Kentucky, was admitted to the privilege of an 
 honorary seat. It was decided that a clergyman, 
 (the Rev. J. P. K. Henshaw, afterwards Bishop of 
 Rhode Island,) who had removed from the diocese 
 of Vermont subsequent to his election as a clerical 
 deputy, should be admitted to a seat as a member 
 of the Convention. At the instance of the lower 
 House, the celebration of the Lord's Supper was 
 added to the prayers and sermon with which the Con- 
 vention was to be opened in future. The reprinting 
 of the Journals of the General Convention was or- 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 117 
 
 dered,* the subject of a Theological Seminary was 
 broached, and the identity of the Church in the 
 United States " with the body heretofore known by 
 the name of the Church of England " was declared. 
 In a majority of the dioceses the report of the state 
 of the Church was encouraging. But in Delaware 
 the condition was " truly distressing and the pros- 
 pect gloomy." In Maryland the Church still con- 
 tinued " in a state of depression." In Yirginia the 
 Church had " fallen into a deplorable condition ;" 
 " in many places her ministers" had " thrown off 
 their sacred profession ;" her liturgy " was either 
 contemned or unknown," " her sanctuaries deso- 
 late ;" " spacious temples, venerable even in their 
 dilapidation and ruins," were " now the habitations 
 of the wild beast of the forest." A canon, respect- 
 ing the appropriation of the Communion Alms, 
 was passed, and the House of Bishops placed on 
 record its opinion " that it was contrary to the 
 design of the canon" (the 19th) " for candidates to 
 read sermons from the places usually considered as 
 appropriated to ordained ministers, or to appear in 
 bands, or gowns, or surplices." The study of the 
 Homilies was enjoined upon candidates for Holy 
 Orders. Standing was recommended as " the more 
 comely posture" during the singing of psalms in 
 
 * This order resulted in the appearance, in 1817, of an octavo 
 volume of nearly 400 pages, edited by Bishop White, and 
 published by John Bioren, of Philadelphia, in which were re- 
 printed the Journals of 1785-1814 inclusive, the Canons of 
 1789-1814, with the Constitution and the Pastorals of 1808, 
 1811, and 1814. This volume has long since been out of print, 
 and is almost as difficult to obtain as the originals of the 
 Journals which it reproduces. 
 
118 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 metre, and the hymns. It was resolved that it 
 would not be proper for the Convention or the 
 House of Bishops " to give their sanction to any 
 work, however tending to religions instruction, or 
 to the excitement of pious affections." On an ap- 
 plication for the sanction of the Convention to a 
 proposed addition to the anthem appointed for cer- 
 tain festivals instead of the Yenite^ the determina- 
 tion not to enter into a review of the Book of Com- 
 mon Prayer during this session was expressed. It 
 was resolved that efforts should be taken to make 
 known the Constitution and Canons of the Church 
 and the proceedings of the Conventions. It was 
 recommended that the ecclesiastical authority of 
 each diocese should prepare a report on the state of 
 the Church before the meeting of each General 
 Convention for the purpose of aiding the commit- 
 tee of the House of Deputies appointed to consider 
 this subject. The declaration of identity with the 
 Church of England, concurred in by both Houses, 
 to which reference has been made, was as follows : 
 
 It having been credibly stated to the House of Bishops, that 
 on questions, in reference to property devised, before the Revo- 
 lution, to congregations belonging to " the Church of England," 
 and to uses connected with that name, some doubts have been 
 entertained in regard to the identity of the body to which the 
 two names have been applied, the House think it expedient to 
 make the declaration, and to request the concurrence of the 
 House of Clerical and Lay Deputies therein — That " The Pro- 
 tcstant Episcopal Church in the United States of America," ia 
 the same body heretofore known in these States by the name 
 of "The Church of England ;" the change of name, although 
 not of religious principle, in doctrine, or in worship, or in dis- 
 cipline, being induced by a characteristic of the Church of 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 119 
 
 England, supposing the independence of Christian churches, 
 under the different sovereignties to which, respectively, their 
 allegiance in civil concerns belongs. But that, when the seve- 
 rance alluded to took place, and ever since, the Church conceives 
 of herself as professing and acting on the principles of the 
 Church of England, is evident from the organization of our Con- 
 ventions, and from their subsequent proceedings, as recorded 
 on the Journals, to which, accordingly, this Convention refer 
 for satisfaction in the premises. But it would be contrary to 
 fact, were any one to infer that the discipline exercised in this 
 Church, or that any proceedings therein, are at all dependent 
 on the will of the civil or of the ecclesiastical authority of any- 
 foreign country.* 
 
 On an application from the clerical deputies of 
 the Church in Connecticut, for a definition of the 
 phrase in the 40th canon, " or by some other joint 
 act of the parties, and of a minister of this 
 Church," the Bishops expressed the " opinion, that 
 any person duly baptized, in any religious society 
 extraneous to this communion, joining himself to 
 any congregation of this communion, and possess- 
 ing an interest in its concerns, in consequence of 
 express or implied permission, may be properly 
 entered by the minister on the list of the names of 
 the persons under his parochial care. But the 
 Bishops do not consider themselves as now called 
 upon to consider, whether it may not be expedient 
 to make provision for a more definite mode for the 
 receiving into this Church of persons not baptized 
 within its pale, but joining it on conviction and 
 with fair characters." f 
 
 * Perry's Reprint of Journals, I., pp. 431, 432; vide also 
 Bishop White's Memoirs of the Church, pp. 221-224. 
 
 f Perry's Reprint of the Journals, I., pp. 436, 437 ; compare 
 Bishop White's Memoirs, p. 217, 
 
120 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 A Pastoral was set forth, and, with those preced- 
 ing it, ordered to be printed in the appendix to the 
 new edition of the Journals, to be published under 
 the editorship of Bishop "White. The clergy list 
 showed a slight increase, though Virginia made no 
 report, and the number of names was less than two 
 hundred. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 121 
 
 THE CONYEIS^TIOX OF 1817. 
 
 The Convention of 1817 met in Kew-York, at 
 Trinity Church, continuing in session from the 20th 
 to the 27th day of May, inchisive. The Eev. Dr. 
 Wilkins was elected President, and the Eev. Mr. 
 Baldwin, Secretary, with Kev. John C. Kudd as his 
 assistant. North-Carolina was admitted into union 
 with the Convention. The resignation of the Pre- 
 sident of the House of Deputies, tendered in con- 
 sequence of his difficulty of hearing, was accepted, 
 and the Kev. William H. Wilmer, of Yirginia, ap- 
 pointed in his stead. The organization of a Theo- 
 logical Seminary was resolved upon, and agents were 
 appointed to solicit funds in its behalf. Three 
 canons were passed — one, permissory in its nature, 
 giving authority to the parishes in "Western Penn- 
 sylvania and Yirginia to place themselves under the 
 jurisdiction of any bishop consecrated for any State 
 or States west of the Alleghanies ; another, to gov- 
 ern in the case of a minister declaring his renun- 
 ciation of the ministry ; and a third, for carrying 
 into effect the design of the second rubric before the 
 Communion Office. The bishops placed on record 
 an expression of their disapprobation of worldly 
 and licentious amusements, an effort to secure a 
 similar resolution in the lower House having failed 
 of a direct vote. This minute is as follows : — 
 
 The House of Bishops, solicitous for the preservation of 
 the purity of the Church and the piety of its memhers, are 
 
lf>3 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 induced to impress upon the clergy the important duty, with a 
 discreet but earnest zeal, of warning the people of their re- 
 pective cures of the danger of an indulgence in those woi kli y 
 pleasures which may tend to withdraw the afEections liom 
 spiritual things. And especially on the subject of gambling, 
 of amusements involving cruelty to the brute creation, and 
 of theatrical representations, to which some peculiar circum- 
 stances have called their attention, — they do not hesitate to 
 express their unanimous opinion, that these amusements, as 
 well from their licentious tendency as from the strong tempta- 
 tions to vice which they afford, ought not to be frequented. 
 And the Bishops can not refrain from expressing their deep 
 regret at the information that in Bome of our large cities so 
 little respect is paid to the feelings of the members of the 
 Church, that theatrical representations are fixed for the even- 
 ings of her most solemn festivals.* 
 
 The proposal to grant a copyright on the Book of 
 Common Prayer, referred to this Convention by 
 that of 1814, was disallowed. Steps were taken, 
 subject to the decision of the next Convention, 
 changing the time of meeting from May to October. 
 The House of Bishops were requested to designate 
 a standard Bible ; a measure taken in consequence 
 of the discovery of a large edition of the Scriptures 
 containing a corruption of Acts 6 : 3, implying a sanc- 
 tion of congregational ordination.f A French ver- 
 sion of the Book of Common Prayer, the Psalms 
 in Metre, and Hymns and Offices, was authorized. 
 The following minute was adopted by the Bishops 
 and communicated to the House of Deputies : 
 
 The House of Bishops, impressed with the importance of 
 informing tlie youth and others in the Doctrines, Constitution, 
 
 * Perry's Reprint of the Journals, I., p. 494. 
 •f- Instead of " whom ice may appoint over this businet^.s," tlie 
 edition referred to had it " whom yejn»,y appoint," etc. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 123 
 
 and Liturgy of the Church, deem it their duty to call the 
 attention of the Clergy to the 22d Canon, which enjoins on 
 them diligence in catechetical instruction and lectures. The 
 Bishops consider these as among the most important duties of 
 clergymen, and among the most effectual means of promoting 
 religious knowledge and practical piety * 
 
 The organization of the congregations in the 
 "Western States into dioceses was urged, but the 
 union of several States in one convention was pro- 
 nounced inconsistent with the Constitution. The 
 organization of nineteen parishes in the State of 
 Ohio was reported, and the state of the Church in 
 every diocese, save Delaware, was deemed full of 
 encouragement. The clergy list specifies the age of 
 one clergyman in Yirginia as 100, and, without 
 reporting the western laborers, gives two hundred 
 and sixty-two names. 
 
 * Reprinted Journals, I., p. 491. 
 
124 THE GENERAL CONTENTION 
 
 THE C0KYENTI0:N" of 1820. 
 
 The next Convention met in St. James's Church, 
 Philadelphia, May 16th to 24th, inclusive. Eight 
 bishops and thirty-six clerical, with twenty-seven 
 lay deputies were in attendance, representing four- 
 teen dioceses. The officers of the last Convention 
 were re-elected. The State of Maine, just orga- 
 nized into separate existence, was admitted into 
 union. The transfer of the Theological School from 
 New- York to Kew-Haven, and the arrangement in 
 detail of its management, officers, course of study, 
 and general plan, occupied the greater part of the 
 session. The concurrence of the House of Bishops 
 in this change of location was accompanied with a 
 imanimous declaration that they did not " mean by 
 this concurrence to interfere with any plan now 
 contemplated, or that may hereafter be contemplated, 
 in any diocese or dioceses, for the establishment of 
 theological institutions or professorships." The state 
 of the Church in each diocese was reported as satis- 
 factory, and in transmitting their report to the 
 Bishops, the Lower House solicited the opinion of 
 the House of Bishops in a Pastoral on the too gen- 
 eral custom of administering Baptism privately, and 
 also on the subject of the qualifications of sponsors. 
 The House of Bishops was requested " to take mea- 
 bures for making known any errors or omissions in 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 125 
 
 the octavo edition of the Book of Common Prayer, 
 published by Gaine in 1793, which was established 
 by the 4:3d Canon as the standard book, so that they 
 may be avoided or supplied in future editions." 
 Certain " instructions to be observed in editions of 
 the Book of Common Prayer" were adopted by 
 concurrent vote : 
 
 1. That special attention be paid to the title-page and table 
 of contents, so that nothing may be omitted or added. 
 
 2. That the Book of Common Prayer be distinguished from 
 the Book of Psalms in Metre, the Articles of Religion, and sun- 
 dry Offices set forth by this Church, viz.: — The Form and Man- 
 ner of Making, Ordaining, and Consecrating Bishops, Priests, 
 and Deacons ; The Form of Consecration of a Church or Chapel ; 
 A Prayer to he used at the Meetings of Convention ; An Office of 
 Institution of Ministers into Parishes or Churches — all which 
 are of equal authority with the Book of Common Prayer, but 
 which, when bound up with it, ought not to appear as parts 
 thereof.* 
 
 The creation of a General Convention Fund was 
 recommended. Measures were taken for the col- 
 lection of both General and Diocesan Convention 
 Journals and other documents illustrating our eccle- 
 siastical history. The formation of a missionary 
 society of the Churchf was attempted, but in such 
 a way that the scheme came to naught. A joint 
 committee for the " establishment of a standard " 
 by which copies of the Scriptures should be cor- 
 rected, was appointed. An application for extend- 
 ing the sanction of the Convention to a Selection of 
 Psalms and Hymns, made from the authorized 
 
 * Reprinted Journals, I., pp. 557, 558. 
 
 + Vide Bishop White's Memoirs, pp. 242, 243. 
 
126 THE GENERAL CONVENTTON" 
 
 Psalms ill Metre and Hynms, was refused. The 
 proposed change of tlie time of meeting of the 
 Convention was negatived, and a further alteration 
 of the Constitution, giving to each Convention the 
 appointment of the time and place of the next 
 session, was laid over for consideration. The open- 
 ing sermon by Bishop Moore, of Virginia, occa- 
 sioned discussion. The occasion of this was, as we 
 learn from Bishop White," "the preacher's having 
 made baptismal regeneration one of the points of 
 his discourse."' 
 
 The Bishop proceeds : 
 
 So far as the duty of a conventional preaclier is concerned, 
 the author is of opinion that there should be carefully avoided 
 all questions on which the sense of the Episcopal Church is 
 doubtful ; but it is to be lamented that there should be brought 
 under this head a doctrine which we have been taught to lisp 
 in the earliest repetitions of our catechism ; wh cli pervades 
 sundry of our devotional services, especially the baptismal ; 
 which is affirmed in our Articles also ; which was confessedly 
 held and taught during the ages of the martyrs, and the belief 
 of which was universal in the Church until it was perceived to 
 be inconsistent with a religious theory, the beginning and pro- 
 gress of which can be as distinct y traced as those of any error 
 of popery, f 
 
 A canon, requiring the reading of the Pastoral 
 Letters by the clergy to their congregations, was 
 enacted, and another "of the Consecration of 
 Bishops during the recess of the General Conven- 
 tion." The House of Bishops refused to concur in a 
 canon " of the officiating of persons not regularly 
 
 * Memoirs, p. 236. f ^^^^- 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 127 
 
 ordained, and repealing the 35th canon," proposed 
 by the House of Deputies, and communicated the 
 following statement of their reasons for non-concur- 
 rence : 
 
 The Bishops have found by experience that such ministers 
 in many instances, preaching in our churches and to our con- 
 gregations, avail themselves of such opportunities to inveigh 
 against the principles of our communion ; and in some instances 
 have endeavored to obtain a common right with us in our 
 property. It is therefore, not from the want of charity to 
 worthy persons dissenting from us, but for the maintenance of 
 such charity, and to avoid collision, that we declare our non- 
 concurrence. 
 
 The Church was now rapidly extending on 
 every side, and the clergy list records over three 
 hundred names. 
 
128 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 THE SPECIAL CONYENTION OF 1821. 
 
 The affairs of the Theological Seminary occasioned 
 a call for a special Convention, which met in St. 
 Peter's Church, Philadelphia, the 30th of October, 
 and continued in session until the 3d of November, 
 inclusive. Six bishops and thirty-two clerical depu- 
 ties, representing eleven dioceses, and twenty-seven 
 lay deputies from ten dioceses, were in attendance. 
 The Convention assembled on the call of the presid- 
 ing Bishop, at the desire of a majority of the bish- 
 ops, to consider whether any measures should be 
 adopted to secure a legacy of about $60,000, be- 
 queathed by Jacob Sherred, of the city of New- York, 
 to a seminary which should be founded within the 
 State, either by the General or the Diocesan Con- 
 vention. As a result, the Seminaries of New- 
 Haven and New- York were consolidated, and the 
 General Seminary of the Church established in the 
 city of New-York. The Bishops were to be trustees 
 ex officio ; the other trustees were to be nominated 
 by the dioceses, and to be residents within the 
 limits thereof, subject to the confirmation or re- 
 jection of the General Convention. Each diocese 
 was entitled to one trustee, and to one additional for 
 every $2000 contributed in the same to the funds of 
 the Seminary until the sum given amounted to 
 $10,000, and one additional trustee for every 
 
OF THE AMEETCAN CHURCH. 129 
 
 $10,000 exceeding. The Seminary liad power to 
 establish branches, and one was temporarily in ope- 
 i-ation in Geneva, Western New- York. At this 
 Convention, the Constitution of the Missionary So- 
 ciety of the Church was perfected. A single canon 
 respecting the Standard Prayer Book was enacted. 
 An interesting report on the errors and omissions 
 of Hugh Gaine's edition of the Standard Prayer 
 Book of 1793 was appended to the Journal, together 
 with a table of the days on wdiich Easter \vill fall, 
 which has only within the past few years ceased to 
 be of service. The House of Bishops also placed 
 on record their sense of the meaning of the last 
 Rubric in the Communion service in the following 
 important paper : 
 
 Concerning the last Rubric in the Communion 
 Service. 
 
 The House of Bishops being informed of what they consider 
 as a great misunderstanding, in various places, of the rubric at 
 the end of the communion service, think it their duty to declare 
 their sense of the same, and to communicate it to the House of 
 Clerical and Lay Deputies. 
 
 In the Common Prayer Book of the Church of England, the 
 words in the parenthesis are—" if there be no communion." In 
 the review of 1789, it was put — " if there be no sermon or com- 
 munion" — and this has been interpreted to mean, that if therp 
 be a sermon, what has been called the ante-communion service 
 is to be omitted— Against this construction the Bishops object 
 as follows — 
 
 1st. The construction rests or^ inference ; deduced in con- 
 trariety to the positive direction-" Then shall follow the ser- 
 mon." Had an exception been intended, it woulii doubtless 
 have been expressed positively, as in other rubrics. Further ; 
 the rubric in question prescribes that " when there is a com- 
 munion, the minister shall return to the Lord's table :" which 
 
130 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 ])iVHUiiiv'3 him to have bt'en there before, in the ante-commu- 
 nion service, unless in the permitted alternative of some other 
 place. 
 
 2d. The argument on the other side proves too much, and 
 th'. refore nothing". It is said of those who urge it, that they 
 conceive themselves bound to use tlie whole service on a com- 
 munion day : whereas it should be dispensed with, on the 
 xsauie principle on which it is supposed to be superseded by the 
 sermon. On the other hand, if there being either a sermon or 
 the communion should be thought to warrant the omission ; 
 can it be, that the convention designed to leave in the book the 
 ante-communion service, with all the collects, the gospels, and 
 the epistles attached to them, to be litth; more than a dead let- 
 ter ; never to be used, except on the few occasions, when the 
 Baid service is unconnected with either of the said provisions ? 
 For, it is not required to be used, either with the morning or 
 with the evening prayer. 
 
 8d. There is a rubric, prescribing the place in the service, at 
 which notice shall be given of holidays, etc. Can it be sup- 
 posed, that a provision of this sort was intended to be done 
 away, not professedly, but indirectly ? and that even there 
 should be no i^rovision for notifying the communion ? 
 
 4th. It is understood, that the morning prayer, and the ad- 
 ministration of the communion, were designed to be distinct 
 services, to be used at different times of the day. Probably, at 
 the time of the reformation, the practice was generally con- 
 formable to the provision ; and it is said to prevail at present 
 in some places in England. Now, although there is probably 
 no church in the United States of which the same can be affirm- 
 ed ; yet, why raise a bar against so reasonable and so godly a 
 practice ? an effort for which, would reduce the whole to the 
 sermon ; except, when the ccmim union weri^ to be administered : 
 and then, there would be the latter part of the service only. 
 
 5th. The construction casts a l)leniish on the observance of 
 every festival of our church. To speak in ])articular of Easter 
 Sunday, Whitsunday, and Christmas day : can it be supposed, 
 that the convention intended to abrogate the reading of the 
 portions of scripture, the most pertinent of any in the Bible ? 
 or that the members of the body were so careless, as not to per- 
 ceive the eff(!(t of the word introduced by them into the paren- 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 131 
 
 thesis ? Neither of these was the case ; although they had not 
 the sagacity to foresee the use which would be made of their 
 super-addition : a use, which may be applied hereafter to the 
 abandoning of the observance of those festivals. For why 
 should the church retain them, after dispensing with whatever 
 is attached to them in the respective services ? The remark ap- 
 plies equally to the two days of fasting or abstinence — (rood 
 Friday and Ash Wednesday. It is here supposed, that on the 
 former, there are the service and sermons in all our churches 
 furnished with the ministry. But according to the opposite 
 opinion, the sermon dispenses with the recital of the consum- 
 mation of our Saviour's sufferings, and not only on Good Fri- 
 day, but on every day of passion week, if there be sermons. 
 Could this have been intended ? 
 
 6th, There is the magnitude of the change thus made in the 
 liturgy, without the subjecting of the resulting consequences 
 to the consideration of any General Convention : for this is here 
 affirmed without the apprehension of contradiction from any of 
 the surviving members. The most obvious of the consequen- 
 ces, and such as could not have escaped the notice of the least 
 attentive, were, the dispensing with the reading of the Ten 
 Commandments ; the weekly return of which may well be 
 thought to have a beneficial effect on morals ; and tlie derang- 
 ing of a selection of passages of scripture, always supposed to 
 have been made with great judgment, and suited to the diffe- 
 rent seasons of the year. They were of like uses in the church, 
 before the prevalence of the corruption of the papacy ; have 
 withstood, in some measure, its systematic hostility to a gene- 
 ral knowledge of the scriptures ; and probably, have prevented 
 a greater enormity of unevangelical error, than what we now 
 find : for although the selections were in Latin, they were at 
 least instructive to the many who understood the language, at 
 a time when even among that description of people, the pos- 
 session of a Bible was rare. To the present day, they are held 
 in high esteem, not only by our parent church, but by the 
 Lutheran churches of Sweden, of Denmark, of sundry German 
 principalities, and of this country. In some of the European 
 States, the subject of the sermon is expected to be taken from 
 the epistle, or from the gospel for the Sunday. There seems 
 no reasonable objection, in any future review of the Liturgy, 
 
132 HE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 to the making of some abbreviation, suited to the joining of 
 services designed to be distinct ; but there may be doubted the 
 expediency of making so great an inroad as that projected on 
 the service now in question. 
 
 7th. The ante-communion service continued to be used as be- 
 fore, by the clergy who were present in the convention, in 
 which it is now imagined to have been dispensed with. It is 
 confidently believed that there was not an exception of an indi- 
 vidual ; although, on the other side, the major number must 
 be supposed to have been desirous of the innovation. In the 
 interpretation of a law, immediate practice under it has been 
 held to be a good expositor ; especially when, as in the present 
 case, a contrary sense had not been heard of for a long course 
 of years. 
 
 The question may occur — why did the convention introduce 
 the words, " Sermon or," into the parenthesis ? It was to re- 
 concile the other rubric referred to, with frequent and allowa- 
 ble practice. The said rubric says — "then shall follow the 
 sermon." Perhaps, when the service was compiled there was 
 a sermon on every saint's day, as well as on every principal 
 festival. In modern usage, it has been otherwise : which made 
 it convenient to provide for the minister's proceeding to the 
 blessing. The parenthesis means, that although there be no 
 sermon, or although there be no communion, the minister shall 
 act as directed by the rubric. 
 
 The bishops therefore deem it their duty to express the de- 
 cided opinion, that the rubrics of the communion service as 
 well as other general considerations enjoin the use of that part 
 which precedes the sermon, on all occasions of sermon or com- 
 munion, as well as on those festivals and fasts, when neither 
 sermon nor communion occurs.* 
 
 We can not better conclude our notice of tliis 
 brief but eventful Convention tlian by quoting 
 the closing article of the Constitution of the 
 
 * For further notices of this rubric, vidt Bishop White's Me- 
 moirs, pp. 245, 240. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 133 
 
 Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society, adopted 
 at this session : 
 
 Art. XII. 
 
 It is recommended to every member of this society, to pray 
 to Almighty God, for his blessing upon its designs, under the 
 full conviction that unless he direct us in all our doings with 
 his most gracious favor, and further us with his continual 
 help, we can not reasonably hope, either to procure suitable 
 persons to act as missionaries, or expect that their endeavors 
 will be successful. 
 
134 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 THE CONVENTION OF 1823. 
 
 Seven of the ten Bishops of the Church, and 
 forty clerical, with twenty-four lay deputies, repre- 
 senting thirteen dioceses, were in attendance upon 
 the Convention of 1823, in St. Peter's Church, 
 Philadelphia, from the 20th to the 26th of May, 
 inclusive. The officers of the last Convention were 
 re-elected, hut the secretary, Eev. Ashbel Baldwin, 
 tendered his resignation, whereupon the Rev. Dr. 
 John C. Rudd was chosen in his place, with the Rev. 
 James Montgomery as assistant. The first business 
 was the reception of the Church in Georgia into 
 union with the Convention. The alteration of the first 
 article of the Constitution, relative to the change of 
 the time and place of meeting, proposed in 1820, 
 was adopted. A joint committee was appointed 
 to report to the next Convention alterations in the 
 Psalms in metre and Hymns. The report of the 
 state of the Church attested a general and healthy 
 growth. Canons on the admission of candidates 
 for orders and prescribing the mode of publishing 
 authorized editions of the Standard Bible were 
 passed. Provision was made for the contingent ex- 
 penses of the General Convention ; and the first 
 Bishop of North-Carolina received consecration. 
 
 In the several dioceses, sixty-one candidates for 
 Holy Orders were reported, only eighteen of whom 
 
OF THE amp:rican church. 135 
 
 were ?.t the General Theological Seminary. The 
 House of Bishops commended this Institution as 
 " having been established by the whole body of this 
 Church in General Convention," and as peculiarly 
 demanding " the concurrent solicitudes and exer- 
 tions to be centred on it, of all its members ; inas- 
 much as this Institution, when possessing the com- 
 bined and efficient support of the whole Church, 
 must be the most effectual means, under Provi- 
 dence, of perpetuating the unity of the Church, in 
 the bond of peace," The supply of clergy was 
 still insufficient. The Bishop of Ohio, with about 
 $3000 in his hands, for nearly two years, for the sup- 
 port of missionaries in his jurisdiction, had not been 
 able to secure them. The closing of the Branch 
 General Theological Seminary at Geneva, Western 
 ]S^ew- York, was, notwithstanding, recommended. A 
 joint committee of inquiry respecting the rela- 
 tion of the Church to the various institutions of 
 learning in the country, were further instructed to 
 "report on the practicability of establishing a sem- 
 inary or seminaries for the education of 3^outh, 
 under the influence and authority of members of 
 the Protestant Episcopal Cliurch." The House of 
 Bishops gave their " opinion" that it was inexpe- 
 dient " to send a delegate, on the part of the 
 Church as a body, to act on behalf of the same," 
 as desired by the Board of Managers, at a meeting 
 of the Colonization Society, the objects of that so- 
 ciety being deemed by the Bishops " more of a po- 
 litical than of a religious nature," Among other 
 documents relating to the history of the Churchy 
 
136 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 Bishop White presented a volume of original edi- 
 tions of the Journals of General Conventions, 1785- 
 1814, with the following autograph attestation pre- 
 fixed : " This volume is the only entire collection 
 within my knowledge, of the original Journals of 
 the General Convention, from the beginning, for the 
 space of thirty years. It may be of use in deter- 
 mining on any questions which may arise, concern- 
 ing any particular of the republication of the Jour- 
 nals by John Bioren. Accordingly I deposite it 
 with the Committee appointed by the last General 
 Convention, for the collection of Journals." * 
 
 Upwards of three hundred and sixty clergy are 
 recorded in the clergy list. 
 
 * Tliis interesting volume is still preserved among the ar- 
 chives of the Church, at present in the keeping of the author. 
 Its value has lately been proved in settling the question, in the 
 absence of MS. authority, as to an alleged typographical error 
 in the 2d Article of the Constitution. Vide Vinton's Manual 
 on Canon Law, pp. 190, 191 ; and compare Journal of Gen. 
 Conv., 1871, pp. 22, 33, 34 In the recent reissue of the Gene- 
 ral Convention Journals, published under the authority of the 
 Convention, the present year (1874), this volume has been made 
 use of, together with Bishop White's corrected copy of Bioren's 
 edition, to secure a perfect text. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 137 
 
 THE CONYENTIOK OF 1826. 
 
 Mississippi claimed admission at the Convention 
 which was in session, November 7th to 15th, inclu- 
 sive, in St. Peter's Church, Philadelphia. Fifteen 
 dioceses were represented by forty-four clerical 
 deputies, and twelve dioceses by thirty-one laymen, 
 while seventy-five clergymen and candidates for 
 orders, not members, are recorded as in attendance 
 at this session. The resolutions introduced by 
 Bishop Hobart, with the design of securing unifor- 
 mity in the use of the Ante-Commimion Service, 
 at the expense of a slight abbreviation of portions 
 of the daily prayer, and also proposing alternate 
 forms in the Confirmation Office, formed a marked 
 feature in the discussions of this Convention. 
 Their importance justifies their presentation in full. 
 
 On motion of the Right Rev. Bishop Hobart, resolved, that 
 the House of Bishops propose the following preambles and 
 resolutions to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies: — 
 
 The House of Bishops, deeply solicitous to preserve unim- 
 paired the Liturgy of the Church, and yet desirous to remove 
 the reasons alleged, from the supposed length of the service, 
 for the omission of some of its parts, and particularly for the 
 omission of that part of the communion oflBce, which is com- 
 monly called the ante-commvimon, do unanimously propose to 
 the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, the following resolu- 
 tions, to be submitted to the several State Conventions, in 
 order to be acted upon at the next General Convention, agree- 
 ably to the eighth article of the Constitution. 
 
138 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 1. Resolved, that in " The order how the Psalter is appointed 
 to be read," the following be added to the fourth paragraph — 
 "or any other psalm or psalms, except on those days on which 
 proper psalms are appointed :" — so that the whole paragraph 
 will read as follows : — " The minister, instead of reading from 
 the Psalter as divided for daily morning and evening prayer, 
 may read one of the selections set out by this Church, or any 
 other psalm or psalms, except on those days on which * proper 
 psalms' are appointed," 
 
 2. Resolved, that in ' ' The order how the rest of the Holy 
 Scripture is appointed to be read," the folio whig be inserted 
 after the fifth paragraph: — "The minister may, at his dis- 
 cretion, instead of the entire lessons, read suitable portions 
 thereof, not less than fifteen verses. And on other days than 
 Sundays and holy days, in those places where morning and 
 evening prayer is not daily used, he may read other portions of 
 the Old and New Testament, instead of the prescribed lessons ; 
 it being recommended that, unless circumstances render it 
 inexpedient, on the stated prayer-days of Wednesdays and 
 Fridays, the lessons for those days, or for one of the inter- 
 vening days, be read," 
 
 The Bishops, in the use of the office of Confirmation, finding 
 that the preface is frequently not well suited to the age and 
 character of those who are presented for this holy ordinance, 
 unanimously propose the following resolution : — 
 
 3. Resolved, that after the present preface in the office of 
 Confirmation, the following be inserted, to be used instead of 
 the former, at the discretion of the Bishop:—" It appears from 
 holy Scripture, that the apostles laid their hands on those who 
 were baptized; and this ordinance, styled by the Apostle 
 Paul, the ' laying on of hands,' and ranked by him among the 
 principles of the doctrine of Christ, has been retained in the 
 Church, under the name of Confirmation; and is very con- 
 venient, and proper to be observed, to the end that persons 
 being sufficiently instructed in what they promised, or what 
 was promised for them in their baptism, and being, in other 
 respects, duly qualified, may themselves, with their own 
 mouth and consent, openly before the Church, ratify and 
 confirm the same, and also promise, that by the grace of God, 
 they will evermore endeavor themselves faithfully to observe 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 139 
 
 Buch tilings as they, by their own confession, have assented 
 unto." 
 
 And to correct the injurious misapprchcnisiou, as to the 
 meaning of certain terras, in the fir.it CoUect in the office of 
 Confirmation, the Bishops unanimously propose the following 
 resolution : — 
 
 4. Resolved, that after the first collect in the office of Con- 
 firmation, the following be inserted, to be used at the discre- 
 tion of the Bishop, instead of the first collect, " Almighty 
 and everliving God, who hast vouchsafed, in baptism, to 
 regenerate these thy servants, by water and the Holy Ghost ; 
 thus giving them a title to all the blessings of thy covenant 
 of grace and mercy, in thy Son Jesus Christ, and now dost 
 graciously confirm unto them, ratifying the promises then 
 made, all their holy privileges ; grant unto them, we beseech 
 thee, O Lord, the renewing of the Holy Ghost ; strengthen 
 them with the power of this divine Comforter ; and daily 
 increase in them thy manifold gifts of grace, the spirit of 
 wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and ghostly 
 strength, the spirit of knowledge and true godliness, and fill 
 them, O Lord, with the spirit of thy holy f v ar. now and for 
 ever. Amem" 
 
 And whereas, in the opinion of the Bishops, there is no 
 doubt as to the obligation of ministers to say, on all Sundays 
 and other holy days, that part of the communion office which 
 is commonly called the ante-communion, yet as the practice of 
 some of the clergy is not conformable to this construction of 
 the rubrick on this point, the House of Bishops propose the 
 following resolution : — 
 
 5. Mesohed, that the following be adopted as a substitute 
 for the first sentence in the rubrick, immediately after the 
 communion office : — 
 
 " On all Sundays and other holy days, shall be said, all 
 that is appointed at the communion, unto the end of the 
 Gospel, concluding divine service, in all cases when there is 
 a sermon or communion, and when there is not, with the 
 blessing." 
 
 In these resolutions, after no little debate, the 
 House of Deputies concurred. It should be noted, 
 
140 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 as we learn from Bishop White,* " that the proposal 
 for abbreviation, as at first sent by the Bishops, 
 contained the limiting of the use of the Litany to 
 seasons and days especially appointed for humilia- 
 tion. This occasioned so great a sensation in the 
 House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, that the 
 Bishops tacitly withdrew their communication and 
 then presented it in the form in which it now 
 appears on the Journal." 
 
 " In the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, 
 there were not a few of the objectors who would 
 have found no difl&culty as to the proposed altera- 
 tions in the service, had they not been combined 
 with a rubric, considered as requiring the recital 
 of the ante-communion service more explicitly than 
 before. There was an endeavor to divide the two 
 subjects; but this was impossible, as they consti- 
 tuted but one proposal from the Bishops. In 
 consequence of the adoption of the whole instru- 
 ment, the sense of the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies is now declared in favor of what the 
 Bishops have all along declared, and that unani- 
 mously, to be the meaning of the rubric, pro- 
 nounced by so many to be dubious." f 
 
 In the House of Deputies it was 
 
 Eesolved, That the Psalms and Hymns in metre are not, in 
 the opinion of this House, a part of the Book of Common 
 Prayer, or offices of the Church. Provided, nevertheless, that 
 they shall be of authority and binding until duly altered or 
 amended. 
 
 * Memoirs, p. 52. f Bishop White's Memoirs, p. 53. 
 
OF THE AMEKICAN CHURCH. 141 
 
 It was further resolved by concurrent vote, 
 
 that it be made known to the several State Conventions of 
 this Church, that it is proposed to consider of, and determine 
 on, at the next General Convention, the propriety of altering 
 the second clause of the eighth article of the Constitution of 
 the Church, by adding the words, or the articles of religion, 
 after the words " other offices of the Church." 
 
 The object of this was to place the " Articles of 
 Religion on the same footing with the Liturgy, in 
 respect to any alterations which may be proposed."* 
 
 A single canon was enacted, requiring three years 
 candidateship previous to ordination. Four hun- 
 dred and fifty names appear on the clergy list. 
 
 * Bishop White's Memoirs, p. 55. 
 
14:2 THE ge:neral convention 
 
 THE CO:^ryENTION OF 1829. 
 
 Seventeen dioceses, represented by forty-seven 
 clerical deputies, and thirty-seven lay deputies, from 
 fifteen dioceses, with nine Bishops, made up the 
 Convention of 1829, which met in St. James's 
 Church, Philadelphia, August 12th to 20th, inclu- 
 sive. Of the clerical deputies composing the Low- 
 er House, nine were afterwards raised to the Epis- 
 copate — A. Potter, B. T. Onderdonk, Kemper, Hop- 
 kins, Johns, Stone, Cobbs, Green and Gadsden. 
 The Rev. Dr. Wyatt was chosen President of the 
 House of Deputies, and the Rev. Dr. B. T. Onder- 
 donk was re-elected Secretary, with the Rev. Wm. 
 Cooper Mead as his assistant. Two new dioceses, 
 Kentucky and Tennessee, were admitted into union 
 w^ith the Convention. Yirginia applied for the con- 
 secration of the Rev. William Meade, D.D., as 
 " Assistant or Suffragan Bishop." A difficulty, in 
 the Avay of granting this request, arose from an ano- 
 malous limitation of the Episcopal authority of the 
 assistant bishop to the lifetime of the Bishop he 
 was to aid. After a prolonged discussion, the tes- 
 timonial was signed, with a declaratory statement 
 that the principle involved in this action of the Vir- 
 ginia Convention was "highly inexpedient and 
 wholly inadmissible.'' 
 
 Article 8 of the Constitution was finallv altered 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHUliCH. 143 
 
 by adding the words or the Articles of Religion^ 
 after the words " other offices of the Church." The 
 House of Deputies requested of the House of Bish- 
 ops the expression of their opinion as to the proper 
 postures to be observed in the Communion Office, 
 with a view of securing uniformity in the celebra- 
 tion. 
 
 The changes in the Liturgy, introduced by Bish- 
 op Hobart in 1826, having been ahnost unanimously 
 condemned in the State Conventions, were, on the 
 Bishop's own motion, ''dismissed from the conside- 
 ration of the Convention." The "deficiency in 
 the number of the clergy" occasioned attention and 
 ehcited resolutions in both Houses and received at- 
 tention in the Pastoral Letter issued by the bishops. 
 Yermont reported with respect to the lands for- 
 merly belonging to the venerable Society for Prop- 
 agating the Gospel in Foreign Parts, " that all the 
 material points of law had been settled in favor of 
 the Clmrch." An African Mission School, to pre- 
 pare young men of color for usefulness in the col- 
 ony at Liberia, had been established (1828) in Hart- 
 ford, Conn. In Pennsylvania, an assistant Bishop 
 (H. U. Onderdonk, D.D.)had been consecrated, af- 
 ter a struggle in which the diocese had " not escaped 
 its share of the agitation usually incident to the man- 
 agement of elections, whether in Church or State." 
 Yirginia reported arrangements for the permanent 
 establishment of the Theological Seminary of the 
 diocese. The establishment of scholarships in the 
 General Seminary was recommended to the Church, 
 and the sending of a missionary to Liberia advised. 
 
144 'lUE GEXliUAL CO>'VENTION 
 
 The copy-right of the Hymns served to render a 
 special assessment of one dollar for each clergyman, 
 for the expenses of the Convention, unnecessary. 
 Seven canons were passed, meeting the case of mi- 
 nisters coming from the denominations ; of offenses ; 
 of renunciations of the ministry; of clerical re- 
 movals ; of assistant bishops ; respecting churches 
 in which Divine Service is celebrated in foreign 
 languages; and of parish boundaries. Over five 
 hundred clergymen were reported in the clergy list. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 145 
 
 THE CONYENTIO]^ OF 1832. 
 
 Thirteen bishops, iifty-one clerical, and thirty- 
 eight lay deputies, representing twenty-one dioceses, 
 made up the Convention of 1832, which convened 
 in St. Paul's Chapel, in the city of New- York, Oc- 
 tober 17th, and continued in session until October 
 31st. The Kev. Dr. TTyatt was elected President 
 of the House of Deputies, and the Rev. Dr. An- 
 thon, Secretary. Four Bishops, Hopkins, B. B. 
 Smith, Mcllvaine, and G. W. Doane, received con- 
 secration at its close, and the chief interest of the 
 session centred in the grave question which arose, 
 touching the resignation, by Bishop Chase, of the 
 Episcopate of Ohio. 
 
 The action of the two Houses in this important 
 matter was not concurrent. We give the resolu- 
 tion adopted by the House of Bishops, which, wdth 
 the accompanying " protestation," failed of securing 
 the concurrence of the House of Deputies : 
 
 Resolved, As the sense of this Convention, that tlie Right 
 Rev. Philander Chase, considering himself to have resigned 
 the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Ohio, having removed from 
 that State to the Territory of Michigan, and renounced the 
 Episcopal charge of the Diocese of Ohio, an exigency of the 
 Church in that Diocese has thus been occasioned, and has exist- 
 ed since the 5th of September, 1832, for which this Convention 
 see no way in which provision can be duly made, but by the 
 consecration of another Bishop for that Diocese. 
 
146 THE GENERATi CO.NVENTIOX 
 
 On motion, the following protestation was order- 
 ed to be annexed to the above resolution, viz. : 
 
 The House of Bishops beg leave to inform the House of Cler- 
 ical and Lay Deputies, that in adopting the foregoing resolu- 
 tion, they feel impelled to add their solemn protestation against 
 its being drawn into a precedent on any future occasion. 
 
 The Bishops are deeply impressed with a consideration of 
 the evils which may result to the Church, from the capricious 
 and unregulated resignations of Episcopal jurisdiction. They 
 are of opinion that the acts of the Right Rev. Bishop Chase, by 
 which he has relinquished the Episcopate of the Diocese of 
 Ohio, and removed to a territory beyond the organized jurisdic- 
 tion of this Church, are not warranted by any regulation of 
 tlie Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States, nor by 
 any general usage of the Church ; yet, inasmuch as they hav(i 
 been performed without any positive law of this Church to the 
 contrary, as we can devise no way of reconciling the Right Rev. 
 Bishop Chase and the Diocese of Ohio, and as the House of 
 Bishops are earnestly desirous of restoring peace to that Dio- 
 cese, they are ready to concur in the necessary and proper mea- 
 sures for consecrating a successor to Bishop Chase in the Epis- 
 copate of Ohio. 
 
 The House of Bishops hope that the House of Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies will concur with them in this protestation, and 
 in the passage of a Canon prohibiting Episcopal resignations, 
 except on great and urgent occasions, and regulating the man- 
 ner in which they shall be made, and also designating the ec- 
 clesiastical body to whose approval they shall be subjected. 
 
 In place of the above, the House of Deputies 
 adopted the following resolutions : 
 
 Resolved, That the Right Rev. Philander Chase, having re- 
 linquished and abandoned the Episcopal charge of the Diocese 
 of Ohio, and removed from the said State, this House does con- 
 sider the Episcopate of Ohio as vacant. And whereas, the 
 Diocese of Ohio having, by the dereliction of the said Right 
 Rev, P. Cliase, been deprived of Episcopal services since the 
 9th day of September, 1831, the Convention thereof did, on the 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. l-iT 
 
 7th day of September, 1832, by a majority of the voices of the 
 Clergy and of the Laity duly assembled, nominate and elect the 
 Kev. Charles P. Mcllvaine as Bishop of the said Diocese, and 
 the testimonials touching the said election have been duly certi- 
 fied to this House, with the view to their taking the necessary 
 steps toward the consecration of the said Rev, C. P. Mcllvaine 
 as Bishop of Ohio, agreeably to the Canons in such case made 
 and provided ; and whereas, in the opinion of this House, the 
 welfare of the Church requires that the State of Ohio should 
 not continue longer destitute of the services of a Bishop. 
 Therefore — 
 
 Resolved, That this House will now proceed to consider and 
 sign the testimonials in behalf of the Rev. Charles P. McH- 
 vaine, as Bishop of Ohio, aforesaid. 
 
 Resolved, That it is not the intention of this House, by any 
 proceeding on this occasion, to sanction the principle that a 
 Bishop can resign of his own will, with or without the consent 
 of his Diocese. 
 
 The result in both Houses was the same. The 
 testimonials were approved, and the consecration of 
 Dr. Mcllvaine took place. The Bishops declined 
 to exercise a visitatorial power in their aggregate 
 capacity, with respect to the institutions at Gam- 
 bier, Ohio. It was in connection with the four-fold 
 consecration at this Convention that the followiner 
 " Rule of the House of Bishops " was adopted, viz. : 
 
 The senior Bishop of the Church present at any general Con- 
 vention, is the presiding Bishop in the House of Bishops. 
 
 The senior Bishop of this Church is the presiding Bishop for 
 all other purposes contained in the Canons. 
 
 The senior Bishop of this Church present at any consecra- 
 tion of a Bishop, is the presiding Bishop for that solemnity. 
 
 Seniority among the Bishops is according to the time of the 
 consecration of each Bishop. 
 
 In response to a request made by the House of 
 Deputies at the preceding Convention, the Bishops 
 
148 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 placed on record, and ordered to be communicated 
 to the other House, their opinion as to the proper 
 postures to be observed in the celebration of the 
 Hoi J Communion, as follows: 
 
 The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, having at the 
 last Convention requested the House of Bishops to express 
 their opinion as to the proper postures to be used in the Com- 
 munion office, with a view of effecting uniformity in that re- 
 spect, during its celebration, and the request having been then 
 ordered to lie on the table for future consideration, the House 
 of Bishops now communicated to the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies the opinion thus requested of them, as follows : 
 
 First, with regard to the officiating priest, they are of opin- 
 ion that as the Holy Communion is of a spiritually sacrificial 
 character, the standing posture should be observed by him, 
 wherever that of kneeling is not expressly prescribed, to wit : 
 in all parts, including the ante-communion and post-commu- 
 nion, except the confession, and the prayer immediately pre- 
 ceding the prayer of consecration. 
 
 Secondly, with regard to the people, the Bishops are of the 
 opinion that they should observe the kneeling posture during 
 all the prayers and other acts of devotion, except the Gloria in 
 excelsis, when standing is required by the rubric, and except, 
 also, during the allowed portion of the Hymns in metre, when 
 the analogy of our services requires the same posture. The 
 same analogy, as well as fitness of posture for the succeeding 
 private devotions, which are required alike by propriety and 
 godly custom, supposes kneeling as the posture in which to re- 
 ceive the final blessing. 
 
 Analogy, also, and the expression at the close of the shorter 
 exhortation immediately preceding the confession, as well as 
 the rubric before the confession, which suppose the posture of 
 kneeling to be there assumed, indicate that that exhortation, 
 and the longer one immediately preceding, should be heard by 
 the people standing. 
 
 The postures, therefore, prooer to be observed by the peo- 
 ple, during the Communion office, the Bishops believe to be as 
 follows : 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 149 
 
 Kneeling during the whole of the ante-communion, except 
 the epistle which is to be heard in the usual posture for hear- 
 ing the Scriptures, and the gospel, which is ordered to be heard 
 
 standing. . . 
 
 The sentences of the offertory to be heard sitting, as the most 
 favorable posture for handing alms, etc., to the person col- 
 
 lectin^ 
 
 Kneeling to be observed during the prayer for the Church 
 
 militant. 
 
 Standing during the exhortations. 
 
 Kneeling to be then resumed, and continued until after the 
 
 prayer of consecration. 
 
 ^torK^in^' at the singing of the hymn. 
 
 Kneeling, when receiving the elements, and during the post- 
 communion, or that part of the service which succeeds the de- 
 livering and receiving of the elements, except the Olona in ex- 
 celm which is to be said or sung standing. After which the 
 congregation should again kneel to receive the blessmg. 
 
 The House of Bishops are gratified at the opportunity afford- 
 ed them by the above noticed request of the House of Clerical 
 and Lay Deputies, of contributing to what they hope will be 
 perfect uniformity in all our churches in the matter now before 
 them. 
 
 A "declaration," correcting an error in one of 
 the offices of the Church contained in the Book of 
 Common Prayer, was adopted by the 'Bishops, as 
 follows : 
 
 There occurring in the office for receiving into the congrega- 
 tion children already baptized, according to the form of private 
 baptism, the following question to the Sponsors, and answer 
 to be made by them, viz. : 
 
 Minister. Wilt thou be baptized in this faith ? 
 
 Ans. That is my desire. 
 Which mistake doubtless arose from inadvertency the House 
 of Bishops hereby declare that it should be regard^ ^^ «^ '^^ 
 same footing with typographical errors, and should be correct, 
 ed in future editions of the Prayer Book. 
 
150 THK GENERAL CONVENTIOX 
 
 Two changes in the rubrics of the Prayer Book 
 were adopted for final action at the following Con- 
 vention, the iiist being a proposal " to alter the Ru- 
 bric before tlie ' Selections of Psalms,' so as to 
 read, ' The following selections of Psalms, or any 
 one or more Psalms, or any portions of the 119th 
 Psalm in the Psalter, may be used instead of the 
 Psalms for the day, at the discretion of the minis- 
 ter.' And that the fourth paragraph of the ' Or- 
 der how the Psalter is appointed to be read ' be 
 erased.' " And the second, " to alter the last Ru- 
 bric before the Communion Service by substituting 
 the w^ord ' right ' for the word ' north.- " 
 
 It was also '' proposed for adoption at the next 
 General Convention, to insert the following Rubric 
 after the ' Prayer to be used at the Meetings of 
 Convention :' 
 
 " During the period of the session of any General or Diocesan 
 Convention, the above prayer may be used by all congregations 
 of this Church, or of the Diocese concerned ; the clause ' here 
 assembled in thy name and presence ' being changed to ' now 
 assembled in thy name and presence ;' and the clause, ' govern 
 u% in our present work' to 'govern them ia their present 
 work. ' 
 
 And it was further proposed for adoption at the 
 next General Convention to insert the said Prayer 
 and Rubric at the end of the Prayers upon several 
 occasions to be used before the two iinal prayers of 
 morning and evening service." 
 
 The whole body of the Canons w^as revised, and 
 set forth with alterations and amendments. 
 
 The Selections from the Psalms in metre, with 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 151 
 
 the Hymns still bound with the Book of Common 
 Prayer, were set forth, with the following " ratili- 
 
 This Book of Psalms in Metre, selected from the Psalms of 
 David, with Hymns, is set forth and allowed to be sung in all 
 Congregations of the said Church, before and after Morning 
 and Evening Prayer, and also before and after Sermons, at the 
 discretion of the minister. 
 
 And it shall be the duty of every minister of any Church, 
 either by standing directions, or from time to time, to appoint 
 the portions of Psalms which are to be sung. 
 
 And further, it shall be the duty of every minister, with 
 such assistance as he can obtain from persons skilled in music, 
 to give order concerning the tunes to be sung at any time in 
 his Church. And especially, it shall be his duty to suppress 
 all light and unseemly music, and all indecency and irreve- 
 rence in the performance, by which vain and ungodly persons 
 profane the service of the Sanctuary. 
 
 Alabama and Michigan were admitted into union 
 with the Convention. 
 
 A proposed amendment of Article 2 of the Con- 
 stitution was indefinitely postponed. It was pro- 
 posed to amend the article as follows : 
 
 Article II. 
 
 The Church in each State shall be entitled to a representa- 
 tion of both the Clergy and the Laity, which representation 
 shall consist of txco or more deputies, not exceeding tenoi each 
 order, chosen by the Convention of the State, according to the 
 following ratio : Every Diocese shall he entitled to one Clerical 
 and one Lay Deputy ; and to one additional Clerical Deputy 
 for every eight Clergymen actually residing in such Diocese; and 
 to one additional Lay Deputy for every twelv?, parishes belonging 
 to the Convention of the same; and in all questions, when re- 
 quired by the Clerical and Lay representation from any State, 
 the decimn shall be by orders ; and a majority of each order 
 
152 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 shall he necessary to constitute a vote of the Hoiise. If the Con- 
 vention of any State should neglect, or decline to appoint, etc. 
 
 A French translation of the Prayer Book was ap- 
 proved and made the " Standard." A canon on 
 Episcopal resignations was adopted. 
 
 A special canon, authorizing the formation of a 
 South-western diocese, consisting of the dioceses of 
 Mississippi and Alabama, with the clergy and 
 churches of Louisiana, was passed by both Houses. 
 Nearly six hundred clergymen are reported as min- 
 istering at the altars of the Church, and the Jour- 
 nal, for the first time, has a set of tables, giving ab- 
 stracts of the diocesan reports. 
 
OF THE AMEKICAN CHURCH. 153 
 
 THE CONYENTIOIsr OF 1835. 
 
 The Convention of 1835, which met in St. 
 Peter's Church, Philadelphia, from August 19th to 
 September 1st, inclusive, ranks among the most im- 
 portant of the Conventions, whether we regard the 
 far-sighted wisdom of its enactments or the broad 
 principles underlying every marked decision to 
 which it arrived. Fourteen bishops and one hun- 
 dred and fourteen deputies, sixty-nine clerical and 
 fifty-one lay, representing twenty-one dioceses (all, 
 in fact, but one, Mississippi), composed this body. 
 The Pev. Dr. Wyatt was re-elected President, and 
 the Pev. Dr. Anthon, Secretary of the House of 
 Deputies. Tlie venerable Bishop White presided 
 in the House of Bishops. Illinois, with the Pt. 
 Pev. Philander Chase, D.D., as its Bishop, was re- 
 ceived into union. Louisiana and Indiana, apply- 
 ing for the same, were refused, in neither case hav- 
 ing a sufficient number of clergy or churches to 
 warrant a diocesan organization. The Constitution 
 of the Board of Missions was established, making 
 every baptized member of the Church a member of 
 its missionary organization. Provision was made 
 for Missionary Bishops, and for the division of dio- 
 .ceses. Pev. Di. Kemper was elected Missionary 
 Bishop of the North-west, and Dr. HawkB for the 
 Soutli-west. A German version of the Prayer Book 
 
154: 'i'HE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 was authorized. The Rev. Dr. Hawks was ap- 
 pointed conservator of the historical documents of 
 the Church, and his personal gift of a large and val- 
 uable collection of illustrative matter of this nature 
 is placed on record. The discontinuance of the use 
 of the Collect and Lord's Prayer before the sermon 
 was recommended, and the people were advised to 
 say with^ instead of aftei' the minister, the Confes- 
 sion. The Committee of the Bishops (Griswold, 
 Brownell, and Otey), who made this recommenda- 
 tion, added the following expression of their 
 opinion : 
 
 It is also the opinion of your Committee that, in those parts 
 of the Liturgy in which the minister and people unite in say- 
 ing the whole, as in the Confessions, the Creeds, the Lord's 
 Prayer, the Gloria in excelsis, the Trisagion, and the last 
 Prayer for Ash- Wednesday, the word "Amen" should be 
 printed in Roman letters, and the minister unite with the peo- 
 ple in saying it ; and that in all cases where the word "Amen" 
 is the response of the people to what the minister alone says, 
 it should be printed in italics. 
 
 An effort to secure the republication of the jour- 
 nals of the early Conventions was inaugurated, and 
 a committee appointed to procure the publication 
 of an edition of the Bible according to tlie " Stand- 
 ard." A plan of a General Education Society was 
 •discussed, and its further consideration postponed. 
 The details of the plan are spread upon the pages 
 of the appendix of the Journal. Provision was 
 made for the division of the larger dioceses, and 
 an alteration of the second article of the Constitu- 
 tion proposed for subsequent approval. There was 
 also x^rovision made for the consecration of foreign 
 
OF THK AMEKICAN CHURCH. 155 
 
 missionary bisliopS; when such a measure should be 
 deemed expedient. Measures were taken for se- 
 curing a version of the Prayer Book in G-erman. 
 The proposal of the last General Convention to alter 
 the rubric before " The Selection of Psalms " was 
 not adopted, but the change in the rubric before 
 the Communion Office, substituting the word 
 " right " for " north^'' w^as made by concurrent vote. 
 Seven himdred and sixty-three clergymen were re- 
 ported, and the closing act of the House of Bishops 
 was to place on its minutes a record of grateful ac- 
 knowledgment of the " presence and counsel of the 
 venerable presiding Bishop," then eighty-four years 
 old, and in the forty-ninth year of his Episcopate. 
 
15G THE genp:kal convkntiox 
 
 THE CONYEKTION OF 1838. 
 
 Bishop Griswold presided in tlie House of Bish- 
 ops at the Convention which met in St. Peter's 
 Church, Philadelphia, from September 6th to 
 September 17th, inclusive, 1838. The father of 
 the American Episcopacy in the English line, 
 the venerable William White, D.D., Bishop of 
 Pennsylvania, had passed away during the inter- 
 val between this and the last Convention. Sixteen 
 bishops and one hundred and thirty-live deputies, 
 seventy-live clerical and sixty lay, composed the 
 Convention, which continued in session for eleven 
 days. Three dioceses, Indiana, Florida, and Louis- 
 iana were admitted. Bishop Polk was nominated 
 to the Missionary Bishopric of the South-west. The 
 division of the diocese of New-York was ratified, 
 the constitutional amendment providing for the 
 division of dioceses, proposed at the last Convention, 
 having been formally approved. The words, " Un- 
 less the Table gives some day in the month of 
 March for it, for in that case the day given by the 
 Table is the right day," were added to the note on 
 the Table of Movable Feasts, notice of the pro- 
 posed addition having been made known as the 
 canons required. The republication of the journals 
 of previous conventions with the Pastoral Letters 
 was again urged. The diocese of New-Hampshire 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 157 
 
 had permission to withdraw from the Eastern dio- 
 cese. A proposition to make the time of meeting 
 of General Convention once in seven years was laid 
 on the table. A proposed alteration of Article 6 of 
 the Constitution, in relation to the mode of trying 
 clergymen, was laid over for consideration at the 
 next meeting. The whole subject of ecclesiastical 
 trials w^as referred to a joint committee. Both 
 Houses placed on record expressions of their grate- 
 ful memory of the long and faithful services, the 
 piety, purity, and moderation of the late Bishop 
 White. The necessity of the requirement of letters 
 dimissory from clergymen coming from abroad 
 was brought before the House of Bishops, and the 
 presiding bishop instructed to enter into correspond- 
 ence with the Archbishops of Canterbury and 
 Armagh, the Prhnus of Scotland, and the Colonial 
 Bishops, for the purpose of securing concert of 
 action in this matter. The Convention adopted as 
 a " standard " a stereotyped edition of the Prayer 
 Book published in Philadelphia. It also enacted 
 the following rules to be observed in printing all 
 future editions of the Book of Common Prayer, 
 namely : 
 
 I. The words, "Let us pray," to be always printed in the 
 same type with the prayers. 
 
 II. The word "Amen," to be printed in the Roman charac- 
 ter, besides in the cases mentioned in the action of +he House 
 of Bishops, as recorded in the minutes of the proceedings of 
 that House, on the 29th of August, 1835, in the following cases, 
 namely : 
 
 1, After the baptismal act, " N. I baptize thee," etc., in each 
 of the baptismal services. 
 
158 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 2. After the sentence in the marriage t^ervice, commencing, 
 " With this ring," etc. 
 
 3. After the sentence in the same service, commencing, "For 
 as much as M. and N.," etc. 
 
 4. After the sentence pronounced by the Bishop, at the lay- 
 ing on of hands in the ordination of Deacons and Priests. 
 
 It being understood by this Convention, that the vrord 
 * ' Amen," in the above cases, is not properly a response, but 
 proper to be used only by the party required to say the words 
 to which it is attached. 
 
 III. The rubric in the Institution Office, commencing with 
 the words, " If any objection," etc., to be pi lifted in three para- 
 graphs, as follows : 
 
 " If any objection," etc., to the word " service." 
 
 " No objection," etc., to the word " institution." 
 
 " And then shall," etc., to the end. 
 
 And whereas, there is a difference in different editions of the 
 Prayer Book, in the mode of printing the word Amen, after the 
 words used by the Bishop at the laying on of hands in confirm- 
 ation, therefore, 
 
 Resolved, As the sense of this Convention, that in this case 
 the word "Amen" should be printed in the Italic character, 
 as being properly a response. 
 
 The Eev. Drs. S. F. Jarvis and F. L. Hawks 
 were appointed Ilistoriograpliers, and the report of 
 the latter, detailing his successful efforts in England 
 in securing transcrij)ts of important documents from 
 the archives at Lambeth, Fulliam, and the office of 
 the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign 
 Parts, is placed in the appendix. Canons requiring 
 a delay of six months before the admission of minis- 
 ters of the denominations, and prohibiting a e-r^di- 
 date for orders from accenting the office of deputy 
 to Convention, were passed. Nine hundred and 
 fifty-one clergy were reported in the clergy list. 
 
OF THE AMEBIC AN CHURCH. 159 
 
 CONVENTION OF 1841. 
 
 In 1841 the Convention met in New-York, in 
 St. Paul's Chapel, and continued in session from 
 October 6th to October 19th, inclusive. The 
 House of Bishops contained twenty-one members. 
 Twenty-seven dioceses were represented. One 
 liundred and thirty-six deputies were in attendance, 
 seventy-nine clerical and fifty-seven lay. Bishop 
 Griswold presided in the House of Bishops ; the 
 Rev. Dr. Wyatt was re-elected President, and the 
 Eev. Dr. Anthon, Secretary of the House of De- 
 puties. The latter shortly gave place to the Rev. 
 Dr. William Cooper Mead. Western New-York 
 sent its first deputation, and Missouri was admit- 
 ted into union. At this session Bishop Lee, of 
 Delaware, received consecration, and the Rev. Dr. 
 John A. Yaughan was elected to the foreign Mis- 
 sionary Bishopric of Cape Palmas, and the Rev. Dr. 
 Nicholas H. Cobbs to the Episcopate of Texas. 
 Neither appointment was consummated. Canons 
 respecting absentee clergymen, the election of a 
 Missionary Bishop to a diocesan Episcopate, the 
 trial of Bishops, foreign clergymen desiring to 
 ofliciate in our church, and a Treasurer, were enact- 
 ed. The duty of providing more ample free sit- 
 tings, in view of the rapid increase of the popula- 
 tion of the country, was urged upon the Church by 
 
160 THE GEXEKAL CONVENTION 
 
 concurrent vote. For the iirst time a memorial 
 was presented opposing the admission of two of the 
 clerical deputies from oS^ew-York to seats, in con- 
 sequence of alleged informalities attending the 
 election ; but this claim was disallowed, as was also 
 some objection urged against the deputies from Del- 
 aware. The question of requiring one year's proba- 
 tion, or instead, six months, on the part of candidates 
 for orders, who had been " ministers, or licentiates 
 or students of theology, among other religious de- 
 nominations," occasioned no little discussion, and 
 gave rise to a majority and minority report from 
 the Committee on Canons, the former advocating 
 the longer, and the latter the shorter term. We 
 append extracts from each : 
 
 The existing state and circumstances of that branch of the 
 Church Catholic to which we belong, in connection with the 
 present religious condition of our country, your committee be- 
 lieve, with very many of their brethren, the Bishops, the 
 clergy, and the laity, imperatively require increasing careful- 
 ness and caution in the admission of persons to her ministry, 
 if its purity is to be maintained, and its greater efficiency se- 
 cured. And while they think such carefulness and caution 
 essential in the case of candidates for the sacred office, born, 
 nurtured, and educated in the bosom of the Church, they can 
 not but regard the same as especially and urgently demanded 
 in the case of those aspiring to her ministry, who, up to a com- 
 paratively recent period, have belonged to religious denomina- 
 tions whose attitude and action are adverse to our doctrines, 
 discipline and worship, and who have, for a longer or shorter 
 period, officiated as ministers among such denominations. 
 One year, they believe, can not be reasonably regarded as an 
 unnecessary term of probation, nor more than requisite to en- 
 able the constituted authorities of the Church to obtain such 
 knowledge of the character and conduct, the spirit, temper, 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. IGl 
 
 and qualifications of such candidates, and their general " apt- 
 ness and meetness to exercise the ministry duly to the honor of 
 God and the edifying of the Church," as shall secure her from 
 the intrusion of unworthy, pragmatical, or inefficient persons. 
 And less time, they humbly conceive, would scarcely be suffi- 
 cient to afford an opportunity to such candidates themselves, to 
 form a right estimate of the motives and principles which induce 
 an ecclesiastical change of such vital importance, and lead them 
 to seek admission into the ministry of a Church, whose pecu- 
 liar claims they may have hitherto, and all their lives long, 
 been taught to repudiate, and whose distinctive principles and 
 mode of worship they may have more or less regarded, and per- 
 haps in common with a majority of those whom they abandon, 
 stigmatized as serioua and dangerous errors. 
 
 The minority of tlie Committee, the Rev. Drs. 
 George Burgess and Francis H. Cuming, and Mr. 
 Archer Gifl'ord, expressed themselves 
 
 constrained to oppose the proposed change in the Canon, as it 
 involves a great change in the policy which has been hitherto 
 obserA^ed, both in the Church of England and in this Church, 
 with regard to the admission of separatists from its com- 
 munion. That policy, in their judgment, has always been, to 
 1 ndjr the way of return easy and honorable. It has raised no 
 unnere.ssary obstacle, required no painful humiliation ; but 
 opened, to their widest extent, every gate of the sanctuary. It 
 was founded on the rule that, as we have freely received, so 
 shall we freely give, and on the principle that secondary con- 
 siderations, however serious, should never outweigh so vast a 
 blessing as unity. To this policy the Church has probably 
 owed many of its best servants, who have come in from the 
 ranks of dissent ; such, in England, as Reynolds and Tillotson, 
 Seeker and Butler ; such, in America, as many of its most 
 valued clergy, and more than one of its most revered prelates. 
 The undersigned can not think that it is wise to change this 
 policy now, when an immense harvest calls for laborers, and 
 multitudes without the Church need little more than an invita- 
 tion and an opportunity to enter. A delay of six months is suffi- 
 cient security againet eudden, fickle, or premature action. To 
 
162 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 require a longer delay, without any reference to qualifications, 
 would seem to declare that the Church wished to impose a 
 penance or penalty upon this class of candidates, or else, that 
 she would gladly exclude them always. And if it be import- 
 ant that they who preach the Gospel, should preach it under 
 the Apostolic commission, the undersigned can not conceive 
 how that commission can be withheld systematically for any 
 period, not absolutely necessary for the safety of the Church ; 
 withheld from a whole class of men, as such, without the 
 slightest regard to their individual qualifications, except at the 
 hazard of incurring a responsibility so awfully serious, that 
 they are unwilling to share it.* 
 
 Bishop Polk was nominated by the House of 
 Bishops to the Episcopate of Louisiana, agreeably 
 to the request of that diocese that the General Con- 
 vention should elect its bishop ; in which action of the 
 Bishops, the House of Deputies unanimously con- 
 curred. The spiritual condition of the Jews receiv- 
 ed attention, and the Board of Missions were urged 
 " to mature and adopt such measures as may be pro- 
 j)er for bringing them to the unity of the faith, the 
 bosom of the Church of God, and the saving know- 
 ledge of the Messiah." It was proposed for iinal 
 action at the next Convention '' to erase the words 
 ' Associated Eector,' and also the word ' State,' 
 wherever they occur in former editions of the In- 
 stitution office." It was also proposed for similar 
 final action to add a tenth article to the Consti- 
 tution respecting the consecration of Bishops for 
 foreign countries. The cause of Cliristian educa- 
 tion in connection with the institutions of the Cliurch 
 was recommended to the various dioceses. Majority 
 
 * Journal of Convention, 1841, pp. 67-70. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 163 
 
 and minority reports on the subject of marriages 
 prohibited by the law of God — the former (Bishops 
 Griswold and Brownell) adverse to legislation ; the 
 latter (Bp. H. U. Onderdonk) proposing the enact- 
 ment of the English table of prohibition, and the 
 penalty of suspension of from two to seven years of 
 the officiating clergyman in cases of violation — were 
 ordered to be entered on the minutes.* The intro- 
 ductory volume of Ecclesiastical History prepared 
 by the. Kev. Dr. Samuel Farmar Jarvis, Historio- 
 grapher, was approved and commended by the 
 Bishops to the patronage of the Church. A registrar 
 of the House of Bishops was appointed. Further 
 efforts were reported for securing a republication 
 of the journals of previous Conventions with the 
 Canons and other documents. A committee was 
 appointed to report a standard Prayer Book, and in- 
 structed to restore certain words omitted in the In- 
 stitution office. A proposed Canon ^' Of Deacons 
 not licensed to Preach," was referred to the next Con- 
 vention. The correspondence between the presid- 
 ing Bishop, and the Archbishop of Canterbury and 
 other foreign prelates, was reported to the House 
 of Bishops, and the letters from abroad are cha- 
 racterized as exhibiting " a spirit of truly Christian 
 love," ^' and the readiest mind to co-operate with this 
 Church in the maintenance of Catholic unity, and 
 of all necessary securities in reference to the passing 
 and repassing of the clergy of the several churches 
 for purposes of settlement." The number of the 
 clergy was now one thousand and fifty-two. 
 * Vide pp. 90, 91 of tlie Journal. 
 
164 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 THE CONYENTIOX OF 1844. 
 
 The Convention of 1844 met in Philadelphia in 
 St. Andrew's Church, and continued in session from 
 the 2d to the 22d of October, inclusive. Twenty- 
 four Bishops, with ninety-three clerical and eighty- 
 four lay deputies, were in attendance. The Kev. 
 Dr. Wyatt was re-elected President of the House of 
 Deputies, and the Rev. Dr. Wm. Cooper Mead, 
 Secretary. Bishop Philander Chase was now pre- 
 siding in the House of Bishops. In the words of 
 the late Bishop Burgess, of Maine : " The recent 
 resignation and the suspension of one Bishop,* the 
 overhanging rumors which foreboded the trial and 
 suspension of another; the personal discussion 
 which arose out of the election to the Episcopate 
 of Mississippi ; the effort to procure a declaration 
 against the doctrine of the Oxford Tracts ; the 
 consecration of Bishops Chase of New-Hampshire^ 
 Cobbs and Hawks ; the nomination of the Mission- 
 ary Bishops, Freeman, Southgate, and Boone ; the 
 renewed, but still unsuccessful attempt, to require 
 a longer delay before the ordination of ministers 
 from other denominations ; the inquiry into the 
 state of tlie General Theological Seminary ; and 
 the adoption, not without controversy, of the prin- 
 
 • The Rt. Rev. Henry U. Onderdonk, D.D., of Pennsylvania. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCir. 105 
 
 ciple of an unlearned Diaconate in certain cases ; 
 all concurred to make this the busiest and the most 
 exciting of all our General Conventions. In its 
 legislation it was guided by the occasions which 
 had, unhappily, sprung up, and its close was follow- 
 ed by the most memorable of all the judicial pro- 
 ceedings of any ecclesiastical tribunal in this land."* 
 The eloquent defense made by the Kev. Dr. F. L. 
 Hawks, the able and exhaustive debate on the Ox- 
 ford movement, the adoption of the present Stan- 
 dard Prayer Book, and the missionary spirit of the 
 Convention, were noticeable features in this event- 
 ful and lengthy session. The mover of a resolu- 
 tion, " That the style and title of the Church repre- 
 sented in this General Convention, is the ' Protes- 
 tant Episcopal Church in the United States of 
 America ' ; and that the practice of omitting its 
 true appellation in printed documents, or of substi- 
 tuting any other, is derogatory to the Protestant 
 character of our Church, and of evil tendency," 
 offered on the fourth day of the session, had leave 
 to withdraw the same. Several presbyters laboring 
 as missionaries in the Republic of Texas asked for 
 " such Episcopal supervision as is enjoyed by mis- 
 sionary districts in the United States." A carefid 
 collation of the English and American Prayer Books 
 was suggested by the Diocese of South-Carolina to 
 the Convention. The joint committee appointed 
 to secure the republication of the Journals of the 
 Convention reported the failure of their efforts, and 
 
 * The trial of Bishop B. Tr Onderdonk, of New- York. 
 
166 tup: general convention 
 
 were discliargecl. The addition of Art. 10 to th» 
 Constitution was ratified and coniirnied. The 
 various steps of the action of the House of Deputies 
 on the subject of the Oxford movement we give in 
 full : 
 
 Fifth Day's Session, Oct. 7. 
 
 The following preamble and resolutions were offered : 
 
 Whereas, in the estimation of many ministers and members 
 of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States, seri- 
 ous error.s of doctrine have, within a few years, been intro- 
 duced and extensively promulgated, by means of tracts, 
 through the periodical press, and from the pulpit ; and where- 
 as it is important, for the preservation of the peace and purity 
 of the Church, that such errors, if existing, should be met, 
 and as far as practicable removed, by the action of this Con- 
 vention. 
 
 Be it therefore Resolved, if the House of Bishops concur. 
 That it is desirable to prepare and promulgate a clear and dis- 
 tinct expression of the opinions entertained by this Convention 
 respecting the Rule of Faith, the Justification of Man, the 
 nature, design, and efficacy of the Sacraments, and such other 
 matters as, in view of the foregoing circumstances, may be 
 deemed expedient by the House of Bishops. 
 
 Be it further Resolved, That it is desirable that such expres- 
 sion of opinion should originate in the House of Bishops, and 
 receive the concurrent action of this House, and that the House 
 of Bishops be requested to take action accordingly. 
 
 The following was offered as an amendment to the above 
 rer^olutions : 
 
 Whereas differences of opinion on subjects deemed of grave 
 importance exist among the members of the Protestant Episco- 
 pal Church of the United States : and whereas it is believed 
 that there is common ground upon which those thus differing 
 may meet in harmony and love, as members of our branch of 
 the One Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church : 
 
 Therefore, Resolved, That the House of Bishops be respect- 
 fully requested to make a subject of their godly counsel and 
 advice, in their Pastoral Letter, the great principles which dis- 
 
OF THE AMEiaCAN CHURCU. 167 
 
 tiuguisli the Protestant Episcopal Church, on the one hand, 
 from the corruptions of Rome ; and on the other, from the 
 other errors of sectarianism. 
 
 Pending the discussion on the above resolutions and amend- 
 ment, the House adjourned. 
 
 Seventh Day's Sessiox, Oct. 9. 
 
 On motion, The House resumed the consideration of the 
 resolutions and amendment, relating to the supposed intro- 
 duction of errors of doctrine in the Church, and their promul- 
 gation by means of tracts, etc. 
 
 The following amendment to the amendment was ofEered : 
 
 Whereas, The minds of many of the members of this Church 
 throughout its union, are sorely grieved and perplexed, by the 
 alleged introduction among them of serious errors in doctrine 
 and practice, having their origin in certain writings, emanating 
 chiefly from members of the University of Oxford in England ; 
 and whereas, it is exceedingly desirable that the minds of 
 such persons should be calmed, their anxieties allayed, and 
 the Church disabused of the charge of holding, in her Articles 
 and Offices, doctrines and practices consistent with all the 
 views and opinions expressed in said Oxford writings, and 
 should thus be freed from a responsibility which does not 
 properly belong to her : Therefore — 
 
 Resolved, That the House of Bishops be respectfully request- 
 ed to communicate with this House on this subject, and to take 
 such order thereon, as the nature and magnitude of the evil 
 alluded to may seem to them to require. 
 
 The discussion of the said resolutions and amendments 
 being suspended — 
 
 The House adjourned. 
 
 Eighth Day's Session, Oct. 10. 
 
 On motion. The House resumed the consideration of the 
 resolutions and amendments, relating to the supposed intro- 
 duction of errors of doctrine in the Church, and their promul- 
 gation by means of tracts, etc. 
 
1G8 THE GENERAL CONVENTION ^ 
 
 Whereupon the following resolution was offered : 
 Resolved, That this House will proceed at 12 o'clock M. this 
 day, without further debate, to take the question by yeas and 
 nays on the resolutions submitted, in relation to the differences 
 of opinion existing in the Church, and on the several amend- 
 ments proposed thereto. 
 
 To which resolution the following amendment was offered : 
 Resolved, That the consideration of the said resolutions and 
 amendments be postponed, and made the special order of the 
 day for to-morrow, at half-past 12 p.m. 
 
 On motion. Ordered, That the said resolution and amend- 
 ment be laid on the table. 
 
 The discussion of the said resolutions and amendments 
 being suspended — 
 
 ******* 
 
 The House adjourned. 
 
 TiiiiiTEEXTH Day's Session, Oct. 16. 
 
 On motion, Ordered, That the special order of the day be 
 suspended to take up the consideration of the resolutions and 
 amendments, relating to the supposed introduction of errors 
 of doctrine in the Church, and their promulgation by means of 
 tracts, etc. 
 
 The following substitute for the said resolutions and 
 amendments was offered : 
 
 Resolved, That the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies con- 
 sider the Liturgy, Offices and Articles of the Church sufficient 
 exponents of her sense of the essential doctrines of Holy Scrip- 
 ture ; and that the Canons of the Church afford ample means 
 of discipline and correction for all who depart from her stan- 
 dards ; and further, that the General Convention is not a suit- 
 able tribunal for the trial and censure of, and that the Church 
 is not responsible for, the errors of individuals, whether they 
 are members of this Church or otherwise. 
 
 Whereupon, the following resolution was offered : 
 
 Resolved, That the whole subject under discussion, and the 
 various amendments and substitute, be referred to a select 
 committee of five, with instructions to report thereon imme- 
 diately. 
 
OF THE AMERICA^r CHURCH. 169 
 
 The President put the question on agreeing to the above 
 resolution, and it was decided in the negative. 
 
 The consideration of the proposed substitute being sus- 
 pended, 
 
 On motion, Ordered, That when this House adjourns, it ad- 
 journs to meet at 7 p.m. 
 
 The House adjourned. 
 
 Thirteenth Day's Session. 
 
 7 o'clock P.M. 
 -X. ***** * 
 
 On motion, the House resumed the consideration of the sub- 
 stitute offered this morning. 
 
 On motion. Ordered, That unless the question on the substi- 
 tute be taken earlier, it shall be taken without further debate 
 at half-past nine o'clock. 
 
 The hour named having arrived, the President put the ques- 
 tion on agreeing to the said substitute, and it was decided in 
 the negative. 
 
 On the demand of the clerical and lay representation from 
 Ohio, the vote of each Order was taken by dioceses, as follows : 
 
 Clergy. — Twenty-seven dioceses represented. For the affir- 
 mative, 15. For the negative, 8. Divided, 4. 
 
 Laity. — Twenty-three dioceses represented. For the affir- 
 mative, 11. For the negative, 9. Divided, 3. 
 
 The question was then taken on the following amendment, 
 offered on the 9th instant : 
 
 " Wliereas, The minds of many of the members of this 
 Church throughout its union are sorely grieved and perplexed, 
 by the alleged introduction among them of serious errors in 
 doctrine and practice, having their origin in certain writings 
 emanating chiefly from members of the University of Oxford 
 in England ; and whereas, it is exceedingly desirable that the 
 minds of such persons should be calmed, their anxieties allay- 
 ed, and the Church disabused of the charge of holding in her 
 Articles and Offices, doctrines and practices consistent with all 
 the views and opinions expressed in said Oxford writings, and 
 should thus be freed from a responsibility which does not 
 properly belong to her : Therefore — 
 
170 THE GE^^EKAL CO.N^VENTION 
 
 " Resolved, That tliG Hoube of Bishops be respectfully re- 
 quested to communicate with this House ou this subject, and 
 to take such order thereon, as the nature and magnitude of the 
 evil alluded to may seem to tliem to require." 
 
 The President put the question on agreeing to the said 
 amendment, and it was decided Li tl.e negative. 
 
 On the demand of the clerical ar... lay representation from 
 Maryland, the vote of each Order V7as taken by dioceses, as 
 follows : 
 
 Clergy. — Twenty-seven dioceses representsd. For the affir- 
 mative, 8. For the negative, 15. Divided, 4. 
 
 Laity. — Twenty-three dioceses represented. For the affir- 
 mative, 11. For the negative, 11. Divided, 1. 
 
 The amendment offered on the 7th instant was tliereupon 
 withdrawn by the mover. 
 
 On motion, Resolved, That the House do reconsider the 
 substitute offered this morning. 
 
 A division of the said substitute was then requested, and 
 the question was taken on the first clause of the said sub- 
 stitute, as follows : 
 
 " Resolved, That the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies 
 consider the Liturgy, Offices, and Articles of the Church suf- 
 ficient exponents of her sense of the essential doctrines of 
 Holy Scripture ; and that the Canons of the Church afford 
 ample means of discipline and correction for all who depart 
 from her standards." 
 
 The President put the question on agreeing to the above 
 clause, and it was decided in the affirmative. 
 
 The question was then taken on the last clause of the said 
 substitute, as follows : 
 
 " And further, that the General Convention is not a suitable 
 tribunal for the trial and censure of, and that the Church is not 
 responsible for, the errors of individuals, whether tliey are 
 members of this Church or otherwise. " 
 
 The President put the question on agreeing to the said 
 clause, and it was decided in the affirmative. 
 
 On the demand of the clerical and lay representation from 
 Ohio, the vote of each Order was taken by dioceses, as follows ; 
 
 Clergy. — Twenty-seven dioceses represented. For the af- 
 firmative, 25. For the negative, 2. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 171 
 
 Laity. — Twenty-two dioceses represented. For the aflBir- 
 raative, 18. For the negative, 3. Divided, 1. 
 The House adjourned 
 
 The long and exciting discussion respecting the 
 consecration of the Bishop-elect of Mississippi, 
 terminated by the nnanimons adoption of the fol- 
 lowing resolutions : 
 
 Resolved, That, in the opinion of this House, all proceedings 
 respecting the consecration of the Rev. Francis L. Hawks, 
 D.D., ought to be suspended, until a future Convention of 
 the Diocese of Mississippi shall declare their sense of the sub- 
 ject. 
 
 Resolved, That all the documents now before this House, 
 relating to the same, be delivered to the deputies from Mis- 
 sissippi, to be laid before the Convention of the Diocese of 
 Mississippi. 
 
 The House of Bishops, in refusing to concur with 
 the House of Deputies in amending the Canon re- 
 quiring six months' probation from ministers of 
 other religious bodies seeking Holy Orders, so that 
 the term of probation should be twelve months, ac- 
 companied their refusal by the following expression 
 of the reasons influencing their decision : 
 
 "1. In practice, no ill consequences have as yet resulted 
 from the operation of the Canon as it now stands. 
 
 "2. The provisions of the Canon do not restrict the Bishops 
 from requiring the candidate to undergo a longer probation 
 than six months, if it shall be deemed expedient or necessary. 
 
 "3. It is believed that the proposed amendment, if adopted, 
 will operate injuriously, in the exclusion of many worthy men 
 from the ministry of the Church. 
 
 " 4l. It is respectfully submitted, that inasmuch as many 
 works have been published by the Bishops and other minis- 
 
172 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 ters of this Cliurcli, setting forth the claims of Episcopacy to 
 the authority of Holy Scripture and to primitive practice, and 
 containing urgent warnings against the sin of schism, it is not 
 deemed consistent witli the principles of this Church, to op- 
 pose further obstacles to the reception of men to its ministry, 
 than the necessary guards which prudence, regulated by a 
 sound faith and wholesome experience, may dictate." 
 
 Expressions of respect to the memory of the late 
 Presiding Bishop (Griswold) and the Bishop of 
 Virginia (Moore) were adopted. The subject of 
 versions of the Prayer Book in French, German, 
 Welsh, and Hebrew received the attention of the 
 Convention, and a resolution was passed recom- 
 mending 
 
 publishers of the Prayer Book, throughout the Union, to 
 print that portion which embraces the daily Services of the 
 Church, on paper of such quality as will be pr<:)portioned to 
 the greater use and wear to which that portion is exposed. 
 
 In pursuance of the following report of the 
 Committee on Expenses — • 
 
 The expenses attendant upon the use of a city Church for 
 the purposes of the General Convention, the nature and charac- 
 ter of the assemblies there gathered, and the exciting scenes 
 of popular debates, render, in the judgment of your Committee, 
 the House of God an inappropriate place for our sittings. In 
 any city in which the General Convention is likely to be held, 
 there may be found places less expensive, and better suited to 
 the purposes of the assembly, than the one in which we have 
 now met ; and they therefore recommend, that the proper of- 
 ficers of the Convention charged with the preparation for its 
 sittings, take such order as shall prevent the like objections 
 from recurring" — 
 
 the accompanying resolution was adopted, and was 
 concurred in by the House of Bishops : 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CIIUilCJL 173 
 
 Resolved, That the officers charged with providing a plaro 
 of meeting for any future session of the General Convention 
 be instructed to select some suitable building used for secular 
 purposes, and not a Church edifice. 
 
 The erasure of the words '' Associated Eector," 
 and " State," from the Institution Office, proposed 
 at the last Convention, was adopted. An important 
 precedent was established in connection w^ith the 
 discussion of the signing of Dr. Hawks' testimo- 
 nials, as follows : 
 
 Previous to the vote being taken, several deputies asked 
 to be excused from voting, and that their reasons therefor 
 might be entered on the Journal. 
 
 The following resolution was offered : 
 
 Resolved, That the several deputies asking to be excused 
 from voting on this question, be excused ; and that leave be 
 granted them to enter their reasons therefor on the Journal. 
 
 A division of the said resolution was asked for, and that 
 the question be taken on the first clause : 
 
 " Resolved, That the several deputies asking to be excused 
 from voting on this question, be excused." 
 
 The President put the question on agreeing to this clause, 
 and it was decided in the affirmative. 
 
 The question was then taken on agreeing to the second 
 clause of the said resolution : 
 
 "And that leave be granted them to enter their reasons 
 therefor on the Journal." 
 
 The President put the question on agreeing to the said 
 clause, and it was decided in the negative. 
 
 Cape Falmas, and parts adjacent in Western 
 Africa, were made a missionary see, and the Rev. 
 Alexander Glennie, of South-Carolina, chosen to 
 the episcopate thereof, and in view of this election 
 a special " Form of Certificate of Assent and Elec- 
 
174 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 tion" was adopted for tins and similar cases, as 
 follows : 
 
 We, wliose names are underwritten, do hereby certify to the 
 
 House of Bishops, that the Rev. having been 
 
 duly nominated, by the House of Bishops, on the day 
 
 of to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, as 
 
 a suitable person to be elected a Bishop of this Church, to ex- 
 ercise Episcopal functions in or at , a Missionary 
 
 Station, designated by the House of Bishops, with the concur- 
 rence of this House, for that purpose, according to the pro- 
 visions of Canon VII. of 1844, entitled, " Of Foreign Missionary 
 Bishops," has been elected by the said House of Clerical and 
 
 Lay Deputies, a Bishop as aforesaid, on this day of 
 
 . And we, the subscribers, do hereby severally 
 
 signify our assent to the said nomination and election, humbly 
 trusting that the Consecration of the said Bishop-elect will 
 conduce to the edification and enlargement of the Church of 
 Christ. 
 
 Done at in General Convention, this 
 
 day of A.D. 
 
 It was resolved by concurrent vote — 
 
 That the Joint Committee on Canon Law be instructed to 
 inquire and report to the next Convention, as to the expedi- 
 ency of so altering the Constitution, as to reduce the number 
 of deputies to be sent by each diocese to the General Conven- 
 tion ; and also, that the intervals between the sessions of the 
 Convention be more distant. 
 
 The House of Deputies adjourned on the 18th 
 day of the session, October 22d ; but the House of 
 Bishops continued their meetings for four subsequent 
 days, the 23d, 24th, 30th, and adjourning on the 
 31st of October, the last two days' session being 
 held at the General Theological Seminary in I^ew- 
 York, where the Bishops had assembled in exercise 
 of their visitatorial power. Among other matters 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 175 
 
 receiving attention specially of the House of Bishops 
 is the following : 
 
 Tlie Committee [Mcllvaine, De Lancey, and Elliott], to whom 
 were referred certain memorials from clergymen and laymen 
 of sundry dioceses requesting an expression of opinion on the 
 part of this House, respecting sundry alleged erroneous doc- 
 trines and practices, which are represented as having gained a 
 dangerous currency in the Church, and as being the cause of 
 much perplexity and alarm, respectfully report that they 
 know no way by which more satisfactorily to meet the wishes 
 of the memorialists, than to refer them to the Pastoral Letter, 
 which has just been adopted, and which will soon go forth to 
 the several parishes of this Church. 
 
 To this we add with regret, as a part of the 
 Convention history, the following record ; premis- 
 ing that if unfeigned sorrow for the sin, and a 
 humble submission to the sentence of the Church, 
 through a long term of years, coupled with a peni- 
 tent and trustful death, could blot out this page 
 from the Church's history as fully as they secured 
 in after years the remission of the penalty thus 
 enjoined, w^e might omit all reference to this sad 
 story. 
 
 The Committee* appointed upon the resignation of the Rt. 
 Rev. H. U, Onderdonk, recommend the adoption of the follow - 
 ing resolution: 
 
 Whereas, the Right Reverend Henry Ustick Onderdonk, 
 D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania, has made known 
 in writing to the House of Bishops his desire to resign his 
 jurisdiction of the said diocese, with the reasons moving him 
 thereto, and has tendered to this House his resignation of the 
 
 * Consisting of Bishops Chase (President), Brownell, Meade, 
 Ives, and liopkius. 
 
176 THE GENKliAL CONVENTION 
 
 said diocese; and wliereas, the House of Bishops having made 
 investigation of the said reasons, and of the facts and circum- 
 stances of the case, deem it expedient to accept the said resig- 
 nation : 
 
 Therefore, Resolved, That the House of Bishops accept the 
 resignation of the Episcopal Jurisdiction of the Diocese of 
 Pennsylvania, made by the Right Reverend Henry Ustick 
 Onderdonk, D.D., and hereby declare, that from and after this 
 twenty- first day of October, in the year of our Lord one thou- 
 sand eight hundred and forty-four, he is no longer Bishop of 
 the said diocese. 
 
 And further, Resolved, That the foregoing resolution be 
 duly recorded on the Journal of this House; and that informa- 
 tion of the same be communicated to the House of Clerical 
 and Lay Deputies. 
 
 The documents connected with the case of the Right Reve- 
 rend Henry Ustick Onderdonk, D.D., having been called up, 
 the following preamble and resolution were proposed, consi- 
 dered, and adopted: 
 
 Whereas, this House has heard with pain and sorrow of 
 heart, the communication addressed to it by tlie Right Rever- 
 end Henry Ustick Onderdonk, D.D., in which he acknowledges 
 the habitual use of spirituous liquor as a remedy for disease, 
 to a degree which has been the occasion of unfavorable impu- 
 tations upon the Church, and brought upon him an evil report 
 among men : 
 
 And whereas this House, as well by the tenor of the com- 
 munications of the said Right Reverend Henry Ustick Onder- 
 donk, D.D., as by the investigation of the facts and circum- 
 stances of his case, which have now been made, is well assured 
 that the usefulness of the said Right Reverend Henry Ustick 
 Onderdonk, D.D., in the ofRce and work of the ministry, has 
 ceased, and that the reproach and injury which he has been 
 the means of bringing upon the Church of Christ require the 
 administration of discipline in the premises ; 
 
 And whereas, the said Right Reverend Henry Ustick Onder- 
 donk, D.D., has requested of this House such an act of disci- 
 pline as in the judgment of the said House is proper. 
 
 X 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 177 
 
 Therefore, Resolved, That the Right Reverend Henry Uetick 
 Onderdonk, D.D., having made to this House a w^ritten ac- 
 knowledgment of his unworthiness, this House does now 
 determine that he be suspended from his office, and that the 
 Presiding Bishop, in the presence of this House, shall pro- 
 nounce the following Sentence, viz.: 
 
 SENTENCE. 
 
 The Right Reverend Henry Ustick Onderdonk, Doctor in 
 Divinity, having acknowledged himself the cause of reproach 
 and injury to the Church, and having submitted himself to the 
 judgment of the House of Bishops, in General Convention 
 assembled ; the said House does hereby adjudge that the said 
 Henry Ustick Onderdonk, Doctor in Divinity, be suspended 
 from all public exercise of the offices and functions of the 
 sacred ministry, and in particular from all exercise whatso- 
 ever of the office and work of a Bishop, in the Church of God; 
 and does accordingly so suspqjid the said Henry Ustick Onder- 
 donk, Doctor in Divinity, and declare him suspended, from 
 and after this twenty-first day of October, in the year of our 
 Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-four, from all 
 public exercise of the office and functions of the sacred minis- 
 try, and from all exercise whatsoever of the office and work of 
 a Bishop, in the Church of God ; in the Name of the Father, 
 and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen, 
 
 The Presiding Bishop then, in the presence of the Bishops, 
 pronounced the above sentence. 
 
 On motion of Bishop De Lancey, seconded by Bishop Whit- 
 tingliam. 
 
 Resolved, That the documents connected with the case of 
 the Right Reverend Henry Ustick Onderdonk, D.D., be placed 
 on file. 
 
 Among the results of the visitation of the Gene- 
 ral Theological Seminary, was the adoption of the 
 following resolutions : 
 
 2. Resolved, That the Bishops, as visitors, having visited 
 the Seminary and inspected the same, do not find in any of its 
 
178 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 interior arrangements any evidences tliat superstitious or 
 Romisli practices are allowed or encouraged in the institution. 
 3. Resolved, That the Bishops deem the publication of the 
 questions of the Bishops and the answers of the Professors * 
 the most appropriate reply to the current rumors respecting 
 the doctrinal teaching of the Seminary. 
 
 The clergy list now contained twelve hundred 
 and forty names. 
 
 * These questions and answers are printed in full in the 
 appendix to the Journal. 
 
OF THE AMEKICAN CHUliCH. 179 
 
 THE CONYENTION OF 1847. 
 
 Twenty-Uve Bishops were in attendance at the 
 Convention of 1847, which was in session from 
 October 6th to 28th inchisive, in St. John's 
 Chapel, in the city of New- York, with one hun- 
 dred and three clerical and eighty -three lay 
 deputies. The officers of the last House of Depu- 
 ties were re-elected. The place of meeting, agree- 
 ably to the vote of the last Convention, was provided 
 in the jS'ew-York University, but at the request of 
 the Bishops the session was continued in the 
 church where its opening services had been held. 
 Wisconsin was admitted into union with the Con- 
 vention. Tlie Rev. Dr. Burgess's testimonials, as 
 Bishop of Maine, were passed. The diocese of 
 Xew-York appealed for relief from its anomalous 
 position with its Bishop under suspension, and the 
 Bishop himself memorialized the Convention in his 
 own behalf. 
 
 Questions of canonical procedure growing out 
 of the suspension of Bishop B. T. Onderdonk 
 occupied the greater portion of the session. The 
 Canons adopted at this session were, I. Of the 
 Trustees of the General Theological Seminary; 
 II. Of the Remission or Modification of Judicial 
 Sentences ; III. Of the Penalty of Suspension ; 
 
180 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 IV. Of the Performance of Episcopal Duties in 
 vacant Dioceses, or in a Diocese the Bishop of 
 which is under Disability ; V. Of a Discretion to 
 be allowed in the Calling, Trial and Examination of 
 Deacons, in certain cases ; YI. Of Candidates for 
 Orders. A Canon " Of Suffragan Bishops" was 
 referred to a joint committee to report to the 
 next Convention. The question as to the constitu- 
 tionality of the appointment of supplemental 
 deputies by the authority of the Diocesan Conven- 
 tions, though not directly " by the Convention of 
 the diocese," as Art. 2 of the Constitution requires, 
 was decided in favor of the admission of those 
 thus appointed. An effort to provide by Canon, 
 that no diocese should have more than one repre- 
 sentative in the House of Bishops, was rejected as 
 in violation of Art. 3 of the Constitution, " under 
 which the Bishops sit, not as representatives of 
 dioceses, but by virtue of their office." In view 
 of the annexation of Texas to the United States, 
 the title of the Missionary Bishop (Freeman) 
 elected under a resolution of the Convention of 
 1844, and having jurisdiction in the republic of 
 Texas, was changed to conform with the new civil 
 relations of the district in question. A proposed 
 change of Art. 1 of the Constitution, appointing 
 the time of the meeting of General Convention 
 on the first Wednesday in September, was submit- 
 ted to the diocese for final action at the next Con- 
 vention. The appointment of the Rev. James B. 
 Britton, as assistant to Bishop Philander Chase, by 
 tlie Convention of Illinois, failed to receive the 
 
OF THE AiMERICAN CHUKCH. 181 
 
 confirmation of the House of Deputies, the vote 
 on signing his testimonials being as follows : 
 
 Of the Clergy— 28 dioceses represented. Affirmative, 11 ; 
 negative, 16 ; divided, 1. 
 
 Of the Laity— 23 dioceses represented. Affirmative, 7 ; 
 negative, 10 ; divided, 6. 
 
 Bishop Kemper's election to the Diocesan Epis- 
 copate of Wisconsin was confirmed. The number 
 of the clergy had reached fourteen hundred and 
 four. 
 
182 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 THE CONYET^TIOlSr OF 1850. 
 
 The Convention of 1850 met in Christ Church, 
 Cincinnati. Twenty-eight Bishops were present ; 
 ninety-four clerical and seventy lay deputies 
 made up the Lower House, officered by the Rev. 
 Dr. "Wyatt as President, with the Rev. Dr. M. A. 
 De Wolfe Howe, in place of the Rev. Dr. Cooper 
 Mead, who declined a re-election, as Secretary. 
 The session was brief, only extending from the 
 second to the sixteenth of October, inclusive. 
 The condition of the Diocese of New- York occu- 
 pied much of the attention of the Convention. 
 Canonical provision was made respecting the 
 rights of Bishops on visitations. The election 
 of Provisional Bishops; the resignation of Bish- 
 ops; the position of Foreign Missionary Bish- 
 ops; the renunciation of the ministry; and 
 the case of a clergyman in one diocese, charge- 
 able with misdemeanor in any other, were 
 made subjects of canonical enactment. The pro- 
 posed change in the time of meeting of the Con- 
 vention was negatived. The Diocese of Texas was 
 admitted into union with the Convention. A pro- 
 posed amendment of Art. 5 of the Constitution, 
 removing the territorial and numerical restrictions 
 upon the division of dioceses, was submitted to 
 the Convention for final action at the session of 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 183 
 
 1853. The Canon "Of Suffragan Bishops," was 
 indefinitely postponed. The lay delegation of 
 New- Jersey had permission to " record their dissent 
 to the passage of the Canon of ^ Episcopal Resig- 
 nations.' " The resignation of the Rt. Rev. 
 Horatio Southgate "as Missionary Bishop to the 
 Dominions and Dependencies of the Sultan of 
 Turkey," was " received, accepted, and recorded" 
 by the House of Bishops. The first volume of the 
 Ecclesiastical History prepared by the Historio- 
 grapher was commended to the patronage of the 
 Church. It was 
 
 Resolved, That the constantly enlarging field of missionary 
 work, diocesan, domestic and foreign, presented before the 
 Church, and the clear indications of God's good will toward 
 the work itself, can be rightly met only by an enlarged liberal- 
 ity on the part of the Church generally, and a spirit of greater 
 self-denial, and more single devotedness on the part of the 
 various orders of the ministry. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. John Payne was elected Mis- 
 sionary Bishop at Cape Palmas, and parts adjacent, 
 West Africa, In the House of Bishops, a com- 
 mittee was appointed to consider and report. 
 
 Whether some plan can not be proposed, by which, consis- 
 tently with the principles of our Reformed Communion, the 
 service of intelligent and pious persons of both sexes may be 
 secured to the Church to a greater extent, in the education of 
 the young, the relief of the sick and destitute, the care of 
 orphans and friendless emigrants, and the reformation of the 
 vicious. 
 
 A plan of a Court of Appeals was referred to 
 fJie next Convention. The following resolutions 
 
1S4 THE GEXER-AL CONVENTION 
 
 were offered by Bishop De Lancey, and seconded by 
 Bishop Otey : 
 
 Ee-^ohed, That tlie following resolution lie on the table for 
 consideration at the next Triennial General Convention : 
 
 Besohed, The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies concurring, 
 tliat a joint comniirtee, to consist of five Bishops, and of five 
 clergymen and five laymen, be appoinied to report to the 
 next Triennial General Convention, on the expediency of ar- 
 ranging tbe dioceses according to geographical position into 
 four Provinces, to be designated the Eastern, Xorthem, 
 Southern, and Western Provinces, and to be united under a 
 General Convention or Council of the Provinces, having ex- 
 clusive control over the Prayer Book, Articles, Ofl&ces, and 
 Homilies of this Cliurch, to be held once every twenty years. 
 
 A memorial from clergy, vestries, and individu- 
 als of the Diocese of Maryland, qnestioning the 
 right of the Bishop to administer the Holy Com- 
 mnnion when on his ^'isitations, is placed in the 
 appendix to the Journal. Tlie Bishop's right, 
 therein excepted to, was "affirmed by the judicial 
 and legislative authorities of the Diocese y " re- 
 affirmed by a vote of the House of Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies." and provided for against all possible 
 exceptions in a canon on the subject. 
 
 Xo Pastoral was issued by this Convention, but 
 the Convention was closed with an address from 
 the Presiding Bishop, Philander Chase, which was 
 delivered at midnight, in the midst of a terrific 
 storm. Fifteen hundred and lif ty-eight clergymen 
 were reported. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 185 
 
 THE CONVENTION OF 1853. 
 
 Thirty Bishops were in attendance on the Con- 
 vention of 1853, which met in Trinity Church and 
 St. John's Chapel, in the city of New- York, and 
 continued in session from the 5th to the 26th of 
 October, inchisive. The House of Deputies num- 
 bered two hundred members — one hundred and fif- 
 teen clerical, and eighty-five lay, from thirty dio- 
 ceses. The Eev. Dr. Wyatt, the President at eight 
 successive Conventions, was succeeded by Dr. 
 Creighton. Dr. Howe, who had been elected Secre- 
 tary at Cincinnati on the retirement of Dr. Cooper 
 Mead, was re-elected Secretary. The presence of a 
 deputation from the venerable Society for the Pro- 
 pagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, and the 
 attendance of the Bishop of Fredericton, were inte- 
 resting and noticeable features of this Conven- 
 tion. The abandonment of our Communion on the 
 part of the Bishop of North-Carolina, received its 
 fitting notice, and under a special canon, the exci- 
 sion of this unworthy prelate was pronounced with 
 due formality by the Presiding Bishop, sitting in 
 his chair, in the presence of both Houses, after 
 prayers, and in the following form : 
 
 Whereas, Levi Silliman Ives, D.D., Bishop of the Protestant 
 Episcopal Church in the United States, in the Diocese of North- 
 Carolina, in a communication under his proper hand, bearing 
 
186 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 date, " Rome, December twenty-second, one thousand eight 
 hundred and fifty-two," avowed his purpose to resign his 
 " Office as Bishop of North-Carolina," and further declared that 
 he was "determined to make his submission to the Catholic" 
 (meaning the Roman) "Church." 
 
 And whereas, there is before the Bishops of the Protestant 
 Episcopal Church in the United States, acting under the pro- 
 vision of Canon First of 1853, satisfactory evidence that the 
 said Levi Silliman Ives, D.D., has publicly renounced the com- 
 munion of the Church, and made his submission to the Bishop 
 of Rome, as Universal Bishop of the Church of God, and Vicar 
 of Christ upon earth, thus acknowledging these impious pre- 
 tensions of that Bishop, thereby violating the vows solemnly 
 made by him, the said Levi Silliman Ives, D.D., at his consecration 
 as a Bishop of the Church of God, abandoning that portion of 
 the flock of Christ committed to his oversight, and binding him- 
 self under anathema to the antichristian doctrines and practices 
 imposed by the Council of Trent upon all the Churches of the 
 Roman Obedience, 
 
 Be it therefore known, that on this fourteenth day of October, 
 in the year of our Lord, One thousand eight hundred and fifty- 
 three, I, Thomas Church Brownell,.D.D., LL.D., by Divine 
 permission, Bishop of the Diocese of Connecticut, and Presid- 
 ing Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United 
 States, with the consent of a majority of the members of the 
 House of Bishops, as hereinafter enumerated, to wit : — William 
 Meade, D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Virginia, John Henry 
 Hopkins, D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Vermont, Benjamin Bos- 
 worth Smith, D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Kentucky, Charles 
 Pettit M'llvaine, D.D., D.C.L., Bishop of the Diocese of Ohio, 
 George Washington Doane, D.D., LL.D., Bishop of the Diocese 
 of New-Jersey, James Hervey Otey, D.D., Bishop of the Dio- 
 cese of Tennessee, Jackson Kemper, D.D., Missionary Bishop 
 of Wisconsin and the North-west, Samuel Allen M'Coskry, 
 D.D., D.C.L., Bishop of the Diocese of Michigan, William 
 Heathcote De Lancey, D.D., LL.D., D.C.L., Bishop of the Dio- 
 cese of Western New- York, William Rollinson Whittingham, 
 D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Maryland, Stephen Elliott, Jr., 
 D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Georgia, Alfred Lee, D.D., 
 Bishop of the Diocese of Delaware, John Johns, D.D. , Assist- 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 187 
 
 ant Bisliop of tlie Diocese of Virginia, Manton Eastburn, D.D., 
 Bishop of the Diocese of Massachusetts, Carlton Chase, D.D., 
 Bishop of the Diocese of New-Hampshire, Nichohis Hamner 
 Cobbs, D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Alabama, Cicero Stephens 
 Hawks, D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Missouri, George Wash- 
 ington Freeman, D.D., Missionary Bishop of the South-west, 
 Alonzo Potter, D.D., LL.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsyl- 
 vania, George Burgess, D.D., Bisliop of the Diocese of Maine, 
 George Upfold, D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Indiana, William 
 Mercer Green, D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Mississippi, Fran- 
 cis Huger Rutledge, D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Florida, 
 John Williams, D.D., Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of Con- 
 necticut, Henry John Whitehouse, D.D., Bishop of the Diocese 
 of Illinois, and Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright, D.D., D.C.L., 
 Provisional Bishop of the Diocese of New-York, and in the 
 terms of the Canon in such case made and provided, do pro- 
 nounce the said Levi Silliman Ives, D.D., ipso facto deposed to 
 all intents and purposes from the Office of a Bishop in the 
 Church of God, and from all the rights, privileges, powers and 
 dignities thereunto pertaining. 
 
 In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy 
 Ghost. — Amen ! 
 
 Thomas Church Brownell, 
 
 Bishop of the Diocese of Connecticut, and Presiding Bisliop. 
 
 As the Presiding Bishop pronounced the closing 
 words, he rose from his chair, " and all the people 
 said Amen." 
 
 Besides the Canon, ^' Of the Abandonment of the 
 Communion of the Church by any Bishop, Priest, 
 or Deacon," tlie following Canons were adopted : 
 Of Bishops absent from their Dioceses, because of 
 sickness or other sufficient reason ; Of the Election 
 and Institution of Ministers into Parishes and 
 Churches ; Of Clerical Kesidence and Kemoval ; 
 Of the officiating of Ministers of this Church, and 
 of tlie formation of Parishes within the Parochial 
 
188 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 Cures of other Clergymen ; Of the Abandonment 
 of the Communion of this Church by a Presbyter 
 or Deacon ; Of the Ordination of Deacons, etc. ; 
 Of Hemoval of Communicants from one Parish to 
 another ; Of Missionary Bishops within the United 
 States ; Of a Registrar ; Of the Trustees of the 
 Missionary Bishops' Fimd ; Of the Expenses of the 
 Convention ; Of tlie Mode of securing an Accurate 
 Yiew of the State of the Church. The Diocese of 
 Iowa was admitted into union w^ith the Convention, 
 and the application of California deferred, evidence 
 being wanting that the diocese had acceded to the 
 Constitution of the Protestant Episcopal Church in 
 the United States. A Missionary Bishop (the Rt. 
 Rev. Dr. Kip) w^as therefore appointed for this 
 State, and one (the Rt. Rev. Dr. Scott) for Oregon. 
 Bishop Atkinson was consecrated in the place of the 
 deposed Ives, and South-Carolina received a new 
 Bishop (Rt. Rev. Dr. Davis) at the same time. The 
 "Memorial" presented by the Rev. Dr. Muhlen- 
 berg and others, in favor of liturgical relaxation 
 and church comprehension, resulted in the appoint- 
 ment of a commission, having the consideration of 
 these matters committed to them. As a part of the 
 history of the Convention, we give the "Memorial" 
 in full: 
 
 To the Bishops of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in Council 
 
 assembled. 
 Right Reverend Fathers : 
 
 Tlie undersigned, presbyters of tlie Church of which you 
 have the oversight, venture to approach your venerable body 
 with an expression of sentiment, which their estimate of your 
 office in relation to the times does not permit them to with- 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 189 
 
 hold. In so doing, they have confidence in your readiness to 
 appreciate their motives and their aims. The actual posture of 
 our Church w^ith reference to the great moral and social neces- 
 sities of the day, presents to the minds of the undersigned a 
 subject of grave and anxious thought. Did they suppose that 
 this was confined to themselves, they would not feel warranted 
 in submitting it to your attention ; but they believe it to be 
 participated in by many of their brethren, who may not have 
 seen the expediency of declaring their views, or at least a ma- 
 ture season for such a course. 
 
 The divided and distracted state of our American Protestant 
 Christianity, the new and subtle forms of unbelief adapting 
 themselves with fatal success to the spirit of the age, the con- 
 solidated forces of Romanism bearing with renewed skill and 
 activity against the Protestant faith, and as more or less the 
 consequence of these, the utter ignorance of the Gospel among 
 so large a portion of the lower classes of our population, mak- 
 ing a heathen world in our midst, are among the considera- 
 tions which induce your memorialists to present the inquiry 
 whether the period has not arrived for the adoption of mea- 
 sures, to meet these exigencies of the times, more compre- 
 hensive than any yet provided for by our present ecclesiastical 
 system : in other words, whether the Protestant Episcopal 
 Cliurch, with only her present canonical means and appliances, 
 her fixed and invariable modes of public worship, and her tra- 
 ditional customs and usages, is competent to the work of 
 preaching and dispensing the Gospel to all sorts and conditions 
 of men, and so adequate to do the work of the Lord in this land 
 and in this age ? This question, your petitioners, for their 
 own part, and in consonance with many thoughtful minds 
 among us, believe must be answered in the negative. Their 
 memorial proceeds on the assumption that our Church, confined 
 to the exercise of her present system, is not sufficient to the 
 great purposes above mentioned — that a wider door must be 
 opened for admission to the Gospel ministry than that through 
 which her candidates for holy orders are now obliged to enter. 
 Besides such candidates among her own members, it is believed 
 that men can be found among the other bodies of Christians 
 around us, who would gladly receive ordination at your hands, 
 could they obtain it, without that entire surrender which 
 
190 THE GENERAL CONVEX' TION 
 
 would now be required of tliem, of all tlie liberty in public 
 worship to wliicli they have been accustomed — men, who could 
 not bring themselv^es to conform in all particulars to our pre- 
 scriptions and customs, but yet sound in the faith, and who, 
 having the gifts of preachers and pastors, would be able minis- 
 ters of the New Testament. With deference it is asked, ought 
 such an accession to your means in executing your high com- 
 mission, " Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every 
 creature," be refused, for the sake of conformity in matters 
 recognized in the preface to the Book of Common Prayer, as 
 unessentials ? Dare we pray the Lord of the harvest to send 
 forth laborers into the harvest, while we reject all laborers but 
 those of one peculiar type ? The extension of orders to the 
 class of men contemplated (with whatever safeguards, not in- 
 fringing on evangelical freedom, which your wisdom might 
 deem expedient), appears to your petitioners to be a subject 
 supremely worthy of your deliberations. 
 
 In addition to the prospect of the immediate good which 
 would thus be opened, an important step would be taken to- 
 wards the effecting of a Church unity in the Protestant Chris- 
 tendom of our land. To become a central bond of union 
 among Christians, who, though differing in name, yet hold to 
 the one Faith, the one Lord, and the one Baptism, and who 
 need only such a bond to be drawn together in closer and more 
 primitive fellowship, is here believed to be the peculiar pro- 
 vince and high privilege of your venerable body as a College 
 of Catholic and Apostolic Bishops as such. 
 
 This leads your petitioners to declare the ultimate design of 
 their memorial — which is to submit the practicability under 
 your auspices, of gome ecclesiastical system, broader and more 
 comprehensive than that which you now administer, surround- 
 ing and including the Protestant Episcopal Church as it now 
 is, leaving that Church untouched, identical with that Church 
 in all its great principles, yet providing for as much freedom 
 in opinion, discipline and worship as is compatible with the 
 essential Faith and order of the Gospel. To define and act 
 upon such a system, it is believed, must sooner or later be the 
 work of an American Catholic Episcopate. 
 
 In justice to themselves on this occasion, your memorialists 
 beg leave to remark that, although aware that the foregoing 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 191 
 
 views are not confined to their own small number, tliey have 
 no reason to suppose that any other parties contemplate a pub- 
 lic expression of them, like the present. Having therefore 
 undertaken it, they trust that they have not laid themselves 
 open to the charge of unwarranted intrusion. They find their 
 warrant in the prayer now offered up by all our congregations, 
 " that the comfortable Gospel of Christ may be truly preached, 
 truly received, and truly followed, in all places to the breaking 
 down of the kingdom of Sin, Satan, and Death." Convinced 
 that, for the attainment of these blessed ends, there must be 
 some greater concert of action among Protestant Christians, 
 than any which yet exists, and believing that with you, Rt. 
 Rev'd Fathers, it rests to take the first measures tending 
 thereto, your petitioners could not do less than humbly submit 
 their memorial, to such consideration as in your wisdom you 
 may see fit to give it — Praying that it may not be dismissed 
 without reference to a Commission, and assuring you. Right 
 Reverend Fathers, of our dutiful veneration and esteem, 
 
 We are, most respectfully, your Brethren and Servants in 
 the Gospel of Christ, 
 
 W. A. Muhlenberg, C. F. Cruse, Philip Berry, Edwin 
 Harwood, G. T. Bedell, Henry Gregory, Alex. H. 
 Vinton, M. A. De Wolfe Howe, S. H. Turner, S. R. 
 Johnson, C. W. Andrews, and others. 
 
 New-York, October Uth, 1853. 
 
 Concurring in the main purport of the above memorial, and 
 believing that the necessities of the times call for some special 
 efforts to promote unity among Christians, and to enlarge for 
 that and other great ends the efficiency of the Protestant Epis- 
 copal Church, but not being able to adopt certain suggestions 
 of this memorial, the undersigned most heartily join in the 
 prayer that the subject may be referred to a commission of 
 your venerable body. 
 
 John Henry Hobart, A. Cleveland Coxe, Ed. Y. Higbee, 
 Francis Vinton, Isaac G. Hubbard, and others. 
 
192 THE GENERAL cipNVENTION 
 
 The Convention of the Diocese of New- York 
 
 liad instructed its deputies to the General Con- 
 vention 
 
 to bring before that body for consideration, the expediency 
 of a law of the Church General for securing the proper 
 administration of her discipline, without an undue or im- 
 proper interference with the rights of her ministers and 
 members as citizens to invoke the interposition of the civil 
 courts. 
 
 The joint committee, to which the whole sub- 
 ject in question was referred, presented the follow- 
 ing important report : 
 
 That they have duly considered the same, and deem it in- 
 expedient to legislate upon the subject. The great interest of 
 the question, and the action of the Diocese of New- York upon 
 it, which has been brought to the notice of the Committee, 
 induce them to lay before the Convention some of the principal 
 reasons which hare led to their conclusion. They find the 
 action of the civil tribunals throughout our country, with 
 scarcely an exception, in harmony with the lawful exercise of 
 every power necessary to enforce the disciphne of the Church. 
 They understand the established rule to be substantially this, 
 that such courts will in no case interfere with the proceedings 
 or sentences of ecclesiastical tribunals, except where a right 
 to property or to some civil privileges is brought in question ; 
 and then only to determine the existence of the jurisdiction 
 over the party and subject ; to ascertain that the proceedings 
 have been had upon reasonable notice to appear and defend, 
 and are unsustained by fraud. To such restrictions the duty 
 of every citizen binds him to submit, and the enlightened 
 conscience of every Christian must yield them approbation. 
 In the language of the judgment of the Court of Appeals of 
 South Carolina, "the structure of our Government has, for 
 the preservation of civil liberty, rescued the temporal institu- 
 tions from religious interference. On the other hand, it has 
 secured religious liberty from the invasion of the civil au- 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 193 
 
 thority. The judgments, therefore, of religious associations 
 bearing upon their own members are not examinable here." 
 
 Thus happily has the power of the State in our land moved 
 in its appropriate sphere, and the discipline of a Church in its 
 spiritual and peculiar office, been recognized and sustained. 
 To adopt any measure which would appear to deny, or even 
 doubt, the fidelity of the civil courts to these safe principles, 
 would be unwise and injurious. It would be deemed an 
 approach to the doctrine of papal supremacy, which demands 
 the obedience of all authority to its sway, and seeks to control 
 all civil rights as well as spiritual relations. That doctrine 
 called forth the formidable strength of monarclis and States 
 to promote the reformation of the faith; and the efforts which 
 broke the chain upon the religious mind, severed also the 
 fetters of universal allegiance to a usurped dominion. 
 
 The Committee are well aware of the great evils, labor, 
 and responsibility which an unrestricted and unsuccessful 
 application to the civil tribunals may impose upon individuals 
 in the discharge of their duty to the Church. The Committee 
 see no means of averting or mitigating these evils, but at the 
 risk of incurring others of a far deeper and more injurious 
 nature. Those who may be unhappily so involved, must be 
 left to the countenance and support of the Church ; and the 
 example furnished by the Diocese of New- York warrants the 
 belief that they will not be left alone in their labors or their 
 burthens. 
 
 The Committee recommend the adoption of the following 
 resolution : 
 
 Resolved, That it is inexpedient to pass any Canon, or take 
 any order in relation to any application by accused ministers 
 to the civil tribunals for interposition or redress. 
 
 Resolutions of respect for the memory of several 
 of the clergy at the South who " counted not their 
 lives dear unto themselves," but died at their posts 
 after faithful service in the midst of the pestilence, 
 were unanimously adopted. The presence of re- 
 presentatives of the venerable Society for the Pro- 
 pagation of the Gospel, and the Synod of th(^ 
 
19:1: THE GENEKAL CONVENTION 
 
 Diocese of Toronto, was appropriately noticed. The 
 Bishops were requested to initiate means which 
 should, with the blessing of God, lead to the increase 
 of the ministry, and to set forth a prayer therefor. 
 The preparation of an index to the whole series 
 of Journals was ordered. Bishop De Lancey's 
 resolution (seconded by Bishop Whittingham) 
 appointing a joint committee 
 
 to report to tlie next triennial General Convention, on the 
 expediency of arranging the existing dioceses and domestic 
 missionary jurisdictions, according to geographical position, 
 into provinces, having their several Provincial Conventions, and 
 united under a General Convention meeting at longer intervals, 
 and liaving exclusive control over the Constitution, Prayer 
 Book, Articles, Oflaces and Homilies of the Church, 
 
 was referred to the next Convention. 
 
 After a day's delay in the time of the adjourn- 
 ment, occasioned by the unwillingness of the 
 House of Bishops to admit the principle that a 
 presbyter removing into a diocese must necessarily 
 be received if bringing clean letters dimissory, it 
 was discovered that a canon to that effect had been 
 adopted at the previous Convention through the 
 neglect of the Bishops to return it to the Lower 
 House, with their reasons for rejectiixg it, within 
 the constitutional " three days."* 
 
 * It should he ohserved in this connection that this canon, as 
 amended, was passed by the House of Deputies on the 13th, 
 i. e., the lad day of the session, and was communicated to 
 the House of Bishops on the afternoon of the same day, and 
 laid upon the table. This fact proves that the phrase " within 
 three days " of the Constitution does not necessarily require 
 that there shall be three days' session subsequent to action re- 
 ported to the House of Bishops to make this constitutional 
 provision operative 
 
OF THE AMEKICAN CHURCH. 195 
 
 The report of the Committee of Conference, 
 which was accepted by both Houses, establishing 
 this interpretation of a disputed point, we give in 
 full: 
 
 The Joint Committee of Conference having traced through 
 the Journal of the General Convention of 1850, the Canon " of 
 Ministers removing from one Diocese to another," find that 
 Canon to have been deliberately discussed in both Houses 
 and by a Committee of Conference between the two Houses, 
 and to have been so amended as to contain the provisions now 
 incorporated into the Canon proposed as a substitute for the 
 Canon XXX. of 1832, by the House of Clerical and Lay Depu- 
 ties, and, as so amended, to have been passed as a substantive 
 act by the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, duly communi- 
 cated by message to the House of Bishops, and not sub- 
 sequently acted on by that House, and thereby, by the terms 
 of Article HI. of the Constitution, to have acquired the force 
 of law in the Church, but, by a failure of the secretary to 
 notice this fact, not to have been numbered and placed among 
 the Canons of that General Convention. 
 
 They therefore recommend that the Canon so passed be 
 printed in its proper place as Canon VII. of 1850. 
 
 And, inasmuch as the principle of the Canon now proposed 
 by the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies in the substitute 
 for Canon XXX. of 1832, has already the force of law in this 
 Church, they recommend to the House of Bishops that they 
 do concur in the said Canon as passed by the other House. 
 
 John H. Hopkins, 
 Chairman of GorrCtee of the House of Bishops. 
 Ch. Hanckel, 
 Chairman of Com' tee of the Home of Clerical and Lay Deputies. 
 
 Three amendments to the Constitution were 
 proposed : I., to Article 2, requiring lay deputies 
 to be communicants and residents of the diocese ; 
 II., to Article 5, removing restrictions on the 
 
196 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 division of dioceses ; and III., to Article 6, pro- 
 viding for an uniform mode of trial. 
 
 The Appendix to the Journal contains several 
 important papers, among them the majority and 
 minority reports on the Judiciary System of the 
 Church ; a proposed Canon of Appeals ; Canon of 
 the Penal Law of the Church ; and the letters of 
 Consecration of the Bishops, from Seabury to 
 Scott. 
 
 The names of sixteen hundred and iifty-une 
 clergymen appear on the clergy list. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 197 
 
 THE co:^ryE]S'TioN of isse. 
 
 In 1856 the Convention met in St. Luke's 
 Church, Philadelphia, from October 1st to October 
 21st, inclusive. All but two of the thirty-four Bish- 
 ops were in attendance, Bishop Brownell presiding 
 in the House of Bishops. One hundred and thirty- 
 two clerical and one hundred and thirty-iive lay 
 deputies composed the lower House. The Presi- 
 dent and Secretary of the last Convention were re- 
 elected. The diocese of California was admitted 
 into union. The discussion on the " memorial " 
 question was settled by the adoption of the follow- 
 ing preamble and resolutions by the House of Bish- 
 ops, and by the appointment of a Committee on 
 Church Unity. • 
 
 Whereas, The use of tlie Book of Common Prayer, as regu- 
 lated by custom, has special reference to established parish 
 Churches, and to a population already incorporated with the 
 Church. 
 
 And Whereas, Our actual work is, or should be, among 
 many not yet connected with our congregations, or where 
 there are no established parishes, and where said parishes are 
 yet in their infancy. 
 
 And Wiereas, There are or may be in different dioceses, 
 peculiar emergencies arising out of the character or condition 
 of certain portions of the population, which demand some 
 special services. 
 
 And Whereas, The Book of Common Prayer should be so 
 used as most effectively to cherish true devotion, and set forth 
 
198 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 the Gospel and work of Christ, and contribute to the extension 
 of his kingdom among men. 
 
 And Whereas, The House of Bishops have heretofore ex- 
 pressed opinions as to usages which may be allowed under ex- 
 isting rubrics and Canons ; therefore 
 
 Resolved, as the opinion of the Bishops,^ 
 
 1. That the order of Morning Prayer, the Litany, and the 
 Cbmniunion Service, being separate offices, may, as in former 
 times, be used separately, under the advice of the Bishop of 
 the diocese, 
 
 2. That on special occasions, or at extraordinary services, 
 not otherwise provided for, ministers may, at their discretion, 
 use such part of the Book of Common Prayer, and such les- 
 son or lessons from Holy Scripture, as shall, in their judgment, 
 tend most to edification. 
 
 3. That the Bishops of the several Dioceses may provide 
 such special services as in their judgment shall be required by 
 the peculiar spiritual necessities of any class or portion of the 
 population within said dioceses, provided that such services 
 shall not take the place of the services or offices of the Book 
 of Common Prayer in congregations capable of its use. 
 
 4. That in view of the desirableness of union amongst 
 Christians ; and as a pledge of a willingness to communicate 
 and receive information tending to that end ; and in order to 
 conference, if (^icasion or opportunity should occur, this House 
 will appoint, by ballot, a committee of five Bishops as an 
 organ of communication or conference, with such Christian 
 bodies or individuals as may desire it, to be entitled the Cmn- 
 mission on Church Unity. 
 
 5. That in making the above appointment, it is distinctly 
 understood that the Commission is clothed with no authority 
 to mature plans of union with other Christian bodies, or to 
 propound expositions of doctrine and discipline. 
 
 Bishops Brownell, Hopkins, Mcllvaine, Elliott, 
 and Burgess were appointed on the Commission 
 provided in the above resolutions. 
 
 Measures were taken to secure the preparation 
 of an authorized " Tune-Book," " with a preface 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 199 
 
 containing suggestions as to the best means of pro- 
 moting a more simple, devotional, and general uni- 
 form singing of the praises of Almighty God in 
 our congregations." A Canon '' On Episcopal Kesi- 
 dence" had " the operation of law" by failure of 
 the House of Bishops to signify their approval or 
 refusal thereof with reasons within three days. A 
 memorial from the Church of the Advent in Bos- 
 ton, Mass., occasioned the passage of a Canon 
 " Of Episcopal Visitations." Other Canons enacted 
 at this session are — Of Episcopal Eesidence ; Of 
 Candidates for Orders ; Of Deacons ; Of the Ordi- 
 nation of Priests ; Of Clerical Eesidence and Ke- 
 moval ; Of the Election and Institution of Minis- 
 ters into Parishes or Churches ; Of Expenses ; of 
 Election of a Missionary Bishop to a Diocesan 
 Epicopate ; Of Missionary Bishops within the 
 United States ; Of the Trial of a Bishop. The 
 amendments to Art. 2 and Art. 5 of the Constitu- 
 tion, proposed at the last Convention, were ratified. 
 The proposed amendment of Art. 6 was rejected. 
 Amendments to Articles 3 and 4 were adopted, 
 subject to confirmation at the next session. An 
 elaborate series of canons of discipline, reported by 
 the special joint committee on the judicial system 
 of the Church, a committee composed of Bishops 
 Whittingham, Ilpfold and De Lancey, Drs. Cooper 
 Mead, Stevens, A. H. Yinton and Higbee, and 
 Hugh Davey Evans, LL.D., Ezekiel F. Chambers, 
 LL.D., and Murray Hoifman, LL.D., failed of en- 
 actment, after long discussion. A Canon providing 
 for the settlement of differences arising between a 
 Bishop and a parish within hk diocese, by a council 
 
200 THE GENERA T- CONVENTION 
 
 of neighboring Bishops, was reierred to the next 
 Convention. The Bisnops appointed a committee 
 on Church Music ; and both Houses united in the 
 assignment to a joint committee, of the subject of 
 friendly intercourse with the Church of Sweden. 
 A joint committee was instructed to prepare a digest 
 of the Canons of the Church, and other committees 
 were appointed on the Foreign Missionary Work of 
 the Church, and on a Spanish Prayer Book. An act 
 of remission, relieving the Bishop of Pennsylvania, 
 Dr. H. TJ. Onderdonk, from suspension, was pass- 
 ed by the Bishops in council and afterwards enter- 
 ed on the Journal of the House as follows : 
 
 To all the members of the Holy Catliolic and Reformed 
 Church of Christ, throughout the world : 
 
 Grace, mercy, and peace, in Jesus Christ our Lord. We, 
 the Bishops of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United 
 States of America, having duly considered the application of 
 Henry Ustick Onderdonk, Doctor of Divinity, and Bishop of 
 the said Church, to be relieved from the sentence of suspen- 
 sion, passed upon him by the House of Bishops, assembled in 
 General Convention, at Philadelphia, October 21st, in the year 
 of our Lord 1844, and being satisfied by the evidence laid be- 
 fore us, that he has led, during the twelve years which have 
 elapsed since the said sentence was pronounced, a sober, godly, 
 and blameless life, and that the general mind of the Church, 
 so far as it could be ascertained from the memorials addressed 
 to us by a large number of the clerical and lay deputies of 
 the General Convention, now in session, and others, earnestly 
 desires that the said sentence should be remitted in accordance 
 with the said application ; have therefore decreed, in pur- 
 suance of our Canonical power and discretion, as follows, viz. : 
 That the said Henry Ustick Onderdonk, Doctor of Divinity, 
 and Bishop as aforesaid, be relieved from the said sentence of 
 suspension, and that he stand before the Church restored to 
 his proper functions in the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, 
 according to the Canons, with full power and liberty to exer- 
 cise the Fame. 
 
OF THE A>1EKi.CAN CHURCH. 201 
 
 In witness whereof, w ; \va\\^ Hereunto set our hands, in 
 General Convention, at liie Ciiurch of St. Luke, in the 
 city of Philadelphia, this 21st day of October, a.d. 1856. 
 Signed by Bishops Hopkins, Otey, Kemper, McCoskry, Polk, 
 De Lansey, Whittingham, Elliott, Lee, Cobbs, Hawks, Free- 
 man, A. Potter, Upfold, Williams, Atkinson, Scott, Lee, H. 
 Potter, and Clark, 
 
 The nomination of Rev. Dr. Jacob L. Clark, 
 of Connecticut, to the Episcopate of Nebraska 
 and Kansas, failed of coniirmation in the House of 
 Deputies., The resolution respecting the adoption 
 of the provincial system was indefinitely postponed 
 by the Bishops, who also negatived a proposition 
 to limit the term of the presidency of the senior 
 Bishops. The republication of previous Journals 
 was again voted, and a Committee of Bishops ap- 
 pointed to revise the " Course of Ecclesiastical 
 Study." In the House of Deputies a decision of 
 the chair that a' question lost by non-concurrence 
 of orders was not "determined in the negative," 
 and could be presented essentially in an altered 
 form, w^as sustained, an appeal from the decision 
 being laid on the table. 
 
 In the House of Bishops, the resignation of 
 jurisdiction by the Bishop of Illinois was refused. 
 An interesting correspondence between a commis- 
 sion of American Bishops and the Archbishop of 
 Canterbury, respecting Episcopal jurisdiction in 
 China, is printed in the Appendix. Eighteen hun- 
 dred and twenty-eight clergy are reported in thirty- 
 one dioceses, and, with those in missipiiary juris- 
 dictions, made the number eighteen hundred and 
 forty-three. 
 
202 THE GENERAL OOlsVKJsTIOX 
 
 THE CONYENTION OF 1859. 
 
 In 1859, the General Convention met in St. 
 Paul's Church, Eichniond, Ya., continuing in ses- 
 sion from October 5th to October 22d, inclusive. 
 Thirty-six Bishops were present; the presiding 
 Bishop, Eight Eev. Dr. Brownell, and the Bishop 
 of California being the only absentees. The Bishop 
 of Virginia presided in the House of Bishops. In 
 the lower House, one hundred and thirty-one 
 clerical and one hundred and six lay deputies were 
 in attendance. The officers of the last session were 
 re-elected. Minnesota and Kansas were admitted 
 into union with the Convention. The Episcopate 
 of the American Church was at length made co- 
 extensive with the boundaries of the United States 
 by the election of the Eev. Dr. Talbot as Mission- 
 ary Bishop of Nebraska and tlie Korth-west, the 
 Eev. Dr. J. L. Clark, who had been iirst chosen, 
 having declined ; and the Eev. Dr. Lay to the Mis- 
 sionary Episcopate to the South-west ; and at this 
 evidence that God had been with his Church till 
 she had Ulled the land from shore to shore, the vast 
 assembly of deputies and spectators sought expres- 
 sion of their thankfulness in the spontaneous burst 
 of song in the Gloria in JExcelsis Deo, A lay 
 committee of one from each diocese, designed to 
 bring out more fully to the service and glory of 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCn. 203 
 
 God the latent strength among the laity of the 
 Church, was formed, and initiated results with 
 which the Church is still being blessed. The set- 
 tlement of differences between clergymen and 
 their parishes ; the provision against clerical intru- 
 sion ; the recognition of churches of our com- 
 munion abroad ; the consecration of Bishops during 
 the recess of General Convention ; the appoint- 
 ment of standing committees in missionary juris- 
 dictions ; the abandonment of the ministry by a 
 Bishop, and by a presbyter ; the vacancy in a 
 Missionary Episcopate; letters of transfer; the 
 trial of ministers under the jurisdiction of For- 
 eign Missionary Bishops, and several provisions 
 respecting the repeal, amendment, enactment, and 
 taking effect of new Canons, and of notices or 
 citation, were subjects of canonical enactments. 
 The defeat of the plan proposed for a court of ap- 
 peals was so decisive, that the question has hardly 
 been mooted on the floor of the Convention since. 
 The body of Canons, as digested and compactly 
 codified, was adopted, and thus made available for 
 easy reference and use. A committee was appoint- 
 ed to secure the republication of the early Journals 
 of the Convention with historical notes. The resis:- 
 nation of the Missionary Episcopate of the North- 
 west by the venerable Kemper, now full of years 
 and full of labors, was accouipanied by the expres- 
 sion by both Houses of the Church's gratitude and 
 love. Joint committees were appointed to devise 
 a plan for the creation of a Church Building Fund 
 for assisting feeble parishes and mission stations ; 
 
204 THE GENEKAL CONVENTION 
 
 on Metrical Psalmody and Hymnody ; on Spanish 
 and Portuguese versions of the Prayer Book ; while 
 a Commission of Bishops liad committed to its 
 care the subject of opening communication with 
 sister and foreign Churches. It was resolved 
 '' that the clerical and lay deputies from the diocese 
 in which the General Convention is to hold its 
 session, be a committee to make all the arrange- 
 ments necessary therefor." " The great subject of 
 the Christian education of the youth of our Church, 
 as well in the family as in our Church schools and 
 colleges," was referred as a " special matter of in- 
 terest," to the consideration of the Committee of 
 the Laity. The action of the House of Bishops 
 touching the " Memorial " question, gave rise to 
 animated discussion in the House of Deputies, it 
 being alleged that these resolutions of the Bishops 
 had " disturbed the uniformity of worship," and 
 had been received " as lawful authority for deviat- 
 ing from the Eubric." It was further urged that 
 such changes could not be lawfully made, save by 
 joint action of both Houses, and in the manner 
 prescribed by the Constitution. A special com- 
 mittee, of which the celebrated canonist Dr. Fran- 
 cis L. Hawks was chairman, pronounced the action 
 of the Bishops " an exercise of legislative authority" 
 and "an infringement of the privileges of the 
 House" of Deputies. Finally, action was taken in 
 the following form : 
 
 Whereas, The preamble and resolutions adopted by the 
 House of Bishops on the 18th day of the last session of the 
 General Convention, in relation to the use of the Book of Com- 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 205 
 
 mon Prayer, and published in the Journal of the said Conven- 
 tion, have disturbed the minds of many in our Church, creat- 
 ing doubts both as to the effect of said preamble and resolu- 
 tions, and as to the constitutionality of the mode in which 
 they were adopted and published ; therefore 
 
 Resohed, That the House of Bishops is hereby respectfully 
 requested to reconsider the said preamble and resolutions, and 
 to throw the subject-matter into such shape as will admit of 
 the joint action of both Houses of this Convention. 
 
 In response to this, the House of Bishops 
 
 Resolved, That the action of the Bishops at the Convention 
 of 1856 on the subject indicated in the resolution of the House 
 of Clerical and Lay Deputies, having been preceded by the de- 
 liberations of a commission appointed at the Convention of 
 1853, and also by much deliberation and discussion in the 
 House of Bishops at both Conventions, the House of Bishops 
 are not prepared at this very late hour of the session to take 
 any action which may seem to involve the reconsideration of 
 their former action. 
 
 The proposed amendments to Articles 3 and 4 
 of the Constitution were not ratified. At this Con- 
 vention the Bishop of Maine presented to the 
 House of Bishops ''a catalogue, in chronological 
 order, of all persons admitted to Deacons' Orders 
 by the Bishops of this Church, since the introduc- 
 tion of the Episcopate." The Commission on 
 Church Unity was continued. The Committee on 
 the Course of Theological Study was also continued. 
 The Bishop of Illinois was unanimously requested 
 and advised by the House of Bishops " to transfer, 
 as speedily as may be, the residence of his family 
 to Illinois." The publication of a " Tune-Book " 
 was reported to the Bishops, and the committee 
 
206 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 thereon continued. The following: resohitions were 
 
 t) 
 
 adopted by concurrent vote : 
 
 Besolved, That it is tlie duty of every member of tlie Church 
 to consecrate a definite percentage of his income to the ad- 
 vancement of the cause of our Lord and Saviour. '* 
 
 Resolved, That systematic and frequent offerings by persons 
 and parishes, according to tlieir ability, must be mainly relied 
 upon, under the Divine blessing, for the enlargement of the 
 benevolent operations of the Church. 
 
 Besolved, That it be recommended to all clergymen in charge 
 of parishes, to bring their flocks as near as practicable to com- 
 pliance with the spirit of the apostolic direction of the Church 
 of Corinth — " Upon the first day of the week let every one of 
 you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered Mm." And that 
 to this end the clergy bring the subject especially to the atten- 
 tion of the people, some time during the Advent season of each 
 year. 
 
 The unanimous concurrence of the Bishops in 
 these resolutions was accompanied with a request 
 that the clergy should read them to their congrega- 
 tions. The parochial clergy were also requested by 
 the House of Deputies "to bring the Church's 
 pressing need of additional laborers before their 
 respective congregations, especially in the Ember 
 seasons" ; to solicit offerings for the education of 
 candidates, and to urge " a more liberal and effect- 
 ive patronage" of the training schools and col- 
 leges of the Church. In the House of Bishops the 
 following action w^as taken relating to the subject 
 of Church music : 
 
 Resolved, That in the opinion of the House of Bishops there 
 is very much in the prevailing manner of conducting those 
 parts of our public worship which require the aid of sacred 
 music, to which the serious attention of the clergy and their 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 207 
 
 congregations sliould be directed — as not only not promotive 
 of a devout spirit, but very injurious thereto ; as directly cal- 
 culated to nurture a lifeless formality by making the congre- 
 gation mere passive listeners to musical sounds, confined to 
 choirs, in the formation of which there is often little reference 
 to fitness of personal character ; as virtually depriving the 
 congregation of their proper privilege of uniting with their 
 voices in the worship of the Church when its words are sung 
 as well as when only read ; as impairing the beautiful sim- 
 plicity of our public worship, and thus rendering it, in the 
 parts referred to, unadapted to the greater number of our 
 people, and so taking therefrom one of its chief excellencies, 
 2is\>eii\g Common Prayer, accommodated to all conditions of 
 Christian people ; as causing, moreover, a needless delay and 
 interruption of our Morning and Evening Prayer, by the intro- 
 duction of music, especially such as is merely instrumental, 
 which unprofitably and needlessly abridges the time allotted to 
 the preaching of the Word, and, by fatiguing the hearers, 
 both in body and mind, interferes with their ability rightly to 
 receive the same ; and lastly, as creating in all these particu- 
 lars an infiuence which, in our opinion, is decidedly counter- 
 active of the proper work of God's Church, as his appointed 
 instrument of cherishing and promoting his worship in spirit 
 and in truth. 
 
 Resolved, That in the opinion of the House of Bishops, the 
 evils referred to proceed chiefly from the following causes, 
 namely : First, from an oversight of the principle that the 
 object of Church music is not the gratification of a cultivated 
 musical taste, but by the aid of simple and appropriate music, 
 to cultivate devout affections among all classes of worshipping 
 people, and to enable them to commune with one another in 
 the united and animated expression of the same. 
 
 Secondly, from the selection by organists and choirs of such 
 tunes and chants as, on account of their not being sufficiently 
 familiar to the congregation, or from their want of due sim- 
 plicity, the congregation can not be expected to unite in singing. 
 Thirdly, from the use of musical compositions, especially 
 such as are called chants, which require too much time in the 
 performance, and also from the introduction of voluntaries on 
 the organ, before the chants, and between the verses of psalms 
 
208 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 and hymns, which, having no value hut as exhibitions of in- 
 strumental music, are wearying to the congregation. 
 
 Lastly, from the extent to which the control of this part of 
 the worship of the Church is virtually taken out of the hands 
 of the rectory of parishes, where alone the Church law has 
 placed it, and is exercised by committees and vestries, and 
 chiefly by organists and choirs. 
 
 Mesolved, That in the opinion of the House of Bishops there 
 can be no material improvement of our public worship in the 
 particulars mentioned, except as each Parish Minister shall 
 perform the duty assigned him by the law of this Church, 
 which, in the words of the Rubric, is that " with such assist- 
 ance as he can obtain from persons skilled in music, he shall 
 give order concerning the tunes to be sung at any time in his 
 church, and especially shall suppress all light and unseemly 
 music, and all indecency and irreverence in the performance." 
 
 Resolved, That it be recommended to all the pastors of our 
 churches, that they endeavor by all suitable measures to pro- 
 mote a general participation of their people, by voice, in those 
 parts of our worship which are sung, as well as those which 
 are not. 
 
 Resolved, That in the opinion of the House of Bishops, it is 
 particularly incumbent on the rectors in our larger and older 
 cities, to see that the music of their churches be so conducted 
 as to afford a wholesome example to those in our humbler and 
 younger congregations, who naturally look to such sources for 
 guidance in matters of external order and expediency. 
 
 An important report of tlie '^ Typographical 
 Corrector," with reference to errors existing in 
 printed copies of the Holy Scriptnres, appears in 
 the Appendix to the Journal. 
 
 Over two thousand clergy were now reported, 
 and at none of our triennial gatherings has there 
 been a moi-e marked hospitality, a more generous 
 and large-souled remembrance that all were breth- 
 ren, and a more hearty devotion to the Church of 
 God. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHUKCH. 209 
 
 THE CONVENTION OF 1862. 
 
 The Convention of 1862 met in St. John's Chap- 
 el, in the city of New- York, in troublous times. 
 Its session continued from October 1st to the ITth, 
 inclusive. But twenty-four Bishops and twenty-two 
 dioceses were represented. The House of Deputies 
 contained but eighty-two clerical and sixty-three lay 
 members. Bishop Brownell, the senior Bishop, be- 
 ing detained by illness, Bishop Hopkins presided in 
 the House of Bishops. The Kev. Dr. Craik, of 
 Kentucky, was elected President of the lower 
 House, and the Eev. Dr. Kandall (Dr. Howe having 
 declined a re-election). Secretary, wdth the Kev. Dr. 
 Clarkson as his assistant. The introduction of re- 
 solutions, having reference to the disturbed state of 
 the country, occasioned lengthy debate and absorbed 
 the greater part of the time of this session. The 
 action finally taken was the adoption of the resolu- 
 tions reported by the " Committee of Nine," as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 Resolved, By tlie House of Clerical and Lay Deputies of tins 
 stated Triennial Convention, That, assembling, as we have 
 been called to do, at a period of great national peril and deplo- 
 rable civil convulsion, it is meet and proper that we should 
 call to mind, distinctly and publicly, that the Protestant Epis- 
 copal Church in the United States hath ever held and taught, 
 in the language of one of its Articles of Religion, that 'Mt is 
 the duty of all men who are professors of the Gospel to pay 
 
210 THE GENE HAL CONVENTION 
 
 respectful obedience to the civil autliority, regularly and legi- 
 timately constituted ;" and hath accordingly incorporated into 
 its Liturgy " a prayer for the President of the United States 
 and all in civil authority," and "a prayer for the Congress of 
 the United States, to be used during their session ;" and hath 
 bound all orders of its ministry to the faithful and constant 
 observance, in letter and in spirit, of these and all other parts 
 of its prescribed ritual. 
 
 Besolved, That we can not be wholly blind to the course which 
 has been pursued, in their ecclesiastical as well as in their civil 
 relations, since this Convention last met in perfect harmony 
 and love, by great numbers of the ministers and members of 
 this Church, within certain States of our Union which have ar- 
 rayed themselves in open and armed resistance to the regularly 
 constituted government of our country ; and that while, in a 
 spirit of Christian forbearance, we refrain from employing to- 
 ward them any terms of condemnation or reproach, and would 
 rather bow in humiliation before our common Father in Heaven 
 for the sins which have brought his judgment on our land, 
 we yet feel bound to declare our solemn sense of the deep and 
 grievous wrong which they will have inflicted on the great 
 Christian Communion which this Convention represents, as 
 well as on the country within which it has been so happily and 
 harmoniously established, should they persevere in striving to 
 rend asunder those civil and religious bonds which have so long 
 held us together in peace, unity, and concord. 
 
 Besolved, That while, as individuals and as citizens, we ac- 
 knowledge our whole duty in sustaining and defending our 
 country in the great struggle in which it is engaged, we are 
 only at liberty, as deputies to this Council of a Church which 
 hath ever renounced all political association and action, to 
 pledge to the national government — as we now do — the earnest 
 and devout prayers of us all, that its efforts may be so guided 
 by wisdom and replenished with strength, that they may be 
 crowned with speedy and complete success, to the glory of 
 God and the restoration of our beloved Union, 
 
 Resolved, That if, in the judgment of the Bishops, any other 
 forms of occasional prayer than those already set forth shall 
 seem desirable and appropriate, — whether for our Convention, 
 our Church, or our country, for our rulers or our defenders, 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 211 
 
 or for the sick and wounded and dying of our army and navy 
 and volunteers, — we shall gladly receive them and fervently 
 use them. 
 
 Resolved, That a certified copy of the foregoing report and 
 resolutions be transmitted to the House of Bishops, in evidence 
 of the views and feelings of this body in reference to the 
 afflicting condition of our Church and of our country. 
 
 Both Houses, at tlie instance of the House of 
 Bishops, observed " a day of fasting, liumiliation, 
 and prayer," in view " of the present afflictive con- 
 dition of the country." The following was the 
 
 OIIDER OF PUBLIC WORSHIP 
 
 For Wednesday, the Sih day of October, 1SQ2, at 11 o'clock in 
 the morning, in Trinity Church, New- York. 
 
 Morning Prayer as set forth, except as follows : 
 
 Instead of the Venite shall be sung the 130th Psalm. 
 
 The Lessons shall be Isaiah 59 and Luke 6, from the 20th 
 verse. 
 
 Psalms for the 8th day, Morning Prayer. 
 
 After the 2d Lesson The Benedict us. 
 
 To the suffrage in the Litany for " unity, peace, and concord 
 among all nations," shall be added,— "awtZ especially to this 
 nation noio afflicted by grievous war. " 
 
 Immediately after the General Thanksgiving shall be said 
 the following : 
 
 Almighty and most Holy Lord our God, who dost command 
 us to humble ourselves under Thy Almighty hand that thou 
 mayest exalt us in due time, we, Thy unworthy servants, desire 
 most humbly to confess before Thee, in this the time of sore 
 affliction in our land, how deeply as a nation we deserve Thy 
 wrath. In the great calamities which in Thy righteous Provi- 
 dence have come upon us, we acknowledge and bow down our 
 souls under the Mighty Hand of our Holy and Merciful God 
 and Father. Manifold are our sins and transgressions, and the 
 more sinful l^ecause of the abundance of our privilege and 
 mercies under Thy Providence and Grace. In pride and living 
 unto ourselves ; in covetousness and all worldliness of mind ; 
 
212 THE GENERAL CONVENTIOX 
 
 in self-sufl&ciency and independence ; in glorying in our own 
 wisdom, and riches, and strength, instead of glorying only 
 in Thee ; in making our boast of Thy unmerited blessings, as 
 if our own might and wisdom had gotten them, instead of ac- 
 knowledging Thee in all and seeking first Thy Kingdom and 
 Righteousness ; in profaneness of speech and ungodliness of 
 life ; in polluting thy Sabbaths and receiving in vain Thy 
 Grace in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, we acknowledge, 
 Lord, that as a nation and people we have grievously sinned 
 against Thy Divine Majesty, provoking most justly Thy wrath 
 and indignation against us. Righteousness belongeth unto 
 Thee ; but unto us confusion of face. Because Thy compas- 
 sions have not failed, therefore we are not consumed. Make us 
 earnestly to repent And heartily to be sorry for these our mis- 
 doings. May the remembrance of them be grievous unto us. 
 Turn unto Thee, O Lord, the hearts of all this people, in hu- 
 miliation and prayer, that Thou mayest have compassion upon 
 us and deliver us. When Thy judgments are thus upon us, 
 may the inhabitants of the land learn righteousness. Have 
 mercy upon us, have mercy upon us, most Merciful Father. 
 For Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ's sake, forgive us all that 
 is past, and grant that we. may ever hereafter serve and please 
 Thee in newness of life, to the Honor and Glory of Thy name. 
 We beseech Thee so to sanctify unto us our present distresses, 
 and so to make haste to deliver us, that war shall be no more 
 in all our borders, and that all opposition to the lawful govern- 
 ment of the land shall utterly cease. May our brethren who 
 seek the dismemberment of our National Union, under which 
 this people by Thy Providence have been so signally prospered 
 and blessed, be convinced of their error and restored to a bet- 
 ter mind. Grant that all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and 
 malice, may be put away from them and us, and that brotherly 
 love and fellowship may be established among us to all gene- 
 rations. Thus may the land bring forth her increase, under 
 the blessings of peace, and Thy people serve Thee in all godly 
 quietness, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 Grjint, Lord, we beseech Thee, to all such as are intrusted 
 with the government and protection of this Nation, Thy most 
 gracious support and guidance. Graft in their hearts a deep 
 Bcnie of dependence on Thy wisdom, and power, and favor, 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH 213 
 
 and incline them with all humility to seek the same. In all 
 their ways may they dutifully acknowledge Thee, that Thou 
 mayest direct their steps. Make Thy word to be their light, 
 their service, their glory, and Thine arm their strength. Fur- 
 ther them with Thy continual help, that in all their works be- 
 gun, continued, and ended, they may glorify Thy holy Name. 
 Under their heavy burdens and trials, be Thou their chosen 
 refuge and consolation. By their counsels and measures, under 
 Thy blessing, may the wounds of the nation be speedily heal- 
 ed. For those, our brethren, who have gone forth for our de- 
 fense, by land and water, we seek Thy most gracious blessing 
 and protection. In every duty and danger be their present help. 
 In all privations and sufferings, give them patience and resigna- 
 tion, and a heart to seek their comfort in Thee. May they be 
 strong in the Lord and in the Power of his Might, hating ini- 
 quity, fearing God, and obeying Thy word. Give them success 
 in every enterprise that shall be pleasing to Thee. Visit with 
 Thy salvation the sick, the wounded, the prisoner, and all such 
 as shall be bereaved of dear relatives and friends, by reason of 
 the present calamities. Prepare to meet Thee all those who 
 shall die in this conflict ; give them repentance unto life and a 
 saving faith in Jesus, that they may be received unto Thyself ; 
 and at last unite us all together in the blessedness of Thy 
 everlasting Kingdom, through Him who liveth and reigneth 
 with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without 
 end. Amen. 
 
 Let Thy continual pity, O Lord, cleanse and defend Thy 
 Church ; and in these days of sore trial to Thy people, raise 
 up Thy great power and come among us, and with great might 
 succor us. Grant that by the operation of the Holy Ghost all 
 Christians may be so joined together in unity of spirit and in 
 the bond of peace, that they may be a holy temple, acceptable 
 unto Thee. May all councils of dissension and division be 
 brought to nought. Increase our faith, and love, and zeal in 
 Thy service, and for the coming of Thy Kingdom. Make the 
 whole Church a light in the world, and the more her afflictions 
 abound, the more may her consolations also abound by Christ, 
 to the praise and glory of His name. Ainen. 
 
 After Morning Prayer shall be sung the 101st selection of 
 Psalms. 
 
214 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 Then eliall follow the Collect with the Beveral Prayers fol- 
 lowing the same, and the Epistle and Gospel for Ash Wednes- 
 day ; after which the 80th hymn. 
 
 Before the Benediction shall be said the following : 
 O Eternal God, who makest men to be of one mind in a 
 house, and stillest the angry passions of the people, we humbly 
 beseech Thee of Thine infinite mercy to appease the tumults 
 among us, to bring to an end the dreadful strife which is now 
 raging in our land, and to restore peace in our afflicted coun- 
 try. And we most humbly beseech Thee to grant to all of us 
 grace to walk henceforth obediently in Thy Holy Command- 
 ments, so that, leading a quiet and peaceable life in all godli- 
 ness and honesty, we may continually offer unto Thee our sac- 
 rifice of praise and thanksgiving ; and we beseech Thee, also, 
 O Righteous Father, to whom it justly belongeth to punish 
 sinners, and to be merciful to those who truly repent, give us 
 grace humbly to acknowledge that our grievous sins have 
 brought these Thy sore judgments upon us. Be not angry with 
 ns forever ; but help us so truly to repent us of our sins, that 
 we may be saved from the fruits of our wickedness, that Thy 
 displeasure may be removed from us, and that we may again 
 with thankful hearts glorify Thee, the only giver of peace and 
 safety, through the merits of Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 Amen. 
 
 The alms offered at this solemn service were 
 devoted to purposes of the " Sanitary Commis- 
 sion." 
 
 The Committee on Ilymnodv were instructed 
 to prepare and report to the next Convention " a 
 body of additional hynms," as well as to revise the 
 Psalms and Ilymns in use. Committees were ap- 
 pointed to consider " the expediency of holding 
 communication with the Russo-Greek Church," 
 and " on the Special Services in the Prayer Book " 
 (section 14, of Canon 13, and Canon 20 of Title I. 
 of the Digest). The House of Bishops appointed 
 
 I 
 
OF THE amp:kican chukch. 215 
 
 a Comraittee " on Organizing the Services of Chris- 
 tian Women." 
 
 The resignation of the Missionary Bishop of Ore- 
 gon was not accepted. The Committee on the 
 State of the Church reported '' an increased atten- 
 tion to the subject of Christian education." The 
 House of Deputies, agreeably to its uniform prac- 
 tice, refused to allow a "protest" against its action 
 to be entered upon the Journal of the Houses. The 
 " Typographical Corrector " reported that 
 
 A Bible wliicli, witli tlie reinsertion of the omitted references 
 to the Apocrypha, should make the Oxford Quarto Edition of 
 1852 its model, would present as perfect an edition of the Holy 
 Scriptures as human art or skill in the present day could 
 effect. 
 
 The Church Building Committee was discharged 
 "in view of the present condition of monetary affairs." 
 At the request of the respective Diocesan Conven- 
 tions, the boundaries of the Diocese of Kansas were 
 changed to conform with those of the State, and a 
 parish in Massachusetts transferred to the Diocese 
 of Rhode Island. In the latter case, the Committee 
 on Canons presented the following report : 
 
 This Committee abstain from considering the question 
 whether, in strictness, the General Convention has any autho- 
 rity or jurisdiction upon the subject. The matter is, however, 
 submitted by the two Diocesan Conventions concerned, and it 
 is within our province, as well as respectful to those bodies, to 
 express the opinion and give the advice requested. 
 
 Historically considered, it may be taken as nearly invariable 
 in point of fact that the limits of a Diocese are coextensive 
 with the territorial limits of a State, or of some fixed geogra- 
 phical division thereof. In the first, second, fourth, sixth and 
 ninth articles of the Constitution, prior to 1838, the word 
 
216 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 *' State" was used where tlie word " Diocese" now occurs, and 
 tlie fifth article contained only the first paragraph of the present 
 article without the word " Territory." In 1838, that word was 
 inserted, and the rest of that article as it now stands adopted. 
 The important change was also then made of substituting the 
 word " Diocese" for the, word " State" in the several articles 
 before mentioned. These specific changes are shown in a note 
 to the Constitution, printed in the Digest, p. 28. 
 
 Whatever may have been the reasons for this change of lan- 
 guage — whether merely because the term " Diocese" was a 
 more fitting Ecclesiastical phrase, or for other reasons — it is 
 quite certain that in nearly all cases, if not in all, the limits of 
 a Diocese at that time were coextensive with the limits of a 
 State. An exception was made at the same session in the case 
 of the division of the Diocese of New-York. The final act 
 for the erection of the Diocese of Western New-York soon took 
 place, and the latter came into the General Convention with 
 territorial limits distinctly marked out and prescribed. 
 
 Even the case of the "Eastern Diocese," as it was termed, 
 strengthens the present view. In the Journal of the General 
 Convention of 1811 is recorded a communication to the House 
 that the Rev. Alexander V. Griswold had been elected Bishop 
 of the Diocese composed of the States of New-Hampshire, 
 Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont, and in the pro- 
 ceedings thereupon the Eastern Diocese is spoken of and as 
 composed of those States. 
 
 Thus, then, when, for example, in Article 5, it is provided 
 that no new Diocese shall be erected within the limits of any 
 other Diocese, these limits will, in point of fact, be found and 
 defined by distinct civil territorial divisions. 
 
 The Ecclesiastical writers declare a Diocese to signify the 
 circuit of a Bishop's jurisdiction,* and they point out the me- 
 thods and rules by which, in case of a question of jurisdiction, 
 the matter is to be determined : the evidence and rules by 
 which the bounds of a manor would be found. In our coun- 
 try, from the facts thus stated, such difficulty can scarcely be 
 imagined ; and the law against intrusion by one Bishop into 
 
 * Burn's Eccl. Law, Vol. ii., page 157 a ; Cowell's Interpreter 
 in verbo. Van Espen, Part 1, Title 16, Chapter 3. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHI7RCH. 217 
 
 the Diocese of another, recognized in Article 4 of the Constitu- 
 tion, is readily applied. Diocese, for these and similar purposes, 
 is, in truth, nearly synonymous with State or Territory, as a 
 fixed geographical division of one of them. 
 
 But it does not follow that upon the change of the boundaries 
 of a State, by addition or exclusion, a corresponding change of 
 the limits of a Diocese is effected. On the contrary, many con- 
 siderations appear to be hostile to such a conclusion. 
 
 The Ecclesiastical writers also speak of a Diocese as composed 
 of many Parishes ;* in our more ordinary language, of many 
 Churches, or Congregations. This recognizes a relation be- 
 tween a Bishop and a Parish or Congregation, involving mutual 
 duties and rights. Some relations have also been constituted, 
 under our system, between Churches or Congregations and Dio- 
 cesan Conventions. 
 
 It appears to this Committee quite clear, that no change of 
 the nature in question can be made without the consent of the 
 Bishop from whose jurisdiction a Parish or Church is to be 
 severed. It may also be that the consent of the Bishop to whom 
 the transfer would be made, is necessary. The consent of the 
 particular Parishes or Churches would seem equally proper, 
 and probably, that of the Diocesan Conventions may be re- 
 quisite. 
 
 In the House of Bishops, two drafts of the Pas- 
 toral Letters were presented ; that adopted, being 
 the one prepared by the Bishop of Ohio, who pre- 
 sided on occasion of its delivery. 
 
 * Ex multis autem parochiis Dioecesis Episcopalis constat. 
 LiDEN, quoted in the Dictionary of Facciolati in verba. 
 
218 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 THE CONVENTION OF 1865. 
 
 The Convention of 1865 met in St. Andrew's 
 Chnrch, Philadelphia, on the 4th of October, and 
 continued in session until the 24th of the same 
 month. The Right Eev. John Henry Hopkins, 
 D.D., LL.D., presided in the House of Bishops. 
 Of the thirty-iive Bishops comprising that House, 
 eight — the Bishops of Georgia, Virginia, Mississip- 
 pi, Florida, Connecticut, Texas, and the Missionary 
 Bishop of Oregon — were absent. Twenty-six dio- 
 ceses were represented by one hundred and four 
 clerical and eighty-six lay deputies. No deputa- 
 tions attended from the dioceses of Alabama, Flo- 
 rida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South-Caro- 
 lina, and Virginia. The Metropolitan of Canada, 
 the Most Rev. Francis Fulford, D.D., preached the 
 opening sermon. The officers of the House of De- 
 puties were re-elected. The Diocese of New- York 
 presented a memorial asking the Convention to pro- 
 vide for the organization of the Church in the 
 United States into Provinces ; and legislation was 
 desired by the Diocese of Pennsylvania for the es- 
 tablishment of federate councils. The Metropoli- 
 tan of Canada ; the Right Rev. Dr. Staley, Bishop 
 of Honolulu ; and the Rev. Dr. James Beaven, Pro- 
 locutor of the Provincial Synod, addressed the 
 House of Deputies. The transfer of the Missionary 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 219 
 
 Bishop of the Korth-west to the assistancy of Indi- 
 ana was sanctioned by both Ilonses. The Conven- 
 tion gave its consent to the division of the Diocese 
 of Pennsylvania. The Bishop of Tennessee was 
 consecrated. A resobition was passed and ordered 
 to be printed as an appendix to the Digest of the 
 Canons, deprecating the bearing of arms by clergy- 
 men. 
 
 The crowning event of the Convention was the 
 reunion of the Church, which had been in fact 
 separated by the independent action of the South- 
 ern dioceses during the civil war, in organizing a 
 Council, framing a Constitution and Canons, and 
 ])roceeding to the consecration of a Bishop, neces- 
 sarily without reference to their former canonical 
 obligations. The Bishop of Alabama, the Eight 
 Kev. Dr. R. H. Wilmer, who had been consecrated 
 during this period, was received into the Episcopate 
 of the Church in the United States, on his signing 
 an equivalent to the promise of conformity, taken 
 by Bishops of the Church at consecration. 
 
 Various propositions respecting the provincial 
 system produced no result through the non-concur- 
 rence of the Bishops in a permissory canon of Fe- 
 derate Councils adopted by the House of Deputies. 
 In compliance with the request of the House of 
 Deputies, the Bishops set forth sixty-five additional 
 hymns which were licensed to be used in public 
 worship, but were not to be incorporated in the 
 Prayer-Book H^minal till adopted by the Conven- 
 tion. A commission of Bishops was entrusted with 
 power to set forth from time to time additional 
 
220 THE ge:neral convention 
 
 lijnins wliicli miglit be used in the congregations of 
 the Church until the next Convention, 
 
 In the Ilonse of Deputies, the Committee on 
 Canons, to whom was referred a resohition to in- 
 quire into the propriety of providing that the Rec- 
 tor should have the privilege of striking from the 
 list of communicants the name of any person who 
 may neglect for a certain time to appear at the com- 
 munion-table, reported that they deemed such legis- 
 lation unnecessary, inasmuch as, in their opinion, 
 the "list of communicants" was a private paper, 
 entirely under the control of the Rector. 
 
 In the House of Deputies it was 
 
 Resolved, That all those branches of the Apostolic Church 
 which accept the Holy Scriptures and the Niceno-Constantino- 
 politan Creed, and which reject the usurpations and innovations 
 of the Bishop of Rome, are called, by the course of events and 
 the indications of Divine Providence, to renew those primitive 
 relations which the Roman schism has interrupted. 
 
 The Committee on Canons, of the lower House, 
 to whom was referred a resolution of inquiry as 
 to the expediency of the designation of dioceses by 
 the title of the principal city in each diocese, re- 
 ported that without discussing or deciding upon the 
 constitutional authority of the Convention to effect 
 the proposed alterations, they were inexpedient at 
 the present time. They proceed to say : 
 
 The respective dioceses have exercised the privilege of 
 naming themselves, and designating their title. A desire to 
 keep in view the federative character of the Church, in har- 
 mony with the civil and political descriptions which charac- 
 terize us, and distinguish us from the consolidated govern- 
 ments of Europe, was doubtless influential in the decision, 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 221 
 
 wliicli, without exception, operated in giving the title now 
 applied to our dioceses respectively. The titles have become 
 familiar to us who are now members of the Church, and to all 
 around us. They are used in our histories, and in the writings 
 and memoirs of those who have gone before us. 
 
 In tlie House of Bishops, tlie Coiniiiittee on the 
 Prayer-Book, consisting of the Bishops of Maine, 
 California, and ]N"ew-Jersey, recommended the fol- 
 lowing rules as to the proper postures at baptism 
 and confirmation, " as in strict accordance with the 
 rubrics, as sustained also by a widely precedent 
 usage, and as adapted by their simplicity to be 
 easily remembered and followed :" 
 
 Ministration of Holy Baptism. — Both the minister and all 
 the people are to stand throughout the service till the Lord's 
 Prayer. All are to kneel during the Lord's Prayer and the 
 prayer which follows. All are to stand during the charge to 
 the sponsors in the case of infant baptism, and to the witnesses 
 and the baptized persons in the case of the baptism of those 
 of riper years. 
 
 Order of Confirmation. — All are to stand throughout the 
 service till the Lord's Prayer, except that the Bishop may sit 
 during the preface and the question addressed to the candi- 
 dates, and except also that all the candidates are to kneel, 
 as directed by the rubrics, immediately before receiving the 
 imposition of hands. All the congregation, as well as the 
 Bishop, are to kneel during the Lord's Prayer and the prayers 
 which follow ; and the Bishop alone is to stand during the 
 blessing with which the office closes. 
 
 The House, however, deemed it best to leave the 
 matter for regulation by each Diocesan Bishop 
 within his ow^n jurisdiction. 
 
 A special service was held at St. Luke's Church 
 as a public expression of thanksgiving to Almighty 
 
222 THE GENERAL COKVINTloN 
 
 God for the restoration of peace to the country 
 and unity to the Church. 
 Tlie service was as follows : 
 
 Opening Sentences.— The Lord's throne is heaven : his king- 
 dom ruleth over all. 
 
 The Lord sitteth above the water-flood, and the Lord re- 
 maineth a king forever. 
 
 The Lord shall give strength to his people : the Lord shall 
 give his people the blessing of peace. 
 
 Blessed be the name of the Lord for ever and ever. 
 
 The special lessons were Isaiah xi. to verse 10 ; St. Matthew 
 V. to verse 17. 
 
 Special thanksgiving. 
 
 O Lord, most glorious, the shield of all that trust in thee ; 
 who alone dost send peace to thy people, and causest wars to 
 cease in all the world : for thy unspeakable goodness towards 
 us, vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to receive the free-will offer- 
 ing of our hearts and the praises of our lips. 
 
 Strong is thy hand, and thy wisdom is infinite, and thy 
 name is love. Therefore do we laud and worship thee, and 
 praise thy holy name, rejoicing continually in thy strength 
 and thy salvation ; for thou art the glory of our power, and 
 by thy loving-kindness we are preserved. Notwithstanding 
 the multitude of our sins, thou hast not forgotten to be gra- 
 cious, but heapest blessing upon blessing. To thee, therefore, 
 O God, our Saviour and defender, who inhabitest the praises 
 of Israel, we offer our sacrifice of thankfulness, and adore thy 
 loving-kindness. 
 
 Thou hast regarded us with pity in thy beloved Son ; and by 
 his intercession, passing by our grievous transgressions, thou 
 hast healed our divisions, and restored peace to our land and 
 the fellowship of thy Church ; so that, by thy defence, our 
 united land may now enjoy rest and quietness and assurance 
 forever. For these and all thy other mercies, we piaise thee, 
 we bless thee, we glorify thee, we give thanks to thee for thy 
 great goodness, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father 
 Almighty. 
 
 We beseech thee to continue thy wonderful goodness to this 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 22t^ 
 
 thy restored people, that our light may uever be removed, nor 
 thy mighty acts be forgotten ; but confirm, O Lord, thy work 
 to all generations. May we be taught by thy past corrections to 
 fear thy justice, and may we be moved by thy long-suffering to 
 love thy goodness and obey thy laws. Give us true repent- 
 ance for our sins, that, with our bodies and our souls unfeign- 
 edly turning unto thee in newness of life, we may enjoy the 
 continuance and increase of thy grace and goodness. Let no 
 root of bitterness spring up to trouble us, nor any pride and 
 prejudice hinder our godly concord and unity. Fill our hearts 
 with loving- kindness for the destitute and ignorant, and for 
 all who need our sympathy and care. Make us faithful stew- 
 ards of every trust committed to vis in the gifts of thy provi- 
 dence. 
 
 Be with our rulers to guide their counsels, and to strengthen 
 their lawful authority ; and sanctify the nation in the solemn 
 privileges of freedom, self-government, and power. May our 
 land be the sanctuary of civil liberty and religious truths, 
 an example to the ends of the earth of the righteousness which 
 exalteth a nation. 
 
 Hear, Lord, and save us, O King of heaven, when we call 
 upon thee : so shall we. and all thy Church and people, dwe] 1 
 under the shadow of thy wings, protected by thy power, pre- 
 served by thy providence, and ordered by thy governance, t > 
 thy everlasting praise, and our unspeakable comfort in Jesus 
 Christ our Saviour ; to whom, with thee, Father, and thee, 
 O Holy Ghost, be glory and praise and dominion for ever and 
 ever. Amen. 
 
 The twenty-third selection. 
 
 The special collect, in the Ante-Communion Office, as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 Most mighty God and merciful Father, who hast promised to 
 maintain and defend thy Church, so dearly purchased and re- 
 deemed with the precious blood of thy Son Jesus Christ : in- 
 crease in his mystical body the spirit of unity and love, 
 and draw together its members everywhere in one commu- 
 nion and fellowship in the faith once delivered to the saints, 
 that as there is but one body, and one spirit, and one hope of 
 our calling, so we may henceforth be of one heart and one 
 soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, faith and 
 
224 THE GENERAL CONVEIs'TlON 
 
 charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify thee, 
 through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
 
 The 104th hymn. 
 
 The offertory was for the Protestant Episcopal Freedmen's 
 Commission, the first collection for that object. 
 
 The special prayer before the benediction, as follows : 
 
 O Almighty Father, the God of peace and love, we beseech 
 thee to enable us to put away from us all strife, envy, and 
 malice, as becometh thy people ; and that our late trials, under 
 the guidance of thy providence and Holy Spirit, may be over- 
 ruled for the furtherance of the (Gospel in this land and 
 throughout the earth. All which we ask for Jesus Christ's 
 sake, our Lord and Saviour. Amen. 
 
 The election of the Jiev. Dr. Clarkson to the 
 Missionary Episcopate of Nebraska, and the 'Rev, 
 Dr. Eandali to the Missionary Episcopate of Colo- 
 rado, and the Rev. Channing Moore Williams to 
 the Missionary Episcopate of China, was unani- 
 mons in each case. The choice of the Rev. Dr. 
 Howe, long the efficient secretary of the House of 
 Deputies, to the Missionary Episcopate of Nevada, 
 was not consummated, as Dr. Howe declined the 
 appointment. 
 
 The nominations of the Eev. M. C. Lightner as 
 Missionary Bishop of Colorado, and the R-ev. Robert 
 J. Parvin to the Missionary Episcopate of Nevada, 
 were not confirmed by the House of Deputies. 
 The resolutions reported by the Committee on 
 Christian Education, and unanimously adopted, are 
 of permanent interest : 
 
 1. Resolved, That the Convention should press upon the 
 hearts and consciences of parents the exceeding importance of 
 the more diligent training of their children at home in Chris- 
 tian truths and duties, as the special task of the parents them- 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 225 
 
 selves, of the father aa well as of the mother, — a duty not to 
 be delegated to any one else, and to which the parents should 
 devote a due part of the time and energies of the Lord's day 
 especially. 
 
 2. Resolved, That the Convention earnestly counsel parents 
 and preceptors to guard their youthful ^charge from the cor- 
 rupting influences of much of the common literature of the 
 day, and to provide for them wholesome, instructive, as well 
 as attractive books and periodicals, as a most needful part of 
 family Christian culture. 
 
 3. Resolved, That the duty is hereby solemnly urged upon 
 those who have worldly wealth, to give towards the endow- 
 ment of the schools and colleges of the Church, and the foun- 
 dation of professorships, scholarships, and prizes, by gifts, 
 during life, and by bequests which will strengthen this part 
 of the Church's work long after the donor has gone to his rest. 
 
 4. Resolved, That it is most clearly and imperatively the 
 duty of parents and guardians to their children and wards, as 
 well as to the Church, when they send the sons and daughters 
 of the Church from their homes, to send them to her own 
 schools and colleges, not to those where her worship and 
 teaching are unknown ; and least of all to those in which 
 Romanism so stealthily but surely perverts the faith of bo 
 many of the children of unreflecting or faithless parents. 
 
 5. Resolved, That the godly parents in the Church owe more 
 of their sons to the ministry of Christ ; and that they ought 
 by prayer and spiritual culture to form the hopes and hearts 
 of such sons into the devotion to this peculiar and high calling, 
 which alone can fit men for the ministry, and make it a work 
 of joy to their souls. 
 
 Of similar value are the resolutions reported by 
 the Committee on the Domestic and Foreign Mis- 
 sionary Society : 
 
 Resolved, That, in the judgment of this House, there has 
 never been a time in tlje history of our Church when the 
 demand for missionary effort, at home and abroad, was so 
 urgent and imperative as £ft the present moment ; and that we 
 earnestly call upon our constituents, in every diocese of this 
 
226 THK GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 Cburcli, to arouse themselves to realize the exigencies of the 
 hour, and to labor, and give, and pray with a freer heart and 
 more fervent zeal. 
 
 Resolved, That it be recommended to the ecclesiastical autho- 
 rity in the sparsely settled dioceses and missionary districts 
 to institute a system of itinerancy, by which most of the small 
 communities within their borders can be supplied with regular 
 visits and ministrations by clergymen of our Church ; and 
 that the Committee of the Board for Domestic Missions be 
 requested to favor, by making the needful appropriations, the 
 employment of such a corps of laborers. 
 
 Resolved, That further to facilitate the effort to bring the 
 worship of our Church to the knowledge and enjoyment of all 
 people in our land who are now living in neglect of their reli- 
 gious duties, and especially of the Lord's day, it be recom- 
 mended to our parochial clergy, with the advice and sanction 
 of their Bishops, to appoint and send forth lay readers on the 
 outskirts of their cures to gather in the wanderers, and to con- 
 duct among them the service of the C!hurch, and otherwise to 
 instruct them, as they may be licensed, in the duties of reli- 
 gion. 
 
 Resolved, That persons removing to isolated places, where 
 they will be cut off from the privileges of the sanctuary, 
 should be charged by the pastors from whose immediate care 
 they separate themselves, as they are virtually bound by the 
 vows of baptism and by the constitution of the family in the 
 ordinance of God, to maintain the stated worship of the 
 Church in their own dwellings on the Lord's day, and to teach 
 their children diligently in the Catechism and Oifices of the 
 Church. 
 
 Two subjects of inquiry among others brought 
 before the Convention claim record. 
 
 1st. As to the authority for the i-ubric inserted 
 at the end of the Metrical Hymns, to wit : ^ When- 
 ever the Hymns are used at the celebration of 
 Divine Service^ a certain portion or portions of 
 the Psalms of David in metre shall also he sang, it 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 227 
 
 was ascertained that the said rubric was passed by 
 both Houses of Convention in 1809, and was made the 
 condition on which the said Hymns were to be used. 
 For proof thereof, reference is made to pages 249, 
 253, 255, and 261 of the Journals as published by 
 Bioren in 1817. The said rubric having never been 
 either directly or inf erentially abrogated, was, there- 
 fore, pronounced of necessary obligation. 
 
 2d. As to certain alleged typographical errors in 
 the " Table of Proper Psalms for certain days," the 
 Committee reported as follows : 
 
 In the first place, the existence of certain discrepancies 
 between the table of Proper Psalms on certain days, as con- 
 tained in the English sealed Books of Common Prayer and that 
 set forth in the Standard Book of our own Church, is apparent. 
 
 That these discrepancies were intentional may be assumed 
 from the fact that in various editions of the American Book of 
 Common Prayer, set forth by the Convention that framed and 
 ratified the same, and accepted as the Standard Books of this 
 Church, the table, as we have it in our present Prayer Book, is 
 found with unvarying uniformity. 
 
 Further : that in tlie various tables of Errata in these Stand- 
 ard Books, prepared by the venerable Bishop White, and 
 appended to the Journals of successive Conventions, and so 
 minute as to embrace errors of punctuation or orthography, no 
 mention is made of any error in the table under present con- 
 sideration. 
 
 Further : that, in the preparation of the present Standard 
 Book of Common Prayer, the Committee to whom was com- 
 mitted its preparation, and whose labors were most painstaking 
 and exhaustive, noting, among other things, every supposedor 
 possible typographical error, ths correctness of the " Table," 
 as we have it in our present Prayer Book, was confirmed and 
 attested as being the " Table " as this Church has received the 
 same. 
 
 Further than this it is not necessary for your Committee to 
 discuss the question committed to them. They may, however. 
 
228 THE GENERAl. CONVENTION 
 
 direct tlie attention of those wlio allege that the change re- 
 ferred to arose from accident or a typographical blunder to the 
 recorded opinions of the venerable compilers of our Liturgy 
 on this very j^oint. We append the language of Bishop 
 White : 
 
 "As y'' Psalms are a considerable Part of y^ Morning' and 
 Evening Prayer, it may be proper to mention in this Place, y« 
 Reason of their being so considerably shortened. * All Scrip- 
 ture is given for Doctrine and Instruction in Righteousness.' 
 Yet it is supposed that all Parts thereof were not indited for 
 Christian Worship ; and that y« Church hath a Latitude to 
 select such parts as she shall judge best suited thereto. There- 
 fore such Portions only of y« Psalms are retained, as were 
 thought y^ most beautiful and affecting. In order to add to 
 y« Propriety and Sublimity of y« Psalter, y" Translation in y" 
 Bible has been preferred, where it was thought to have a 
 stronger Tendency than y« other to raise Devotion. A new 
 Division became necessary in Consequence of y^ preceding 
 changes." * 
 
 This language, together with the further expression of the 
 same venerable man desiring his colleague in the work of 
 amending the English Prayer Book to give particular attention 
 to "the reading Psalms" of the greater Festivals,! made in 
 connection with the preparation of the "Proposed Book," 
 induces your Committee to believe that it was not without duo 
 deliberation that so marked and decided a change was intro- 
 duced into our Service Book. Though the reason leading tho 
 compilers of our American Book of Common Prayer to allow 
 selections of Psalms to take the i)lace of those in regular course 
 at the option of the clergyman, and to change particular 
 ' ' Psalms for certain days" for others more suitable in their 
 opinion, may not obtain at the present time, there can not be 
 any doubt but that, at that period of our ecclesiastical history, 
 there was a strong tendency to change, abbreviate, or omit 
 
 * Hints toward a preface, in the handwriting of Bishop 
 White, preserved among the manuscripts of the General Con- 
 vention, and published in the notes to Perry's reprint of the 
 old Journals of the General Convention, IIL, p. 515. 
 
 f Vide Bishop White's Letter to Dr, William Smith, in Re- 
 print of old Journals, III., p. 524. 
 
CF 'illE AMEKICAX CHURCH. 229 
 
 portions of tlie Psalter, from an opinion alluded to by Bishop 
 White in this language quoted above. The action of a portion 
 of the American Church in setting forth the " Proposed Book" 
 in which these changes and omissions were marked and radical, 
 and the previous or subsequent preparation of amended Psalters 
 in various sections of the American Church at the period of our 
 organization, attests this feeling ; and the mere mention of it 
 is sufl&cient to confirm the supposition, were it not supported 
 by more direct testimony, that the change under discussion was 
 intentional, and, as such, made an integral part of our American 
 Book of Common Prayer. 
 
 One new Canon alone, " Of the Eequisites of a 
 Quorum," Avas adopted, and several amended. The 
 number of clergy in the reunited Church now 
 numbered two thousand four hundred and lifty. 
 
230 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 THE CONYENTIOX OF 1868. 
 
 The Convention of 1868 met in Trinity Church, 
 New- York, on the 7th of October, and continued 
 its sessions in Trinity Chapel and the Church of 
 the Transfiguration until the 29th of the same 
 month. The Et. Eev. Benjamin Bosworth Smith, 
 D.D., presided in the House of Bishops. 
 
 One hundred and forty clerical, and one hundred 
 and thirty lay, deputies were in attendance. The 
 opening sermon was preached b.y the Bishop of 
 Delaware. The Eev. Dr. Craik was re-elected Pre- 
 sident of the House of Deputies, and the Eev. 
 William Stevens Perry, of Connecticut, Secretary. 
 
 The Diocese of Pittsburgh was represented for 
 the first time, and the Diocese of Nebraska was 
 admitted into union. Maryland w\as divided into 
 two dioceses (East on) ; New- York into three (Ah 
 bany and Long Island) ; and Western New- York 
 into two (Central New-York). The membership 
 of the Board of Missions was increased. Amend- 
 ments to Art. 5 of the Constitution, providing for 
 the further division of dioceses, were adopted for 
 final action at the next session. The insertion of 
 an additional Cycle completing the present century, 
 and the omission of the Cycle from 1843 to 1861, 
 inclusive, in the Calendar of the Prayer Book, were 
 adopted for action at the following Convention. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 231 
 
 Tlie suggestion of the Convention of the Diocese 
 of Georgia that measures should be taken to secure 
 the ^' alteration of the Constitution of the Church, 
 so that the word ' Convocation ' shall designate the 
 Diocesan Convention, and the word ' Council ' the 
 General Convention, leaving the word ' Synod ' as 
 a fit and proper name for the Assembly of Deputies 
 from a Province in the Church, when such ec- 
 clesiastical bodies shall be established," failed to 
 receive adoption. 
 
 The Committee on the Prayer Book, of the House 
 of Deputies, reported with regard to an alleged 
 grammatical inaccuracy or typographical error in 
 that portion of the Office for the Holy Communion, 
 known as the " Invocation," as follows : 
 
 Your Committee find from Bishop White's " Memoirs of th< 
 Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States," that thos6 
 portions of the Communion office known as the " Oblation' 
 and '' Invocation," were introduced at the instance of Bishop 
 Seabury * of Connecticut, at the General Convention held in 
 Philadelphia in 1789 : That the same portions had been used 
 in the Diocese of Connecticut previous to the General Conven- 
 tion of 1789 ; f that they were derived from the office of the 
 
 * Vide "Memoirs of the Protestant Episcopal Church." 
 Second Edition. New- York, 1838. Page 154. 
 
 f Vide " The Communion Office, or Order for the Adminis- 
 tration of the Holy Eucharist or Supper of the Lord. With 
 Private Devotions.' Recommended to the Episcopal Congrega- 
 tions in Connecticut. By the Right Reverend Bishop Seabury. 
 New-London: 1786." In republishing this Edition of the 
 Scotch Office, and in recommending its use in his Diocese, 
 Bishop Seabury was carrying out the terms of the " Concor- 
 dat," entered into with the Bishops of Scotland at the time of 
 his Consecration. Vide Historical Notes and Documents ap- 
 pended to Perry's Reprint of the Journals of the General Con- 
 vention, Vol. IIL, p. 237. 
 
232 THE GENERAL CONVEN7'rON 
 
 Scotch Episcopal Clmrcli ; that in the said office,* instead of 
 the words " we, and all others who shall be partakers," etc.» 
 the expression is " Whosoever shall be partakers," etc. ; and 
 that the change to " we, and all others who shall be partakers," 
 etc, was probably made by Bishop Seabury. 
 
 Considering, however, that the phraseology as it now occurs 
 in the Prayer Book has been so long in use without occasion- 
 ing any difficulty affecting either devotion or doctrine, and that 
 your Committee have not discovered that the expression ob- 
 jected to in the resolution was occasioned by any typographical 
 error, they are unanimously of the opinion, that it would not 
 be advisable to make any change in the present phraseology. 
 
 A Commission on Archives was created. 
 
 In the Honse of Bishops the Committee on the 
 Prayer Book, to whom was referred an inquiry in 
 regard to the Lessons, Collect, Epistles, and Gospel, 
 proper to be read on any Sunday which is also a 
 holy day, recommended that on all such occasions 
 the Lessons, Epistles, and Gospel for the Sunday 
 shall be used, and that the Collects for both Sunday 
 and holy day should be read. 
 
 Two reports were made on the question of the Con- 
 duct of Public Worship, that of the majority being 
 presented by the Pev. Dr. (now Bishop) Paddock. 
 
 The Committee on Canons to whom were referred sundry 
 memorials touching greater uniformity in the conduct of pub- 
 lic worship, and in the administration of the Rites and Sacra- 
 ments of the Church, would respectfully report the following 
 preamble and resolutions, which they recommend for ado[)- 
 tion : 
 
 Whereas, This Church seeks to keep the happy mean be« 
 tween too much stiffness in refusing and too much easiness in 
 
 * Vide Reliquiae Liturgicae, Vol. II. (The Scottish Prayer 
 Book), p. 150. And also the various Communion Offices in 
 Hall's Fragraenta Liturgica, Vol. V. (Non-jurors and Scottish 
 Offices). 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 233 
 
 admitting variations in things once advisedly established ; and 
 holds that with regard to things in their own nature indiffe- 
 rent and alterable, and so acknowledged, it is but reasonable 
 that upon weighty and important considerations, according to 
 the various exigencies of times and occasions, such changes 
 and alterations should be made therein as to those who are in 
 places of authority shall from time to time seem either neces- 
 sary or expedient ; lier aim being to do that which, according 
 to her best understanding, may most tend to the preservation 
 of peace and unity in the Church, the procuring of reverence, 
 and the exciting of piety and devotion in the worship of God ; 
 and finally, the cutting off occasion from them that seek 
 occasion, of cavil against the Church and its Liturgy ; and 
 
 WTiereas, It has been represented to this House by divers 
 memorials numerously signed by presbyters and laymen of 
 this Church, that the introduction, by certain of her ministers, 
 of vestments, ceremonies, practices, and ornaments of churches, 
 not heretofore generally known in the public worship of this 
 Church, is marring her good order and harmony, wounding the 
 consciences of many of her true and loyal children, scandaliz- 
 ing and repelling many witliout her fold, deferring hopes of 
 Christian unity, and imperiling portions of the faith ; and 
 
 Whereas, It has also been represented by memorials, like- 
 wise signed, that the neglect and disuse, by certain of the min- 
 isters, of vestments, usages, and, in some instances, rubrics, 
 well established and generally observed in this Church, are 
 marring her order and beauty, disturbing her uniformity, 
 and encouraging individual lawlessness and self-will ; there- 
 fore, be it 
 
 Hesohed, The House of Bishops concurring, that, with de- 
 vout acknowledgment of that gracious presence and assistance 
 of her Divine Master which has been so signally vouchsafed to 
 this Church at many a crisis more perilous than the present, 
 enabling her, in the midst of aggressions from without and in- 
 numerable short-comings and extravagances from within, to 
 maintain the integrity of her doctrine and the beauty, decency, 
 and dignity of her worship, this Convention attributes this 
 happy result in a great measure, under God, to that spirit of 
 moderation which has hitherto guided the counsels of this 
 Church, and which has rendered her averse to all restrictions 
 
234: THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 of the liberty of her children in things indifferent or unesseL- 
 tial, so long as unity can be maintained and spiritual edifica- 
 tion promoted in any other way. It is the sense of this Con- 
 vention, therefore, that the enactment of any canon on the sub- 
 ject of ritual would be unwise and inexpedient at the present 
 time. But it is none the less the sense of this Convention that 
 the continued maintenance of the decency and order as well as 
 of the peace and harmony which, by God's blessing, have al- 
 ways characterized this Church ; the avoidance of the dangers 
 of irreverence and lawlessness on the one hand, and of extra- 
 vagance and superstition on the other ; tlie preservation of 
 doctrine from peril of intentional or unintentional change, and 
 a due regard to the scriptural canon of walking wisely toward 
 them which are without, require from all ministers of this 
 Church, celebrating divine service in churches or other estab- 
 lished places of public worship, a conscientious and, so far as 
 may be, steadfast adherence to such vestments, ceremonies, 
 practices, and ornaments, as, by reason of long-continued use 
 or by authority, are recognized as properly belonging to this 
 Church, avoiding errors either by excess or by defect. And, 
 further, that in all matters doubtful, for the avoidance of un- 
 seemly disputes and contradictory practices, which tend neither 
 to good name nor to godliness, reference should be made to 
 the Ordinary, and no changes should be made against the godly 
 counsel and judgment of the Bishop. 
 
 A portion of the committee, the Rev. Dr. (now 
 Bishop) M. A. De Wolfe Howe and Mr. John N. 
 Conyngham, LL.D., presented a minority report 
 with the following resolutions : 
 
 Whereas, It has heretofore been ne of the peculiar charac- 
 teristics and attractions of the Protestant Episcopal Church, 
 that its worship and the mode of conducting it have been in all 
 places substantially alike ; "so that every child of the Church 
 in any one of her sanctuaries, found a familiar spiritual home • 
 and 
 
 WTierecis, It has been especially distinctive of this Church, 
 that while it has avoided the baldness of most of the modes of 
 Protestant worship, it has still more decidedly put away the 
 
OF THE AMEltlCAN CHURCH. 235 
 
 many-colored vestments, excessive ceremonial, and false sym- 
 bolism of a foreign Ciiurch with which it is not in communion ; 
 therefore 
 
 1. Eesolved, As the sense of this Convention — the House of 
 Bishops concurring — that the maintenance of our wonted uni- 
 formity and simplicity in worship is exceedingly desirable, to 
 secure this Church from the insidious introduction of unsound 
 doctrine, from the disturbance of the peace and comfort of its 
 worshippers, and from exposure to evil report among them 
 who are without. 
 
 2, Resolved, That while there is no absolute directory in the 
 Canons or Rubrics of the Church, specifying all official vest- 
 ments and jiractices, and all ecclesiastical ornaments which 
 may be fitly used therein, yet there is the indication of great 
 simplicity ; and the traditional usages of the Church in this 
 behalf, from the date of its organization here to the present 
 period, is in conformity therewith, and has, in the hearts and 
 minds of the great body of its loyal members, the force 
 of law. 
 
 3. Resolved, That this Convention affectionately urges upon 
 all who have to do with the ordering of the appointments of 
 public worship, that they abide by the traditions and ceremo- 
 nies of this American Church ; that none other than the " cle- 
 rical habits" known to our fathers, and referred to by the 
 House of Bishops at the General Convention of 1814, as appro- 
 priate to ministers officiating in the congregation, " bands, 
 gowns, and surplices," with their customary appendages, cas- 
 socks, and black stoles, be provided, and that no strange orna- 
 ments of the sacred places, conducive to vain show or supersti- 
 tion, be introduced. 
 
 4, Resolved, That, in the judgment of this Convention — the 
 House of Bishops concurring — the burning of lights in the 
 Order for the Holy Communion, the burning of incense, reve- 
 rences to the holy table, or to the elements thereon, the eleva- 
 tion of the elements, making the sign of the cross (except 
 when prescribed in the Rubric) in and during divine service or 
 the celebration of the Lord's Supper, are innovations on our 
 mode of conducting public worship, offend against the common 
 order of the Cliurch, and wound the consciences of many of its 
 true and loving members. 
 
236 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 5. Resolved, That this Convention earnestly expresses its 
 disapproval of the omission of any of those proprieties of ap- 
 parel and demeanor, when ministering in the congregation, 
 which either rule or general usage has made distinctive of our 
 worship, and commends all who, being in holy orders, would 
 deviate on the right hand or on the left, from the common 
 order of the Church's worship, to seek first the counsel of their 
 Bishops, and submit themselves to their godly judgments. 
 
 The consideration of the whole subject being made 
 the order of the day, it was moved to amend the 
 resolution reported by the Committee, by striking 
 out all after the word " Resolved," and inserting: in- 
 stead that portion of the resolutions accompanying 
 the minority report, numbered respectively, 2, 3, 4, 
 and 5. The Eev. Dr. (now Bishop) Littlejolm 
 moved as an amendment to the proposed amend- 
 ment the following : 
 
 Resolved, That the House of Bishops be requested to set forth 
 for consideration and adoption by the next General Convention 
 such additional Bubrics in the Book of Common Prayer, as, in 
 their judgment, may be deemed necessary. 
 
 Resolved, That meanwhile, in all matters doubtful, reference 
 should be made to the Ordinary, and no changes should be 
 made against the godly counsel and judgment of the Bishop. 
 
 Resolved, That copies of the reports of the majority and mi- 
 nority of the Committee on Canons be transmitted to the House 
 of Bishops. 
 
 A substitute was offered for the several amend- 
 ments before the House, as follows : 
 
 Resolved, That the House of Clerical and I^ay Deputies con- 
 sider the Liturgy, Offices, and Articles of the Church suffi- 
 cient exponents of her sense of the essential doctrines of Holy 
 Scripture ; and that the Canons of the Church afford ample 
 means of discipline and correction for all who depart from her 
 standard. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 237 
 
 Resolved, further, That the General Conventioa is not a suit- 
 able tribunal for the trial and censure of, and that the 
 Church is not responsible for, the errors of individuals, whether 
 they are members of this Church or otherwise. 
 
 This being defeated by a vote of 21 nays to 11 
 ayes and 2 divided of the clergy, and 20 nays to 7 
 ayes and 3 divided of the laity, the amendment of- 
 fered by the Kev. Dr. Littlejohn was adopted by a 
 vote of 21 ayes to 10 nays and 4 divided of the clergy, 
 and 18 ayes to 8 nays and 4 divided of the laity. 
 
 This result having been communicated to the 
 House of Bishops, on motion of the Bishop of 
 Maryland, it was 
 
 Resolved, Unanimously, That the House of Bishops affec- 
 tionately informs the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies that 
 in the full trust that the spirit of the second of the three 
 resolutions communicated by that House in its Message No. 
 78, will be carried out in the action of the clergy and laity 
 of the several dioceses and missionary jurisdictions of this 
 Church, this House deems it unadvisable to enter upon any 
 alteration of the rubrics of our Book of Common Prayer by 
 the insertion of additional matter ; but that it will appoint a 
 Committee whose duty it shall be to consider whether any 
 additional provision for uniformity, by canon or otherwise, is 
 practicable and expedient, and to report to the next General 
 Convention. 
 
 The Presiding Bishop appointed as the Commit- 
 tee to consider whether any additional provision 
 for uniformity in matters of Ritual, by canon or 
 otherwise, is practicable and expedient, and to 
 report to the next General Convention, the Bishop 
 of Delaware, the Bishop of Connecticut, the Bishop 
 of New-Jersey, the Bishop of Ehode Island, the 
 Bishop of Pittsburgh. 
 
238 THE GENEliAL COiS^VENTION' 
 
 In reply to one of the several " memorials " 
 presented to this Convention, asking for greater 
 latitude in the use of the Book of Common Prayer, 
 a Committee of the Bishops, consisting of the 
 Bishops of Delaware, Virginia, and Western New- 
 York, reported as follows : 
 
 Tliat while disposed to treat with respectful and tender 
 consideration the conecientious diflBculties of brethren on 
 whose behalf this memorial has been presented to the General 
 Convention, and without expressing an opinion adverse to the 
 expediency of a wise and careful examination of gome of the 
 offices of the Prayer Book, with the view of removing all 
 cause of complaint or objection, they can not recommend a 
 favorable answer to the present petition. The memorial, 
 without naming any specific grievance to be remedied, asks 
 for a latitude in the use of the Liturgy which seems incom- 
 patible with that uniformity in the services of this Church 
 which has been considered an eminent advantage and excel- 
 lence — and such license, moreover, if granted, would expose 
 the convictions and rights of a congregation to be sacrificed to 
 the scruples or peculiar views of the minister. The Commit- 
 tee recommend, therefore, the following resolution : 
 
 Besohed, That, in the opinion of this House, such latitude 
 in the use of the Book of Common Prayer as the memorialists 
 ask, could not be allowed with safety, or with proper regard 
 to the rights of our congregations. 
 
 On motion of the Bishop of Massachusetts, this 
 resolution was unanimously adopted. 
 
 In the same House, the following resolutions, 
 accompanying the report on Christian education, 
 were unanimously adopted, and were communicated 
 to the House of Deputies : 
 
 Besohed, That the Bishops do call on the educated members 
 of this (hurch, the men and women competent and free to 
 train our sons and our daughters in the faith and the piety of 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHUKCH. 239 
 
 the Gospel as exhibited in our Book of Common Prayer, and 
 to educate them in secular learning and attainment, to consider 
 the question of their privilege and duty thus to work for 
 Christ and his CTiurch under the care and guidance of their 
 Bishops, and in such associations and under such rules as 
 shall receive the Episcopal sanction in each Diocese. To such 
 associations, and to such work, the Bishops give their hearty 
 encouragement, and their fervent blessing. 
 
 Resolved, That the Bishops call upon the people committed 
 to their charge, to give promptly and freely of their worldly 
 wealth, to plant and nourish such schools of the Church. 
 
 Tlie following action was taken, at the instance 
 of the Missionary Committee of the Lower Honse : 
 
 Resolved, That it be recommended to the ecclesiastical 
 authorities in the thinly-settled dioceses and missionary dis- 
 tricts to have regard for the following agencies: 
 
 1st. To provide a system of itinerancy by which the services 
 of the Church may be carried to small communities and isolat- 
 ed households. 
 
 2d. To give larger scope and more efficiency to the voluntas 
 ry service of pious laymen who may be willing to give a stated 
 portion of their time to missionary duty. 
 
 3d. To encourage and exhort families settled in remote 
 places and deprived of the privileges of the Sanctuary to 
 maintain the stated worship of the Church in their own 
 dwellings on the Lord's day, and to teach their children dili- 
 gently in the Catechism and offices of the Church. 
 
 It was also resolved, in accordance with the 
 recommendation of a lay committee. 
 
 That it is a solemn and urgent duty of each and all of i1k> 
 lay members of the Church to make systematic and constant 
 efforts for the better maintenance of the clergy and of their 
 families. 
 
 Action respecting the subject of " Ilymnody *' 
 took the following form : 
 
240 THE GENERAL CONVENTION" 
 
 Resolved, That tlie additional Hymns, licensed for use by tlie 
 last General Convention, be adopted and allowed to be bound 
 up with the Book of Common Prayer, 
 
 Hesolved, That the Bishops of this Church are allowed to 
 license the use in their respective Dioceses, until the next 
 meeting of the General Convention, of the collection known 
 by the title, " Hymns for Church and Home ;" and the collec- 
 tion known as " Hymns Ancient and Modern;" with the excep- 
 tion, in the latter collection, of Hymns numbered 26, 31, 115, 
 1G4, 203, 206, 209, 212, 242, 249 : these Hymns being deemed 
 objectionable. 
 
 A new missionary jurisdiction, with the follow- 
 ing boundaries : on the east by the Missouri river, 
 on the south by the State of Nebraska, on the west 
 by 104 meridian, the Territory of Wyoming, and 
 IS'ebraska, on the north by 46 degrees north latitude, 
 was established, and temporarily placed under the 
 charge of the Missionary Bishop of Nebraska. 
 The two Houses sent, by ocean-telegraph, the ex- 
 pression of " their affectionate condolence to the 
 Church of England on the death of its venerable 
 Primate," which occurred during the session. 
 The name of the Freedmen's Commission was 
 changed to " The Home Missionary Commission 
 for Colored People." 
 
 The following preamble and resolutions were 
 adopted by the Bishops, on motion of the Bishop 
 of Illinois : 
 
 Wliereas, In the year of our Lord, 1867, his Grace, the 
 Archbishop of Canterbury, did invite " the Bishops of the 
 Reformed Church in visible communion with the United 
 Church of England and Ireland," to meet for brotherly con- 
 ference in the Palace at Lambeth in September of that year; 
 and 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHUKCH. 241 
 
 Whereas, Pursuant to sucli invitation, a majority of the 
 Bishops of the Anglican Communion did thus assemble for 
 fraternal council and spiritual communion ; and 
 
 Whereas, The results reached by their deliberations were of 
 such importance, and were attained with so much unanimity, 
 as to entitle them to great moral weight with all Churches of 
 the Anglican Communion, therefore. 
 
 Resolved, The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies concur- 
 ring, that this Church, now represented in General Convention, 
 does adopt the following resolutions : 
 
 I. Resolved, That this Churclx records, with gratitude to 
 Almighty God, the satisfaction and thankfulness with which 
 it regards the solemn Assembly of the Bishops of the Anglican 
 Communion in the Lambeth Conference, by which the bonds 
 have been strengthened " of Christian communion between 
 Churches, acknowledging one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, 
 and connected by Common Formularies," and we do cordially 
 unite in the language and spirit of the "Introduction" by 
 which the deliberations of that body were prefaced : 
 
 We, Bishops of Christ's Holy Catholic Church, in visible 
 communion with the United Church of England and Ire- 
 land, professing the Faith delivered to us in Holy Scripture, 
 maintained by the Primitive Church, and by the Fathers of 
 the English Refomiation, now assembled, by the good Provi- 
 dence of God, at the Archiepiscopal Palace of Lambeth, under 
 the Presidency of the Primate of all England, desire First, to 
 give hearty thanks to Almighty God for having thus brought 
 us together for common counsels and united worship ; Secondly, 
 we desire to express the deep sorrow with which we view the 
 divided condition of the flock of Christ throughout the world, 
 ardently longing for the fulfilment of the Prayer of our Lord 
 " That all may be One, as Thou, Father, art in me, and I in 
 Thee, that they also may be One in us, that the world may be- 
 lieve that Thou hast sent me;" and Lastly, we do here solemnly 
 record our conviction that unity will be most effectually pro- 
 moted by maintaining the Faith in its purity and integrity, as 
 taught in the Ploly Scriptures, held by the Primitive Church, 
 summed up in the Creeds, and affirmed by the undisputed 
 General Councils ; and by drawing each of us closer to our 
 common Lord, by giving^ ourselves to much prayer and inter- 
 
242 THE GENERAL COXVKNTION 
 
 cession, "by tlie cultivation of a spirit of charity, and a love of 
 the Lord's appearing-. 
 
 II. Resolved, That this Church receives the Encyclical Let- 
 ter, an " Address to the Faithful in Christ Jesus, the Priests, 
 and Deacons, and the Lay Members of the Church of Christ, 
 in communion with the Anglican Branch of the Church," and 
 orders the same to be placed among the Archives in charge 
 of the Registrar. 
 
 III. Resolved, That we acknowledge with thankfulness the 
 act of tlie venerable Primate (of whose lamented decease this 
 House has been to-day informed), in convening the meeting of 
 the Chief Pastors of the Anglican Communion ; and vre unite 
 in his own words of supiDlication: " That our Almighty Father 
 shed abroad upon us the spirit of wisdom, peace and love, so 
 that being knit together more closely in the bonds of brother- 
 ly affection and Christian communion, and animated with 
 more fervent zeal for the Saviour's honor and the salvation of 
 souls, we may do our endeavor to prepare His Church for the 
 coming of Him whom we lovingly adore, and whose advent in 
 power and glory we ardently look to and long for. 
 
 IV. Resolved, That this Church accepts the full spiritual 
 validity of the deposition and excommunication of Dr. Colenso, 
 pronounced by the Metropolitan and Bishops of the South- 
 African Church ; and we will regard him as deposed and ex- 
 communicate, accordingly, until he shall so turn from his 
 errors, and be restored to full communion by the Church of 
 South-Africa, which God of his infinite mercy grant. 
 
 V. Resolved, That this Church recognizes with satisfaction 
 as indispensable for the discipline of the Church, the provision 
 of letters dimissory reciprocal between its several branches, 
 and the full change of jurisdiction understood to be secured by 
 such transfer. 
 
 VI. Resolved, That this Church also expresses its cordial 
 approval of the provision that emigrant members of the 
 Church, of good Christian standing, should be furnished with 
 testimonials addressed to the Bishops and Pastors of the 
 Church in the country to which they may remove. 
 
 Canons authorizing the formation of a Federate 
 Council ; respecting the Consecration of Churches ; 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHUKCH. 243 
 
 and on the subject of Divorce, were adopted. The 
 latter enactment is as follows : 
 
 No minister of this Church shall solemnize matrimony in 
 any case where there is a divorced wife or husband of either 
 party still living; but this Canon shall not be held to apply to 
 the innocent party in a divorce for the cause of adultery, or to 
 parties once divorced seeking to be united again. 
 
 The Bishop of Missouri was consecrated at this 
 session, and Missionary Bishops were elected for 
 Oregon and Nevada. 
 
 On the whole, in reviewing the proceedings of the 
 Convention, it may be said that though the actual 
 legislation effected at its session was not so much, 
 still its avoidance of direct legislative enactments 
 on mooted points may yet prove to have been the 
 truest wisdom. Its action with respect to unscrip- 
 tural divorce has won for it a general praise. The 
 numerous memorials presented to it received a 
 patient consideration, though the action resulting 
 from them was but trifling in its nature or extent. 
 Its debates, of which we have a verbatim record, 
 were characterized by dignity and were marked 
 with many brilliant passages. As an evidence of 
 the substantial unity of the Church, the general 
 unanimity of feeling among its members was a most 
 gratifying feature of the session. The number of 
 clergy had reached two thousand six hundred and 
 sixty-two. 
 
244 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 THE CONVENTION OF 1871. 
 
 Although the importance of this Convention could 
 hardly be overestimated, and notwithstanding the 
 fact that much of its legislation received further con- 
 sideration in 1874, it will be wise in view of the 
 fact that these questions are still subjects of discus- 
 sion for us to confine our Tesiime to abstracts or 
 notices of the completed action of the two Houses, 
 avoiding criticism or comment. 
 
 The Convention met in Emmanuel Church, 
 Baltimore, Md., on the 4th of October, con- 
 tinuing its sessions until the 26th of the same 
 month. The House of Bishops sat one day longer 
 than the lower House. The sermon at the opening 
 service was preached by the Bishop of Virginia. 
 The presence of the Lord Bishop of Lichiield, Eng- 
 land, Dr. Selwyn ; the Bishop of Nassau, Dr. Vena- 
 bles ; and the Dean of Chester, Dr. Howson, with 
 other clergy of the English and Colonial Churches, 
 added interest to a session distinguished from the 
 outset by a spirit of forbearance, peace, and mutual 
 good-will. The Kt. Kev. Dr. Benj. Bosworth 
 Smith presided in the House of Bishops. In the 
 Lower House forty dioceses were represented, and 
 one (Central Pennsylvania) created. One hundred 
 and sixty-two clerical, and one hundred and thirty- 
 eight lay deputies were in attendance. The officers 
 of the last House of Deputies were re-elected. The 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHl'ItClf. 245 
 
 Eev. Dr. W. B. "W. Howe was consecrated to the 
 Assistant Bishopric of South- Carolina, the Bishop 
 of Lichfield preaching the sermon, and the sightless 
 Bishop of Sonth-Carolina guiding his hand " wit- 
 tingly," in the act of laying on of hands, upon the 
 head of his assistant and brother. Early in the 
 session (on the fourth day) the following report on 
 ritual, accompanied by two resolutions, was trans- 
 mitted by the Bishops to the lower House, and 
 gave occasion for the most important discussion of 
 the ession : 
 
 The Committee of Five Bishops appointed by tlie House of 
 Bishops, at the General Convention of 1868, " To consider 
 whether any additional provision for uniformity, by canon or 
 otherwise, is practicable and expedient, and to report to the 
 next General Convention," having held sundry meetings at 
 several different places, at each of which all the members of 
 the Committee were present through the entire session ; and 
 having, as they believed, given to the subject-matter intrusted 
 to them that careful consideration which its importance merits, 
 respectfully ask leave to report : 
 
 The resolution under which the Committee was appointed 
 raises several questions for examination and answer. Is any 
 legislation touching the performance of Divine Service and 
 " the Administration of the Sacraments and other Rites and 
 Ceremonies of the Church" practicable ? If practicable, is it, 
 at this time expedient ? If practicable and expedient, shall it 
 take the shape of a canon or canons ; or shall it be otherwise 
 provided for? And, finally, what fIieII the actual details of 
 legislation be? Assuredly, these are questions that touch the 
 Church, and its ministers and members, in many and very 
 vital points, and involve many delicate as well as precious 
 relations. 
 
 In considering these questions, the Committee have endea- 
 vored never to forget that substantial uniformity is entirely 
 compatible with very considerable individual liberty ; that 
 
246 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 non-essentials should never be unduly magnified, and, far less, 
 raised to an equality with essentials ; that many troublesome 
 and objectionable things are ephemeral in their nature, and 
 " perish in the using ;" and that, under any circumstances, 
 hasty legislation is ever to be avoided. Nor have they omitted 
 to keep in mind the wise words of the Thirty-fourth Article of 
 Religion : 
 
 " It is not necessary that traditions and ceremonies be in all 
 places one, or utterly alike ; for at all times they have been 
 divers, and may be changed according to the diversity of coun- 
 tries, times, and men's manners, so that nothing be ordained 
 against God's Word. , . . 
 
 " Every particular or national Church hath authority to or- 
 dain, change, and abolish, ceremonies or rites of the Church 
 ordained only by man's authority, so that all things be done to 
 edifying." 
 
 While, however, the Committee have kept these considera- 
 tions in view, it has been and is their unanimous conviction 
 that some action of the General Convention, in regard to the 
 important matters named in the resolution appointing them, is 
 very desirable, if not, indeed, absolutely demanded. Among 
 many reasons for this conviction that present themselves, they 
 venture to ask attention to the three following : 
 
 First. It is obvious to remark that there are among us great 
 and growing "diversities of use " in the performance of Divine 
 Service and the offices of the Church. Unless something is 
 done, and done soon, in the interests of uniformity, these diver- 
 sities bid fair to equal, if they do not exceed, those which, at 
 the period of the Anglican Reformation, were regarded as an 
 evil to be removed ; and which led to the decision that "the 
 whole realm" should have "but one use." They occasion, 
 moreover, even now, confusion, trouble, and perplexity among 
 our people ; and these evils must increase as their causes are 
 multiplied. 
 
 Secondly. It is believed that various services over and 
 above those provided in the Book of Common Prayer, or set 
 forth in accordance with the provisions of Title I., Canon 13. 
 § XIV. of the Digest, and not coming under the denomination 
 of Sunday or other school services, are publicly used in certain 
 churches. How far liberty in this re2:ar(l is to be allowed, or 
 
OF THE A3rlEHICAN CIIUEOH. 247 
 
 in what respects it is to be restrainc d, the Committee do not 
 undertake to say. It is obvious, however, that any such ser- 
 vices are sources of disorder and confusion, in proportion as 
 they are framed on principles and embody acts, words, or 
 forms — come these from what outside quarter they may — that 
 are not in accord with the " doctrine, discipline, and worship" 
 of our own Church, or are foreign to the genius and spirit of 
 our services. 
 
 Thirdly. The Committee have -reason to believe that, in 
 some instances, the services of the Prayer Book are unlawfully 
 altered or mutilated, and, in others, are so performed as to 
 make it difficulr, to say the least, to distinguish them, except 
 in the language employed, from those of the Church of Home. 
 Against such wrongs our people have a right to demand pro- 
 tection ; and whether they demand it or not, it would seem to 
 be a plain and bounden duty to provide for it. 
 
 For these reasons, besides others which it is not necessary to 
 rehearse, the Committee unanimously recommend action by 
 the present General Convention ; and after maturely weighing 
 the different modes in which this recommendation may ije car- 
 ried out, they further unanimously recommend that any action 
 which the Convention may take shall be in the form of a 
 canon or canons. 
 
 In proceeding to state the various details which they believe 
 ought to be made the subjects of such action as has oeen pro- 
 posed, -the Committee desire to say that, while on the great 
 majority of the points presented there has been entire unani- 
 mity of opinion, some things are, nevertheless, proposed, and 
 others are omitted, which, had each member's inaividual wish 
 regulated the final result, would have been differently dispos- 
 ed of. They have strongly felt that uniformity necessarily 
 involves the giving up of some things, and the acceptance of 
 other things which individuals may desire, on the one hand, 
 to retain, or, on the other, to remove. 
 
 The Committee report the following as the matters upon 
 Tvhich they respectfully recommend legislation : 
 
 I. 
 
 They recommend that certain acts in the administration of 
 the Holy Communion, and on other occasions of public wor- 
 
218 THE GE^'EKAL COKVENTIOX 
 
 ship, hereinafter enumerated, be prohibited by canon, to 
 wit : 
 
 (1.) The use of incense. 
 
 (2.) Placing or retaining a crucifix in any part of the church. 
 
 (3.) Carrying a cross in procession in the church. 
 
 (4.) The use of lights on or about the holy table, except 
 when necessary. 
 
 (5.) The elevation of the elements in the Holy Communion 
 in such manner as to expose them to the view of the people 
 as objects toward which adoration is to be made, in or after 
 the prayer of consecration, or in the act of administering 
 them, or in conveying them to or from the communicants. 
 
 (6.) The mixing of water with the wine as part of the ser- 
 vice, or in presence of the congregation. 
 
 (7.) The washing of the priest's hands, or the ablution of 
 the vessels, in the presence of the congregation. 
 
 (8.) Bowings, crossings, genuflections, prostrations, reveren- 
 ces, bowing down upon or kissing the holy table, and kneel- 
 ing, except as allowed, provided for, or directed, by rubric 
 or canon ; it being provided that reverence at the mention 
 of the name of the Lord Jesus is not intended to be disal- 
 lowed ; and it being further provided that private personal 
 devotion, before or after official ministration, is not to be 
 understood to include or justify any of the acts prohibited. 
 
 (9.) The c^ebration or receiving of the Holy Communion by 
 any Bishop or priest when no person receives with him. 
 
 (10.) Employing or permitting any person or persons not in 
 Holy Orders to assist the minister in any part of the order 
 for the administration of the Holy Communion. 
 
 (11.) Using, at any administration of the Holy Communion, 
 any prayers, collects, gospels, or epistles, other than those 
 provided in the Book of Common Prayer, or under § XIV. 
 of Canon 13 of Title I. of the Digest. 
 
 They further recommend here : 
 
 (1.) That no Rector of a Parish or other minister shall be 
 allowed to introduce the Choral Service without the consent- 
 ing vote of the Vestry, or contrary to the prohibition of the 
 Bishop. 
 
 (2.) That no surpliced choir shall be employed except under 
 the same limitations ; and when such choirs are employed, 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 249 
 
 the only addition to their ordinary attire shall be a surplice 
 reaching to the ankles. 
 
 (3.) That no chancel shall be allowed to be so arranged as to 
 prevent the minister from officiating at the right end of the 
 r.oly table. It is to be noted that a credence -table is lawful. 
 
 II. 
 
 The Committee further recommend that canonical provision 
 he made touching the dress appropriate to clergymen minis- 
 tering in the congregation ; and that the only vestments de- 
 •jlared to be appropriate to clergymen so ministering be : 
 
 (1.) For bishops, the present episcopal robes. 
 
 (2.) For all ministers, a white surplice ; a black or white 
 fitole ; a black cassock not reaching below the ankles ; a 
 black gown ; and bands. 
 
 They also recommend that provision be made : 
 
 (1.) Tliat on occasions of services, where expediency or ne- 
 cessity of health may require it, the university cap may be 
 used. 
 
 (2.) That candidates for orders, who are licensed to act as 
 lay readers, may use the academical black gown. 
 
 III. 
 
 In addition to the canonical provisions now recommended, 
 and in consideration of the fact that "nothing can be so plain- 
 ly set forth but doubts may arise in the use and practice of the 
 same," the Committee further unanimously recommend that 
 some action be taken to carry out, in such manner as may se- 
 cure its observance, the principle declared in the second reso- 
 lution sent to this House by the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies, at the General Convention of 1868, to wit : That, 
 "in all matters doubtful, reference shall be made to the Ordi- 
 nary, and no changes shall be made against the godly counsel 
 and judgment of the Bishop." 
 
 In conclusion, the Committee recommend the adoption of 
 the following resolutions : 
 
 Resolved, That this report be communitated to the House of 
 Clerical and Lay Deputies. 
 
 Resolved, the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies concur- 
 ring, That a Joint Committee, consisting of three Bishops, three 
 
250 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 Presbyters, and three Laymen, be appointed, to whom the 
 Bubject-matter of this Report shall be referred, with directions 
 to report to this Convention, at as early a day as practicable, 
 such canons as they may deem necessary in the premises. 
 All which is respectfully submitted. 
 
 Alfred Lee, 
 
 J. Williams, 
 
 T. M. Clark, 
 
 W, H. Odenheimer, 
 
 J. B. Kerfoot. 
 
 Resolved, Tliat in the gravity of the subject and its bear- 
 ings, this House is unprepared for immediate action on the 
 Report submitted by its Committee on Ritual Uniformity, 
 without previous consideration of the same in joint Committee 
 of the two Houses of Convention, 
 
 Resolved, the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies concurring, 
 That a joint Committee be appointed for the consideration of 
 the above-named Report of the Committee of the House of 
 Bishops concerning Ritual, and to report if any, and, if any, 
 what, action may properly be taken in the premises. 
 
 The subject-matter of the above, together with a 
 resohition to appoint the proposed committee by 
 ballot, having been made the order of the day, the 
 Kev. Cleland K. Nelson, D.D., of the Diocese of 
 Maryland, offered the following preamble and reso- 
 lution : 
 
 Whereas, In General Convention of 1868 the House of Cleri- 
 cal and Lay Deputies did request of the House of Bishops the 
 setting forth of such additional rubrics in the Book of Common 
 Prayer as in their judgment may be deemed necessary ; and, 
 whereas, the House of Bishops have not complied with the 
 above-mentioned request, therefore be it 
 
 Resolved, That the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies do 
 hereby, in reply to Message No. 5, from the House of Bishops, 
 most respectfully aiul affectionately renew the request that 
 our Right Reverend Fathers assembled at the House of Bishops 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 251 
 
 prepare and propose for the consideration of the House of 
 Clerical and Lay Deputies some well-digested scheme of such 
 additional rubrics in the Book of Common Prayer, or such 
 further canonical legislation as, in their judgment, they may 
 deem necessary. 
 
 The Eev. William H. Clarke, of the Diocese of 
 Georgia, moved to amend the above by striking out 
 all after the word " Kesolved," and inserting instead 
 thereof the words — 
 
 I. That, the House of Deputies do not concur in the resolu- 
 tion communicated in Message No. 5, from the House of 
 Bishops. 
 
 II. Resolved, That this House request the House of Bishops 
 to take definite action upon the report of their Committee on 
 Ritual, and communicate the result to this House for their con- 
 sideration. < 
 
 The Kev. E. Edwards Beardsley, D.D., of the 
 Diocese of Connecticut, offered the following reso- 
 lution as a substitute for the whole matter before 
 the House, which was finally adopted : 
 
 Besohed, That this House concurs in the resolution con- 
 tained in Message No. 5, from the House of Bishops, asking 
 the appointment of a joint committee to consider the Report 
 on Ritual Uniformity sent to this House with said Message. 
 
 The resolution itself, as amended, was then 
 adopted. After no little discussion respecting the 
 choice of the members on the part of the lower 
 House, of the committee contemplated in the above 
 resolutions, tjie joint committee appointed to con- 
 sider and report upon the report on Ritual Unifor- 
 mity made to the House of Bishops by a com- 
 
252 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 mittee of the said House of Bishops, reported the 
 accompanying Canon and resohition for action 
 thereon by the two Houses of Convention : 
 
 Canon of Ritual. 
 
 § 1. This Church, holding fast its liberty in Christ its Head, 
 recognizes no other law of Ritual than such as it shall have 
 itself accepted or provided ; meaning thereby in no wise to 
 prejudice or arraign the different rites, usages, customs, or 
 laws of other branches of the Church of Christ. 
 
 § 2. The provisions for Ritual in this Church are : 
 
 1. The Book of Common Prayer, with the Offices and 
 Ordinal thereto appended, as adapted to the use of 
 this Church by additions, omissions, or other altera- 
 tions from time to time constitutionally made. 
 
 2. The Canons of the Church of England in use in the 
 American Provinces before the year 1789, and r.ot 
 subsequently superseded, altered, or repealed, by 
 legislation, General or Diocesan, of this Church. 
 
 3. The Canonical or other regular legislative or judicial 
 action or decisions of this Church, in its Conventions, 
 General or Diocesan, or by its duly constituted au- 
 thorities. 
 
 § 3. For the greater uniformity and simplicity of the public 
 worship of this Church — for the more effectual enforcement of 
 due habits of solemn reverence in its congregations, and out 
 of considerate regard to the conditions under which the exten- 
 sion of the Church is now and hereafter to take place — it is 
 hereby declared and provided, that in all questions arising con- 
 cerning Ritual Observance, the Administration of the Law of 
 Ritual of this Church, whether for enforcement or for restric- 
 tion, appertains to the office and duty of the Ordinary, who-e 
 official written determination, whether of his own motion, or 
 at the official demand either of a Rector or of a Vestry, shall be 
 held to be the settlement of any question which shall at any 
 time arise concerning Ritual : Pnyinded, however, that contra- 
 dictory determinations shall be subject, on memorial or other- 
 wise, to revision by the House of Bishops, under such rules 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 253 
 
 and regulations for bringing the same before tliem, as said 
 House of Bishops shall prescribe. 
 
 William Rollinson Whittingham, 
 
 Bishop of Maryland. 
 
 William Cooper Mead, 
 Chairman of the Committee on the part of the House of Deputies. 
 
 Resolution adopted by the Joint Committee on Ritual. 
 Resolved, That a joint committee of three of each Order be 
 appointed to examine the Canons of the Church of England, 
 of 1603, and report to the next General Convention v/hat por- 
 tions were in use in the American Provinces in the year 1789, 
 and how far the same have been modified by repeal, or altera- 
 tion, or other mode, by action of this Church, in its Conven- 
 tions, General or Diocesan, and whether any portion requires 
 modification or repeal. 
 
 The Kev. Daniel E. Goodwin, D.D., LL.D., of 
 the Diocese of Pennsylvania, offered the following 
 amendment to the Canon on Kitual reported by 
 the joint committee, to wit : 
 
 Resolved, That the proposed Canon be amended by inserting 
 in the first section, after the word "Provided," the words "in 
 her Canons and Book of Common Prayer," and by striking out 
 the whole of the second section. 
 
 The Eev. William Cooper Mead, D.D., of the 
 Diocese of Connecticut, moved as an amendment 
 to the amendment to the resolution reported by the 
 joint committee on the report made to the House 
 of Bishops on Eitual, to strike out Subsection [2] 
 of § II. of the Canon of Eitual, and to insert after 
 the words "constituted authorities" in Subsection 
 [3] the words " and under this head," etc., so that 
 the Canon, as amended, would read : 
 
254 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 Canon op Ritual. 
 
 § 1. [As reported by tlie joint committee.] 
 
 § 2. Tlie provisions for Ritual in this Church are : 
 
 1. [As reported.] 
 
 2. [As reported, with the following addition :] 
 
 And under this head the following acts in the administration 
 of the Holy Communion, and on other occasions of public 
 worship, are prohibited : 
 
 (1.) The use of Incense. 
 
 (2.) Placing or retaining a Crucifix in any part of the Church. 
 
 (3.) The use of lights on or about the Holy Table, except 
 when necessary. 
 
 (4.) The elevation of the elements in the Holy Communion 
 in such manner as to expose them to the view of the people as 
 objects toward which adoration is to be made, in or after the 
 prayer of Consecration, or in the act of administering them, or 
 in conveying them to or from the communicants. 
 
 (5.) The mixing of water with the wine as part of the ser- 
 vice. 
 
 (6.) The washing of the Priest's hands, or the ablution of 
 the vessels, as part of the service. 
 
 (7.) Bowings, crossings, genuflections, prostrations, reve- 
 rences, bowing down upon or kissing the Holy Table, and kneel- 
 ing, except as allowed, provided for, or directed by rubric or can- 
 on ; it being provided that reverence at the mention of the name 
 of the Lord Jesus is not intended to be disallowed : and it being 
 further provided that private personal devotion, before or after 
 oflBcial ministration, is not to be understood to include or jus- 
 tify any of the acts prohibited. 
 
 (8.) The celebration or receiving of the Holy Communion, 
 by any Bishop or Priest when no person receives with him. 
 
 (0.) Employing or permitting any person or persons not in 
 Holy Orders to assist the Minister in any part of the Order for 
 the Administration of the Holy Communion. 
 
 (10.) Using, at any administration of the Holy Communion, 
 any Prayers, Collects, Gospels, or Epistles, other than those 
 provided in the Book of Common Prayer, or under § XIV. of 
 Canon 13 of Title I. of the Digest. 
 
 § 3. [As reported by the joint committee.] 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 2oo 
 
 The Eev. Dr. Godwin withdrew his amendment, 
 and accepted that offered by tlie Rev. Dr. Mead in 
 its stead. 
 
 The Rev. Philander K. Cady, D.D., of tlie Dio- 
 cese of J^eAV-York, offered the following amend- 
 ment to the amendment offered by the Rev. Dr. 
 Mead, to wit, to strike out all of the Canon of 
 Ritual as reported, and substitute therefor as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 Canon op Ritual. 
 
 In all matters of Ritual that are doubtful, reference shall be 
 made to the Ordinary, and no changes shall be made against 
 the godly counsel and judgment of the Bishop. 
 
 Mr. Bernard Carter, of the Diocese of Maryland, 
 moved the indefinite postponement of the whole 
 subject under consideration. 
 
 Pending action on this motion. Message 'No. 50 
 from the House of Bishops informed 
 
 the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies that it has, in conform- 
 ity with the recommendation of the Joint Committee on Ritual 
 Uniformity, adopted the following Canon of Ritual, to be 
 
 Canon — . 
 
 § I. This Church, holding fast its liberty in Christ its Head, 
 recognizes no other law of ritual than such as it shall have 
 itself accepted or provided ; meaning thereby in no wise to 
 prejudice or arraign the differing rights, usages, customs, or 
 laws of other branches of the Church of Christ. 
 
 § II. The provisions for Ritual in this Church are : 
 
 1. The Book of Common Prayer, with the Offices and 
 Ordinal thereto appended, as adapted to the use of 
 this Church by additions, omissions, or other altera- 
 tions from time to time constitutionally made. 
 
 2. The Canons of the Church of England agreed upon 
 in 1603, and in use in the American Provinces and 
 
256 THE GENERAL CONVENTION. 
 
 States before the year 1789, and not subsequently 
 superseded, altered, or repealed, by legislation. General 
 or Diocesan, of tliis Church. 
 3. The Canonical or otlier regular legislative or iudicial 
 action or decisions of this Cliurch, in its Conven- 
 tions, General or Diocesan, or by its duly constituted 
 authorities. 
 § III. For the greater uniformity and simplicity of the pub- 
 lic worship of this Church, for the more effectual enforcement 
 of due habits of solemn reverence in its congregations, and 
 out of considerate regard to the conditions under which the 
 extension of the Church is now and hereafter to take place, it 
 is hereby declared and provided, that in all questions arising 
 concerning Eitual Observance, the Administration of the Law 
 of Ritual of this Church, whether for enforcement or for re- 
 striction, appertains to the oiRce and duty of the Ordinary, 
 whose official written determination, whether of his own 
 motion, or at the official demand either of a Rector or of a 
 Vestry, shall be held to be the settlement of any question 
 which shall at any time arise concerning Ritual : Provided, 
 however, that contradictory determinations shall be subject, on 
 memorial or otherwise, to revision by the House of Bishops, 
 under such rules and regulations for bringing the same before 
 them as said House of Bishops shall prescribe, 
 
 Bcsohied, the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies concurring, 
 That a joint committee of three of each order be appointed to 
 examine the Canons of the Church of England, of 1603, and 
 report to the next General Convention what portions were in 
 use in the American States in the year 1789, and how far the 
 same have been modified by repeal, or alteration, or other 
 mode, by action of this Church, in its Conventions, General or 
 Diocesan, and whether any portion requires modification or re- 
 peal. 
 
 The House having resumed consideration of the 
 Report on Eitiial, leave of the House was granted 
 to Mr. Bernard Carter to withdraw his motion of 
 indefinite postponement of tlie whole subject under 
 consideration, offered on the sixteenth day of the 
 
OF THE AMEIUCAX ClllTRCIi. 257 
 
 session, whereupon Eev. Dr. Cady withdrew the 
 amendment offered bj liim to the amendment 
 offered by the Kev. Dr. Mead. 
 
 The Eev. Abner Jackson, D.D., LL.D., of the 
 Diocese of Connecticut, offered the following 
 amendment to the amendment offered by the Rev. 
 Dr. Mead, to wit : 
 
 Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That a joint 
 committee, consisting of five Bishops, five presbyters, and 
 five laymen, be appointed, to sit during the recess of this Con- 
 vention, in order to ascertain and determine clearly what is the 
 existing Law of Ritual in this Church ; and then to inquire 
 whether any, and if any, what, further provision is required 
 for securing the due performance of Divine Service, and re- 
 port the same to the next General Convention, for its action 
 thereon. 
 
 At a later stage of the discussion leave was refus- 
 ed to the Eev. Dr. Jackson to withdraw his amend- 
 ment, which was then defeated by a vote of 20 nays 
 to 14 yeas and 6 divided of the clerical order, and 
 21 nays to 12 ayes and 2 divided of the lay dele- 
 gations. 
 
 Mr. S. Corning Judd, of the Diocese of Illinois, 
 then moved to amend the amendment before the 
 House (that offered by Eev. Dr. Mead) by strikinn^ 
 out, in § I., the words " recognizes no other law of 
 ritual than such as it shall have itself accepted or 
 provided," and "• thereby," and by inserting before 
 the word " meaning," in said section, the Avord 
 " and," and adding after the words " Church of 
 Christ," the words " declares as follows," so that 
 the section as amended would read : 
 
258 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 Canon of Ritual. 
 
 § I. This Church, holding fast its liberty in Christ its Head, 
 and meaning in no wise to prejudice or arraign the differing 
 rites, usages, customs, or laws of other branches of the Church 
 of Clirist, declares as follows, etc. 
 
 The Kev. John H. Egar, of the Diocese of Pitts- 
 burgh, offered the following as a substitute for the 
 amendments under consideration, to wit : 
 
 Canon of Ritual. 
 
 When Ritual observances are called in question before the 
 Ordinarj, and such observances are not expressly provided for 
 or prohibited by the Book of Common Prayer, or the Constitu- 
 tion or Canons of this Church, recourse may be had for the es- 
 tablishment of precedent to the Rubrics and Canons which 
 were in force, and to the usage which was allowed in the 
 Church of England, while this Church was a part of said 
 Church,— that is to say, after the Reformation and before the 
 year 1776 : Provided that no Rubrics or Canons of the said 
 Church of England shall be considered as in any way binding, 
 which have been superseded by the legislation of the General 
 Convention of this Church. 
 
 The question being taken on the substitute offered 
 by the Kev. Mr. Egar, it was lost. 
 
 Mr. William Cornwall, of the Diocese of Xen- 
 tucky, offered the following as a substitute for the 
 amendments before the House, to wit : 
 
 Canon op Ritual. 
 
 § I. This Church, holding fast its liberty in Christ its Head, 
 recognizes no other law of ritual than such as it shall have it- 
 self accepted or provided ; meaning thereby in no wise to pre- 
 judice or arraign the differing rites, usages, customs, or laws 
 of other branches of the Church of Christ, 
 
 ^ II. the provisions for Ritual in this Church are : 
 
OF THE AMERK^AN CHURCH. 259 
 
 The Book of Common Prayer, with the Offices and Ordinal 
 thereto appended, as adapted to tlie use of this Church by 
 additions, omissions, or other alterations from time to time con- 
 stitutionally made. 
 
 Every minister of this Church shall be liable to presentment 
 and trial for using any ritual, acts, or observances which teach 
 or symbolize any doctrine contrary to that held by the Protest- 
 ant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. 
 
 Resohcdy That this Canon shall be placed after Subsection 
 [2] of Canon 2, of Title I. of the Digest of the Canons. 
 
 The question being taken on the substitute offer- 
 ed bj Mr. Cornwall, it was lost. 
 
 The Rev. John Mcl^amara, D.D., of the Diocese 
 of Nebraska, moved to lay the whole subject under 
 discussion ^on the table ; wdiich motion was lost. 
 
 The question then recurring on the amendment 
 offered by Mr. Judd, it was lost. 
 
 Mr. George W. Eace, of the Diocese of Louisiana, 
 moved to strike out the second subsection of the 
 amended Canon as proposed by the Rev. Mr. Mead, 
 to wit, the w^ords : 
 
 2. The Canons of the Church of England, agreed upon in 
 1603, and in use in the American Colonies or States before the 
 year 1789, and not subsequently superseded, altered, or repeal- 
 ed by legislation, General or Diocesan, of this Church. 
 
 Which motion w^as lost. 
 
 The question then recurring on the amendment 
 proposed by the Rev. Mr. Mead, there were 11 
 dioceses voting aye, 25 nay, and 4 divided, of tlie 
 clerical order ; and 21 nays, 10 ayes, and 4 divided 
 of the laity. 
 
 The report of the joint committee was there' 
 upon, on motion, laid on the table. 
 
260 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 It was moved by the Rev. Benjatnin I. Ilaight, 
 D.D., LL.D., that the House " concur with the 
 House of Bishops in Message No. 50." 
 
 Mr. William Welsh, of the Diocese of Pennsyl- 
 vania, moved to amend the Canon communicated to 
 the House by Message No. 50, from the House of 
 Bishops, by striking out the words in § III. follow- 
 ing the word ^' Promded^' and inserting instead the 
 words '^ that said determination shall have moral 
 force, but no legal effect, miless in the case of a trial 
 and judgment by a legally constituted court, and 
 provided, also, that the operation of this Canon 
 shall cease at the close of the next General Con- 
 vention ;" which motion was lost. 
 
 The Eev. Meyer Lewin, D.D., of the Diocese of 
 Maryland, moved to amend the Canon commnni- 
 ated in Message No. 50, from the House of Bishops, 
 by striking out '' 1603 " from § II., and " a " before 
 "Rector," and " a " before ^' Yestry," and inserting 
 the word "the" before " Rector," and "the" be- 
 fore " Yestry." 
 
 Mr. Samuel B. Churchill, of the Diocese of Ken- 
 tucky, moved to amend the amendment offered by 
 the clerical deputy from Maryland, as follows : 
 
 Amend by striking out Subsection 3, and strike out § III,, 
 and insert in lieu thereof the following : 
 
 Every minister in this Church shall be liable to presentment 
 and trial for using any Ritual acts or observances which teach 
 or symbolize any doctrine contrary to that held by the Protest- 
 ant Episcopal Church of the United States of America, and that 
 the authorities of the Church shall take steps, with all reason- 
 able promptness, to suppress all services, ceremonies, or acts 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHUECIl. 261 
 
 which symbolize or teach the doctrine commonly known as 
 Transubstantiation. 
 
 Which was lost. 
 
 The question recurring on the amendment offer- 
 ed by the clerical deputy from Maryland, it was 
 lost. 
 
 The question then recurred on the motion of con- 
 currence with the House of Bishops, which was lost. 
 
 There were 40 dioceses represented by clerical 
 votes, of which 20 dioceses voted in the affirmative, 
 13 dioceses in the negative, and T dioceses divided. 
 
 There were 34 dioceses represented by lay votes, of 
 which 18 dioceses voted in the affirmative, 14 dio- 
 ceses in the negative, and 2 dioceses were divided. 
 
 The Bishops on the closing day of the session 
 sent the following message Q^o. 71) : 
 
 The House of Bishops informs the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies that it has adopted the following resolution : 
 
 Resolved, the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies concurring. 
 That the following Canon be adopted and enacted, to be enti- 
 tled 
 
 Canon — . 
 
 The elevation of the elements in the Holy Communion in 
 such manner as to expose them to the view of the people as 
 objects toward which adoration is to be made, in or after the 
 Prayer of Consecration, or in the act of administering them, or 
 in carrying them to or from the communicants, and any gesture, 
 posture, or act implying such adoration ; and any ceremony 
 not prescribed as part of the Order of the Administration of 
 the Lord's Supper or Holy Communion, in the Book of Com- 
 mon Prayer, and the celebration or reception of the Holy Com- 
 munion by any Bishop or Priest when no person receives with 
 him ; likewise the use, at any administration of the Holy Com- 
 munion, of any Hymns, Prayers, Collects, Epistles, or Gospels, 
 
THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 other than those appointed in the authorized formularies of the 
 Church, or under J^ XIV. of Canon 13 of Title I. of the Digest, 
 are hereby forbidden. 
 
 On the question of concurrence, the vote being 
 taken by dioceses and orders, there were 39 dio- 
 ceses represented by clerical deputies, of wliich 17 
 dioceses voted in the affirmative, 18 dioceses voted 
 in the negative, and 4 dioceses were divided. Of 
 the laity there were 33 dioceses represented, of 
 which 18 dioceses voted in the affirmative, 12 dio- 
 ceses voted in the negative, and there were 3 dio- 
 ceses divided. The resolution of concurrence was 
 lost for lack of concurrence of orders. 
 
 The Eev. Theodore B. Lyman, D.D., of the Dio- 
 cese of California, offered the following resolutions : 
 
 Jtesolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That this Con- 
 vention hereby expresses its decided condemnation of all cere- 
 monies, observances, and practices which are fitted to express a 
 doctrine foreign to that set forth in the authorized standards of 
 this Church. 
 
 Jtesolved, That in the judgment of this House the paternal 
 counsel and advice of the Right Reverend Fathers, the Bishops 
 of the Church, is deemed sufficient at this time to secure the 
 suppression of all that is irregular and unseemly, and to pro- 
 mote greater uniformity in conducting the public worship of 
 the Church, and in the administration of the Holy Sacraments. 
 
 A division of the question having been called for, 
 the resolutions were successively adopted with but 
 little, if any, opposition. 
 
 In the course of this protracted and brilliant dis- 
 cussion, and as a part of a speech of great eloquence 
 and power, the Eev. Dr. DeKoven of Wisconsin, 
 
OF THK AMEKICAN CHUKCH. 263 
 
 uttered the following words, which are here re- 
 corded as a part of the liistorj of this session : 
 
 It is impossible for me, in the space allowed, to go into the 
 doctrine of the Real Presence. 1 only want to say something 
 with regard to it, and then something with respect to another 
 question. 
 
 First of all, the objection that I have to this Canon,* or 
 any other like it, is that it bears upon doctrine, and seems to 
 settle it in one direction. Now questions of doctrine should 
 not be settled by any Canon which does not bear directly uijon 
 doctrine. Our Church has always acted on this principle. It 
 has a Canon providing that if people teach false doctrine they 
 should be tried and suspended, or punished in accordance with 
 that Canon ; and the objection to this is that it implies that 
 people teach false doctrine by certain ceremonies and then 
 punishes them, where, perhaps, they use those ceremonies 
 without teaching false doctrine. I want to do what my brother 
 from Wisconsin did yesterday, only in another direction ; I 
 want to give any body in this House the opportunity of pre- 
 senting me for false doctrine if he wishes ; and, in order to do 
 so I choose some language which is rather balder and bolder 
 than any I myself would use excepting in a company of theolo- 
 gians, and I use this language for another purpose which I will 
 explain presently. I believe in— and this will be printed to- 
 morrow, and I will write it out, if necessary, for any body who 
 wants to use it— I believe in "the Real, Actual Presence of our 
 Lord under the form of bread and wine upon the altars of our 
 churches." I myself adore, and would, if it were necessary or 
 my duty, ' ' teach my people to adore Christ present in the ele- 
 ments under the form of bread and wine." And I use these 
 words because they are a bold statement of the doctrine of the 
 Real Presence ; but I use them for another reason ; they are 
 adjudicated words ; they are words which, used by a divine of 
 the Church of England, have been tried in the highest ecclesi- 
 astical court of England, and have been decided by that eccle- 
 
 *That communicated in Message No. 71, from the House of 
 Bishops. 
 
264 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 Biaatical court to come within the limits of the truth held in the 
 Church of England. So much so that that very Sir Robert Phil, 
 limore, whose judicial decisions have been quoted here before, 
 has decided that " if he were to pronounce these words wrong" 
 — now I read his very language — " I should be passing sentence, 
 in my opinion, upon a long roll of illustrious divines who have 
 adorned our University and fought the good fight of our Church 
 from Ridley" — whom the clerical delegate from Massachusetts 
 quoted as entertaining his view — " from Ridley to Keble — from 
 the divine whose martyrdom the cross of Oxford commemo- 
 rates, to the divine in whose honor that University has just 
 founded her last college."* 
 
 The following " Declaration" was communicated 
 to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies for the 
 information of that body concerning the action of 
 the Bishops in a matter of much gravity, and of 
 great interest to both Houses : 
 
 Declaration op the Bishops in Council. 
 
 October 11, 1871. 
 We, the subscribers, Bishops of the Protestant Episcopal 
 Church in the United States, being asked, in order to the quiet- 
 ing of the consciences of sundry members of the said Church, 
 to declare our conviction as to the meaning of the word 
 " Regenerate" in the OflBces for the Ministration of Baptism of 
 Infants, do declare that, in our opinion, the word "Regene- 
 rate" is not there so used as to determine that a moral change 
 in the subject oi baptism is wrought in the sacrament. 
 (Signed) B. B. Smith, Bishop of Kentucky. 
 
 Chas. p. McIlvaine, Bishop of the Diocese of 
 
 Ohio. 
 Saml. a. McCoskry, Bishop of Michigan. 
 William R. Wiiittingham, Bishop of Mary- 
 land. 
 Alfred Lee, Bishop of the Diocese of Dela- 
 ware. 
 
 * Debates of the House of Deputies, pp. 505, 506. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 265 
 
 John Johns, Bishop of tlie Diocese of Virginia. 
 
 Manton Eastburn, Bishop of the Diocese of 
 Massachusetts. 
 
 W. M. Green, Bishop of Mississippi. 
 
 John Payne, Missionary Bishop of Cape Pal- 
 mas, Africa. 
 
 John Williams, Bishop of Connecticut. 
 
 Henry J. Whitehouse, Bishop of Illinois. 
 
 Thomas F. Davis, Bishop of South-Carolina. 
 
 Thomas Atkinson, Bishop of North-Carolina. 
 
 Wm. Ingraham Kip, Bishop of California. 
 
 Henry W. Lee, Bishop of the Diocese of Iowa. 
 
 Horatio Potter, Bishop of New-York. 
 
 Thomas M. Clark, Bishop of Rhode Island. 
 
 Alexander Gregg, Bishop of Texas, 
 
 G. T. Bedell, Assistant Bishop of the Diocese 
 of Ohio. 
 
 H. B. Whipple, Bishop of Minnesota. 
 
 Henry C. Lay, Bishop of Easton. 
 
 Jos. C. Talbot, Assistant Bishop of Indiana. 
 
 Wm. Bacon Stevens, Bishop of the Diocese of 
 Pennsylvania. 
 
 Richard H. Wilmer, Bishop of Alabama. 
 
 Thomas H. Vail, Bishop of the Diocese of 
 Kansas. 
 
 A. Cleveland Coxe, Bishop of Western New- 
 York. 
 
 Charles Todd Quintard, Bishop of Tennessee. 
 
 Robert H. Clarkson, Bishop of Nebraska. 
 
 George M. Randall, Missionary Bishop of 
 Colorado. 
 
 John B. Kerfoot, Bishop of Pittsburgh. 
 
 J. P. B. Wilmer, Bishop of Louisiana. 
 
 Geo. David Cummins, Assistant Bishop of 
 Kentucky. 
 
 William E. Armitage, Bishop of Wisconsin. 
 
 Henry A. Neely, Bishop of Maine. 
 
 Daniel S. Tuttle, Missionary Bishop of Mon- 
 tana. 
 
 John W. Beckwith, Bishop of Georgia. 
 
2(56 THE GENEKAL CONVENTION 
 
 Francis M. WiriTTi.E, Assistant Bishop of the 
 Diocese of Virginia. 
 
 W. H. A. BissELL, Bishop of Vermont. 
 
 C. F. Robertson, Bishoj) of Missouri. 
 
 B. WiSTAR JtlouRis, Missionary Bishop of Ore- 
 gon. 
 
 A. N. LiTTLEJOHN, Bishop of Long Island. 
 
 Wm. Croswell Doane, Bishop of Albany. 
 
 F. D. Huntington, Bishop of Central New- 
 York. 
 
 O. W. Whitaker, Missionary Bishop of 
 Nevada. 
 
 Henry N. Pierce, Missionary Bishop of 
 Arkansas and the Indian Territory. 
 
 William W. Niles, Bishop of New-Hampshire. 
 
 William Pinkney, Assistant Bishop of Mary- 
 land. 
 
 W. B. W. Howe, Assistant Bishop of South- 
 Carolina. 
 Attest : Henry C. Potter, Secretary. 
 Oct. 12, 1871. 
 
 The business of tlie fifth day, Octoher 9th, was 
 stayed that prayers might be offered " in behalf of 
 the great city of Chicago," then " suffering under 
 the calamity of fire," and in behalf of " its inhabi- 
 tants who are liouseless and liomeless under the 
 visitation of Ahnighty God." On the evening of 
 the same day, after a sermon by the Lord Bishop of 
 Lichfield, an offering of $2190.91 was made in 
 behalf of the sufferers, among the very first of that 
 outpouring of wealth by which the world itself 
 sought to show its sympathy with the necessities of 
 this doomed city. At a later day the sufferers by 
 fire in Wisconsin and Michigan were commended 
 to the charity of the Church. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 267 
 
 In the matter of the Hymnal the following ac- 
 tion was iinallj taken : 
 
 Resolved, That the Hymnal reported by the Joint Commit- 
 tee of this Geoieral Convention be authorized for use in tliis 
 Church, and that no other Hymns be allowed in the Public 
 Worship of this Church, except such as are now ordinarily 
 bound up with the Book of Common Prayer. 
 
 Resolved, That this Hymnal, when finally corrected by the 
 Committee thereon, shall be free to be printed and published 
 by all responsible publishers who shall obtain a license to that 
 effect from the trustees of the Fund for the Relief of Widows 
 and Orplians of Deceased Clergymen, and of Aged, Infirm, and 
 Disabled Clergymen, and who shall assure to such trustees a 
 payment, to be applied for the uses of said fund, equivalent to 
 ten per cent upon the retail selling price ; and that the copy- 
 right of the Hymnal be vested in said trustees. 
 
 Resolved, That the first of the foregoing resolutions shall 
 take effect on the Feast of the Epiphany, 1872. 
 
 Resolved, That this Hymnal shall not be bound up with the 
 Book of Common Prayer, until order to that effect shall be 
 taken by the General Convention. 
 
 Resolved, That the Committee on the Hymnody of the 
 Church shall be continued, with instructions to make such 
 alterations in the text of the Hymnal now adopted, as may be 
 needed in order to secure accuracy and literary completeness. 
 
 Resolved, That suggestions as to the introduction of Hymns 
 into this Hymnal, or the omission of Hymns from it, may be 
 submitted to the Committee until Tuesday, October 17, 1871, 
 at 3 o'clock, and that the Committee be requested to report 
 their judgment thereon before the adjournment of this Con- 
 vention. 
 
 Resolved, That if the said supplementary report shall be 
 adopted by the two Houses of the General Convention, the 
 Committee shall be thereby instructed to amend the Hymnal 
 accordingly. 
 
 At the conclusion of the time above named, the 
 Committee on the Hymnal, who were authorized 
 
268 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 to receive suggestions as to the omission of Hymns 
 from the Hymnal, and the addition of Hymns 
 thereto, reported that they had been greatly aided 
 in the work of revision by contributions which have 
 been offered by members of the Convention. A 
 re-examination of the Hymnal disclosed several 
 literary blemishes and errors of typography, which 
 were to be corrected before the book was printed 
 for the use of the Church. 
 
 In order to make room for additional Hymns, and believing 
 tliat their omission will not impair the value of the collection, 
 the Committee recommend that the following Hymns be re- 
 moved from the Hymnal, namely, Hymns 11, 72, 98, 134, 193, 
 209, 250, 315, 367, 441, 492,— eleven in all. 
 
 In compliance with the earnest wish of many persons, the 
 Committee have inserted several additional Hymns, which 
 have been carefully selected from a large amount of material 
 kindly placed in their hands, most of which have been widely 
 adopted in the Church of England, and have become endeared 
 to our congregations by frequent use during the last three 
 years, under the sanction of the authorities of the Church. 
 
 The Committee assure the Convention that nothing will be 
 found in the Hymnal, as thus revised, which can offend a re- 
 fined Christian taste, and they are confident that in no case has 
 an expression been admitted that is not in accordance with the 
 doctrines of our Communion, and the teachings of the Book of 
 Common Prayer. 
 
 The Committee were instructed to amend the 
 Hymnal accordingly, and they were further di- 
 rected to arrange for and supervise the printing of 
 the iirst edition. 
 
 With reference to an inquiry referred to the Com- 
 mittee on Canons, whether the conjunctive " and " 
 between the words " clericaV and ^'lai/'' in Art. 2 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 269 
 
 of the Constitution, was not an unanthorized sub- 
 stitution for the disjunctive " or;'^ it was ascertained 
 that in the original document, containing the first 
 Constitution of the Protestant Episcopal Church in 
 the United States of America, bearing date on the 
 second day of October, 1789, the clause referred to 
 is as follows: "In all questions when required by 
 the clerical or lay representation from any State ;" 
 that the word " or" was uniformly used until the 
 year 1808 ; and that since that period, the word 
 " and " has been printed instead of " or ;" that the 
 original text of the Constitution has not been 
 changed in the mode prescribed by the Constitu- 
 tion ; and that the alteration was evidently a typo- 
 graphical error, and is unauthorized. 
 
 The Secretary, in all future publications of the 
 Constitution, was instructed to cause the word 
 " or^'' to be printed between the words " clerical " 
 and " Z«y," in the second article of the Constitution, 
 instead of the word " and.^^ 
 
 The proposed change in Art. 5 of the Constitu- 
 tion, removing restrictions upon the division of 
 dioceses, was ratified, and further amendments in 
 Arts. 5 and 4 laid over for the final action of the Con- 
 vention of 1874. Arkansas was admitted into 
 union. The revision of the canons relating to 
 candidates for orders was thoroughly effected. The 
 attendance of delegates from convocations in the 
 missionary jurisdictions w^as permitted. Expres- 
 sions of sympathy with the disestablished Church 
 of Ireland were adopted. The new cycle com- 
 pleting the century in the Calendar was finally 
 
270 THE GENERAL CONVENTIOX 
 
 ratified. A new standard Prayer Book was 
 adopted, and tlie committee thereon continued to 
 report a table of lessons for Aveek-days in Lent. A 
 new Indian jurisdiction was established under the 
 title " Niobrara," with the following boundaries : 
 On the east by the Missouri river ; on the south by 
 the State of Nebraska; on the west by 104th 
 meridian, the territories of Wyoming and Nebras- 
 ka ; on the north by 46th degree of north latitude, 
 and including the several Indian reservations on 
 the left bank of the Missouri river, north and east 
 of the said river. 
 
 The Jubilee of the Domestic and Foreign Mis- 
 sionary Society of the Church was celebrated with 
 solemn services. Bishop Payne, of West- Africa, 
 resigned his Episcopate, and the effort to fill his 
 place failed on account of the unwillingness of the 
 House of Deputies to suffer the loss of the services 
 of Dr. William Hobart Hare, who had been nomi- 
 nated, as secretary of the foreign missionary work. 
 A standing committee on Indian affairs was ap- 
 pointed. The important matters of the Italian 
 Reform movement and the intercommunion with 
 the Eastern Church received due attention. Dean 
 Howson addressed the House of Deputies with 
 reference to the movement in Italy for the refor- 
 mation of the Church, and an able and exhaustive 
 report on the Eastern Church question appears in 
 the Appendix. The use by congregations of 
 foreigners of formularies in their vernacular 
 tongue, in harmony with the doctrine, discipline, 
 and worship of the Church was allowed at the 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 271 
 
 discretion of each Diocesan. The " introdnction 
 of any notation, punctuation, or other deviation 
 from the Standard " Prayer Book was pronounced 
 unlawfuL 
 
 The Committee on the State of the Cliurch 
 closed their report as follows : 
 
 We can not close this report without expressing our un- 
 feig-ned pleasure at the scene presented to our eyes to-day, the 
 Church never more united during any period of her national 
 history than at this hour. We have seen how God's constrain- 
 ing grace, guiding hand, and tender love are stronger than 
 our douists, alienations, and fears. We can not but rejoice in 
 the fact that in this great Triennial General Council, the strife 
 has been not, as so many predicted, to destroy our goodly 
 heritage and devour one another, but to see who can be most 
 forbearing, indulgent, kindly, and magnanimous, and yet pre- 
 serve his conscience pure and his convictions of duty clear, 
 his heart ready for whatever grace and blessing may be vouch- 
 safed, and his hands outstretched for whatever work may be 
 assigned him. Let God's holy name ever be praised for " the 
 unspeakable gift" of that " charity which is the very bond of 
 perfectness." 
 
 The important questions of the employment of an 
 order of " Evangelists," and the organization of the 
 services of Christian women, were discussed with 
 evident approval. Memorials from the Dioceses of 
 Texas and California, asking for permission to elect 
 Assistant Bishops, on the ground of extent of terri- 
 tory, were received with favor, and the relief de- 
 sired allowed. 
 
 The House of Bishops was " solicited to take 
 such measures for an early increase of the number 
 of Chief Pastors in our missionary field as they in 
 their judgment may deem wise and well, so that 
 
272 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 those regions wliicli are now insufficiently supplied 
 may enjoy a due share of Episcopal oversight." 
 
 The Presiding Bisliop was directed by the House 
 of Bishops, on motion of the Bisliop of Xew-York, 
 " to return to the Right Rev. the Lord Bisliop of 
 Winchester a courteous and brotherly acknowledg- 
 ment of his communication relating to a revision 
 of the English of the Holy Scriptures, stating that 
 this House, having had no part in originating or or- 
 ganizing the said work of revision, is not at present 
 in a condition to deliver any judgment respecting 
 it, and at the same time expressing the disposition 
 of this House to consider with candor the work un- 
 dertaken by the Convocation of Canterbury, when- 
 ever it shall have been completed, and its results 
 laid before thein." 
 
 On motion of the Bishop of Albany, it was or- 
 dered that the following minute be entered on the 
 Journals of the House of Bishops : 
 
 We, the Bishops of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the 
 United States of America, having our attention called to the 
 published report of the proceedings of the Alt-Catholic Con- 
 gress, recently assembled in Munich, put on record the expres- 
 sion of our earnest sympathy with the heroic struggle for re- 
 ligious liberty now making by the members of that Congress ; 
 and of our anxious hope and fervent prayers that God may 
 give them counsel and might to maintain and carry out the de- 
 termination to reject all dogmas set up under any Pope, in con- 
 tradiction to the teaching of the primitive Church, and to hold 
 fast to the old Catholic faith, as it was by the Apostles deli- 
 vered to the Saints. 
 
 The Bishops referred the question of the expedi- 
 ency of introducing the Provincial System to the 
 next Convention. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CIlL'liCII. 273 
 
 An elaborate communication from tlie Rev. Pre- 
 sident Barnard, of Columbia College, on the Pas- 
 chal Cycle, is printed in the Appendix. 
 
 A new Canon, " Of the Board of Missions," and 
 another, as to the time when new Canons take ef- 
 fect, were adopted, and numerous changes were 
 made in the other Canons. 
 
 The number of clergy reported was two thousand 
 eight hundred and seventy six. 
 
 The record of the proceedings of this Convention, 
 with the necessary appendices and the amended 
 Canons, makes a closely printed volume of seven 
 hundred and eighty pages ; the very size affording, 
 by contrast with the single " Broadside" proceed- 
 ings of the preliminary gathering in 1784, a marked 
 evidence of the growth and present strength of 
 the American Church. 
 
274 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 THE COI^YENTION OF 1874. 
 
 The Convention of 1874 met on the 7tli of Octo- 
 ber in St. John's Chapel, of Tnnity Parish, in the 
 citj of New York. The presence of the Lord 
 Bishop of Lichfield, whose attendance npon the 
 preceding Convention had been so fruitful in happy 
 results, together with the Metropolitan of Canada, 
 the Lord Bishop of Quebec, the Lord Bishop of 
 Kingston, and the Right Rev. Dr. Tozer, late Mis- 
 sionary Bishop of Zanzibar, Central Africa, gave 
 added dignity to a gathering of Bishops, Clergy, 
 and Laity such as had never assembled in Conven- 
 tion before. The session of the Convention ex- 
 tended until the 3d of November, twenty-four work- 
 ing days, eight of vdiich were spent in secret ses- 
 sion. There were forty-three Bishops, and one 
 hundred and sixty-five clerical and one hundred 
 and forty-four lay deputies in attendance, besides 
 four clerical and two lay delegates from the Mis- 
 sionary Jurisdictions. One member-elect was raised 
 to the Episcopate during the session, and during the 
 recess of Convention seven of its members have 
 been consecrated, while three otliers liave received 
 the honor of an election to the ljisho])ric, which has 
 not been consummated. The preacher Avas the Lord 
 Bishop of Lichlield, who filled the place of the 
 Bishop of Mississippi at the solicitation of that 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 276 
 
 venerable prelate. The following extract from this 
 admirable discom'se will give the keynote of the 
 whole, and indicate a leading object of the presence 
 of Bishop Selwyn at this session of Convention. 
 
 The true office, then, of the Synods and Conventions of the 
 Church is to pray for the grace of the Holy Spirit to enable 
 them to search the deep things of God. We have the Holy 
 Bible in our hands ; each one of us is free to read ; free to 
 seek the promised blessing, that they who search the Scrip- 
 tures shall find ; but still the fact remains, that whether it be 
 from prejudice, or self-deceit, or defect of prayer, the readers 
 of the same Word differ in opinion widely one from another. 
 Can all be right ; or, according to the current phrase, shall all 
 agree to differ ? Oh ! no. It is truth that we seek. To 
 acquiesce in error is to give up the search after truth. God has 
 set His bow in the cloud to teach us that the refracted rays of 
 many colors must be made to converge again. Men of narrow 
 opinions and partial views must blend together in one those 
 partial glimpses of the truth which each has mistaken for the 
 whole. When party spirit, like the dark cloud, shall have 
 passed away, and with it the many-colored rays of religious 
 opinions, then will truth of doctrine shine forth, like the face 
 of our transfigured Lord, shining as the sun, and like His rai- 
 ment white as the light. 
 
 That focus of the scattered rays of light has ever been in 
 the Holy Synods of the Church. How glorious were those 
 days in which the Holy Ghost poured down the spirit of coun- 
 sel upon an undivided Christendom ! Think what we, as 
 descended from Gentile forefathers, owe to the Apostles, 
 Elders, and brethren for that decree, which seemed good to 
 the Holy Ghost and to them : " Then hath God also to the 
 Gentiles granted repentance unto life. " In consequence of that 
 decree we have been brought out of darkness and error to 
 the clear light and true knowledge of God and of His Son 
 Jesus Christ. 
 
 Think again what we owe to the Council of Nicaea, where all 
 the diverging questions, *' What think ye of Christ ?" were 
 gathered into one by the voice of the Holy Ghost speaking 
 
270 THE GENERAL CONVENTION. 
 
 through the Bishops of the Universal Church : " We believe in 
 one Lord Jesus Christ, God of God. Light of Light." 
 
 Was the Spirit lost when the Churches of the East and 
 West were rent asunder ? Oh ! no. The Lord has said that 
 "He will be with His Church alway." True it is that a di- 
 vided Christendom cannot pray for the gifts of the Holy Ghost 
 with the same full assurance as if every prayer went up to 
 heaven from a multitude of believers still of one heart and one 
 Boul. But the privilege which belongs to united prayers may 
 still be exercised by a Church like ours, which it has pleased 
 God to extend far and wide over the face of the earth and 
 among the islands of the sea. Her prayers never cease day 
 or night. Her bishoprics are one hundred and sixty. I will 
 not say that a Church like ours can decide questions of doc 
 trine with full authority like that of the undivided Church ; 
 but until the time shall come, in the counsels of God, for that 
 reunion of Christendom for which we devoutly pray, the pray- 
 ers of such a branch of the Church as ours cannot fail to pro- 
 cure for us a large measure of the gifts of the Spirit, if only 
 we agree together as to what we shall ask of the Father. The 
 same desire for unity which brings you together in your Gen- 
 eral Convention will much more lead us to look forward to an- 
 other meeting of the Lambeth Conference, to seek more care- 
 fully for the mind of .Jesus, and to pray more earnestly for the 
 Holy Ghost to heal the divisions of our Church. 
 
 " Let us, therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded ; 
 and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal 
 even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already 
 attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same 
 thing-." 
 
 The organization of the two Houses was effected 
 at the close of the impressive opening services, the 
 Et. Eev. Dr. Bosworth Smith presiding in the 
 House of Bishops with the Eev. Dr. Potter as Sec- 
 retary, and the Eev. Drs. Craik and Perry being 
 unanimously re-elected to their respective positions 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 277 
 
 as President and Secretary of the House of 
 Deputies. 
 
 On the second day of the session the testimonials 
 of the Rev. Dr. Welles, Bishop-elect of Wisconsin, 
 and the Rev. Dr. Seymour, Bishop-elect of Illinois, 
 vrere presented and referred. About the latter issue 
 arose the great controversy of the Convention. 
 Going into secret session on the seventh day, this 
 question occupied the attention of the House until 
 the fourteenth day, when, after a discussion rarely 
 if ever exceeded in interest or in the admirable tem- 
 per in which it was conducted, the vote w^as reached 
 as follows : 
 
 In favor of the confirmation of the Bishop-elect 
 of Illinois : of the Clergy there were 41 Dioceses 
 represented, of which there were ayes 19 — Albany, 
 California, Central Xew York, Easton, Georgia, 
 Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Long Island, Maine, Michi- 
 gan, Minnesota, Mississij^pi, Missouri, New Hamp- 
 shire, New York,Yermont, Western New York, Wis- 
 consin, The nays were 10 — Connecticut, Delaware, 
 Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, 
 Ohio, Pennsylvania, Yirginia. Divided, 12 — Alaba- 
 ma, Arkansas, Central Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, 
 Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, 
 Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas. 
 
 Of the Laity there were 40 Dioceses represented. 
 Ayes, 13 — Alabama, Albany, Illinois, Maine, 
 Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, 
 New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Vermont. 
 Nays, 18 — California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, 
 Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Long Island, 
 
278 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 Minnesota, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, 
 Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, Western 
 New York, Wisconsin. Divided, 9 — Central New 
 York, Central Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Easton, 
 Louisiana, Massachusetts, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, 
 Texas. 
 
 The question turning to a great extent on the 
 supposed doctrinal ^^ews of the Rev. Dr. Seymour, 
 the following statements, over his signature, were 
 presented during the debate, and are of sufficient 
 importance to be reproduced on these pages. 
 
 Question. — Is it in accordance with the standards of this 
 Church to teach, either by word or act, the adoration of our 
 Blessed Lord under the form of bread and wiue in the Eucha- 
 rist ? 
 
 Ansicer. — I hold, in accordance with the standards of the 
 Church of England, " that no adoratiou is intended or ought to 
 be done either unto the Sacramental Bread or Wine there bodily 
 received, or unto any corporal presence of Christ's natural 
 Flesh and Blood. For the Sacramental Bread and Wine re- 
 main still in their very natural substances, and therefore may 
 not be adored (for that were idolatry to be abhorred of all 
 faithful Christians) ; and the natural Body and Blood of our 
 Saviour Christ are in heaven, and not here, it being against 
 the truth of Christ's natural Body to be at one time in more 
 places than one." I hold, also, in accordance with our Twenty- 
 eighth Article, that " the Body of Christ is given, taken, and 
 eaten in the Supper only after an heavenly and spiritual man- 
 ner, and the mean whereby the Body of Christ is received is 
 Faith." I hold, also, with the same Article, that " the Sacra- 
 ment of the Lord's Supper was not by Christ's ordinance re- 
 served, carried about, lifted up, or worshipped." 
 
 George F. Seymour. 
 
 October 21, 1874. 
 
 Question. — Is attendance on the Sacrament for the purpose 
 of assisting in the sacrifico without the reception of the ele- 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 279 
 
 ments consonant with the spirit of our offices and articles — in 
 other words, the offices and articles of the Protestant Episcopal 
 Church ? 
 
 Answer.— Sack attendance, wiili such a purpose, ought, in 
 my judgment, to be discouraged as not in any way recognized 
 by our offices and articles ; that is, the offices and articles of 
 the Protestant Episcopal Church. 
 
 George F. Seymour. 
 
 October 21, 1874. 
 
 Question.— Does the habit of private or Sacramental Confes- 
 sion, so-called, foster as a means of grace a higher type of 
 holiness than the disuse of such confession, except in the way 
 and for the purposes indicated in the warning appointed to be 
 read before the Holy Communion ? 
 
 Answer. —I have never taught, encouraged, or practised the 
 habit of private or Sacramental Confession, and I have never 
 seen the fruits of such a practice in others, and hence I am not 
 able to say what such fruits would be. I only know of Con- 
 fession as it is taught and allowed by the standards of the 
 Protestant Episcopal Church and sanctioned by the Bishops in 
 their Pastoral of 1871. 
 
 George F. Seymour. 
 
 October 21, 1874. 
 
 Question. — Did you, or do you ever, when present at the 
 Holy Communion, practise bowings, crossings, kneelings, gen- 
 uflexions, or any bodily act intending thereby to express any 
 adoration of the Sacrament ? 
 
 Answer. — I have never on any occasion done so ; nor could 
 T possibly do so, since I do not wish, nor have I ever at any 
 time desired, to pay such adoration. Such adoration would be 
 contrary to my convictions ; it would be an awful impiety. 
 
 George F. Seymour. 
 
 October 21, 1874. 
 
 Shortly before the vote was taken, the following 
 letter was read by the Secretary to the House. The 
 request it contained was not granted. 
 
280 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 To THE OlERICAI* AND LaY DEPUTIES OP THE GENERAL 
 
 Convention. 
 Reverend Brethren and Brethren of the Laity : 
 
 The unprecedented course which has been adopted and pur- 
 sued by the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies in reference to 
 the question of my Confirmation to the Episcopate justifies me, I 
 venture to submit, in addressing this note to your Reverend 
 and Honorable Body, to crave the privilege of being allowed to 
 be present on the floor of your House to answer for myself the 
 charges which may be made against me as to any thing that I 
 have ever said or done. 
 
 Vague rumors reach me of serious accusations, which, so far 
 as I have been able to ascertain the drift of them, are without 
 exception founded on mistake, and are easily corrected and re- 
 futed. But in most points they touch upon things fully known 
 only to myself or two others who are not members of your 
 House, so that no explanations sent through third persons can 
 be entirely satisfactory to you or just to me. 
 
 I can truly say from my heart that 1 never sought or desired 
 the Episcopal office. My present painful position, as a Bishop- 
 elect, is one into which I was suddenly forced by circumstances 
 over which I had no control. Gladly would I, had I the 
 power, replace myself where I was when the Diocese of Hlinois 
 elected me, but this I cannot do at this stage of the proceedings. 
 
 For nineteen years and more I have served the Church as 
 Deacon and Presbyter, and I leave it to my Bishop, and my 
 brethren of the clergy and laity, who have known me from the 
 first, to tell how I have lived and how I have labored. But I 
 will say for myself that the Protestant Episcopal Church has 
 never had a more loyal son than she has in me. I will say 
 for myself, and all who know me will bear me witness that it 
 is true, that there is nothing which is further from my nature 
 than concealment or evasion. 
 
 The question with me is not whether I am to be made a 
 Bishop or no. My anxiety is altogether for my life and use- 
 fulness as a clergyman, and my character as a man. 
 With great respect. 
 
 Very faithfully and truly yours, 
 
 George F. Seymour. 
 General Theological Seminary, 
 New York, Oct. 22, 1874. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 281 
 
 Certain questions of fact growing ont of this pain- 
 fully interesting and absorbing discussion, and giv- 
 ing rise to subsequent criminations and recrimina- 
 tions, need not be considered here. The result of 
 the week's debate, so far as the charge of sympathy 
 with Ritualism urged against Dr. Seymour, may be 
 given in the words of the late Eev. Dr. Andrews 
 — himself an earnest and acute participant in the 
 discussion — as follows : '' The candidate, however, 
 sustained no loss by the scrutiny, since the convic- 
 tion of his being a Ritualist was at least not so gen- 
 eral after the inquiry as it was before.""^ 
 
 The discussion of the question of '^ Ritual " re- 
 sulted in the adoption — by a clerical vote of 38 ayes, 
 2 nays, 1 divided, and a lay vote of 28 ayes, 1 nay, 
 and 2 divided — of the following : 
 
 Section, to be numbered ^ II., added to Canon 20 (renum- 
 bered Canon 22) of Title I. , to wit : 
 
 § II. [1.] If any Bishop have reason to believe, or if com- 
 plaint be made to him in writing by two or more of his Pres- 
 byters, that within his jurisdiction ceremonies or practices not 
 ordained or authorized in the Book of Common Prayer, and 
 setting forth or symbolizing erroneous or doubtful doctrines, 
 have been introduced by any minister during the celebration 
 of the Holy Communion (such as, 
 
 a. The elevation of the Elements in the Holy Communion in 
 such manner as to expose them to the view of the people as 
 objects towards which adoration is to be made. 
 
 h. Any act of adoration of or towards the Elements in the 
 Holy Communion, such as bowings, prostrations, or genuflex- 
 ions ; and 
 
 c. All other like acts not authorized by the Rubrics of the 
 Book of Common Prayer :) 
 
 * Church Review, xxvii. 36. 
 
282 THE GENERAL CONVENTION" 
 
 It shall be the duty of such Biriiiop to summou the StandiDg 
 Committee as his Council of Advice, and with them to investi- 
 gate the matter. 
 
 [2.] If, after investigation, it shall appear to the Bishop and 
 Standing Committee that ceremonies or practices not ordained 
 or authorized as aforesaid, and setting forth or symbolizing 
 erroneous or doubtful doctrines, have in fact been introduced 
 as aforesaid, it shall be the duty of the Bishop, by instru- 
 ment of writing uiider his hand, to admonish the minister so 
 offending to discontinue such practices or ceremonies ; and if 
 the minister shall disregard such admonition, it shall be the 
 duty of the Standing Committee to cause him to be tried for a 
 breach of his ordination vow. 
 
 Provided, That nothing herein contained shall prevent the 
 presentment, trial, and punishment of any minister under the 
 provisions of ^ 1, Canon 2, Title II. of the Digest. 
 
 [8.] In all investigations under the provisions of this Canon, 
 the minister whose acts or practices are the subject matter of 
 the investigation, shall be notified, and have opportunity to be 
 heard in his defence. The charges preferred, and the findings 
 of the Bishop and Standing (-ommittee, shall be in writing, 
 and a record shall be kept of the proceedings in the case. 
 
 Tlie action of the General Convention of 1853,* 
 giving an interpretation to the meaning of the con- 
 stitutional " three days " within which the House 
 of Bishops are required to return a negative, with 
 their reasons, to render inoperative action of the 
 House of Deputies, was practically reversed by the 
 following recommendation of the Committee on 
 Amendment to the Constitution, which view, after 
 discussion, was finally adopted by the Convention. 
 
 The amendment in question relates to the setting apart by 
 the General Convention of a portion of the territory of any 
 
 * Ante, pp. 194, 195. Query, Does not Canon VII. of 1850 
 by this ruling become void ? 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 283 
 
 organized Diocese too large for the Episcopal ^supervision of 
 tiie Bishop thereof, with the consent of such Bishop and of 
 the Diocesan Convention, and the placing of such portion 
 under Missionary Jurisdiction. 
 
 It was passed by the House of Delegates on the 25th of 
 October, 1871, and was sent to the House of Bishops for their 
 concurrence. On tlie following day (October 26th) the House 
 of Delegates finally adjourned, and on the next day (October 
 27th) the House of Bishops also adjourned, without having 
 taken any action on the proposed amendment. 
 
 In Article 3 of the Constitution it is provided that the acts 
 of the House of Delegates shall have the operation of laws, 
 unless the House of Bishops shall, within three days after a 
 proposed act shall have been reported to them for concurrence, 
 signify to the Convention their approbation or disapprobation. 
 . The Committee are of opinion that no act of this House can 
 take effect as an act of the Convention by the failure of the 
 House of Bishops to concur or non-concur within the specified 
 time, unless this House shall continue its session during the 
 whole of that time, and that by an earlier final adjournment 
 all acts of legislation not completed by the concurrence of both 
 Houses fall to the ground. 
 
 The Amendment proposed to Article 4, omitting 
 at its close the words " by any Church destitute of 
 a Bishop," and substituting the words " in another 
 Diocese by the ecclesiastical authority thereof," was 
 adopted. The following proposed changes in the 
 Constitution were adopted by concurrent action of 
 both Houses, and will be finally acted upon at the 
 General Convention of 1877, to wit : 
 
 I. ResoUed, That it be recommended and proposed that the 
 following alteration be made in Article 5 of the Constitution, 
 to wit : Insert at the end of the Article the words : 
 
 " The General Convention may, upon the application of the 
 Bishop and Convention of an organized diocese, setting forth 
 that the territory of the Diocese is too large for due episcopal 
 
284 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 tupervision by the Bishop of such Diocese, set off a portion of 
 such Diocesan territory, which shall thereupon be placed 
 within, or constitute, a Missionary Jurisdiction, as the House 
 of Bishops may determine." 
 
 II. Me solved, ThsLi the following be proposed and made known 
 to the several Dioceses as an amendment to Article 8 of the 
 Constitution, to be added at the end of the Article as it now 
 stands, to wit, the words : 
 
 " Provided, That the General Convention may by Canon 
 arrange and set forth a shortened form of Morning and Evening 
 Prayer, to be compiled wholly from the Book of Common 
 Prayer." 
 
 III. Resolved, That the following be proposed as an amend- 
 ment, by way of addition, to the 8th Article of the Constitu- 
 tion, to wit : 
 
 " Provided, hoi,ceve7\ That the General Convention shall havo 
 power, from time to time, to amend the Lectionary ; but no 
 act for this purpose shall be valid which is not voted for by a 
 majority of the whole number of Bishops entitled to seats in 
 the House of Bishops, and by a majority of all the Dioceses 
 entitled to representation in the House of Deputies." 
 
 The presence of the Metropolitan of Canada, with 
 a deputation bearing an address from the Provincial 
 Sjnod, was made the occasion of important confer- 
 ences, resulting in the adoption of resolutions attest- 
 ing practically, as well as in words, the intercom- 
 munion of the American and Canadian Churches. 
 The recommendation of a mutual requirement of 
 Letters Dimissory in the case of clergymen remov- 
 ing from one church to the other, and the giving to 
 the laity letters of introduction and commendation 
 under similar circmnstances, was agreed upon. The 
 Joint Committee having in charge the matter of 
 relations with the Church in Canada was continued. 
 Graceful recognition was made of the eminent ser- 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 2S5 
 
 vices of the Rev. Dr. Haight, providentially prevent- 
 ed from attendance upon the Convention. Provision 
 was made for the better organization of the House, 
 and for the election of a Vice-President. The Secre- 
 tary and Treasurer were made ex-officio members of 
 the House, with the right to speak on matters per- 
 taining to their respective offices even if not returned 
 as Deputies. The consideration of the Provincial 
 System was, after discussion, indelinitely postponed. 
 The cumbersome title of the Lower House was 
 shortened by the omission of the words " Clerical 
 and Lay." 
 
 It was pronounced inexpedient to provide a Court 
 of Appeals, or to institute a Constitutional Commis- 
 sion, as proposed by the far-seeing Bishop of West- 
 ern New York, though both of these important 
 measures received the approval of the Upper House, 
 and must eventually be approved. 
 
 The Joint Committee on the Republication of 
 the Early Journals, dating its first appointment 
 back to the Convention of 1859, and charged with 
 a duty which for many years had occupied the atten- 
 tion of the General Convention, reported that the 
 objects of their appointment had been accomplished 
 so far as the republication of the journals of the Con- 
 vention from 1Y85-1835, inclusive, were concerned. 
 The Committee added, as a simple matter of justice, 
 that the editorial labor in the preparation of this re- 
 print, extending over a period of twelve years, had 
 been performed without cost to the Convention or the 
 Church, and that by the addition of a volume of his- 
 torical papers prepare^ from the MSS. in the 
 
286 THE GENERML CONVENTION 
 
 Archives of the Church by the Historiographer, 
 whicli tlie pubhshers regarded as ensin-ing the sale 
 of the reprint, the plates of the reprinted journals 
 would become the property of the General Conven- 
 tion, and give for the future the means for the re- 
 issue of the whole series of the Journals of Conven- 
 tion when desirable. Both Houses expressed their 
 satisfaction at the successful completion of this im- 
 portant work. The question of a revision of the 
 Nicene Creed was postponed, with the expression 
 of an opinion, on the part of the House of Deputies, 
 that this Church ought not to enter upon any con- 
 sideration of the proposition until it can be done 
 in some united Council of all those autonomous 
 Churches using the English rite, and in communion 
 with this Church and the Church of England. In 
 the House of Bishops the judgment of the Com- 
 mittee to which this subject was referred, was that 
 " a matter so seriously affecting the Great Confes- 
 sion of our Faith should not be practically entered 
 upon without preliminary conferences with other 
 Churches, and especially those with which we are 
 in visible union and communion." After much dis- 
 cussion, the linal action on the Hymnal, a revision 
 of which was presented at this session, was a concur- 
 rent resolution 
 
 That the Trustees, authorized by a former joint resolution 
 oi the two Houses of the General Convention to superintend 
 the revision and publication of the Remsed Hymnal, with 
 power to make the typographical and other changes necessary 
 to conform it to the report of the Committee on the Hymnal, 
 be instructed in the discharge of their duties : 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 287 
 
 1st. To make all necessary corrections of clerical or typo- 
 graphical errors or mistakes in punctuation in the text of the 
 Hymnal as revised, and authorized by the General Convention 
 at its present session. 
 
 2d. To substitute for the word " Jesu" the wi^rd " Jesus," 
 wherever it occurs. 
 
 3d. To make the following corrections in the printed slip 
 distributed to the Convention and headed Changes in the 
 Hymnal, and reported by the Joint Committee ; 
 
 {a) Hymn 315 to be printed as in the " Hymnal," instead of 
 as in the " Prayer Book," 
 
 ih) Hymn 378 to remain as in the Revised Hymnal, being No. 
 63 of the Prayer Book. 
 
 (c) Hymn 393. Substitute for this the Hymnal version. 
 At the end of the Hymns add the " Prayer Book " version, 
 as Hymn 532. 
 
 4th. To make the following alterations, so that as to the 
 Hymns named, the Revised Hymnal may correspond with the 
 Standard Edition of the Hymnal. 
 
 {a) Hymn 219, verse 3d, line 4th, substitute " might well " 
 for " would then." 
 
 (&) Hymn 405, v, 2d, line 1, substitute '' Know that the Lord " 
 for " the Lord ye know." 
 
 (c) Hymn 483, v. 3d, line 3d, substitute " far-seeing" for 
 " foreseeing," 
 
 {d) Hymn 496, insert 4th verse from Bickersteth, and omit 
 5th verse, as now printed. 
 
 (e) Hymn 502, v. 2, line 4, substitute the word " Sovereign" 
 for the word " gracious." 
 
 5th. To make the corrections as proposed by the Hymnal 
 Committee, and as set forth in the printed sheet subniitt( d to 
 the Convention and headed " Corrections." 
 
 6th. To allow no hymn to be added to those now in the Re- 
 vised Hymnal, and none to be omitted therefrom, but such as 
 are authorized by this resolution. 
 
 The question of shortened services was remanded 
 to the consideration of the next Convention, it being 
 judged that this matter could only be reached by 
 
288 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 constitutional amendment ; but the following action, 
 which was adopted without debate, while a proposal 
 accompanying it in the Report of the Committee on 
 Canons to appoint a Commission on Rubrical Revi- 
 sion failed of success, should not be overlooked. 
 
 Resolved, That it is tlie sense of this Convention that nothing 
 in the present order of Common Prayer prohibits the separa- 
 tion, when desirable, of the Morning Prayer, the Litany, and 
 the Order for the Administration of the Lord's Supper, into 
 distinct services, which may be used independently of each 
 other, and either of them without the others : Provided, that 
 when used together, they be used in the same order as that in 
 which they have commonly been used, and in which they stand 
 in the Book of Common Prayer, 
 
 In the House of Bishops, on motion of the Bishop 
 of Albany, it was 
 
 Resolved, That this House concurs in the Message from the 
 House of Deputies, in relation to using the services separately. 
 
 A modified approval of the proposed Lambeth 
 Conference was adopted after an earnest defence of 
 the autonomy of the American Church and the firm 
 expression of an unwillingness to surrender in any 
 way its independence of foreign control. The 
 action, as finally shaped, was as follows : 
 
 Resolved, That all exchange of friendly greetings ; all evi- 
 dences of the existence of the unity of the spirit in the bond 
 of peace between the Church of England and the Protestant 
 Episcopal Church in America, whether by Bishops in confer- 
 ence or otherwise, are especially welcome to the Church. 
 
 In this resolution the House of Bishops concurred. 
 An important report of the Committee having in 
 
OF THE AMERICAN- CHURCH. 289 
 
 charge the preparation of a German version of the 
 Prayer Book deserves a place in our record. It is 
 as follows : 
 
 The wliole Prayer Book and the appended offices, with the 
 exception of the Institution Office, have been rendered into 
 the German language, and a considerable portion of this trans- 
 lation has been printed in order to subject it to criticism and 
 to the practical test of actual use in public services. By the 
 liberality of a member of Grace Church, New York, we have 
 printed the offices for Morning and Evening Prayer, the Com- 
 munion Office, etc., as a book for Missionary service, and it has 
 been tried in several places by the authority of the Ordinary. 
 It is on sale, and can be obtained at a very moderate price. 
 Other offices have been printed in the KirchenUatt, and in that 
 form have been revised by competent critics. 
 
 The scholar to whom this very important and delicate task 
 has been committed, the Rev. G. F. Siegmund, is a native of 
 Germany, educated in her Universities, and remarkably quali- 
 fied by nature and by previous studies, and as well, we trust, 
 by Divine Grace, for the work. He is a Deacon of the Diocese 
 of Western New York, a man of mature age, having been a 
 Lutheran Pastor for many years before his admission to our 
 communion. The general rules under which he has labored 
 with great enthusiasm, and wholly without any other reward 
 than his interest in the Church and his love of his Master, are 
 as follows : 
 
 1. Whatever in our Anglican Prayer Book is borrowed from 
 the ancient liturgies should be translated directly from the 
 Greek and Latin, and not from the English. 
 
 2. Whatever can be found in the old German Agendas 
 translaxed from the ancient liturgies in the liturgical language 
 of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries should be appropri- 
 ated. 
 
 3. Not only in the lessons and psalms, and in the literal 
 quotations from the Bible, but even in allusions to Scriptural 
 expressions, the German Prayer Book is to follow the text of 
 Luther's German Bible, which is the only German translation 
 of authority made from the Hebrew and Greek. 
 
290 THE GE^EKAL CONVENTION" 
 
 4. In translating tlie distinctly Anglican portions of the 
 Prayer Book, or such parts of ancient liturgies as are not to be 
 found in old German translations, the words and idioms should 
 be taken from the vocabulary of the German Bible and the 
 old German liturgies. 
 
 5. To secure the highest degree of verbal and idiomatic 
 accuracy, the work of the translator should be submitted to 
 living critics of high position in Germany, and their sugges- 
 tions should be very carefully considered and respected. 
 
 It gives us pleasure to say that such German critics as 
 Schoeberlein, Heusch, Haubt, and others have been consulted. 
 
 They have taken a generous interest in the measure, and 
 have borne the most gratifying testimony to the beauty and 
 liturgic spirit of the translation. They have taken pains to 
 indicate a few desirable alterations, and their advice has been 
 followed to a considerable extent. As they did not sufficiently 
 allow for the very strict fidelity to the originals required by 
 our Liturgic Constitutions, we could not always accept their 
 improvements. 
 
 A proposed relaxation of tlie Kubrics in the 
 Offices for Infant Baptism failed of success. It wab 
 presented by the Committee on Canons of the lower 
 House, and was as follows : 
 
 1. Resolved (the House of Bishops concurring), That it be, 
 and hereby is, proposed to add as a Rubric at the end of the 
 Office for Infant Baptism the words following— namely : 
 
 ♦• The minister may, at his discretion, omit the exhortation 
 preceding the Lord's Prayer in the above Office, and in place 
 of the Thanksgiving substitute the Collect for Easter Even. 
 This Rubric, however, is not to be construed as implying 
 any change in the doctrine of the Church." 
 
 2 Resolved (the House of Bishops concurring), That the 
 Secretary of the House of Deputies cause the proposed Rubric 
 to be made known to the Dioceses, as required by the Consti- 
 tution and Canons. 
 
 A Lectionary for Lent was proposed, and after 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 291 
 
 consideration referred to the next Convention. The 
 Santee Indian Reservation was transferred from the 
 Diocese of Nebraska to the Missionary District of 
 Niobrara. Recognition was made of the efficient 
 labors of the Rev. Dr. Charles R. Hale, in connec- 
 tion with the furtherance of the work of the Russo- 
 Greek Committee, and of the services of the Rev. 
 Dr. Langdon, of the Italian Reform Commission. 
 The following Canon of Church Music was passed : 
 
 § I. The Selection of the Psalms in metre, and Hymns which 
 are set forth by authority, and Anthems in the words of Holy 
 Scripture, are allowed to be sung in all congregations of this 
 Church before and after Morning and Evening Prayer, and 
 also before and after sermons, at the discretion of the minis- 
 ter, whose duty it shall be, by standing directions, or from time 
 to time, to appoint such authorized Psalms, Hymns, or Anthems 
 as are to be sung. 
 
 § II. It shall be the duty of every minister of this Church, 
 with such assistance as he may see fit to employ from persons 
 skilled in music, to give order concerning the tunes to be sung 
 at any time in i)i3 church, and especially it shall be his duty 
 to suppress all light and unseemly music, anl all indecency 
 and irreverence in the performance by which vain and ungodly 
 persons profane the service of the sanctuary. 
 
 Questions arising respecting Suffragan Bishops, 
 the Increase of the Missionary Episcopate, the Cor- 
 respondence with the Hierarchy of the Eastern 
 Churches, the subject of Marriage with Relatives, 
 and Correspondence with the Bishop and Synod 
 of the Old Catholics, were referred by the Bishops 
 to Committees to sit during the recess, while 
 Joint Committees were appointed on Ecclesias- 
 tical Relations and Religious Reform; on Yer- 
 
292 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 sions of the Prayer Book in German, Spanish, Ital- 
 ian, and French ; on the Godly Discipline of Com- 
 municant Members; on the Force of Joint Resolu- 
 tions ; on the Government of the General Theologi- 
 cal Seminary ; on the Canadian Synod ; on a Lection- 
 ary for Lent ; on a Canon " of Deaconesses or 
 Sisters." New Dioceses subsequently designated as 
 those of Northern New Jersey, Southern Ohio, 
 AVestem Michigan, and Fond du Lac were created. 
 Missionary Districts were formed, with the titles of 
 Northern California, and Northern and Western 
 Texas. The Missionary District of Arizona was sepa- 
 rated from that of Nevada and united to that of New 
 Mexico, taken from Colorado. The Foreign Mis- 
 sionary Jurisdiction of China and Japan was divided 
 into those of Shanghai and Yedo. The JRev. Drs. 
 Elliott, Wingfield, Garrett, and Adams were elected 
 to the Domestic Missionary Episcopate. The Rev. 
 W. P. Orrick was elected to the Missionary Bishop- 
 ric of Shanghai, but declined the appointment. 
 
 Under the provisions of Article 10 of the Consti- 
 tution, the Rev. Dr. Holly was elected to the Epis- 
 copate of Haiti, and the following " Concordat " 
 entered into with the Church in that island. 
 
 COVENANT. 
 
 In the Name of tlie Most Holy and Undivided Trinity, Father, 
 Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. 
 
 The following Covenant, or Articles of Agreement, Concord, 
 and Union, between the House of Bishops of the Protestant 
 Episcopal Church in the United States of America of the first 
 part, and the Convocation of the Protestant Episcopal Church 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 293 
 
 in the Republic of Haiti of the second part, establishes the 
 ensuing stipulations mutually entered into bj the two Churches 
 aforesaid. 
 
 Article 1. The House of Bishops, aforesaid, in considera- 
 tion of the fact that all the Clergy, eleven in number, belong- 
 ing to the Church in Haiti, own no allegiance to the govern- 
 ment of these United States, but are Haitien citizens, do hereby 
 recognize the aforesaid (Church in Haiti as of right as also in 
 point of fact a foreign Church to all intents and purposes with- 
 in the meaning of Article 10 of the Constitution of the Protes 
 tant Episcopal Church in the said United States of America. 
 But while the aforesaid House of Bishops doth thus recognize 
 the Church in Haiti to be a foreign Church, yet, during its 
 early growth and development, it shall continue to enjoy the 
 nursing care of the Church in these United States until the 
 Church in Haiti shall attain to competency for its own sup- 
 port, and to a sufficiency in its Episcopate for the adminis- 
 tration of its own affairs, according to the requirements of 
 the ancient Canons and primitive usages cf the Church of 
 Christ. 
 
 Art. 2. The House of Bishops, acting under the aforesaid 
 Article 10 of the Constitution of the Protestant Episcopal 
 Church in the United States of America, and availmg itself of 
 the concession made to them by the Protestant Episcopal Church 
 in the Republic of Haiti in the stipulation contained in Article 
 5 following of this Covenant, will designate and consecrate to 
 the Office of Bishop one of the Clergymen of the aforesaid 
 Church in Haiti (making selection of the said person according 
 to the best of its godly judgment as to his fitness and qualifica- 
 tions for such a high and holy vocation). 
 
 Art. 8. The skid House of Bishops furthermore agrees to 
 name from among its own members a Commission of four 
 Bishops, with whom the aforesaid Bishop or Bishops to be 
 consecrated for the Church in Haiti shall be associated. And 
 this Commission shall form a temporary Board of Administra- 
 tion for the Episcopal Government of the Church in Haiti. 
 And as such a majority of the same, shall be competent to 
 take order for the designation and consecration of future 
 Bishops in Haiti, as the necessity may arise, on the demand of 
 
294 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 the Convocation of the Church in that Republic. The said 
 temporary Board of Administration shall be furthermore em- 
 powered to administer all the discipline pertaining to the Epis- 
 copal order of the Ministry for the Church in Haiti until at 
 least three Bishops shall be designated, consecrated, and 
 canonically established in said Church. It being understood 
 that this Commission of Bishops shall be governed in the ex- 
 ercise of their Episcopal administration, judgments, and acts 
 by the provisions contained in the Constitution and Canons of 
 the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of 
 America, so far as the same can be applied to the divergent 
 circumstances of the Church in Haiti. 
 
 Art. 4. The Protestant Episcopal Church in Haiti on its part 
 agrees always to guard in all their essentials a conformity to 
 the doctrine, worship, and discipline of the Protestant Episcopal 
 Church in the United States of America, as the same are set 
 forth in the duly authorized standards of the said Church, and 
 that it will not depart therefrom any further than local circum- 
 stances shall make it necessary. 
 
 AiiT. 5. The Protestant Episcopal Church in Haiti further 
 agrees to concede to the House of Bishops of the Protestant 
 Episcopal Church in the United States of America the choice 
 of its first Bishop to be consecrated ; and thereafter to concede 
 the same prerogative to a majority of the Commission of 
 Bishops forming the temporary Board of Administration to 
 choose or designate among the Haitien Clergy future Bishops 
 on the demand of the Convocation in Haiti. And this prerog- 
 ative shall continue until in the good Providence of God three 
 Bishops shall be canonically resident and exercising jurisdic- 
 tion in the Church of Haiti. Then this ])rerogative shall 
 cease on the part of the aforesaid Commission, and all its 
 functions revert to those three Bishops thus established in 
 Haiti. 
 
 In testimony whereof these Articles have been signed in 
 duplicate, on the part of the House of Bishops, by the Bishops 
 appointed for that purpose, and on the part of the Convocation 
 of the Church in Haiti, by its Dean, wlio has exhibited duly 
 authenticated credentials clothing him with full power to act 
 in this matter in the name and in the behalf of the Convoca- 
 tion aforesaid. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 295 
 
 Done in the City of New York, on the third day of Novem- 
 ber, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and 
 eeventy-four. 
 (Signed) James Theodore Holly, 
 
 Dean, dc. [l. s.] 
 William R. Whittingham, 
 
 BisJiop of Maryland, [l. s.] 
 Alfred Lee, 
 
 Bishop of Delaware, [l. s.] 
 Thomas Atkinson, 
 
 Bishop of ISortJi Carolina, [l. s.] 
 Horatio Potter, 
 
 Bishop of New York. [l. s.j 
 G. T. Bedell, 
 
 Bishop of the Diocese of Ohio. [l. s.] 
 A. Cleveland Coxe, 
 Bishop of Western New York. [l. s. ] 
 Done in my presence, and duplicates exchanged. 
 Attest : Henry C. Potter, 
 
 Secretary of the House of BisJiops. 
 
 This important action was consummated by the 
 consecration of the Rev. Dr. Holly shortly after the 
 adjournment of the Convention. 
 
 In the House of Bishops, the final action with 
 reference to the abandomnent of the Church by the 
 Assistant Bishop of Kentucky was as follows : 
 
 Whereas, On the 10th day of November, 1873, George 
 David Cummins, late Assistant Bishop of tlie Diocese of Ken- 
 tucky, did abandon the communion of tliis Churcli by a letter 
 addressed to the Senior Bishop ; and 
 
 Whereas, The precedent requirements by Canon 8, Title II. 
 of the Digest having been duly complied with, the Senidr 
 Bishop, acting under the advice of persons learned in the law 
 of the Church, with the consent in writing of a majority of the 
 Bishops entitled to seats in this House, did on the 24th day of 
 June, 1874, depose said George David Cummins, late Assistant 
 Bishop of the Diocese of Kentucky, from the Ministry of this 
 Church, and did pronounce and record in the presence of two 
 
296 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 Bishops that the said George David Cummins had been so de- 
 posed ; but a doubt has arisen whether the consent of the 
 Bishops eo given was regular, a majority of the House of 
 Bishops being now present and concurring ; it is hereby 
 
 Resolved, That the action of the Senior Bishop in deposing 
 the said George David Cummins, late Assistant Bishop of the 
 Diocese of Kentucky, from the Ministry of this Church, be, 
 and the same is hereby, consented to, ratified, and confirmed. 
 
 Resolved, That, without waiving the effect of the consent 
 {nunc pro tunc) declared in the preceding resolution, and in 
 order to prevent any question being hereafter raised in respect 
 thereto, the consent of a majority of the House of Bishops is 
 hereby given that the said George David Cummins, late Assist- 
 ant Bishop of the Diocese of Kentucky, be deposed from the 
 Ministry of this Church. 
 
 Resolved, That leave be given to record upon the ofl&cial 
 Journal of this House the sentence of the Senior Bishop de- 
 posing from the Ministry of this Church George David Cum- 
 mins, late Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of Kentuckey which 
 sentence, signed by the Senior Bishop, and attested by the 
 Bishops of Maryland and Pennsylvania, is as follows, to wit : 
 
 Be it known, That I, Benjamin Bosworth Smith, D.D., 
 Senior Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United 
 States of America, by virtue of my office, in pursuance of Canon 
 8, Title II. of the Digest, and with the consent of a majority of 
 the House of Bishops, do depose from the Ministry George 
 David Cummins, late Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of Ken- 
 tucky. And I do hereby pronounce and record, in the pres- 
 ence of the Bishops of Maryland and Pennsylvania, that the 
 said George David Cummins has been so deposed. 
 
 Given under my hand this seventeenth day of October, in 
 the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy- 
 four. Benjamin Bosworth Smith, Senior Bishop. 
 Done in our presence this seventeenth day of 
 
 October, in the year of our Lord one thou- 
 sand eight hundred and seventy-four. 
 William Rollinson Whittinoham, Bishop of Maryland. 
 William Bacon Stevens, Bishop of Pennsylvania. 
 
 This action was adopted, 7ieni con. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 297 
 
 The Presiding Bishop thereupon pronounced and 
 recorded the said sentence as follows, viz. : 
 
 In General Conveiitioii of tlie Protestant Episcopal Llinrcli. 
 
 HOUSE OF BISHOPS. 
 
 St. John's Chapel, New York, } 
 October 17, 1874. j" 
 
 Beit known, Tliat I, Benjamin Bosworth Smith, D.D., 
 Senior Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United 
 States of America, by virtue of mj office, in pursuance of 
 Canon 8, Title II, of the Digest, and with the consent of a 
 majority of the House of Bishops, do depose from the Ministry- 
 George David Cummins, late Assistant Bishop of the Diocese 
 of Kentucky. And 1 do hereby ])ronounce and record, in the 
 presence of the Bishops of this Church assembled as a House 
 of Bishops, that tlie said George David Cummins has been 
 so deposed. 
 
 Given under my hand this seventeenth day of October, in 
 the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy- 
 four. Benjamin Bosworth Smith, 
 
 Senior Bishop. 
 Done in our presence this seventeenth day of 
 October, in the year of our Lord one thou- 
 sand eight hundred and seventy-four, 
 William Rollinson Whittingham, 
 
 BisJiop of Maryland. 
 William Bacon Stevens, 
 
 Bishop of Pennsylvania. 
 
 The following standing orders were adopted in 
 the House of Bishops : 
 
 Mrst. When the House of Bishops is ready to ballot for a 
 Missionary Bishop, the Presiding Bishop shall bid the House 
 to prayer, and the order of service shall be as follows : 
 
 1. A Bishop designated by the Presiding Bishop shall read 
 a lesson taken out of the Holy Scriptures — namely, one of the 
 following : 
 
 Exodus iv. to 12. 
 
298 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 Isaiah vi. to 8. 
 Acts x:x. 17. 
 Rev, vii. 9. 
 
 2. After which shall be said the longer form of tlie 
 Veni Creator Spii'itus, the Presiding Bishop beginning and the 
 others answering by verses. 
 
 3. The versicles — " The T^ord be with you," 
 
 " And with thy spirit." 
 Secret Prayer, for which there shall silence be kept for a 
 space. 
 
 5. The Lord's Prayer and II, Cor. xiii. 14. 
 Second. When the House of Bishops is ready to vote upon 
 the Confirmation of a Bishop- elect, the Presiding Bishop shall 
 bid the House to prayer, and after silence shall have been kept 
 for a space, shall say the 
 
 Collect for the Fifth Sunday after Epiphany, 
 Collect for the Ninth Sunday after Trinity, 
 Collect for the Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity, and II. 
 Cor. xiii. 14. 
 
 Tlie following " Minute " was adopted by the 
 Bishops : 
 
 The House of Bishops having heard of the death of the Right 
 Reverend John Payne, Doctor of Divinity, formerly Missionary 
 Bishop to Cape Pahnas and parts adjacent, desires to enter 
 upon its records the following minute : 
 
 This servant of the Church was appointed Missionary to 
 Africa, August 11, 1836. He was consecrated Missionary Bishop 
 July 11, 1851. Having devoted himself early in life to the 
 Missionary work among the heathen of Africa, he was sustained 
 througliout his career by a deep sense of " the grace" which 
 was bestowed upon him in his call " to preach among the Gen- 
 tiles the unsearchable riches of Christ ;" and undaunted by 
 physical obstacles and frequent prostrations of his bodily 
 strength, prosecuted his work in patient ho])e through thirty - 
 four years, and until his body was so (enfeebled that it was 
 apparcsnt that his further continuance in his stewardship would 
 be a hindrance to the causi; to which his life had been devoted. 
 He wrote in his last annual report these memorable words 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 299 
 
 which are recorded in this minute as hi^ legacy to the Church, 
 and as teaching the precious lesson of his life : " For myself, I 
 fear that little ability remains to aid directly this glorious 
 work. Thirty-three years' connection with one of the most 
 unhealthy portions of the globe has left me the wreck of a 
 man. But I claim that in devoting myself to preaching among 
 the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, I was no fool. 
 On the contrary, I did obey literally the command of my Lord. 
 I did follow in the very footsteps of Apostles, Martyrs, and 
 Prophets." 
 
 The subject of Christian Education received the 
 following consideration ; 
 
 Resolved, That the members of the Church be again most 
 earnestly reminded of their sacred duty to uphold the schools 
 and colleges which are under Church direction and influence. 
 Resolved, That it be recommended to every Diocese to ap- 
 point a Standing Committee of Christian Education which 
 may communicate with this Committee of the General Con- 
 vention, collect the statistics of Church education and of other 
 educational work in the Diocese, and adopt such measures as 
 may be most feasible for supplying teachers and for promoting 
 the efficiency and permanence of our own institutions. 
 
 The Alt-Catholic movement was thus noticed by 
 the Bishops : 
 
 Whekeas, This House has, with great satisfaction, learned, 
 by the report of several of its members, the steady progress of 
 the movement in Germany and elsewhere toward the recovery 
 of purity in doctrine and discipline, and the earnest desire and 
 effort developing in connection with that movement for the 
 reconciliation of portions of the Church now more or less dis- 
 sociated ; therefore 
 
 Resolved, That this House, with renewed confidence, reiterates 
 the expression of its sympathy with the Bishop and Synod of 
 the Old Catholic communion in Germany, and the promise of 
 its prayers for the Divine blessing and direction on their work. 
 
 Resolved, That three Bishops be appointed a Commission of 
 this House, to keep up fraternal correspondence with the 
 
300 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 Bishop and Synod, for exchange of information and considera- 
 tion of overtures for reconciliation and intercommunion be- 
 tween sundered Churches. 
 
 The Bishops of Maryland, Pittsburgh, and Alba- 
 ny were appointed the members of this Committee. 
 
 The number of Clergy reported was 3086, and from 
 every part of the land evidence appeared of the 
 growth and increasing prosperity and influence of the 
 Church. Since the preceding Convention, seven Bish- 
 ops had been consecrated and ten had passed away 
 — The Eight Eev. Charles Pettit Mcllvaine, Ohio, 
 March 12th, 1873; the Eight Eev. Manton East- 
 burn, Massachusetts, September 11th, 1872 ; the 
 Eight Eev. George Upfold, Indiana, August 26th, 
 1872; the Eight Eev. Henry John Wliitehouse, 
 Illinois, August 10th, 1874 ; the Eight Eev. John 
 Payne (retired), Africa, October 23d, 1874; the 
 Eight Eev. Thomas Frederick Davis, South Caro- 
 lina, December 2d, 1871 ; the Eight Eev. Henry 
 Washington Lee, Iowa, September 26th, 1874 ; the 
 Eight Eev. George Maxwell Eandall, Colorado, 
 September 28tli, 1873; the Eight Eev. William 
 Edmond Armitage, Wisconsin, December 7th, 1873; 
 the Eight Eev. John Gottlieb Auer, Cape Palmas, 
 Africa,' February 16th, 1874. 
 
 The report of the Committee on the State of the 
 Church closed with these earnest words, than which 
 none better can be found to complete our record of 
 this important session : 
 
 In view of the history of the past triennial period, and the 
 events that are transpiring around us, we can unhesitatingly 
 avow our fixed conviction that tliis Church has a most encour- 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCE. 301 
 
 aging future before her, that labor has never been more 
 earnest, faith more positive, self-sacrifice more devoted, and 
 kindly feeling and charity among brethren more general. All 
 we seem to need is a higher standard of personal holiness 
 among all our people, and a larger measure of liberality in 
 sustaining the works the Church has in hand, to secure in 
 the future a growth and expansion that shall exceed even the 
 great advancement of the past. The field is widening, oppor- 
 tunities are multiplying, the enemy is alive and powerful, and 
 it behooves us to fight manfully, contend earnestly for the 
 Faith once delivered to the Saints, and " work whilst it is day, 
 for the night cometh when no man can work." 
 
302 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 THE CONVENTION OF 1877. 
 
 The General Convention met in 1877 for the first 
 time in Boston. Once only had it assembled in the 
 New England States, in 1811, at New Haven. The 
 place of meeting was the new Trinity Church, a 
 magnificent edifice, the erection of wliich attests the 
 successful rectorate of the celebrated Dr. Phillips 
 Brooks. The rej)resentation was larger than at any 
 previous Convention. Eifty-five out of the fifty-eight 
 Bishops comprising the House of Bishops were in 
 attendance. One hundred and eighty-four clerical, 
 and one hundred and eighty-five lay deputies, made 
 up the Lower House, together with nine clerical and 
 eight lay delegates from the missionary jurisdictions, 
 who were admitted to seats on the floor, making, with 
 the Secretaries and Treasurer of the Convention, a 
 representation of nearly four hundred and fifty. 
 The session occupied twenty working days, lasting 
 from the third to the twenty-fifth of the month. 
 The sermon was preached by the Bishop of Connecti- 
 cut, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Williams, from St. Luke, 7 : 22. 
 After the 02^ening services, which were of a most 
 impressive nature, and were attended by a most inter- 
 ested and intelligent assemblage, the House of Bishops 
 organized under the presidency of the veneral)le 
 senior Bishop, Dr. Bosworth Smith, with the Rev. Dr. 
 H. C. Potter as Secretary. The Secretary of the House 
 of Deputies, the Rev. Dr. Perry, having been raised 
 to the Episcopate during the recess of Convention, 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 303 
 
 and the Assistant Secretary, the Eev. Dr. W. C 
 Williams, of Georgia, having resigned his post in 
 consequence of illness, the Rev. T. Stafford Drowne, 
 D.D., of Long Island, under appointment of the 
 Standing Committee of Massachusetts, acted as '' Pro- 
 visional Secretary " in effecting the organization of the 
 House, whereupon the Rev. Alexander Burgess, D,D., 
 was elected President, and the Rev. Charles L. 
 Ilutchins Secretary. By a close vote (ayes 94, nays 
 89), the House postponed action in the choice of 
 a Vice President, and the provision of the '' Stand- 
 ing Order of the Organization of tlie House" 
 authorizing such an appointment was repealed. 
 The presence of the Rev. Craufurd Tait, M.A., 
 the only son of the Primate of all England, 
 was the occasion of a pleasant interchange of courte- 
 sies between this estimable young clergyman, whose 
 birth and position made him to a certain extent a 
 representative of the mother Cliurch of England, and 
 the two Houses of Convention to which he was for- 
 mally introduced, and from the members of which he 
 received, as he well deserved, marked attention. In 
 his lamented decease, shortly after his return to his 
 native land, the hearts of many in both hemispheres 
 felt 23ersonally bereaved at the loss of a youth of such 
 piety and promise. 
 
 A new feature was inaugurated at this session in 
 the daily publication of condensed reports of the pro- 
 ceedings of the House of Bishops, prepared by a 
 Committee appointed for this purpose. A delegation 
 from the Provincial Synod of the Church in the 
 Dominion of Canada was formally received by both 
 Houses of Convention. Three new dioceses were 
 
304: THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 created ; one, tlie Diocese of AVest Virginia, consist- 
 ing of ''the territory of the State of West Virginia, 
 according to the State lines thereof ;" a second, the 
 Diocese of Quincy, comprising that part of the 
 Diocese of Illinois "lying west of the Illinois Eiver, 
 and La Salle Connty, and south of the counties of 
 "Whiteside and Lee f and a third, the Diocese of 
 Springfield, comprising that portion of the State and 
 Diocese of Illinois "lying south of the counties of 
 Woodford, Livingston, Ford, and Iroquois, and east 
 of the Illinois Riyer." The proposed amendment to 
 Art. 5 of the Constitution, providing for the setting 
 apart of a portion of the territory of a Diocese too 
 large for due Episcopal supervision as a missionary 
 jurisdiction, was adopted by the House of Deputies, 
 but failed to pass the House of Bishops. The proposed 
 amendment to Art. 8 of the Constitution, relating to 
 shortened forms of Morning and Evening Prayer, was 
 defeated in the Lower House. The following changes 
 in the Constitution and Canons were adopted, and 
 incorporated into the law of the Church, to wit ; 
 
 CHANGE IN THE CONSTITUTION. 
 
 Article 8 of the Constitution was amended bo as to read as 
 follows : 
 
 A Book of Common Prayer, Administration of tlie Sacra- 
 ments, and other Kites and Ceremonies of tlie Church, Articles 
 of Religion, and a Form and Manner of making, ordaininj?, and 
 consecrating Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, when established 
 by this or a future General Convention, shall be used in the 
 Protestant Episcopal Church in those Dioceses which shall have 
 adopted this Constitution. No alteration or addition shall be 
 made in the Book of Common Prayer, or other Offices of the 
 Church, or the Articles of Religion, unless the same shall be 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 305 
 
 proposed in one General Convention, and by a resolve thereof 
 made known to the Convention of every Diocese, and adopted 
 at the subsequent General Convention. Provided, however, 
 That the General Convention shall have power, from time to 
 time, to amend the Lectionary ; but no act for this purpose 
 shall be valid which is not voted for by a majority of the whole 
 number of Bishops entitled to seats in the House of Bishops, 
 and by a majority of all the Dioceses entitled to representation 
 in the House of Deputies. 
 
 CHANGES IN THE CANONS. 
 
 CitU I.— Canon 15. 
 
 Clause [4] of Section vii. of Canon 15 of Title I. was amended 
 so as to read as follows : 
 
 [4.] The jurisdiction of this Church extending in right, 
 though not always in form, to all persons belonging to it 
 within the United States, it is hereby enacted that each Mis- 
 sionary Bishop shall have jurisdiction over the clergy in the 
 district assigned him ; and in case a presentment and trial of a 
 Clergyman become proper, the Clerical Members of the Stand- 
 ing Committee appointed by the Missionary Bishop as is here- 
 inafter provided for may make presentment ; and the trial 
 shall take place according to the Constitution and Canons of 
 any Diocese of this Church which may have been selected by 
 the said Missionary Bishop at the time of the appointment of 
 such Standing Committee : Provided, that the Court shall be 
 composed of at least three Presbyters, excluding the members 
 of the Standing Committee and the accused. And if there be 
 not a sufficient number of qualified Presbyters within his juris- 
 diction, the said Missionary Bishop may call to his aid Presby- 
 ters of any Diocese or Missionary Jurisdiction sufficiently near 
 
 Citk 11. — Canon 4. 
 
 Canon 4 of Title II. was amended so as to read as follows-. 
 
 Of Differences between Ministers and their Congregations, and of 
 the Dissolution of a Pastoral Connection. 
 
 § i. A Rector, canonically elected and in charge, or an Insti- 
 tuted Minister, may not resign his Parish without consent of 
 the said Parish or its Vestry (if the Vestry be authorized to act 
 
306 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 in the premises) ; nor may such Rector or Minister be removed 
 therefrom by said Parish or Vestry against his will, except as 
 hereinafter provided. 
 
 § ii. In case any urgent reason or reasons sliould occasion a 
 ■wish in a Rector or Minister as aforesaid, or in the Parish com- 
 mitted to his charge, to bring about a separation and a dissolu- 
 tion of all pastoral relation between such Minister and Parish, 
 and the parties be not agreed in respect of such separation and 
 dissolution, notice of such desire and disagreement may be 
 given by either party to the Ecclesiastical Authority of the 
 Diocese or Missionary Jurisdiction, in writing. And in case of 
 any difference between the Minister and Parish or Vestry as 
 aforesaid, which may not be satisfactorily settled by the godly 
 judgment of the Bishop alone, or which he may decline to con- 
 sider without counsel, the Bishop (or if the Diocese be vacant, 
 any Bishop selected by the Ecclesiastical Authority), acting 
 with the advice and consent of the Standing Committee of the 
 Diocese or Missionary Jurisdiction, or with that of the Presby- 
 ters only of said Standing Committee (if both parties shall 
 assent to such limitation in writing), shall be the ultimate ar- 
 biter and judge ; and refusal to accept and comply with the 
 arbitration and judgment on the part of the Minister aforesaid, 
 shall not work a continuance of lawful and canonical Rector- 
 ship or settlement beyond the date fixed, conditionally or other- 
 wise, for its termination l)y such arbitration and judgment, 
 should such termination be recommended and required ; but 
 such pastoral connection shall, unless otherwise agreed' by the 
 parties, cease and terminate as therein required. But such 
 refusal shall subject the Minister so refusing to inhibition by 
 the Bishop aforesaid from all ministerial offices and functions 
 within the Diocese or Missionary Jurisdiction ; and such refusal 
 on the part of a Parish shall disqualify it from representation 
 in the Convention of the Diocese until it shall have been de- 
 clared by the Ecclesiastical Authority to have given satisfac- 
 tory guarantees fdr the acceptance of and compliance with the 
 arbitration and judgment. 
 
 ^ iii. In case of the regular and canonical dissolution of the 
 connection between a Minister and his congregation, the 
 Bishop, or if there be no "Bishop, the Standing Committee, 
 shall direct the Secretary of the Convention to record the same. 
 But if the dissolution of the connection between a Minister and 
 his Congregation be not regular or canonical, the Bishop or 
 Standing Committee shall lay the same before the Convention 
 of the Diocese, in order that the above-mentioned penalties 
 may take effect. 
 
 § IV. This Canon shall not be in force in any Diocese which 
 has made, or shall herealter make, provision by Canon upon this 
 subject, nor in any Diocese with whose laws or charters it may 
 interfere. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 807 
 
 S^itle 11. — Canon 5. 
 
 Canon 5 of Title II. was amended so as to read as follows 
 
 Of Renunciation of the Ministry. 
 
 § i. If any Minister of tliis Church, against whom there is no 
 ecclesiastical proceeding- instituted, shall declare, in writing, to 
 the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese or Missionary Juris- 
 diction to which he belongs, his renunciation of the Ministry of 
 this Church, it shall be the duty of the Ecclesiastical Author- 
 ity to record the declaration so made ; and thereupon it shall 
 be the duty of the Bishop, or, if there be no Bishop of the Dio- 
 cese or Missionary Jurisdiction, of any Bishop who, being 
 requested by the Standing Committee, shall consent to act in 
 the matter, to depose such person from the Ministry, and to 
 pronounce and record, in the presence of two or more Clergy- 
 men, that the person so declaring has been deposed from the 
 Ministry of this Church. Promded, Jiowever, That if the Bishop 
 shall be satisfied that the person so declaring is not amenable 
 for any canonical offence, and that his renunciation of the Min- 
 istry is not occasioned by foregoing misconduct or irregularity, 
 but is voluntary and for causes assigned or known, which do 
 not effect his moral character, he shall so declare in pronounc- 
 ing and recording said deposition, and shall, if desired, give a 
 certificate to this effect to the x^erson so deposed ; and he shall 
 also give due notice of such deposition from the Ministry to the 
 Ecclesiastical Authority of every Diocese and Missionary Juris- 
 diction of this Church, in the form in which the same is re- 
 corded. 
 
 § ii. If the Ecclesiastical Authority shall have reason to 
 believe that the person so declaring has acted hastily and un- 
 advisedly, action on such declaration may be postponed for the 
 space of not more than six months, during which time such 
 person may withdraw his application, 
 
 § iii. If the Ecclesiastical Authority, to whom such declara- 
 tion is made, shall have ground to suppose that the person 
 making the same is liable to presentment for any canonical 
 offence, such person may, in the discretion of the said Ecclesias- 
 tical Authority, be put upon trial for such offence, notwith- 
 standing such declaration of renunciation of the Ministry. 
 
308 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 Citic IL— Canon 6. 
 
 Section ii. of Canon 6 of Title II. was amended so as to read 
 as follows : 
 
 § ii. And if such declaration be not made within six montbs, 
 as aforesaid, it shall be the duty of the Bishop to depose said 
 Minister from the Ministry, and to pronounce and record, in 
 the presence of two or nioie Presbyters, that he has been so 
 deposed : Provided, nevertheless, that if the Minister so re- 
 nouncing shall transmit to the Bishop receiving the certificate 
 a retraction of the acts or declarations constituting his offence, 
 the Bishop may, at his discretion, abstain from any further pro- 
 ceedings. 
 
 Citk IL— Canon 10. 
 
 Section ii. of Canon 10 of Title II. was amended so as to read 
 as follows : 
 
 § ii. [1.] When any Minister is deposed from the Holy 
 Ministry, he is deposed therefrom entirely, and not from a 
 hiffher to a lower Order in the same ; and whenever a Minister 
 sball be deposed, the Bishop who pronounces sentence shall, 
 without delay, give notice thereof to every Minister and Vestry 
 in the Diocese, and also to all the Bishops of this Church, and 
 where there is no Bishop, to the Standing Committee ; and the 
 notice sl)all specify under what Canon the said Minister has 
 been deposed. 
 
 [2.] Deposition, displacing, and all like expressions are the 
 same as degradation. 
 
 Cttle IL— Canon 11. 
 
 Section ii. of Canon 11 of Title II. was amended so as to read 
 as follows : 
 
 § ii. A Bishop of this Chnrch may, for reasons which he 
 shall deem sufficient, remit and terminate any sentence of de- 
 position or degradation pronounced by him upon a Presbyter 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 309 
 
 or Deacon ; but he shall exercise this power only upon the 
 follovvinnr conditions: — 
 
 First, That he shall act with the unanimous advice and con- 
 sent of his Standing Committee, 
 
 Second, That he shall first submit his proposed action, with his 
 reasons therefor, to the judL'ment of five of the Bishops of this 
 Cliurch, whose Dioceses or Missionary Jurisdictions are nearest 
 to his own, and shall receive in writing, from at least four of 
 said Bishops, their approval of the said remission and their 
 consent thereto. 
 
 Third, That before remitting such sentence he shall require 
 the person to be restored to the Ministry to subscribe the 
 declaration set forth in Article 7 of the Constitution. 
 
 Fourth, That in case such person was deposed for abandon- 
 ing the Communion of this Cliurch, or having been deposed by 
 reason of his renunciation of the Ministry of this Church, or for 
 other cause, he have also abandoned its Communion, the Bishop, 
 before granting such remission, shall be satisfied that such per- 
 son has lived in lay-communion with this Church for three 
 years next preceding his application for such remission ; and. 
 
 Fifth, That in case the person applying for such remission 
 shall reside out of the Diocese or Missionary District in which 
 he was deposed, the Bishop, before granting such remission, 
 shall be furnished with written evidence of the approval of 
 of such application by the Bishop of the Diocese or District in 
 which such person resides. 
 
 Citle II.— Canon 13. 
 
 Canon 13 of Title II. was amended so as to read as follows : 
 
 Of Marriage and Divorce. 
 
 % i. If any persons be joined together otherwise than as God's 
 "Word doth allow, their marriage is not lawful. 
 
 § iii. No Minister, knowingly after due inquiry, shall solem- 
 nize the marriage of any person who has a divorced husband or 
 wife still living, if such husband or wife has been put away 
 f for any cause arising after marriage ; but this Canon shall not 
 be held to apply to the innocent party in a divorce for the 
 cause of adultery, or to parties once divorced seeking to be 
 united again. 
 
 § iii. If any Minister of this Church shall have reasonable 
 cause to doubt whether a person desirous of being admitted 
 to Holy Baptism, or to Confirmation, or to the Holy Com- 
 
310 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 munion, lias been married otherwise tliaii as the Word of God 
 and discipline of this Ohurch allow, such Minister, before re- 
 ceivinir such person to these ordinances, shall refer the oase to 
 the Bishop for his godly judtrment thereupon. Providtd,^ how- 
 ever, That DO Minister shall, in any case, refuse the Sacra- 
 ments to a penitent person in iuiuiiuent danger of death. 
 
 i> iv. Questions touching the facis of any case arising under 
 Section ii. of this Canon shall be referred to the Bishop of the 
 Diocese or Missionary Jurisdiction in which the same may 
 occur ; or if there be no Bishop of such Diocese or Missionary 
 Jurisdiction, then to some Bishop to be designated by the 
 Standing Committee ; and the Bishop to whom such questions 
 have beln so referred shall thereupon make inquiry in such 
 manner as he shall deem expedient, and shall deliver his 
 judgment in the premises. 
 
 c^ V. This Canon, so far as it aflBxes penalties, does not apply 
 to cases occurring before it takes eflfect according to Canon 4, 
 Title IV. 
 
 mit III.— Canon 1. 
 
 Clause [8] of Section ii. of Canon 1 of Title III. was amended 
 so as to read as lollows : 
 
 [3.] It shall be the duty of the said Registrar to procure a 
 proper and sufficient book of record, and to enter therein a 
 record of the Consecrations of all the Bishops of this Church, 
 designating accurately the time and place of the same, with 
 the names of the Consecrating Bishops, and of others present 
 an \ assisting ; to have the same authenticated in the fullest 
 manner now^practicable ; and to take care for the similar record 
 and authentication of all future Consecrations in this Church, 
 by securing in person, or by deputy, at the time and place of 
 every such Consecration, a certificate signed by the Bishop 
 presiding, and by two or more of the Bishops assisting in the 
 said Consecration, which certificate shall be entered in the said 
 book of record under the attestation of a Notary Public, and 
 also placed on tile. 
 
 STitlc III. — Canon .5. 
 
 Clause [11] of Section iii. of Canon 5 of Title III. was amended 
 so as to read as follows : 
 
 [11] No Clergyman shall be allowed to take charge of such 
 Congregation until he shall have been nominated by the Vestry 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 311 
 
 tlier.'of (or, if there be no such Vestry, hy the Staiidin^Com- 
 luittee provided for by this Canon), and approved by the Bishop 
 in charo-e • and when sucli appointment shall have been ac- 
 cepted by the Cler^ryman so appointed, he shall be transferred 
 to the iurisdiction of the Bishop in charge ^ ^^^ . ^ , 
 
 Clause [12] of Section iii. of Canon 5 of Title III. is repealed. 
 
 Citlc III.— Cai^on 9. 
 
 Canon 9 of Title III. was amended so as to read as follows : 
 
 Of the Constitution of the Domestic and F'oreign Mission ^^^^^^^ 
 
 ciety of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United btatcs 
 
 of America. 
 
 S i The Constitution of the said Society, which was incor- 
 co?porated by an Act of the Legislature of the State of ^ew 
 York, is hereby amended and established so as to read as 
 follows : 
 Constitution of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of 
 
 the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United^ States^ of 
 
 America, as established in 1820, and since amended at various 
 
 times. 
 
 Abticle 1. This institution shall be denominated The Do- 
 mestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Epis- 
 copal Church in the United States of America 
 
 Article II. This Society shall be considered as comprehend- 
 inu-allpersons who are members of this Church. _ 
 
 Article III. There shall be a Board of Missions of such 
 Societv, composed of the Bishops of this Church, and the mem- 
 bers fo; the time b.inff of the House of Deputies of the (gen- 
 eral Convention of this Church, Bishops and Deputies sitting 
 apart as in General Convention, or together when they shall so 
 decide The Board of Missions thus constituted shall convene 
 on the" third day of the session of the General ^^o^^^e^ticni. and 
 shall sit from time to time as the business of the Board shall 
 
 '^''aoticle IV. There shall be a Board of Managers, comprising 
 all the Bishops as members ex ^^do. and fifteen Presbyters 
 and fifteen laymen, to be appointed by the Board of Missions a 
 every triennial meeting of the ^^^^^ral Convention who liaU 
 have the management of the General Missions of th s C hurcli 
 and shall remain in office until their successors are chosen and 
 shall have power to fill any vacancies that may occur m their 
 
312 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 number. Eight Clerical members and eijrbt Lay members 
 shall constitute a quorum. This Board of Managers shall, 
 during the recess of the Convention, exercise all the corporate 
 powers of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society. The 
 Board of Managers shall report to the General Convention, 
 constituted as a Board of Missions, on or before the third day 
 of the session of the General Convention. But nothing herein 
 contained shall affect the rights of any surviving life-members 
 of the Board of Missions. 
 
 Article V. The Board of Managers is authorized to form, 
 from its own members, a Committee for Domestic Missions and 
 a Committee for Foreign Missions, and such other Committees 
 as it may deem desirable to promote special Missionary work, 
 and is also authorized to appoint such officers as shall be need- 
 ful for carrying on the work. 
 
 Article VI. The Board of Managers is intrusted with power 
 to establish and regulate such Missions as are not placed under 
 Episcopal supervision, and to enact all by-laws which it may 
 deem necessary for its own government and for the government 
 of its Committees : Provided, ahcays, that in relation to organ- 
 ize 1 Dioceses and Missionary Jurisdictions having Bishops, the 
 appropriations shall be made in gross to such Dioceses and Mis- 
 sionary Jurisdictions, to be disbursed by the local authorities 
 thereof. The Board sliall notify to the several Bishops the 
 gross sums so appropriated ; and those Bishops shall regulate 
 the number of Mission Stations, appoint the Missionaries, and 
 assia^n to them their stipends, with the approval of the Board 
 of Managers. 
 
 Article VII. No person shall be appointed a Missionary 
 who is not at the time a Minister of the Protestant Episcopal 
 Church of regular standing ; but nothing in this section pre- 
 cludes the Committees from making pecuniary appropriations 
 in aid of Missions under the care of other Churches in com- 
 munion with this Church, or of employing laymen or women, 
 members of this Church, to do Missionary work. 
 
 Article VIII. The Board of Managers is authorized to pro- 
 mote the formation of auxiliary Missionary Associations, whose 
 contributions, as well as those specially appropriated by indi- 
 viduals, shall be received and paid in accordance with the wish 
 of the donors, when expressed in writing. It shall be the duty 
 of the Board of Managers to arrange for public Missionary 
 meetinofs, to be held at the same time and place as the 
 General Convention, and at such other times and places as may 
 be determined upon, to which all auxiliaries approved by the 
 Board of Managers may send one Clerical and one Lay Dele- 
 gate. 
 
 ARTICLT5 TX. This Constitution may be altered or amended 
 at any time by the General Convention of this Church. 
 
 § ii. All Canons, and all action by or under the authority of 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 313 
 
 the General Convention, so far as inconsistent with the pro- 
 visions of this Canon and of such amended Constitution, are 
 hereby repealed ; Provided, however, tliat notliing herein shall in 
 any manner impair or affect any corporate rights of the said 
 Society, or any vested right whatever. 
 § iii. This Canon shall take effect immediately. 
 
 Citle IV.— Catson 2. 
 
 Canon 2 of Title IV. was amended so as to read as follows : 
 Of the Enactment, Amendment, and Repeal of Canons. 
 
 § i. In all cases of future enactment, the same, if by way 
 of amendment of an existing provision, shall be in the follow- 
 ing form: "Title — , Canon — , Section — , Clause — , is hereby 
 amended so as to read as follows." And if the enactment is of 
 an additional Clause, Section, or Canon, it shall be desijinated as 
 the next Canon or next Section, or next Clause of a Canon or 
 Section, in the order of numberinpf of the Title to which the 
 subject properly belongs ; and if a Canon or Section or Clause be 
 stricken out, the existing numbering shall be retained until a 
 new edition of the Canons be directed, or until changed as in 
 the next Section provided. 
 
 § ii. The Committee on Canons of each House of the Gen- 
 eral Convention shall, at the close of each Session of the General 
 Convention, appoint two of their number to certify the changes, 
 if any, made in the Canons, including a correction of the refer- 
 ences made in any Canon to another, and to report the same, 
 with the proper arrangement thereof, to the Secretary, who 
 shall print the same in the Journal. 
 
 The discussion of certain memorials and resolutions 
 advocating tlie change of the name of the Church by 
 the removal of the words "^ Protestant Episcopal" was 
 followed in each House by action practically unani- 
 mous in its refusal to entertain such a proposition. 
 On the matter of Christian education the following 
 ing resolution was adopted : 
 
 Besolved, That it is the solemn conviction of this General 
 Convention in both Houses, that it is the duty of the Clergy and 
 
€)14 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 Laity of the Church to take, so far as the opportunity is afforded 
 them, au active interest in the public schools provided by the 
 State, with the purpose of extending the important benefits of 
 a secular education to all our citizens, and of diffusing-, side by 
 side with these, as much of religious influence and instruction 
 as possible ; to supplement them with thorough Christian 
 teaching elsewhere, and to add proper Church schools and in- 
 stitutions for the whole and more complete work of education, 
 wherever they are needed, and the means for their support can 
 be commanded. 
 
 The adoption of the '^ Table of Affinity" in the 
 English '^ Pra3Tr-Book " was discussed at length, as 
 were also the subjects of ^^ Sisterhoods" and " Brother- 
 hoods," and measures looking toward securing ^'^ godly 
 discipline" among the communing members of the 
 Church. On these points definite action failed, as it 
 also did respecting Synods of Dioceses and Suffragan 
 Bishops, and the proposed addition of a suffrage to the 
 Litany asking the Lord of the Harvest to send forth 
 laborers into His harvest. 
 
 The resignation of the Rt. Rev. William F. Adams, 
 D.D., as Missionary Bishop of New Mexico and Ari- 
 zona, was accepted by the House of Bishops, and the 
 Convention elected the Rev. David Buel Knicker- 
 backer, D.D., of Minnesota, to the vacant see. Action 
 was taken jiermitting tlic use, in place of the lessons 
 designated in the Calendar, of those reported by the 
 Joint Committee on tlie Lectionary for Lent, and also 
 allowing the use of the new English Lectionary at the 
 option of the clergyman until the next General Con- 
 vention. 
 
 A Joint Committee of the last General Convention 
 presented the following important rei)ort, the con- 
 sideration of which Avas laid over until the subsequent 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHUKCII. 315 
 
 session. Its bearing upon questions continually 
 mooted Avarrants its presentation in full in our pages : 
 
 The Force of Joikt Resolutions. 
 
 " Tlie terms ' Constitutions ' and ' Canons ' are tbe usual appro- 
 priate terms for those acts of ecclesiastical legislation winch 
 declare a rule or measure of conduct, and are prospective in 
 operation In ancient councils, in the mass of laws m the 
 English Annals, found in Johnson's Collections from the year 
 740^ these are the terms employed. Rescripts, decretals, and 
 capitularies are edicts of particular powers, of a more local 
 character. The term 'joint resolutions' is known in our own 
 civil and ecclesiastical legislation. Under the Constitution of 
 the United States, Article IV., a new State may be admitted 
 into the Union by Congress. 
 
 " This has been done sometimes by a joint resolution ot the 
 two Houses, as in the case of Indiana in 1816, Illinois in 1818, 
 and Texas in 1845 ; sometimes by Act of Congress, as in the 
 instances of Maine, Kentucky, and Michigan. 
 
 " But by the seventh Section of Article 3, every order, reso- 
 lution, or vote, to which the concurrence of the two Houses is 
 necessary (except questions of adjournment) shall be approved 
 by the President, or, if disapproved, repassed by two thirds, etc. 
 " Thus all three are placed on the same footing. The fifth 
 Article of the Constitution of the Church provides that new 
 Dioceses mav be admitted into union. 
 
 "This has" been carried out by joint resolution.^ The case of 
 Arkansas (1871) is an example. A Section of a Canon of 1874 
 regulates this matter to some extent. 
 
 " Joint resolutions may be classed under several heads : 
 " (1.) There is a class expresive of sympathy, congratulation, 
 or courtesy merely. , , ^ -. /^ocr-x 
 
 " The cases of intercourse with the Church of Sweden (1850, 
 and as to the Russo-Greek Church (1874), are examples. 
 
 " (2 ) Resolutions recommending a particular action or course 
 of conduct to the members of the Church, or bodies of it. We 
 have instances in the resolution as to almsgiving on the first 
 day of the week (1859), and as to Associate Rectors (1808). _ 
 
 "(8.) There are numerous instances of joint resolutions 
 merely expressing an opinion of the two Houses that particular 
 practces should be avoided, or particular measures pursued. 
 The action in 1859, as to almsgiving, was of this character. 
 That of 1841, as to free sittings, was similar. 
 
 " The opinion of the House of Bishops sought for by the 
 House of Deputies, on Ceremonies and Rubrics, may be thus 
 
 " (4.)' We have a class which relates to the General Conven- 
 
316 THE GENEKAL CONVENTION 
 
 tion as an organized body — tlie mode of action of itself and its 
 agencies. 
 
 " The admission of new Dioceses, the action as to Board of 
 Missions, Theological Seminary, etc., may be thus arranged. 
 
 " (5.) But there is a body of joint resolutions which on their 
 face have the character of a positive act of legislation. 
 
 " In 1808 it was jointly resolved that it is the sense of this 
 Church that it is inconsistent with the law of God, and there- 
 fore the Ministers of this Church shall not unite in matrimony 
 any person who is divorced, unless such divorce have been 
 granted on account of the adultery of the other party. And it 
 was also resolved that the Ministers of this Church ought not 
 to perform the funeral service in the case of any person who . 
 shall give or accept a challenge to a duel. In 1856, in the 
 House of Deputies, a resolution was referred, to consider the 
 propriety of preparing a Canon which should effectually accom- 
 plish the objects of the resolutions of 1808, above cited. 
 
 " The Committee on Canons reported that it was inexpedient 
 to legislate on the subject of marriage with a divorced person, 
 aild on the subject of duelling proposed a Canon forbidding the 
 reading of the burial service over the body of one who had 
 died of a wound received in a duel, unless he had evinced sin- 
 cere repentance. The House refused to accept the Canon. 
 
 " In 18G8 a Committee of the House of Bishops upon Marriage 
 and Divorce made a Report, in which they recited the resolu- 
 tion of 1808 as ' an opinion pronounced by the General Conven- 
 tion,' and submitted a Canon upon the subject of Divorce. 
 This was unanimously adopted, and after some amendments in 
 the other House, was passed as it is now in force. (See Canon 
 13, Title II.) 
 
 " The resolution of 1808, as to marrying a divorced party, was 
 as imperative in language as the Canon of 1868 ; yet the House 
 of Bishops treat it as an opinion only, and there is no trace in 
 our Church annals of its having been treated as a law. 
 
 " Again, we have a joint resolution of the General Convention, 
 adopted in 1865, that it is the sense of this Church that it is 
 incompatible with the duty, position, and sacred calling of the 
 Clergy to bear arms. 
 
 " The Committee on Canons had reported a Canon on the sub- 
 ject. This Kepoit was recommitted, with instructions to re- 
 port, instead of a Canon, a declaratory resolution in nearly its 
 present form. 
 
 " In 1874 a joint resolution of both Houses expresses their 
 opinion that the services are separable. 
 
 " If this mattt^r were to be discussed on general principles 
 alone, and the effect of joint resolutions were to be now for the 
 first time determined, there seems to be no good reason why a 
 joint resolution which commands or prohibits should not have, 
 in our legislation, the same force and effect as a Canon. 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 317 
 
 " In many of the United States of America their Constitutions 
 provide an enactin<r ch\use, and the use of tliat is necessary for 
 the passage of a law in those States. Our Constitution says 
 nothing about an enactinor clause, or the form of words neces- 
 sary to create a law or Canon. This Convention uses, in pass- 
 ing a Canon and in passing a joint resolution, the sime word, 
 ' resolve.' Where a Canon is intended to be passed, the word 
 ' Canon ' is also used. 
 
 "Reviewing the action of this Convention since its organiza- 
 tion, in regard to joint resolutions, we find, however, 
 
 " 1. Tliat no penalty has ever been provided in any joint 
 resolution passed by it. 
 
 "2. That in Canon 2, Title II., which sets forth the offences 
 for which Ministers may be tried and punished, it is provided 
 tliat every Minister may be tried and punished for the violation 
 of the Constitution and Canons of the General Convention, but 
 no provision is made for the violation of a joint resolution. 
 
 "3, That at different times one of the constituent Houses of 
 this Convention has, in direct words, declared a joint resolution 
 to be the mere expression of the opinion of the Convention, and 
 that both Houses appear to have always given that construction 
 to a joint resolution. 
 
 " 4, That tills Convention has refused to pass Canons sub- 
 mitted to it on certain subjects, and has passed, immediately 
 thereafter, joint resolutions, in almost the same words used in 
 the proposed Canons. 
 
 "5. That it has passed Canons for the expressed purpose of 
 putting into the form of law that which had theretofore been 
 merely in the form of joint resolutions. 
 
 " In view of these precedents, and this long-continued and un- 
 varying construction given by the Convention to joint resolu- 
 tions, this committee recommend the adoption of the following 
 
 " Resolutions. 
 
 *^ Firsty That the joint resolutions heretofore passed by the 
 General Convention have never been deemed to have, and 
 ought not to be construed as having, the force of law, but as 
 being merely the expression of an opinion. 
 
 " Second, That in view of the different doctrine prevailing in 
 the civil courts of our country, and to remove all doubt for the 
 future, an amendment should be made to the Constitution, 
 which will require all future legislation to be by Canon. 
 
 " Ihird, That a joint resolution professing to interpret a law 
 is only an opinion, of great weight indeed, but not obligatory." 
 
 Action in the matter of shortened services for 
 Morning and Evening Prayer, whicli Avas taken by 
 
318 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 each House, failed to become law because of a differ- 
 ence of opinion as to the proper mode of effecting the 
 end desired. The report of the Committee on the 
 State of the Church noticed the decease of the Rt. Rev. 
 Dr. Johns, Bishop of Virginia, and the addition of 
 twelve to the House of Bishops duriug the three years 
 last 2^ast ; the diminislied lists of candidates for ^' Holy 
 Orders ;" and the '^growing indisposition to frequent 
 the House of God on more than one occasion of pub- 
 lic worship each Sunday." The Committee recom- 
 mended the use of the Prayer Book " for the opening 
 and closing of Sunday-schools as the best means of 
 securing the interest of children in the worship of the 
 Church;" urged the establishment ''everywhere" of 
 ^' free and open churches ; " and called for the increase 
 on the part of churchmen of a living, loving sympa- 
 thy, which smiles, recognizes, and takes by the hand 
 the humble, the ignorant, and the unfortunate, so 
 that we may teach the world that, like the Master, we 
 are trying to ' seek and save the lost.' " After com- 
 mending: the Church's mission work in the various 
 departments to the interest and support of the faith- 
 ful, the report thus closed : 
 
 " The Committee feel that the Church's great and important 
 Council is closinp: its deliberations under circumstances that 
 are exceptional and very extraordinary, which call for expres- 
 sions of devoutest praise and gratitude. Kindness, forbearance, 
 courtesy, harmony, and love are not too strong words with 
 which to gpeak of our proceedings, intercourse, and acts. We 
 know from what source comes the influence that ' makes men 
 to be of one mind in one house ;' and we therefore desire to 
 ascribe to the Holy One the glory of all. And now, that we 
 have seen what power is gained by unity of action and f rat<M-!ial 
 concord, let us take care that we do not again ' fall out \>y the 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 319 
 
 way,' but do our Lord's work witli mutual good-will, confi- 
 dence, aud love, and we will realize the full blessing of that 
 Master's prayer, 'That they all may be one, as Thou, Father, 
 art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us, that 
 the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me.' " 
 
 The number of clergy reported^ and certain other 
 items, showed a slight decrease in consequence of the 
 failure of two Dioceses and four Jurisdictions to make 
 report, but in other respects, particularly in its exhi- 
 bition of a widespread charity, the statistical exhibit 
 was. most encouraging, and called for devout gratitude, 
 to God. The Pastoral Letter read at the close of the 
 session closed with these felicitous words : 
 
 " It has pleased Almighty Ood, in His wise and wonderful 
 providence, to place side by side on tbis continent two colonies 
 of the most vigorous race of men. Coming to America at pe- 
 riods somewhat distant and under very unlike circumstances, 
 yet they are contiguous to each other, and their territories 
 reach through many degrees of latitude, and stretch from ocean 
 to ocean across the continent. The churches of the United 
 States and of the Dominion, botb deriving their origin through 
 tlie Church of England, and adopting from lier Reformation 
 their government, ministry, and liturgy, form two branches of 
 the same Church of Christ in North America, which traces its 
 history back to the apostles' times. The last twenty-five years 
 have brought us very near together — never so near as during 
 this session of our General Convention. The delegation from 
 this sister Charch you have received with the honor and warm 
 affection due alike to their mission aud their personal character ; 
 and we feel that they have left a benediction behind them. 
 
 " It has pleased the Great Head of the Church to place in the 
 hands of the two branches thereof the sacred deposit of His 
 word. His sacraments, and His ministry, to be used for the 
 benefit of the millions who are crowding into Nortli America. 
 Well may we exclaim, ' Who is sufficient for these things? ' 
 
 "By the help of Almighty God, and in the power of His 
 
320 THE GEIsERAL CONVENTION 
 
 Spirit, we may present t]ie Church in her life, her services, and 
 her teachings, purely, simply, and with effect, in every portion 
 of this continent. In our North and Southwestern States and 
 Territories, and in the Dominion of Canada, every acre of land 
 is now covered by the jurisdiction of a Bishop of the Anglican 
 Communion. Our Episcopal organization affords us great ad- 
 vantages. Every movement is guided by a wise forecast, and 
 experience teaches us that the rough miner, and the bold hunts- 
 man of the West, when aroused to a sense of the value of his 
 soul, easily learns, and soon prefers, to worship his reconciled 
 Father in the forms of our liturgy. 
 
 " Up, then, brethren ! The land is large, and it is a goodly 
 land which the Lord hath blessed. Up ! enter in, and possess 
 it." 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHLJRCE. 321 
 
 THE CONVEK"TIOX OF 1880. 
 
 The General Convention of 1880 met in tlie city 
 of New York under circumstances of great interest. 
 There gathered to attend its sessions a representa- 
 tion of. Bishops, Clergy, and Laity, larger by far 
 than ever before. The interest felt abroad in our 
 cathohcity was attested by the presence of the Et. 
 Rev. Dr. Edward Ilerzog, the Christian -Catholic 
 Bishop of Switzerland, who was, by his participa- 
 tion in the services, sacraments, and sessions of the 
 Convention, brought into intimate relations with a 
 Church, Catholic but not Roman— Protesting, but 
 neither rationalistic nor infidel. The Rt. Rev. Dr. 
 Henry Cotterill, Bishop of Edinburgh, represented 
 the Church in Scotland, from which less than a 
 century since we received the Apostolic Succession 
 in the person of Samuel Seabury, first Bishop of 
 Connecticut. The Bishop of Huron, the Rt. Rev, 
 Dr. Hellmuth, who was in attendance with a depur 
 tation from the Canadian Church, also received a 
 hearty welcome. 
 
 The officers of both Houses were the same as at 
 the preceding session, with the exception of the 
 Rev. Dr. E. Edwards Beardsley, of Connecticut, 
 who succeeded to the Presidency of the House of 
 Deputies in the place of the Rev. Dr. Burgess, who 
 
322 'illt^ CENKiiAL CONVENTION 
 
 had been consecrated to the Bishopric of Quincy, 
 UL, during the interim. 
 
 The Convention assembled for its opening ser- 
 vices in St. George's Church, Stuyvesant Square, 
 and held its business sessions in the Church of the 
 Holy Trinity, on Madison Avenue, which, with its 
 chapel and offices, was most admirably adapted for 
 the purposes of the Convention, as it is to the 
 necessities and activities of a working and energetic 
 parish. At the opening service the sermon was 
 ])reached by the Bishop of California, Dr. Ivip. 
 Tiie Bishop of Edinburgh and Bishop Ilerzog, the 
 latter vested in his alb and richly embroidered cope, 
 and wearing his pectoral cross, took part in the ser- 
 vices, and united with the American Bishops in 
 the reception and administration of the Sacrament. 
 A marked feature of this session was the prominence 
 given to the nn'ssion-work of the Church, several 
 days having been devoted to the proceedings of the 
 General Convention sitting as the Board of Mis- 
 sions. The Missionary Episcopate received a large 
 accession ; the Rev. George K. Dunlop, of Missouri, 
 being elected to the jurisdiction of IS'"ew Mexico 
 and Arizona, in place of the He v. Dr. Knicker- 
 backer, who had declined the appointment ; the 
 Rev. Legh R. Brewer, of Central New York, be- 
 ing elected to the jurisdiction of Montana, which 
 was taken from that of Utah and Wyonn'ng, and the 
 Rev. Dr. John A. Paddock, of Long Island, being 
 elected Missionary Bishop of Washington, taken 
 from the jurisdiction of Oregon. A long-deferred 
 measure of airgressive effort was undertaken in the 
 
OF TIIH: AMERICAN c'llU HUH. 323 
 
 organization of a general Chnrch-Building Society 
 on the plan of an earlier association, "" The Western 
 Chnrch-Bnilding Society." In fact, for the first 
 time in the history of onr legislation, the Mission- 
 ary Bishops, both of the home and foreign field, 
 and those Western Bishoj^s into whose sees the tide 
 of immigration is pouring with unexampled rapidity, 
 found both a Avelcome and a hearing in the presence 
 of the representatives of the Church at large, and 
 could tell the story of the spiritual needs of their 
 jurisdictions, and the difficulties and trials environ- 
 ing them in their arduous work, as opportunity was 
 never offered before. As a result, the Church in 
 Convention assembled awoke to a desire, and in- 
 augurated efforts, to make herself the Church of the 
 land and the Church of the people, entering w^ith 
 full purpose of heart and greater vigor than ever 
 before into the work of missions at home, abroad, 
 everywhere. 
 
 The advantages arising from the sitting together 
 of tlie two Houses of the Convention as a Board of 
 Missions were utilized to bring before the Church 
 the need of a more adequate provision for the aged 
 and infirm clergy and for the families of deceased 
 ministers ; while the permission granted to the com- 
 mittees of the two Houses having in charge impor- 
 tant subjects in common, to meet together for their 
 consideration, proved of essential service in short- 
 ening debates and expediting business when the re- 
 ports were under discussion in the respective Houses. 
 
 The following important preamble and resolu- 
 tion, adopted in the House of Bishops, was fol- 
 
o2-l THK GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 lowed by the appointment of a joint committee to 
 make arrangements for a fitting observance of the 
 liistoric events thus noticed : 
 
 " Wltereas, Prior to the next session of the General Convention, 
 the one hundredth anniversary of theeailiest at! empts for organ- 
 ization on the part of the clergy of the Ameiican Church will 
 occur, to wit. the centennial of the election by the clergy of llie 
 first Bishop of Connecticut, at Woodbury, on the 25th of March, 
 1783, and the meeting of the clergy of Maryland at Washington 
 College, May 13-15, 1783, and that on the 13th of August in the 
 same year in which the Declaration of Fundamental Rights of 
 the Protestant Episcopal Church of Maryland was enacted ; 
 and ichereas, theie will occur in the following triennium the 
 one hundredth anniversaries of the first convention of clergy 
 and laity held in this country, to wit, that assembled in Christ 
 Church. Philadelphia, May 24, 1784, and the more general 
 meeting of representatives of the Church in a number of States 
 in the city of New York, October O-D, 1784, the consecration 
 of the first Bishop of Connecticut at the hands of the bishops 
 of the Church in Scotland, November 14, 1781, and the first 
 Geneial Convention of the Church in the Middle and Southern 
 States in September and October, 1785 ; and in the following 
 triennium the consecrations of the first Bishops of Pennsyl- 
 vania and New York in the chapel at Lambeth, February 4, 
 1787, the completion of organization of the American Church 
 by the union of all its members in the Convention of 1789 on 
 the 2d of October, and the adoption of its general ecclesiastical 
 constitution and the completion of its apostolic college ; and, 
 whereax, it is eminently fitting that a period at once so interest- 
 ing and important should be made the occasion of solemn 
 thanksgiving to Almighty God, and opportunity should be 
 afforded for the general lec; ption of the grateful offerings of 
 the people of God ; therefore, be it 
 
 " Resolved, That the whole subject of our approaching centen- 
 nial anniversaries be committed to a committee of this House 
 to prepare and report on plans for the suitable commemoration 
 of these historical events, the said plans, when reported, to be 
 communicated to the House of Deputies for their approval and 
 CO operation." 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHUKCH. 325 
 
 An important report on the functions of rectors 
 and wardens and vestrymen, in the control and ad- 
 ministration of parishes, presented in tlie House of 
 Bishops by the Bishop of Pennsylvania, and in the 
 House of Deputies by the Kev. Dr. Dix, laid down 
 the following ^' few plain principles :" 
 
 " 1st. The Church existed before any parishes. 
 
 " 2d. The clergy was set apart, as an order, before any 
 parishes existed. 
 
 "3d. The Church and the ministry are divine in their ori- 
 gin, perpetual in their existence, and essential to the mainte- 
 nance of the Redeemer's kingdom. 
 
 " 4th. The parish is purely a human institution, organized 
 diversely in diverse lands, a creature of civil law or conven- 
 tional arrangement, having no divine authority or obligation. 
 
 " 5th. The wardens and vestry are not, and cannot lawfully 
 or scripturally be, masters and rulers of the clergy, but they 
 are auxiliary to the clergy as important adjuncts and aids in 
 the work in which they have been set by the Holy Ghost." 
 
 This report recommended that in each diocese the 
 rector should be the head of the corporation, and 
 that the wardens and a majority at least of the 
 vestrymen should be communicants ; it also advo- 
 cated that the Bishops should have ^^some concur- 
 rent action with the vestry in the choice of the minis- 
 ter, " and closed Avitli the following opinions, to wit : 
 
 " First. As to the functions of the rector in the control and 
 administration of parishes. 
 
 " 1st. The rector has control over the church buildings so 
 far as it respects the use of them as places of worship and for 
 carrying on the necessary parochial work of the parish. 
 
 " 2d. The rector is the head of the parish— its head ecclesi- 
 astically and its head legally, except where otherwise stated by 
 the law of the State or the charter of the church or parish, and 
 he should, therefore, when present, preside at vestry meetings. 
 
326 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 " 3d. The rector has the right to claim and enjoy ' the ac- 
 customed temporalities of tlie Churcii,' as stipulated at the 
 lime of his settlement or call, and which constitute a virtual 
 contract of full legal and moral force binding upon both parties. 
 
 ** 4th. The rector is responsible for the due discharge of 
 his official duties and clerical conduct to the ecclesiastical 
 authority of the diocese only — a fact thus stated in the Institu- 
 tion Office when it charges the Instituted Minister to bear in 
 mind that he is ' accountable to the ecclesiastical authority of 
 the Church here and to the Chief Bishop and Sovereign Judge 
 of all hereafter,' and any complaint against a rector in refer- 
 ence to his teaching or ministeiing must be made to the Ordi- 
 nary of the Diocese. 
 
 " Second. As to the functions of wardens and vestries. 
 These are, in the opinion of the committee : 
 
 *' 1st. That they have the charge and guardianship of all the 
 corporate rights and property of the parish, as specified by 
 Stale legislation or churcli charters, or diocesan canons. 
 
 " 2d. That they have the right to elect a rector or assistant 
 minister, and to ask (under the provision of § 1, Can. 14, Title 
 1) to have him, if the bishop be so disposed, ' instituted accord- 
 ing to the office established by this Church, if that office be 
 used in the diocese.' 
 
 " 3d. That they are legally and morally bound to secure to 
 the rector or minister the accustomed temporalities of the 
 Church set apart for his proper maintenance and support. 
 
 "4th. That they are to aid the rector, by all the secular 
 means at their command, in maintaining the services of the 
 Church, and the other usual agencies for strengthening and en- 
 larging the parish. 
 
 " 5th. That in order to discharge these functions connected 
 with the House of God, the support of the ministry and the 
 worship of the Church, it is eminently proper that those only 
 should be intrusted with such solemn duties who are them- 
 selves communicants of the Church, and who feel the spiritual 
 as well as the legal responsibility resting upon them." 
 
 In direct legislation, such as changes in the 
 Canons, little was done. Canon 9 of Title- III., 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 327 
 
 ^^ Of the Constitution of tlie Domestic and Foreign 
 Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal 
 Cimrcli in the United States of America," was 
 amended so as to inchide as members of the Board 
 of Missions the delegates from the Missionary Juris- 
 diction to the House of Deputies, and the members 
 of the Board of Managers, with the secretaries and 
 treasurers of the two committees. Some other 
 fihght modifications of this Canon were adopted. 
 Section II. of Canon 1 of Title III., defining the 
 duties of the Registrar, was also amended so as to 
 provide with more care for the safety of the 
 archives of the Church and the record of Episcopal 
 consecrations. An additional section (Section lY.) 
 was added to Canon 1 of Title 11. , declaring it '^ to 
 be the duty of all members of the Church to attend 
 and give evidence when duly summoned to do so in 
 any ecclesiastical trial or investigation under the 
 authority of this Church. " Provision was made for 
 shortened services by the ado2)tion of the following 
 resolution, looking to the amendment of the ratifi- 
 cation of the Book of Common Prayer : 
 
 " Resolved, That the ratification of the Book of Common 
 Prayer be amended so as to read as follows, and that such pro- 
 posed amendment be made known to the several Diocesan 
 Conventions, in order that it may be adopted in the next Gen- 
 eral Convention according to Article 8 of the Constitution : 
 
 "the ratification of the book of common pkayeb. 
 
 " By the Bishops, the Clergy, and the Laity of the Protestant 
 Episcopal Church in the United States of America, in General 
 Convention assembled : 
 
 " The General Convention of this Church having heretofore. 
 
328 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 to wit, on the IGlh day of Oclobcr, a d. 1789, set forth and 
 established A Book of Common Pia3er and Admiuistialion of 
 the Rites and Ceiemonies of the Chuich, and declared it to be 
 the Liturg-y of this Church, and required that it be received 
 as such by all the members of the same, and be in use from 
 and after the 1st day of October, a.d. 1790, the same book is 
 hereby ratified and confirmed, and ordered to be the use of this 
 Church from this time forth. 
 
 " But note, however, that on days ether than Sunday, 
 Christmas Day, the Epiphany, Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, 
 and the Ascension 'Day, it shall suliiee if the minister begin 
 Morning or Evening Prayer at the General Confession or the 
 Lord's Prayer, preceded by one or more of the sentences ap- 
 pointed at the beginning of Morning and Evening Prayer, and 
 end after the Collect for Grace or the Collect for Aid against 
 Perils, with 2 Cor. 13, 14, using so much of the lessons ap- 
 pointed for the day and so much of the Psalter as shall be for 
 edification. 
 
 " And note, also, that en any day when Morning and Even- 
 ing Prayer shall have been duly said, or are to be said, and 
 upon days other than those first aforementioned, it shall suflice, 
 when need may require, if a Sermon or Lecture be preceded 
 by at least the Lord's Prayer and one or more Collects found 
 in this book, provided that no prayers not set forth in said 
 book shall be used before or after such sermon or lecture. 
 And note further, also, that on any day the Morning Prayer, 
 the Litany, or the Order for the Administration of the Lord's 
 Supper may be used as a separate and independent service, pro- 
 vided that no one of these services shall be disused habitually." 
 
 The Convention gave its consent to the forma- 
 tion of a federate council, composed of tlie three di- 
 oceses within the State of Ilhnois, and approved of 
 the exercise by it of the following powers : 
 
 " 1st. The charge and care of such educational and charitable 
 institutions as it may canonically establish, or as may be placed 
 under its jurisdiction. 
 
 " 2d. The charge and conduct of matters pertaining to the 
 extension of the Church, such as the work of church building 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 329 
 
 and the assistance of feeble parishes and missions, so far as 
 these matters may be intrusted to it. 
 
 "3d. The acceptance and administration of all funds and 
 donations of any kind which may be given or intrusted to it. 
 
 "4th. And the said federate council shall have full power to 
 enact all regulations necessary to its organization and continu- 
 ance, and to the ends contemplated by the foregoing declara- 
 tion, not inconsistent with or repugnant to the constitution or 
 canons of the General Conventions of this Church or of any 
 one of the dioceses concerned, or to the law of the rubric as 
 contained in the Book of Common Prayer and offices of this 
 Church." 
 
 The name of the Joint Committee on Ecclesiasti- 
 cal Relations and Religious Reform was changed to 
 the Commission on Ecclesiastical Relations ; and 
 that of the Joint Committee on Christian Education 
 to that of " Education under the Auspices and Con- 
 trol of the Protestant Episcopal Church." It was 
 
 " Resolved, That a joint committee, to consist of seven 
 Bishops, seven presbyters, and seven laymen, be appointed to 
 consider and report to the next General Convention whether, iu 
 view of the fact that this Church is about to enter upon the 
 second century of its organized existence in this country, the 
 changed conditiuns of the national life do uot~ demand altera- 
 tions in the Book of Common Prayer in the direction of liturgi- 
 cal enrichment and increased flexibility of use." 
 
 Under this resolution the following committee 
 was appointed : The Bishops of Connecticut, Al- 
 bany, Western N"ew York, Pennsylvania, Easton, 
 Central New York, and Florida ; the Rev. Drs. Hun- 
 tington of Massachusetts, Dalrymple of Maryland, 
 Goodwin of Pennsylvania, Dix of Kew York, Har- 
 wood of Connecticut, Garrison of New Jersey, 
 Haiison of Albany ; Messrs. Fish of New York, 
 Coppee of Central Pennsylvania, Sheffey of Yir- 
 
330 IHE GENEKAL CONVE2s'TIOX 
 
 ginia, Wilder of Minnesota, Andrews of Southern 
 Ohio, J. M. Smith of Western New York, and 
 Burg win of Pittsburg. 
 
 The following resolution in regard to the exist- 
 ence of polygamy in the Territory of Utah was 
 passed : 
 
 " WTiereas, The work of the Church of Christ and the 
 best interests of the Christian civilizatiai are seiiously im- 
 peded in one of the Territories of the United States by the ex- 
 istence of polygamy, recognized by a large majority of the 
 community as a religious institution ; and whereas, polygamy 
 is not only contrary to the law of God, but is also forbidden 
 under severe penalties in the Territories of the United States by 
 act of Congress, which act has been declared constitutional by 
 the Supreme Court of the United States ; therefore, be it 
 
 " Res lived, That while there are peculiar difficulties in the 
 execution of this law, owing to the religious fanaticism by 
 which tiie institution of polygamy is upheld, and especially to 
 the fact that the interests of many innocent persons are unhap- 
 pily involved, it is still the duty of every Christian and every 
 citizen of this republic to use what influence he can to bring 
 about, as speedily as possible, a merciful but firm enforcement 
 of the law in regard to polygamy, or bigamy, in the Territory 
 of Utah." 
 
 A joint committee was appointed ^'to observe 
 what action is taken by government for extending 
 to the Indians legal protection of their civil rights, 
 and placing them under obedience to the law, to 
 promote by sucli measures as the committee shall 
 deem expedient legislation suitable to accomplish 
 those ends, and report from time to time w^iat action 
 shall have been had in the premises." 
 
 It was resolved that ' ' the evangelical hymns as 
 they stand in the English Prayer-Book — to wit, the 
 Mdgnijlcat^ the Song of 8imeon^ and that of Zacha- 
 
OF THE AMEKICAX CHURCH. 331 
 
 rias — be added to the Hymnal at the end of the 
 hymns in metre." The boundaries of the jurisdic- 
 tion of Niobrara and those of the dioceses of 
 Wisconsin and Fond du Lac were shghtly changed. 
 Tables of Lessons were set forth and permitted to 
 be used as alternative for the lessons now appointed 
 in the Prayer-Book Lectionary. A Canon, to be 
 munbered Canon 12 of Title IL, " On the Godly 
 Discipline of the Laity," was referred to the next 
 Convention. 
 
 The following minute was placed upon the 
 records of the House of Bishops : 
 
 " A meeting of Bishops having ecclesiastical jurisdiction, 
 duly convened, and acting under [3], Section XVI., Canon 15, 
 Title I., of the Digest, was held August 28th, 1878, and on 
 several successive days by adjournment. 
 
 " On September 8d a majority of all the Bishops recognized 
 in the Canon as above quoted being present and acting, the 
 Presiding Bishup presented the resignation by the Rt. Rev. 
 Samuel A. McCoskry, Bishop of Michigan, of his jurisdiction 
 and oflSce. The same was referred to a committee, and, after 
 their report, was unanimously accepted, and the bishopric of 
 the Diocese of Michigan declared to be vacant. 
 
 "(Signed) Alfred Lee, 
 
 " Presiding i?i the Eouse of BisJiops." 
 
 The House of Bishops ordered the publication of 
 
 the following : 
 
 COVENANT. 
 
 " In the Name of the M(«st Holy and Undivided Trinity, 
 Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Amen. 
 *' The following Covenant or Articles of Agreement, Concord 
 and Union, between the Bishops of the Protestant Episcopal 
 Church in the United States of America, of the first part, and 
 the Mexican Branch of the Catholic Church of our Lord Jesus 
 
332 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 Christ, JMilitant upon earth, of the second part, establishes tho 
 ensuing stipulations, mutually entered into by the two 
 Churches aforesaid : 
 
 ARTICLE I. 
 
 " The Bishops of the Protestant Episcopal Church la the 
 United S(ates of America, in consideration of the fact that 
 nearly all the clergy and members of the said Mexican Church 
 owe no allegiance to the Government of the United States of 
 America, but are Mexican citizens, do heieby recognize the 
 aforesaid Mexican Branch of the Catholic Church of our Lord 
 Jesus Christ, Militant upon earth, as of right, as also in point 
 of fact, a Foreign Church, to all intents and purposes within 
 the meaning of the Tenth Article of the Constitution of the 
 Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. 
 
 " But while the aforesaid Bishops of the Protestant Episco- 
 pal Church in the United States do thus recognize the said 
 Mexican Church to be a Foreign Church, yet during its early 
 growth and development it shall continue to enjoy the nurs- 
 ing care of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United 
 States, until the said Mexican Church shall attain to a 
 sufficiency in its Episcopate for the administration of its own 
 affairs, according to the requirements of the ancient canons 
 and primitive usages of the Church of Christ. 
 
 ARTICLE II. 
 
 " The Bishops of the Protestant Episcopal Church in tho 
 United States, acting under the aforesaid Tenth Article of the 
 Constitution, and relying upon the stipulations contained in 
 the following Articles of the Covenant, agree to consecrate to 
 the office of Bishop one or more persons duly elected by the 
 said Mexican branch of the Catholic Church of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, Militant upon earth, after receiving satisfactory evi- 
 dence of their election by the said Church, and of their fitness 
 and qualifications for such a high and holy vocation. 
 
 ARTICLE III. 
 
 " The Bishops of the Protestani Episcopal Church in the 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHUKCH. 333 
 
 United States furthermore agree to name from among them- 
 selves a commission of seven Bishops with whom tlie aforesaid 
 Bishop or Bishops to be consecrated for the said Mexican 
 Church shall be associated as a temporary Board of Adminis- 
 tration for the Episcopal government of the said Mexican 
 Church. A majority of the same shall be competent to take 
 order for the consecration of future Bishops of said Church, 
 as the necessity may arise in the demand of said Church. The 
 said temporary Board of Administration shall be furthermore 
 empowered to administer all the discipline pertaining to the 
 Episcopal Order of the Ministry of said Church, until at least 
 three Bishops shall be elected, consecrated, and canonically 
 established in the said Church ; it being understood that the 
 temporary Board of Administration shall be governed in the 
 exercise of their Episcopal administration, judgments, and 
 acts, by the provisions contained in the Constitution and 
 Canons of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States 
 of America, so far as the same can be applied to the divergent 
 circumstances of the said Mexican Church, and are consistent 
 with ils rights and privileges as a distinct National Church. 
 
 ARTICLE IV. 
 
 " The Mexican branch of the Catholic Church of our Lord 
 Jesus Christ, Militant upon earth, assures and certifies the 
 Bishops of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United 
 States that it receives the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New 
 Testaments, including all the books called canonical, as they 
 are enumerated in the Sixth Article of Religion of the Protes- 
 tant Episcopal Church (excluding those commonly called 
 apocryphal) as the Word of God, and containing all things 
 necessary to salvation ; that it prof esses the Catholic and Apos- 
 tolic Faith as set forth in the words of the Apostles' andNicene 
 Creeds ; that it receives and observes the two Sacraments of 
 Baptism and the Supper of the Lord, ordained by Christ Him- 
 self, and none others ; that it holds that, from the Apostles' 
 times, there have been these Orders of the Ministry, Bishops, 
 Presbyters, and Deacons, and desires to perpetuate them for 
 itself ; that it rejects the errors, novelties, and superstitions of 
 the Church of Rome, as the same are set forth and rejected by 
 
334- TBE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States in her 
 Articles of Rylit!:ion, as well as such as have been introduced 
 since the date of framing such Articles ; and the said Mexican 
 Church further covenants not to receive or establish any doc- 
 trines or articles of belief contrary to the doctrines held by the 
 Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States, and set 
 forth in its formularies. 
 
 ARTICLE V. 
 
 *' The Bishops of the Protestant Episcopal Church further- 
 more agree to consider such testimonials of (iharacter and qual- 
 ification for the Episcopate sufficient in form as shall be equiv- 
 alent to the formulated testimonials required by the Bishops of 
 the Church of England, before they conveyed the Episcopate 
 to this Church. 
 
 ARTICLE VI. 
 
 " (1.) And for the preservation of the common faith and of 
 the doctrines of the Lord Jesus, the said Mexican Church binds 
 itself to prepare a Service Book for Public Worship, and for 
 the administration of C-mfirmation and other sacred rites, the 
 Apostles' Creed and the Creed commonly called Nicene being 
 therein included ; the said Service Book to conform in its 
 essential features to the formularies of Primitive and Apostolic 
 Churches, and to be approved by the Commission of Bishops 
 in this Covenant established ; and the said Church further 
 binds itself to require a profession of faith in the terms of the 
 creeds aforesaid as a condition for admission to Holy Orders. 
 
 " (3.) And the said Mexican Church in her office for the Ad- 
 ministration of Holy Baptism, will preserve such a due scrip- 
 tural presentation of the authority andintcntof that sacrament, 
 ■with the use of the matter and form prescribed by our Divine 
 Lord and Master, as shall be satisfactory to the Bishops of the 
 Protestant Episcopal Church, or to the Commission of Bishops 
 by them appointed, 
 
 " (3.) And in lier office for the Administration of the I^ord's 
 Supper, the said Mexican Church will preserve such liturgical 
 forms as are essential thereto ; that is to say, particularly a due 
 scriptural presentation of the authority and intent of that sac- 
 rament, with the use of the matter and form prescribed by 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. 335 
 
 our Divine Master and Lnrd. and with such further provisions 
 as shall render said office conformable to the general outline 
 and spirit of the Primitive Liturgies in the judgment of the 
 Bishops aforesaid, or of the Commission of Bishops by them 
 appointed. 
 
 " 3. Resolved, That the commission to be appointed for that 
 purpose (namely, what is now commonly known as the Mexi- 
 can Commission) is hereby empowered to correspond with the 
 representatives of the Mexican branch of the Cnlholic Church 
 of our Lord Jesus Clirist, Militant tipon earth, in oider to the 
 final ratification of the afore-recounted Articles of Agreement. 
 " 4. Resolved, That when such ratification shall have taken 
 place, the commission aforesaid is hereby empowered to re- 
 ceive, examine, and report to the Presiding Bishop upon the 
 evidences of election, and testimonials of qualifications of the 
 person or persons presented by the synodical authority of the 
 Mexican branch and for Ordination to the Episc(;pate. 
 
 " 5. Resolved, That the Presiding Bishop is hereby requested 
 and empowered when he shall have received any such report 
 from the said commission, to take order for the consecration 
 of such person or persons as may be repoited to him by said 
 commission as duly elect and qualified." 
 
 It was reported that under this " Covenant," the 
 Bishop-elect of the Yalley of Mexico, Dr. H. C. 
 Eiley, had been consecrated, and that a tentative 
 liturgy had been introduced which required amend- 
 ment to bring it in accordance with the terms and 
 spirit of Article YI. of the Covenant. The Com- 
 mission was re-constituted as follows — viz., the 
 Bishops of Delaware, Connecticut, Ohio, Pennsyl- 
 vania, Western New York, Pittsburgh, Long Island, 
 and Albany, and the following resolution adopted : 
 
 •• Resolved, That the Bishops are in accord with the Bishops 
 of said commission in the policy they suggest touching the 
 future administration of the matters in question, and do accord- 
 ingly heartily concur with the said commission in their judg- 
 ment, that no order should be taken for the consecration of an- 
 
336 THE GENERAL CONVENTION 
 
 Other Bishop in Mexico, until the Bishop already consecrated 
 shall have actually entered upon his work, and until the terms 
 of the Covenant touching the preparation of a Liturgy shall 
 have been duly complied with, and until the approbation of a 
 majority of the Bishops of this Church to any such consecra- 
 tion shall have been signified to the Presiding Bishop, that he 
 may take order for the same." 
 
 In the commendation of work among the colored 
 people, and the adoption of a scheme of systematic 
 heneficence for missionary offerings ; in the consid- 
 eration of the grave questions of provinces, of the 
 tenure of church property and of graduated repre- 
 sentation in the General Convention ; in the discus- 
 sion of the subjects of Appellate Courts and further 
 legislation respecting divorce ; in the refusal to ad- 
 mit Dakota as a diocese, and to sanction the elec- 
 tion of an Assistant Bishop for Yirginia ; in the de- 
 bates with reference to the proposed revision of the 
 Bible and the important questions respecting Dea- 
 conesses and Sisterhoods, the Convention showed its 
 wisdom quite as much in its failure to act as in its 
 direct legislation. Party spirit found no opportu- 
 nity for its display ; and in practical work and mat- 
 ters pertaining to the spiritual good and growth of 
 the Church the days of this important session were 
 passed. The ' ' Pastoral ' ' read at the close of the 
 session reiterated the lessons of practical godliness 
 so often enjoined in these apostolic letters, and 
 urged upon the members of our communion to 
 make fresh efforts to enter in and possess the land 
 for Christ and His Church. With its closing words 
 of benediction the General Convention of 1880 ad- 
 journed sine die. ^ 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHUHCH. 337 
 
 THE CONYENTIOK OF 1883. 
 
 The next trienuial General Convention will 
 meet in the city of Philadelphia at a period in 
 the history of the American Church confessedly 
 epochal. Its assembling will mark the centennial 
 of the meeting of the Connecticut clergy in the 
 spring of 1783, at which the apostolic Seabnry was 
 chosen to seek abroad the Episcopate, which the 
 Mother Church of England had for a century persist- 
 ently refused to bestow upon the Colonial Church. 
 It also marks the completion of a hundred years 
 since in Maryland, at a convention of clergy under 
 the leadership of the celebrated Dr. William Smith, 
 measures for organization were taken, and the 
 leading spirit of them all was designated by his 
 brethren to the Episcopate he was never to receive. 
 The little one has become a great people, and the 
 x\merican Church, after a century of independent 
 and autonomous life, enters upon its second hun- 
 dred years with the purpose and the prospect of be- 
 coming: in fact as well as in name the Church of the 
 nation. With added influence and increasing 
 opportunities, fresh responsibilities are of necessity 
 connected. The Convention will have to meet at 
 the outset the grave questions which will be brought 
 to its attention in the report of the Joint Commit- 
 tee on Liturgical Enrichment, proposing a flexibility 
 
o38 THE GENERAL CONVENTIOX 
 
 in tlic use, and increase in tlie number, of our for- 
 mularies, wliicli cannot fail to elicit abundant discus- 
 sion and compel tlie most patient thought. The 
 relations of rectors and vestries will demand careful 
 consideration, in view of the all but universal admis- 
 sion that there now exist between the pastor and his 
 people grounds of difference of the most serious 
 and portentous nature. The question of securing a 
 Bishop for each Territory will also demand consid- 
 eration, and will doubtless receive favorable action. 
 The subject of the validity of Moravian Orders will 
 form tlie subject of a carefully considered report, 
 which is awaited with no little interest. The revision 
 of the course of theological study, and the cumber- 
 some and somewhat inconsistent canons of ordination 
 will, it is to be hoped, be definitely acted upon. 
 The canon on the Godly Discipline of the Laity, 
 referred to this Convention by the last, and offer- 
 ing the results of the most patient examination and 
 consideration of the House of Bishops during 
 several days' debate, will be again considered. 
 Final action will be had on the provision for Short- 
 ened Services by means of an amendment to the 
 form of ratification of the Book of Common Prayer. 
 The legislation reported by the joint committee on 
 the subject of prohibited degrees of afiinity and 
 kindred, will receive attention. The canon pro- 
 posed by the last Convention on the subject of 
 Episcopal Eesignations will be discussed. The 
 canon, " Of Organized Eeligious Societies within 
 the Church," to be numbered Canon 6 of Title III., 
 which was adopted by the House of Bishops, but 
 
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH. - 339 
 
 failed of consideration at the hands of the lower 
 House, will be considered. The revision of the 
 Bible will again claim the notice of the Convention. 
 The whole matter of joint resolutions will be 
 brought before the two Houses, and the question 
 '' whether the day on which the House of Bishops 
 sits as a part of the Board of Missions, is to be con- 
 sidered as one of the three days in which the House 
 can consider the action coming to it from the House 
 of Deputies. " Provision will also be made "for 
 the full and proper observance of the centennial an- 
 niversaries of the consecrations of the first Bishops 
 of Connecticut, Pennsjdvania, and New York, and 
 the completion of the organization of the General 
 Convention, the ratification of our Book of Com- 
 mon Prayer, and the adoption of the Constitution 
 of the Church," and also " for such general observ- 
 ances of these important anniversaries, and such 
 general thank-offerings to Almighty God, for His 
 great goodness to us as a Church and a people, as 
 shall mark the period embracing the years 1883 to 
 1889 as an epoch of grateful praise and beneficence 
 to be ever memorable in the history of the Church 
 of Christ." 
 
 We may reasonably anticipate that the exciting 
 questions which have occupied the time of the Con- 
 vention prior to the last, to the exclusion of many 
 important matters of a practical nature, will not be 
 made prominent in this interesting meeting of the 
 Church. The active and aggressive nature of the 
 last Convention, its earnest missionary spirit, and 
 the impetus given by its debates and measures to the 
 
340 THE GEXEKAL CONVENTION. 
 
 Chiircli's advance, give lis hope that t}ie eeiiteiinial 
 session of Convention will prove equally fruitful in 
 its practical results and in the adoption of wise 
 measures for the advancement of the cause of 
 Christ. 
 
 In view of the importance of these triennial gath- 
 erings, who of the members of the Church will not 
 devoutly pray to Him who by His Holy Spirit did 
 preside in the councils of the blessed Apostles, and 
 who has promised through His Son our Lord Jesus 
 Christ to be with His Church to the end of the 
 world, that this Council of the Church may be saved 
 '^ from all error, ignorance, pride, and prejudice," 
 and so directed, sanctified, and governed in their 
 work " that the comfortable gospel of Christ may 
 be truly preached, truly received, truly followed in 
 all places, to the breaking down the kingdom of 
 sin, Satan, and death." 
 
 X 
 
APPENDIX. 341 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 23,127 
 
 I. 
 
 SUMMARY OF STATISTICS OF CHURCH PROGRESS. 
 
 No summaries are appended to the Journals prior 
 to the year 1832. From that date they have, with 
 more or less accuracy in detail, been furnished, and 
 are here reproduced, giving, as they do, the items 
 of Church progress for nearly half a century— 1829- 
 1877. 
 
 1832. 
 Clergy reported in 18 Dioceses 592 
 
 ( Adults in 14 Dioceses 3,394 ) 
 
 Baptisms, -j Infants in 14 Dioceses 19,138 [• . . 
 
 ( JS'ot specified in 2 Dioceses. . 595 ) 
 
 Communicants added in 12 Dioceses 8,735 
 
 Total of Communicants in 16 Dioceses 30,939 
 
 Marriages in 13 Dioceses 5,449 
 
 Burials in 13 Dioceses 11,060 
 
 Sunday-school Teachers in 10 Dioceses 1,743 
 
 Sunday-school Scholars in 14 Dioceses 24,218 
 
 1835. 
 
 Clergy in 19 Dioceses 763 
 
 ( Adults in 11 Dioceses 2,021 ) 
 
 Baptisms, ^ Infants in 11 Dioceses 10,371 V 21,849 
 
 ( Not specified in 9 Dioceses. . . 9,457 ) 
 
 Communicants added in 6 Dioceses 2,136 
 
 Total of Communicants in 19 Dioceses, 36,416 
 
 Marriages in 11 Dioceses 5,436 
 
 Burials in 11 Dioceses 8,774 
 
 Sunday-school Teachers in 9 Dioceses 3,059 
 
 Sunday-school Scholars in 11 Dioceses 28,661 
 
342 APPENDIX. 
 
 1838. 
 
 Clergy in 25 Dioceses 951 
 
 ( Adults in 12 Dioceses 2,522 ) 
 
 Baptisms, < Infants in 12 Dioceses 14,964 j- 18,758 
 
 ( Not specified in 2 Dioceses... 1,272 ) 
 
 Communicants added in 4 Dioceses 7,280 
 
 Total of Communicants in 23 Dioceses 45,930 
 
 Marriages in 13 Dioceses 5,719 
 
 Burials in 13 Dioceses 10,588 
 
 Sunday-school Teachers in 9 Dioceses 4,367 
 
 Sunday-school Scholars in 13 Dioceses 39,443 
 
 1841. 
 
 Clergy in 25 Dioseses 1,053 
 
 ( Adults in 14 Dioceses. . .... 4,729 ) 
 
 Baptisms, ] Infants in 14 Dioceses. . 22,496 V 34,465 
 
 ( Not specified in 9 Dioceses . . 7,240 ) 
 
 Communicants added in 9 Dioceses. 3,678 
 
 Total of Communicants in 25 Dioceses 55,427 
 
 Marriages in 17 Dioceses 8,604 
 
 Burials in 14 Dioceses 14,961 
 
 Sunday school Teachers in 10 Dioceses 3,974 
 
 Sunday-school Scholars in 11 Dioceses. 32,265 
 
 1844. 
 
 Clergy in 24 Dioceses (Number in 3 Dioceses not 
 
 reported) 1,096 
 
 ( Adults in 19 Dioceses 7,807 ) 
 
 Baptisms, \ Infants in 19 Dioceses 30,254 ^ 39,119 
 
 ( Not specified in 3 Dioceses.. 1,058 ) 
 
 Communicants added in 12 Dioceses 12,490 
 
 Total of Communicants in 26 Dioceses 72,099 
 
 Marriages in 17 Dioceses 8,036 
 
 Burials in 17 Dioceses 14,330 
 
 Sunday-school Teachers in 13 Dioceses 5,037 
 
 Sunday-school Scholars in 14 Dioceses 40,012 
 
APPENDIX. 343 
 
 1847. 
 
 Clergy in 28 Dioceses 1,404 
 
 ( Adults in 21 Dioceses 4,408 ) 
 
 Baptisms, •] Infants in 21 Dioceses 23,551 l 33,774 
 
 ( Not specified in 7 Dioceses. . 5,815 ) 
 
 Communicants in 27 Dioceses 67,550 
 
 Marriages in 19 Dioceses G,826 
 
 Burials in 19 Dioceses 12,814 
 
 Sunday-school Teachers in 16 Dioceses 5,279 
 
 Sunday-school Scholars in 18 Dioceses 39,437 
 
 Clergy deceased in 15 Dioceses 34 
 
 1850. 
 
 Clergy in 29 Dioceses 1,558 
 
 ( Adults in 24 Dioceses 5,957 ) 
 
 Baptisms. ■] Infants in 24 Dioceses 33,072 [■ • • . 42,925 
 
 ( Not specified in 4 Dioceses. 3,896 ) 
 
 Communicants in 28 Dioceses 79,987 
 
 Marriages in 20 Dioceses 3,420 
 
 Burials in 20 Dioceses 16,233 
 
 Sunday-school Teachers in 17 Dioceses 4,520 
 
 Sunday-school Scholars in 19 Dioceses 38,603 
 
 Clergy deceased in 16 Dioceses 43 
 
 1853. 
 
 Clergy in 30 Dioceses 1,651 
 
 ( Infants in 24 Dioceses 89,565 ) 
 
 Baptisms, -j Adults in 24 Dioceses 6,531 [• 48,157 
 
 ( Not specified in 4 Dioceses.. 2,061 ) 
 
 Communicants in 30 Dioceses 105,136 
 
 Marriages in 24 Dioceses 12,974 
 
 Burials in 24 Dioceses 23,558 
 
 Sunday-school Teachers in 18 Dioceses 5,531 
 
 Sunday-school Scholars in 22 Dioceses 62,376 
 
 Clergy deceased in 18 Dioceses 42 
 
 Number of Churches in 7 Dioceses. 454 
 
 Number of Parishes and Congregations in 22 Dioceses 1,150 
 
?A4: APPENDIX. 
 
 1856. 
 
 Clergy in 31 Dioceses 1,828 
 
 ( Infants in 26 Dioceses 56,132 ) 
 
 Baptisms, < Adults in 26 Dioceses l),o42 v 70,537 
 
 ( Not specified in 4 Dioceses. . . 4,853 ) 
 
 Communicants in 31 Dioceses 119,540 
 
 Marriages in 30 Dioceses 21,334 
 
 Burials in 30 Dioceses 36,925 
 
 Sunday-school Teachers in 20 Dioceses 9,235 
 
 Sunday-school Scholars in 25 Dioceses. .. ^ 82,014 
 
 Clergy deceased in 22 Dioceses 58 
 
 Number of Churches in 6 Dioceses 335 
 
 Number of Parishes in 29 Dioceses 1,825 
 
 1859. 
 
 Clergy in 33 Dioceses 2,065 
 
 T, ,. ( Infants in 33 Dioceses 74,553 ) c^q oqo 
 
 Baptisms, | ^^^^^^ ^^ 33 Dioceses 14,729 p " " ' ^^'^^^ 
 
 Communicants in 33 Dioceses 139,611 
 
 Marriages in 32 Dioceses 21,225 
 
 Burials in 32 Dioceses 37,021 
 
 Sunday school Teachers in 27 Dioceses 14,019 
 
 Sunday-school Scholars in 31 Dioceses 113,912 
 
 Clergy deceased in 22 Dioceses "^^ 
 
 Number of Churches in 27 Dioceses 1.395 
 
 Number of Parishes in 33 Dioceses 2,120 
 
 1862. 
 
 Clergy in 23 Dioceses 2,286 
 
 _, ,. ( Infants in 23 Dioceses... .60,449) 71 fjQQ 
 
 Baptisms, -j ^^^^^^ .^ 33 Djoceses 11,084 I • " * " ^^'^^^ 
 
 Communicants in 23 Dioceses 124,340 
 
 Marriages in 22 Dioceses 17,028 
 
 Burials in 22 Dioceses 33,095 
 
 Sunday-school Teachers in 22 Dioceses 3,897 
 
 Sunday-school Scholars in 22 Dioceses 123,011 
 
 Clergy deceased in 16 Dioceses 52 
 
 Number of Churches in 17 Dioceses 1,144 
 
 Number of Parishes in 22 Dioceses 1,728 
 
APPENDIX. 345 
 
 1865. 
 
 Clergy in 33 Dioceses 2,450 
 
 ! Infants in 24 Dioceses 66,954 ) 
 
 Adults in 24 Dioceses 1^,153 V 80,621 
 Not specified in 1 Diocese, . . 514 ) 
 
 Communicants in 24 Dioceses 148,068 
 
 Marriages in 24 Dioceses 20,836 
 
 Burials in 24 Dioceses 45,836 
 
 Sunday-school Teachers in 18 Dioceses 14,728 
 
 Sunday-school Scholars in 19 Dioceses 132,588 
 
 Number of Churches in 17 Dioceses 1,230 
 
 Number of Parishes in 20 Dioceses 1,687 
 
 Contributions in 21 Dioceses $6,471,669 20 
 
 1868. 
 
 Number of Dioceses* 35 
 
 Number of Bishops and Clergy. 2,662 
 
 Number of Lay Readers Licensed in 1866-8 in 12 Dio- 
 ceses 133 
 
 Present Number of Lay Readers Licensed in 20 Dio- 
 ceses 268 
 
 Number of Candidates for Holy Orders admitted 1866-8 
 
 in 21 Dioceses 333 
 
 Present Number of Candidates in 31 Dioceses 349 
 
 Deacons Ordained 1866-8 in 31 Dioceses 312 
 
 Presbyters Ordained 1866-8 in 33 Dioceses 281 
 
 Number without Cure 1868 in 26 Dioceses 216 
 
 Number of Parishes Organized 1866-8 in 26 Dioceses . . 198 
 Present Number of Parishes reported in 32 Dioceses. . 2,299 
 Present Number of Churches and Chapels in 27 Dio- 
 ceses 1,857 
 
 ( Infants 1866-8 in 31 Dioceses 77,869 ) 
 
 Baptisms, ^ Adults 1866-8 in 31 Dioceses 18,394 I 99,720 
 
 ( Not specified in 4 Dioceses. , 3,457 ) 
 
 Confirmations 1866-8 in 33 Dioceses 59,940 
 
 Marriages 1866-8 in 34 Dioceses. . . . , , , 30,200 
 
 * Fonr additional Dioceses were created by action of this Convention^ 
 the statistics of wtiich are included in the reports of the Dioceses front 
 which they were made. 
 
346 APPENDIX. 
 
 Burials 186G-8 in 34 Dioceses 48,542 
 
 Communicants added 1866-8 in 22 Dioceses 53,049 
 
 Communicants 1868 in 34 Dioceses 195,183 
 
 Sunday-school Teachers 1868 in 29 Dioceses 21,4^8 
 
 Sunday-school Scholars 1868 in 33 Dioceses 188,132 
 
 Number of Parish Schools 1868 in 21 Dioceses 183 
 
 Amount of Contributions 1866-8 in 35 Dioceses. $11,291,655 00 
 Number Parishes not reporting to Convention 1866-8 in 
 
 11 Dioceses 315 
 
 1871. 
 
 Number of Dioceses* 40 
 
 Number of Bishops and Clergy 2,876 
 
 Present Number of Lay Readers Licensed in 28 Dio- 
 ceses and 4 Missionary Districts 536 
 
 Number of Candidates for Holy Orders admitted 1868- 
 
 71 in 40 Dioceses and 2 Missionary Districts 609 
 
 Present Number of Candidates in 39 Dioceses and 4 
 
 Missionary Districts 462 
 
 Deacons Ordained 1868-71 in 40 Dioceses and 1 Mis- 
 sionary District 378 
 
 Priests Ordained 1868-71 in 39 Dioceses and 4 Mission- 
 ary Districts 301 
 
 Clergy without Cure in 38 Dioceses and 2 Missionary 
 Districts (no reports from New York and Pennsyl- 
 vania) 272 
 
 Clergy receiving Missionary Stipends in 32 Dioceses 
 
 and 6 Missionary Districts 521 
 
 Number of Parishes Organized 1868-71 in 38 Dioceses 
 
 and 2 Missionary Districts. ., 257 
 
 Whole Number of Parishes in 40 Dioceses and 6 Mis- 
 sionary Districts 2,767 
 
 Number of Missions in 28 Dioceses and 4 Missionary 
 
 Districts 626 
 
 Churches Consecrated 18C8-71 in 36 Dioce^x>s and 2 Mis- 
 sionary Districts 241 
 
 * One additional Diocese was created by action of this Convention, the 
 statistics of which are included in that of Pcunsylvania, from which the 
 Diocese was made. 
 
APPEX]>ix. 347 
 
 2.84: 
 
 731 
 
 Whole Number of Churches and Chapels October 1, 
 1871, in 40 Dioceses and 8 Missionary Districts 
 
 Number of Rectories in 34 Dioceses and 5 Missionary 
 Districts (no reports from Alabama, Florida, Illi- 
 nois, Long Island, Massachusetts, and New York). 
 
 Value of Churches and Chapels as reported by 16 Dio- 
 ceses and 4 Missionary Districts (no reports from 
 Albany, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Dela- 
 ware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, 
 Long Island, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, 
 Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, 
 North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island' 
 South Carolina, and Virginia) $6,985,651 00 
 
 Value of Rectories in 15 Dioceses and 3 Missionary 
 
 ^^«*^"^<^*« 1,244,025 00 
 
 Value of Other Church Property in 14 Dioceses 
 
 and 1 Missionary District 1 0(jS 507 00 
 
 Value of Church Property in 19 Dioceses and 7 
 Missionary Districts (no reports from Arkan- 
 sas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Flor- 
 ida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Long Island, 
 Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mis- 
 souri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New 
 York, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, 
 
 South Carolina, and Virginia ) 16,466,408 33 
 
 Baptisms reported 1868-71 : 
 
 Infants in 39 Dioceses and 4 Missionary 
 
 Districts 92 274 
 
 Adults in the same 22 476 
 
 Not specified in 14 Dioceses 3,357 
 
 Total Number Baptisms 1868-71 in 40 Dio- 
 ceses and 5 Missionary Districts 117 269 
 
 Confirmations 1868-71 in 40 Dioceses and 3 Missionj^ry 
 
 ,, ^^'*"^^^ : 70,396 
 
 Marriages 1868-71 in 40 Dioceses and 5 Missionary 
 
 ^ ^^^*"^*^ 30,867 
 
 Burials 1868-71 in the same 50 843 
 
 Communicants added in 33 Dioceses and 2 Missionary 
 
 I^^stricts 75-^26 
 
348 APPENDIX. 
 
 Communicants Lost by Death or Removal in 30 Dio- 
 ceses and 1 Missionary District 34,496 
 
 Whole Number of Communicants in 40 Dioceses and 
 
 7 Missionary Districts .* 236,929 
 
 Number of Sunday-school Catechists or Teachers in 
 
 bO Dioceses and 5 Missionary Districts 25,851 
 
 Number of Catechumens in 39 Dioceses and 5 Miasiou- 
 
 ary Districts 233,565 
 
 Number of Parish Schools in 26 Dioceses and 2 Mis- 
 sionary Districts (no reports from Arkansas, Con- 
 necticut, Delaware. Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Ken- 
 tucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, 
 New York, Ohio, Pennsylania) 210 
 
 Number of Asylums for Orphans in 17 Dioceses and 1 
 
 Missionary District 30 
 
 Number of Church Hospitals in 13 Dioceses and 2 Mis- 
 sionary Districts 17 
 
 Number of Church Homes for the Aged and Infirm in 
 
 17 Dioceses 22 
 
 Offerings 1868-71 for Diocesan Missions in 34 
 
 Dioceses $417,156 39 
 
 Total Offerings for Religious Purposes in 38 Dio- 
 ceses and 7 Missionary Districts 16,384,112 45 
 
 1874. 
 
 Number of Dioceses 41 
 
 Number of Missionary Jurisdictions 8 
 
 Number of Bishops and Clergy 3,086 
 
 Number of Lay Readers in 24 Dioceses and 6 Mission- 
 ary J urisdictions 598 
 
 Number of Candidates for Holy Orders in 37 Dioceses 
 
 and 5 Missionary Jurisdictions 333 
 
 Deacons Ordained in 38 Dioceses and 4 Missionary 
 
 Jurisdictions 410 
 
 Priests Ordained in 38 Dioceses and 4 Missionary Juris- 
 dictions 310 
 
 Whole Number of Parishes in 38 Dioceses and 4 Mis- 
 sionary Jurisdictions 2,741 
 
 Number of Missions in 32 Dioceses and 5 Missionary 
 
 Jurisdictions 918 
 
APPENDIX. 349 
 
 Churches Consecrated in 37 Dioceses and 3 Missionary 
 
 Jurisdictions 204 
 
 WTiole number of Churches and Chapels in 34 Dioceses 
 
 and 8 Missionary Jurisdictions 2,620 
 
 Number of Rectories in 33 Dioceses and 5 Missionary 
 
 Jurisdictions 763 
 
 Baptisms reported 1871-74 : 
 
 Infants in 39 Dioceses and 7 Missionary 
 
 Jurisdictions 95,164 
 
 Adults in same 22,120 
 
 Total Baptisms 122,640 
 
 Confirmations in 40 Dioceses and 7 Missionary Juris- 
 dictions 73,270 
 
 Marriages in 40 Dioceses and 7 Missionary Jurisdictions 83,052 
 
 Burials in 39 Dioceses and 7 Missionary Jurisdictions. 59,738 
 
 Communicants added in 23 Dioceses and 3 Missionary 
 
 Jurisdictions 42,331 
 
 Present Number of Communicants in 40 Dioceses and 
 
 8 Missionary Jurisdictions 282,359 
 
 Number of Sunday-school Teachers in 38 Dioceses and 
 
 4 Missionary Jurisdictions 32,920 
 
 Number of Sunday-school Scholars in 40 Dioceses and 
 
 5 Missionary Jurisdictions 301,587 
 
 Number of Parish School Teachers in 23 Dioceses and 
 
 4 Missionary Jurisdictions 2,500 
 
 Number of Parish School Scholars in 24 Dioceses and 
 
 5 Missionary Jurisdictions 36,943 
 
 Number of Church Hospitals in 17 Dioceses and 3 Mis- 
 sionary Jurisdictions 34 
 
 Number of Church Orphan Asylums in 20 Dioceses and 
 
 1 Missionary Jurisdiction, 33 
 
 Number of Church Homes in 17 Dioceses 25 
 
 Number of Academic Institutions in 27 Dioceses and 2 
 
 Missionary Jurisdictions 48 
 
 Number of Collegiate Institutions in 16 Dioceses and 2 
 
 Missionary Jurisdictions 19 
 
 Number of Theological Institutions in 15 Dioceses and 
 
 2 Missionary Jurisdictions 17 
 
 Communion Alms reported in 31 Dioceses and 1 
 
 Missionary Jurisdiction $536,317 93 
 
350 APPENDIX. 
 
 Episcopal Fund, Total Income in 35 Dioceses and 
 
 1 Missionary Jurisdiction 442,136 20 
 
 Diocesan Expenditures, Convention, etc., in 36 
 
 Dioceses 199,564 21 
 
 Offerings for Diocesan Missions in 35 Dioceses 
 
 and 1 Missionary Jurisdiction 464,517 25 
 
 Offerings for Domestic Missions in 34 Dioceses 
 
 and 2 Missionary Jurisdictions 496,527 10 
 
 Offerings for Home Missions for Colored People 
 
 in 21 Dioceses and 1 Missionary Jurisdiction 34,494 62 
 Offerings for Indian Missions in 16 Dioceses and 1 
 
 Missionary Jurisdiction 64,472 23 
 
 Offerings for Foreign Missions in 32 Dioceses and 
 
 2 Missionary Jurisdictions 231,701 76 
 
 Offerings for Education of the Ministry in 30 Dio- 
 ceses 170,031 00 
 
 Offerings for Aged and Infirm Clergy Fund in 24 
 
 Dioceses and 1 Missionary Jurisdiction 125,522 02 
 
 Offerings for Widows and Orphans of Clergy in 7 
 
 Dioceses 35,398 33 
 
 Offerings for Other and Miscellaneous Charities 
 
 in 19 Dioceses 830,316 93 
 
 Total of Charitable Offerings and Income in 39 
 
 Dioceses and 7 Missionary Jurisdictions 11,622,836 77 
 
 Total of Salaries and Parochial Expenses in 25 
 
 Dioceses 6,400,167 88 
 
 Total of Religious Contributions in 39 Dioceses 
 
 and 7 Missionary Jurisdictions 17,964,024 65 
 
 1877. 
 
 Number of Dioceses 45 
 
 Number of Missionary Jurisdictions 13 
 
 Lay Readers in 33 Dioceses and 5 Missionary Juris- 
 dictions 786 
 
 Candidates for Holy orders in 42 Dioceses and 4 
 
 Missionary Jurisdictions 376 
 
 Deacons Ordained in 42 Dioceses and 4 Missionary 
 
 Jurisdictions 363 
 
 Priests Ordained in 42 Dioceses and 6 Missionary 
 
 Jurisdictions 348 
 
Baptisms, - 
 
 APPENDIX. 351 
 
 Bishops and Clergy in 43 Dioceses and 9 Mission- 
 ary Jurisdictions 3,082 
 
 Parishes in 39 Dioceses and 6 Missionary Jurisdic- 
 tions 2,401 
 
 Missions in 36 Dioceses and G Missionary Jurisdic- 
 tions 959 
 
 Churches Consecrated in 38 Dioceses and 7 Mis- 
 sionary Jurisdictions 200 
 
 Churches and Chapels in 39 Dioceses and 9 Mis- 
 sionary Jurisdictions 3,053 
 
 Rectories in 38 Dioceses and 8 Missionary Jurisdic- 
 tions 832 
 
 Infants in 41 Dioceses and 9 Mis- 1 
 
 siouary Jurisdictions 101,847 ! ^og 757 
 
 Adults in the same 25,302 j 
 
 t Not Specified 2,608 J 
 
 Confirmations in 43 Dioceses and 9 Missionary 
 
 Jurisdictions 77,638 
 
 Marriages in 42 Dioceses and 8 Missionary Juris- 
 dictions 29,351 
 
 Burials in 42 Dioceses and 8 Missionary Jurisdic- 
 tions 61,200 
 
 Communicants added in 29 Dioceses and 6 Mis- 
 sionary Jurisdictions 33,299 
 
 Communicants in 43 Dioceses and 9 Missionary 
 
 Jurisdictions 297,387 
 
 Sunday-School Teachers in 42 Dioceses and 7 Mis- 
 sionary Jurisdictions 30,323 
 
 Sunday-School Scholars in 43 Dioceses and 7 Mis- 
 sionary Jurisdictions 250,984 
 
 Parish-School Teachers in 22 Dioceses and 2 Mis- 
 sionary Jurisdictions 817 
 
 Parish-School Scholars in 20 Dioceses and 3 Mis- 
 sionary Jurisdictions 10,047 
 
 Church Hospitals in 20 Dioceses and 2 Missionary 
 
 Jurisdictions 27 
 
 Church Orphan Asylums in 20 Dioceses and 1 Mis- 
 sionary Jurisdiction 30 
 
 Church Homes in 21 Dioceses 34 
 
352 APPENDIX. 
 
 Academic Institutions in 26 Dioceses and 6 Mis- 
 sionary Jurisdictions 81 
 
 Collegiate Institutions in 13 Dioceses and 2 Mis- 
 sionary Jurisdictions 14 
 
 Theological Institutions in 15 Dioceses and 1 Mis- 
 sionary Jurisdiction 16 
 
 Communion Alms in 32 Dioceses and 3 Missionary 
 
 Jurisdictions ... $551,892 87 
 
 Episcopal Fund, Total Income in 40 Dioceses and 
 
 2 Missionary Jurisdictions 438,348 86 
 
 Diocesan Expenditures, Convention, etc., in 39 
 
 Dioceses and 2 Missionary Jurisdictions 176,212 08 
 
 Offerings for Diocesan Missions in 40 Dioceses and 
 
 6 Missionary Jurisdictions 500,7(56 40 
 
 Offerings for Domestic Missions in 37 Dioceses 
 
 and 5 Missionary Jurisdictions 461,606 17 
 
 Offerings for Home Missions for Colored People 
 
 in 27 Dioceses and 1 Missionary Jurisdiction. . 35,280 77 
 
 Offerings for Indian Missions in 24 Dioceses and 2 
 
 Missionary Jurisdictions 74,374 80 
 
 Offerings for Foreign Missions in 38 Dioceses and 
 
 5 Missionary Jurisdictions 231,303 30 
 
 Offerings for Education for tbc Ministry in 30 Dio- 
 ceses and 1 Missionary Jurisdiction 129,604 05 
 
 Offerings for Aged and Infirm Clergy Fund (in- 
 cluding, in 7 Dioceses, the offerings for 
 Widows and Orphans of Clergy) in 30 Dio- 
 ceses and 1 Missionary Jurisdiction 142,265 62 
 
 Offerings for Widows and Orphans of Clergy in 7 
 
 Dioceses , 53,835 67 
 
 Offerings for Other and Miscellaneous Charities in 
 
 33 Dioceses and 2 Missionary Jurisdictions. . 4,116,493 00 
 
 Total of Charitable Offerings and Income (includ- 
 ing, in three Dioceses, the amount of Salaries 
 and Parochial Expenses) in 40 Dioceses and 6 
 Missionary Jurisdictions 8,725,082 20 
 
 Total of Salaries and Parochial Expenses in 31 
 
 Dioceses and 4 Missionary Jurisdictions 11,025,418 78 
 
 Total Offerings for Religious Purposes in 43 Dio- 
 ceses and 9 Missionary Jurisdictions 21 ,535,506 58 
 
APPENDIX. 353 
 
 1880. 
 
 Number of Dioceses 48 
 
 Number of Missionary Jurisdictions. 13 
 
 Lay Readers in 37 Dioceses and 7 Missionary 
 
 Jurisdictions . 951 
 
 Candidates for Holy Orders in 41 Dioceses and 7 
 
 Missionary Jurisdictions 387 
 
 Deacons Ordained in 46 Dioceses and 8 Missionary 
 
 Jurisdictions 388 
 
 Deacons in 47 Dioceses and 10 Missionary Juris- 
 dictions 310 
 
 Priests ordained in 45 Dioceses and 7 Missionary 
 
 Jurisdictions 330 
 
 Priests in 48 Dioceses and 13 Missionary Jurisdic- 
 tions 2,983 
 
 Whole Number of Clergy in 48 Dioceses and 13 
 
 Missionary Jurisdictions 3,355 
 
 Parishes in 48 Dioceses and 7 Missionary Jurisdic- 
 tions 2,917 
 
 Missions in 41 Dioceses and 10 Missionary Juris- 
 dictions • 1,295 
 
 Corner-stones laid in 30 Dioceses and 4 Mission- 
 ary Jurisdictions 97 
 
 Churches Consecrated in 43 Dioceses and 7 Mis- 
 sionary Jurisdictions 220 
 
 Churches and Chapels in 46 Dioceses and 13 Mis- 
 sionary Jurisdictions 3,511 
 
 Free Churches and Chapels in 29 Dioceses and 9 
 
 Missionary Jurisdictions 1,233 
 
 Rectories in 44 Dioceses and 10 Missionary Juris- 
 dictions 1,091 
 
 Families in 33 Dioceses and 6 Missionary Juris- 
 dictions 101,724 
 
 Number of Souls in 26 Dioceses and 5 Missionary 
 
 Jurisdictions *. . • 255,470 
 
354 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Infants in 45 Dioceses and 13 Mis- " 
 
 sionary Jurisdictions 109,214 
 
 Adults in 45 Dioceses and 
 
 „ . 12 Missionary Jurisdic- 
 
 Baptisms, i ^.^^^ 23_^gg «. 137.617 
 
 Not specified in 3 Dioceses 
 and 1 Missionary Juris- 
 diction 4,934 
 
 Confirmations in 48 Dioceses and 13 Missionary- 
 Jurisdictions 79,011 
 
 Marriages in 48 Dioceses and 12 Missionary Juris- 
 dictions 32,962 
 
 Burials in 48 Dioceses and 13 Missionary Juris- 
 dictions 65,282 
 
 Communicants added in 29 Dioceses and 6 Mis- 
 sionary Jurisdictions. 57,304 
 
 Communicants died in 26 Dioceses and 4 Mission- 
 ary Jurisdictions 7,752 
 
 Communicants in 48 Dioceses and 13 Missionary 
 
 Jurisdictions 344,789 
 
 Sunday-School Teachers in 46 Dioceses and 9 Mis- 
 sionary Jurisdictions 31,304 
 
 Sunday-School Scholars in 47 Dioceses and- 13 
 
 Missionary Jurisdictions 287,253 
 
 Parish-School Teachers in 25 Dioceses and 7 Mis- 
 sionary Jurisdictions 920 
 
 Parish-School Scholars in 24 Dioceses and 8 Mis- 
 sionary Jurisdictions 12,287 
 
 Church Hospitals in 20 Dioceses and 4 Missionary 
 
 Jurisdictions 33 
 
 Church Orphan Asylums in 24 Dioceses and 2 
 
 Missionary Jurisdictions 41 
 
 Church Homes in 16 Dioceses 29 
 
 Academic Institutions in 29 Dioceses and 9 Mis- 
 sionary Jurisdictions 93 
 
 Collegiate Institutions in 12 Dioceses and 3 Mis- 
 sionary Jurisdictions 15 
 
 Theological Institutions in 13 Dioceses and 3 
 
 Missionary Jurisdictions 16 
 
APPENDIX. 355 
 
 Other Institutions in 10 Dioceses 30 
 
 Communion Alms in 40 Dioceses and 8 Missionary 
 
 Jurisdictions $562,853 93 
 
 Episcopal Fund, Total Income in 40 Dioceses and 
 
 2 Missionary Jurisdictions 495,430 91 
 
 Diocesan Expenditures, Convention, etc., in 42 
 
 Dioceses and 2 Missionary Jurisdictions 216,680 12 
 
 Offerings for Diocesan Missions in 48 Dioceses and 
 
 4 Missionary Jurisdictions 506,832 83 
 
 Offerings for Domestic Missions (of whicli in 21 
 Dioceses, $20,087.19 were specified for Home 
 Missions for tlie Colored People, and in 21 
 Dioceses, $43,843,41 were specified for Indian 
 Missions) in 44 Dioceses and 6 Missionary 
 Jurisdictions 515,917 61 
 
 Offerings for Foreign Missions in 38 Dioceses and 
 
 6 Missionary Jurisdictions 274,163 45 
 
 Offerings for Education for tlie Ministry in 31 
 
 Dioceses 101,217 44 
 
 Offerings for Aged and Infirm Clergy (including, 
 in 9 Dioceses, tlie offerings for Widows and 
 Orphans of Clergy) in 45 Dioceses and 1 Mis- 
 sionary Jurisdiction 135,296 70 
 
 Offerings for Widows and Orphans of Clergfy in 13 
 
 Dioceses and 1 Missionary Jurisdiction 67,251 79 
 
 Offerings for Other and Miscellaneous Charities in 
 
 30 Dioceses and 4 Missionary Jurisdictions,.. 1,983,285 96 
 
 Total of Charitable Offerings and Income in 45 
 
 Dioceses and 5 Missionary Jurisdictions 6,602,203 67 
 
 Total of Salaries and Parochial Expenses in 39 
 
 Dioceses and 6 Missionary Jurisdictions 10,485,935 71 
 
 Total Offerings for Religious Purposes in 48 Dio- 
 
 'Ceses and 13 Missionary Jurisdictions 20,251,824 94 
 
 Parishes not reporting in 23 Dioceses and 1 Mis- 
 sionary Jurisdiction 217 
 
356 APPE^^DIX. 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 II 
 
 RULES OF ORDER— HOUSE OF BISHOPS. 
 
 Adopted 1859. Amended 1863, 1868, 1871, 1874, 1877, 
 and 1880. 
 
 FIRST DAY S SESSIONS. 
 
 1. The House aball meet for business immediately after 
 the opening Divine Services of the General Convention, and 
 shall be called to order by the Presiding Bishop, or, in his 
 absence, by the Senior Bishop present. 
 
 2. Any Bishop appearing in the House of Bishops for the 
 first time after his consecration shall then be presented to the 
 President by one or more Bishops, and if such be present, by 
 one or more Bishops who took part in his consecration. 
 
 3. The Roll of Members shall be called by the Secretary, or 
 the Assistant Secretary of the session of the House last pre- 
 ceding, or, in their absence, by a Secretary appointed pi'o iem. 
 
 4. If any member or members of the House shall have died 
 since its last meetinor, the Presiding Bishop shall then an- 
 nounce, without word or comment, the fact, and the date of 
 such death, after which he shall say the Collect for All Saints' 
 Day. 
 
 5. The House shall then proceed to elect a Secretary. If 
 but one candidate be nominated, the election shall be viva voce. 
 If more than one, by ballot. 
 
 6. With the approbation of the Presiding Officer, the Secre- 
 tary may, at any period of the session, appoint an Assistant 
 Secretary. 
 
 DAILY ORDER. 
 
 I. Attendance, with the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, 
 on the Morning Service of the Church. 
 
 II. The House shall meet for business one hour aft«r the 
 
APPENDIX. 357 
 
 hour appointed for the said Morning Service, unless otherwise 
 ordered at the previous adjournment. When the President shall 
 have taken the chair, new members may be introduced, as on 
 the first day. The roll shall then be called, alter which the 
 House shall be bidden to prayer by the President. The min- 
 utes of the last meetinof shall then be read by the Secretary, 
 and acted upon by the House, 
 
 III. On the second day of the session, after prayers, tho 
 Presiding Bishop shall lay before the House a statement of his 
 official acts during the recess of the General Convention. 
 
 IV. The business of the House shall be disposed of in the 
 order following : 
 
 a Communications from the President. 
 6 Petitions and Memorials. 
 
 c Messages from the House of Deputies not yet disposed of. 
 d Reports from Standing Committees, in the order in which 
 the Committees are named in the First General Rule. 
 e Reports from Special Committees. 
 / Miscellaneous business. 
 
 V. The Order of the Day shall be taken up at the hour ap- 
 pointed, unless postponed by a vote of two thirds of the mem- 
 bers present. 
 
 It shall be the duty of the Secretary to prepare and place 
 upon the table in front of his desk, each morning after the 
 opening of the House, a Calendar of all Orders of the Day not 
 yet discharged. 
 
 VI. Bishops invited to honorary seats may be introduced to 
 the President whenever no other business occupies the House. 
 
 GENERAL RUI-ES. 
 
 I. As an indication of our humble dependence upon the 
 Word and Spirit of God, and following the example of Primi- 
 tive Councils, a copy of the Holy Scriptures shall always be 
 reverently placed in view at the meetings of this House. 
 
 II. The Committees shall be appointed by the President un- 
 less otherwise ordered. The Bishop first named on the Com- 
 mittee shall act as its chairman. The Standing Committees, 
 to be announced not later than the third day of the session, 
 shall be as follows : 
 
 1. On the Admission of New Dioceses. 
 
 2. On Consecration of Bishops. 
 
 3. On Amendments to the Constitution. 
 
 4. On Canons. 
 
 5. On the General Theological Seminary, 
 
 6. On Domestic Missions. 
 
 7. On Foreign Missions. 
 
 8. On the Prayer Book. 
 
 9. On Memorials and Petitions, 
 
£)5& APPENDIX. 
 
 10. On IJnfinislied Business. 
 
 11. On Despatch of Business. 
 1*3. On (.'liristian Education. 
 
 lo. A Committee to prepare a Pastoral Letter ; of which 
 Committee the Presiding Bishop shall be cliairman. 
 
 Each of these Committees shall consist of not more than five 
 nor less than three memhers, at the discretion of the President. 
 
 III. No memorial, petition, or address shall come before this 
 House, unless presented by the President, or some other 
 Bishop present. 
 
 IV. All resolutions shall be reduced to writino- ; and no 
 motion shall be considered as before the House until seconded. 
 
 V. Members in discussion shall address the Chair, and shall 
 confine themselves to the point in debate. No member shall 
 speak more than twice in the same debate without leave of 
 the House. 
 
 VI. Every member present shall, on a division, be counted, 
 unless personally interested in the question to be decided. 
 When, in taking a question, the President's vote produces a 
 tie. the motion shall be considered as lost, 
 
 VII. The ayes and nays niay be required by any three mem- 
 bers, and shall in such cases be entered on the Journal, 
 
 VII. When a question is under consideration, no motion 
 shall be received unless to lay it upon the table, to postpone it 
 to a certain time, to postpone it indefinitely, to commit it, to 
 amend it, or to divide it ; and motions for any of these purposes 
 shall have precedence in the order herein named. The motions 
 to lay upon the table and adjourn shall be decided without de- 
 bate. The motion to adjourn shall always be in order, 
 
 IX. On motion, duly put and carried, the House may resolve 
 itself into a Committee of the Whole, when a chairman of the 
 same shall be elected. The Junior Bishop present shall act as 
 Clerk of the Committee, and make a record of its action, 
 
 X. Reports of Committees shall be in writing, and shall be 
 received, of course, and without motion, for acceptance, unless 
 recommitted by vote of the House. Reports recommending or 
 requiring any action or expression of opinion by the House 
 shall be accompanied by specific resolutions, 
 
 XL Reports of Committees appointed to sit during the re- 
 cess, if not acted upon at once, shall, when presented, be made 
 the Order of the day for a time fixed, 
 
 XII. All questions of order shall be decided by the Chair 
 without debate, but appeal may be taken from such decision. 
 On such appeal no member shall speak more than once without 
 express leave of the House, 
 
 XIII, Amendments shall be considered in the order in which 
 they are moved. When a proposed amendment is under con- 
 sideration, a motion to amend the same may be made. No 
 after amendment to such second amendment shall be in order, 
 
APPENDIX. 359 
 
 but a substitute for the whole matter may be received. No 
 Itroposition on a subject differing from tlie one under considera- 
 tion shall be received under color of a substitute. 
 
 XIV. A question being once determined, shall stand as the 
 judgment of the House, and shall not be ajjain drawn into 
 debate during the same session of the Convention, except witli 
 the consent of two thirds of the House. A motion to reconsider 
 can only be made by one who voted with the majority on the 
 previous determination of the question. 
 
 XV. Messages from the House of Deputies shall be handed 
 by the Secretary of this House to the President, to bo laid 
 before the House as early as may be convenient. Committees 
 from the House of Deputies shall be admitted immediately. 
 
 XVI. The Committee on Despatch of Business shall, each 
 day,, before the adjournment of the House, report any action of 
 the House of Deputies which is liable to acquire the effect of 
 law without the concurrence of this House. 
 
 XVII. Two of the Bishops shall be appointed by the Chair to 
 act with the Secretary in preparing daily reports of the action 
 of the House, and furnishing them, at tlieir discretion, to public 
 journalists. 
 
 XVIII. Bishops admitted to hononary seats shall be conduct- 
 ed to the seats assigned to them by the Bishops who introduce 
 them ; and, except when privileged business is before the 
 House, or when this House resolves itself into a Council of 
 Bishops, shall at all times be entitled to be present. 
 
 XIX. None of the Rules of Order shall be suspended with- 
 out the concurrence of two thirds of the members present. 
 
 XX. These Rules shall be in force, in subsequent sessions 
 of this House, until otherwise ordered. 
 
 STANDING ORDERS OF THE HOUSE OF BISHOPS. 
 
 Adopted 1832. Amended 1877 and 1880. 
 
 1. The Senior Bishop of the Church present at any General 
 Convention is the Presiding Bishop in the House of Bishops. 
 
 2. The Senior Bishop of this Church is the Presiding Bishop 
 for all other purposes contained in the Canons. 
 
 3. The Senior Bishop of this Church present at any Conse- 
 cration of a Bishop is the Presiding Bishop of that solemnity, 
 unless some other Bishop shall have been assigned to such 
 service, on any special occasion, by the Presiding Bishop, or, in 
 his absence, by the Bishops present at the Consecration. 
 
 4. Seniority among the Bishops is according to the time of 
 the Consecration of each Bishop. 
 
360 APPENDIX. 
 
 RULES OF ORDER— HOUSE OF DEPUTIES. 
 
 Adopted on tlie nintli day of tlie session, October 15, 1880, 
 CHARLES L. HUTCHINS, Secretary, 
 
 Title III., Cation I., § i. 
 
 [4.] The Rules and Orders of the House of Deputies shall be in force In 
 the ensuing General Convention until the organization thereof, and until 
 they be amended or repealed by the said House, 
 
 1. The daily sessions of tbis House sball be opened witb the 
 Morning Service of the Church. 
 
 2. When the President takes the chair, no member shall 
 continue standing, or shall afterward stand up, except to ad- 
 dress the Chair, 
 
 3. When the President shall have taken the chair, the Roll 
 of Members shall be called, and the Minutes of the preceding 
 day read ; but the same may be dispensed with by a majority 
 of the House, to be decided without debate. 
 
 4. At the opening of the session the President shall appoint 
 the following Standing Committees, to wit : 
 
 I. On the State of the Church, to consist of one member 
 
 from each Diocese ; and 
 II. On the General Theological Seminary. 
 
 III. On the Domestic and B'oreign Missionary Society. 
 
 IV. On the Admission of New Dioceses. 
 V. On the Consecration of Bishops. 
 
 VI. On Amendments to the Constitution. 
 VII. On Canons. 
 VIII. On Expenses. 
 IX. On Unfinished Business. 
 X. On Elections. 
 XI. On the Prayer Book. 
 XII. On Education under the auspices and control of the 
 Protestant Episcopal Church, 
 
 XIII, On Memorials of Deceased Members. 
 Each to consist of thirteen members. 
 
 XIV. On Rules of Order, to consist of five members, to which 
 Committee shall be referred without debate all proposed 
 amendments to the Rules of Order. 
 
 5. 'J'he Daily Order of Business shall be as follows : 
 
 I, Reading the Minutes. 
 
 II, Communications frc«n the President. 
 
APPENDIX. 361 
 
 III. Reports from Standing Committees, in the following 
 
 order : 
 
 1. On Elections. 
 
 2. On the Admissif)n of New Dioceses. 
 
 3. On Rules of Order. 
 
 4. On the Consecration of Bishops. 
 
 5. On Amendments to the Constitution. 
 
 6. On Canons. 
 
 7. On the General Theological Seminary. 
 
 8. On the State of the Church. 
 
 9. On Expenses. 
 
 10. On the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society. 
 
 11. On the Prayer Book. 
 
 12. On Education under the auspices and control of the 
 
 Protestant Episcopal Church. 
 
 13. On Unfinished Business. 
 
 14. On Memorials of Deceased Members ; and 
 
 15. Special Committees in the order of appointment. 
 
 IV. Petitions and Memorials. 
 V. Motions and Resolutions. 
 
 VI Business on the Calendar. 
 
 6 The Secretary shall keep a Calendar of Busmess, on which 
 reports fnun committees, resolutions which lie over, and other 
 matters undisposed of, indicatincr the subject ot each item, shall 
 be placed in the order in which they are presented, a printed 
 copy of which Calendar shall be furnished to each member. 
 
 7 At twelve o'clock, unless there be an Order of the Day, or 
 as soon thereafter as the Order of the Day shall be disposed of. 
 the business on the Calendar shall be taken up and disposed of, 
 in the order in which it stands thereon ; and a vote of two 
 thirds of the members present shall be required to take up any 
 matter out of its order on the Calendar, or to make any matter 
 the Order of the Day for a particular time. 
 
 8 A.11 propositions involving expense shall be referred to the 
 Committee on Expenses before being considered, except propo- 
 sitions to print. x j + 
 
 9 All resolutions shall be reduced to writing, presented to 
 the Secretary, and by him read to the House; and no motion 
 shall be considered before the House unless seconded _ 
 
 10 If the question under debate contains several distinct 
 propositions, the same shall be divided, at the request of any 
 member, and a vote taken separately, except that a motion to 
 strike out and insert shall be indivisible. ^ .-in 
 
 11 When a question is under consideration, no motion shall 
 be received, unless to lav it upon the table, to postpone it to a 
 certain time, to postpone it indefinitely, to commit it or to 
 amend it ; and motions for any of these purposes shall have 
 precedence m the order herein named. If a motion to lay on 
 the table an amendment be carried, the matter before the 
 
362 APPENDIX. 
 
 House shall be proceeded with as if no such amendment had 
 been offered. The motions to lay upon the table and to ad- 
 journ shall be decided without debate. The motion to ad- 
 journ shall always be in order. 
 
 13. There shall be no debate upon a resolution which pro- 
 poses to refer any matter to a Committee, or upon a motion to 
 recommit any subject which has been before a Committee. 
 But the member who offers such a resolution or motion may 
 speak five minutes for the purpose of explaining its object. 
 And if objection be made to the consideration of a resolution 
 designed for the action of the House, without reference to a 
 Committee, it shall lie over, and come up the next day as un- 
 finished business. But by a vote of two thirds of the members 
 present, the House may at once consider the resolution. All 
 messages from the House of Bishops communicating any leg- 
 islative action on their part, shall, without debate, be referred 
 to the proper Committee. 
 
 13. All amendments shall be considered in the order in which 
 they are moved. When a proposed amendment is under con- 
 sideration, a motion to amend the same may be made. No 
 after amendment to such second amendment shall be in order ; 
 but when an amendment to an amendment is under consider- 
 ation, a substitute to tlie whole matter may be received. _ No 
 proposition on a subject different from the one under consider- 
 ation shall be received under color of an amendment or substi- 
 tute. 
 
 14. In all questions decided numerically, the motion to re- 
 consider must be made by one Deputy, and seconded by another 
 who voted in the majority ; or, in case of equal division, by 
 those who voted in the negative ; and in case of a vote by 
 Orders, where there is a concurrence of both Orders, a motion 
 to reconsider shall be made by a majority of a Deputation from 
 any Diocese of either Order voting in the majority ; and in case 
 of 'a non-concurrence of Orders, the motion to reconsider shall 
 come from a majority of a Deputation from a Diocese of that 
 Order which gave the majority in the negative ; and in either 
 case, a motion to reconsider shall be seconded by a majority of 
 any Deputation of either Order, without regard to its previous 
 vote. And all motions to reconsider shall be made and seconded 
 on the day the vote is taken, or the next succeeding day. 
 
 15. The Reports of all Committees shall be in writing, and 
 shall be received of course, and without motion for acceptance, 
 unless recommitted by a vote of the House. All Reports recom- 
 mending or requiring any action or expression of opinion by 
 the House shall be accompanied by a resolution for the action 
 of the House therein. 
 
 16. No new business shall be introduced for the consideration 
 of the House after the twelfth day of its session, except by a 
 vote of two thirds of the members present. 
 
APPENDIX. • 363 
 
 17. Whenever the election or confirmation of a Bishop is 
 under consideration, the House shall sit with closed doors. 
 
 18. All questions of order shall be decided bv the Chair with- 
 out debate ; but any member may appeal from such decision, 
 and on such appeal no member shall speak more than once 
 without express leave of the House. 
 
 19. The names of the movers of resolutions shall appear upon 
 the Minutes of this House. 
 
 20. Every member who shall be in the House when any 
 question is put shall, on a division, be counted, unless he be 
 personally interested in the question under consideration. 
 
 21. While the President is putting any question, the mem- 
 bers shall continue in their seats, and shall not hold any private 
 discourse. 
 
 22. When any member is about to speak or deliver any mat- 
 ter to the House, he shall, with due respect, address himself to 
 the President, confining himself strictly to the point in de- 
 bate. 
 
 23. No member shall speak more than twice in the same de- 
 bate, nor longer than fifteen minutes atone time, without leave 
 of the House. 
 
 24. All Committees shall be appointed by the President, un- 
 less otherwise ordered. 
 
 25. When the House isabout to rise, every member shall keep 
 his seat until the President leaves his chair ; and before the 
 President leaves the chair, he may make any communication 
 to the House, or cause any notice to be read by the Secretary. 
 
 26. No member shall absent himself from the service of the 
 House unless he have leave, or be unable to attend. 
 
 27. When memorials or petitions are presented, their con- 
 tents shall be concisely stated by the Deputy presenting them, 
 and they shall be referred or laid upon the table, unless by a' 
 majority vote the memorial or petition shall be ordered to be 
 read. 
 
 28. Reports of Committees appointed to sit during the recess, 
 ]f not acted upon at once, shall, when presented, be made the 
 Order of the day for a time fixed. 
 
 29. No rule shall be suspended unless with the assent of two 
 thirds of the members present. 
 
164 AFI'ENDIX. 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 III. 
 
 The following Declaration was adopted unanimously by 
 the House of Bishops at the General Convention of 1880 : 
 
 A DECLAllATION. 
 
 Whereas, The Lambeth Conference of 1878 set forth the fol- 
 lowing declaration, to wit : " We gladly welcome every effort 
 for reform upon the mode of the priuiitive Church. We do not 
 demand a rigid uniformity ; we deprecate needless divisions ; 
 but to those who are drawn to us in the endeavor to free them- 
 selves from the yoke of error and superstition we are ready to 
 offer all lielp,and such privileges as maybe acceptable to them, 
 and are consistent with the maintenance of our own principles 
 aa enunciated in our formularies," which declaration rests upon 
 two indisputable historical facts. 
 
 First, That the body calling itself the Holy Roman Church, 
 has, by the decrees of the Council of Trent in 1565, and by the 
 dogma of the Immaculate Conception in 1854, and by the decree 
 of the infallibility of the Pope in 1870, imposed upon the con- 
 sciences of all the members of the national churches under its 
 sway, as of the faith, to be held as of implicit necessity to sal- 
 vation, dogmas having no warrant in Holy Scripture or the 
 ancient creeds, which dogmas are so radically false as to cor- 
 rupt and defile the faith. 
 
 And Second, That the assumption of a universal episcopate 
 by the Bishop of Rome, making operative the definition of Papal 
 infallibility, has deprived of its original independence the 
 Episcopal order in the Latin churches, and substituted for it a 
 Papal vicariate for the superintendence of dioceses, while the 
 virtual change of the Divine constitution of the Church, as 
 founded in the episcopate and the other orders, into a tridentine 
 
APPENDIX. 365 
 
 consolidation, has destroyed the autonomy, if not tlie corporate 
 existence, of national churches. 
 
 Now, therefore, we. Bishops of the Protestant Episcopal 
 Church in the United States of America, assembled in council 
 as Bishops in the Church of God, asserting the principles de- 
 clared in the Lambeth Conference, and in order to the maintain- 
 ing' of a true unity, which must be a unity in the truth, do 
 hereby affirm that the great primitive rule of the Catholic 
 Church — Episcopatus utius, cujus a singulis in solidum pars tene- 
 tur — imposes upon the episcopates of all national churches 
 holding the primitive faith and order, and upon the several 
 Bishops of the same, not the right only, but the duty also, of 
 protecting in the holding of that faith and the recovering of 
 that order those who, by the methods before described, have 
 been deprived of both. 
 
 And further, the Bishops of the Protestant Episcopal Church 
 in the United States of America assembled in Council, not 
 meaning to dispute the validity of consecrations by a single 
 consecrator, put on record their conviction that, in the organi- 
 zation of reformed churches with which we may hope to have 
 communion, they should follow the teachings of the Canons of 
 Nicaea, and that when consecration cannot be had by tlirte 
 Bishops of the Province, Episcopal orders should at all events 
 be conferred by three Bishops of national churches. 
 
 Attest I IL C. Potter, Secretary. 
 
■These selections from Faber are exquisite gems."— TA^ Episcopal Register. 
 
 Selected from the Writings of Frederick William Faber, D.D./with 
 an Introduction by J. S. PURDY, D.D. 229 pp. i2mo. Cloth, gilt 
 top. $1.25. 
 
 The Congregationalist^ Boston. 
 " Profound thinking, gentleness of spirit, devotional tenderness and simplicity and 
 glowing eloquence of style, all are characteristics of the prose writings of Faber. * * * 
 Faber is known chiefly by his almost unequaled hymns, but in prose also his mind found 
 free and beautiful expression." 
 
 The Churchman, New York. 
 " The name of Faber is very dear to thousands of Christians of every class. His 
 hymns, which are among the sweetest, the tenderest, and the most spiritual ever written, 
 have prepared the way for this selection from his prose writings. We commend this vol- 
 ume as a most valuable help toward holy living." 
 
 The Standard, Chicago. j 
 
 " The portions of his works which are brought together in this volume are essentially 
 Protestant and evangelical, both in their statements and spirit. Their value to the general 
 reader lies in their adaptation to the devotional necessities of our nature, suggesting lofty 
 thoughts, and stimulating reverent feeling. * * * Just as the Protestant has been 
 helped by the Catholic F6nelon, so may he be aided by the Romanist Faber." 
 
 The Independent, New York. 
 " We have here, not Faber the Romanist, but Faber the devout, tender, large-souled 
 Christian ; his meditations, broad, deep, searching, such as will help the spiritual life." 
 
 The Church Eclectic, Utica. 
 "This book is just what will be eagerly welcomed by the many who know something 
 of Faber, but who are deterred by his volumlnousness. Here is a really valuable book 
 added to our devotional store." 
 
 The Observer, New York. 
 " Their devout and beautiful spirit will be appreciated by all Christian people." 
 
 The Courier, Boston. 
 "The poetic temperament of the author pervades all his works and gives them an 
 irresistible charm, while his undoubted piety will make these extracts welcome to all true 
 Christians of every creed." 
 
 Copies will be mailed, postage prepaid, upon receipt of price. 
 
 THOMAS WIllTTAKER, Publisher, 2 I % Bible House, New York. 
 
OLD PATHS. 
 
 A Course of Sermons for the Christian Year. By John N. Norton, D.D. 
 531 pp. 8vo. Cloth. $2.00. 
 
 "Thejr are characterized by great simplicity of style, beauty of treatment, copiousness 
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 "They are plain, direct, and brief. They stimulate attention, and are sufficiently 
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 Opinions 0/ Bishops 0/ Dr. Norton's other volumes.— '\\\q Bishop of New Jersey 
 says: "I always recommend them." The Bishop of Missouri says : "I have frequently, 
 in public and private, recommended Dr. Norton's books " The Bishop of Kentucky 
 writes: " They are admirably adapte'd for the use of lay-reader>." The Bishop of Iowa 
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 diocese.' 
 
 STUDIES OF JESUS. 
 
 By R. Heber Newton. i2mo. Cloth, red edge. $1.00. 
 
 " This ingenious and artistic little work is in substance a comparison of Jesus with 
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 their faith strengthened in the old Bible, and their hearts inflamed with devotion to the 
 peerless prophet of Nazareth." — The Times., New York. 
 
 AFTER DEATH. 
 
 An Examination of the Testimony of the Primitive Times respecting the 
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 By Herbert Mortimer Luckock, D.D., Canon of Ely. i2mo. 
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 "We have never met with a more satisfactory presentation of the subject. It is a wise, 
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 MORE THAN A PROPHET. 
 
 By Charles Clifton Penick, D.D., Bishop of Cape Palmas, Africa. 
 i2mo. Cloth. $1.00. Just Out. 
 A series of expository chapters on the "life of St. John Baptist. 
 
 INDIVIDUALISM: 
 
 Its Growth and Tendencies; with some suggestions as to the remedy for its 
 evils. Sermons preached before the University of Cambridge, in No- 
 vember, 1880. By A. N. LiTTLEjOHN, D.D., LL.D.. Bishop of 
 Long Island. 210 pp. i2mo. Cloth. $1.00. Jiist Out, 
 
 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 By Alexander Marks, Rector of Trinity Church, Natchez, Miss. i2mo. 
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Being one of the Stanton-Corbet Chronicles. By Lucy Ellen Guf.rnsey. 
 473 pp. i2rao. Cloth. $1.50. 
 "A well told historical tale of the seventeenth century." — The Christian Union. "The 
 spirit of the tale is noble and impressive." — The Literary World. " Miss Guernsey holds a 
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 " Her present volume is of firmer and better te.xture than anything she has heretofore pro- 
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