tihrary of t:he theological ^eminarjp 
 
 PRINCETON • NEW JERSEY 
 
 PRESENTED BY 
 
 Mr. Samuel Agnew 
 of 
 Philadelphia, Pa. 
 

 OP THE 
 
 GENERAL CONVENTIONS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 f,t0U$tmt W^pi$i0p(t^ ^gtty^j'g, 
 
 IN THE 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; 
 
 FROM THE YEAR ir84, TO THE YEAR 1814, INCLUSIVE. 
 
 ALSO, 
 
 FIRST APPENBIX, 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 THE CONSTITUTION AND CANONS. 
 
 AND 
 
 SECOND APPENDIX, 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 THREE PASTORAL LETTERS- 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 FBINTED A.\D PUBLISHED BY JOHN BIOREK 
 
 NO. 88, CHKSNUT STREET. 
 
 1817, 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 IN the ensuing volume, there are contained all (he Journals 
 of the General Conventions of" The Protestant Episcopal Church in 
 the United States of America," from the beginning '<jf4tsorga*niza- 
 tion to the present time : including a space of thirty years. 
 
 The increasing difficulty of possessing setts of these documents, 
 induced the House of Bishops, at Uie General Convention held in 
 the nionfli of April, 1814, with the approbation of the House of 
 Clerical and Lay Deputies, to authorize the present publication by 
 the Subscriber; as may be seen on their Journal, page 294 of this vo- 
 lume. Reference to former transactions being occasionallj'' necessary, 
 not only to account for existing regulations, but for the explaining of 
 them; it must be perceived, that there was great occasion for the mea- 
 sure adopted. It may be considered as expedient, were no other object 
 in view, than the preparing of materials which may in future interest 
 the curiosity of the Members of this Church. 
 
 As the first of the Journals refers to certain proposals, issued by 
 sundry Clergymen and Laymen, assembled in the City of New 
 York, in the month of October of the preceding year ; and as the 
 Journal states those Proposals to have been acted on, without a re- 
 petition of their contents ; the Subscriber finds himself called on to 
 give the following narrative. 
 
 in pursuance of preceding correspondence, there assembled 
 some of the Clergy of New York, of New Jersey, and of Pennsyl- 
 vania, in the city of New Brunswick, New Jersej^, in May, 1784: 
 And there being a few respectable Lay Members of the Church at- 
 tending on public business in the same city, their presence was de- 
 Hred. The immediate object of the meeting, was the revival of a 
 charitable corporation, which had existed before the Revolution ; 
 clothed witli corporate powers, under the government of each of the 
 said three Provinces. The opportunity was improved by the Cler- 
 gy from Pennsylvania, of communicating certain measures recently 
 adopted in that State, tending to the organizing of the Church 
 throughout the miion. The result was, the inviting of a more 
 ■general meeting in the ensuing October, at the city of New York: 
 that being the time and place, wherein, according to the charter of 
 the above mentioned corporation, their next meeting should be 
 held. It was accordingl}^ held, for the revival of the corporation : 
 And there appeared Depuiie-, not only from the said three States, 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 but also from others ; with the view of consulting on the existing 
 exigency of the Church. The greater number of these Deputies, 
 were not vested with powers for the binding of their constituents ; 
 And therefore, although they called themselves a Convention, in the 
 lax sense in which the word had been before used, yet they were 
 not an organized body. They did not consider themselves as such: 
 And theii' only act, was the issuing of a recommendation to the 
 Churches in the several states, to unite under a few articles to be 
 considered as fundamental. These are the articles referred to, but 
 not printed in the first Journal ; and therefore are now inserted, in 
 a Note to this Preface.* 
 
 WM. WHITE, 
 Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the- 
 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 
 * The Articles referred to are as follow : 
 1; That there shall be a general convention of the Episcopal 
 Church in the United State s of America. 
 
 2. That the Episcopal Church in each state, send deputies to the 
 convention, consisting of clergy and Imty. 
 
 3. That associated congregations, in two or more states, may 
 send deputies jointly. 
 
 4. That the said church shall maintain the doctrines of the Gos- 
 pel, 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 constitutions of the respective states. 
 
 5. That in every state, where there shall be a Bishop duly con 
 secrated and settled, he shall be considered as a member of the 
 convention ex officio. 
 
 6. That the clergy and laity, assembled in convention, shall de- 
 liberate in one body, but shall vote separately : And the concur- 
 rence of both shall be necessary to give validity to every measure. 
 
 7. That the first meeting of the convention shall be at Philadel- 
 phia, 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 their clerical and lay deputies ; duly in- 
 structed and authorized to proceed on the necessary business, here- 
 in proposed for their deliberation. 
 
JOURNAL 
 
 OF A 
 
 (§®S5^IgS3'lPIi(DSS 
 
 OP THE 
 
 PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 
 
 IN THE STATES OP 
 
 NEW YORK, 
 NEW JERSEY, 
 PENNSYLVANIA, 
 DELAWARE, 
 
 MARYLAND, 
 VIRGINIA, 
 
 AND 
 
 SOUTH CAROLINA- 
 
 HELD IN 
 
 CHRIST CHURCH, /,V THE CITY OF PHILdDELPHM, 
 
 FROM 
 
 ♦September 27tb to October Tth, 1785. 
 
 B 
 
LIST OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CONVENTION. 
 
 From the State of Next> Tork. 
 
 The Rev. Samuel Provost, A. M. Rector of Trinity Church, 
 
 New York. 
 The Hon. James Duane, Esquire. 
 
 Froyn the State of New Jersey* 
 
 The Rev. Abraham Beach, A. M, Rector of Christ Church, 
 
 >:ew Brunswick. 
 The Rev. Lzall Ogden, Rector of Christ Church, Sussex. 
 Patrick Dennis, Esquire. 
 
 From the State of Pennsylvania, 
 
 The Rev. William White, D. D. Rector of Christ Church 
 
 and St. Peter's, Philadelphia. 
 The Rev. Samuel Magaw, D. D. Rector of St, Paul's Church, 
 
 Philadelphia. 
 The Rev. Robert Blackwell, A. M. Assistant Minister of 
 
 Christ Church and St. Peter's, Philadelphia. 
 The Rev. Joseph Hutchins, A. M. Rector of St. James's 
 
 Church, Lancaster. 
 The Rev. John Campbell, A. M. Rector of York and Hunt- 
 
 ingdon. 
 Richard Peters, Esquire. 
 Jasper Yates, Esquire. 
 Stephen Chambers, Esquire. 
 Samuel Powell, Esquire. 
 Thomas Hartley, Esquire. 
 Edward Shippen, Esquire, 
 John Clark, Esquire. 
 William Atlee, Esquire. 
 Mr. Andrew Doz. 
 Mr. Edward Duffield- 
 Mr. Joseph Swift. 
 Mr. Nicholas Jones. 
 Mr. John Wood. 
 
4 
 
 From the State of Delaware* 
 
 The Rev. Charles H. Wharton, Rector of Emanuel Church. 
 
 New Castle. 
 The Hon. Thomas Duff, Esquire. 
 James Sykes, Esquire. 
 Mr. John Reece. 
 Mr. Joseph Tatlovv. 
 Mr. Alexander Reynolds. 
 Mr. Robert Clay. 
 
 From the State of Maryland* 
 
 The Rev. William Smith, D. D. Principal of Washingloii 
 College, and Rector of Cheater Parish. 
 
 The Rev. Samuel Keene, D. D. Rector of Dorchester Parish, 
 
 The Rev. William West, D. D. Rector of St. Paul's, Balti- 
 more Town. 
 
 The Rev. John Andrews, D. D. (late Rector of St. Thomas's, 
 Baltimore, and now) Principal of the Academy of the 
 Protestant Episcopal Church, Philadelphia. 
 
 The Rev. James Jones Wilmer, Rector of St. George's., 
 Harford Count}^. 
 
 Dr. Thomas Cradock. 
 
 Mr. Joseph Couden. 
 
 From the State of Virginia. 
 
 The Rev. David Griffith, Rector of Fairfax Parish. 
 John Page, Esquire. 
 
 From the State of South Carolina. 
 
 The Rev. Henry Purcell, D. D. Rector of St. Michati .-. 
 
 Charleston. 
 The Hon. Jacob Read, Esquire. 
 The Hon. Charles Pinckney, Esquire. 
 
JOURNAL, &c. 
 
 Tuesday, 27th of September^ 1785. 
 
 CLERICAL and Lay-Deputies from several of the states as- 
 sembled ; and judging it proper to wait the arrival of the deputi^rs 
 from the other states. 
 
 Adjourned until to-morrow at ten o'clock. 
 
 Wednesday, 2Sth of September^ 1785. 
 
 The Convention met, according to adjournment; and the Rev. 
 Dr. Keene, by desire, read prayers. 
 
 The Rev. David Griffith was unanitnously chosen Secretary. 
 
 On motion, Resolved^ That a President be now chosen by bal- 
 lot, and that each state have one vote ; which being done, and the 
 ballots counted, it appeared that the Rev. William White, D. D. 
 was unanimously chosen. 
 
 Ordered^ That the Deputies from the several states produce the 
 testimonials of their appointment ; which being done, and the tes- 
 timonials read, 
 
 Resolved^ That the testimonials produced from the church in 
 the several states, viz. in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, 
 Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and South Carolina, are satisfactory. 
 
 The Resolutions of a Convention of the Protestant Episcopal 
 Church, held in the city of New York, on the 6th and 7th days of 
 October, 1784, were read. 
 
 Ordtred^ That the same lie on the table. 
 
 Adjourned to six o'clock this evening. 
 
 Wednesday Evening, six o'*clock, 
 
 . The Convention met, according to adjournment. 
 
 Ordered^ That the proceedings of a former Convention at New 
 York be again read; which being done, and the diiferent articles 
 considered. 
 
 Resolved^ That the first, second, and third articles proposed as 
 fundamental by the said Convention, are approved of. 
 
 The fourth article being read, it was, on motion, Resolvedy 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 
 adviscable for this Convention to recommend to the consideration 
 of the Church here represented. 
 
 Resolved^ That the fifth, sixth, and seventh of the aforesaid ar- 
 ticles proposed as fundam'.^ntal are approved of: the sixth article 
 
being first explained and understood, as meaning that the Depu- 
 ties are to vote according to the states from which they come, and 
 not individually. 
 
 Resolved^ That a Committee, to be composed as aforesaid, pre- 
 pare and report a draft of an ecclesiastical constitution for the 
 Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. 
 
 A Committee was appointed accordingly ; viz. the Rev. Mr. 
 Provost and the Hon. Mr. Duane for New York ; the Rev. Mr. 
 Beach and Mr. Dennis for New Jersey ; the Rev, Dr. White and 
 Mr. Peters for Pennsylvania; the Rev. Dr. Wharton and Mr. 
 Sykes for Delaware; the Rf v. Dr. Smith and Dr. Cradock for 
 Mar}'land; the Rev, Mr. Griffith and Mr. Page for Virginia; 
 and the Rev. Dr. Purcell and the Hon. Mr. Read for South Ca- 
 rolina. 
 
 Resolved^ That the preparing the necessary and proposed al- 
 terations in the Liturgy be referred to the same Committee. 
 
 The Convention adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Thursday, 29th of September^ 1785. 
 
 The Convention met, according to adjournment; and the Rev. 
 Dr. Magaw read prayers. 
 
 Resolved^ That a person be appointed to assist the Secretary, and 
 to officiate in his stead when he shall be employed in the business 
 of the Committee ; and Mr. Clarke was appointed accordingly. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Smith, as Chairman of the Committee for revis- 
 ing and altering the Liturgy, &c. reported, that the Committee 
 had made some progress in the business referred to them, but 
 not having completed the same, desired leave to sit again > which 
 being agreed to. 
 
 The Convention adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Friday, 30f/i of September^ 1785. 
 
 The Convention met, according to adjournment; and the ReVo 
 Mr. Provost read prayers. 
 
 On motion, Resolved^ That the Committee for revising and al- 
 tering the Liturgy, &c. do also prepare and report a plan for obtain- 
 ing the consecration of Bishops, together with an address to the 
 Most Reverend the Archbishops and the right Reverend the Bi- 
 shops of the Church of England, for that purpose. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Smith, from the committee for revising, &c. re- 
 ported, that they had made further progress in the business referred 
 to them, but not having finished the same, desired leave to sit again, 
 which was agreed to. 
 
 The Convention adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Saturday, 1st of October, 1785. 
 
 The Conv^ention met, according to adjournment; and the Rev. 
 Dr. Smith read piyyers. 
 
The Rev. Dr. Smith, from the committee for revising, &c. re- 
 ported, that they had prepared a draft of the aherations to be made 
 in the Liturgy ; and that they had also prepared a draft of a gene- 
 ral Ecclesiastical Constitution, which he was ready to report. 
 
 Ordered. That the same be now received ; which being done, 
 and the report read. 
 
 Ordered, That the said report lie on the table for the perusal of 
 the members. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Smith, from the same committee, reported, that 
 they have had under consideration the further alterations to be pro- 
 posed m the Liturgy, and were ready to report in part. 
 ^ Ordered, That the report be now received and read ; which be- 
 ing done, 
 
 Ordered, That the report last read lie on the table. 
 
 Ordered, That so much of the revised Liturgv as respects the 
 American revolution and the constitutions of the states be again 
 read, and considered by paragraphs ; which being done, 
 
 Ordered That the alterations in the Liturgy to be proposed to 
 the church be again read, and considered by paragraphs; which 
 being done m part, ' 
 
 The Convention adjourned to six o'clock- this evening. 
 Saturday Evening, six d*docL 
 
 The Convention met, according to adjournment. 
 Ordered, That the report from the committee be resumed, and 
 beln^'^done''*''' °^ '^ ""^^^ ^""^ considered by paragraphs ; which 
 The Convention adjourned to ten o'clock on Monday morning, 
 Monday, Zd of October, 1785. 
 
 The Convention met, according to adjournment; and the Rev. 
 ilr. West read prayers. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Smith, from the committee for revising &c re 
 ported that they had made further progress in the businlls reVer- 
 red to them, and were ready to report. 
 
 rei?rtnf ' '^^'i '^7^P°'-^ b^ "«^ received, and that the same be 
 read and considered by paragraphs; which having been done 
 
 The Convention adjourned to six o'clock this evening. 
 Monday Evening, six o'clock. 
 
 The Convention met, according to adjournment. 
 ...A u . ^^^ ""^P"" °^ *^^ committee for revisin;v, &c. be 
 marf^.:^"^ "'^^ accordingly done ; and the Con ventio^n having 
 made further progress therein, ^ 
 
 Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
8 
 
 Tuesday, 4if// (?/ Ocfo^er, 1785. 
 
 The Convention met, according to adjournment ; and the Rev. 
 Mr. Ogilen read prayers. 
 
 Ordered^ That clerks be employed to transcribe, under direction 
 of the chairman of the committee for revising, &c. all the altera- 
 tions proposed, and other matters agreed on by the Convention. 
 
 Ordered^ That the draft of an Ecclesiastical Constitution be read 
 and considered by paragraphs, which was done ; and the Conven- 
 tion, having made some progress therein, 
 
 Adjourned to six o'clock this evening. 
 
 Tuesday Evening, six o* clock. 
 
 The Convention met, pursuant to adjournment. 
 
 Ordered., That the consideration of the general Ecclesiastical 
 Constitution be resumed, and that the same be read and consi- 
 dered by paragraphs ; which being done, and the blanks filled up, 
 was agreed to, and is as follows, viz. 
 
 A General Ecclesiastical Constitution of the Protestant Episcopal 
 Church in the United States of America. 
 
 WHEREAS, in the course of Divine Provid«.^nce, the Pro- 
 testant Episcopal Church in the United States of America is be- 
 come independent of all foreign authority, civil and ecclesiasti- 
 cal : 
 
 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 Mas- 
 sachusetts, Rhode-Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, 
 Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland, held in the city of New 
 York, on the 6th and 7th daj^s of October, in the year of our Lord 
 1784, it was recommended to this Church in the said states repre- 
 sented 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 jn a Constitu- 
 tion of Ecclesiastical government, agreeably to certain fundamental 
 principles, expressed in the said recommendation and proposal : 
 
 And whereas, in consequence of the said recommendation and 
 proposal. Clerical and Lay Deputies have been duly appointed 
 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 con- 
 sideration the importance of maintaining uniformity in doctrine, 
 discipline and worship in the said Church, do hereby determine 
 and declare, 
 
 1. That there shall be a general Convention of the Protestant 
 Episcopal Church in the United States of America, which shall be 
 held in the city of Philadelphia on the third Tuesday in June, in 
 
9 
 
 the year of oiu- Lord 1780, and for ever after once in three years, 
 on the third Tuesday of June, in such place as shall be determin- 
 ed 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 shall proceed to business ; except that the 
 representation of this Church from two states shall 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 ot one or more 
 Deputies, not exceeding four, of each order ; and in all questions, 
 the said Church in each state shall have one vote j and a majori- 
 ty of suffrages shall be conclusive. 
 
 IIL In the said Church in every state represented in this Con- 
 vention, 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 Rites 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 
 Conventien, in a certain instrument of writing passed by their aiH 
 thority, entituled " Alterations of the Liturgy of the Protestant 
 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 considered as a 
 member of the Convention e'^ officio^ 
 
 VI. The Bishop or Bishops in every state shall be chosen 
 agreeably to such rules as shall be fixed by the respective Conven- 
 tions ; 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 admit- 
 ted, on acceding to the articles of this union. 
 
 VIII. Every Clergyman, whether Bishop or Presbyter, or Dea- 
 con, shall be amenable to the authority of the Convention in the 
 state to which he belongs, so far as relates to suspension or re- 
 moval 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 Episcopal Church in these states, that 
 there may be further alterations of the Liturgy than such as are 
 made necessary by the American revolution ; therefore the " Book 
 of Common Prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments and 
 other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, according to the use 
 
 C 
 
iu 
 
 of the Church of England," as aUered by an instrument of ^vnc> 
 iHg, passed under the authority of this Convention, entituled 
 *' Alterations in the Book of Common Prayer, and Adminlstva- 
 tion of the Sacraments and other rites and Ceremonies of the 
 Church, according to the use of the Church of Kngland, proposed 
 and recommended to the IVotestant Episcopal Church in the 
 United States of America,'' shall be used in this Church, when 
 the same shall have been ratified by the Conventions which have 
 respectively sent Deputies to this General 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, "1 do believe the Holv Scriptures of the Old 
 and New Testament to be the word of God, and to contain all 
 things nece^ssary to salvation ; and I do solemnly engage to con^ 
 form to the doctrines and %vorship of the Protestant Episcopal 
 Church, as settled and determined in the Book of Common Pray-, 
 er, and Administration of the Sacraments, set forth by the General 
 Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church ip these United 
 States." 
 
 XI. This general Ecclesiastical Constitution, when ratified by 
 t\\t Church in the different stcltes, shall be considered as funda- 
 mental; and shall be unalterable bv the Convention of the Church 
 in any state. 
 
 The Hon. Mr. Duane, from the Committee for revising, %ic/ 
 reported, that they had, according to order, prepared a plan for 
 obtaining the consecration of Bishops, and a draft pf an address 
 to the most Reverend the Archbishops and the Jiight Reverend 
 the Bishops of the Church of England, and were ready to report 
 •the same. - • ' ■ ' ■ 
 
 Ordered., That the ]>}an and draft now offered be received ; 
 which btrmg done, and the same twice read and considered by pa-* 
 ragraphs, was ordered to be transcribed. 
 
 The Convention then adjournt^d to ten o'clock to-.morrow n_iorn- 
 ang. ... 
 
 Wednesday-, 5th of October^ 178.3;. 
 i ' 
 
 The Convention met, according to adjournment; and the Hey, 
 Mr. Provost read prayers. ;,. 
 
 Ordered^ That the transcribed copy of tlie "■ Alterations in the 
 liiturgy, to render it consistent with the American revolution and 
 the Constitutions of the respective states," be read and considered 
 by paragraphs ; wliich being done. 
 
 Resolved^ That the Liturgy shall be used in this Church as ac- 
 commodated to the revolution, agreeably to the alterations nov/ 
 •jpproved of and ratified by this Convention.* 
 
 On motion. Resolved^ That the fourth of July shall be observ't 
 ed by this Church for ever, as a day of thanksgiving to Almigh^ 
 
 * Neither these nor the other alterations afterwards proposed, are printed ih;- 
 tlie Journal, iis theywUl appear in this Book of Common Prayer, now in the presSv 
 
ii 
 
 tv God, for the Inestimable blessings of rehglous and civil liberty 
 \ ouchsafed 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 tlianksgiving to Almighty God, for the fruits of the earth, 
 and for all the other blessings of his merciful providence. 
 
 Ordered^ That a CQmmittee be appointed to prepare a form of 
 prayer and thanksgiving for the fourth ot July; and a committee 
 Was accordingly appointed, viz. the Jiev. 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 to 
 this Church, be read and considered by paragraphs; and the Con- 
 vention 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 now be received and read. 
 
 Ordered^ That the said report be read and considered by pa- 
 ragraphs ; which being done, 
 
 Resolved, That the said form of prayer be used in this Churchj 
 on the fourth of July for ever. 
 
 Then the Convention adjourned to six o'clock this evening. 
 
 Wednesday Evening, six o^clock, 
 
 ■ The Convention met according to adjournment. 
 
 Ordered, That the consideration of the proposed alterations ill 
 the Liturgy be resumed. 
 
 Ordered, That the same be again rejtd and considered by pa- 
 ragraphs ; which being done, and the alterations agreed to, 
 
 Resolved, That the said alterations be proposed and recom- 
 tnended 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 paragraphs J 
 which being done, and some time spent thereon. 
 
 Resolved, That the Articles, as now altered, be recommended to 
 this Church, to be by them adopted in the next General Conven- 
 tion. 
 
 Ordered, That the plan for obtaining Consecration, and the ad- 
 dress to the Archbishops and Bishops of the Church of Eng- 
 land, be again read ; v/hich being done, the same were agreed 
 to, and are as follow : 
 
 First. That this Convention address the Archbishops and Bi- 
 shops of the Church of England, requesting them to confer the 
 Episcopal character on such persons as shall be chosen and recom- 
 mended to them for that purpose, from the Conventions of this 
 Church in the respective state?'. 
 
12 
 
 Secondly^ That it be recommended to the said Conventions, 
 tliat they elect persons for this purpose. 
 
 Thirdly^ That it be further recommended to the different Con- 
 ventions, at their next respective sessions, to appoint committees 
 Avith powers to correspond with the English Bishops, for the car- 
 rying of these resolutions into effect j and that, until such commit-. 
 tees shall be appointed, they be requested to direct any communi- 
 cations which they may be pleased to make on this subject, to the 
 committee, consisting of the Reverend Dr. White, president, the 
 Reverend Dr. Smidi, the Reverend Mr. Provost, the Honorable 
 James Duane, esq. and Samuel Powell and Richard Peters, es- 
 quires. 
 
 Fourthly^ That it be further recommended to the different 
 Conventions, that they pa}'^ especial attention to the making it ap- 
 pear 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. 
 
 Fifthly^ And in order to assure their Lordships of the legality 
 of the present proposed application, that the Deputies now as- 
 sembled be desired to make a respectful address to the civil Ru- 
 lers 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. 
 
 Sixthhfy And whereas the Bishops of this Church will notlje 
 entitled to any of such temporal honors as are due to the Archbi' 
 shops and Bishops of the parent Church, in quality of Lords of 
 Parliament; and Avhereas the reputation and usefulness of our Bi- 
 shops M ill considerably depend on their taking no higher titles or 
 stile than will be due to their spiritual employments } that it be 
 recommended to this Church in the states here represented, to 
 provide, that their respective Bishops may be called *' The Right 
 Rev. A. B' Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in C Z)." 
 and as Bishop may have no other title ; and may not use any such 
 stile as is usually descriptive of temporal power and precedency. 
 
 To the Most Reverend and Rjglit Reverend the Archbishops cf 
 Canterbury and Tork^ and the Bishops of the Church of Eng- 
 land. 
 
 WE, the Clerical and Lay Deputies of the Protestant Epis- 
 copal Church in sundry of the United States of America, think 
 it our duty to address your Lordships on a subject deeply inter- 
 esting ; 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 
 flot leave the bosom of that Church, over which your Lordships 
 now preside ; but, as well from a veneration for Episcopal Go- 
 
13 
 
 vernment, as from an attachment to the admirable services of 
 our Liturgy, continued in willing connection with their Ecclesi- 
 astical Superiors in England, and w^ere subjected to many local 
 inconveniencies, 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 indepen- 
 dent, 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 wise and liberal part 
 of the system of the Church of England, which excludes as well 
 the claiming as the acknowledging of such spiritual subjection as 
 may be inconsistent with the civil duties of her children ; it was 
 nevertheless their earnest desire and resolution to retain the vene- 
 rable form of Episcopal Government, handed down to them, as 
 they conceived, from the time of the Apostles : and endeared to 
 them by the remembrance 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 succeed- 
 ing age. But however general the desire of compleating the or- 
 ders of our Ministry, so diffused and unconnected were the mem- 
 bers of our communion over this extensive country, that much 
 time and negociation were necessary for the fonning a represen- 
 tative body of the greater number of the Episcopalians in these 
 States ; and owing to the same causes, it was not until this Con- 
 vention, that sufficient powers could be procured for the addres- 
 sing 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 Epis- 
 copal character, on such persons as shall be recommended by this 
 Church in the several States here represented : Full satisfaction 
 i)eing given of the sufficiency of the persons recommended, 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 im- 
 pediments, 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, inter- 
 ested in their prosperity, and religiously regarding the allegiance 
 which we owe them, it is to an ecclesiastical 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 reli- 
 gion ; that accordingly, our civil Rulers cannot officially join in 
 
14. 
 
 the present application ; that however we are tar from apprehend" 
 ing the opposition or even displeasure of any of those honorable 
 personages; aiyi finally, that in this business v/e are justified bv 
 the constitutions of the States, which are the foundations and 
 controul of all our laws. On this point, Ave beg leave to refer to 
 the enclosed extracts from the constitutions 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 ; v/hich we have thought it most res- 
 pectful and most suitable to the magnitude of the object, to ad- 
 dress 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 Archbishops of 
 Canterbury were not prevented, even by the weighty concerns oi 
 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 remain a perpetual proof of 
 their mild and paternal government. All the Bishops of Eng- 
 land, with other distinguished characters, as well ecclesiastical 
 as civil, have concurred in forming and carrying on the benevo- 
 lent views of the Society for propagating the Gospel in foreign 
 parts ; a society to whom, under God, the prosperity of our 
 Church is in an eminent degree 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 assistance 
 from our Ministers, they have endeared their past favors by a 
 benevolent declaration, that it is far from their thoughts to alie- 
 nate their affection from their brethren now under another go* 
 vernment ; with the pious wish, that their former exertions may 
 still continue to bring forth the fruits they aimed at of pure reli- 
 gion 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 wor- 
 thy a body; and that her sons may never cease to be kindly affec- 
 tioned to the members of that Church, the Fathers of which have 
 so tenderly watched over her infancy. 
 
 For vour 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 soals. 
 
15 
 
 We are, with all the respect Avhich is due to your exalted ami 
 Venerable characters and stations, 
 
 Your Lordships 
 
 Most obedient, and 
 In Convention^ Most humble Servants, 
 
 Christ Church, Philadelphia, October 5th, 1785. 
 
 Resolved^ That a Committee be appointed to publish the Book 
 ot Common Prayer with the alterations, as well those now rati- 
 Hed in order to render the Liturgy consistent with the American 
 revolution} and the constitutions of the respective states, as the 
 alterations and new offices recommended to this Church \ and that 
 the book be accompanied with a proper Preface or Address, set- 
 ting 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 sub- 
 stance be altered. 
 
 The Committee appointed were the Reverend Dr. White, (Pre- 
 sident) the Reverend Dr. Smith, and the Reverend Dr. Wharton. 
 
 Ordered^ That the said Committee be authorised to dispose of 
 the copies of the Common Prayer when printed ; and that after 
 defraying all expences incurred therein, they remit the nett profits 
 to the Treasurers ot the several Corporations and Societies for the 
 relief of the widows and children of deceased Clergymen in the 
 states represented in this Convention ; the profits to be equally di- 
 vided among the said Societies and Corporations. 
 
 Resolved, That the same Committee be authorised to publish, 
 with the Book of Common Prayer, such of the reading and sing- 
 ing psalms, and such a Kalendar of proper lessons for the differ- 
 ent Sundays and Holy-days throughout the year, as they mav 
 think proper. 
 
 Resolved^ That the same Committee be authorised to publish 
 the Journal of this Convention. 
 
 Ordered, That the Journal and all the proceedings of the Con- 
 \ t ntion be lodged in the hands of the President. 
 
 On motion. Resolved^ That the Reverend Dr. Wharton, hav- 
 ing preached a sermon last Sunday on the Duties of the Ministe- 
 i-icil Office, highly satisfactory to 'this Convention and the whole 
 -iudience, be requested to publish the same. 
 
 On motion. Resolved, I'hat the Reverend Dr. Smith be re- 
 quested to prepare and preach a sermon suited to the solemn oc- 
 rasion of the present Convention, on Friday next; and that the 
 Service be then read, as proposed for future use. 
 
 On motion. Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention be 
 given to the President, for his able and diligent discharge of the 
 duties of his office. 
 
 On motion. Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention be 
 given to the Reverend Dr. Smith, for his exemplary diligence, 
 '^nd the great assistance he has rendered this Convention as Chair- 
 
16 
 
 man of the Committee, in perfecting the important business in 
 which they have been engaged. 
 
 On motion, Resolved^ That the thanks of this Convention be 
 given to the Reverend Mr. Griffith, tor his ability and diligence 
 in the discharge of his duty as Secretary. 
 
 Then the members present of the Convention signed all the acts 
 ^nd instruments, and afterwards adjourned, to meet on Friday, 
 ten o'clock^ at the Academy of the Protestant Episcopal Church, 
 in order to attend divine service and sermon. 
 
 Friday, 7th of October^ 1785. 
 
 The Convention met, according to adjournment, and attended 
 divine service in Christ-Church ; when the Liturgy, as altered, 
 was read by the Reverend Dr. White, and a suitable sermon was 
 preached by the Reverend Dr. Smith ; after which the Conven- 
 tion adjourned, to meet this evening at seven o'clock, at the Aca- 
 demy of the Protestant Episcopal Church. 
 
 Friday Evening, seveii o'clock. 
 
 The Convention met, according to adjournment. 
 
 On motion. Resolved^ That the thanks of this Convention be 
 given to to the Reverend Dr. Smith, for his sermon preached this 
 day before them ; and that he be requested to publish the same. 
 
 Resolved^ That the President be requested to preach at th& 
 opening of the next Convention. 
 
 The Convention then adjourned. 
 
 Signed, by order of the Convention^ 
 
 WILLIAM WHITE, President. 
 Attest. DAVID GRIFFITH, Secretary. 
 
JOURNAL 
 
 OF A 
 
 (S(DS?r^®S1M®P 
 
 OF THE 
 
 PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 
 
 IN THE STATES OP 
 
 NEW YORK, 
 NEW JERSEY, 
 PENNSYLVANIA, 
 DELAWARE, 
 
 MARYLAND, 
 VIRGINIA, 
 
 AND 
 
 SOUTH Carolina: 
 
 HELD IN 
 
 CHRIST CHURCH, IN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIJ, 
 
 FROSX 
 
 June 20th to the ^6th, 1786; 
 
 B 
 
JblST OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CONVENTION. 
 
 From the State of Nexv Tork^ 
 
 The Rev, Samuel Provost. 
 The Rev. Joshua Bloomer. 
 The Hon. John Jay, Esquirco 
 
 From the State ofNeiv Jerse^^ 
 
 The Rev. Abraham Beach. 
 
 The Rev. William Frazer. . 
 
 The Hon. David Brearley, Esquire. 
 
 James Parker, Esquire. 
 
 Matthias Halsted, Esquire. 
 
 From the State of Pennsylvania o. 
 
 The Rev. William White, D. D. 
 The Rev. Samuel Magaw, D. D. 
 The Rev. Robert BlackwelU 
 The Rev. Joseph Pilmore. 
 The Hon. Francis Hopkinson. 
 Plunket Fleeson, Esquire. 
 Samuel Powell, Esquire, ' *' 
 
 From the State of Delaware* 
 
 The Rev. Charles H. Wharton, D. D. 
 The Rev. Sydenham Thorne. 
 Robert Clay, Esquire. 
 Nicholas Ridgeley, Esquire. 
 
 From, the State of Maryland. 
 
 The Rev. William Smith, D. D. 
 
 The Rev. William Smith, of Stepney Parish. 
 
 From the State of Virginia* 
 
 The Rev. David Griffith. 
 
 The Hon. Cyrus Griffin, Esquire. 
 
 From the State of South Carolina^ 
 
 The Rev. Robert Smith. 
 Edward Mitchel, Esquire. 
 The Hon. John Parker, Esquire 
 
 i\ 
 
JOURNAI., &c. 
 
 Tuesday, ^Othofjime^ 1786. 
 
 CLERICAL and Lay Deputies from several of the states 
 
 assembled ; and judging it proper to wait for a fuller Conventioh 
 before they entered on business, 
 
 Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow. 
 
 Wednesday, 2Ut of June^ lf86. 
 
 The Convention was opened with divine service, read by the 
 Rev. Dr. Smith and the Rev. Mr. Griffith, and a Sermon on the 
 occasion, by the Rev. Dr. White. 
 
 Ordered^ That the Members present exhibit the testimonials 
 of their respective appointments ; which was done accordingly. 
 
 Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow. 
 
 Thursday, ^^dofjune^ 1786. 
 
 The Convention met, and proceeded to the election of a Presi- 
 dent and Secretary by ballot ; when the Rev. David Griffith was 
 duly elected President, and the Hon. Francis Hopkinson, Secre- 
 tary of this Convention. 
 
 Motion made by the Rev. Robert Smith, and seconded j 
 
 That the Clergy present produce their letters of -orders, or 
 declare by whom they were ordained. 
 
 Whereupon the previous question was moved by the Rev. Dr. 
 Smith, and seconded by Dr. White, viz. 
 
 Whether this question shall now be put ? — which being carried 
 in the affirmative, — the main question was then proposed, and de- 
 termined in tbe negative. 
 
 On motion made and seconded. 
 
 Ordered^ That the letter from the Archbishops and Bishops of 
 England to this Convention be now read, and it was read accord- 
 ingly, in the words following : 
 
 London^ February 24, 1 786. 
 
 To the Clerical and Lay Deputies of the Protestant Episcopal 
 Church in sundry of the United States of America. 
 
 THE Archbishop of Canterbury hath received an address, 
 dated in Convention, Christ-Church, Philadelphia, October 5, 
 1785, from the Clerical and Lay Deputies of the Protestant Epis- 
 copal Church in sundry of the United States of America, direct- 
 ed to the Archbishops and Bishops of England, and requesting 
 them to confer the Episcopal character on such persons as shall 
 be recommended by the Episcopal Church in the several states by 
 them representeil. 
 
20 
 
 This brotherly and christian address was communicated to the 
 Archbishop of York, and to the Bishops, with as much dispatch 
 as their separate and distant situations would permit, and hath 
 been received and considered by them with that true and affec- 
 tionate regard which they have always shewn towards their Epis- 
 copal brethren in America. 
 
 "We are now enabled to assure you, that nothing is nearer to 
 our hearts than the wish to promote your spiritual welfare, to be 
 instrumental in procuring for you the complete exercise of our 
 holy religion, and the enjoyment of that Ecclesiastical Constitu- 
 tion, which we believe to be truly apostolical, and for which you 
 express so unreserved a veneration. 
 
 We are therefore happy to be informed, that this pious design 
 as not likely to receive any discountenance from the civil powers 
 ^nder which you live ; and we desire you to be persuaded, ihat 
 we, on our parts, will use our best endeavors, which we have 
 good reason to hope will be successful, to acquire a legal capacity 
 of complying with the prayer of your address. 
 
 With these sentiments we are disposed to make every allow- 
 ance which candour can suggest for the difficulties of your situa- 
 tion, but at the same time we cannot help being afraid, that, in 
 the proceedings of your Convention, some alterations may have 
 been adopted or intended, which those difficulties do not seem to 
 justify. 
 
 Those alterations are not mentioned in your address, and, as 
 our knowledge of them is no more than what has reached us 
 through private and less certain channels, we hope you will think 
 at just, both to you and to ourselves, if we wait for an explanation. 
 For while we are anxious to give every proof, not only of our 
 brotherly affection, but of our facility in forwarding your wishes, 
 we cannot but be extremely cautious, lest we should be the in- 
 struments of establishing an Ecclesiastical system which will be 
 called a branch of the Church of England, but afterwards may 
 possibly appear to have departed from it essentially, either in doc- 
 trine or in discipline. 
 
 In the mean time, we heartily commend you to God's holy 
 protection, and are, your affectionate Brethren, 
 
 J. Rochester, T. Cantuar, 
 
 R. Worcester, W. Ebor, 
 
 i. Oxford, R. London, 
 
 I. Exeter, W. Chichester, 
 
 Tho. Lincoln, C. Bath & Wells, 
 
 John Bangor, S. St. Asaph, 
 
 L Lichfield & Coventry, S. Sarum, 
 S. Gloucester, J. Peterboroughj 
 
 E. St. David's, James Ely. 
 
 Chr. Bristol, 
 
 To the Meverend and Honorable the Clerical and Lay 
 Jieputies of the Protestant Episcopal Church in sun- 
 <^nf o/the United States of America, Philadelphia 
 
21 
 
 Resolved^ That this Convention entertain a grateful sense oi 
 the christian affection and condescension manifested in this letter: 
 And whereas it appears that the venerable Prelates have heard, 
 through private channels, that the Church here represented have 
 adopted, or intended, such alterations as would be an essential 
 deviation from the Church of England, this Convention trust that 
 thev shall be able to give such information to those venerable Pre- 
 lates, as will satisfy them that no such alterations have been 
 adopted or intended. 
 
 Resolved^ That a Committee be now appointed, to draft an an- 
 swer to the letter of the Archbishops and Bishops of England. 
 
 Resolved^ That the Rev. Dr. Smith, the Rev. Dr. White, the 
 Rev, Dr. Wharton, James Parker and Cyrus Grifiin, Esquires, 
 be the Committee for this purpose. 
 
 A motion made by the Rev. Mr. Provost, and seconded by the 
 Rev. Mr. Smith, of South Carolina, viz. 
 
 That this Convention will resolve to do no act that shall imply 
 the validity of ordinations made by Dr. Seabury. 
 
 The previous question was moved by Dr. Smith, seconded by 
 Dr. White, viz. 
 
 Shall this question be now put ? — and carried in the alTirma- 
 tive.— The main question was then proposed, and determined in 
 the negative, as follows : 
 
 New-York, Aye. 
 
 New-Jersey, Aye. 
 
 Pennsylvania, No. 
 
 Delaware, No. - / 
 
 Maryland, No. 
 
 Virginia, No. 
 
 South-Carolina, Aye. 
 
 On motion made by Dr. White, and seconded by Mr. Smith, 
 of South-Carolina. 
 
 Resolved unanimously^ That it be recommended to this church 
 in the states here represented, not to receive to the pastoral 
 charge, within their respective limits, Clergymen professing ca- 
 nonical subjection to any Bishop, in any state or country, other 
 than those Bishops who may be duly settled in the states repre- 
 sented in this Convention. 
 
 Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow. 
 
 Friday, the23d of June^ 1786. 
 
 The Convention met according to adjournment. 
 
 On motion made by the Rev. Mr. Smith, of South Carolina, 
 and seconded, it was unanimously 
 
 Resolved, That it be recommended to the Conventions of the 
 Church, represented in this General Convention, not to admit 
 any person as a Mmister within their respective limits, who shall 
 receive ordination from any Bishop residing in America, during 
 
2^ 
 
 the application irow pending to the English Bishops for Episco- 
 pal consecration. 
 
 The journals of the late Convention and the proposed consti- 
 tution of the Church were read for the first time. 
 
 Previous to a second readinj^, a memorial from the Convention 
 of the Church in the state of New Jersey was presented, and sun- 
 dry communications from the conventions in the other states were 
 made, relative to the business of this Convention : Whereupon 
 
 Resolved^ That the said memorial and communications be re- 
 ferred to the first General Convention which shall assemble with 
 sufficient powers to determine on the same j and that, in the mean 
 time, they be lodged with the Secretary. 
 
 The proposed constitution was then taken up for a second read- 
 ing, and debated by paragraphs. 
 
 The Preamble, contained in three clauses or sections, was 
 agreed to without alteration. 
 
 Sect. I. Of the Constitution. On motion by the Rev. Mr. 
 Smith, of South Carolina, the triennial meetings of the General 
 Convention was changed from the third Tuesday in June, to the 
 fourth Tuesdav in Julv. 
 
 Sect. II. After the words " of each order," insert — chosen by 
 the Convenlio7i of each state. 
 
 Sect. Ill, Agreed to. 
 
 Sect. W. Agreed to. 
 
 Sect. V. From the Avords— " this general Ecclesiastical Con- 
 stitution," — dele the word ge7ieral^ and insert the same before the 
 word " Convention" in the next line, and the sentence will run 
 thus — he shall be considered as a meynber oj the General Convention. 
 
 EX OFFICIO. 
 
 On motion by Dr. White, seconded by Mr. Beach. After the 
 words "ex oflicio," add — and a Bishop shall always preside in the 
 General Convention^ if any of the Episcopal order be present. 
 
 Sect. VI. Dele the words — " by the respective Conventions," 
 and insert — by the Convention of that state. After the words — 
 "" to ordain or confirm," insert — or perform any ether act of the 
 Episcopal of[ice. 
 
 Sect. VII. Agreed to. 
 
 Sect. VIII. On motion by Dr. White, seconded by the Rev. 
 Mr. Beach. After the words — " equitable mode of trial," add 
 these words — and ct every tj-ial of a Bishop., there shall be one or 
 more of the Episcopal order present : and none but a Bishop shall 
 pronounce sentence of deposition or degradation from the ministry 
 on any Clergyman., xvhether Bishop., or Presbyter., or Deacon. 
 
 Nicholas Ridgely Esquire, a Deputy from the state of Dela- 
 ware, attended, and after producing the testimonials of his ap- 
 pointment, took his seat in Convention. 
 
 Adjourned to six o'clock in the evening. 
 
 At six o'clock the Converftion met. 
 
23 
 
 The Rev, Sydenham Thome, a Deputy from the state of 
 Delaware, exhibited his credentials, and took his seat in Conven- 
 tion. 
 
 The debates on the constitution were renewed and continued. 
 
 Sect. IX. Instead of the words — " to be the desire," insert — - 
 to be the general desire. After the words — " therefore the," dele 
 the whole subsequent part of the section, and in place thereof in- 
 sert as follows : — Book of Comjnon Prayer^ and Administration of 
 Sacraments^ and other Rites and Ceremonies^ as revised and pro- 
 posed to the use of the Protestant Episcopal Churchy at a Conven- 
 tion of the said Churchy in tlie states of Mezv Tork^ Neiv Jersey 
 Pennsylvania^ Delaware^ Maryland^ Virginia and South Car oliiia^ 
 may be used by this Churchy in such of the states- as have adopted^ 
 or 7nay adopty the same in their particular Conventions^ till further 
 provision is made in this case^ by the frst General Convention 
 xvhich shall assemble xvith sufficient power to ratify a Book of 
 Common Prayer for the Church in these states. 
 
 Sect. X. Dele the whole of this section, and in place thereof 
 insert as follows : 
 
 Ns person shall be ordained witil due examination had by the 
 Bishop and txvo Presbyters^ and exhibiting testimonials of his mo- 
 ral conduct for three years past^ signed by the yninister and a ma- 
 jority of the vestry of the Church -where he has last resided: or 
 permitted to officiate as a minister in this Church until he has ex- 
 hibited his letters of ordination^ and subscribed the foHoxving decla- 
 ration : " / do believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and Nexv 
 " Testament to be the xvord of God^ and to contain all things ne- 
 " cessary te salvation ; and I do solemnly engage to conform to the 
 " doctrines and xvorship of the Protestant Episcopal Church i;i 
 " these United States.'''' 
 
 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^ xvhen rat'ified by the Church in a majo- 
 rity of the states^ assembled in General Convention., xvith sifficient 
 poxvet for the purpose of such ratification., shall be unalterable by 
 the Convention of any parti cidar state^ which hath been represent- 
 ed at the time of said ratification.. 
 
 From the title of the Constitution dele the word — *' Ecclesias- 
 tical." 
 
 The question being then put on the whole of the proposed 
 Constitution, as now amended, the same was unanimously agreed 
 to, as follows : 
 
 A Genei-al Constitution of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the 
 United States of America. 
 
 WHEREAS, in the course of divine providence, the Pro- 
 testant Episcopal Church in the United States of America is be- 
 come independent of all foreign authority, civil and ecclesiastical; 
 
■ 24 
 
 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, Pennsylv^ania, 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 the 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 the year of our Lord, 1785, in 
 order to unite in a Constitution of Ecclesiastical Government, 
 agreeably to certain fundamental principles, expressed in the said 
 recommendation and proposal : 
 
 And whereas, in consequence of the said recommendation and 
 jiroposal, Clerical and Lay Deputies have been duly appointed 
 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 con- 
 sideration the importance of maintaining uniformity in doctrine, 
 discipline, and worship, in the said Church, do hereby determine 
 and declare ; 
 
 I. That there shall be a general Convention of the Protestant 
 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 fourth Tuesday of July, 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 pro- 
 vided for ; and this Church, in a majority of the states aforesaid, 
 shall be represented before they shall proceed to business ; ex- 
 cept that the representation of this Church from two states shall 
 he 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 De- 
 puties, not exceeding four, of each order, chosen by the Con- 
 vention of each state ; and in all questions, the said Church in 
 each state shall have but one Vote ; and a majority of suffrages 
 shall be conclusive. 
 
 III. In the said Church in every state represented in this Con- 
 vention, there shall be a Convention consisting of the Clergy and 
 Lay Deputies of the congregations. 
 
 IV. "• 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," shall be conti- 
 nued to be ustd by this Church, as the same is altered by this 
 Convention, in a certain instrument of writing passed by their 
 authority, entituled " Alterations of the Liturgy of the Protestant 
 JEpiscop'al Church in the United States of America, in order to 
 
25 
 
 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 Ecclesiastical Constitution, he shall be considered as a mem- 
 ber of the general Convention ex officio ; and a Bishop shall al- 
 ways preside in the general Convention, if any of the episcopal 
 order be present. 
 
 VI. The Bishop or Bishops in every state, shall be chosen 
 agreeably to such rules as shall be fixed by the Convention of that 
 state : and every Bishop of this Church shall confine the exercise 
 of his episcopal office to his proper jurisdiction ; unless requested 
 to ordain or confirm, or perform any other act of the episcopal 
 office, 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 admit- 
 ted, on acceding to the articles of this union. 
 
 VIII. Every Clergyman, whether Bishop or Presbyter, or Dea- 
 con, shall be amenable to the authority of the Convention in the 
 state to which he belongs, so far as relates to suspension or re- 
 moval from office ; and the Convention in each state shall insti- 
 tute rules for their conduct, and an equitable mode of trial. And 
 at every trial of a Bishop, there shall be one or more of the epis- 
 copal order present; and none but a Bishop shall pronounce sen- 
 tence of deposition or degradation from the ministry on any Cler- 
 gyman, whether Bishop, or Presbyter, or Deacon. 
 
 IX. And whereas it is represented to this Convention, to be 
 the general desire of the Protestant Episcopal Church in these 
 states, that there may be further alterations of the Liturgy than 
 such as are made necessary by the American revolution ; there- 
 fore " The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the 
 Sacraments, and other rites and ceremonies, as revised and pro- 
 posed to the use of the Protestant Episcopal Church, at a Con- 
 vention of the said Church in the states of New York, New Jer- 
 sey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and South 
 Carolina," may be used by the 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 Ge- 
 neral Convention which shall assemble with sufficient power to ra- 
 tify a Book of Common Prayer for the Church in these states. 
 
 X. No person shall be ordained, until due examination 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 has 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 
 New Testament to be the word of God, and to contain all things 
 pecessarv to our salvation : And I do solenuily engage to conform 
 
 E 
 
26 
 
 to the doctrines and worship of the Protestant Episcopal Church 
 in these United States." 
 
 XI. The Constitution of the Protestant Episcopal Church ia 
 the United States of America, when ratified by the Church in a 
 majority of the states asst- mbled in General Convention, with suf- 
 ficient power for the purpose of such ratification, shall be unal- 
 terable by the Convention of any particular state, which hath beea 
 represented at the time of such ratification. 
 
 Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow. 
 
 Saturday, 24th of jfutte, 1786^, 
 
 The Convention met. 
 
 The Committee appointed for that purpose, reported an answer 
 to the letter from the Archbishops and Bishops of England. 
 
 On motion by Mr. Halsted, 
 
 Resolved J That it be recommended to the Conventions of this 
 Church in the several states represented in this Convention, that 
 they authorise and empower their deputies to the next General 
 Convention, after we shall have obtained a Bishop or Bishops in 
 our Church, to confirm and ratify a general Constitution, respect- 
 ing both the doctrine and discipline of the Protestant Episcopal 
 Church in the United States of America. 
 
 On motion, Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention be 
 given to the Rev. Dr. White, for his sermon at the opening of this 
 Convention ; and that he be requested to have the same printed. 
 
 Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention be given to his 
 Excellency John Adams, Minister Plenipotentiary of the United 
 States at the court of London ; to the Hon. Richard Henry Lee, 
 late President of Congress ; to the Hon. John Jay, Secretary for 
 foreign affairs ; and to Richard Peters, esq. ; for their kind at- 
 tention to the concerns of this Church : And that the President 
 be desired to transmit the same. 
 
 Resolved, That a committee of correspondence be appointed, 
 and the following gentlemen were appointed accordingly. The 
 Rev. Mr. Griffith, President, Rev. Dr. Smith, Rev. Dr. White, 
 Rev. Mr. Provost, Hon. John Jay, Hon. James Duane, Samuel 
 Powell, and Francis Hopkinson, esquires. 
 
 Resolved, That the Rev. Dr. White, Dr. Magaw, Mr. Black- 
 well, and F. Hopkinson, esquire, be a Committee for publishing 
 the Journals of this Convention. 
 
 Adjourned, to meet at Christ Church to-morrow afternoon, 
 immediately after divine service. 
 
 Sunday afternoon, 25th of June ^ irsG. 
 
 The Convention met. 
 
 The Hon. Mr. Jay, a Delegate from New York, attended, and 
 took hiB seat in Convention. ' 
 
Some objections having been made to the draft of an answer 
 to the letter from the Archbishops and Bishops of England the 
 same was recommitted. ' 
 
 On motion made and seconded, Mr. Jav and Mr. Hopkinson 
 were added to this Committee. 
 
 Adjourned to eleven o'clock to-morrow. 
 
 Monday, 26th of June, 1786. 
 
 The Convention met. 
 
 The Committee reported a draft of an answer to tlie letter from 
 the Archbishops and Bishops of England, which, being read and 
 considered, was agreed to, and is as follows : 
 
 To the Most Reverend and Right Reverend Fathers in God, th^ 
 Archbishops and Bishops of the Church of England. 
 
 Most Worthy and Venerable Prelates ! 
 
 WE, the Clerical and Lay Deputies of the Protestant Epls- 
 copal 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 Lordships 
 did us the honor to write on the 24th day of February, and for 
 which we request you to accept our sincere and grateful acknow- 
 ledgments. , 
 
 It gives us pleasure to be assured, that the success of our ap- 
 phcation 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 essen- 
 tial articles of faith and discipline with the Church of England 
 we acknowledge the propriety of suspending a compliance 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 discipline and forms 
 of worship, as far as was consistent with our civil constitutions; 
 and we have made no alterations or omissions in the Book of 
 Common Prayer, but such as that consideration prescribed, and 
 such as were calculated to remove objections, which it appeare<J 
 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 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 
 c«n result from stability and union. 
 
2S 
 
 We are anxious to complete our Episcopal system, by means of 
 the Church of England, We esteem and prefer it, and with gra- 
 titude 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 subjects We consider your Lord- 
 ships letter as very candid and kind; we repose full confidence in 
 the assurances it gives ; and that confidence, together with the 
 liberality and Catholicism of your venerable body, leads i^s 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 that its separation 
 inad» 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 se- 
 cond address, as in your great goodness you were pleased to give 
 to our former one. 
 
 We are. 
 
 With great and sincere respect. 
 
 Most worthy and venerable Prelates,, 
 Your obedient and 
 
 In Convention^ Very humble servants, 
 
 Christ Church, Philadelphia, June 26, 1786. 
 
 Virginia^, 
 
 David Griffith, President. , 
 
 Cyrus Griffin. 
 
 NeTv Tork, 
 
 Samuel Provost, Rector of Trinity Church, New York. 
 Joshua Bloomer, Rector of Jamaica, Long Island. 
 John Jay. 
 
 New Jersey, 
 
 Abraham Beach, Rector of Christ Church, New Brunswick. 
 James Parker. 
 Matthias Halsted. 
 
 Pennsylvania, 
 
 William White, D. D. Rector of Christ Church and St. Peter's. 
 Samuel Magaw, D. D. Vice Provost of the University of Penn- 
 sylvania, and Rector of St. Paul's. 
 
29 
 
 Robert Blackwell, Assistant Minister of Christ Ghurch and St. 
 
 Peters'. 
 Samuel Powell- 
 Francis Hopkinson. 
 
 Delaware* 
 
 Sydenham Thorne, Rector of Christ Church and St. Paul's. 
 Charles H. Wharton, D. D. Rector of Emanuel Church, Naw 
 
 Casde. 
 Robert Clay. 
 Nicholas Ridgeley. 
 
 Maryland. 
 
 "William Smith, D. D. Principal of Washington College, and 
 
 Rector of Chester Parish. 
 William Smith, Rector of Stepney Parish. 
 
 South Carolina. 
 
 Robert Smith, Rector of St. Philip's Church, Charleston. 
 John Parker. 
 
 A fair copy of the above being engrossed and compared at the 
 table, the same was signed by the members present, and delivered 
 to the Committee of Correspondence to be forwarded to England. 
 
 Resolved^ That the Committee of Correspondence be empow- 
 ered to call a General Convention, whenever a majority of the 
 said Committee shall think it necessary. 
 
 It was determined by ballot, that Wilmington, in the state of 
 Delaware, shall be the next place of meeting. 
 
 Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention be given to the 
 President for his impartial and diligent discharges of the duties of 
 his office. 
 
 Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention be given to Fran- 
 cis Hopkinson, Esquire, for his diligence in the discharge of his 
 duty as Secretary. 
 
 Resolved, That the President be requested to open the next 
 Convention with a Sermon. 
 
 The Convention adjourned, Sine Die, 
 
 Signed by order of the Conventiony 
 
 DAVID GRIFFITH, President. 
 Francis Hopkinson, Secretary, 
 
JOURNAL 
 
 OF A 
 
 ®©S3W®S1M©St 
 
 OP THE 
 
 iPROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 
 
 IN THB STATES OF 
 
 NEW YORK, 
 NEW JERSEY, 
 PENNSYLVANIA, 
 
 DELAWARE, 
 
 AND 
 
 SOUTH CAROLINA. 
 
 HELD AT 
 
 WILMINGTON, IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE, 
 
 October 10th and 11th, 1786. 
 
LIST OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CONVENTION. 
 
 From the State of New Tork* 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Samuel Provost. 
 The Hon. James Duane, Esquire. 
 John Rutherford, Esquire. 
 
 From the State of New Jersey* 
 
 The Rev. Uzal Ogden. 
 
 The Rev. William Frazer. 
 
 John Cox, Esquire. 
 
 Henry Waddel, Esquire. 
 
 Joshua Maddox Wallace, Esquire. 
 
 From the State of Pennsylvania* * 
 
 The Rev. Dr. William White: 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Samuel Magaw. 
 
 The Rev. Robert Blackwell. 
 
 The Hon. Francis Hopkinson, Esquire. 
 
 Samuel Powel, Esquire. 
 
 Bernard Gilpin, Esquire. 
 
 From the State of Delaware. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Charles H, Wharton. 
 The Rev. Sydenham Thonve. 
 Isaac Grantham, Esquire. 
 James Sykes, Esquire. 
 
 From the State of South Carolina. 
 
 The Rev. Robert Smith. 
 John Hutledge, jun. Esquire. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. William Smith, from the State of Maryland, 
 
JOURNAL, &c. 
 
 Tuesday, October lOthy 1786. 
 
 DR. GRIFFITH, the President, not attending, the Secre» 
 tary was desired to take the Chair. 
 
 A question was then agitated, whether this meeting is to be 
 considered as a new Convention, or an adjournment of that lately 
 held at Philadelphia ? and it was unanimously determined, that 
 this shall be considered as an adjourned Convention. 
 
 On motion, it was agreed that the Rev. Dr. Magaw be re- 
 quested to preach the Convention sermon to-morrow, in casi^ Dr. 
 Griffith, who was appointed to that service, should not come in 
 time. 
 
 On motion, the letters receiv'^ed, since the last meeting, from 
 the Archbishops of Kngland, with the forms of testimonials, and 
 act of Parliament, enclosed and referred to, be now read, and 
 they were read accordingly, in the words following : 
 
 To the Committee of the general Convention at Philadelphia, the 
 Rev. Dr. White., President., the Rev. Dr. Smith., the Rev. Mr. 
 Provost., the Hon. James Duane, Samuel Powel, and Richard 
 PeterSy Esqrs. 
 
 Mr. President and Gentlemen, 
 
 INFLUENCED by the same sentiments of fraternal regard, 
 expressed by the Archbishops and Bishops in their answer to 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 uncer- 
 tainty in which we were left by receiving your address unaccompa- 
 nied by those communications with regard to your Liturgy, Articles 
 and Ecclesiastical Constitution, without the knowledge of which we 
 could not presume to apply to the Legislature, for such powers as 
 were necessary to the completion of your wishes. The Journal 
 of the Convention, and the first part of your Liturgy, did not 
 reach us till more than two months after our receipt of your ad- 
 dress ; and we were not in possession of the remaining part of it 
 and of your articles, till the last day of April. The whole of your 
 communications was then, with as little delay as possible, taken 
 into consideration at a meeting of the Archbishops and fifteen ol 
 the Bishops, being all who were then in London and able to at- 
 tend; and it was impossible not to observe with concern, that if 
 the essential doctrines of our common faith were retained, less 
 respect however was paid to our Liturgy than its own excellenccj 
 
oo 
 
 and your declared attachment to it, had led us to expect : not to 
 mention n variety of verbal alterations, of the necessity or propri- 
 ety of which we are by no means satisfied, we saw with c^rief, 
 that two of the confessions of our Christian Faith, respectable for 
 their antiquity, have been entirely laid aside ; and that even ia 
 that which is called the Apostle's Creed, an article 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 reception. Nrver- 
 theless, as a proof of the sincere desire which we feel to continue 
 m spiritual communion with the members of your church in Ame- 
 rica, 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 de- 
 sired 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 v^^ill receive the assent of the Le*- 
 gislature. This Bill will enable the Archbishops and Bishops to 
 give Episcopal Consecration to the persons who shall be recom- 
 mended, without 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 disposition 
 toward you, and of our desire to avoid all delay on this occasion^ 
 that we have taken this earliest opportunity of conveying to you 
 this intelligence, and that we proceed (as supposing ourselves in- 
 vested with that power which for your sakes we have requested) 
 to state to you particularly the several heads, upon which that sa- 
 tisfaction which you offer, will be accepted, and the mode in 
 which it may be given. The anxiety which is shewn by the Church 
 of England to prevent the intrusion of unqualified persons into 
 even the inferior offices of our ministry, confirms our own senti- 
 ments, and points it out to be our duty, very earnestly to require 
 the most decisive proofs of the quali -^tions of those who may 
 be offered for admission to that order, to which the superintend- 
 ence of those offices is committed. At our several ordinations o£ 
 a Deacon and a Priest, the candidate submits himself to the ex- 
 amination of the Bishop as to his proficiency in learning; he gives 
 the proper security of his soundness in the Faith by the sub- 
 scriptions which are made previously necessary; he is required 
 to bring testimonials of his virtuous conversation during the three 
 preceding years ; and that no mode of inquiry may be omitted, 
 publick notice of his offering 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 an) impediment 
 for the which he ought not to be admitted. At the time of ordi- 
 
 F 
 
34 
 
 nation too the same solemn call is made on the congregation then 
 present. 
 
 Examination, subscription and testimonials are not indeed re- 
 peated 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 his having 
 constantly lived and exercised his ministry under the eyes and ob- 
 servation of his country. But the objects of our present consi- 
 deration are ver}^ differently circumstanced ; their sufficiency in 
 learning, the soundness of their Faith, and the purity of their 
 manners, are not matters of notoriety here ; 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 pat- 
 " terns to the flock of Christ." 
 
 With regard to the first qualification, sufficiency in good learn- 
 ing, we apprehend that the subjecting a person, who is to be ad- 
 mitted to the office of a Bishop in the Church, to that examina- 
 tion which is required previous to the ordination of Priests and 
 Deacons, might lessen that reverend estimation which ought ne- 
 ver to be separated from the Episcopal character : we therefore 
 do not require any farther satisfaction on this point, than will be 
 given to us by the forms of testimonials in the annexed paper ; 
 fully trusting that those who sign them will be well aware, how 
 greatly incompetence in this respect must lessen 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 al- 
 ready been called upon to make by the tenth article of your Ec- 
 clesiastical 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 explicit in declar- 
 ing, that, after the disposition we have shewn to comply with 
 the prayer of your Address, we think it now incumbent upon you 
 to use your vitmost exertions also for the removal of any stum- 
 bling block of offence, which may possibly prove an obstacle ta 
 the success of it. We therefore most earnestly exhort you, that 
 previously to the time of your making such subscription, you re- 
 store to its integrity the Apostle's Creed, in which you have omit- 
 ted 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, even though the use of them should be left discretional. 
 We should be inexcusable too, if at the time when you are request ■ 
 
ang the establishment of Bishops in your Church, we did not 
 strongly represent to you that the eighth article of your Ecclesias- 
 tical 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 alteration 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 represent- 
 ation. 
 
 On the third and last head, which resp|;cts 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 indispensible duty to provide, on this sub- 
 ject, the most effectual securities. It is presumed, that the same 
 previous public notice of the intention of the person to be conse- 
 crated 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 congregation composed of those to whom the 
 person to be consecrated is unknown. The testimonials signed 
 by persons living in England 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 circumstances are less applicable to testimonials from Ame- 
 rica, 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 the general Convention 
 of the Episcopal Church, with as many signatures as can be ob- 
 tained, and a more particular one, from the respective Conven- 
 tions 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 testi- 
 mony 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 think it sufficient therefore, that 
 they declare they know no impediment, but believe the person to 
 be consecrated i3 of a virtuous life and sound faith. We have sent 
 you such a form as appears to us proper ta be used for that pur- 
 pose. More specific declarations must be made, by the members 
 of the Convention in each state from which the persons offered 
 lor consecration are respectively recommended ; their personal 
 knowledge of them there can be no doubt of; we trust therefore 
 they will have no objection to the adoption of the form of a testi- 
 monial which is annexed and drawn upon the same principles, 
 and containing the same attestations of personal knowledge with 
 that above mentioned, as required previously to our ordinations ; 
 we trust we shall receive these testimonials signed by such a ma- 
 
oo 
 
 Jonty 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 consecration of them. 
 
 Thus much we have thought it right to communicate to you 
 without reserve at present, intending to give you farther infor- 
 mation 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, 
 
 <k J. CANTUAR. 
 
 W. EBOR. 
 
 Form of a Testimonial for Priesfs Orders in England, 
 
 To the Right Reverend Father in God bv Divine Per- 
 mission Lord Bishop of 
 
 WE whose names are here underwritten, testify from our 
 personal knowledge of the life and behaviour of A. B. for the 
 spact- of three years last past, that he hath during that time, lived 
 piously, soberly, and honestly : Nor hath he at any time, as far 
 as we know or believe, written, taught or held, any thing con- 
 trary to the doctrine or discipline of the Church of England. And 
 moreover we think him a person worth}^ to be admitted to the 
 sacred order of Priest. In witness whereof we have hereunto set 
 
 our hands. Dated the -^ day qf in the year of our 
 
 Lord ;. 
 
 Testimony from the General Conventiqii. 
 
 WE whose nanies are underwritten, fully sensible how im- 
 portant it is, that the sacred office of a Bishop should not be un- 
 worthily 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 ei- 
 ther for error in religion or for viciousness of life ; and that we 
 do not know or believe there is any impediment or notable crime, 
 on account of which he ought not to be consecrated to that holy 
 office, but that he hath led his life, for the three years last past, 
 piously, soberly and honestly. 
 
 Testimony from the Members of the Convention hi the State from 
 whence the Person is recommended for Consecration* 
 
 WE, whose nj^mes are underwritten, fully sensible how im- 
 portant it is, that the sacred Office of a Bishop should not be un- 
 worthily conferred, and firmly persuaded that it is our duty to 
 bear testimony on this solemn occasion without partiality or af- 
 fection, do, in the presence of Almighty God, testify that A. B. 
 3S not, so far as we are informed, justly liable to evil report either 
 for error in religion, or for viciousness of life j 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 
 
v)/ 
 
 d|D moreover jointly and severally declare, that, having person- 
 all)' known him for three years last past, we do in our conscien- 
 ces believe him to be of such sufficiency in good learning, such 
 soundness in the faith, and of such virtuous and pure manntrs and 
 godly conversation, that he is apt and meet to exercise the Office 
 of a Bishop, to the honour of God and the edifying of his Church 
 and to be an wholesome example to the flock of Christ. 
 
 Canterhurij^ July 4t/i., l786,. 
 
 To the Committee of the General Convevf'on, £sfc. ^c. 
 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 THE enclosed act being now passed, I have the satisfac- 
 tion of communicating it to you. It is accompanied by a copy ot 
 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 of 
 America ; who may consecrate others at their 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. 
 
 ■' An Act to empoxver the Archbishop of Canterbury^ or the Arch- 
 bishop ofTork^ for the thne beings to consecrate to the Office of 
 a Bishops Persons being Subjects or Citizens of Countries out of 
 His Majestifs dominions. 
 
 WHEHEAS by the Laws of this realm no person can be 
 consecrated to the Office of a Bishop, without the King's licence 
 for his election to that office, and the royal mandate under the 
 great seal for his confirmation and consecration ; and whereas 
 r every person who shall be consecrated to the -said office is requir- 
 ed to take the oaths of allegiance and supremacy, and also the 
 oath of due obedience to the Archbishop : And whereas there are 
 clivers persons subjects or citizens of countries out of his Majes- 
 ty's dominions, inhabiting and residing within the said countries, 
 who profess the publick worship of Almighty God according to 
 the principles of the Church of England, and who in order to 
 provide a regular succession of ministers for the service of their 
 Church are desirous of having certain of the subjects or citizens 
 of those countries consecrated Bishops, according to the form of 
 consecration in the Church of England : Be it enacted by the 
 King's most excellent Majesty by and with the advice and con- 
 sent of the Lord's Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in this 
 present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, 
 
38 
 
 that from and alter the passhig of this act, it shall and may be law» 
 ful to and for the Archbishop of Canterbury, or the Archbishop of 
 York, for the time being, together with such other Bishops as 
 they shall call to their assistance, to consecrate persons being 
 subjects or citizens of countries out of his Majesty's dominions. 
 Bishops for the purposes aforesaid, without the King's licence 
 for their election, or the royal mandate under the great seal for 
 their confirmation and consecration, and without requiring them 
 to take the oaths of allegiance and supremacy, and the oath ot 
 due obedience to the Archbishop for the time being. Provided 
 always, that no persons shall be consecrated Bishops in the man- 
 ner herein provided, until the Archbishop of Canterbury or the 
 Archbishop of York, for the time being, shall have first applied 
 for, and obtained his Majesty's licence, by warrant under hrs 
 royal signet and sign manual, authorizing and empowering him 
 to perform such consecration, and expressing the name or names 
 of the persons so to be consecrated ; nor until the said Archbishop 
 has been fully ascertained of their sufficiency in good learning, of 
 the soundness of their faith, and of the purity of their manners. 
 Provided also, and be it hereby declared, that no person or per- 
 sons consecrated to the office of a Bishop in the manner aforesaid, 
 nor any person or persons deriving their consecration from or un- 
 der any Bishop so consecrated, nor any person or persons admit- 
 ted to the order of Deacon or Priest by any Bishop or Bishops 
 so consecrated, or by the successor or successors of any Bishop 
 or Bishops so consecrated, shall be thereby enabled to exercise 
 his or their respective office or offices within his Majesty's domi- 
 nions. Provided always, and be it further enacted, that a certi- 
 ficate of such consecration shall be given under the hand and seal 
 of the Archbishop who consecrates, containing the name of the 
 person so consecrated, with the addition as well of the country 
 whereof he is a subject or citizen, as of the church in which he is 
 appointed Bishop, and the further description of his not having 
 taken the said oaths, being exempted from the obligation of so 
 doing by virtue of this act." 
 
 Resolved, that a Committee be now appointed, to take into con- 
 sideration, the letters and papers read, and to report thereon. 
 
 Resolved, that this Committee, shall consist of a Clerical and 
 Lay Deputy from each State. 
 
 Whereupon the following gentlemen were appointed. 
 
 Nexv Tork. The Rev. Dr. Provost, James Duane, Ksquire, 
 
 NeTxi yerseij. The Rev. Uzal Ogden, Henry Waddel, Esquire. 
 
 Pennsylvania^ The Rev. Dr. White, Samuel Powel, Esquire.* 
 
 Delaware. The Rev. Sydenham Thome, Isaac Grantham, 
 Esquire. 
 
 South Carolina. The Rev. Robert Smith, John Rutledge, Es- 
 quire. 
 
 From Maryland* The Rev, Dr. Smith. 
 
o9 
 
 The Convention then adjourned, to meet at eight o'clock to- 
 morrow morning. 
 
 Wednesday, October llthy 1786. 
 
 The Convention met, and after some time adjourned to the 
 Swedes Church, to attend divine service, read by the Rev. Dr. 
 Provost, and a Sermon by the Rev. Dr. Magaw. 
 
 After Sermon, returned to the Academy Hall, and entered on 
 business. 
 
 It was moved, and seconded, to proceed to the election of a 
 President. The ballots being taken, it appeared that the Rev. 
 Dr. Provost, was unanimously elected President. 
 
 A question was then proposed, and seconded, viz. whether this 
 Convention, hath authority to admit as members, persons deriving 
 their appointment, not from a State Convention, but from a parti- 
 cular Parish or Parishes only. 
 
 On the question being put, it was determined in the negative. 
 
 Another question was then proposed, and seconded, viz. wheth- 
 er this Convention can, consistently with its fundamental articles, 
 admit a State to be represented by a Clerical or Lay Deputy only. 
 Which was also determined in the negative. 
 
 The Committee, appointed last evening, to take into considera- 
 tion the matters contained in the letters from the Archbishops 
 of England, delivered in their report; which after mature delibe- 
 ration and some amendments, was agreed to and established as an 
 Act of this Corporation, and is in the words, following, viz. 
 
 Jn Act of the General Convention of Clerical and Lay Deputies of 
 the Protestant Episcopal Churchy in the States of Neiv Tork, 
 Nexv Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delarvare and South Carolina, held 
 at Wilmington, in the State of Delaxvare, on Wednesday, the 
 llthcf October, 178Q. 
 
 WHEREAS, at a general Convention of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies of the Protestant Episcopal Church in sundry of the 
 United States of America, v/2. New York, New Jersey, Pennsyl- 
 vania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and South Carolina, holden 
 at the city of Philadelphia, 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 other Rites 
 " and Ceremonies of the Church, according to the use of the 
 " Church of i^ngland," should be continued to be used by this 
 Church, as the same was altered by the said Convention, in a cer- 
 tain instrument of writing, passed by their authority, entitled^ 
 "Alterations of the Liturgy of the Protestant 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 ;" And it was further agreed and de- 
 
40 
 
 clarecl, tliat the Boole of Common Prayer arid Aclministfatiori 6f 
 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 wiiting passed under the authority of the aforesaid 
 Convention, entitled, " Akerations in the Hook of Common Pray- 
 "er 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 Staies 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 Conven- 
 tion, anxious to complete their Episcopal System by means of the 
 Church of England, did transcribe and transmit an address to the 
 Most Reverend and Right Reverend the Archbishops of Canter- 
 bury and York, and the Bishops of the Church of England, ear- 
 nestly entreating that venerable body to confer the Episcopal cha- 
 racter on such persons as should be recommended by this Church, 
 in the several states so represented : 
 
 And whereas the Clerical and Lay Deputies of this Church, 
 have received the most friendly and affectionate letters in answer 
 to the said address, from the said Archbishops and Bishops, open- 
 ing a fair prospect of the success of their said applications; but at 
 the same time earnestly exhorting this Convention to use their ut- 
 most exertions for the removal of certain objections by them 
 made, against some parts of the Alterations in the Book of Com- 
 mon Prayer and Rites and Ceremonies of this Church, last men- 
 tioned ; In pursuance whereof, this present General Convention 
 hath been called and is now assembled ; and being sincerely dis- 
 posed to give every satisfaction to their Lordships, which will be 
 consistent with the union and general content of the Church they 
 represent ; and declaring their steadfast resolution to maintain the 
 same essential Articles of Faith and discipline with the Church of 
 England : 
 
 Nozu therefore^ the said Deputies do hereby determine and de- 
 clare, 
 
 Firsty That in the Creed commonly called the Apostle's Creed, 
 these words — "lie 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 Apostle's 
 Creed, prefaced with the Rubrick [or this.] 
 
 And xvhereasy In consequence of the objections expressed by 
 their Lordships 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 consecrated or ordained as Bishops, 
 Priests or .Deacons, respectively, should subscribe the declaration 
 
41 
 
 .contained in the tenth article of the General Ecclesiastical Con- 
 stitution^ without some modification. 
 
 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 worship 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, 
 " entitled, Alterations of the Liturgy of the Protestant Episcopal 
 " Church in the United States of Amc^rica^ in order to render the 
 " same conformable to the American revolution and the Constitution 
 ^^ of the respective States^ until the new Book of Common Pray- 
 ** er, recommended by the General Convention, shall be ratified 
 " or used in the state in which I am [Bishop, Priest or Deacon, 
 " as the case may be] by the authority 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 Bish- 
 op [or ordained a Priest or Deacon] I will conform to the doc- 
 *' trines and worship of the Protestant Episcopal Church, as settled 
 "and determined in the last mt-ntioued Book of Common Prayer 
 " and Administration 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 
 " Aposde's Cieecl, one clause is omitted as being of uncertain 
 *' meaning ; and" — together with the note referred to in that 
 place, be, from henceforth, no part of the Preface to the said pro- 
 posed 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 Apostle's Creed 
 " and the Nicene Creed, ought to be received and beUeved, be- 
 '* cause they" &c. &c. 
 
 Done in General Convention, at Wilmington, in the 
 state of Delaware, the day and year first aforesaid. 
 
 The first question, taken on the report of the Committee was, 
 whether the words " lie descended into Hell," should be restored 
 in the Apostle's Creed. 
 
 When the Ayes and Nays being called for, the votes were as 
 follows, 
 
 G 
 
4^ 
 
 New Tork. Dr. Provost, Aye — ^Mr. Duane, Aye — ^Mr. Ruth- 
 erford, No. — Divided. 
 
 New Jersey, Rev. Mr. Ogden, Aye— Rev. Mr. Frazer, 
 Aye— Mr. Wallace, Aye— Mr. Cox, No— Mr. Waddel, Aye. 
 
 = — Aye. 
 
 Pennsylvania. Dr. White, Aye— Dr. Magaw, Aye— Mr. 
 Blackwell, Aye— Mr. Hopkinson, No — Mr. Powel, No— Mr. 
 Gilpin, No. — Divided. 
 
 Delazvare. Dr. Wharton, No— Rev. Mr. Thome, Aye— Mr. 
 Sykes, Aye — Mr. Grantham, No. — Divided. 
 
 South Carolina. Rev. Mr. R. Smith, Aye— Mr. Rutledge, 
 Aye. — Aye. , 
 
 And so the words are to be restored ; there being two Ayes, 
 and no Negative. 
 
 On the question, shall the Nicene Creed be restored in the 
 Liturgy ? the same was unanimously agreed to. 
 
 Adjourned to six o'clock in the evening. 
 
 At six o'clock the Convention met. 
 
 On the question, shall the Creed commonly called the Athana- 
 sian Creed, be admitted in the Liturgy, of the Protestant Episco- 
 pal Church in the United States of America ? 
 
 The Ayes and Nays being taken, were as follows, 
 
 Nezv fork. Dr. Provost, No — Mr. Duane, No — Mr. Ruther- 
 ford, No.— Nay. 
 
 New Jersey. Rev. Mr. Ogden, No — Rev, Mr. Frazer, No — 
 Mr. Cox, No — Mr. Wallace, Aye — Mr. Waddel, Aye. Divided. 
 
 Penn.^jlvania. Dr. White, No. — Dr. Magaw, No — Rev. Mr. 
 Blackwdtl, No— Mr. Hopkinson, No— Mr. Powel, No— Mr. 
 Gilpin, No. — Nay. 
 
 Delazvare. Dr. Wharton, No— Rev. Mr. Thorne, Aye— Mr. 
 Sykcs, No — Mr. Grantham, No. — Divided. 
 
 South Carolina. Rev. Mr. Smith, No— Mr. Rutledge, No. 
 .—Nay. 
 
 And so, it was determined in the negative. 
 
 On the question, shall the eighth article of the Ecclesiastical 
 Constitution, remain as proposed and published, by the late Con- 
 vention .** It was unanimously determined in the affirmative. 
 
 Resolved, That in the opinion of this Convention, it is proper 
 for those gentlemen, who shall proceed from any of these States, 
 for England, for the purpose of obtaining Episcopal Consecration ; 
 First to subscribe either the form directed in the 10th article of 
 the proposed Ecclesiastical Constitution, or else the form directed 
 in the Act or Instrument now passed by this Convention ; and that 
 they respectively lodge their subscriptions with the Secretary, 
 taking from him a Certificate of their having so done. 
 
 Resolved, That the Secretary be desired to transmit a copy of 
 the proceedings of this Convention, to the standing Committees 
 of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the States of Maryland and 
 yirgiuia^ with the affectionate hope of this body, that their Breth- 
 
43 
 
 ren of the said States, after duly considering the principles oil 
 which these proceedings have been held, will approve and adopt 
 the same. 
 
 It was moved and seconded, that a Committee be appointed, 
 to draft a letter from this Convention, to the Archbishops of Eng- 
 land, in answer to their late letters. 
 
 And the following gentlemen were appointed accordingly : Dr„ 
 Smith, Dr. White, and Dr. Wharton. 
 
 This Committee retired, and after some time, returned and re- 
 ported a letter, which after a few amendments was agreed to, as 
 follows : 
 
 To the Archbishops of Canterbury and Tork* 
 
 Most worthy and venerable Prelates! 
 
 IN pursuance of your Graces* communications to the stand- 
 ing Committee of our Church, received by the June Packet, and 
 the letter of his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, of July the 
 fourth, enclosing the Act of Parliament " to empower the Arch* 
 bishop of Canterbury, or the Archbishop of York, for the time 
 being, to consecrate to the office of a Bishop, persons being sub- 
 jects or citizens, of countries out of his Majesty's dominions," a 
 General Convention, now sitting, have the honour of offering their 
 unanimous and hearty thanks, for the continuance of your christian 
 iattention to this Church ; and particularly for your having so 
 speedily acquired a legal capacity, of complying with the Prayef 
 of our former addresses. 
 
 We have taken into our most serious and deliberate considera- 
 tion, the several matters so affectionately recommended to us in 
 those communications, and whatever could be done towards a 
 compliance with your fatherly wishes and advice, consistently with 
 our local circumstances, and the peace and unity of our Church, 
 hath been agreed to ; as, we trust, will appear from the enclosed 
 Act of our Convention, which we have the honour to transmit to 
 you, together with the Journal of our proceedings, 
 We are with great and sincere respect. 
 
 Most worthy and venerable Prelates, 
 
 Your obedient and very humble servants, 
 (By Order) 
 
 In general Convention^ Samuel Provost^ President. 
 
 At Wilmington, in the State of Delaware, October 11th, 1786. 
 
 The above letter, being fairly copied, was signed by the Presi- 
 dent, in behalf of the Convention. 
 
 On motion, the States were respectively called upon to know 
 if, in their several Conventions, any person had been elected and 
 recommended for Episcopal consecration ; when it appeared, that 
 the Convention of New York had elected and recommended the 
 Rev. Dr. Samuel Provost to that office. The members prMen^^ 
 
44 
 
 then proceeded to sign his testimonials, in the form prescribed by 
 the Archbishops of England, for the general Convention. 
 
 The Convention of Pennsvlvania, had elected and recommend- 
 ed the Rev. Dr. William White, and his testimonials were in 
 like manner signed by the members present. 
 
 It appeared also, that the Convention of Virginia had elected 
 and recommended the Rev. Dr. David Griffith, and his testimo- 
 nials were accordingly signed. 
 
 , Resolved, that the thanks of this Convention be given to the 
 Rev. Dr. Magaw, for his sermon this forenoon, — to the Presi- 
 dent, for his impartial and judicious conduct, and to the Secreta- 
 ry, for his attention and services. 
 
 Resolved, that the Rev. Dr. Provost, President, Rev. Dr. 
 Smith, Rev. Dr. White, Rev. Dr. Griffith, Hon. John Jay, Hon. 
 James Duane, Hon. Francis Hopkinson, and Samuel Powel, Es- 
 quire, be the Committee of Correspondence ; and that they have 
 power to call a general Convention of the Church, to meet at 
 Philadelphia, whenever a majority of the said Committee shall 
 think it necessary. 
 
 Resolved, that the Rev. Dr. Provost be requested to preach 
 before the Convention, at their next meeting. 
 
 Adjourned, S'me Die, 
 
 Signed by order of the Convention, 
 
 SAMUEL PROVOST, President. 
 FRANCIS HOPKINSON, Secretary. 
 
JOURNAL 
 
 OP A 
 
 ®(|)S?^aSf5Kl(|)SS 
 
 OP THE 
 
 PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 
 
 IN THE STATES OP 
 
 NEW YORK, 
 NEW JERSEY, 
 PENNSYLVANIA, 
 DELAWARE, 
 
 MARYLAND, 
 VIRGINIA, 
 
 AND 
 
 SOUTH CAROLINA 
 
 HELD IN 
 
 CHRIST CHURCH, IN THE CITY OF THILABELPHU, 
 
 FROM 
 
 July 28th to August 8th, 1789o 
 
LIST OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CONVENTION. 
 
 THE Right Rev. William White, B. D. Bishop o^ the Pro- 
 testant Episcopal Church in the State of Pennsylvania, and Pre- 
 sident of the Convention. 
 
 From the State of New TorL 
 The Rev. Abraham Beach, D. D. 
 The Rev. Benjamin Moore, D. D. 
 Mr. Moses Rogers. 
 
 From the State of New Jersey'. 
 The Rev. William Eraser. 
 The Rev. Uzal Ogden. 
 The Rev. Henry Waddel. 
 The Rev. George H. Spieren. 
 John Cox, Esquire. 
 Robert Strettel Jones, Esquire. 
 Samuel Ogden, Esquire. 
 
 From the State of Pennsylvania, 
 The Rev. Samuel Magaw, D. D. 
 The Rev. Robert Blackwell, D. D. 
 The Rev. Joseph Pilmore. 
 The Rev, Joseph G. J. Bend. 
 The Hon. Francis Hopkinson, Esquire. 
 Samuel Povvel, Esquire. • 
 
 Dr. Gerardus Clarkson. 
 Tench Coxe, Esquire. 
 
 From the State of Delaware , 
 The Rev. Joseph Couden. 
 The Rev. Stephen Sykes. 
 James Sykes, Esquire, 
 Thomas Duff, Esquire, 
 Mr. Philip Reading. 
 
 From the State of Maryland. 
 The Rev. William Smith, D. D. 
 The Rev. Thomas John Claggett, D. D. 
 The Rev. Colin Ferguson, D. D. 
 The Rev. John Bisset. 
 Richard B. Carmichael, Esquire. 
 Dr. WilUam Frisby. 
 
 From the State of Virginia. 
 Robert Andrews, Esquire. 
 
 From the State of South Carolina. 
 The Rev. Robert Smith. 
 William Ward Burrows, Esquire. 
 William Brisbane, Esquire. ♦ 
 
JOURNAL, &c. 
 
 Tuesday, July 28thy 1789. 
 
 CLERICAL and Lav Deputies from several of the states as- 
 sembled ; and judging it proper to wait the arrival of the Depu- 
 ties from the other states, 
 
 Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow mornmg. 
 
 Wednesday, yuli/ 29th, 1789. 
 
 The Convention met. 
 
 The Rigtit Rev. Dr. White, President, ex officio. 
 The Rev. Dr. Claggett read prayers. 
 
 The Right Rev. Dr. Provost, who was to have preached on 
 the opemng of the Convention, being absent through indisposi- 
 tion^ the Rev. Dr. Smith preached, agreeably to request made 
 yesterday. 
 
 The Hon. Mr. Hopkinson was unanimously chosen Secretary ; 
 
 but being indisposed, Mr. Tench Coxe was requested to officiate. 
 
 Ordered^ That the members present produce the testimonials of 
 
 their respective appointments, which, being produced, were read, 
 
 and deemed satisfactory. 
 
 Mr. Andrews, Lay Deputy from Virginia, informed the Con- 
 vention, that the Rev. Dr. Griffith, the Clerical Delegate from 
 the said state, was in town, but detained by sickness from the 
 Convention. 
 
 A certificate of the consecration of the Right Rev. William 
 White, D. D. Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the 
 state of Pennsylvania, and the Right R-v. Samuel Provost, D. D, 
 Bishop of said church in the state of New York, signed by Ro- 
 bert Jenner, Notary Public, and dated February 4, 1787, was 
 produced and read; also a certificate of the consecration of the 
 Right Rev. Dr. White, signed by his Grace, the Archbishop of 
 Canterbury, and countersigned by his Grace, the Archbishop of 
 York, and the Right Rev. the Bishops of Bath and Wells and o^' 
 Peterborough. 
 
 Mr. Andrews communicated to the Convention the following 
 extract from the minutes of the Convention of this church in the 
 state of Virginia, 
 
 In Convention, May 8, 1789. 
 
 Resolved, That the Deputies appointed to attend the next Ge- 
 neral Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church be desired 
 to notify to the General Convention, that the Rev. Dr. Griffith, 
 Bishop elect of the said church in this state, has relinquished the 
 s^id appointment, and that no person has been elected in his room. 
 
48 
 
 A copy from the Journal of the Convention of the Pro- 
 testant Episcopal Church in Virginia, held from May 6, to 
 May 9, 1789, inclusive. 
 
 ROBERT ANDREWS, Secretary of the 
 Protestant Episcopal Convention in Virginia. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Moore, Mr. Hopkinson, and Mr. Andrews, were 
 appointed a committee to prepare rules of order. 
 
 An invitation from the University of Pennsylvania to the Con- 
 vention, to attend a Commencement, was presented by the Rev, 
 Dr. Magaw, which was unanimously accepted, and the President 
 was requested to signify the same in writing to the Trustees and 
 Faculty. 
 
 Adjourned to five o'clock, P. M. 
 
 Wednesday, July 29thj 1789. P. M. 
 
 The Convention met. 
 
 Mr. Hopkinson remaining indisposed, the Rev. Mr. Bend was 
 requested to officiate during his indisposition. 
 
 Ordered^ That the Rev. Dr. Smith, the Rev. Dr. Moore and 
 Mr. Ogden, be a committee, to prepare an address to the Presi- 
 dent of the United States. 
 
 On motion, Ordered^ That the letters of consecration of the 
 Right Rev. Dr. White, and the Right Rev. Dr. Provost, and the 
 notarial certificate thereof, be recorded.* 
 
 Ordered^ That the Secretary procure a book for recording the 
 minutes and papers of the General Convention. 
 
 Ordered^ That the Rev. Dr. Smith, the Rev. Dr. Beach and 
 Mr. Andrews, be a committee, to prepare an address of thanks to 
 the most Reverend the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, for 
 their good offices in procuring the consecration of the American 
 Bishops. 
 
 The Deputies from the several states, being called upon to de- 
 clare their powers, relative to the object of the following resolu- 
 tion of the Protestant Episcopal Church, viz : Resolved^ That 
 
 it be recommended to the Conventions of this church, in the se- 
 veral states represented in this Convention, that they authorise 
 and empower their Deputies to the next General Convention, af- 
 ter we shall have obtained a Bishop or Bishops in our church, to 
 confirm and ratify a general constitution, respecting both the doc- 
 trine and discipline of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Uni- 
 ted States of America," — gave information, that they came fully 
 authorised to ratify a Book of Common Prayer, &c. for the use 
 of the church. 
 
 Ordered^ That the Journal of the last General Convention be 
 read, and that a copy of the Journals of the Convention be pro- 
 cured for each member. 
 
 "* See Appendix. 
 
49 
 
 Resohed^ That the thanks of this Convention be given to the 
 Rev. Dr. Smith for his sermon, and that he be requested to puljr 
 lish the same. 
 
 Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Thursday, July 30th, 1789. 
 
 The Convention met. 
 
 The Rev, Dr. Beach read prayers. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Sykes, the Rev'. Mr. Couden, James Sykes and 
 Thomas Duff, esquir^^s, Deputies from Delaware, produced the 
 credentials of their appointment, which being read and approved, 
 they took their seats in the Convention. 
 
 The aforesaid Deputies were requested to state their powers 
 relative to the ratification of a Book of Common Prayer, &c. 
 which were deemed sufficient. 
 
 The Ho:i. Mr. Hopkinson, a Deputy for Pennsylvania, took his 
 seat in Convention. 
 
 The committee appointed to prepare rules for the orderly con- 
 duct oi the Convention, reported the same, which were adopted. 
 
 On motion, Ordered, That a committee, consisting of a Deputy 
 from each state, be appointed, to take into consideration the pro- 
 posed constitution of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and to re- 
 commend such alterations, additions and amendments, as they 
 shall think necessary and proper. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Moore, Mr. Jones, the Rev. Dr. Blackwell, Mr. 
 Sykes, the Rev Dr. Smith, Mr. Andrews, and the Rev. Mr. 
 Smith, were appointed accordingly. 
 
 An act of the Clergy of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, 
 recommending the Rev. Edward Bass for consecration, was laid 
 before the Convention by the Right Rev. Dr. White, and is as 
 follows : 
 
 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 com- 
 munion the benefit of the labours, advice and government of the 
 euccessors of the Aposdes ; 
 
 We, Presbyters of said church in the states of Massachusetts 
 and New Hampshire, deeply impressed with the most lively gra- 
 titude to the Supreme Governor of the universe, for his good- 
 ness 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 ho- 
 liness, and preserving his church in the unity of the spirit and the 
 bond of peace ; to the end that the people committed to our res- 
 pective charges may enjoy the benefit and advantage of those oflx- 
 
 H 
 
50 
 
 CCS, the administration of which belongs to the highest order of 
 the ministry, and to encourage and promote, as far as in us lies, 
 a union of the whole Episcopal Church in these states, and to 
 perfect and compact this mystical bodv of Christ, do hereby no- 
 minate, elect and appoint the Rev. Edward Bass, a Presbyter of 
 said church, and Rector of St. Paul's, in Newburyport, to be 
 our Bishop ; and we do promise and engage to receive him as 
 such, when canonically consecrated, and invested with the apos- 
 tolic office and powers, by the Right Reverend the Bishops ht-re- 
 after named, and to render him ^11 that canonical obedience and 
 submission, which, by the laws of Christ and the constituiion of 
 our church, is due to so important an office 
 
 And we now address tht: Right Reverend the Bishops in the 
 states of Connecticut, New York imd Pennsylvania, praying their 
 united assistance in consecrating our said brother, and canonically 
 investing him with the apostolic office and powers. This request 
 we are induced to make, from along acquaintance 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 mo- 
 rals, that prudence and discretion, requisite to so exalted a sta- 
 tion, as well as that personal respect and attachment of the com- 
 munion at large in these staes, which 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 un- 
 derwritten, held at Salem, in the county of Essex, and 
 commonwealth of Massachusetts, the fourth day of June, 
 Anno Salutis, 1789. 
 Samuel Parker, Rector of Trinity Church, Boston. 
 T. Fitch Oliver, Rector of St. Michael's Church, Marblehead. 
 John Cousens Ogden, Rector of Queen's Chapel, Portsmouth, 
 
 New Hampshire, 
 William Montague, Minister of Christ's Church, Boston. 
 Tillptson Brunson, Assistant Minister of Christ's Church, Boston. 
 A true copy. 
 Attest. Samuel Parker, 
 
 At the meeting aforesaid, 
 
 Voted^ That the Rev. Samuel Parker be authorised and em- 
 j^owered to transmit copies of the foregoing act, to be by him at- 
 tested, to the Right Reverend the Bishops in Connecticut, New 
 York and Pennsylvania ; and that he be appointed our agent, to 
 appear at any convocation to be holden at Pennsylvania 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 interest of said 
 church. EDWARD BASS, Chairman, 
 
 A tnie copy. 
 Attest. Samuel Parker. 
 
51 
 
 A letter was also read from the Right l?ev. Dr. Seabury, Bi- 
 shop of the church in Connecticut, to thr Ri^ht Rev. Dr. White, 
 and one from tije same gtntleman to the R v. Ur. Smith. 
 
 Upon reading the said letters, it appearing that Bishop Seabury 
 lay under some misapprehensions concerning an entry in the mi- 
 nutes of a former Convention, as intending some doubt of the va- 
 lidity of his consecration, 
 
 Resolved unanimoushi^ That it is the opinion of this Conven- 
 tion, that the consecration of the Right Rev. Dr. Seabury to the 
 episcopal office is valid. 
 
 Mr. Burrows obtained leave of absence for Thiirsday. 
 
 Adjourned to eight o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Friday, Juhj Z\st^ 1789. 
 
 The Convention met. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Smith read prayers. 
 
 Dr. William Frisby produced his credentials, as a Lay Deputy 
 from the state of Maryland, which being approved, he took his 
 seat. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Ferguson, a Deputy from Mar}land, and Mr. 
 Philip Reading, a Deputy from Delaware, took their seats. 
 
 The Convention then went in procession to the German Re- 
 formed Church, in conseqttence of the invitation received from 
 the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, to attend the 
 commencement. 
 
 Friday, half past one, P. M. 
 
 The Convention having returned, they proceeded to business. 
 
 On motion. Resolved^ That a committee, consisting of one De- 
 puty from each state, be appointed, to prepare a body of canons 
 for the government of this church ; and 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Beach, the Rev. Mr. Ogden, the Rev. Mr. Pil- 
 more, the Rev. Mr. Couden, the Rev. Dr. Claggett, Mr. An- 
 drews and Mr. Brisbane, were appointed accordingly. 
 
 Resolved^ That on Monday next this Convention will resolve 
 themselves into a committee of the whole, for the purpose of 
 taking into consideration the proposed Book of Common Prayer 
 and Administration of the Sacraments. 
 
 Mr. DufFhad leave of absence given him. 
 
 Resolved, That the application of the Clergy of Massachusetts 
 and New Hampshire to the Right Rev. Doctors Seaburv, Pro- 
 vost and White, be considered to-murrow in a committee of the 
 whole. 
 
 Mr. J. Cox and Mr. Ogden obtained leave of absence from 
 Saturday evening till Monday. 
 
 Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow. 
 
52 
 
 Saturday, August Ut^ 1789. 
 
 The Convention met. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Ogden read prayers. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Smith, from the committee appointed to take 
 into consideration the proposed constitution of the Protestant 
 Episcopal Church, and to recommend such alterations, additjonSj 
 or amendments, as they shall think necessary and proper, report- 
 ed a constitution for the same. 
 
 Ordered^ That t'le said constitution be read. 
 
 Ordered^ That it be read a second time. 
 
 Samuel Powel, esquire, a Deputy trora Pennsylvania, took his 
 seat in the Convention. 
 
 The constitution was then debated by paragraphs. 
 
 Resolved, That the 1st, 2d, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th ar- 
 ticles be adopted, and stand in this order, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 ; — 
 that they be a rue of conduct for this Convention ; and that the 
 remaining articles be postponed for the future consideration of 
 this Convention. 
 
 The order for the day being called, the Convention resolved 
 itself into a committee of the whole, on the application of the 
 clergy of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, to the Bishops in 
 the states of Connecticut, New York and Pennsylvania. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Smith was called to the chair. 
 
 The commiit e, having made some progress in their business, 
 rose, and report d progress, and obtained leave to sit again. 
 
 Adjourned to Monday morning, nine o'clock. 
 
 MoiiD AY f August 5d J 1789. 
 
 The Convention met. 
 The Rev. Mr. Waddel read prayers. 
 
 The Prt-eident having informed the Convention, by messiige, 
 that the m. ancholy event of the death of the Rev. Dr. Griffith, 
 Avhich happened at his house this morning, necessarily detained 
 him at home, the Rev. Dr. Smith was chosen President pro tem- 
 pore. 
 
 Ordered, That the Rev. Dr. Moore, the Rev. Mr. Smith, Mr. 
 Andrews and Mr. Tench Coxe be a committee, for settling the 
 manner in which the Convention shall attend the funeral of the 
 Rev.Dt Griffith. 
 
 The committee, after an adjournment of a few minutes, made 
 the following report : 
 
 Resohed, That the senior clergyman of the deputation of each 
 state, except Virginia, attend the funeral of the Rev. Dr. Grif- 
 fith as a pall-bearer, and that the other members of this conven- 
 tion attend as mourners, and that a sermon be preached on the 
 occasion. 
 
 Resolved, That the clergy of all denominations within this city 
 be invited to attend the funeral. 
 
 This report was agreed to, and the Rev. Dr. Smith was ap- 
 pointed to preach the funeral sermon. 
 
53 
 
 Reiolved^ That the Right Rev. Dr. White, and Mr. Andrews, 
 Lay Deputy from Virginia, be requested to walk as chief mourn- 
 ers, and direct all other matter-, relative to this melancholy event. 
 
 Adjourned to Tuesday, nine o'clock, A. M. 
 
 Tuesday, August 4>th^ 1789. 
 
 The Convention met, and adjourned to the house of their Pre- 
 aident, to attend the funeral of the Rev. Dr. Griffith. 
 
 After the funeral, the Convention assembled, and adjourned to 
 four o'clock, P.M. 
 
 Tuesday, August 4>thy P. M. 
 
 The Convention met. 
 
 On motion, Resolved unanimous lij^ That the thanks of this 
 Convention be given to the Rev. Dr. Smith, for his sermon 
 preached at the funeral of the Rev. Dr. Griffith, and that he be 
 requested to furnish the convention with a copy for publication. 
 
 The convention resolved itself into a committee of the whole, 
 on the application of the clergy of Massachusetts and New Hamp- 
 shire. 
 
 The committee having spent some time on the business, rose, 
 and reported progress, and asked leave to sit again. 
 
 Dr. Claggett having been necessarily obliged to leave the con- 
 vention, the Rev. Mr. Bisset was appointed in his stead, a mem- 
 ber of the committee for preparing a set of canons. 
 
 The order for Monday being called up, it was, on motion, 
 made the order of the day for Wednesday. 
 
 Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Wednesday, August 5th^ 1789. 
 
 The convention met. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Spieren read prayers. 
 
 The order of the day being called up, it was postponed. 
 
 The convention then resolved itself into a committee of the 
 whole, on the application from the clergy of Massachusetts and 
 New Hampshire. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Smith, in order to bring the business before 
 them to a conclusion, offered the following resolves, viz. 
 
 " The committee of the whole, having had under their delibe- 
 rate consideration the application of the clergy of Massachusetts 
 and New Hampshire, for the consecration of the Rev. Edward 
 Bass, as their Bishop, do offer to the convention the following 
 resolves : 
 
 1st. Resolved^ 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 persons of 
 the Right Rev. William White, D. D. Bishop of the Protestant 
 Episcopal church in the state of Pennsylvania ; the Right Rev. 
 Samuel Provost, D. D. Bishop of the said church in the state of 
 New York, and the Right Rev. Samuel Seabujry, D. D. Bishop 
 of the said church in the state of Connecticut. 
 
54 
 
 52d. jResohed, That the said three Bishops are fully competent 
 to every proper act an^i duty of the episcopal office and character 
 in these United States, as well in respect to the consecration 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. 
 
 3d. Resolved^ That in christian charity, as well as of duty, ne- 
 cessity and expediency, the churches represented in this Conven- 
 tion ought to contribute, in every manner in their power, towards 
 supplying the wants, and granting every just and reasonable re- 
 quest of their sister churches in these states ; and, therefore, 
 
 4th. Resolved, 'I'hat the Right Rev. Dr. 'White and the Right 
 Rev. Dr, Provost be, and they hereby are, requested to join 
 with die 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 s.iid 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 ail the churches, 
 previous to such consecration. 
 
 5th. Resolved, I'hat if any difficulty or delicacy, in respect to 
 the Archbishops and Bishops of England, shall remain with the 
 Right Rtrv. Doctors White and Provost, or either of them, con- 
 cerning tiieir tomplii^ince with the above request, this Convention 
 wii! address the Archbisllops and Bishops, and hope thereby to 
 remove the difficulty." 
 
 These resolves were unanimously agreed to, as the report of 
 the committee. 
 
 '^I'he committee, having finished the business committed to them, 
 rose, and reported to the Convention the above resolves. 
 
 Ou motion of the Rev. Dr. Smidi, seconded by Mr. Andrews, 
 this report was unanimously agreed to. 
 
 Ordered, That the different committees appointed by this Con- 
 vention, which have not yet reported, be called upon to report. 
 
 The committee for preparing an address to the Most Revi-rend 
 the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, informed the Conven- 
 tion that they were not yet ready to make a final report. 
 
 The committee for preparing an address to the President of the 
 United States reported, that they had not yet finished the business 
 eommitted to their care. 
 
 Ordered, That Mr. T. Coxe be added to the above committee. 
 The committee on the canons reported certain canons, which 
 were ordered to be read. 
 
 On motion, the Convention r solved themselves into a commit- 
 tee of the whole on the said canons ; the Rev. Mr. Smith m the 
 chair. 
 
 The committee, having made some progress in the business 
 
55 
 
 committed to them, rose and reported, and asked leave to sit agaia 
 to-morrow. 
 
 Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Thursday, August 6th, 1789. 
 
 The Convention met. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Couden read prayers. 
 
 On motion. Resolved, That the Rev. Dr. Magaw, Mr. Tench 
 Coxr and Mr. Jones, be a committee to assist the Secretary in 
 revising and publishing the minutes of the Convention. 
 
 The committee for preparing an address to the President of the 
 United States, presented a draught, which was read, and ordered 
 to He on the table. 
 
 The Convention then resolved themselves into a committee of 
 the whole, on the canons. 
 
 The committee, having spent some time on the business, rose, 
 and reported. 
 
 On motion, Resolved^ That the report of the committee lie on 
 the table. 
 
 The address to the President of the United States was then. 
 read a second time. 
 
 It was afterwards read by paragraphs, and ordered to be en- 
 grossed, for signing. 
 
 Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Friday, August 7th, 1789. 
 
 The Convention met. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Frazer read prayers. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Smith laid before the Convention, " Proposals 
 " for printing, by subscription, a body of sermons upon the most 
 " important branches of practical Christianity, together with an ad- 
 " dress upon the same subject," which hire follow. 
 
 Philadelphia, August 5, 1 789. 
 
 To the Right Reverend and Reverend the Clergy, and the worthy 
 and honourable Lay Members of the Protestant Episcopal Churchy 
 in the states of Nexv Tork, New Jersey, Pentisylvania, Dela- 
 ware, Maryland, Virginia and South Carolina, noxv assembled 
 in General Convention, 
 
 My worthy Friends and Brethren, 
 
 THE Sermons and Discourses whereof the Texts and Titles 
 follow, are the result of the Author's labours, as a Preacher of the 
 blessed Gospel, for near forty years past. Sundry of them, which 
 were composed and delivered on special public occasions, have 
 been already printed, and have passed through several editions, 
 in F^urope as well as America; but the main bodv of them were 
 composed and delivered in the character of a Parish Minister, 
 viz. in the years 1764 and 1765, at Christ Church and St, Peter's 
 
56 
 
 in the city of Philadelphia ; from thence forward to the year 1780, 
 in the churches of the Oxford mission, in the county of Phila- 
 delphia ; and from the latter part of the year 1780, to July 1st, 
 1789, in Chester parish, Kent county, Maryland. 
 
 During the foregoing long period of ministerial service, the 
 author hath frequently been solicited to print or to give manu- 
 script copies of many of the Sermons; and hath, as his leisure 
 would allow, so often indulged some of his too partial friends and 
 hearers in the latter way, that copies of sundry Sermons have been 
 multiplied in manuscript, and circulated in a condition not only 
 very incorrect, but wholly without those last improvements and 
 touches, which the best of them stand much in need of, and which 
 the Author had always designed to bestow on some of them, and 
 bequeath them as a legacy to his surviving friends and hearers, 
 if health and opportunity should permit ; and if that should not 
 be she case, he had directed those few, together with the whole 
 remainder xn the foljowing list, to be suppressed from public view, 
 as hasty and unfinished compositions. 
 
 But the late change in the Author's situation, the resignation 
 of his parochial as well as collegiate charge in the state of Mary- 
 land, and his return to his former station in the college of Phila- 
 delphia (added to the consideration ot his advanced age) rendering 
 it probable that he can never again engage in any stated parochial 
 duty ; the applications of some of his former friends and hearers 
 have been renewed for the publication of sundry of those Ser- 
 mons, which had long since been delivered before them, and of 
 which some of them had been supplied with manuscript copies. 
 
 In some late conversations with judicious and worthy persons, 
 both of the Clergy and Laity, respecting the present state of our 
 churches and people in America, it hath been further suggested, 
 that the cause of religion and truth might be much promoted by 
 the publication of a sufficient number of sermons, or discourses, 
 digested, as nearly as possible, into a system or body of divinity ; 
 comprehending the most useful and important articles of the 
 christian doctrine ; treated of in a scriptural and evangelical way; 
 in an easy, affectionate, and correct style ; suited to the minds 
 and appre] ?.n.v;ons of the young and those of inferior capacity, as 
 well as edifying to those of riper years and more improved un- 
 derstanding ; not running out into learned niceties or debates, to 
 disturb common readers or hearers ; but avoiding all speculative 
 and controversial subjects, or touching upon them only to im- 
 prove them, as far as possible, towards the purposes of practical 
 godliness and vital Christianity. 
 
 Although the author hath not the vanity to imagine that the 
 following Sermons are wholly sufficient to this good design, yet 
 they may lay the foundation of a more perfect work ; and he 
 finds, upon an arrangement of them under proper heads, that, in 
 order to form a tolerably complete system, only a few Sermons 
 would be wanting, and those chiefly upon such speculative anxi 
 
57 
 
 controversial points, as the author hath ever avoided in the pul- 
 pit ; but which (if thought necessary in a work of this kind) 
 might be selected from some of the ablest and most orthodox di- 
 vines of our church. 
 
 Indeed, it may be said that a complete body of sermons and 
 divinity might be selected or compiled in this way; and attempts' 
 of that kind have been made with good effect. But, as every 
 age and country is best pleased with its own forms, compositions 
 and phrases of speech, the author flatters himself, that if it should 
 please God to enable him to finish those sermons in the way he 
 proposes, they will be at least acceptable to those who have de- 
 sired the publication of any of them. He farther trusts, that if 
 his design should meet with that approbation and countenance 
 which he affectionately solicits from the members of the conven- 
 tion, they will be of use to all well disposed christians, snd espe- 
 cially to those of the following descriptions, viz. 
 
 1. To heads of families, who may think it their duty to devote 
 the evenings of the Lord's day to the instruction of their owu 
 households. 
 
 2. To pious and well disposed persons (remote from places of 
 public worship, or unprovided with ministers or pastors - who may 
 wish to collect their neighbours and friends to spend some parts 
 of a Sunday in public worship, and in reading sermons and books 
 of devotion. 
 
 3. To young clergymen and preachers, who, being ill supplied 
 with books, or a variety of sermons on proper subjects, may be 
 assisted in their earlier compositions by the present work ; which, 
 it is proposed to comprise in about four octavo volumes, in the 
 same sized paper and letter as this address ; two volumes to be 
 published yearly, at the rate of one dollar per volume, on the de- 
 livery of the same to the subscribers. 
 
 WILLIAM SMITH. 
 
 On motion of Mr. J. Cox, 
 
 Resolved unanimously. That the members of this convention, 
 being fully persuaded that the interests of religion and practical 
 godliness may be greatly promoted by the publication of a body 
 of sermons, upon the plan proposed above, and being well satis- 
 fied of the author's soundness in the faith, and eminent abilities 
 for such a work, do testify their approbation of the same, and 
 their desire to encourage it, by annexing their names thereto as 
 subscribers. [Here the names are subscribed.] 
 
 The convention then took up the report of the committee of the 
 whole upon the canons, which were read, and engrossed. 
 
 The said canons were then adopted, and ordered to be signed 
 by the President and Secretar>'. They are as follow : 
 
3S 
 
 Canons for the Government of the Protestant Episcopal Church in 
 the United States of America^ agreed on and ratified in the Ge- 
 neral Convention of said churchy held in the city of Philadel- 
 ph'a^ from the 28th daij of July to thv 8th day of August, 1789, 
 inclusive. 
 
 Canon 1. IN this church there shall always be three orders in 
 the ministry, viz. Bishops, Priests and Deacons. 
 
 Canon 2. Every Bishop elect, before his consecration, shall 
 produce to the Bishops, to whom he is presented for that holy 
 offi-e, from the Convention by whom he is elected a Bishop, 
 and from the Genrral Convention or a committee of that body, 
 to be appointed lo act in their recess, certificates respectively, in 
 the following words, viz. 
 
 Testimoiyfrom the Members of the Convejition in the State^ from 
 xvhence the Person is recommended for Consecration. 
 ■ WK, whose names are underwritten, fully sensible how im- 
 portant it is, that the sacred office of a Bishop should not be un- 
 worthily conferred, and firmly persuaded that it is our duty to 
 bear testimony on this solemn occasion without partiality or af- 
 fection, do, in the presence of Almighty God, testify, that A. B. 
 is not, so far as we are informed, justly liable to evil report, ei- 
 ther 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 person- 
 ally known him for three years last past, we do in our conscien- 
 ces believe hiin to be ot such sufficiency in good learning, suct]i 
 soundness in the faith, and of such virtuous and pure manners 
 and godly conversation, that he is apt and meet to exercise the 
 office of a Bishop, to the honour of God, and the edifying of his 
 
 hurch, and to be an wholesome example to the flock of Christ. 
 c ^ ^ 
 
 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 un- 
 ■worthily 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 lar as we are informed, justly liable to evil report, ei- 
 ther for error in religion or for viciousness of life ; and that we 
 do not know or believe there is any impediment 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 three 
 ^ears last past, piously, soberly and honestly. 
 
 Canon 3. Every Bishop in this church shall, as often as may 
 be convenient, visit the churches within his diocese or district, 
 for the purposes of examining the state of his church, inspecting 
 
59 
 
 the behaviour of the clergy, and administering the apostolic rite Of 
 confirmation. 
 
 Canon 4. Deacon's orders shall not be conferred on any person 
 until he shull be tvvenr\-one years old, nor Priest's orders on any 
 one until he shall be twenty-four years old ; and, except on ur- 
 gent 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 satisfact(;rv certificate from som- church, 
 parish or congregation, that he is engaged with them, and that 
 they will receive him as their minister and allow him a reasona- 
 ble support ; or unless he be engaged as a Professor, Tutor, or 
 instructor of youth, in some college, academy, or general semi- 
 nary of learning, duly incorporated; or unless the standing com- 
 mittee 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 Pastor by some one of the va- 
 cant churches in that state. 
 
 Canon 6. Every candidate for holv orders shall be recom- 
 mended to the Bishop by a standing committee of the Convention 
 of the state wherein he resides, which recommendation shall be 
 signed by the names of a majority of the committee, and shall be 
 in the following words : 
 
 WE, whose names are here underwritten, 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, any thing contrary to the 
 doctrine or discipline of the Protestant Episcopal Church. And 
 moreover we think him a person worthy to be admitted to the sa- 
 cred 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 can- 
 didate shall produce testimonials of his good morals and orderly 
 conduct for three years last past, from the minister and vestry of 
 the parisH, where he has resided, or from the vestry alone, if the 
 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 commit- 
 tee, such committee shall be appointed at its next ensuing Conven- 
 tion; and in the mran 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 
 
60 
 
 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 Ember week ; viz. the second Sunday in Lent, the Feast ot 
 Trinity, 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 
 therein, until he shall have exhibited to the vestry of the church, 
 in which he shall offer to officiate, a certificate signed by the Bi- 
 shop of the diocese or district, or, where there is no Bishop, by 
 three Clergymen of the standing committee of the Convention 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 character. 
 Signed by order of the Convention^ 
 
 WILLIAM WHITE, Bishop of the Protes- 
 tant Episcopal Church in the Commonwealth of 
 Pennsylvania, and President of the Convention. 
 Francis Hopkinson, Sec'ry. 
 
 Mr. Andrews moved the following resolve : 
 
 Whereas it appeal's that sundry other canons are necessary for 
 the good government of the church. 
 
 Resolved^ That the Right Rev. Dr. White, the Rev. Dr. Smith, 
 Rev. Dr. Magaw, Rev. Mr. Smith, Mr. Hopkinson, Dr. Clark- 
 son, and Mr. T. Coxe, be a committee, to prepare and report to 
 the next meeting of this Convention, such additional canons, as 
 to them shall seem necessary. 
 
 Which was agreed to. 
 
 The Convention took into consideration the two articles of the 
 constitution which had been postponed, and which they amended 
 and agreed to. 
 
 Ordered^ That the constitution be engrossed, for signing. 
 
 The engrossed address to the President of the United States was 
 read, and signed by the Convention. '' 
 
 Ordered^ Tnat the Right Reverend Dr. Provost, the Rev. Mr. 
 Smith, Mr. Andrews, Mr. John Cox, Mr. Brisbane, the Rev^ 
 Dr. Beach, the Rev. Dr. Moore, Mr. Rogers, the Rev. Mr. 
 Ogden, Rev. Mr. Spieren, the Rev. Mr. Waddel, and the Hon. 
 M. Duane, with such other gentlemen as have been deputed to 
 this Convention, who may be in New York, be requested to pre- 
 sent the same to the President of the United States. 
 
 Resolved, That the said address, with the answer that may be 
 received thereto, be printed in the journals of the adjourned meet- 
 ing of this Convention. , 
 
61 
 
 Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 Saturday, August 8?A, 1789. 
 
 The Convention met. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Bisset read prayers. w^, , 
 
 The engrossed constitution of the Protestant Episcopa Church 
 was then read, and signed by the Convention, and is as follows : 
 
 A General Constitution of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the 
 United States of America. 
 
 Art 1. THERE shall be a General Convention of the Pro- 
 testant Episcopal Church in the United States of America on the 
 first Tuesday of August, in the year of our Lord 1 792, and on ^ 
 the first Tuesday of August in every third year atterwards, m 
 such place as shall be determined by the Convention ; and special 
 meetings may be called at other times, in the manner herealter to 
 be provided for; and this Church, in a majority of the states 
 which shall have adopted this constitution, shall be represented, 
 before they shall proceed to business, except that the representa- 
 tion from two states shall be sufficient to adjourn ; and in all 
 business of the Convention, freedom of debate shall be allowed. 
 
 Art ^ The Church in each state shall be entitled to a repre- 
 sentation of both the Clergy and the Laity, which representation 
 shall consist of one or more deputies, not exceedmg four of each 
 order, chosen by the Convention of the state ; and in all questions, 
 when required by the clerical or lay representation from any state, 
 each order shall have one vote ; and the majority ot suffrages by 
 states shall be conclusive in each order, provided such majority 
 comprehend a majority of the states represented m that order : , 
 The concurrence of both orders shall be necessary to constitute a 
 vote of the Convention. If the Convention of any state should 
 neglect or decline to appoint clerical deputies, or if they should 
 neglect or decline to appoint lay deputies, or if any of those of 
 either order appointed should neglect to attend, or be prevented 
 by sickness or any other accident, such state shall nevertheless 
 be considered as duly represented by such deputy or deputies 
 as may attend, whether lay or clerical. And if, through the ne- 
 glect of the Convention of any of the churches which shall have 
 adopted, or mav hereafter adopt this constitution, no deputies, 
 either lay or clerical, should attend at any general convention, the 
 church in such state shall nevertheless be bound by the acts ot 
 
 such Convention. , i n • .u 
 
 Art. 3. The Bishops of this church, when there shall be three 
 or more, shall, whenever general conventions are held, form a 
 house of revision, and when any proposed act shall have passed 
 in the general convention, the same shall be transmitted to tne 
 house of revision, for their concurrence. And li the same shall 
 be sent back to the Convention, with the negative or non-concur- 
 
62 
 
 fence of the house of revision, it shall be again considered in the 
 General Convention, and if the Convention shall adhere to the said 
 act, by a majority of three-fifths of their bodv, it shall become a 
 law to all intents and purposes, notwithstanding the non-concur- 
 rence of the housf of revision ; 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 dis- 
 approbation, the latter with their reasons in writing, within two 
 days alter the proposed act shall have been 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 afore- 
 said, 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. 
 
 Art. 4. The Bishop or Bishops in every state shall be choseil 
 agreeably to such rules, as shall be fixed by the Convention of 
 that state : And every Bishop of this Church shall confine the 
 exercise of his Episcopal office to his proper diocese or district, 
 unless requested to ordain, or confirm, or perform any other act 
 ot the Episcopal office, by any Church destitute of a Bishop. 
 
 Art. 5. A Protestant Episcopal Church in any of the United 
 States, not now represented, may, at any time hereai'ter, be ad- 
 mitted, on acceding to this constitution. 
 
 Art. 6- In every state, the mode of trying Clergymen shall 
 be instituted by the Convention of the Church therein. At every 
 trial of a Bishop, there shall be one or more of the Episcopal 
 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. 
 
 Art 7. No person shall be admitted to holy orders, until he 
 shall hr.ve been examined by the Bishop, and by two Presbyters, 
 and shall have exhibited such testimonials and other requisites, as 
 the canons, in that case provided, may direct. Nor shall any per- 
 son be ordained, until he shall have subscribed the following de- 
 claration : "I do believe the huiy scriptures of the Old and New 
 *' I'estament to be the word ot God, ana to contain all things ne- 
 *' cessary to salvation: And I do solemnly engage to conform to 
 " the doctrines and worship of the Protestant Episcopal Church 
 " in these United States." No person ordained by a foreign Bi- 
 shop shall be permitted to officiate as a minister of this church, 
 until he shall have complied with the canon or canons in that case 
 provided, and have also subscribed the aforesaid declaration. 
 
 Art. 8. A Book of Common Prayer, Administration of the 
 Sacraments, and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, arti- 
 cles of religion, and a form and manner of making, ordainmg and 
 consecrating Bishops. Priests and Deacons, when established by 
 this or a future General Convention, shall be used in the Protes- 
 tant Episcopal Church in these states, which shall have adopted 
 this Constitution. 
 
63 
 
 Art. 9. This Constitufion shall be unalterable, unless in Ge- 
 neral Convention, by the Church in a majority of the states, which 
 may have adopted the same ; and all alterations shall he first pro- 
 posed in one General Convention, and made known to the seve- 
 ral State Conventions, before they shall be finally agreed to or 
 ratified in the ensuing General Convention. 
 
 In General Convention^ in Christ Churchy Philadelphia^ August 
 the eighth^ one thousand seven Hundred and eighty nine. 
 
 "William White, D. D. Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal 
 Church in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and President of 
 the Convention. 
 
 Neiv York. Abraham Beach, D. D. Assistant Minister of 
 Trinity Church, in the city of New York. 
 
 Benjamin Moore, D. D. Assistant Minister of Trinity Churchy 
 in the city of New York. 
 
 Moses Rogers. 
 
 New Jersey. William Frazer, Rector of St. Michael's Church 
 in Trenton, and St. Andrew's Church, in Amwell. 
 
 Uzal Ogden, Rector of Trinity Church, Newark. 
 
 Henry Waddell, Rector of Shrewsbury and Middletown, New 
 Jersey. 
 
 George H. Spieren, Rector of St. Peter's, Amboy. 
 
 John Cox. 
 
 Samuel Ogden. 
 
 R. Strattell Jones. 
 
 Pennsylvania. Samuel Magaw, D. D. Rector of St. Paul's, 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 Robert Blackwell, D. D. Senior Assistant Minister of Christ 
 Church and St. Peter's, Philadelphia. 
 
 Joseph Pilmore, Rector of the United Churches of Trinity, 
 St. Thomas, and All Saints. 
 
 Joseph G. J. Bend, Assistant Minister of Christ Church and 
 St. Peter's, Philadelphia. 
 
 Francis Hopkinson, 
 
 Gei-ardus Clarkson, 
 
 Tench Coxe. 
 
 Samuel Powel, Esquire. 
 
 Delaxvare. Joseph Couden, A. M. Rector of St. Anne's. 
 
 Stephen Sykes, A. M. Rector of St. Peter's and St. Matthew's^ 
 in Sussex county. 
 
 James Sykes. 
 
 Maryland. William Smith, D. D. a Clerical Delegate for 
 Maryland, appointed in a Convention as Rector of Chester parish, 
 Kent county. 
 
 Colin Ferguson, D. D. Rector of St. Paul's, Kent county. 
 
 John Bissett, A. M. Rector of Shrewsbury Parish, Kent county* 
 
 Richard B. Carmichael. 
 William Frisby. 
 
6-4 
 
 » 
 
 Virginia. Robert Andrews. 
 
 South Carolina. Robert Smith, Rector of St. Philip's Church, 
 Charleston, and Principal of Charleston College, 
 
 William Brisbane. 
 
 W. W. Burrows. 
 
 Proposals for an edition of the Holy Bible, by Mr. Isaac Col- 
 lins, of Trenton, were laid before this Convention, and satisfactory 
 information was given them, as to the proposer's abilities for the 
 execution of the work. 
 
 Whereupon, Resolved^ on motion of Mr. Jones, 
 
 That the members of this Convention will assist Mr. Collins 
 in the procuring of subscriptions. 
 
 The committee for preparing an address to the most Rev. the 
 Archbishops of Canterbury and York, reported an address, which 
 was read and adopted. 
 
 Ordered^ That it be engrossed, for signing, and that it be signed 
 by the members of the Convention, as their address, and by the 
 President officially. 
 
 Ordered^ That it be published in the journal of the adjourned 
 meeting of this Convention. 
 
 On motion, Resolved^ That the Right Rev. Dr. White, Rev. 
 Dr. Smith, Rev. Dr Magaw, Hon. Mr. Hopkinson, Mr. T. 
 Coxe and Mr. Burrows, be a committee to forward the above 
 mentioned address j to prepare and forward the necessary answers 
 to the Rev. Mr. Parker and the Clergy of Massachusetts and New 
 Hampshire, respecting their application for the consecration of 
 the Rev. Edward Bass, their Bishop elect ; to answer, as far as 
 may be necessary, the Right Rev. Dr. Seabury's letters ; to for- 
 ward the minutes and proceedings of this Convention to the 
 English Archbishops and Bishops, and also to the Right Rev. 
 Dr. Seabury, and to the eastern and other churches, not included 
 in this union; to notify to them the time and place to which this 
 Convention shall adjourn, and request their attendance at the same, 
 for the good purposes of union and general government ; and to 
 tall such special meetings of the Convention, as may be necessa- 
 
 Resolved^ That this Convention adjourn, to meet at Philadel- 
 phia, on Tuesday, the 29th of September next, and that the Right 
 'Rev. Dr. Provost be requested to open the Convention with a 
 Sermon. 
 
 Signed by order of the Convention, 
 
 WILLIAM WHITE, Bishop of the Protestant 
 Episcopal Church in the commonwealth of 
 Pennsylvania, and President of the Convention. 
 
 Francis Hopkinson, Secretary. 
 
65 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 ro all Persons to whojn these presents shall covie^ or whom the 
 same shall or may in any -wise or at any time concern^ wf , John, 
 by Divine Providence. Lord Archbishop of Canterbury^ Primate 
 oj all England, and Metropolitan^ send Greeting 
 
 WHEREAS by an act of Parliament passed at Westmin- 
 ster, in the twenty-sixth year of the reign of our sovereign lord 
 George the third. King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, 
 entituled " An act to empower the Archbishop of Canterbury, or 
 " the Archbishop of York, for the time being, to consecrate, to 
 " the office of a Bishop, persons being subjects or citizens of coun- 
 " tries out of his Majesty's dominions," it is enacted, that it shall 
 and may be lawful to and for the Archbishop of Canterbury, or 
 the Archbishop of York, for the time being, together with such 
 other Bishops as they shall call to their assistance, to consecrate 
 persons, being subjects or citizens of countries out ol his Majes- 
 ty's dominions, Bishops, for the purposes aforesaid, without the 
 King's licence for their election, or the royal mandate under the 
 great seal for their confirmation and consecration, and without 
 requiring them to take the oaths of allegiance and supremacy, 
 and the oath of due obedience to the Archbishop for the time be- 
 ing. Provided always, that no persons shall be consecrated Bi- 
 shops in the manner herein provided, until the Archbishop of 
 Canterbury, or the Archbishop of York, for the time being, shall 
 have first applied for and obtained his Majesty's licence, by wai"- 
 rant under his royal signet and sign manual, authorising and em- 
 powering him to perform such consecration, and expressing the 
 name or names of the persons so to be consecrated, nor until the 
 said Archbishop has been fully ascertained of their sufficiency in 
 good learning, of the soundness of their faith, and of the purity 
 of their manners. Provided also, and be it hereby declared, that 
 no person or persons consecrated to the office of a Bishop in the 
 manner aforesaid, nor any person or persons deriving their con- 
 secration from or under any Bishop so consecrated, nor any per- 
 son or persons admitted to the order of Deacon or Priest by any 
 Bishop or Bishops so consecrated, or by the successor or succes- 
 sors of any Bishop or Bishops so consecrated, shall be thereby 
 enabled to exercise his or their respective office or offices within 
 his Majesty's dominions. Provided always, and be it further 
 enacted. That a certificate of such consecration shall be given un- 
 der the hand and seal of the Archbishop who consecrates, contain- 
 ing the name of the person so consecrated, wi^ih the addition, as 
 well of the country whereof he is a subject or citizen, ar. rtf the 
 
 K 
 
6ii 
 
 church in which he is appointed Bishop, and the further descrip- 
 tion of his not having taken the said oaths, being exempted from 
 the obligation of so doing by virtue of this act. — Now know all 
 men by these presents, that we, the said John Lord Archbishop 
 of Canterbury, having obtained his Majesty's licence, by warrant 
 under his royal signet and sign manual, did, in pursuance of the 
 said act of Parliament, on Sunday, the fourth day of February, in 
 the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty- 
 seven, in the Chapel of our palace, at Lambeth, in the county of 
 Surry, admit our beloved in Christ William White, Clerk, D. D. 
 a subject or citizen of the state of Pennsylvania, in North Ame- 
 rica, and Rector of Christ Churcn and St. Peter's, in the city of 
 Philadelphia, in the said state, of whose sufficiency in good 
 learning, soundness in the faith, and purity of manners, we were 
 fully ascertained, into the office of a Bishop of the Protestant Epis- 
 copal Church, in the state of Pennsylvania aforesaid, to which 
 the said William White hath been elected by the Convention for 
 the said state, as appears unto us by due testimony thereof by 
 him produced, and him the said William White did then and 
 there rightly and canonically consecrate a Bishop, according to 
 the manner and form prescribed and used by the church ot Eng- 
 land, his taking the oaths of allegiance, supremacy, and canoni- 
 cal obedience only excepted, he being exempted from the obliga- 
 tion of taking the said oaths by virtue of the above recited act. 
 Provided, that neither he the said Bishop, nor any person or per- 
 sons deriving their consecration from or under him, nor any per- 
 son or persons admitted to the order of Deacon or Priest by him, 
 or his successor or successors, shall be enabled to exercise his or 
 their respective office or offices within his Majesty's dominions. 
 In testimony whereof we have caused our Archi- Episcopal seal" 
 to be affixed to these presents. — Given at Lambeth House, the 
 day and year above written, and in the fourth year of our trans- 
 lation. 
 
 J. (L. S.) CANTUAR. 
 
 We, William Lord Archbishop of York, Charles Lord Bishop 
 of Bath and Wells, and John Lord Bishop of Peterborough, were 
 present and assisting at the consecration within mentioned. 
 
 W. EBOR. 
 
 C. BATH AND WELLS. 
 
 J. PETERBOIIOUG'L 
 
 The signatures of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, 
 and of the Bishops of Bath and Wells, and Peterborough, were 
 made in my presence, February 4th, 1787. 
 
 WM. DICKES, 
 
 (Copy. J Secretary to the Archbishop of Canterbury. 
 
67 
 
 ON Sunday* the fourth day of Februarj', in the year of our 
 Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven, and in the 
 fourth year of the translation of the most Reverend Father in 
 God, John, by Divine Providence, Lord Archbishop of Canter- 
 bury, Primate of all England, and Metropolitan, in the Chapel 
 at the Palace at Lambeth, in the county of Surry, the said most 
 Reverend Father in God, by virtue and authority of a certain li- 
 cence or warrant from his most gracious Majesty, and our sove- 
 reign lord George the Thirds by the grace of God, of Great Bri- 
 tain, France and Ireland* King. Defender of the Faith, and so 
 forth, to him, in this behalf, directed, the most Ueverend Father 
 in God, William, by the same Providence, Lord Archbishop of 
 York, Primate of England, and Metropolitan, and the Right 
 Reverend Fathers in God, Charles, by divine permission, Lord 
 Bishop of Bath and Wells, and John, by divine permission. Lord 
 Bishop of Peterborough, assisting him, consecrated the Reverend 
 William White, Doctor in Divinity, Rector of Christ Church and 
 St. Peter's, in the city of Philadelphia, a subject or citizen of 
 the Li^nited States of North America, and the Reverend Samuel 
 Provost, Doctor in Divinity, Rector of Trinity Church, in the 
 city of New York, a subject or citizen also of the L^nited States 
 of North America, to the office of a Bishop, respective!}', the 
 rites, circumstances and ceremonies anciently used in the Church 
 of England being observed and applied, according to the tenor of 
 an act passed in the twenty-sixth year of the reign of his said Ma- 
 jesty, entituled " An act to empower the Archbishop of Canter- 
 ** bury, or the Archbishop of York, for the time being, to conse> 
 " crate to the office of a Bishop, persons being subjects or citi- 
 *' zens of countries out of his Majesty's dominions," in the pre- 
 sence of me, Robert Jenner, ^Notary Public, one of the Deputy 
 Registers of the province of Canterbury, being then and there 
 present the Reverend and Worshipful William Backhouse, Doc- 
 tor in Divinity, Archdeacon of Canterbury, the Rev. 
 
 Lort, Doctor in Divinity, the Rev. Drake, Doctor in Di- 
 vinity, William Dickes, Esquire, Notary Public, Secretary to 
 his grace the said Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, with many 
 others in great numbers then and there assembled. Which I at- 
 test. 
 
 RT. JENNER, 
 (Copy.) Notarj' Public, Actuary assumed. 
 
 AND we, the underwritten Notaries Public, by royal autho- 
 rity duly admitted and sworn, residing in Doctor's Commons, 
 lyondon, do hereby certify and attest, to all whom it may con- 
 cern, that Rpbert Jenner, whose name is subscribed to the afore- 
 going act, was and is a Notary Public, and one of the Deputy 
 Registers of the province of Canterbury, and that the letters, 
 
68 
 
 nsime and words " Rt. Jenner, Notary Public,'* thereto sub- 
 scribed, were and are of the proper hand writing and subscrip- 
 tion of the said Robert Jenner, and that we saw him sign the 
 same, and that full faith and entire credit is and ought to be 
 given to all the acts, subscriptions and attestations of the said 
 Robert Jenner, as well in judgment as out. In testimony where- 
 of we have hereunto subscribed our names, to serve and avail as 
 occasion may require, at Doctor's Commons, London, this fifth 
 day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven 
 hundred and eighty-seven. Which we attest. 
 
 EDWARD COOPER, Notary Public. 
 (Copy.) WILLIAM ABBOT, Notary Public. 
 
 Note.— TAe letter of consecration of the Right Rev. Dr, Pro- 
 vost will be annexed to the next Journal of the General Convene 
 
 ttoii. 
 
JOURNAL 
 
 OF THE PROCEEDINGS 
 
 OF THB 
 
 BISHOPS, CLERGY AND LAITY, 
 
 OF THE 
 
 PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 
 
 IN THE 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 
 
 IN A 
 
 (g(j)S3^jasr'3Ki©sf 
 
 9 
 
 HELD IN 
 
 The City of Philadelphia, from Tuesday, September 29th, to 
 Friday, October l6th, 1789. 
 
FKEFACE. 
 
 AT a Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the 
 States of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Ma- 
 ryland, Yirginia and §outh Carolina, held in Christ Church, in 
 the city of Philadelphia, from July 28th to August Sth, 1789; 
 upon the consideration of certain communications from the Bishop 
 and Clergy of the church in Connecticut, and from the Clergy in 
 the churches of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, it was re- 
 solved to adjourn to the 29th day of September following, in or- 
 der to meet the said churches, for the purpose of settling articles 
 of union, dJsfipHiie^ ui^i^b^riji^ty pf ^¥orsl?lip1 an^ gjenerai govern- 
 ment among all the churches in the United States. 
 
 The following is a Journal t>f tl\e Proceedings of both Houses, 
 (vi2. of Bishops, and of Clerical and Lay Deputies) in the said 
 adjourned Convention. 
 
JOURNAL, &c. 
 
 Christ Church, Tuesday^ September 29th, 1789, 
 
 THlC Right Rev. Ur. \\^hke, the Rev. Dr. William Smitli, 
 the Rev. Dr. Robert Smith, the Rev. Mr. Bend, Robert An- 
 drews, esquire, and Dr Gerardus Clurkson met at Chnst Church; 
 but, not being a sufficient number to proceed to business. 
 Adjourned until ten o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 ChrisI- Church, Wednesday, September 30th, 1789. 
 
 The Convention met. 
 
 The Right Rev. Dr. White presided, ex officio. 
 The Rev. IMr. Bracken read prayers. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Bracken, clerical deputy from the church n\ 
 Virginia, produced* testimonials of his appointment, which be- 
 ing read, and approved, he took his seat. ^ 
 
 The Right Rrv. Dr. Samuel Seabury, Bishop ot the Protes- 
 tant Episcopal Church in Connecticut, attended, to confer with 
 the Convention, agreeably to the invitation given him, in conse- 
 quence of a resolve passed at their late session : and the Rev. Dr. 
 Samuel Parker, deputy from the churches in Massachusetts and 
 New Hampshire, and the Rev. Mr. Bela Hubbard, and the Rev. 
 Mr. Abraham Jarvis, deputies from the church in Connecticut, 
 produced testimonials of their appointment to confer with the 
 Convention, in consequence of a similar invitation. 
 
 These testimonials were read and deemed satisfactory. 
 The Right Rfv. Dr. Seabury produced his letters of consecra- 
 tion to the holy office of a Bishop in this church, which were read, 
 and ordered to be recorded. [See the Appendix.] 
 
 On motion, Resolved, That the Secretary, the Hon. Francis 
 Hopkinson, esquire, be permitted and requested to appoint an 
 assistant Secretary, who is not a member of this Convention. 
 
 Resolved, That this Convention will, to-morrow, go into a 
 committee of the whole, on the subject of the proposed union 
 with the churches in the states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts 
 and Connecticut, as now represented in Convention. 
 
 Resolved further. That the hours of business in Convention 
 shall be, from nine o'clock in the morning until three in the af- 
 ternoon. Adjourned. 
 
 Christ Church, Thursday, October 1st, 1789. 
 
 The Convention met. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Rowe read prayers. 
 
 • This being ai\ adjourned Convention, testimonials wete only required from 
 new members. 
 
72 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Beach, from New York, the Rev. Mr. Frazer, 
 and James Parker, esquire, from New Jersey, and James Sykes, 
 esquire, from Delaware, took their seats in Convention. 
 
 Mr. Joseph Borden Hopkinson was admitted an assistant Se- 
 cretary. 
 
 Mr. John Rumsey produced credentials as a lay deputy from 
 the state of Maryland, and was admitted to his seat. 
 
 The meeting in Christ Church being found inconvenient to the 
 members, in several respects — 
 
 1 motion, Resolved^ That the Rev. Dr. William Smith and the 
 Hon. Mr. Secretary Hopkinson, be appointed to wait upon his 
 Excellency Thomas Mifflin, esquire, the President of the state, 
 and to request leave for the Convention to hold their meeting in 
 some convenient apartment in the State House. 
 
 The Convention then resolved itself into a committee of the 
 whole, agreeably to the order of the day. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Robert Smith in the chair ; 
 
 And after some time rose, and reported the following resolve, 
 viz : — 
 
 Resolved^ That for the better promotion of an union of this 
 church with the eastern churches, the general Constitution estab- 
 lished at the last session of this Convention is yet open to amend- 
 ments and alterations, by virtue of the powers delegated to this 
 Convention. 
 
 The question being put on this report, and a division called 
 for, it was determined in the affirmative. 
 
 On motion. Resolved^ That a committee be appointed to confer 
 With the deputies from the eastern churches, on the subject of the 
 proposed union with those churches : Whereupon, 
 
 The Rev Dr. William Smith, Rev. Dr. Robert Smith, Rev. 
 Dr. Benjamin Moore, Richard Harrison and Tench Coxe, es- 
 quires, were chosen for this purpose. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. William Smith and Hon. Mr. Hopkinson re- 
 ported, that the President of the state had very politely given per- 
 mission to the Convention to hold their meetings at the State 
 House, in the apartments of the General Assembly, until they 
 shall be wanted for the public service. 
 
 Adjourned, to meet at the State House to-morrow morning. 
 
 State House, in the City of Philadelphia, 
 Friday, October 2d, 1789. 
 
 The Convention met. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Robert Smith read prayers. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. William Smith, from the committee appointed 
 to confer with the deputies from the churches of New Hamp- 
 shire, Massachusetts and Connecticut, concerning a plan of union 
 among all the Protestant Kpiscopal Churches in the United States 
 of America, reported as follows, viz : — 
 
73 
 
 " That they have had a full, free and friendly conference with 
 the deputies of the said churches, who, on behalf of the church 
 in their several states, and by virtue of sufficient authority from 
 them, have signified, that they do not object to the constitution, 
 which was approved at the former session of this Convention, if 
 the third article of that constitution may be so modified, as to de- 
 clare explicidy the right of the Bishops, when sitting in a sepa- 
 rate House, to originate and propose acts for the concurrence of 
 the other House of Convention ; and to negative such acts pro- 
 posed by the other House, as they may disapprove. 
 
 " Your committee, conceiving this alteration to be desirable in 
 itself, as having a tendency to give greater stal^ility to the consti- 
 tution, witliout diminishing any security that is now possessed by 
 the Clergv or laity ; and being sincex-ely impressed with the im- 
 portance of an union to the future prosperity of the church, do 
 therefore recommend to the Convention a compliance with the 
 wishes of their brethren, and that the third article of the consti- 
 tution may be altered accordingly. Upon such alteration being 
 jnade, it is declared by the deputies from the churches in the 
 eastern states, that they will subscribe the Constitution, and be- 
 come members of this General Convention." 
 
 Upon special motion, the above report was read a second time; 
 whereupon the following resolution was proposed, viz : — 
 
 Resolved^ That this Convention do adopt that part of the re- 
 port of the committee, which proposes to modity the third article 
 of the constiiutioi, so as to declare explicitly " the right of the 
 Bishops, when sitting in a separate House, to originate and pro- 
 pose acts tor the concurrence of the other House ot Convention ; 
 and to negative such acts proposed by the other House, as they 
 may disapprove ; provided they are not adhered to by four-fifths 
 of the other House." 
 
 After some debate, the resolution, with the proviso annexed, 
 was agreed upon, and the third article was accordingly modified 
 in the manner following, viz : — 
 
 Art. 3d. The Bishops of this churchy when there shall be three 
 or morey shalU "whenever Gerieral Conventions are held^ form a 
 separate House^ xuith a right to originate and propose acts for 
 the concurrence of the House of Deputies^ composed of Clergy and 
 Laity ; andiohen 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 Converition their approbation or disap- 
 probation^ the latter^ zvith their reasons in ivriting^ within three 
 days after the proposed act shall have been reported to them for 
 concurrence ; and in. failure thereof it shall have the operation 
 of a lazu. But until there shall be three or more Bishops^ as afore- 
 said.^ any Bishop attending a General Converition shall be a mm 
 
74 
 
 her^ ex offcio^ and shall vote tvith the clerical deputies of the state 
 to which he belongs ; and a Bishop shall then preside. 
 
 On motion, Resolved^ 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 proprietj' of investing the 
 House of Bishops with a full negative upon the proceedings of 
 the other House. 
 
 Ordered^ That the general constitution of this church, as now- 
 altered and amended, be laid before the Right Rev. Dr. Seabury, 
 and the deputies from the churches in the eastern states, for their 
 approbatioi\ and assent. 
 
 After a short time, they delivered the following testimony of 
 their assent to the same, viz : 
 
 October 2d, 1789. 
 
 WE do hereby agree to the Constitution of the church, as 
 
 modified this day in Convention. 
 
 Samuel Seabury, D. D. Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Con- 
 necticut. 
 
 Abraham Jarvis, A. M. Rector of Christ"^ 
 
 Church, Middletown, I State of 
 
 Bela Hubiaard, A. M. Rector of Trinity . Connecticut. 
 
 Church, New Haven, J 
 
 Samuel Parker, D. D. Rector of Trinity Church, Boston, and 
 Clerical Deputy for Massachusetts and New Hampshire. 
 
 After subscribing as above, the Right Rev. Bishop Seabury, 
 and the clerical deputies aforesaid, took their seats, as members 
 of the Convention. 
 
 On motion, the Rev. Dr. Parker and Rev. Mr. Jarvis, were 
 added to the committee for revising the canons. Adjourned. 
 
 State House, Saturday^ October od, 1789. 
 
 1"he Convention met. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Ogden read prayers. 
 
 Mr. Charles Goldsborough produced the credentials of- his ap- 
 pointment as a lay deputy from the church in Maryland, and took 
 his seat accordingly. 
 
 The Right Rev. Bishop White informed the Convention, that 
 he had received certain letters from the Right Rev. Bishop Pro- 
 vost, with a request that they may be communicated to the Con- 
 vention ; which were read accordingly. 
 
 On motion, Resolved^ That, agreeably to the constitution of 
 the church, as altered and confirmed, there is now in this Con- 
 vention a separate House of Bishops. 
 
 The Bishops now withdrawing, the President's chair was de- 
 clared vacant ; whereupon the House of Clerical and Lay Depu- 
 ties proceeded to the election of a President by ballot, and the 
 Hey. William Smith, D. D. clerical deputy from Maryland 
 
75 
 
 (Provost of the college of Philadelphia) wa-j duly chosen, anil 
 took the chair accordingly. 
 
 Resolved^ That seats be provided on the right hand of the chair, 
 for the accommodation of the Bishops, when they shall choose to 
 be present at the proceedings and debates of this House. 
 
 Q^ Here ends the Journal of the proceedings of the Convention, 
 as consisting of a Single House. The Journals of the two 
 Houses will now follow, separately; to which will be prefixed 
 the General Ecclesiastical Constitution, as subscribed and en- 
 tered on the Book of Records, which will answer the intention, 
 as well of exhibiting a list of the oMembers of both Houses in 
 Convention, as of defining their separate rights and powers. 
 
 The Constitution of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United 
 ^ States of America. 
 
 Art. 1. TirERE shall be a General Convention ot the Pro- 
 testant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, on the 
 second Tuesday of September, in the year of our Lord 1792, and 
 on the second Tuesday of September in every third year afterwards^ 
 in such place as shall be determined by the Convention ; and special 
 meetings may be called at other times, in the manner hereafter 
 to be provided for ; and this church, in a majority of the states 
 which shall have adopted this constitution, shall be represented, 
 before they shall proceed to business ; except that the representation 
 from two states shall be sufficient to adjourn ; and in all business of 
 the Convention, freedom of debate shall be allowed. 
 
 Art. 2. The church in each state shall be' entitled to a repre- 
 sentation of both the Clergy and the Laity, which representation 
 shall consist of one or more deputies, not exceeding four of each 
 order, chosen by the Convention of the state ; and, in all ques- 
 tions, when required by the Clerical or Lay representation from 
 any state, each order shall have one vote ; and the majority of 
 suffrages by states shall be conclusive in each order, provided 
 such majority comprehend a majority of the states represented in 
 that order: The concurrence of both orders shall be necessary to 
 constitute a vote of the Convention. If the Convention of any 
 state should neglect or decline to apppint clerical deputies, or if 
 they should neglect or decline to appoint lay deputies, or if any 
 of those of either order appointed should neglect to attend, or be 
 prevented by sickness or any other accident, such state shall, ne- 
 vertheless, be considered as duly represented by such deputy or 
 deputies as may attend, whether lay or clerical. And if, through 
 the neglect of the Convention of any of the churches which shall 
 have adopted, or may hereafter adopt, this constitution, no depu- 
 ties, either lay or clerical, should attend at any General Conven- 
 tion ; the church in such state shall nevertheless be bound by the 
 acts of such Convention. 
 
 Art. 3. The Bishops of this church, when there shall be three 
 or mor«", shall, whenever General Conventions are held, form a 
 
separate House, with a right to originate and propose acts, tor 
 the concurrence of the House of Deputies, composed of Clergy 
 and Laity ; and Avhen 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 Con- 
 vention 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 proposed act shall have been 
 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, any Bishop attending a General Con- 
 vention shall be a member, ex qficio, and shall vote with the 
 clerical deputies of the state to which he belongs ; and a Bishop 
 shall then preside. 
 
 Art. 4. The Bishop or Bishops in every state shall be chosen 
 agreeably to such rules as shall be fixed by the Convention of that 
 state : And every Bishop of this church shall confine the exercise 
 of his episcopal office to his proper diocese or district; unless re- 
 quested to ordain, or confirm, or perform anv other act of the 
 episcopal office, by any church destitute of a Bishop. 
 
 Art. 5. A Protestant Episcopal Church in any of the United 
 States, not npw represented, may, at any time hereafter, be ad- 
 mitted, on acceding tp this constitution. 
 
 Art. 6. In every state, the mode of trying clergymen shall be 
 instituted by the Convention of the church therein. At every 
 trial of a Bishop, there shall be one or more of the episcopal or- 
 der present ; and none but a Bishop shall pronounce sentence of 
 deposition or degradation from the ministry on any Clergyman, 
 whether Bishop, or Presbvter, or Deacon. 
 
 Art. 7. No person shall be admitted to holy orders, until he 
 shall have been examined by the Bishop and by two Presbyters, 
 and shall have exhibited such testimonials and other requisites, 
 as the canons, in that case provided, may direct. Nor shall any 
 person be ordained until he shall have subscribed the following 
 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 
 **tothe doctrines and worship of the Protestant Episcopal Church 
 "in these United States." No person ordained by a foreign 
 Sishop shall be permitted to officiate as a Minister of this Church, 
 until he shall have complied with the canon or canons in that case 
 provided, and have also subscribed the aforesaid declaration. 
 
 Art. 8. A book of common prayer, administration of the 
 sacraments, and other rites and ceremonies of the church, articles 
 of religion, and a form and manner of making, ordaining and con- 
 secrating Bishops, Priests and Deacons, when established by this 
 or a future General Convention, shall be used in the Protestant 
 
i i 
 
 Episcopal Church in those states which shall have adopted this 
 constitution. 
 
 Art. 9. This constitution shall be unalterable, unless in General 
 Convention, by the church in a majority of the states, which may 
 have adopted the same : and all alterations shall be first pro|)osed 
 in one General Convention, and made known to the several State 
 Conventions before they shall be finally agreed to, or ratified, in 
 the ensuing General Convention. 
 
 Done in General Convention of the Bishops^ Clergy and Laity of 
 the Church, the second day of October^ 1 789, and ordered to he 
 transcribed into the Book of Records, and subscribed, xuhich rvas 
 done as folloivs, viz. 
 
 In the House of Bishops. 
 
 Samuel Seabury, D. D. Bishop of Connecticut. 
 William White, D. D. Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal 
 Church, Pennsylvania. 
 
 In the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies. 
 
 William Smith, D. D. President of the House of Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies, and Clerical Deputy from Maryland. 
 
 Neru Hampshire and Massachusetts. Samuel Parker, D. D. 
 Rector of Trinity Church, Boston. 
 
 Connecticut. Bela Hubbard, A. M. Rector of Trinity Church, 
 New Haven. 
 
 Abraham Jarvis, A. M. Rector of Christ Church, Middletown. 
 
 >T /v- 7 Ti • • ikif T* T\ *) Assistant Ministers of 
 
 Nero Tork. ISenjamm Moore, JLl. \J. I Trinitv Church citv 
 
 Abraham Beach, D. D. C r xr v i ' ' 
 ' 3 ot JNew York. 
 
 Richard Harrison, Lay Deputy from the state of New York. 
 
 Nerv Jersey. Uzal Ogden, Rector of Trinity Church, New- 
 ark. 
 
 William Frazer, A. M. Rector of St. Michael's Church, 
 Trenton, and St. Andrew's Church, Amwell. 
 
 Samuel Ogdeui 1 j yj n- tVs 
 
 Robert Strettell Jones. j Y V 
 
 Pennsylvania. Samuel Magaw, D. D. Rector of St. Paul's, 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 Robert Blackwell, D. D. Senior Assistant Minister of Christ 
 Church and St. Peter's, Philadelphia. 
 
 Joseph G. J. Bend, Assistant Minister of Christ Church and St. 
 Peters', Philadelphia. 
 
 Joseph Pilmore, Rector of the United Churches of Trinity, St. 
 Thomas's, and All Saints. 
 
78 
 
 Gerardus Clarkson, "^ 
 
 Tench Coxe, f Lay Deputies from the state of Penn- 
 
 Francis Hopkinson, C sylvania. 
 
 Samuel Powell, ^ 
 
 Delaware. Joseph Cowden, A. M. Rector of St. Anne's. 
 Robert Clay, Rector of Emanuel and St. Jamee's Churches. 
 Maryland. John Bisset, A. M. Rector of Shrewsbury Parish, 
 Kent county. 
 
 John Rumsey, *) t -r» 
 
 Charles Goldsborough. 1^^^ Deputies. 
 
 Virginia. John Bracken, Rector of Bruton parish, Williams- 
 burg. 
 
 Robert Andrews, La)^ Deputy. 
 
 South Carolina. Robert Smith, D. D. Rector of St. Philip's 
 Church, Charleston. 
 
 William Smith, 1 Lay Deputies from the State of South 
 
 William Brisbane. J Carolina. 
 
 (Q* Sundry other members attended this Convention at different 
 times of sitting, but were absent on the day of signing the 
 Constitution. See the names occasionally entered on the Jour- 
 nal. 
 
 JOURNAL 
 
 OF THE 
 
 HOUSE OF CLERICAL AND LAY DEPUTIES. 
 
 State Housl, Saturday^ October 3d, 1789. 
 
 THE Bishops having withdrawn, and a President being 
 chosen as aforesaid, the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies 
 proceeded to business, as follows, viz. 
 
 The committee on the canons being called upon, reported pro- 
 gress, and had leave to sit again. 
 
 Resolved, That a committee be appointed to prepare a calendar, 
 and tables of lessons for morning and evening prayer, throughout 
 the year ; also collects, epistles and gospels ; — and Rev. Dr. 
 Parker, Rev. Dr. Moore, Rev. Mr. Bend, Dr. Clarkson and 
 Rev. Mr. Jarvis were chosen for this purpose. 
 
 Resolved, That a committee be appointed to prepare a morning 
 and evening service for the use of the church. — The Rev. Mr. 
 Hubbard, Rev. Dr. Robert Smith, Rev. Dr. Blackwell, Mr. 
 Rumsey and Mr. Andrews were chosen. 
 
Resolved^ That a committee be appointed to prepare a Litany, 
 with occasional prayers and thanksgivings ; and Rev. Dr. Beach, 
 Rev. Mr. Bracken, Rev. Mr. Bisset, Mr. Hopkinson and Mr. 
 Goldsborough were chosen. 
 
 Resolved^ That a committee be appointed, to prepare an order 
 for the administration of the Holy Communion ; — and Rev. Mr. 
 Pilmore, Rev. Mr. Ogden, Col. Ogden, Rev. Mr. Frazer and Mr. 
 Sykes were appointed. 
 
 Adjourned to Monday morning. 
 
 State House, Monday, October 5th^ 1789. 
 
 The House met. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Bisset read prayers. 
 ■ William Smith, Esq. from South Carolina, took his seat in the 
 House. 
 
 The standing committee, appointed at the former session <jf 
 this Convention, made report, as follows : — " That they had for- 
 warded the address to the most Reverend the Archbishops ot 
 Canterbur}^ and York ; and that they prepared and forwarded an- 
 swers to the Reverend Dr. Parker, and the clergy of Massachu- 
 setts and New Hampshire ; that they answered, as far as was 
 necessary, the letters of the Right Reverend Bishop Seabury ; that 
 they notified to the church in the several spates, not included in 
 this union, the time and place to which the Convention had ad- 
 journed, and requested their sending deputies to the same, for the 
 good purposes of union and General Government; and that they 
 inclosed, in each of the communications mentioned in this report, 
 a copy of the minutes and proceedings of this Convention at their 
 last session. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Bisset and the Rev. Mr. Bend were appointed 
 to assist the Secretary in preparing the minutes for the press. 
 
 The committee on the morning and evening service reported 
 a morning service, which was read, and afterwards considered 
 by paragraphs. 
 
 Adjourned. 
 
 State House, Tuesday, October Qth^ 1789. 
 
 The House met. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Bend read prayers. 
 
 The committee on the litany, &c. reported a litany, which was 
 read, and ordered to lie on the table. 
 
 Resolved^ That a committee be appointed, to report in what 
 manner the Psalms should be used ; whereupon the following 
 members were elected, by ballot, for that service : Mr. Andrews, 
 Mr. Hopkinson, Rev. Dr. Moore, Rev. Dr. Parker, and Rev. Dr. 
 Robert Smith. 
 
 The Convention then resumed the consideration of the report 
 on the morning service, and having made farther progress therein, 
 
 Adjourned to Thursday morning. 
 
80 
 
 State House, Thursday^ October Sth, 1789. 
 
 The House met. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Parker read prayers. 
 
 The Reverend Mr- Bloomer, from New York, Mr. Brisbane, 
 from South Carolina, and the Rev. Dr. Magaw, from Pennsylva- 
 nia, took their seats in the House. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Hubbard was chosen Vice President of this 
 House. 
 
 The Convention resumed the consideration of the report on, 
 the morning service, and completed the same. 
 
 Ordered^ That it be transcribed, and authenticated by the Pre- 
 sident and Secretary, and that the Rev. Dr. R. Smith and Mr. An- 
 drews carry it to the House of Bishops for their concurrence. 
 
 Ordered, That the Rev. Dr. Parker and Rev. Mr. Bend, of the 
 committee on the lessons, calendar, &c. carry their report as far 
 as they have prepared it, to the House of Bishops, for their con- 
 sideration. 
 
 Mr. Harrison and Mr. Rumsey obtained leave of absence. 
 
 Adjourned. 
 
 State House, Friday^ October 9th^ 1789- 
 
 The House met. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Magaw read prayers. 
 
 The committee on the morning and evening service reported 
 an evening service, which was read and ordered to lie on the 
 table. 
 
 The committee on the communion service made a report, which 
 was read, and ordered to lie on the table. 
 
 The report on the Litany was then taken up, and some progress 
 made in the consideration thereof, 
 
 Adjourned. 
 
 State House, Saturday, October 10th, 1789. 
 
 The House met. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Frazer read prayers. 
 
 The committee on the calendar, &c. brought in the remainder 
 of their report, which was ordered to be laid before the House of 
 Bishops. 
 
 The House then resumed the consideration of the report on the 
 litany, and completed the same. 
 
 Ordered, That the litany be transcribed, and authenticated by 
 the President and Secretary. 
 
 The proposed tables of -lessons for Sundays and other Holy 
 Days were returned by the House of Bishops, with some amend- 
 ments. 
 
 On motion, the tables of lessons for Sundays and other Holy 
 Days, as amended by the House of Bishops, were re-committed 
 to the committee appointed to prepare them. 
 
81 
 
 The committee appointed to report in what manner the psalms 
 shall be used, made a report, which was read, agreed to, and di- 
 rected to be transmitted to the House of Bishops. 
 
 The evening service was then considered, amended, and or- 
 dered to be transcribed and authenticated ; and the Rev. Dr. 
 Beach and Rev. Mr. Bisset were appointed to carry it to the 
 House of Bishops, for their concurrence. 
 
 The report on the communion service was taken up, and some 
 progress made in the consideration thereof. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Bishops, with 
 their assent to the calendar, the epistles and gospels, and propos- 
 ing certain amendments to the collects laid before them ; which 
 amendments were agreed to. 
 
 Mr. Ogden had leave of absence. 
 
 It having been notified, that the public service of the state of 
 Pennsylvania would require the use of the State house during the 
 present week ; 
 
 Adjourned to meet at Christ Church on Monday morning next. 
 
 Christ Churcu, Monday., October 12?A, 1789. 
 
 The Convention met,' and it being represented that convenient 
 apartments might be had in the College of Philadelphia for the 
 meeting of both Houses of Convention, during the remainder of 
 the present session ; 
 
 Adjourned, to meet at the College immediately. 
 
 College of Philadelphia, Monday^ October 12thy 1789, 
 
 The House met. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Frazer read prayei-s. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Bishops, returning 
 the proposed litany and form of morning prayer, with amend- 
 ments, and proposing a form of public baptism of infants. 
 
 The committee, appointed to consider the amendments of the 
 House of Bishops to the tables of lessons for Sundays, &c. advised 
 a concurrence of this house in the said amendments. 
 
 Resolved^ That this report be agreed to, and that the said ta- 
 bles of lessons be authenticated. 
 
 The House then took up the amendments proposed by th^ 
 House of Bishops to the form of morning prayer and the litany, 
 some of which were adopted, and others non-concurred. 
 
 Ordered., That they be transmited to the House of Bishops, 
 with the determination of this house. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Bishops, proposing 
 a form for the solemnization of matrimony ; also amendments to 
 the report concerning the psalms. These amendments were coa- 
 sidered, some agreed to, and others non-concurred. 
 
 Ordered, That the House of Bishops be informed of the said 
 determinatioR. 
 
 M 
 
82 
 
 A message was received from the House of Bishops, propos- 
 ing an order for the visitation of the sick. 
 
 Resolved^ That^ in future, this house will meet at nine o'clock 
 in the morning, and adjourn at two in the afternoon, to meet 
 again at four. 
 
 Adjourned till to-morrow morning. 
 
 College of Philadelphia, Tuesday ^ October 13/A, 1789. 
 
 The House met. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Beach read prayers. 
 
 The report on the communion service was resumed, considered 
 by paragraphs, and agreed to. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Bishops, proposing 
 a form of burial service, and the order in which the psalter shall 
 be used ; and also requesting a conference with this house on the 
 proposed amendments of the morning prayer and litany. 
 
 It was agreed that this request should be complied with, at five 
 o'clock this afternoon. The Secretary was ordered to inform the 
 House of Bishops of this, and he returned with their concur- 
 rence. Adjourned- 
 
 Four o'clock^ P. M. 
 
 The House met. 
 
 Resolved^ That the intended conference with the House of Bi- 
 shops be deferred to a future time. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Parker and Rev. Dr. Moore, were desired to 
 inform the House of Bishops of this resolution, and returned 
 with the concurrence of that house. 
 
 Six additional collects, reported by the committee on the com- 
 munion service, were considered and agreed to, and with the 
 communion service, ordered to be transcribed, and transmitted 
 to the House of Bishops. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Bishops, proposing 
 the manner and form of setting forth the book of psalms in metre. 
 
 The committee on the litany. Sec. reported certain occasional 
 prayers and thanksgivings, which, with some few amendments, 
 were adopted, and ordered to be transmitted to die House of Bi- 
 shops. 
 
 The Convention then took up the form of public baptism of in- 
 fants, which they amended, and returned to the House of Bishops. 
 
 On motion. Resolved, That the following clause be added to 
 the seventh canon of this church. 
 
 Unless it shall be recommended to the Bishop, by two-thirds 
 of the State Convention to which he belongs, to dispense with the 
 aforesaid requisition, in whole or in part ; which recommenda- 
 tion shall only be for good causes moving thereunto, and shall be 
 in the following words, with the signature of the names of the ma- 
 jority of such Convention :— — " We^ whose names are under-writ- 
 
83 
 
 ** ten^ are of opmion^ that the dispensing with the k7ioxvledge cf 
 *' the Latin and Greek languages (or either of them^ as the case 
 *' mat/ be J in the examination of A.. H.for holy orders^ will be of 
 *^use to the church of xvhich xve are the Convention, in consideration 
 " of other qualifications of the said A. B. for the gospel 7ninistry.''^ 
 The above clause being sent to the House of Bishops, received 
 their concurrence. Adjourned. 
 
 College of Philadelphia, Wednesday, October 14th, 1789. 
 
 The House met. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Parker read prayers. 
 
 The form for the solemnization of matrimony was considered, 
 and amended, and transmitted to the House of Bishops. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Bishops, inform- 
 ing, that they had passed the form of public baptism of infants, 
 with the amendments of this house, and proposing a form for the 
 private baptism of infants, and a form of baptism of those of riper 
 years. Adjourned, 
 
 Four o^clock, P. M. 
 
 The House met. 
 
 The burial service was considered, amended, and transmitted to 
 the House of Bishops. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Bishops, with 
 amendments to the communion service, and with the form for the 
 solemnization of matrimony, which they had passed, as amended 
 by this house. 
 
 The amendments to the communion service were considered, 
 amended, and transmitted to the House of Bishops ; and the ser- 
 vice, thus amended, was, with the six additional collects, assent- 
 ed to, and returned by the said house. Adjourned. 
 
 College of Philadelphia, Thursday, October ISt/ij 1789. 
 
 The House met 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Pilmore read prayers. 
 
 The order in which the psalter shall be read was considered, 
 and agreed to. 
 
 The House then went into a conference with the House of Bi- 
 shops, which continued till two o'clock. Adjourned. 
 
 Four d* clock, P. M. 
 
 The House met. 
 
 The constitution, as copied in the book of records, was read 
 and compared, and, having received an alteration as to the time 
 of the future meetings of the Convention, was signed by both 
 houses of Convention. 
 
 The cammittee on the canons reported certain canons, which, 
 being considered and amended, were ratified, and transmitted t9 
 the House of Bishops. 
 
84 
 
 The House again went into a conference with the House 6f 
 Bishops, in the course of which it was agreed, that the book of 
 common prayer to be set forth by this Convention, shall be in use 
 from the 1st day of October, 1790. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Bishops, proposing 
 a catechism, confirmation, r^' d forms of prayer for famihes, and 
 containing their assent to the burial service, except the first ru- 
 bric ; in their amendment to which this House concurred. 
 
 Dr. Parker obtained leave of absence after to-morrow noon. 
 
 On motion, the Rev. Dr. Blackwell, the Rev. Mr. Ogden, and 
 Rev. Mr. Bisset, were appointed a committee, to report what 
 farther measures are necessary to perpetuate the succession of 
 Bishops in Americiv Adjourned. 
 
 College of Philadelphia, Friday^ October ISt/iy 1789. 
 
 The House met. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Beach read prayers. 
 
 The House of Bishops returned the canons, with*an amend- 
 ment, in which this House concurred ; and they also proposed a 
 title page to the book of common prayer, which was read, and 
 passed. 
 
 The canons now passed, together with those passed at the last 
 session, being collected into one body, and ratified by both Houses, 
 were directed to be entered in the Book of Records, and printed 
 with the Journal of this Convention. 
 
 [See the Appendix.] 
 
 The Reverend Mr. Bend proposed a table of proper psalms for 
 certain days, which was passed and sent to the House of Bishops. 
 
 A preface and table of contents were sent to this House by the 
 House of Bishops, which, with their concurrence, were referred 
 to the committee to be appointed to superintend the publication of 
 the book about to be issued by the Convention. 
 
 Tables for finding the Holy Days, and tables of the moveable 
 and immoveable feasts, which had been proposed by the House 
 of Bishops, were passed. 
 
 The House of Bishops returned the order of evening prayer, 
 with an amendment, to which this House agreed. 
 
 They also transmitted to this House amendments to the occa- 
 sional prayers and thanksgivings, and a form for the churching of 
 women, a form of thanksgiving for the fruits of the earth, addi- 
 tional prayers for the visitation of the sick, and a form of ratifica- 
 tion of the Prayer Book. 
 
 The amendments of the House of Bishops to the occasional 
 Jirayers and thanksgivings were considered, and assented to. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Bishops, with their 
 assent to the table of proper psalms ; and proposing a form of 
 prayer to be used at sea, and a form of prayer for the visitation 
 of prisoners ; also an order for the, communion af the sick. 
 
85 
 
 The manner and form of setting forth the book of psalms in 
 metre was considered, amended, and returned to the House or 
 iJishops. 
 
 The additional prayers for the visitation of the sick were con- 
 sidered, and passed with an amendment, to which the IJousc of 
 Bishops agreed. 
 
 The order for the visitation, and the order for the communion 
 of the sick, were agreed to. 
 
 The form of the ratification of the book of common prayer was 
 agreed to. 
 
 The House of Bishops proposed, for the adoption of this House, 
 articles of religion, which, with the concurrence of the House of 
 Bishops, were referred to a future Convention, 
 
 The form of the visitation of prisoners was then passed. 
 
 The form of thanksgiving for the fruits of the earth was as- 
 sented to ; also the form of prayer to be used at sea. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Bishops, with their 
 assent to the amendments proposed to the manner and form Ox 
 setting forth the book of psalms in metre. 
 
 The order for the administration of baptism of those of riper 
 years was considered, and passed ; also, the form of private bap- 
 tism of infants. 
 
 A message was sent to the House of Bishops, proposing that 
 the Ash Wednesday service, as set forth in the proposed book, 
 should be adopted, instead of the commination formerly used ; to 
 which the House of Bishops assented. 
 
 The confirmation, and the forms of family morning and even- 
 ing prayer, were considered, and adopted. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Bishops, proposing 
 an alteration in the litany, which was sent back, with an amend- 
 ment, in which the House of Bishops concurred. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Bishops, with their 
 assent to the morning prayer^ and the report on the psalms. 
 
 Adjourned. 
 
 Four o'clock, P. M. 
 
 The House met. 
 
 The catechism was considered, amended, and transmitted to the 
 House of Bishops. 
 
 T.>e form for the churching of women was agreed to; and it 
 was resolved, with the concurrence of the House of Bishops, that 
 the thanksgiving in the said form should be inserted among the 
 occasional thanksgivings, and used, at the discretion of the Mi- 
 nister, instead of the whole office. 
 
 Resolved, That the Rev. Dr. William Smith, Rev. Dr. Ma- 
 gaw. Rev. Dr. Blackwell, Mr. Hopkinson, and Mr. Coxe, be a 
 committee, to superintend the printing of the Book of Common 
 Prayer, as set forth by this Convention, and that they advise with 
 any person or persons who shall be appointed by the House of 
 Bishops for the same purpose. 
 
86 
 
 Resolvifd, That the committee appointed to superintend the 
 printing of the Book of Common Prayer, &c. be instructed to have 
 the selections of psalms, set forth by this church, printed imme- 
 diately before the psalter ; and, besides a full and complete edi- 
 tion of the said book, printed in folio or octavo, or in both, to 
 have an edition published, to contain only the parts in general use 
 and the collects of the day, with references to the epistles and 
 gospels. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Bishops, with their 
 assent to the catechism, as amended ; and with information that 
 the Right Reverend Bishop "White consents to advise with the 
 committee appointed by this House to superintend the printing of 
 the Book of Common Prayer, &c. 
 
 Mr. Tench Coxe was elected Treasurer of the Convention. 
 
 The following gentlemen were appointed a standing committee, 
 to act dining the recess of the Convention : The Reverend Dr. 
 "William Smith, ex officio, Reverend Dr. Parker, Reverend Mr. 
 Hubbard, Reverend Dr. Beach, Mr. Harrison, Reverend Mr. 
 Ogden, Mr. Jones, Reverend Dr. Blackwell, Mr. Hopkinson, 
 Reverend Mr. Clay, Mr. Sykes, Reverend Mr. Bisset, Mr. Car- 
 michael. Reverend Mr. Bracken, Mr. Andrews, Reverend Dr. 
 Robert Smith, and Mr. Brisbane. 
 
 Resolved^ That this committee, or a majority of them, have 
 power to recommend to the Bishops the calling of special meet- 
 ings of the Convention,, when they think it necessary. 
 
 Resolved^ That it is the opinion of this House, that the Bishops 
 have a right, when they think it necessary, to call special Con- 
 ventions. 
 
 The committee on the means of perpetuating the Episcopal suc- 
 cession in the "United States of America, made the following re- 
 port, which was read and adopted, viz. 
 
 The committee on the means of perpetuating the Episcopal suc- 
 cession in these United States, are of opinion, — 
 
 That the standing committee, which, agreeably to the constitu- 
 tion, is chosen, as above, to act during the recess of the General 
 Convention, ought, in the name of the Convention, to recommend 
 for consecration any person, who shall appear to them to be duly 
 elected and qualified for the episcopal office : That should any 
 person, elected and qualified as above, be proposed, and should 
 the answer from the English Archbishops be favourable to the in- 
 tended plan of consecrating by the Right Rev. the Bishops Sea- 
 bury, White and Provoost, the committee shall write to the said 
 three Bishops, intimating that it is the will and desire of the Ge- 
 neral Convention, that such consecration should, as soon as con- 
 venient, take place : That should the answer from England be 
 unfavourable, or any obstacle occur, by the death of either of the 
 three Bishops, or otherwise, the said committee shall recomiiiend 
 any Bishop elect to England, for consecration. 
 
 Resolved^ That, with the concurrence of the House of Bishops, 
 the next meeting of the Convention be in the city of New York. 
 
87 
 
 Resolved^ That the Right Rev. Bishop Seabury be requested 
 to preach a sermon at the opening of the next Convention. 
 
 'Signed by order of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, 
 
 WILLIAM SMITH, President. 
 
 Francis Hopkinson, Secretary. 
 
 JOURNAL 
 
 OF 
 
 THE HOUSE OF BISHOPS. 
 
 In Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United 
 States of America^ held at the State House^ in the city of Phi- 
 ladelphia^ on Monday^ the 5th day of October, hi the year of 
 our Lord 1789. 
 
 AFTER divine service in the House of Clerical and Lay De- 
 puties, the House of Bishops met in the committee room of the 
 honorable House of Assembly. 
 
 PRESENT. 
 
 The Right Reverend Samuel Seabury, D. D. and 
 The Right Reverend William White, D. D. 
 
 The folloxving Rules are agreed 07i, and established, for the ga- 
 
 vernme7it of this House, ■ viz. : 
 
 1st. The senior Bishop present shall be the President ; -seniori- 
 ty to be reckoned from the dates of the letters of consecration. 
 
 2d. This House will authenticate its acts by the signing of the 
 names of, at least, the majority of its members. 
 
 3d. There shall be a Secretary to this House. 
 
 In addition to the above, it is now established as a temporary 
 rule, that this House will attend divine service, during the ses- 
 sion, in the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies. 
 
 The Rev. Joseph Clarkson, A. M. is appointed the Secretary 
 of this House. 
 
 This House went into a review of the morning and evening 
 prayer, and prepared some proposals on that subject. 
 
 Adjourned till ten o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 State House, Tuesday, October eth, 17&% 
 
 After divine service, 
 
 Adjourned till nine o'clock on Thursday morning. 
 
88 
 
 State House, Thursday ^ October ^th^ 15^89^ 
 
 Divine service being over,' 
 
 This House went into the consideration of the litany, and of 
 the other parts of the service connected with the morning and 
 evening prayer, and completed their proposals on that subjjct, 
 excepting a few particulars, which they have noted as queries for 
 their further consideration- 
 
 The House then proceeded to the consideration of the col- 
 lects, epistles and gospels ; and from them to the order for the 
 administration of the holy communion; and having prepared their 
 proposals on these parts of the service, 
 
 Adjourned till nine o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 State House, Friday^ October 'ith^ 1789. 
 
 Divine service being over, 
 
 The House went into a review of the service for the public bap- 
 tism of infants, and prepared proposals on that subject. 
 
 The House then received a message from the House of Cleri- 
 cal and Lay Deputies, by the Rev. Dr. Parker, and the Rev. Mr. 
 Bend, informing, that they had prepared tables of lessons for Sun- 
 days, and other holy days, to be laid before this House, which 
 were accordingly presented. 
 
 This House went immediately into the consideration of the 
 above, during which there was received a message from the 
 House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, by the Rev. Dr. Robert 
 Smith and Robert Andrews, Esquire, with information, that they 
 had prepared a form of morning prayer, to be laid before this 
 House ; which was accordingly presented. 
 
 The House then proceeded in their examination of the tables 
 of lessons, and having prepared some amendments of the same, 
 
 Adjourned till nine o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 State House, Scrturday^ October lOthy 1789. 
 
 After divine service. 
 
 The House completed the instrument of amendments of the ta* 
 bles of lessons, and sent the same, by their Secretary, to the 
 House of Clerical and Lay Deputies. 
 
 This House then received a message from the House of Cleri- 
 cal and Lay Deputies, by the Rev. Dr. Parker, and the Rev. 
 Mr. Bend, with information, that they had prepared proposals in 
 regard to the calendar, and in regard to the collects, epistles and 
 gospels ; which were accordingly presented. 
 
 The House then went into the consideration of the proposed 
 form of morning prayer, during which they received a message 
 from the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, by the Rev. Dr. 
 Beach and the Rev. Mr. Bisset, with inforraation, that they liud 
 prepared the litany to be laid before this House ; which was ac- 
 cordingly presented. 
 
89 
 
 ■ITie House then went on with the consideration of the menu 
 ing prayer, when they received another message from the House 
 of Clerical and Lay Deputies^ by the Rev. Dr. Robert Smith 
 and the Rev. Dr, Mooie, with information, that they had pre- 
 pared a selection of psalms ; which was laid before the Jfouse. 
 
 The House, after preparing their amendments of the morning 
 prayer for engrossing, proceeded to the consideration of the pro- 
 posed litany, and prepared their amendments of that service, also, 
 for engrossing. 
 
 They then proceeded to the consideration of the proposed ca- 
 lendar, and having assented to the same, returned it bv their 
 Secretary. 
 
 The House then proceeded to consider the proposals respect- 
 ing the collects, episdes and gospels, and having prepared their 
 amendments, sent them, by their Secretary, to the Ilouse of Cle- 
 rical and Lay Deputies. 
 
 A message was received by the Rev. Dr. Parker, from the 
 House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, rspresenting, that if this 
 House were prepared to originate any parts of the service, it 
 would be agreeable to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies to 
 receive them on Monday morning. 
 
 Accordingly the Secretary is desired to prepare a copy of the 
 proposed form of public baptism of infants. 
 
 The public service re*quiring the use of the room where this 
 House sit, 
 
 Adjourned to the apparatus room of the College, there to meet 
 on Monday morning, at nine o'clock. 
 
 College of Philadelphia, Monday^ October i2fh, 1789. 
 Divine service being over. 
 
 The House of Bishops sent, by their Secretary, to the House 
 of Clerical and Lay Deputies, their amendments of the morning 
 prayer, and of the litany, together with the alterations, originated 
 in this House, of the ministration of the public Ixiptism of infants. 
 This House received a message from the House of Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies, by the Rev. Dr. Parker, informing that they agree 
 to the amendments proposed in regard to the tables of lessons for 
 Sundays, and other holy days, excepting the fourth amendment, 
 on vhich they desire a conference. 
 
 This House withdrew the said fourth amendment, and desired 
 Dr. Parker to report the same to the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies. 
 
 J'his House then prepared alterations of tlie form of scftemni- 
 zation ot matrimony, which were accordingly reported by their 
 Secretary to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies. 
 
 The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies returned to this 
 House, by the Hon. Mr. Hopkinson, their amendments of the 
 morning prayer and litany, with their concurrence in some arti- 
 •■les,and non-e.oncurrenrc in others. 
 
 N 
 
90 
 
 This House prepared alterations of the order for the visitation 
 of the sick, which were accordingly reported to the House of 
 Clerical and Lay Deputies. 
 
 The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies returned to this 
 House the proposed amendments of the selection of psalms, with 
 Jheir concurrence of some articles, and non-concurrence of others. 
 
 Adjourned till to-morrow at nine o'clock. 
 
 College of Philadelphia, Tuesday y October 13tA, l/SQ. 
 
 Divine service being over. 
 
 The House of Bishops proceeded to prepare—the order how 
 the psalter is appointed to be read — the order how the rest of the 
 holy scriptures is appointed to be read — and the order for the burial 
 of the dead — which being prepared, were sent by the Secretary to 
 the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, together with a message, 
 requesting a conference with that House on the amendments of 
 the proposed morning prayer and litany, at such time, and in such 
 manner, as they shall agree upon. 
 
 The House then proceeded to prepare a commination service, 
 &c. when they received a message from the House of Clerical 
 and Lay Deputies, by their Secretary, informing, that, agreeably 
 to the request of this House, they had appointed five o'clock this 
 afternoon for a conference on the proposed morning prayer and 
 litany. 
 
 The room in which the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies 
 meet was mutually agreed on, as most convenient for the business. 
 
 Adjourned till four o'clock this afternoon. 
 
 Four o'clock^ P, M. 
 
 The House of Bishops received a message from the House of 
 Clerical and Lay Deputies, by the Rev. Dr. Parker and the Rev. 
 Dr. Moore, with information, that, if agreeable to this House, 
 the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies would postpone the con- 
 ference, agreed to be held this afternoon, until further communi- 
 cation ; with which this House concurred. 
 
 This House then prepared the form and manner of'setting forth 
 the psalms in metre, and sent the same, by their Secretary, to the 
 House of Clerical and Lay Deputies ; together with the form of 
 commination, &c. and tables of moveable and immoveable feasts, 
 with tables for finding the holy days. 
 
 The House then received a message from the House of Cleri- 
 cal and Lay Deputies, by the Rev. Dr. Beach, with information, 
 that they had to propose prayers and thanksgivings for several oc- 
 casions ; which were accordingly presented. 
 
 Adjourned till nine o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 College of Philadelphia, Wednesday y October \4:thy 1789. 
 Divine service being over, 
 
91 
 
 This House received a message from the House of Clerical 
 and Lay Deputies, by the Rev. Dr. Parker, with amendments of 
 the alterations of the burial service, originated in this House. 
 
 The amtndments being concurred in, the alterations were 
 passed, and returned. 
 
 This House then originated alterations of the services for pri- 
 vate baptism, and for the baptism of adults, and sent the same, by 
 their Secretary, to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies. 
 
 A message from the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, by 
 the Hon. Mr. Hopkinson, was received by this House, which ac- 
 companied amendments of the alterations of the marriage service, 
 originated in this House ; which amendments being concurred in, 
 the alterations were passed, and returned. 
 
 This House received from the House of Clerical and Lay De- 
 puties a proposed communion service, and made amendments. 
 
 Adjourned till four o'clock in the afternoon. 
 
 Four o'clock, P. M. 
 
 The House originated alterations of the catechism — of the or- 
 der of confirmation — and a form of family prayer — and sent them 
 to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, with the amendments 
 of the communion service ; which last were concurred in, except 
 one, which being withdrawn by this House, the service was 
 passed, and returned. 
 
 Adjourned till to-morrow morning, nine o'clock. 
 
 College of Philadelphia, Thursday, October 15th, 1789, 
 
 Divine service being over, 
 
 This House had returned to them from the House of Clerical 
 and Lay Deputies, by the Rev. Dr. Parker, the order how the 
 psalter is appointed to be read, and the order how the rest of the 
 holy scripture is appointed to be read, with amendments ; all of 
 which were concurred in, except one, which was left for the con- 
 ference, into which the house now went, agreeably to a former 
 appointment, and in which they were employed during the morn- 
 ing of this day. 
 
 Adjourned till four o'clock this afternoon- 
 
 Four o'clock, P. M. 
 
 This House originated, and proposed to the House of Clerical 
 and Lay Deputies — alterations of the title page — a form of ratifi- 
 cation of the Book ol Common Prayer — a table of contents — a 
 form or manner of printing the former preface — and those called 
 *' Of the Service of the Church" — and" Of Ceremonies"— these, 
 with the form of thanksgiving of women after child-birth, before 
 prepared — and the amendments of the occasional prayers — were 
 sent by the Secretary to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies^ 
 after which the two houses proceeded in their conference- 
 Adjourned tiH to-morrow morning, aine o'clock. 
 
4^2 
 
 College, Friday^ October iSth, ITSy. 
 
 Divine service being over, 
 
 This House received from the House of Clerical and Lay I)e» 
 pLities, by Dr. Blackwell, canons, as reported by a committee ap- 
 pointed at the former session. 
 
 This House acceded to the Canons proposed, except the amend- 
 ment of one, in consequence of which it was proposed to withdraw 
 the canon, which being acceded to, this House passed the canons. 
 , This House received, by Robert Andrews, Esq. the proposed 
 order for evening prayer, of which they made an amendment, by 
 proposing the insertion of two hymns, as alternatives to the 
 psalms already in the service ; which being agreed to, the order 
 for evening prayer was passed. 
 
 The House received, by the Rev. Mr. Bend, a table of proper 
 psalms ; which was passed. 
 
 The House received, by the Rev. Dr. Beach and Robert An- 
 drews, Esq. the table of contents, and the other initial parts of the 
 book of Common prayer, w ith a proposal, that they should be re- 
 fen-ed to a committee, to sit in the recess of this Convention ; 
 which was agreed to. 
 
 The House received, by the Rev. Mr, Ogden and Rev. Mr* 
 Bend, amendments of the form of ratification of the book of com- 
 mon prayer, and also the form of churching of women, which 
 are to lay over for consideration. 
 
 This House originated, and sent to the House of Clerical and 
 L.:\y Deputies, as follow — a proposed ratification of the thirty- 
 nine articles, with an exception in" regard to the thirty-sixth and 
 thirty-seventh articles— a form for the communion of the sick — a 
 form lor the visitation of prisoners — a form for thanksgiving for 
 the fruits of the earth — and prayers to be inserted in the visitation 
 of the sick. 
 
 The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies returned, by the Rev. 
 Mr. Bend, the j)roposed form of printing the psalms in metre, 
 with hymns, and proposed amendments of the same, which were 
 agreed to, and the whole passed. 
 
 This House received, by the Rev. Mr. Bend, the visitatii)n office 
 and additional prayers, which being concurred in, the whole were 
 passed ; as was also the form of the ratification of the book of com- 
 mon prayer. 
 
 This House received, by Robert Andrews, Esq. the ratification 
 of the articles, with a proposal for postponement, which was agreed 
 to, the proposal for the communion of the sick being first present- 
 ed and passed. 
 
 This House received, by the Rev. Mr. Bisset, a proposal for 
 retaining the service for Ash-Wednesday, as in the proposed book, 
 with one alteration, which was agreed to. 
 
 This Jiouse returned the occasional prayers, passed. 
 
 The House then passed the morning and evening prayer, tlu 
 
93 
 
 litany, the selection of the psalms, and' the orders how the psalter 
 and the rest ol" the holy scripture is appointed to be read. 
 
 Four o'clock, P. M. 
 
 The Houst? received from the House of Clerical and Lay De" 
 puties, amendments of the catechism; which being agreed to, the 
 service was passed. 
 
 This House returned to the House of Clerical and Lay Depu- 
 ties,, the office for the churching of women, and the occasional 
 prayers, the amendments mutually proposed having been agreed 
 to. 
 
 It is understood, that the services originated in this House, and 
 not returned with amendments, have been agreed to. 
 
 'I'his House received from the House of Clerical and Lay De- 
 puties, a message, informing, that they had appointed a comnuttee, 
 to join with any person to be appointed by this House, in setting 
 forth the Book of Common Prayer. In consequence of which, 
 the Right Reverend Bishop White agrees to assist the committee 
 in preparing the book for publication. 
 
 The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies signified to this House, 
 that they were about to adjourn, to meet, the next stated time, in 
 the city of New York, having previously appointed a committee 
 to act, if necessary, in their recess. On which this House ad- 
 journed to the same time and place. 
 
 Signed as the Journal of the Conveiition, the sixteenth daij 
 oj October, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine. 
 
 SAMUEL SEABURY, D. D. Bishop of Con- 
 necticut, President. 
 
 WILLIAM WHITE, D. D. Pennsylvania 
 
 Attested. Joseph Clarkson, Secretary. 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 CAXONS, 
 
 For the Government of the Protestant Episcopal Church iu the 
 United States of America^ agreed on and ratified in the General 
 Convention of said Church, held in the City of Philadelphia, from 
 the 29th day of September to the 16th day ^of October, 1789, in- 
 olusive. 
 
 Canon T. Of the Orders of the Ministers in this Church. 
 
 IN this church there shall always be three orders in the 
 nistry, viz. Bishops, Priests and Deai-ons. 
 
94 
 Canon II. Certificates to be produced on the part of bishops electa 
 
 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, to be appointed 
 to act in their recess, certificates, respectively, in the following 
 words, viz. 
 
 Testimony from the members of the Convention in the state from 
 zvhence the persori is recommended for consecration, 
 
 WE, whose names are underwritten, fully sensible how im- 
 portant it is that the sacred office of a Bishop should not be un- 
 worthily conterred, and firmly persuaded that it is our duty to 
 bear testimony on this solemn occasion without partiality or affec- 
 tion, 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 be- 
 lieve him to be of such sufficiency ingood learning, such sound- 
 ness in the faith, and of such virtuous 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 
 important 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 impediment or notable crime, on ac- 
 count of which he ought not to be consecrated to that holy office, 
 but that he hath, as we believe, led his life, for three years last 
 past, piously, soberly and honestly. 
 
 Canon III. Of Episcopal Visitation, 
 
 Every Bishop in this ch"rch shall, as often as may be conveni- 
 ent, visit the churches within his diocese or district, for the pur- 
 poses of examining the state of his church, inspecting the beha- 
 viour of the clergy, and administering the apostolic right of con- 
 firmation. 
 
95 
 
 Canon IV. Of the age of those rvho are to be ofdained or conte* 
 
 crated. 
 
 Deacon's orders shall not be conferred on any person until he 
 shall be twenty-one years old, nor Priest's orders on any one until 
 he shall be tweniy-four years old ; and, except on urgent occasions, 
 unless he hath been a Deacon one year. — No man shall be conse- 
 crated a Bishop of this church until he shall be thirty years old. 
 
 Canon V. Of the Titles of those xpho are to be ordained. 
 
 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 instructer of youth, 
 in some college, academy, or general 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 Bi- 
 shop their full belief and expectation that he will be received and 
 settled as a Pastor, by some one of the vacant churches in that state. 
 
 Canon VI. The Testimonials to be produced on the part of those 
 ivho are to be ordained. 
 
 Every candidate for holy orders shall be recommended to the 
 Bishop by a standing committee of the convention ot the state 
 wherein he resides, which recommendation shall be signed by the 
 names of a majority of the committee, and shall be in the following 
 words : 
 
 "WE, whose names are here underwritten, testify, that A. B. 
 for the space of three years last past, hath lived piously, soberly 
 and honestly : Nor hath he at any time, as far as we know or be- 
 lieve, written, taught or held, any thing 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 . 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 
 orderly conduct for three years last past, from the minister and 
 vestry of the parish where he has resided, or from the vestry alone, 
 if the parish be vacant ; a publication of his intention to apply for 
 holy orders having been previously made by such minister or ves- 
 try. In every state, in which there is no standing committee, such, 
 committee shall be appointed at its next ensuing Convention ; and 
 in the mean time, every candidate for holy orders shall be recom- 
 mended according to the regulations or usage of the church in each 
 state, and the requisitiotis of the Bishop to whom he applies* 
 
Canon Vll. Oj the leaniing of those who are to be ordained. 
 
 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 Testa- 
 ment in the original Greeks and can give an account ot" his faith 
 in the Latin tongue, either in writing or otherwise, as may be re- 
 quired ; unless it shall be recommended to the IJishop, by two- 
 thirds of the State Convention to which he belongs, to dispense 
 with the aforesaid requisition, in whole or in part; which recom- 
 mendation shall only be for good causes moving thereto, and shall 
 be in the following words, with the signature of the names of the 
 majority of such Convention. 
 
 WK, Avhose names are underwritten, are of opinion, that the 
 dispensing with the knowledge of the liatin and (ireek languages 
 (or of either of them, as the case may be) in the examination of 
 A. B. for noly orders, will be of use to the church of which we 
 are the Convention^ in consideration of other qualifications of the 
 said A. B. for the gospel ministry. 
 
 Can'on Vlll. Of the stated thnes of ordination. 
 
 Agreeably to the practice of the primitive church, the stated 
 times of ordination shall be on the Sundays following the Ember 
 weeks ; viz. the second Sunday in Lent, the Feast of TrinUy, 
 and the Sundays after the Wednesdays following the fourteenth 
 day of September, and the thirteenth of December. 
 
 Canon IX. Of those xvho^ having been ordained by foreign Bi- 
 shopSy settle in this Church, 
 
 No person, not a member of* this church, who shall profess to 
 be episcopally ordained, shall be permitted to officiate therein, 
 until he sliali have exhibited to the vestry of the church, in which 
 he shall oft'er to officiate, a certificate, signed by the Bishop of 
 the diocese or district, or, where there is no Bishop, by ttiree 
 clergymen of the standing committee of the Convention of that 
 state, that his letters of orders are authentic, and given by some 
 Bishop whose authority is ackno\\dedged by this church, and also 
 satisfactory evidence of his moral character. 
 
 Canon X. Of the use of the Book of Common Prayer. 
 
 Every minister shall, before all sermons and lectures, use the 
 hook of common prayer, as the same shall be set forth and estab- 
 lished by the authority of this, or some future General Conven- 
 tion J and until such establishment of an uniform book of common 
 prayer in this church, every minister shall read the book of com- 
 mon prayer directed to be used by the Convention of the church 
 in the state in which he resides ; and no other prayer shall be 
 used besides those contained in the said book. 
 
Canon XI. Of the duty of Ministers^ in regard to Episcopal 
 
 Visitat'ioji, 
 
 It shall be the duty of ministers to prepare children and others 
 for the holy ordinance of confirmation. And on notice being re- 
 ceived from the Bishop of his intention to visit any church, which 
 notice shall be at least one month before the intended visitation, 
 the minister shall be ready to present, for confirmation, those 
 who shall have been previously instructed for the same ; and shall 
 deliver to the Bishop a list of the names of those presented. 
 
 And at every visitation it shall be the duty of the minister, and 
 of the church wardens, to give information to tlie Bishop of the 
 state of the congregation ; under such heads as shall have been 
 committed to them in the notice given as aforesaid. 
 
 And further, the ministers and church wardens of such con- 
 gregations as cannot be conveniently visited in any year, shall 
 bring or send to the Bishop, at the stated meeting of the Con- 
 vention of the diocese or district, information of the state of the 
 congregation, under such heads as shall have been committed to 
 them, at least one month before the meeting of the Convention. 
 
 Canon XII, N'otorious Crimes and Scandals to be censured. 
 
 If any persons within this church offend their brethren by any 
 wickedness of life, such persons shall be repelled from the holy 
 communion, agreeably to the rubric, and may be further pro- 
 ceeded against, to the depriving of them of all privileges of church 
 membership ; according to such rules or process as may be pro- 
 vided, either by the General Convention, or by the Conventions 
 in the different states. 
 
 Canon XIII. Sober Conversation required in Ministers, 
 
 No ecclesiastical persons shall, other than for their honest ne- 
 cessities, resort to taverns, or other places most liable to be abus- 
 ed to licentiousness. Further, the)' shall not give themselves to 
 any base or servile labour, or to drinking or riot, or to the spend- 
 ing of their time idly. And if any offend in the above, they shall 
 be liable to the ecclesiastical censure of admonition, or suspen- 
 sion, or degradation, as the nature of the case may require, and 
 according to such rules or process as may be provided, either by 
 the General Convention, or by the Conventions jIn the different 
 states. 
 
 Canon XIV. Of the due celebration of Sundays. 
 
 All manner of persons within this church shall celebrate and 
 keep the Lord's day, commonly called Sunday, in hearing the 
 word of God read and taught, in private and public prayer, in 
 other exercises of devotion, and in acts of charity, using all godly 
 and sober conversation. 
 
 O 
 
98 
 
 Canon XV. Ministers tQ keep a Register. 
 
 Every minister of this church shall keep a register of baptisms, 
 marriages and funerals within his cure, agreeably to such rules 
 as may be provided by the ecclesiastical authority where his cure 
 lies ; and if none such be provided, then in such a manner, as, 
 in his discretion, he shall think best suited to the uses of such a 
 register. 
 
 And the intention of the register of baptisms is hereby declar- 
 ed to be, as for other good uses, so especially for the proving of 
 the right of church membership of those, who may have been 
 admitted into this church by the holy ordinance of baptism. 
 
 And further, every minister of this church shall, within a rea- 
 sonable time after the publication of this canon, make out and 
 continue a list of all adult persons within his cure ; to remain for 
 the use of his successor, to be continued by him, and by every 
 future minister in the same parish. 
 
 And no minister shall place on the said list the names of any 
 persons, -except of those, who, on due enquiry, he shall find to 
 have been baptised in this church ; or who, having been other- 
 wise baptised, shall have been received into this church, either 
 by the holy rite of confirmation, or by receiving the holy commu- 
 nion, or by some other joint act of the parties and of a minister 
 of this church ; whereby such persons shall have attached them- 
 selves to the same. 
 
 Canqn XVI, A List to be made^ and published^ of the Ministers 
 
 of' this Church, 
 
 The secretary of tlie General Convention shall keep a register 
 of all the clergy of this church whose naines shall be delivered to 
 
 him, in the following manner j that is to say, Kvery Bishop 
 
 of this church, or, where there is no Bishop, the standing com- 
 mittee of that diocese or district, shall, at the time of every Ge- 
 neral Convention, deliver, or cause to be delivered to the secre- 
 tary, a list of the names of all the ministers of this church in their 
 proper diocese or district, annexing the names of their respective 
 cures, or ef their stations in any colleges or other incorporated 
 seminaries of learning, or, in regard to those who have not any 
 cures or such stations, their places of residence only. And the 
 said list shall, from time to time, be published on the Journals 
 of the General Convention. 
 
 And further, it is recon^mended to the several Bishops of this 
 church, and to the several standing committees, that, during the 
 intervals between the meetings of the General Convention, they 
 take such means of notifying the admission of ministers among 
 them, as, in their discretion respectively, they shall think effec- 
 tual to the purpose of preventing ignorant and unwary people 
 from being imposed on, by persons pretending to be authorised 
 ministers of this ichiirch. 
 
99 
 
 €anon XVII. Notice to be given of the Induction and dismission 
 
 of Jlinisters. 
 
 It is hereby required, that on the induction of a minister into 
 any church or parish, the parties shall deliver, or cause to be de- 
 livered to the Bishop, or to the standing committee of the diocese 
 or district, notice of the same in the following form, or to this 
 effect: 
 
 WE, the Church wardens (or in case of an Assistant Minis- 
 ter, we, the Rector and Church wardens) do certify to the Right 
 Rev. (naming the Bishop) that (naming the person) has been du- 
 ly chosen Rector (or Assistant Minister, as the case may be) of 
 (naming the church or churches.) 
 
 AVhlch certificate shall be signed with the names of those who 
 
 certify. 
 
 And if the Bishop, or the standing committee, be satisfied that 
 the person so chosen is a qualified minister of this church, he shall 
 transmit the said certificate to the Secretary of the Convention, 
 who shall record it in a book to be kept by him for that purpose. 
 
 But it the Bishop or the standing committee be not satisfied as 
 above, he or they shall, at the instance of the parties, proceed to 
 enquire into the sufficiency of the person so chosen, according to 
 such rules as may be made in the states respectively, and shall 
 confirm or reject the appointment, as the issue of that enquiry 
 may be. 
 
 Passed October 16, 1789. 
 
 House of Bishops^ 
 SAMUEL SEABURY, Bp. Connecticut, President. 
 WILLIAM WHITE, Pennsylvania. 
 Attested. Joseph Clarkson, Secretary. 
 
 House of Clerical and Lay Deputies^ 
 
 WILLIAM SMITH, President. 
 Attested. Francis Hopkinson, Secretary. 
 
 An Address to the President of the United States^ published agree- 
 ably to the following- order, viz : 
 
 In Convention, August 7 th, 1789, 
 
 The address to the President of the United States being read^ 
 and signed in Convention — 
 
 Resolved, That the said address, with the answer that may be 
 ?eceived thereto, be printed in the Journals of the adjourned 
 meeting of this Convention. 
 
 To the President of the United States* 
 
 Sir, — WEy the Bishops, Clergy and Laity of the Protestant 
 Episcopal Church in the states of New York, New Jersey, Penn- 
 
100 
 
 sylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and South Carolina, iti 
 general Convention assembled, beg leave, with the highest venera- 
 tion and the most animating national considerations, at the eai'li- 
 est moment in our power, to express our cordial joy on your 
 election to the chief magistracy of the United States. 
 
 "When we contemplate the short but eventful history of our na- 
 tion ; when we recollect the series of essential services performed 
 by you in the course of the revolution ; the temperate, yet effi- 
 cient exertion of the mighty powers with which the nature of the 
 contest made it necessary to invest you ; and especially when we 
 remember the voluntaiy and magnanimous relinquishment of 
 those high authorities at the moment of peace ; we anticipate the 
 happiness of our country under your future administration. 
 
 But it was not alone from a successful and virtuous use of those 
 extraordinary powers, that you were called from your honorable 
 retirement, to the first dignities of our government. An affec- 
 tionate" admiration of your private character, the impartiality, the 
 persevering fortitude, and the energ)^ with which your public du- 
 ties have been invariably performed, and the paternal solicitude 
 for the happiness of the American people, together with the wis- 
 dom and consummate knowledge of our aflViirs, manifested in 
 your last military communication, have directed to your name the 
 universal wish, and have produced, for the first time in the his- 
 tory of mankind, an example of unanimous consent in the ap- 
 pointment of the governor of a free and enlightened nation. 
 
 To these considerations, inspiring us with the most pleasing 
 expectations as private citizens, permit us to add, that as the re- 
 presentatives of a numerous and extended church, we most 
 thankfully rejoice in the election of a civil ruler, deservedly be- 
 loved, and eminently distinguished among the friends of genuine 
 religion ; who has happily united a tender regard for oiher 
 churches with an inviolable attachment to his own. 
 
 With unfeigned satisfaction we congratulate you on the estab- 
 lishment of the new constitution of government of the United 
 States, the mild, yet efficient operations of which, we confidently 
 trust, will remove every remaining apprehension of those, with 
 whose opinions it may not entirely coincide, and will confirm the 
 hopes of its numerous friends. Nor do these expectations appear 
 too sanguine, when the moderation, patriotism and wisdom of the 
 honorable members of the federal legislature are duly considered^ 
 From a body thus eminently qualified, harmoniously co-operat- 
 ing with the executive authority in constitutional concert, we con- 
 fidently hope for the restoration of order and of our ancient vir- 
 tues, — the extension of genuine religion, — and the consequent ad- 
 vancement of our respectability abroad, and of our substantial 
 happiness at home. 
 
 We devoutly implore the Supreme Ruler of the Universe to 
 preserve you long in health and prosperity, — an animating exam- 
 ple of all public and private virtues, — the friend and guardian of 
 
101 
 
 a free, enlightened and grateful people, — nnd that you may finally 
 receive the reward which will be given to those, whose lives have 
 been spent in promoting the happiness of mankind. 
 
 William AVhite, D. D. Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal 
 Church in the commonwealth of JPennsylvania, and President of 
 the Convention. 
 
 Samuel Provoost, D. D. Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal 
 Church in the state of New York. 
 
 New Tork. Benjamin Moore, D. D. Assistant Minister of 
 Trinity Church, in the city of New York. 
 
 Abraham Beach, D. D. Assistant Minister of Trinity Church, 
 in the city of New York. 
 
 Nexv Jersey. William Frazer, A. M. Rector of St. Michael's 
 Church, Trenton, and St. Andrew's Church, Amwell. 
 
 Uzal Ogden, Rector of Trinity Church, in Newark. 
 
 Henry Waddel, Rector of the churches in Shrewsbury and 
 Middletown, New Jersey. 
 
 George H. Spieren, Rector of St. Peter's Church, Perth Am- 
 boy. New Jersey. 
 
 John Cox. 
 
 Samuel Ogden. 
 
 Robert Strettell Jones. 
 
 Pennsyhania, Samuel Magaw, D. D. Rector of St. Paul's, 
 and Vice-Provost of the University of Pennsylvania. 
 
 Robert Blackwell, D. D. Senior Assistant Minister of Christ 
 Church and St. Peter's, Philadelphia. 
 
 Joseph Pilmore, Rector of the United Churches of Trinity, St, 
 Thomas's and All Saints. 
 
 Joseph G. J. Bend, Assistant Minister of Christ Church and 
 S,t. Peter's, Philadelphia. 
 
 Francis Hopkinson. 
 
 Gerardus Clarkson. 
 
 Tench Coxe. 
 
 Samuel Powel. 
 
 Delaware, Joseph Couden, A. M. Rector of St. Anne's. 
 
 Stephen Sykes, A. M. Rector of the United Churches of St. 
 Peter's and St. Matthew, in Sussex county. 
 
 James Sykes. 
 
 Maryland, William Smith, D. D. Provost of the Collage and 
 Academy of Philadelphia; and Clerical Deputy for Maryland, as 
 late Rector of Chester parish, in Kent county. 
 
 Thomas John Clagget, Rector of St. Paul's, Prince George 
 county. 
 
 Colin Ferguson, D. D. Rector of St. Paul's, Kent county. 
 
 John Bisset, A. M. Rector of Shrewsbury parish, Kent county. 
 
 William Frisby. 
 
 Richard B. Carmichael. 
 Virginia. Robert Andrews. 
 
102 
 
 South Carolina. Robert Smith, D. i). Rector of St. Philip's 
 Church, Charleston. 
 W. W. Burrows. 
 William Brisbane. 
 
 The President's Answer. 
 
 To the Bishops^ Clergy and Laity of the Protestant Episcopal 
 Churchy in the States of Nexv Tork^ New Jersey^ Pennsylvania^ 
 Dekavare^ 3Iaryland^ Virginia and South Carolina^ in General 
 Conveiition assembled. 
 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 I SINCERELY thank you for your affectionate congratula- 
 tions on my election to the chief magistracy of the United States. 
 
 After having received from my fellow citizens in general the 
 most liberal treatment — after having found them disposed to con- 
 template, in the most flattering point of view, the performance of 
 my military services, and the manner of my retirement at the close 
 of the war — I feel that 1 have a right to console myself, in my 
 pij-esent arduous undertaking, with a hope, that they will still be 
 inclined to put the most favourable construction on the motives 
 which may influence me in my future public transactions. 
 
 The satisfaction arising from the indulgent opinion entertained 
 by the American people, of my conduct, will, I trust, be some se- 
 curity for preventing me from doing any thing, which might just- 
 ly incur the forfeiture of that opinion. And the consideration, 
 that human happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected^ 
 will always continue to prompt me to promote the progress of the 
 former, by inculcating the practice of the latter. 
 
 On this occasion it would ill become me to conceal the joy I 
 have felt in perceiving the fraternal affection, which appears to en- 
 crease every day among the friends of genuine religion. It affordi; 
 edifying prospects indeed, to see christians of different denomina- 
 tions dwell together in more charity,* and conduct themselves, in 
 respect to each other, with a more christian like spirit, than ever 
 they have done in any former age, or in any other nation. 
 
 I receive, with the greatest satisfaction, your congratulations on 
 the establishment of the New Constitution of Government j because 
 I believe its mild, yet efficient, operations will tend to remove 
 every remaining apprehension of those, with whose opinions it 
 may not entirely coincide, as well as to confirm the hopes of its 
 numerous friends; and because the moderation, patriotism and 
 wisdom of the present Federal Legislature seem to promise the 
 restoration of order and our ancient virtues, — the extension of ge- 
 nuine religion — and the consequent advancement of our respecta- 
 bility abroad, and of our substantial happiness at home. 
 
 1 request. Most Reverend and respectable Gentlemen, that you 
 will accept my cordial thanks for your devout supplications to the 
 Supreme Ruler of the Universe in behalf of me. May you, and 
 
103 • 
 
 the ptople whom you represent, be the happy subjects of Divlive 
 Benediction both here and hereafter ! 
 
 GEORGE WASHINGTON. 
 
 Au^^iist 19,1789. 
 
 APPENDIX. No. II. 
 
 An Address to the Moat Reverend the Archbishops oj Canterhinj 
 
 and Tork. 
 
 Most Venerable and iUustrious Fathers and Prelates : 
 
 AV'E, the Bishops, Clergy and Laity of the Protestant Epis- 
 copal Church in the States of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylva- 
 nia, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and South Carolina, impressed 
 with every sentiment of love and veneration, beg leave to embrace 
 this earliest occasion, in General Convention, to offer our warm- 
 est, most sincere and grateful acknowledgements to you, and (by 
 your means) to all the venerable Bishops of the church over which 
 you preside, for the manifold instances of your former condescen- 
 sion to us, and solicitude tor our spiritual welfare. But we are 
 jnore especially called to express our thankfulness, for that par- 
 ticular act of your fatherly goodness, whereby we derive, under 
 you, a pure Episcopacy and succession of the ancient order of 
 Bishops, and are now assembled, through the blessing of God, as 
 a church duly constituted and organized, with the happy prospect 
 before us of a future full and undisturbed exercise of our holy re- 
 ligion, and its extension to the utmost bounds of this continent, 
 under an ecclesiastical coiistitution, aad a form of worship, which 
 we believe to be truly apostolical. 
 
 The growing prospect of this happy diffusion of Christianity, 
 and the assurance we can give you that our churches are spreading 
 and flourishing throughout these United States, we know, will 
 yield you more solid joy, and be considered as a more ample 
 reward of your goodness to us, than all the praises and expressions 
 of gratitude which the tongues of men can bestow. 
 
 It gives us pleasure to assure you, that, during the present sitting 
 of our Convention, the utmost harmony has prevailed through all 
 our deliberations ; that we continue, as heretofore, most sincerely 
 attached to the faith and doctrine of the Church of England; and 
 ^hat not a wish appears to prevail, either among our Clergy or 
 Laity, of ever departing from that church in any essential article. 
 
 The business of most material consequence which hath come 
 before us, at our present meeting, hath been, an application from 
 pur sister churches in the eastern states expressing their earnest 
 desire of a general union of the whole Episcopal Church in the 
 United States, both in doctrine and discipline ; and, as a primary 
 jneans of such union, praying the assistance of our Bishops in the 
 consecration of a Bishop elect for the states of Massachusetts and " 
 New Hampshire. We therefore judge it necessary to accompany — 
 this address with the papers, which have come before us on that 
 very interesting subject, and of the proceedings we have had 
 thereupon, by which you will be enabled to judge concerning the 
 
• 104 
 
 particular delicacy ol our situation, and, probably to relieve us 
 from any difficulties Avhich may be found therein. 
 
 The application from the church in the states of Massachusetts 
 and New Hampshire is in the following words, viz. 
 
 THE good Providence of Almighty God, the fountain of 
 yll goodness, having lately blessed the Protestant Episcopal 
 Churh in the United States of America, by supplying it with a 
 complete and entire ministry, and affording to many of her com- 
 munion the benefit of the labours, advice and government of the 
 successors of the Apostles; ' 
 
 We, Presbyters of said church, in the states of Massachusetts 
 Jind New Hampshire, deeply impressed with the most lively gra- 
 titude 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 preserving his church in the vmity 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 promote, as far as in us lies, 
 a union of the whole Episcopal Church in these states, and to per- 
 fect and compact this mystical body of Christ, do hereby nomi- 
 nate, elect and appoint the Reverend Edward Bass, a Presbyter of 
 said church, and Rector of St. Paul's, in Newburyport, to be our 
 Bishop; and we do promise and engage to receive him as such, when 
 canonically 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 with the apostolic office and powers. This request 
 we are induced to make, from a long acquaintance 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 mo- 
 rals, that prudence and discretion, requisite to so exalted a station, 
 as well as that personal respect and attachment to the communion 
 at large m these states, which will make him a valuable acquisitiqa 
 to the order, and, v/e trust, a rich blessing to the church. 
 
 Done at a meeting of the Presbyters, whose names are un- 
 derwritten, held at Salem, in the county of Essex, and 
 conimonwealth of Massachusetts, the fourth day of June, 
 Anno Salutis 1789. 
 Samuel Parker, Rector of Trinity Church, Boston. 
 T. Fitch Oliver, Rector of St. Michael's Church, Marblehead. 
 
105 
 John Cousens Ogden, Rector of Queen's Chapel, Portsmouth, 
 
 ^ WiSam M^n^tague, Minister of Christ's Church, Boston. 
 liUotson Brunson, Assistant Minister of Christ s Church, 
 
 Boston. 
 
 A true copy. 
 Attest. Samuti Parker. 
 
 At the meeting aforesaid, » . •, j 
 
 Voted, That the Rev. Samuel Parker be authorised and em- 
 powered to transmit copies of the foregoing act, to be by him at- 
 tested, to the Right Reverend the Bishops in Connecticut, New 
 York and Pennsylvania; and that he be appointed our agent, to 
 appear at any convocation to be holden at Pennsylvania 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 interest ot tho 
 said church. EDWARD BASS, Chairman. 
 
 A true copy. 
 Attest. Samuel Parker. 
 
 This was accompanied with a letter from the Rev. Samuel 
 Parker, the worthy Rector of Trinity Church, Boston, to the 
 Right Rev. Bishop White, dated June 21st, 1789, ot which the 
 following is an extract :—" The clergy here have appointed me 
 tbeir agent, to appear at any convocation to be held at INew York 
 or Pennsylvania ; but I fear the situation of my family and pa- 
 xish wiU not admit of my being absent so long as a journey to 
 Philadelphia would take. When I gave you encouragement that 
 I should attend, I was in expectation of having my parish sup- 
 plied by some gentlemen from Nova Scotia; but I am now in- 
 formed they will not be here till some time in August. Having, 
 therefore, no prospect of attending in person at your Ijreneral 
 Convention next month, I am requested to transmit you an at- 
 tested copy of an act of the clergy of this and the state of New 
 Hampshire, electing the Rev. Edward Bass our Bishop, and re- 
 questing the united assistance of the Right Reverend Bishops ot 
 Pennsylvania, New York and Connecticut, to invest him with 
 apostolic powers. This act I have now the honour of enclosing, 
 and hope it will reach you before the meeting of your General 
 Convention in July. 
 
 " The clergy of this state are very desirous of seeing an union 
 of the whole Episcopal Church in the United States take place; 
 and it will remain with our brethren at the southward to say, 
 whether this shall be the case or not ; whether we shall be an 
 united or divided church. Some little difference m government 
 may exist in different states, without affecting the essential points 
 of union and communion." 
 In the like spirit, the Right Rev. Dr. Seabur>', Bishop ot the 
 
106 
 
 church in Connecticut, in his letter to the Rev. Dr. Smith, datea 
 
 3u\v 23d, writes on the subject of union, &c. as followeth. 
 
 " The wish of my heart, and the wish of the clergy and of the 
 church people of this state, would certainly have carried me and 
 some of the clergv to your General Convention, had we conceiv- 
 ed we could have attended with propriety. The necessity of an 
 union of all the churches, and the disadvantages of our present 
 dis-rnion, we feel and lament equally with you ; and I agree 
 with you, that there may be a strong and efficacious union be- 
 ' tween churches, where the usages are different. I see not why 
 it may not l>e so in the present case, as soon as you have removed 
 those obstructions, which, while they remain, must prevent all 
 possibility of uniting. ^The church of Connecticut consists, at 
 present, of nineteen clergymen in full orders, and more than 
 twenty thousand people, they suppose, as respectable as the church 
 in any state in the union." 
 
 After the most serious deliberation upon this important busi- 
 ness, and cordially joining with our brethren of the eastern or 
 New England churches in the desire of union, the following i-e- 
 solves were unanimously adopted in Convention, viz : 
 
 Resolved^ — "1st. That a complete order of Bishops, derived 
 as well under the English as the Scots line of succession, doth 
 now subsist within the United States of America, in the persons 
 of the Right Rev. William White, D. D. Bishop of the Protes- 
 tant Episcopal Church in the state of Pennsylvania ; the Right 
 Rev. Samuel Provoost, D. D. Bishop of the said church in the 
 state ot New York; and the Right Rev. Samuel Seabury, D. D. 
 Bishop of the said church in the state of Connecticut. 
 
 2d. That the said three Bishops are fuUv competent to every 
 proper act and duty -of the episcopal office and character in these 
 United States ; as well in respect to the consecration of other Bi- 
 shops, and the ordering of Priests and Deacons, as for the go- 
 vernment of the church, according to such canons, rules and in- 
 stitutions, as now are, or hereafter may be, duly made and or- 
 dained by the church in that case. 
 
 3d. That in christian charity, as well as of duty, necessitv ajid 
 expediency, the churches represented in this Convention ougiit 
 to contribute, in every manner in their power, towards supply- 
 ing the wants, and granting every just and reasonable request of 
 their sister churches in these states ; and therefore. Resolved, — 
 
 4th, That the Right Rev. Br. 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 conse- 
 cration 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 churthes in the New 
 England states to meet the churches of these states, with the said 
 
107 
 
 three Bishops, m an adjourned Convention, to settle ccr.. n ar- 
 ticles of union and discipline among all the churches, previous to 
 such consecration. , i a i 
 
 5th. That if anv difficulty or delicacy, m respect to the Arch- 
 bishops and Bishops of England, shall remain with the Right Roy. 
 Drs White and Provoost, or either of them, concerning their 
 compliance with the above request, this Convention will address 
 the Archbishops and Bishops, and hope thereby to remove the 
 
 "^^ We hli've now, most venerable Fathers, submitted to your con- 
 sideration whatever relates to this important business ot unior. 
 amouR all our churches in these United States. It vvas our on- 
 oinal and sincere intention to have obtained three Bishops, at 
 least, immediately consecrated by the BVshops ot England, lor 
 the seven states comprehended within our prt^sent union. Hut 
 that intention being frustrated through unforeseen circumstancc^s, 
 we could not wish to deny any present assistance, which may^be 
 found in our power to give to any of our sister churches, in thaf 
 way which may be most acceptable to them, and in itselt legal 
 
 and expedient. ^ r in 
 
 We ardently pray for the continuance of your lavour and bles- 
 sing, and that, as soon as the urgency of other weighty concerns 
 of the church will allow, we may be favoured with that iatherly 
 advice and direction, which to you may appear most lor tae glo- 
 ry of God and the prosperity of our churches, upon tne consider- 
 a'tion of the foregoing documents and papers. 
 
 Done in Convention, this 8th day of August, 1789, and di- 
 rected to be signed by all the members, as the act oi their 
 bod\», and by the President officially. 
 William 'White, D. D. Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal 
 Church in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and President ot 
 
 the Convention. r r,^ • • r-u u 
 
 Abraham Beach, D. D. assistant Minister of 1 nmty Church, 
 
 in the city of New York . 
 
 Benjamin Moore, D. D. assistant Minister of Irinity Church, 
 
 in the citv of New York. 
 
 Moses' Rogers, Lay Deputy from New York. 
 NeiL) Jersey. 
 
 William Frazer, A. M. Rector of St. Michael's Church, in 
 Trenton, and St. Andrew's, in Ainv/ell. 
 
 Uzal Ogden, Rector of Trinity Church, Newark. 
 
 Htnry Waddell, Rector of the Churches ot Shrewsbury and 
 Middleton. 
 
 George n. Spieren, Rector of St. Peter's, .Perth Amboy. 
 
 John Cox, 1 
 
 Samuel Ogden, I Lay Deputies. 
 
 Robert S. Jones, J 
 
 Pfmnsylvania. 
 Samuel Magaw, D. D. Rector of St. Paul's, Philadelphia, 
 Vice Provost of the University. 
 
108 
 
 Robert Blackvell, B.D. senior assistant Minister of Christ 
 Church and St. Peter's, Philadelphia. 
 
 Joseph Pilmore, Rector of the United Churches of Trinity, St. 
 Thomas'ii and All Saints. 
 
 Joseph G. J. Bend, assistant Minister of Christ Church and 
 6t. Peter's, in Philadelphia. 
 
 Gerardus Clarkson, 1 
 
 Tench Coxe, V Lay Deputies. 
 
 Francis Hopkinson, J 
 
 Delaware^ 
 Joseph Covvden, Clerical Deputy. 
 Stephen Sykes, Clerical Deputy. 
 James Sykes, Lay Deputy. 
 
 Maryland, 
 
 "William Smith, D. D. Provost of the College and Academy 
 of Philadelphia, and Clerical Deputy, as late Rector of Chester 
 Parish, Kent county, Maryland. And for 
 
 Thomas John Claggett, D. D. Rector of St. Paul's, Prince 
 George's County. 
 
 Colin Ferguson, D. D. Rector of St. Paul's, Kent County. 
 
 John Bisset, A. M. Rector of Shrewsbury Parish. 
 
 ^ru^"^ 5* •^K^'"''"^''"^' I Lay Deputies. 
 William Fnsby, J 
 
 Virghiia. 
 Robert Andrews, Professor of Mathematics in the College of 
 William and Mary. , 
 
 South Carolina, 
 Robert Smith, D. D. Rector of St. Philip's Church, and Prin- 
 cipal of Charleston College. 
 
 William Brisbane, T y ti^„.,*:^c. 
 •sir-n- T» r^^y iieputies. 
 
 Wilham Burrows, J ^ 
 
 APPENDIX. No in. 
 
 Papers relating to the Scots Episcopacy^ as connected with the 
 English y and the cons£cration of Bishop Seabury, 
 
 Extract from the Register of Archbishop Juxon, in the Library 
 of his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, at Lambeth Pa- 
 lace — FoL2Z7. 
 
 IT appears that James Sharp was consecrated Archbishop of 
 St. Andrew's — Andrew Fairfoull, Archbishop of Glasgow — Ro- 
 bert Lejghton, Bishop of Doublenen (Dunblane) — and James Ha- 
 milton, Bishop of Galloway — on the 15th day of December, 
 J 661, in St. Peter's Church, W^estminster, by Gilbert, Bishop of 
 I^ondon, Commissary to the Ajchbishop of Canterbury; — and 
 
109 
 
 that the Right Rev. George, Bishop of Worcester, John, Bishop 
 of Carlisle, and Hugh, Bishop of Landaff, were present and as- 
 sisting. 
 
 Extracted this Zd day of June ^ 1789, by me, 
 
 William Dickes, Secretary. 
 
 London^ June 3d^ 1 789. 
 THAT the above is a true copy of an extract procured by 
 order of Archbishop Moore, to be sent to Bishop Seabury, in Con- 
 necticut, is attested by us. Bishops of the Scottish Church, now 
 ia this place, on business of importance to the said Church. 
 John Skinner, Bishop. 
 William Abernethy Drummond, Bishop. 
 John Strsechan, Bishop. 
 
 A List of the Consecration and succession of Scots Bishops^ since ■ 
 the Revolution^ 1688, wider William the Thirds as far as the 
 Consecration of Bis no fi Seabury is concerned. 
 
 1693. Feb. 23. Dr. George Hickes, was consecrated Suffragan 
 of Thetiord, ia the Bishop of Peterborough's chapel, in the parish 
 of Enfield, by Dr. William Loyd, Bishop of Norwich, Dr. Fran- 
 cis Turner, Bishop ot Ely, and Dr. Thomas White, Bishop of 
 Peterborough. N. B. Dr. Loyd, Dr. Turner and Dr. White, 
 were three of the English Bishops who were deprived at the re- 
 volution, by the civil power, for not swearing allegiance to Willianx 
 the Third. They were also three of the seven Bishops who had 
 been sent to the Tower, by James the Second, for refusing to 
 order an illegal proclamation to be read in their diocesses. 
 
 1705. Jan. 25. Mr. John Sage, formerly one of the Ministers 
 of Glasgow, and Mr. John Fullarton, formerly Minister of Pais- 
 ley, were consecrated at Edinburgh, by John Paterson, Archbi- 
 shop of Glasgow, Alexander Rose, Bishop of Edinburgh, and 
 Robert Douglas, Bishop of Dunblane. N. B. Archbishop Pa- 
 terson, Bishop Rose and Bishop Douglas, were deprived at the 
 revolution, by the civil power, because they refused to swear alle- 
 giance to William the Third. 
 
 1709. April 28. Mr. John Falconar, Minister at Caimbee, and 
 Mr. Henry Chrystie, Minister at Kinross, were consecrated at 
 Dundee, by Bishop Rose of Edinburgh, Bishop Douglas of Dun-^ 
 blane, and Bishop Sage. 
 
 1711. Aug, 25. The Honourable Archibald Campbel was con- 
 secrated at Dundee, by Bishop Rose of Edinburgh, Bishop Doug- 
 las of Dunblane, and Bishop Falconar. 
 
 1712. Feb, 24. Mr. James Gadderar, formerly Minister at 
 Kilmaurs, was consecrated at London, by Bishop Hickes, Bishoj 
 Falconar, and Bishop Campbel. 
 
 1712. Get. 22. Mr. Arthur Millar, formerly Minister ai 
 Inveresk, and Mr. W illiam Irvine, formerly Minister at Kirk- 
 michael, in Carrict, were consecrated at Edinburgh, by Bishop 
 Rose of Edinburgh, Bishop Fullarton and Bishop Falconar. 
 
110 
 
 AUev the Ijlshop of Edinburgh's death. 
 
 1722. Oct. 7. Mr. Andrew Cant, formerly one of the Ministers 
 of Edinburgh, and IMr. David Freebairn, formerly Minister of 
 Dunning, were consecrated at Edinburgh, by Bishop Fuilarton, 
 Bishojj Millar and Bishop Irvine. 
 
 1722. yunc 4. Dr. Thomas Ilattray of Craighall, was conse- 
 crated at Edinburgh, by Bishop Gadderar, Bishop Millar, and 
 Bishop Cant. 
 
 1727. June 18. Mr. William Dunbar, Minister at Cruden, and 
 Mr. Robert Keith, Presbyter in Edinburgh, were consecrated at 
 Edinburgh, by Bishop Gadderar, Bishop Mdlar and Bishop Rat- 
 tray. N. B. They who were deprived of their parishes at the re- 
 volution are, in this list, called Ministers ; but they .who have 
 not been parish Ministers under the civil establishment are called 
 . Presbyters. 
 
 • 1736. Jime'^A'. Mr. Robert White, Presbyter at Cupar, was 
 consecrated at Carsebank, near Forfar, by Bishop Rattray, Bishop 
 Dunbar and Bishop Keith. 
 
 1741. Sept. .10. Mr. Vfiiliam Falconar, Presbyter at Forress, 
 was cohsecrated at Alloa, in Ciacmannanshire, by Bishop Rattray, 
 Bishop Keidi and Bishop White. 
 
 1742. Oct. 4. Mr. James Rait, Presbyter at Dundee; was con- 
 secrated at Edinburgh, by Bishop Rattray, Bishop Keith and Bi- 
 shop White. 
 
 1743. Aug. 19. Mr. John Alexander, Presbyter at Alloa, in 
 Ciacmannanshire, was consecrated at Edinburgh, by Bishop Keith, 
 Bishop White, Bishop Falconar and Bishop Rait. 
 
 1747. Jitiy 17. Mr. Andrew Gerard, Presbyter in Aberdeen, 
 was consecrated at Cupar, in Fife, by Bishop White, Bishop Fal- 
 conar, Bishop Rait and JSishop Alexander. 
 
 1759. Nov. 1. i^lr. Henry Edgar was consecrated at Cupar, in 
 Fife, by Bishop White, Bishop Falconar, Bishop Rait and Bishop 
 Alexander, as Co-adjutor to Bishop White, then Primus. N. B. 
 Anciently no Bishop in Scotland had the stile of Archbishop, but 
 one of them had a precedency, under the title of. Primus Scotios 
 Episcopus ; And after the revolution they returned to their old 
 stile, whicli they still retain; one ot them being entitled Primus, 
 to whom precedency is allowed, and deference paid in the synod 
 of iMshops. 
 
 1762. June 24. Mr. Robert Forbes was consecrated at Forfeir, 
 by Bishop Falconar, Primus, Bishop Alexander and Bishop Ge- 
 rard. , 
 
 1768, Se/Jt. 21. Mr. Robert Kilgour, Presbyter at Peterhead, 
 ^vas consecrated Bishop of Aberdeen, at Cupar, in File, Jiy Bi- 
 shop Falconar, Primus, Bishop Rait and Bishop Alexander. 
 
 1744. Aug. 24. Mr. Charles Rose, Presbyter at Down, was ■• 
 consecrated Bishop of Dunblane, at Forfar, by Bishop Falconar, 
 Primus, Bishop Rait and Bishop Forbes. 
 
 1776. y'laic 27. Mr. Arthur Petrie, Presbyter at 3IcikelfolIa, 
 
Hi 
 
 was consecrated Bishop Co-adjutor, at Dundee, by Hishop Falco.- 
 nar, Primus, Bishop Rait, Bishop Kilgour and Bishop Rose : And 
 appointed Bishop of Ross and Caithness, July 8th, 1777. N. B. 
 Alter the revolution, the Bishops in Scotland had no particular 
 Diocess, but managed their ecclesiastical affairs in one body, as a 
 college : But, finding inconveniencies in this mode, they took par- 
 ticular diocesses, which, though not exactly according to the limits, 
 of the diocesses under the former legal establisliment, still retain 
 their old names. 
 
 1778. Ang\ \'^ JMr. George Innes, Presbyter ;n Al;erdecn, was 
 consecrated Bishop of Brechen, at Alloa, by Bishop Falconar, 
 Primus, Bishop Rose and Bishop Petrie. 
 
 1782. S-pt. 25 JMr. John Skinner, Presbyter in Abercfeen, was 
 consecrated Bishop Co-adjutor, at Luthermuir, in the diocess of 
 Brechen, by Bishop Kilgour, Primus, Bishop Rose and Bishop 
 Petrie. 
 
 (jt?" ■"^1"'^ foregoing list is taken from an attested copy, in the pos- 
 session of Bishop Seabury. 
 
 1784. Nov. 14. Dr. Samuel Seabury, Presbyter, from the State 
 of Connecticut, in America, was consecrated 'Bishop, at Aberdeen, 
 by Bishop Kilgour, Primus, Bishop Petrie and Bishop Skinner,— 
 as by the deed of consecration, as follows, viz. 
 
 IN DEI NOMINE. Amen. 
 
 Omnibus xihiqiie Catholicis per Present cs pateat, 
 
 NOS, Robertum Kilgour, miseratione divina, Episcopum 
 Aberdonien — Arthurum Petrie, Episcopum Rossen et Moravien 
 — et Joannem Skinner, Episcopum Coadjutorem; Mysteria Sacra 
 Domini nostri Jesu Christi in Oi-atorio supradicti Joannis Skin- 
 ner apud Aberdoniam celebrantes, Divini Numinis Pritsidio fretos 
 (presentibus tarn e Clero, quam e Populo testibus idoneis) Saiiniel- 
 ■ em S.-abury, Doctorem Divinitatis, sacro Presbyteratus ordine 
 jam decoratum, ac nobis pra^ Vita; integritate, Morum probitatc 
 et Orthodoxia, commendatum, et ad docendum et'regendum apt- 
 um et idonium, ad sacrum et sublimem Episcopatus Ordinem 
 promovisse, et rite ac canonice, secundum Morem et Ritus Ec- 
 clesia; Scoticante, consecrasse, Die Novembris decimo quarto, 
 Anno Mvx Christians Millesimo Septingentisimo Octagcsimo 
 Quarto.—-— 
 
 In cujus Rei Testimonium, Instrumento huic (chirographis 
 nostis prius munito) Sigilla nostra apponi mandavimus. 
 Robertus Kilgour, Episcopus, et Primus. (L. S.) 
 Arthurus Petrie, Episcopus. (L. S.) 
 
 Joannes Skinner, Episcopus. (I< S.) 
 
JOURNAL 
 
 OF THE PROCEEDINGS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 BISHOPS, CLERGY AND LAITY. 
 
 <WTHE 
 
 PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 
 
 IN THE 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 
 
 IN A 
 
 (S(DS5'^asj^a(i)sr 
 
 9 
 
 HELD IN 
 
 The City oi New York, from Tuesday, September 11th, to 
 Wednesday, September 19th, 1792. 
 
*i^ THE MEMBi. 
 
 OF THK 
 
 HOUSE OF CLERICAL AND LAY DEPU 1 1^; 
 
 Fi'om the State of Hhock Island, 
 Rev. John Bowden, 
 Samuel Marsh, Esquire. 
 
 Fro?7i the State of Connecticut. 
 Rev. Abraham Jarvis, D. D. 
 Philip Nichols, Esquire, 
 Thomas Belden, Esquire. 
 
 From the State of Mem Turk. 
 Rev. Benjamin Moore, D. D. 
 Rev. Abraham Beach, D. D. 
 Ifcev. ThemasL. Moore, 
 Rev. Richsb'd G. Mbote, 
 Aquila Giles, Esquire, 
 Dr. Samuel Martift. 
 
 From the Statie ofNeiv ^erseig. 
 Rev. Uzal Ogden, 
 Rev^. WiirmiiA l^^raZef^ 
 Rev. Henry Waddell, 
 Mon. Robert Morris-, Esquire, 
 Coloriel Samuel Ogden, 
 John De Hart, Esquire. 
 
 From the Statd of Pennsylvania. 
 Rev. Willia?tt Smith, D. D. 
 Rev. Samuel Magaw, D. D. 
 Rev. Joseph Pilmore, 
 Bev. Elisha Rigg, 
 John Campbell, Esq\jir-e. 
 
 From the State of DelaufOre* 
 Rev. John Bisset. 
 
 From th€ State of Maryland ■ 
 Rev John Bowie, D. D. 
 Kev. Joseph G. J. Bend, 
 Rev. John Gokmafl, 
 Colonel John WeemS, 
 Major James Lloyd, 
 Dr. John Hindman, 
 Mr. James Howard. 
 
 Froth the Stdte of Virginia, 
 Rev. Samuel S. M'Croskey, 
 Robert Andrews, Esquire. 
 
 From the State of South Carolina* 
 Bev. Thomas Frost, 
 
JOURNAL, &c. 
 
 New York, Tuesday^ September lUh^ 1792. 
 
 CLERICAL and Lay Deputies from the churches in seve- 
 ral of the states assembled in Trinity Church, at 10 o'clock, A. 
 M. and, after prayers read by the Rev. Thomas L. Moore, judg- 
 ing it proper to wait for the arrival of the Deputies from other 
 churches ; 
 
 Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Wednesday^ 10 o^clocky A. M. 
 
 The members met and attended divine service performed by 
 the Right Rev. Dr. Madison and Rev. Dr. Magaw, and ja serf 
 mon preached by the Right Rev. Dr. Seabury. 
 
 After the congregation was dismissed, the members assembled, 
 
 the Rev, Dr. Smith, the President of the last Cpnv.eijtion, in.tlje 
 
 chair. ■ ., ,f';''> > ■ •; •- 
 
 The Rev. John Bisset was appointed Secretary pro tempore, ' 
 
 The members proceeded to choose by ballot, a President of the 
 
 house : and the Rev. Dr. William Smith was elected. 
 
 They then proceeded to choose a secretary by ballot; and the 
 Rev. John Bisset was elected. 
 
 Retsohed^ That the Rev Dr. Beach, Rev* Mr. Ogden, and 
 Major Lloyd, be a committee to examine the credentials of the 
 members, and report thereon. 
 
 Resolved, That the Rev. Dr. Moore, Mr. Andrews, Rev. Mr. 
 Frazer, Mr. Campbell and Mr. Marsh be a committee to report 
 rules of order. 
 
 Resolved unanimously,, That the thanks of this house be giveti 
 to the Right Rev. Dr. Seabury, for his sermon delivered this day 
 in Trinity Church, and that the Rev. Dr. Beach and Robert An- 
 drews, Esquire, be appointed to prt- sent the thanks of this house, 
 and to request a copy of the sermon for publication. 
 
 Ordered, That the Rev. Dr. Beach inform the house of Bi- 
 shops, that this house is now organized, and ready to proceed to 
 business, and to receive any communications from them, and tp 
 propose 1 o'clock A. M. as the stated hour of meeting. 
 
 The Bishops informed the house by their Secretary, that they 
 agree to the hour of ten as the time of meeting. 
 Adjourned to ten o clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Jhursd<iy^ 10 o'clock A. M. 
 
 The Rev. John Bisset read prayers. 
 
 Ordered, That the Rev. Mr. Ogden inform the Bishops, thai 
 seats are prepared for their accommodation on the right hand of 
 the chair, whenever they may choose to be present at the debates 
 of the house. »' 
 
115 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Beach, from the committee on the credentials ol 
 •the members, brought in a report which was read and concurred 
 
 with. , r • 
 
 Resolved, That no person shall be capable of actmg as a mem- 
 ber of the house of deputies, under the deputation of more than 
 
 one convention. -r , ti- i. l j 
 
 In consequence of this resolve, the Rev. John Bisset, who had 
 been reported as elected by the churches in Maryland and Dela- 
 ware, took his seat as representative of the church of Delaware. 
 
 The Rev. John Bowden and Samuel IVIarsh, Esquire, two of 
 the deputies from the church in Connecticut, having produced a 
 testimonial of their appointment by the church in Rhode Island, 
 took their seats as representatives of that church. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Moore, from the committee for frammg rules ot 
 order, brought in a report. 
 
 Ordered, That it be read. 
 
 Ordered, That it be read a second time, and considered by pa- 
 ragraphs. 
 
 Accordingly it was read and considered ; and the following 
 rules Avere adopted and ratified : — 
 
 I. The business of every day shall be introduced by prayers. 
 
 II. When the President takes the chavr, no member shall con- 
 tinue standing, or shall afterwards stand up, unless to address the 
 
 ohair. 
 
 III. No member shall absent himself from the service of the 
 convention, unless he have leave, or be unable to attend. 
 
 IV. When any member is about to speak in debate, or deliver 
 any matter to the Convention, he shall rise from his seat, and, 
 without advancing, shall with due respect address himself to the 
 President, confining himself strictly to the point in debate. 
 
 V. No member shall speak more than twice in the same de- 
 bate, without leave of the House. 
 
 VI. A question being once determined, shall stand as the judg- 
 ment of the Convention, and shall not be again drawn into debate 
 during the same session. 
 
 VII. While the President is putting any question, no one shall 
 hold private discourse, stand up, walk into, out of, or across the 
 house, or read any book. 
 
 VIII. Every member who shall be in the Convention when any 
 question is put, shall, on a division, be counted, unless he be 
 particularly interested in the decision. 
 
 IX. No motion shall be considered as before the House unless 
 It be seconded, and reduced to writing, when required, 
 
 X. When any question is before the Convention, it^shall be de- 
 termined on before any thing new is introduced, except the 
 question for adjournment. 
 
 XI. The question on a motion for adjournment shall be taken 
 before any other, and without debate. 
 
 XII. When the Convention is to rise, every member shall keep 
 his seat unti the President leave the chair. 
 
The Rev. Pr. Magavv ol^tained leave of absence till Saturday 
 iTiorning. 
 
 Resolved, That the house now go into a committee of the whole 
 on the state of the church ; Rev. Dr. Moore in the chair. 
 
 The committee rose and reported progress, and asked leave to 
 sit again. 
 
 Adjourned to ten o*clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Friday, 10 o'clock, A. M. 
 
 The Rev. Uzal Ogden read prayers. 
 
 It appearing to the Convention, that the church in the state of 
 Rhode Island had not acceded to the constitution, but that the de- 
 puties from the church in Connecticut were vested by the said 
 church in Rhode Island with full powers to act in all things oja 
 their behalf ; 
 
 Resolved, That the Deputies from the church in Connecticut 
 are authorized to accede to the constitution of the Protestant Epis- 
 copal Church in the United States of America, in the name and 
 behalf of the church in the state of Rhode Island. 
 
 Accordingly, the Clerical and Lay Deputies from the church ia 
 Connecticut, subscribed the constitution in the name of the churcb 
 in Rhode Island. 
 
 Satisfactory documents having been laid before the convention, 
 of the appointment of the Rev. Thomas J. Claggett, D. D. to the 
 office of Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the state of 
 Maryland, and also a testimony of the convention of the church 
 in that state, in the form prescribed by the canon ; 
 
 Resolved, That this house do now proceed to sign the testi- 
 mony in such cases required from the General Convention. 
 
 Accordingly, the said testimony was signed by all the members, 
 and delivered to the Deputies from the church in Maryland, .to 
 be presented to the Rev. Dr. Claggett. 
 
 Resolved, That the Rev. Dr. Moore and Colonel Giles, be a 
 committee, to request of the Mayor and Aldermen of New York, 
 rhe use of two apartments in the City Hall, for the accommoda- 
 tion of the Convention. 
 
 The house again resolved itself into a committee of the whole, 
 on the state of the church. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Moore, frum the committee of the v-^hole, re- 
 ported, that a motion for ratifying the proposed amendment of 
 the constitution,, by which the House of Bishops would be invest- 
 td with a negative upon the proceedings of the other house, was 
 negatived. 
 
 The Rev, Mr. Waddell obtained leave of absence for to-morrow. 
 Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Saturday, 10 o'clock, A. M, 
 
 The Rev. Joseph J*ijmgre read prayeri?. 
 
117 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Moore reported, that the Mayor and Aldermci* 
 ftad granted the use of two apartments in the City Hall lor the 
 accommodation of the two Houses of Convention. 
 
 I'he house adjourned to the City Hall. 
 
 Ordered, That Major Lloyd inform the House of Bishops, that 
 this house request a conference with them on the general state of 
 the church, and propose that the Bishops appoint the time and 
 place for holding such conference. 
 
 The Rev. Richard C. Moore obtained leave of absence till 
 Monday morning. 
 
 Jt was moved to concur with the resolve of the committee of 
 the whole, on the question respecting the bishops' negative. 
 
 The previous question was then moved — Shall the motion for 
 concurrence be now put, and determined in the negative. 
 
 On motion, Resolved, That it be made known to the several 
 state conventions, that it is proposed to consiidef 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. 
 
 The house received from the house of bishops, alterations of 
 the office of consecrating bishops, and information that they agreed 
 to enter immediately into conference with the Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies in their house. 
 
 The house went into conference with the house of bishops. 
 
 After the conference, in which the expediency of considering 
 the articles of religion at this time was discussed, 
 
 Resolved^ That, as the churches 4n some of the states are not 
 represented in this Convention, and others only partially, the con- 
 sideration of the articles of religion be postponed until the next 
 General Convention. 
 
 The office of consecration, as altered by the house of bishop&, 
 was taken up and read. 
 
 It was read a second time, and considered by paragraphs. 
 
 Resolved, That it be agreed to and passed. 
 
 The house received information from the house of bishops, that 
 they had examined and approved the testimonials of the Rev. Dr. 
 Claggttt, bishop elect of the church in Maryland ; and that they 
 had appointed half after ten o'clock on Monday morning, as the 
 time for his consecration. 
 
 Adjourned to nine o'clock on Monday morning. 
 
 Monday^ 9 o'clock, A. M. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Smith read prayers. 
 
 The house adjourned to attend divine service in Trinity Church, 
 on occasion of the consecration of the Rev. Dr. Claggett, bishop 
 elect of the church in Maryland. 
 
 After divine service the house met. 
 
 Resolved wianimoiishf^ That the thanks of this house be givew- 
 
118 
 
 to the Rev. Dr. Smith, for his sermon delivered this day in Tri^ 
 nity church, and that he be requested to furnish a copy of the same 
 for publication. 
 
 Resolved, That a message be sent to the House of Bishops, re- 
 questing a conference with them at half after nine o* clock to-mor- 
 row. 
 
 This message was carried by Major Lloyd, who returned and 
 informed the house, that the Bishops agree to meet the house at 
 the hour proposed. 
 
 A letter and copy of proceedings of the Clergy and Laity of the 
 church in North Carolina were laid before the house, expressing 
 their approbation of the proceedings of the last General Conven- 
 tion held in Philadelphia, and their wiUingness to accede to the 
 Coirstitution of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United 
 States of America. 
 
 Ordered, That they be preserved by the Secretary among the 
 Records of the House. 
 
 A letter was received from IMr. Parry Hall, Printer in Phila- 
 delphia, which was read and ordered to lie on the table. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Rigg, and Rev. Mr. Bend, obtained leave of 
 absence for the remaining part of the session. 
 
 The House received from the House of Bishops, alterations of- 
 the form and manner of ordering Priests, which were read. 
 
 Adjourned to 9 o^clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Tuesday, 9 o'clock, A. M. 
 
 The Rev, Dr. Smith read prayers. 
 
 The form of ordering Priests was again read and considei'ed 
 liy paragraphs, and with two amendments, was passed. 
 
 Ordered, That the House of Bishops be informed thereof by 
 Mr. Bisect; who returned, and reported, that they concurred with 
 the amendments proposed by this House. 
 
 The House went into conference with the House of Bishops on 
 the state of the church. 
 
 ^Vhen the Bishops withdrew, the President reported, that the 
 iwo Houses had agreed to appoint a joint committee to compare 
 the printed edition of the book of common prayer with the original 
 acts of the last General Convention, where they may judge it ne- 
 cessary, and to prepare a mode of authenticating the book by some 
 certain standard, and of publishing future editions of the same in 
 the churches in the different states. 
 
 Resolved, That the Rev. Dr. Magaw, Rev. Dr. Moore, Rev. 
 Mr. Jarvis, Col. Ogden, John De Hart, Esquire', and Dr. Hind- 
 man, be a committee on the part of this House for the above pur- 
 pose. 
 
 Tire President also reported, tliat the two Houses had agreed 
 to appoint a joint committee for preparing a plan of supporting 
 missionaries to preach the gospel on the frontiers of the United 
 dtatesw 
 
119 
 
 Resolved^ That the Rev. Dr. Beach, Rev. Mr. Bowden, Rev. 
 5Ir. M'Croskey, Rev. ]\Ir. Frost, Samuel Marsh, Esq. Dr. Mar- 
 tin, Major Lloyd, and Mr. Campbell, be a committee on the part 
 of this House for the above purpose. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Frazer, Rev. Mr. Coleman, Mr. Andrews, and 
 Mr. IMarsh, had leave of absence after to-morrow morning. 
 
 Resolved^ That the next meeting of the General Couveniion be 
 held in the city of Philadelphia ; and that the House of Bishops 
 be requested to appoint one of their body to open the Convention 
 with a sermon. 
 
 Ordered^ That the Rev. Mr. Frost communicate to the House 
 of Bishops the above resolve and appointment of committees. 
 
 The House of Bishops informed the House, that they had ap- 
 pointed Bishops Seabury and White, a committee to act in con- 
 junction with the committee appointed by this House, to compare 
 the book of common prayer with the original acts, &c. and Bishops 
 Madison and Claggett a committee to act with the commiitee ap- 
 pointed for preparing a plan of supporting missionaries, &c. 
 
 The house received from the House of Bishops alterations of 
 the form and manner of making Deacons. 
 
 Ordered^ That they be read. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Bishops, informing 
 this house, that they agreed to the resolve of holding the next 
 meeting of the General Convention in Philadelphia, and that they 
 had appointed the Right Rev. Dr. Provoost to open the Conven- 
 tion with a sermon. 
 
 The form of making Deacons was again taken up and consider- 
 ed by paragraphs, and, with some amendments, was agreed to. 
 
 Ordered^ That Mr. Bisset carry it to the House of Bishops, and 
 request their concurrence with the amendments proposed. 
 
 The House of Bishops informed the house, that they concurred 
 with the amendments proposed to the form of making Deacons. 
 
 The house received from the House of Bishops additional 
 canons, and a resolve for printing in one book, the form of ordain- 
 ing Deacons, Priests, and Bishops. 
 
 Ordered, That the canons be read. 
 
 Adjourned to 9 o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Wednesday, 9 o^ clocks A. M. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Magaw read prayers. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Magaw, from the committee appointed for com- 
 paring the printed edition of the book of common pra) er, with the 
 original act, &c. brought in a report, which was read, and ordered 
 to lie on the table. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Beach, from the committee appointed for pre- 
 paring a plan for supporting missionaries, &c. brought in a report, 
 which was read and ordered to lie on the table. 
 
120 
 
 The additional candns were again taken, up, and considered by 
 paragraphs. 
 
 Six additional canons were, with amendments, agreed to awd 
 enacted : and, with an amendment of the 7th canon, ordered to be 
 sent, by Mr. Bisset, to the House of Bishops, for their coneurrence 
 in the amendments of this House. 
 
 The House of Bishops informed the house, that they cortcarred 
 with the amendments proposed by this house to the cartans, tac- 
 ceptto the amendment to the 4th. '<i 
 
 Resolved^ That the house concur with the resolve of the HoUsfC 
 of Bishops, for printing in one book, the form of ordaining Dea- 
 cons, Priests, and Bishops, and that the Rev. Dr. Moore be ap- 
 pointed, on the part of this house, for that purpose. 
 
 Resolved^ That the house adhere to their amendment of the 4tfe 
 canon ; and that Col. Ogden inform the house of Bishops thereof. 
 
 The report of the committee on the book of corarttoft prayed, 
 was again taken up, and eonsidered by paragraphs, and wit^ 
 amendments, sent by the Secretary to the House of Bishops iot 
 their concurrence. 
 
 The House of Bishops informed the house, that tbey recede 
 from their disagreement to the amendment of the 4th canon,, dnd 
 agree to the resolve respecting the negative of the House of Bi- 
 ifehops. 
 
 • The report of the committee on the plan for supporting vaiiif- 
 sibnaries, &c. was again taken up and considered by paragraphs', 
 and some amendments were proposed and agreed to. ") 
 
 A message was received from the House of Bishops, proposing, 
 that a joint committee be appointed for publishing journaU of tfhc 
 hffo houses, and that the lists of Clergy be printed in an appendix. 
 
 'I'he Hev. Dr. Bowie, and Dr. Hindman obtained leave of ab*- 
 sence. ' 
 
 A-djoUrJied to 5 o^clock, P. M. 
 
 ■ Five o'clock^ 1 ^ 3L 
 
 The house met, and proceeded in the considerStion o£ the re- 
 port on the plan for supporting missionaries. Sec. which was agreed 
 to with amendments; and) the Secretary was desired to carry it 
 to the House of Bishops for their concurrence. 
 
 Ordered^ That the presiding Bishop be requested to forward 
 to his Grace, the Archbishop of Canterbury, thirty copies of the 
 journal for his use, and for the use of the Right-Ke*. -^ Bishops 
 of England. " -i'i 
 
 The house proceeded to appoint a standing c6ra!mi*tee, aod the 
 following gentlemen were chosen: 
 
 For New Hampshire, the Hon. Mr. Livermore* 
 
 For ^lassachusetts, the Rev. Dr. Parker. 
 
 For Rhode Island, the Rev. WiUiam Smith. 
 
 For Connecticut, the Rev. Abraham Jarvis. 
 
V21 
 
 For New York, the Rev. Dr. Moore, Rev. Br. Beach, Rich- 
 ard Harrison, Esquire. 
 
 For New Jersey, the Rev. Uzal Ogden, Mr. J. M. Wallace, 
 Colonel Ogden. 
 
 For Pennsylvania, the Rev. Dr. Magaw, Rev. Dr. Blackwell, 
 Rev Mr. Pilmore, Hon. Mr. Powell, Dr. Rash, Mr. John 
 W ilcocks. 
 
 For Delaware, the Rev. Mr. Thorne, Nicholas Ridgely, Esq. 
 For Maryland, the Rev. .Tohn Bisset, Major Lloyd. 
 For Virginia, Rev. Mr. M'Croskey. Robert Andrews, Esq. 
 For South Carolina, the Rev. Dr Smith, Hon. Mr. Izard. 
 Ordered, That the President of this house is chairman of the 
 above committee; and is empowered to call together the members. 
 The house of Bishops proposed an amendment to the report 
 respecting missionaries, which was agreed to. 
 
 The house proceeded to appoint a committee, for carrying into 
 effect the act respecting missionaries ; and the Rev. Dr. Smith, 
 Rev. Dr. Magaw, Rev, Dr. Blackwell, Rev. Dr. Andrews, Hon. 
 Mr. Powell, Mr. John Wood, and Dr. Rush, were chosen. 
 Ordered, That the Secretary inform the house of Bishops thereof. 
 The house of Bishops informed the house, that they agree to 
 the amendment of the 7th canon of the last Convention, and pro- 
 pose that the annexed certificate be altered, to correspond with 
 it ; and th it the canons, so altered, be published as a canon of 
 this Convention. 
 
 Resolved, That the above proposal be agreed to. 
 The house proceeded to appoint a committee, on the part of 
 this house, for publishing and authenticating the book of com- 
 mon prayer, agreeably to an act of Convention passed for that 
 purpose ; and the Rev. Dr. Moore, Rev. Dr. Beach, and Dr. 
 Johnson were chosen. 
 
 Ordered^ That the house of Bishops be informed thereof by the 
 Secretary, who reported, that they had appointed the Right Rev* 
 Dr. Provoost. 
 
 Resolved unanimoiish/. That the thanks of this house be given 
 to the Mayor and Aldermen of New York for the use of the City 
 Hall ; and that the Rev. Dr. Moore and Colonel Giles communi- 
 oate the same. 
 
 Resolved, That the Rev. Dr. Moore, Rev. Dr. Beach, and the 
 Secretary, be a committee on the part of this house, for revising, 
 correcting, and publishing the Journals. 
 
 Ordered, That one thousand copies of the Journals be printed. 
 Resolved, 'I'hat the thanks of the house be given to the Presi- 
 ^nt and Secretary for their attention and services. 
 The house rose. 
 
 Signed by order of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies. 
 
 WILLIAM SMITH, President. 
 Attest. J. Bisset, Secretary. 
 
 B 
 
122 
 :rOURNAL 
 
 OF THE 
 
 HOUSE OF BISHOPS. 
 
 Wew York, September lltk, 1792. 
 
 THE Right Rev. Dr. Seabury, Bishop of the Protestant 
 Episcopal Church in the states of Connecticut and Rhode Island-, 
 attended in Trinity Church, at 10 o'clock, A.M. and, after 
 prayers, 
 
 Adjourned to 10 o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Wednesday, ten o^clock^\X. M. 
 
 The members met : present, the Right Rev. Dr. Seabury, Right 
 Rev. Dr. Provoost, Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church 
 in New York j Right Rev. Dr. White, Bishop of the Protestant 
 Episcopal Church in Pennsylvania ; and the Right Rev. Dr. Ma- 
 dison, Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Virginia. 
 
 They then attended divine service. The Right Rev. Dr. Ma- 
 dison read prayers, and the Right Rev. Dr. Seabury preached, 
 agreeably to the appointment of the last General Convention. 
 
 After divine service they proceeded to the choice of a Secre- 
 tary ; and the Rev. Samuel Keene was appointed, pro tempore. 
 
 The house of Clerical and Lay Deputies informed the Bishops 
 that they were organized, and ready to proceed to business ; and 
 that they propose ten o'clock, A. M. as the stated hour of 
 meeting. 
 
 The Bishops agreed to meet at the same hour, and desired their 
 Secretary to notify the same to the house of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies. 
 
 The Bishops took into consideration the form and manner of 
 making, ordaining, and consecrating Bishops, Priests, and Dea- 
 cons ; and, after some deliberation, agreed to postpone the farther 
 consideration thereof till Friday next. Adjourned. 
 
 Thursday, ten o'clock, A. M. 
 
 The Bishops met, and attended prayers in the house of Cleri- 
 cal and Lay Deputies. 
 
 The first rule for the government of the house of Bishops, as 
 agreed on at the last Convention, was re-considered. 
 
 Resolved^ That the said rule be rescinded — that the following 
 be adopted instead thereof, viz : — The office of President of this 
 house shall be held in rotation, beginning from the north ; refer- 
 
123 
 
 ence being had to the presidency of this house in the last Con- 
 vention. 
 
 In consequence ot the above rule, the Right Rev. Dr. Provoost 
 took the chair. Adjourned. 
 
 Friday, ten o* clocks A. M. 
 
 The house met : present, the Right Rev. Dr. Provoost, Right 
 Rev. Dr. Seabury, Right Rev. Dr. White, and Right Rev. Dr. 
 31adison ; and attended prayers in the house of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies. 
 
 The house went into the consideration of the form and manner 
 of making, ordaining, amd consecrating Bishop?, Priests, and 
 Deacons, agreeably to the postponement of Wednesday last. 
 
 A message being received from the house of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies, by the Rev. Dr. Moore, informing this house, that 
 they had appointed a committee to apply for the use of an apart- 
 ment in the City Hall ; and that, if it meet with the concurrence 
 of this house, application will also be made for another apartment 
 to accommodate the Bishops. 
 
 Resolved^ That the Rev. Dr. Moore be requested to inform the 
 house of Clerical and Lay Deputies, that this house do concur in 
 their proposition. 
 
 The house proceeded in the consideration of the form of or- 
 daining or consecrating a Bishop ; and, having agreed on sundry 
 alterations of the same, appointed Bishops White and Madison a 
 committee to prepare a draft of the said alterations, to be laid be- 
 fore the house of Clerical and Lay Deputies to-morrow morning. 
 
 Adjourned. 
 
 Saturday Morning. 
 
 The house met ; present, as yesterday. — The Rev. Mr. Keene 
 being obliged to resign the office of Secretary, the Rev. L. Cut- 
 ling was chosen in his stead. 
 
 The house received a message by the Rev. Dr. Moore, that 
 rooms were prepared in the City Hall for the reception of the two 
 houses of Convention. 
 
 The house received a message by the Rev. Dr. Beach, asking 
 this house to concur with them in thanking the Right Rev. Bishop 
 Seabury for his sermon delivered at the opening of the Conven- 
 tion, and in requesting a copy of the same to be printed. 
 
 Resolved^ That this house concurs with the house of Clerical 
 and Lay Deputies, in thanking the Right Rev. Bishop Seabury 
 for his sermon delivered at the opening of the Convention, and in 
 requesting a copy of the same to be printed. 
 
 The Clerical and Lay Deputies from the state of Marvland, 
 presented to this house the Rev. Thomas John Claggett, D. D, 
 as Bishop elect of the church in the said state, requesting that his 
 consecration might be expedited. The said deputies laid before 
 
124 
 
 the house the proceedings of the Convention held in Annapolis, 
 in May, 1792, respecting; the election of the Rev. Dr. Claggett, 
 together with the certificates required by the 2d cinon. 
 
 Adjourned to the Senate Chamber in the City Hall, agreeably 
 to the determination of yesterday. 
 
 Senate Chambi r, City Halt. 
 
 The committee leported a draft of the alterations in the conse' 
 oration service. 
 
 The house received a message from the Clerical and Lay De- 
 puties, by the Hon. Mr. Lloyd, requesting a conference with 
 them on the general state of the church. 
 
 Resolved^ That the alterations in the consecration service be 
 sent to the house of Clerical and Lay Deputies for their concur- 
 rence ; and that they be informed, this house is now ready to 
 meet them in their room on the proposed conference. 
 
 The house went into a conference with the house of Clerical 
 and Lay Deputies, in which the President of this house was re- 
 quested to take the chair, when the foilowing motion was made : 
 
 Agreed, that as the churches in some of the states are not re- 
 presented in this Convention, and others only partially, the consi- 
 deration of the articles of religion be postponed until the next 
 General Convention ; — which passed in the negative in the house 
 of Bishops, and in the affirmative in the house of Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies. 
 
 The house having considered the testimonials respecting the 
 election of the Rev. Dr. Claggctt, and found them satisfactor5% 
 
 Resolved^ That the consecration of the Rev. Dr. Thomas John 
 Claggett take place on Monday morning at half past ten. 
 
 Adjourned. 
 
 Monday Morning, nine o'clock. 
 
 House met. Present, as on Saturday. 
 
 The house took under consideraiion the offices for ordaining 
 Priests and Deacons, and having made some advance therein, 
 proceeded to Trinity Church, to the consecration of the Rev. 
 Thomas John Claggett, D. D. and, after divine service, return- 
 ed to their house, when the Right Rev. Bishop Claggett took his 
 seat. 
 
 A message from the house of Clerical and Lay Deputies, re- 
 porting, that they concurred with the house of Bishops in their 
 alterations in the form of consecrating Bishops. 
 
 A message from the house of Clerical and Lay Deputies, re- 
 questing a conference between the two houses to-morrow morn- 
 ing, at half past nine o'clock. 
 
 In consideration of the resolve of the house of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies, respecting the articles, this house agree to postpone the 
 9am&. 
 
125 
 
 Resolved^ That a record of the certificate of the consecration of 
 thf li.ght H(.v. Bishop Claggett, be cntt red on the Journals of 
 this house ; and that the Rector, Church Wardens, and A^estry 
 of TrinitN- Church, be requested to enter it on their church book. 
 
 Resolved^ 'W.xX. it be proposed to the house of Clerical and Lay 
 D. puties, to publish, in one book, the form and manner of mak- 
 ing, ordaining, and consecrating Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, 
 conformably to the alterations agreed on between the two houses. 
 
 Adjourned till half past nine to-morrow morning. 
 
 Tuesday Morning, half past nine. 
 
 House met : present, the Right Rev. Bishops Provoost, Sea- 
 burv, White, Madison, and Claggett. 
 
 Tlie house oiiginated certain canons, and sent them to the 
 house ot Clerical and liny Deputies for th. ir concurrence. 
 
 'Ihe house received a message by the Rev. Mr. Bisset, from 
 the house of Clerical and L..iy Deputies, proposing two amend- 
 ments in the office for ordaining Priests ; to both which the house 
 agreed. 
 
 The house went into a conference with the house of Clerical 
 and Lay Deputies. The President of this house was requested 
 to take the chair, in which conference the following propositions 
 were agreed to. 
 
 Resolved^ That a joint committee be appointed to compare the 
 printed edition of the common prayer book with the original acts 
 ofthel;Tst General Convention, where they may judge it neces- 
 sary ; and to adopt a mode of authenticating the book by some 
 certain standard, and for publishing future editions of the same in 
 the churches of the different states. 
 
 Resolved^ That a joint committee of both houses be appointed 
 to report a plan for supporting missionaries to preach the gospel 
 on the frontiers of the United States. 
 
 Resolved^ That the Right Rev. Bishops Seabury and White, be 
 a committee from this house on the first proposition ; and the 
 Right Rev. Bishops Madison and Claggett be a committee on the 
 last. 
 
 The house received a message from the house of Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies, proposing that the next General Convention be 
 held in the city of Philadelphia, and that this house would ap- 
 point one of their body to open the Convention with a sermon ; 
 
 Resolved^ That this house agree to the above, and request the 
 Right Rev. Bishop Provoost to preach the sermon. 
 
 The house originated alterations in the office for ordaininj"- 
 Deacons, and alterations of the preface, and of the title of the book 
 of ordination and consecration, and sent them to the House of Cle- 
 rical and Lay Deputies, requesting their concurrence. 
 
 The house received from the House of Clerical and Lay De- 
 puties, amendments to the additions in the office for ordaining 
 Deacons, and in the preface ; in which the house concurred- 
 
 Adjourned. 
 
126 
 
 Wednesday, September 19. 
 
 The house met : Present, as yesterday, except Bishop Clag- 
 gett. 
 
 The house received a message from the House of Clerical and 
 I^ay Deputies, asking the concurrence of the house in a resolve of 
 thanks to the Rev. Dr. Smith, tor his sennon delivered before 
 them on the occasion of the consecration of Bishop Claggett, and 
 that he be requested to furnish a copy of the same for publication. 
 
 Resolved^ That this house concur in the same. The committee 
 appointed yesterday to compare the printed edition, &c. also the 
 committee appointed to prepare a plan for supporting missionaries 
 to preach the Gospel on the frontiers of the United States, made 
 report. 
 
 Resolved, That the several members of this house deliver to the 
 Secretary, the lists of the Clergy of their respective diocesses, and 
 that the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies be requested to send 
 to this house the lists from the several states in which there are 
 no Bishops, agreeably to the 16th canon, and that the said lists be 
 printed as an appendix to the journal. 
 
 This house received a message from the House of Clerical and 
 Lay deputies, proposing as follows; 
 
 That it be made known to the several state Conventions, that 
 it is proposed to consider and determine, in the next General Con- 
 vention, on the propriety of investing the House of Bishops with 
 A full negative on the proceedings of the other house. 
 
 This house concurs in the above, and agrees to the amendment 
 of the 4th canon. 
 
 The house received from the House of Clerical and Lay De- 
 puties, their concurrence with the proposal concerning the publi- 
 cation of the ordination and consecration services. In that pro- 
 posal, the President of this house was named on the joint com- 
 mittee by this house, and the Rev. Dr. Moore is appointed on the 
 part of the Clerical and Lay Deputies. 
 
 The house received from the House of Clerical and Lay De- 
 puties, amendments of the report of the joint committee to com- 
 pare the printed edition of the prayer book, &c- to which this 
 house agreed, and passed the report. 
 
 The House sent information to the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies, that they propose to adjourn to 6 o'clock this evening. 
 
 The house received from the House of Clerical and Lay De- 
 puties, amendments of the report of the joint committee, on the 
 plan for supporting missionaries to preach the Gospel on the iVon* 
 tiers of the United States, to which this house proposed an addi- 
 tion. 
 
 The house also received from the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies, a proposal of-i?ending journals of this Convention to the 
 Archbishop of Canterbury, for the purpose of informing his Grace, 
 and the other Prelates of England, of the state and proceedings of 
 this chuBch. 
 
127 
 
 Resolved^ That the house concur therein. 
 
 ''I'he house of Clerical and Lay Deputies concurred In the report 
 of the plan for the support of missionaries, &c. and named the 
 requisite committee, with which this house agreed. 
 
 The House received a proposal from the House of Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies, for printing one thousand copies of the journal i 
 also, a message as to the mode of authenticating the acts of the 
 Convention. This house agreed to th■^ foi nicr, and proposed the 
 acts to be authenticated by the signatures of the presidents of the 
 respective houses. 
 
 The house received a message from the House of Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies, with information, that they had appointed a com- 
 mittee to superintend the priming a correct edition of the common 
 prayer book, requesting that a committee be appointed from this 
 house for the same purpose j when Bishop Provoost was accord- 
 ingly appointed. 
 
 A message reporting, that the- House of Clerical and Lay De- 
 puties concur with the proposal respecting the 7th canon. 
 
 The house received from the House of Clerical and Lay Depu- 
 ties, their concurrence to the proposal for printing a list of the 
 Clergy, in an appendix to the journal. 
 
 A message was received desiring the concurrence of this house, 
 to the appointing a committee for printing their journal, when 
 Bishop Provoost was appointed. 
 
 On motion. Resolved^ That the thanks of this house be given to 
 the Rev. L. Cutting, for his services as secretary. 
 
 The house rose. 
 
 Signed by order of the House of Bishops, 
 
 SAMUEL PROVOOST, President. 
 Attest. L. Cutting, Secretary. 
 
 The Cei-tificate of the Consecration of the Right Rev, Bishop 
 Claggctt, is asfolloxus: 
 
 Know all men by these presents, that we Samuel Provoost, 
 D. D. Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal church in the state of 
 New York, presiding Bishop: Samuel Seabury, D. D. Bishop of 
 Connecticut and Rhode Island ; William AVhite, D. D. Bishop of 
 the Protestant Episcopal church in the commonwealth of Penn- 
 sylvania ; James Madison, D. D. Bishop of the Protestant Epis- 
 copal church in the state of Virginia; under the protection of 
 Almignty God, in Trinity church in the city of New York, on 
 Monday the seventeenth of September, in the year of our Lord 
 one thousand seven hundred and ninety-two, did then and there 
 rightly and cauonically consecrate our beloved in Christ, Thomas 
 John Claggett, D. D. late Rector of St. James's parish in 
 the state of Maryland, of whose sufficiency in good learning, 
 
128 
 
 soundness in the faith, and purity of manners, we were fully as- 
 certained, into the office of Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal 
 church in the said state, to which the said Thomas John Claggett 
 hath been el cted by the Convention of the said state. In testi- 
 mony whereof we have signed our names and caused our seals to 
 be affixed. Givi n in the city of New York this nineteenth day of 
 September, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred 
 and ninety-two. 
 
 SAMUEL PHOVOOST, (L. S.) 
 
 S. SEABURY, (L. S.) 
 
 WM. WHITF., (L. S ) 
 
 J. MADISON, (L. S.) 
 
 A true copy of the certificate of the consecration of the Right 
 Rev. Dr. Thomas John Claggett, as compared with the original, 
 
 by 
 
 LEOC. CUTTING, Secretary of the House of Bishops. 
 J. BIS SET, Secretary of the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies. 
 
 ADDITIONAL CANONS. 
 
 I. 
 
 FOR a more full accomplishment of the good purposes to be 
 answered by the 16th canon, enacted by the last General Conven- 
 tion, it is hereby required, that every Clergyman claiming to be a 
 Minister of this church, shall deliver in his name to the Bishop, 
 or if there be no Bishop, to the chairman or some member of the 
 standing committee, of the church in the state in which he resides, 
 on or before Easter Monday, 1793 ; or, if he be not within any 
 of the states which have acceded to the constitution of this church, 
 then within three months after he shall come to reside in any of the 
 said states. And every clergyman, during his neglect of confor- 
 formity to this canon, shall not be known as a Clergyman of this 
 church, or be admitted to minister in any offices of the same. 
 
 IL 
 
 If a Clergyman of the church in any diocese or district within 
 this union, shall, in any other diocese or district, conduct himself 
 in such a way as is contrary to the rules of this church, and dis- 
 graceful to his office ; the Bishop, or, if there be no Bishop, the 
 standing committee, shall give notice thereof to the ecclesiastical 
 authority of the diocese or district to which such offender belongs, 
 exhibiting, with the information given, the proofs of the charges 
 made against him. 
 
 13 L 
 
 AYheneyer a Clergyman shall be degraded, agreeably to the 
 canons of any particular chureh in the union, the Bishop who 
 
129 
 
 pronounces sentence, shall, without delay, cause the sentence of 
 degradation to be published from every pulpit where there may 
 be an officiating minister, throughout the diocese or district in 
 which the degraded minister resided ; and also shall give infor- 
 mation of the sentence to all the Bishops of this church ; and, 
 where there is no Bishop, to the standing committee. 
 
 IV. 
 
 In regard to the first certificate required in favour of a Bishop 
 elect, by the 2d canon of the last General Convention, and the 
 certificate required in favour of a candidate for Priest's or Dea- 
 con's orders, by the 6th canon ; if there be any members of the 
 bodies respectively concerned who have not the requisite personal 
 knowledge of the parties, such persons may prefix the following 
 declaration to their signatures : 
 
 WE believe the testimony contained in the above Certijicate ; and 
 rue join in the recommendation of \. B. to the offce of on suf- 
 ficient evidence o^ered to us of the facts set forth. 
 
 Provided, That in the case of a Priest or Deacon^ trvo at least 
 of the standing comtnittee sign the same^ as being personally ac- 
 quainted with the ca7ididate. 
 
 V. 
 
 No stranger shall be permitted to officiate in any congregation 
 of this church, without first producing the evidences of his being 
 a minister thereof to the minister, or, in case of vacancy or ab- 
 sence, to the church wardens, vestrymen, or trustees of the con- 
 gregation. And in case any person not regularly ordained shall 
 assume the ministerial office, and perform any of the duties there- 
 of in this church, the minister, or in case of vacancy or absence, 
 the church wardens, vestrymen, or trustees of the congregation 
 where such offence may be committed, shall cause the name of 
 such person, together with the offence, to be published in as many 
 of the public papers as may be convenient. 
 
 VI. 
 
 No clergyman belonging to this church shall officiate, eitlwrby 
 preaching or reading prayers in the parish, or within the paro- 
 chial cure of another clergyman, unless he have received express 
 permission for that purpose from the minister of the parish or 
 cure, or, in his absence, from the church wardens, vestrymen, or 
 trustees of the congregation. 
 
 The seventh Canon of the last General Convention, as altered and 
 amended by this Convention. 
 
 Of the Learning of those who are to be Ordained. 
 
 ^ NO person shall be ordained in this church, until he shall have 
 satisfied the Bishop, and the two Presbyters by whom he shall be 
 
 vS 
 
130 
 
 examined, that he is sufficiently acquainted with the New Testa- 
 ment in the original Greek, pnd can give an account of his faith 
 in the Latin tongue, either in writing or otherwise, as may be re- 
 quired, and that he hath a competent knowledge of moral philo- 
 sophy, church history, and the belles lettres, and hath paid at- 
 tention to rhetoric and pulpit eloquence, as the means of giving 
 additional efficacy to his labours ; unless it shall be recommend- 
 ed to the Bishop by two-thirds of the State Convention to which 
 he belongs, to dispense with the aforesaid requisition, in whole 
 or in part : which recommendation shall only be for good causes 
 moving thereto, and shall be in the following words, with the 
 signature of the names of the majority of such Convention : 
 
 We, whose names are unc^erwritten, are of opinion, that the 
 dispensing with tht knowledge of the Latin and Greek languages, 
 [or either of the other requisites specified in the seventh canon, as 
 the case may be] in the examination of A. B. for holy orders, 
 will be oi use to the church of which we are the Convention, in 
 consideration of other qualifications of the said A. B. for the Gos- 
 pel Ministry. 
 
 Enacted September 19th, 1792. 
 
 House of Bishops^ 
 
 S iMUEL PROVOOST, President. 
 Attest. L. Cutting, Secretary, 
 
 House of Clerical and Lay Deputies^ 
 
 WILLIAM SMITH, President. 
 Attest. J. Bisset, Secretary. 
 
 An Act of the General Convention, for supporting jMissio7iaries 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 the purpose, then on such 
 other Sunday as the minister and vestry or trustees of the con- 
 gregation 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 congregation ; and by the 
 minister and church wardens or trustees, be delivered to a trea- 
 surer appointed by each State Convention, and, by him transmit- 
 ted to a treasurer who shall be appointed as herein after directed. 
 
 3. That such Missionaries as may be employed by this church, 
 be authorized to make collections of money fi'om such congrega- 
 tions 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. 
 
131 
 
 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 particular 
 attention ; which address shall be read by every minister 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 secretary and a 
 treasurer ; the first to carry on the correspondence, and the other 
 to keep the accounts and the moneys of the institution. 
 
 6. That when it shall appear to the Bishop of this church in 
 Peiiusylvania, and the standing committee to be appointed as 
 aforesaid, that sufficient funds have been provided for the above 
 purpose, thfey shall then employ such Missionaries, allow such sa- 
 laries, and make such arrangements, as to them shall seem best ; 
 reporting regularly their proceedings to each General Convention. 
 
 An Act of the General Convention^ for publishing future Editions 
 of the Book of Common Prayer, in the Churches in the differ- 
 ent States, 
 
 RESOLVED, That a committee be appointed by the Ge- 
 neral Convention for the purpose of publishing the Book of Com- 
 mon Prayer, and securing the copy right to them and their as- 
 signs, in trust for the Convention ; and that this committee be 
 empowered and directed to convey a right to print the book to 
 any printer or printers in any of the states, who may be recom- 
 mended for that purpose by the state Convention, or their stand- 
 ing committee, free from any premium for copy right ; such 
 State Convention or standing committee to superintend, and cor- 
 rect the press according to the standard book. 
 
 (0* The Rev. J. L. Wilson^ Clerical Deputy from the State of 
 North Carolina^ having' been detained by contrary winds, did 
 not arrive in the city of New Tork till the 2Sth instant, the Con- 
 vention having risen a few days before. 
 
 J. BISSET, Sec'rv. 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 List of the Clergy of the Protestant Episcopal Church, delivered in 
 and published, agreeably to the 16th Canon of the last GeJieral 
 Convention. 
 
 From NEW HAMPSfflRE and MASSACHUSETTS, no list'-vas delivered in. 
 
 RHODE ISLAND. 
 THE Rev, Moses Badger, Rector of The Rev. William Smith, Rector of Tri- 
 Kiijg's church. Providence. nity chuxch, Newport. 
 
132 
 
 Co'nv£cticnt. 
 ♦Jhe Kev. Ebenezer Dibble, Rector of St. 
 
 John's church, Stamford. 
 Jiev. George Ogilvie, St. Paul's church, 
 
 Norualk. 
 Rev. Philo Shelton, Stratfield. 
 "Rev. Dr. Bela Hubbard, Trinity church. 
 
 New Haven. 
 Rev. Philo Perry, Christ church, New- 
 town. 
 Rev. David Periy, Reading, &c. 
 
 Rev. Marsh, New Milfbrd. 
 
 Bev. Ashbel Baldwin, Litchiield,. 
 Rev. Ambrose Todd, Symsbury. 
 Rev. Abraham Lynsen Clarke, Hunting- 
 ton. 
 Rev. Dr. Richard Mansfield, Derby. 
 Kev. Reuben Ives, Clicshire. 
 Rev. Dr. Abraham Jarvis, Christ cliurch, 
 
 Middlclon. 
 Rev, Daniel Fog'g, Brooklyn. 
 Rev. John Tyler, Christ cliurch, Nor- 
 wich. 
 
 Rev. Prindle, Westbury. 
 
 Rev. John Bowden, residing at Stratf()rd. 
 Rev. Edward Blakslee, Deacon, Wood- 
 bridge. 
 Rev. Solomon Blakslee, Deacon, East 
 Haddam.^ 
 
 Rev. David Belden, Deacon, . 
 
 Rev. Seth Hart, Deacon, Waterbury. 
 Kev. David Butlex", Deacon, North Guil- 
 ford. 
 
 JVew York. 
 Rev. Jeremiah Learning, P. D. residing 
 
 in New York. 
 Rev. Abraham Beach, D. D. Assistant 
 Minister of Trinity church, New York. 
 Rev. Benjamin Mqore, D. D. Asaislant 
 Minister of Trinity church. New York. 
 Rev. Thomas L. Moore, Rector of St. 
 (ieorge's church. South Hempstead. 
 Kiev. Thomas Ellison, Rector of St. Pe- 
 ter's church, Albany. 
 Rtv. Kichai'd C. Moore, Rector of St. 
 
 Andrew's church, Staten Ishuid. 
 Rev. Daniel Foote, Rector of the United 
 
 churches at Hye and White Plains. 
 Rev. George H- Spierin, Rector of the 
 United churches at Newburgh and 
 WallkiU. 
 Rev. Ellas Cooper, Rector of St. John's 
 
 church, Phiiipsburgh. 
 Rev Andrew Fowler, Rector of the 
 United churches at Peek's Kill and 
 Highlands, 
 Rev. Theodosius Bartow, Rector of the 
 
 church at New Rochelle. 
 Rev. William Hapimel, Rector of the 
 United churches at Jamaica, New- 
 town, and Flushing. 
 ..pev, r-TT^Hull, Rector ofth^ chvirgh at 
 Brooklyn. 
 I^ev. Aniini Rogers, Rfftoj- of the Uni' 
 
 ted chtifches at Schenectady and 
 
 Ballstown 
 Rev. Bostwick, officiates every 
 
 third .Sunday at Hudson. 
 Rev. James Nicholls, officiates every 
 
 third Sunday at Camden. 
 Rev. Daniel Barber, officiates every 
 
 third Sunday at Kingsbury. 
 Rev, Elisha D. Rattoone, Pi-ofessor of the 
 
 Greek and Latin languages in Colum- 
 bia college. 
 Rev. Samuel Nesbit, residing in New 
 
 York. 
 
 JWw Jersey. 
 
 Rev. Uzal Ogden, Rector of Trimty 
 church, Newark. ^^■ 
 
 Rev. Samuel Spraggs, Rector of St. 
 John's church, Ehzabethtown. 
 
 Rev. Henry Y'an Dyke, Rector of St. 
 Peter's church, Amboy, and Christ 
 Church, New Brunswick. 
 
 Rev. Henry Waddell, Rector of Christ 
 church, Shrewsbur}-, and Christ 
 church, Middletown. 
 
 Rev. Levi Heath, Rector of St. Mary's 
 cliurch, Burlington. 
 
 Rev. William Frazer, Rector of St. Mi- 
 chael's church, Trenton ; and St. Ajjt- 
 drew's Church, Artiwell. 
 
 Rev. John Croes, Rector of 's 
 
 church, Swedesburgh. 
 
 Rev. Samuel Gray, Rector o f ' 's 
 
 church, Salem. 
 
 Rev. William Ayres, Rector of St. Pe- 
 ter's church, Spotswood. 
 
 Fennsyhmnia. 
 
 Rev. AViUiam Smitli; D. D. 
 Rev. Samuel JSJagaw^ D. D. Rector of 
 St. Paul's church, Philadelphia. 
 
 Rev. John .\ndrews, D. p. Vice Provost 
 of the University of Penns3lvania. 
 
 Rev. Robert Blackwell, D. D. Assistant 
 Minister of Christ churcli and St. Pe- 
 ter's, in tke city of Philadelphia. 
 
 Rev. Joseph Hntchins, D. D. 
 
 Rev. Jolin Campbell, Rector of the 
 churches in York and Huntington. 
 
 Rev. Josepli Pilmore, Assistant Minis- 
 ter of St. Paul's church, Philadelphia. 
 
 Rev. Slator Clay, Rector of St. David's, 
 Radnor ; St. Peter's iji the Valley ; 
 and St. Jamtes's, Perkiomen. 
 
 Rev. Elisha Rigg, Rector of St. James's, 
 Lancaster. 
 
 Rev. Joseph Clarkson. 
 
 Rev. Robert Ayres, Rector of. the 
 Episcopal chiu-ches in Redstone, and 
 the parts adjacent. 
 
 Rev. Francis Reno, Deacon in West- 
 moreland county. 
 
 ^ev. Joseph H. Turner, Deacon in tlie 
 churcl'ies of Chester, Marcus Hpokj 
 and Coiicord. 
 
1^ rt 
 
 Rev. Joseph Doddridge, Deacon in 
 Washington county. 
 
 Delaware. 
 Rev. Robert Clay, Emanuel church, 
 New Castle county. 
 
 Rev. Sydenham Thorne, Christ 
 church, Kent county. 
 
 Kev. William Skelly, Chri.st church, 
 Sussex county. 
 
 J\Tari/land. 
 
 Rev, Brooke, St. Mary's county. 
 
 Rev. John W. Compton, William and 
 Mary parish ; Rev. John Weems, Port 
 Tobacco parish ; Rev. Hatch Dent, Tri- 
 nity parish, Charles county. 
 
 Rev. Josepli Messenger, St. John's 
 parish ; Henry Moscrop, St. Anne's pa- 
 rish, Prince George's county. 
 
 Rev. Edward Gault, Christ church 
 parish; Rev. Thomas J. Chew, All 
 Saints parish, Calvert county. 
 
 Rev. Thomas J. Claggett, D. D. St. 
 James's parish ; Rev. Walter M'Pherson, 
 All Hallows parish ; Rev. Ralph Higin- 
 botham, St. Anne's parish ; Re<-. Mason 
 li. Weems, St. Margaret's, Westmore- 
 land parish, Artfie Arundel county. 
 
 Rev. Thomas Read, Prince George's 
 parish, Montgomery county. 
 
 Rev. George Bower, All Saints parish; 
 Rev. Townshend Dade, Frederick coun- 
 ty. 
 
 Rev. Joseph G. J. Bend, St. Raid's 
 parish ; Rev. Wilham Duke, Baltimore 
 county. 
 
 Rev. John Coleman, St. John's Parish; 
 Rev. John Ireland, Harford county. 
 
 Rev. John Bisset, St. Stephen's pa- 
 rish, Cecil county. 
 
 Rev.' Archibald Walker, Chester pa- 
 rish ; Rev. CoUn J-'erguson, St. Paul's 
 parish, Kent county. 
 
 Samuel Keene, D D. St. Luke's parish ; 
 Rev, Samuel Keene, jun. St. Paul's pa- 
 rish ; Rev. Owen P. Magrath, Christ 
 church parish. Queen Anne's county. 
 
 John Bowie, D. D. St. Michael's pa- 
 rish ; Rev. James Conner, St. Peter's 
 parish, Talbot county. 
 
 Rev. Thomas Gordon, St. Mary's, 
 White Chapel parish, Carolina county. 
 
 Rev. James Kemp, Great Choptank 
 parish, Dorchester county. 
 
 Rev. George Dasheill, Stepney parish ; 
 Hamilton Bell, Somerset parish; Rev. 
 Samuel Tingley, Coventry parisl;, So- 
 merset county. 
 
 Rev. John White, All Hallows parish, 
 Worcester county. 
 
 Rev. Thomas Scott, one of the tutors 
 of St. Jolm's College. 
 
 Vir^ijtia. 
 
 Rev. Isaac Da:-neiUe, Rector of Am- 
 herst parish. 
 
 Rev. Alex.^ndcr Hay, Rector of Antrim 
 parish. 
 
 Rev. Devereux Jarralt, Rector of Bath 
 parish. 
 
 Rev. Hugh Corrans Boggs, Rector of 
 Berkeley parish. 
 
 Rev. Price Davies, Rector of Brisland 
 parish. 
 
 Rev. John Cameron, Rector of Bris- 
 tol parish. 
 
 Rev. John Iredeall, Rector of Broom- 
 ficlJ parish. 
 
 Rev. Alexander M'Farland, Rector of 
 Brunswick parish. 
 
 Rev. John Bracken, Rector of Bruton 
 parish. 
 
 Rev. Samuel Shield, Rector of Charles 
 parish. 
 
 Rev. Samuel Klug; Rev. David Ball, 
 Christ Church parish. 
 
 Rev. James Elliott, Rector of Cople 
 parish. 
 
 Rev. James Craig, Rector of Cumber- 
 land parish. 
 
 Rev. Needier Robinson, Rector of 
 Dale parish. 
 
 Rev. Spence Grayson, Rector of Det- 
 tingen parish. 
 
 Rev, Jesse Garter, Rector of Drys- 
 dale parish. 
 
 Rev. Henry Skyrin, Rector of Eliza- 
 beth city parish. 
 
 Rev. James Whitehead, Rector ol 
 Elizabeth River pai'isli. 
 
 Rev. Brian Fairfax, Rector of Fah-fax 
 parish. 
 
 Rev. Alexander Balmain, Reetor of 
 Frederick's j)Livish. 
 
 Rev. Matthew Maury, Rector of 
 Frodericksville parish. 
 
 Rev. James Craig, Rector of Hamil- 
 ton's parish. 
 
 Rev. John Buchanan, Rector of Hen- 
 rico parish. 
 
 Rev. Samuel S, M'Croskey, Rector 
 of Hungars parish. 
 
 Rev. James Thompson, Rector of 
 Leeds parish. 
 
 Rev. Charles Crawford, Rector of 
 Lexington parish. 
 
 Rev. Elkanah Talley, Rector of Lit- 
 tleton parish. 
 
 Rev. Isaac Wm. Gibern, Rector of 
 Lunenburg parish. 
 
 Rev. Anthony Walke, Rector of Lyn- 
 haven parish. 
 
 Rev. William Cameron, Rector of 
 Manchester parish. 
 
 Rev. John J. Spooner, Rector of Mar- 
 tins Bnmdon parish. 
 
 Rev. William Hubard, Rector of New- 
 port parish. 
 
 Rev. Henry J. Burgess, Nottoway pa- 
 risb. 
 
134 
 
 Rer. Robert Buchan , Rector of Over- 
 •wharton parish. 
 
 Rev. Arthur Emerson, Rector of 
 Portsmouth parish. 
 
 Rev. John Brunskili, Rector of Ra- 
 leigh parish. 
 
 Rer. Alexander Lundie, Rector of St. 
 Andrew's paiish. 
 
 Rev, John Matthews, St. Anne's pa- 
 rish. 
 
 Rev. James Morris, Rector of St. 
 Bride's parish. ' 
 
 Rev. Reuben Clopton, Rector of St. 
 Da\'id's parish. 
 
 Rev. William Vere ; Rev. John Wood- 
 ville. Rector of St. George's parish. 
 
 Rev. Charles Hopkins, Rector of St. 
 James Northam parish 
 
 Rev. James Price, Rector of St. 
 John's parish. 
 
 Rev. Joseph Gurley, Rector of St. 
 Luke's parish. 
 
 Rev. Archibald Dick, Rector of St. 
 Margaret's parish- 
 Rev. James Stevenson, Rector of St. 
 Mark's parislt. 
 
 Rev. Peter Nelson, St. Martin's pa- 
 rish. 
 
 Rev. Abner Waugh, Rector of St. 
 Mary's parish. 
 
 Rev. William Stewart, Rector of St. 
 Paul's parish. 
 
 Rev. Benjamin Blagrove^, Rector of 
 St. Peter's parish. 
 
 Rev. Thomas Davis, ReCtor of St. 
 
 Stephen's parish. 
 
 Rev. John Hyde Saunders, Rector of 
 Southam parish. 
 
 Rev. Andrew Sim, Rector of South 
 Farnham parish. 
 
 Rev. Samuel Butler, Rector of South- 
 wark parish. 
 
 Rev. James Taylor, Rector of Suffolk 
 parish. 
 
 Rev. Lee Massey, Rector of Truro 
 parish. 
 
 Rev. James Henderson, Rector of 
 Westover parish. 
 
 Rev. James Maury Fontaine, Rector 
 of Ware parish. 
 
 Rev. John Bryan, Rector of Wicomi- 
 co parish. 
 
 South Carolina. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Smith, Rev. Mr. Frost, Rev. 
 Dr. Pui'cell, Rev. Dr. Gates, Rev. Mr. 
 Jenkins, Rev. Mr. Nixon, Master of an 
 Academy, Rev. Mr. White, Charleston. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Mills, St. Andrews. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Ellington, St. James's, Goose 
 Creek. 
 
 Rev. Mr. M'Culley, St Luke's. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Tate, St. Helen's. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Sykes, Pi-ince George's. 
 
 Rev, Mr. Blackwall, Rev. Mr. Ireknd, 
 St. Bartliolomews. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Graham, Edisto. 
 
JOURNAL 
 
 OF THE PROCEEDINGS 
 
 OF THB 
 
 BISHOPS, CLERGY AND LAITY, 
 
 OF THE 
 
 PBOTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 
 
 IN THE 
 
 UNITED STATES OP AMERICA, 
 
 IN A 
 
 (©(DSJ^HS^M^KT. 
 
 HELD IN 
 
 The City ot PhUpdelphia, from Tuesday, September 8th, to 
 Friday, September 18th, 1795. 
 
LIST OF THE MEMBERS 
 
 I OF THE 
 
 HOUSE OF CLERICAL AND LAY DEPUTIES 
 
 Fron the State of New York. 
 Rev. John Bisset. — ^Rev. Geoi'ge H. Spierin. 
 
 From the State of New Jersey. 
 
 Rev. Henry Waddell. — Rev. John Croes. — Joshua M. Wal- 
 lace, Esquire. 
 
 From the State of Pennsijhania. 
 
 Rev. William Smith, D. D. — Rev. John Andrews, D. D — 
 Rev. Samuel Magaw, D. D — Rev. Robert Black well, D. D.— 
 Joseph Swift, Esquire. — Francis Gurney, Esquire.— Mr. J. B. 
 Gilpin. — Mr. William Stevenson. 
 
 From the State of Delaware, 
 
 Rev^ Joseph Clarkson. — ^Rev. George Dashiell. 
 
 From the State of Maruland. 
 
 Rev. Joseph G. J. Bend. — Rev. John Coleman. — Rev. James 
 Kemp. — Rev. Samuel Keene. — Samuel Johnson, Esquire. — Da- 
 vid Kerr, Esquire. 
 
 From the State of Virginia, 
 
 Rev. Samuel S. M'Croskey^ D. D. — Robert Andrews, Esquire. 
 
 From, the State of South Carolina. 
 
 Rev. Henry Purcell, D. D. 
 
JOURNAL 
 
 OF THE 
 
 JaOUSE OF CLERICAL AND LAY DEPUTIES. 
 
 Philadelphia, Tuesday, September 8, 1795. 
 
 CLERICAL and Lay Deputies from the churches in several 
 of the states, assembled in Christ Church at 10 o'clock, A. M« 
 and not being a sufficient number to enter upon business, 
 Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Wednesday, ten o'clock, A. M. 
 
 The members met, and a quorum being formed, 
 The Rev. Mr. Bisset read prayers. 
 
 Resolved, That this house appoint a Secretary who is not a 
 member : Whereupon, 
 
 The Rev. James Abercrombie, second assistant minister of- 
 Christ Church and St. Peter's, was unanimously chosen. 
 
 The deputies then proceeded to the election of a President, 
 when the Rev. Dr. William Smith was unanimously chosen. 
 
 Ordered, That Mr. Andrews inform the house of Bishops, that 
 this house is now formed, and ready to proceed to business. 
 
 Resolved, That the rules of order, adopted by the House of 
 Clerical and Lay Deputies of the last General Convention, be the 
 rules for the government of this house. 
 
 Resolved, With the concurrence of the house of Bishops, that 
 Mr. Swift be appointed to request of the Mayor, the use of two 
 apartments in the City Hall, for the accommodation of the Con= 
 vention, during their present session. 
 
 The house of Bishops having transmitted to this house a mes- 
 sage, informing, that Bishop Provoost is ready to preach before 
 the Convention, agreeably to the appointment of the last General 
 Convention, and proposing that the delivery of the sermon be 
 postponed to Friday next, in order that sufficient notice may be 
 given. 
 
 Resolved^ That this house agree to the said proposal, and that 
 the Rev. Mr. Bisset inform the house of Bishops thereof. 
 
 Resolved, That Mr. AVallace, the Rev Mr, Bisset, the Rev, 
 Mr. Clarkson, Mr. Andrews, and the Rev. Dr. Purcell, be a 
 cftmrnittee to examine the credentials of the members. 
 
 Mr. Swift informed the house, that the use of two apartments 
 in the City Hall was granted, agreeably to application. 
 
 Resolved, With the concurrence of the house of Bishops, that 
 the hours of sitting be from ten to three o'clock. 
 
 Adjourned, to meet in the City Hall to-morrow at ten o'clockj 
 A. M. 
 
 T 
 
' 138 
 
 City Hall, Thursday ^ ten o\lock, A. M. 
 
 The house met, and the Rev. Mr. Bend read prayers. 
 
 The committee appointed to examine the credentials of the 
 members, reported, that the deputies from the states of New- 
 York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virgi- 
 nia, and South Carolina, had produced satisfactory testimonials 
 of their appointment. 
 
 Resolved^ That this house will to-morrow go into a committee 
 of the whole on the state of the church. 
 
 Mr. Andrews presented a proposed canon, to alter canon six of 
 the year 1789, and canon four of the year 1792, respecting the 
 testimonials necessary to be produced by candidates for holy orders. 
 
 Resolved^ That the same be referred to the committee of the 
 whole on the state of the church. 
 
 A letter was received from the Right Rev. Dr. White, of the 
 house of Bishops, enclosing sundry testimonials, respecting the 
 Rev. Dr. Samuel Peters, as Bishop elect of the church in the 
 state of Vermont, which were read and ordered to lie on the table. 
 
 Mr. Andrews presented a proposed canon to alter canon six, of 
 the year 1792, respecting the officiating of ministers in the pa- 
 rish, or within the parochial cure of another clergyman, which 
 was read and referred to the committee of the whole on the state 
 of the chxirch. 
 
 The House of Bishops transmitted to this house by their Se- 
 cretary, a letter addressed to the Bishops, Clergy and Laity, of 
 the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, 
 in Convention — Philadelphia — accompanied with the following 
 message : " The House of Bishops have read the letter from Per- 
 son Parish, in North Carolina, directed to the General Convention, 
 but not finding it of such a nature as that they can act upon it, 
 they propose to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, that such 
 answer be returned, signed by the Presidents of both houses, as 
 to the Presidents may appear most proper." 
 
 The letter was read, and it was 
 
 Resolved^ That this house agree to the proposal contained in 
 the above message. 
 
 Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Friday, ten o'clock^ A. M. 
 
 The House met, and adjourned to attend divine service in 
 Christ Church, which was performed by the Rev. Mr. Waddell, 
 who read prayers, and the Right Rev. Dr. Provoost who preach- 
 ed the occasional sermon ; immediately after which, the House 
 returned to the City Hall. 
 
 A proposed canon to prevent a congregation in any diocese or 
 state, from uniting with a church in any other diocese, or state, 
 was received from the House of Bishops, and after being read, 
 was referred to the committee of the whole, on the state of the 
 church. 
 
139 
 
 Dr. Andrews presented a proposed canon to alter the seventh 
 canon of the year 1789, and the 7th canon of the year 1792, con- 
 cerning the learning of those who are to be ordained, which was 
 referred to the same conimittee. 
 
 Resolved unanimously ^ That the thanks of this House be given 
 to the Right Rev, Dr. Provoost, for his sermon delivered before 
 the Convention this morning in Christ Church, and that the Rev. 
 Dr. Blackwell, and Joshua M. Wallace, Esquire, be appointed 
 to present the thanks of this house, and to request a copy of the 
 sermon for publication. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Purcell presented testimonials from the Con- 
 vention of the state of South Carolina, relative to the election of 
 the Rev. Robert Smith, D. D. to the office of Bishop of the Pro- 
 testant Episcopal Church in that state, which were read and or- 
 dered to lie upon the table. 
 
 Resolved^ That the order of the day be postponed till to-morroW. 
 
 The attention of the House was called by the Rev. Dr. An- 
 drews, to the consideration of a pamphlet lately published, enti- 
 tled, *' Strictures on the love of power in the prelacy, by a mem- 
 ber of the Protestant Episcopal Association in the state of South 
 Carolina," which he detlared to be a virulent attack upon the doc- 
 trines 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 investiga- 
 tion of this charge. • 
 
 Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Saturday, teii d*clock^ A. M. 
 
 The House met, and the Rev. Mr. Abercrombie read prayers. 
 
 The members present signed the testimonial, in such cases 
 prescribed by the canon, in favour of the Rev. Robert Smith, 
 D. D. who had been elected to the office of Bishop of the Pro- 
 testant Episcopal Church in the state of South Carolina; and trans- 
 mitted it by the Rev. Dr. Purcell, to the House of Bishops. 
 
 The House resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to 
 take into consideration the general state of the church, and the 
 Rev. Dr. Blackwell was appointed chairman. 
 
 After some time the committee rose, and the chairman report- 
 ed, that they had, according to order, taken under consideration 
 the proposed canon to them referred, entitled a canon concerning 
 the testimonials of those who are to be ordained, to which they 
 had made several amendments ; also a canon, to regulate the of- 
 ficiating of ministers in the parishes or parochial cures of other 
 clergymen, to which an amendment had been made. 
 
 Resolved, That the report be taken up on Monday next. 
 
 The chairman further reported, that the committee not having 
 ha4 time to go through the whole business referred to them, had 
 
140 
 
 directed him to ask for leave to sit again, which was granted. 
 
 The House of Bishops presented, by their Secretary, the two 
 following messages, which were read and ordered to lie on the 
 table. 
 
 " Whereas the present Convention, from particular unavoidable 
 circumstances,* is deprived of many of its members, who were 
 anxious to be present, 
 
 " Resolved^^ That this house propose to the House of Clerical 
 and Lay Deputies to defer the discussion of articles until the 
 meeting of the next General Convention, when a more full repre- 
 sentation of this church may be expected." 
 
 "'J'he House of Bishops took into consideration a resolution of 
 the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, as in preceding Conven- 
 tion, which resolution was in these words. Resolved, 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 : 
 
 '' Whereupon, i-esolved, that the following message be sent to 
 the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, viz. 
 
 "The House of Bishops have not in any former Convention, 
 expressed their sense upon the aforesaid subject; but they now 
 propose to the House ©f Clerical and Lay Deputies, that the le- 
 gislative power of the House of Bishops, shall remain as fixed by 
 the third article of the constitution of this church." 
 
 The House of Bishops also inforjned this house, that they had 
 examined and approved the testimonials in favor of the Rev. Dr. 
 Robert Smith, Bishop elect of the church in South Carolina, and 
 that they had appointed to-morrow morning as the time for his 
 consecration, at Christ church. 
 
 Adjourned to 10 o'clock on Monday morning. 
 
 Monday, 10 o'clock^ A. M. 
 
 The house met, and the Rev. Mr. Clarkson read prayers. 
 
 Dr. Andrews presented a proposed canon to alter canon 3d, of 
 the year 1789, respecting Episcopal visitation, which was read, and 
 ordered to be referred to the committee of the whole on the state 
 of the church. 
 
 Mr. Bisset presented a proposed canon to alter the 4th canon of 
 the year 1789, which was read, and ordered to be referred to the 
 same committee. 
 
 The house took up the proposed canon concerning the testimo- 
 nials of those who are to be ordained, which was read and passed. 
 ^ The proposed canon, to regulate the officiating of Ministers in 
 the parish or parochial cure of another Clergyinan, was taken up, 
 and the question on the proposed amendment was taken by states, 
 
 * The intercourse between Kew York and Philadelphia had been suspended by 
 pviblie authority, sometime before the meeting" of the Convention. 
 
141 
 
 and lost ; whereupon an addition to the canon was moved by Mr, 
 Bisset, read, and ordered to be postponed. 
 
 A proposed canon, for the better accomplishing of the objects of 
 the 6th canon, of the year 1792, respecting the preaching of Cler- 
 gymen in different parishes, was received from the House of 
 Bishops, read, and ordered to lie on the table. 
 
 The house then resolved itself into a committee of the whole, 
 on the order of the day, the Rev. Dr. Blackwell in the chair; and 
 after some time the committee rose, and the chairman reported the 
 following resolution. 
 
 Resolved, That the pamphlet entided " Strictures on the love 
 of power in the prelacy, by a member of the Protestant Episcopal 
 Association in the state of South Carolina," contains very offensive 
 and censurable matter. 
 
 This resolution was adopted by the house. 
 
 The committee then asked leave to sit again, which was granted. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Spierin obtained leave of absence. 
 
 Adjourned to 10 o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Tuesday, 10 d*clock^ A. M. 
 
 The house met, and the Right Rev. Dr. Madison read prayers. 
 
 The proposed canon respecting the testimonials to be produced 
 on the part of those who are to be ordained, was sent to the 
 House of Bishops, by the Rev. Mr. Bisset. 
 
 Dr. Magaw presented a proposed canon on the preparatory 
 exercises of a candidate for the ministry, which was read, amend- 
 ed, and sent to the House o* Bishops. 
 
 The House of Bishops returned the canon on the testimonials 
 to be produced on the part of those who are to be ordained, with 
 an amendment J which was agreed to, and returned by Mr. Wal- 
 lace, with an additional amendment, which was concurred in by 
 the House of Bishops. 
 
 The proposed canon respecting the officiating of Clergymen, 
 within the parish or parochial cure of another Clergyman, was 
 passed, and transmitted by the liev- Mr. Bisset to the House of 
 Bishops. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Croes presented a proposed canon, empowering 
 the Bishop in each diocese, to compose a form of prayer or thanks- 
 giving for extraordinary occasions, which was read and ordered 
 to lie on the table. 
 
 The canon, proposed by the House of Bishops, for the better 
 accomplishing of the objects of the 6th canon of the year 1792, 
 was returned to the House of Bishops, with an amendment, 
 which was agreed to. 
 
 The proposed canon respecting the preparatory exercises of 
 candidates,for holy ordfers, was agreed to, and sent to the House 
 of Bishops, by the Rev. Mr. Bisset. 
 
 The house resolved itself into a committee of the whole, on 
 the state of the church, the Rev. Dr. Blackwell in the chair. 
 
142 
 
 The committee rose and the chairman reported, 
 
 A canon of Episcopal visitation ; a canon of the learning of 
 candidates for holy orders ; and a canon of the age of those who 
 are to be ordained, or consecrated. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Keene, the Rev. Mr. Kemp, and Mr. Kerr, 
 obtained leave of absence. 
 
 Adjourned to 9 o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Wednesday, 9 o'clock^ A. M. 
 
 The house met, and the Rev. Mr. Waddell read prayers. 
 
 The proposed canon respecting Episcopal visitation was read, 
 passed and sent by the Rev. Mr. Clarkson, to the House of Bi- 
 shops. 
 
 The proposed canon, respecting the learning of candidates for 
 holy orders, was read, passed, and sent by the Rev. Mr; Bisset 
 to the House of Bishops ; also the proposed canon respecting the 
 age of those who are to be ordained. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Bisset presented additional documents respecting 
 the formation of a congregation in Person parish, in the state of 
 North Carolina ; which, after being read, were referred to the 
 Presidents of both houses. 
 
 The house then resolved itself into a committee of the whole, 
 with a view to determine who was the author of the pamplet en- 
 titled "■*• Strictures on the love of power in the Prelacy, by a mem- 
 ber of the Protestant Episcopal Association in the state of South 
 Carolina." 
 
 AVhile they were engaged in this business, a message came 
 from the House of Bishops which the committee rose to receive, 
 and which is in the following words : 
 
 " The House of Bishops propose a conference with the House 
 of Clerical and Lay Deputies, upon a matter which they are 
 anxious to lay before the house." 
 
 The house agreed to the conference, which was immediately 
 gone into, the President of the House of Bishops in the chair. 
 
 After some time the conference ended, and the President took 
 the chair. 
 
 A paper was laid before the House, concerning the pamphlet 
 entitled, " Strictures on the love of power in the Prelacy," which 
 it was resolved should be referred to a committee of the whole tOr 
 morrow. 
 
 The House of Bishops returned the canon respecting the learn- 
 ing of those who are to be ordained, with an amendment, which 
 being read, was negatived. 
 
 An amendment was also proposed by the House of Bishops, to 
 the canon respecting Episcopal Visitation, which was read, and 
 concurred in. 
 
 The Bishops returned the canon respecting the age of those 
 who are to be ordained or consecrated, with their concurrence. 
 
 The House of Bishops requested a conference, on the canon of 
 the learning of those who are to be ordained. 
 
143 
 
 Ordered^ That the Rev. Mr. Bend inform the House of Bi- 
 shops, that this House agrees to the conference on the proposed 
 canon, respecting the learning of those who are to be ordained. 
 
 The conference accordingly took place. 
 
 The proposed canon respecting the empowering of the Bishop 
 of each state, to compose a form of prayer or thanksgiving for 
 extraordinary occasions, was read, agreed to, and sent to the 
 House of Bishops by the Secretary. 
 
 The House of Bishops returned the said canon with their con- 
 currence. 
 
 Resolved unanimously^ That the thanks of this House be pre- 
 sented to the Rev. Dr. Smith, for his sermon delivered at the 
 consecration of the Right Reverend Dr. Robert Smith ; and that 
 he be desired to furnish a copy of the same to be printed. 
 
 The canon respecting the preparatory exercises of a candidate 
 for the ministry, was returned by the House of Bishops with 
 amendments, which were adopted. 
 
 Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Thursday, nijie o"* clocks A.M. 
 
 The House met, and the Rev. Mr. Croes read prayers. 
 
 Dr. Andrews proposed an amendment of an amendment propo- 
 sed by the House of Bishops on the proposed canon respecting 
 the learning of those who are to be ordained, and the question be- 
 ing taken by states, was agreed to, and sent to the House of Bi- 
 shops. 
 
 The House of Bishops returned the said canon with their con- 
 currence. 
 
 On motion of the Rev. Dr. Magaw, 
 
 Resolved^ That a committee be appointed, consisting of four 
 members, who (in concurrence with a committee of the House 
 of Bishops, if they shall appoint such committee, and indepen- 
 dently of what relates to the printing of the minutes) shall ar- 
 range the canons, and principal papers belonging to the Conven- 
 tion, causing them to be fairly transcribed in a proper bound 
 book, in order that they may be faithfully preserved for the per- 
 petual use of the Houses of the General Convention of this 
 church, to recur to, as occasion may require ; and the said com- 
 mittee may, if they think proper, employ a clerk, or transcriber, 
 to be paid out of such monies as may be provided, for defraying 
 the necessary incidental expenses of Convention. "Whereupon, 
 
 Resolved^ That the President of this House, the Rev. Dr. An- 
 drews, the Rev. Dr. Magaw, and the Rev. Dr. Blackwell, be 
 the members of the above committee, and that the Rev. Mr. Bis- 
 set, the Secretary of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies in 
 the last General Convention, be requested to collect and deliver 
 to the said committee, all the documents belonging to the Con- 
 vention, which may be in his hands, and to assist the committee 
 in the execution of their duties as far as may be in his power. 
 
144 
 
 A message was received from the House of Bishops, mform- 
 ing. this House that they had concurred in the above resolve, and 
 appointed Bishop White on their part. 
 
 The House resolved itself into a committee of the whole, on 
 the paper referred to them yesterday, and on other business re- 
 ferred to them. 
 
 The committee rose, and their chairman reported, that they 
 had considered the paper referred to them yesterday, which was 
 trom the author of the pamphlet entitled, " Strictures on the Love 
 of Power in the Prelacy," in which he professes his sorrow for 
 the publication, and that they were of opinion the House sheuld 
 accept it as a satisfactory concession. 
 
 Resolved^ That the House adopt the above report. 
 
 The committee also reported certain canons and resolutions, 
 without amendment. 
 
 Ordered^ That the paper referred to in the report, be carried 
 by the Rev. Mr. Bisset to the House of Bishops. 
 
 The following message was received from the House of Bishops: 
 
 "• The Bishops request the House of Clerical and Lay Depu- 
 ties, to appoint a committee, to confer with a committee of their 
 House on a subject which has been already before them." 
 
 A committee of five was accordingly appointed, vizi the Rev, 
 Dr. Andrews, the Rev. Mr. Bend, the Rev. Mr. Waddell, Co- 
 lonel Gurney and Mr. Johnson ', who at the request of the House 
 of Bishops, repaired to their chamber, and on their return made 
 a report, referring to some alterations which may be proper in the- 
 minutes, in consequence of the concession made by the author 
 of the pamphlet, entitled, "■ Strictures on the Love of Power in 
 the Prelacy," which was agreed to. 
 
 Adjourned till nine o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Friday, nine o'' clocks A. M. 
 
 The House met, and the Rev. Dr. Purcell read prayers. 
 
 The canon entitled a canon, to prevent a congregation in anv 
 diocese or state, to unite with the church in anv other diocese or 
 state, which was proposed by the House of Bishops, was read, 
 amended, and being sent to the House of Bishops, was returned 
 with their concurrence. 
 
 Resolved^ That the testimonials from the state of Termont, 
 respecting the consecration of the Rev. Dr. Sa.nuel Peters, sent 
 by the House of Bishops, be returned to them, with a request, 
 that they will ansvv'er it in wl\atever manner they shall think best. 
 
 The message from the House of Bishops respecting the articles 
 of religion, was read and concurred in. 
 
 The following resolve was sent by the Rev- Dr. Andrews to 
 the House of Bishops, and returned with their concurrence : 
 
 Resolved^ That it be earnesdy recommended to the churches in 
 the several states, not to fail to send deputies to the next General 
 Convention, as it appears inexpedient, that the consideration of 
 
145 
 
 the articles of religion should be postponed beyond the period of 
 that meeting. 
 
 The Secretary of the committee for carrying into effect the act 
 for supporting Missionaries to preach the gospel on the Frontiers 
 of the United States, reported to this House, the progress made 
 by said committee in the execution of the business entrusted to 
 them— whereupon. 
 
 Resolved^ That it be recommended to the different State Con- 
 ventions, to continue either by an annual sermon, or by soliciting 
 private contributions, to provide for the establishment of Mis- 
 sionaries to preach the gospel on the frontiers of the United States; 
 and that instead of committing the general management of the 
 fund, as by the act of the last General Convention, to a standing 
 committee of any state, the Convention of each state shall ap- 
 point such committee to have the management of the money con- 
 tributed in that state, and the application of the same to the sup- 
 port of a Missionary or Missionaries in such part of the United 
 States as they may think proper ; and the money heretofore col- 
 lected in any state, and remitted to the treasurer of the former 
 standing committee, shall be returned to such state committees, 
 when they are appointed, and shall call for the same. 
 
 The act passed on this subject in the year 1792, is hereby re- 
 scinded. 
 
 Resolved^ That a committee of both Houses be appointed to 
 digest, and report to the next General Convention a course of 
 study for candidates for holy orders, and that the following gen- 
 tlemen be appointed by this House : — The Rev. Dr. Moore, the 
 Rev. Dr. Andrews, the Rev. Dr. Magaw, the Rev. Dr. Smith, 
 and the Rev. Mr. Bend. 
 
 Resolved^ With the concurrence of the House of Bishops, that 
 it be made known to the several State Conventions, that it is pro- 
 posed to consider and determine in the next General Convention, 
 on the following addition to the second article of the constitution, 
 in the 9th line, after the word " Convention," viz : 
 
 *' But if the church shall not be represented in both orders in 
 a majority of the states, then the vote shall be given by states 
 without regard to orders." 
 
 Resolved unanimously J With the concurrence of the House of 
 Bishops, that the thanks of this Convention be given to Matthew 
 Clarkson, Esquire, Mayor of the city, for the use of the City 
 Hall, and that Colonel Gurney and Joseph Swift, Esquire, be a 
 committee to communicate the same. 
 
 Resolved^ With the concurrence of the House of Bishops, that 
 eight hundred copies of the Journals be printed. 
 
 The House proceeded to appoint a standing committee,*" and 
 the following gentlemen were chosen : 
 
 * For the powers and duties ofthe standing- committee, seepage 11 of the Joiir- 
 iiaJ of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies in Convention, Sept. 1789. 
 
 u 
 
146 
 
 For New Hampshire^ The Hon. Mr. Livermore. 
 ' For Massachusetts^ The Rev. Dr. Parker. 
 
 For Rhode Island, The Rev. William Smith. 
 
 For Connecticut, The Rev. Mr. Baldwin. 
 
 For New Tork, The Rev. Dr. Moore, the Rev. Dr. Beacli, 
 Robert Watts, Esq. "\ 
 
 For New Jersey^ The Rev. Mr. Waddell, the Rev. Mr. Croes, ' 
 Joshua M. Wallace, Esq. 
 
 For Pennsylvania, The Rev. Dr. MagaW, the Rev. Dr. Black- 
 well, the Rev. Dr. Andrews, Cojonel Gurney, Joseph Swift, Esq. 
 Mr. J. B. Gilpin. 
 
 For Delaware^ The Rev. Mr. Clarkson, the Rev. Mr. Clay, 
 Nicholas Ridgley, Esq. 
 
 For Maryland^ The Rev. Mr. Bend, Samuel Johnson, Esq. 
 General Lloyd. 
 
 For Virginia,, The Rev. Dr. M'Croskey, Robert Andrews, 
 Esq. 
 
 For South Carolina^ The Rev. Mr. Frost, Rev. Dr. Purcell, 
 the Hon. William Smith. 
 
 Ordered, That the President of this house is chairman of the 
 above committee, and is empowered to call together the members. 
 
 Resolved, That the thanks of this house be given to the Presi- 
 dent for his able and impartial management in his place, and to 
 the Secretary, for his correct attention and services. 
 
 Resolved, That the next meeting of the General Convention be 
 held in the city of Philadelphia. 
 
 The house rose. 
 
 WILLIAM SMITH, President. 
 
 James Abercrombie, Secretary. 
 
 JOURNAL OF THE HOUSE OF BISHOPS. 
 
 Philadelphia, September 8, 1795. 
 
 THIS being the day of the meeting of the General Conven- 
 tion of the Protestant' Episcopal church, the Right Rev. Bishop 
 W^hite attended, in Christ church. 
 
 In the Vestry Room of Christ Church, 
 Wednesday, Sept. 9. 
 
 The house met — present. 
 
 The Right Rev. Bishop White, of the state of Pennsylvania, 
 who, by the rules of the house made at the last meeting, presided. 
 The Right Rev. Bishop Provoost, of the state of New York. 
 The Right Rev. Bishop Madison, of the state of Virginia. 
 The Rev. Joseph Turner was chosen Secretary. 
 The bouse received a message from the House of Clerical and 
 
147 
 
 Lay Deputies, informlnc; them, that their house was formed, and 
 readv to proceed to business. 
 
 This house received another message informing them, that the 
 House of Clerical and Lay Deputies propose to this house, the 
 adjourning to the City Hall. ;. 
 
 I'he proposal for removing is agreed to. 
 
 This house sent a message to the house of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies, informing them, that Bishop Provoost is ready to preach 
 before the Convention, agreeably to the appointment of the last 
 Convention, and proposing Friday next, ^s the time for the de- 
 livery of the sermon. 
 
 Information was received that the''House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies concurred. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies, proposing, ♦hat the hours of sitting of the Convention, 
 shall be from 10 in the morning to 3 in the afternoon, with which 
 this house concurred. 
 
 Resolved, That during the session of the Convention, the 
 house will attend divine service, in the house of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies. 
 
 Adjourned to pieet to-morrow morning in the City Hall. 
 
 City Hall, Thursday^ September 10. 
 
 The house met, present. 
 
 The Right Rev. Bishop White, President, 
 Right Kev. Bishop Provoost, 
 Right Rev. Bishop Madison, 
 Right Rev. Bishop Claggett. 
 The Rev. Mr. Bisset presented to this house, from the House 
 of Clerical and Lay Deputies, an application from the vestry of 
 the Protestant Episcopal church in Person county. North Caro- 
 lina. 
 
 This house resolved. That it be proposed to the House of Cle- 
 rical and Lay Deputies, that as the said letter cannot be acted on 
 by the Convention, the Presidents of the two houses be desired to 
 send such an answer to the same, as in their judgments shall te 
 proper. 
 
 Adjourned to 10 o'clock to-inorrow mot-ning. 
 
 Friday Morning, 10 o'clock. 
 
 The house met, present as yesterday. , i 
 
 This house proceeded with the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies to Christ church, where the Rev. Mr. Waddell read 
 prayers ; after which the Right Rev. Bishop Provoost delivered 
 a sermon suited to the occasion of the present meeting, as ap- 
 pointed at the last Convention. 
 
 After divine service this house returned to .the City Hall, and 
 entered upon business. ;»7 :I'i'^.'-' «.'tti .V ^ 
 
 Resolved, That the thanks of this house be given to the Right 
 
148 
 
 Rev. Bishop Provoost for his sermon delivered this morning,and 
 that he be desired to furnish a copy of it for the press. 
 
 This house originated a canon and sent it to the house of Cle- 
 rical and Lay Deputies, restricting any individual congregation 
 from associating with the church of any other diocese or state, 
 than that in which they are situated. 
 
 The house then adjoured. 
 
 Saturday Morning, 10 d^clocL 
 
 The house met, present as yesterday* 
 
 This house received from the House of Clerical and Lay De- 
 puties, the testimonials of the Rev. Robert Smith, D. D. Bishop 
 elect of this church in the state of South Carolina. 
 
 A message was sent from this house to the house of Clerical 
 and Lay Deputies, informing them, that they had examined and 
 approved the testimonials of the Rev. Dr. Smith of South Caro- 
 lina, and that the consecration will take place to-morrow morn- 
 ing in Christ Church. 
 
 The following message was sent from this house to the House 
 of Clerical and Lay Deputies : Whereas the present Convention, 
 from particular unavoidable circumstances, is deprived of many of 
 its members ; 
 
 Resolved, That this house propose to the House of Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies, to defer the discussion of the articles, until the 
 meeting of the next General Convention, when a more full re- 
 presentation of this church may be expected. 
 
 The following message was also sent to the House of Clerical 
 and Lay Deputies, viz. 
 
 This house took into consideration a resolution of the House of 
 Clerical and Lay Deputies, in a preceding Convention which re- 
 solution is in these words. 
 
 Resolved, There be made known to the several state Conven- 
 tions, 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. 
 
 Thereupon resolved, That the following message be sent to the 
 House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, viz. The House of Bishops 
 have not expressed their sense in any former Convention, upon 
 the subject aforesaid: But they now propose to the House of 
 Clerical and Lay Deputies, that the legislative power of the 
 House of Bishops shall remain as fixed by the third article of the 
 constitution ot this church. 
 
 The house then adjourned to Monday 10 o'clock. 
 
 Monday Morning, Sept. 14. 
 
 The house met, present as on Saturday. 
 
 The Right Rev. Dr. Smith who had been yesterday consecrated 
 
149 
 
 Bishop of this church in South Carolina, took his seat in thia 
 house. 
 
 A proposed canon was sent to the House of Clerical and Lay- 
 Deputies, intended to accomplish more fully the object of the 
 sixth canon passed in Convention in 1 792. 
 
 The Right Rev. bishop Claggett obtained leave of absence. 
 
 The house then adjourned. , 
 
 Tuesday Morning. 
 
 The house met, present as yesterday, except Bishop Claggett. 
 
 This house received from the House of Clerical and Lay De- 
 puties, a proposed canon respecting the testimonials of those who 
 are to be ordained. 
 
 This house returned the above proposed canon to the House of 
 Clerical and Lay Deputies, with an amendment. 
 
 The same canon was again presented to this house with an 
 amendment from the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, with 
 which this house concurred. 
 
 This house received a proposed canon from the House of Cle- 
 rical and Lay Deputies, on the preparatory exercises of the can- 
 didates for the ministry. 
 
 This house returned the same with amendments. 
 
 The proposed canon that originated in this house, for the more 
 full accomplishing of the object of the sixth canon of 1792, which 
 had been sent to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, was 
 returned to this house with an amendment. 
 
 The proposed canon respecting preparatory exercises of can- 
 didates for the ministry, was returned to the House of Clerical 
 and Lay Deputies with an amendment. 
 
 The house then adjourned to 9 o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Wednesday Morning, 9 o\lock. 
 
 The house met, present as yesterday. 
 
 A message was sent from this house to the House of Clerical 
 and Lay Deputies, desiring a conference with their house, upon a 
 matter which they are desirous to lay before them. 
 
 The conference was agreed to, and the House of Bishops met 
 the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, in the chamber of the 
 latter : when the President, by desire, took the chair. 
 
 The conference being ended, this house returned to their cham- 
 ber. 
 
 This house received from the House of Clerical and Lay De- 
 puties, their concurrence with the amendment to the proposed 
 canon, respecting exercises to be required of persons who are to 
 be ordained. 
 
 Resolved, That the said canon now pass and be returned to the 
 House of Clerical and Lay Deputies. 
 
 This house received from the House of Clerical and Lay De- 
 
150 
 
 puties, a proposed canon concerning the learning of those who are 
 to be ordained. 
 
 This House received from the House of Clerical and Lay De- 
 puties, a proposed canon to alter the 3d canon of 1789, on episco- 
 pal visitations. 
 
 This House received from the House of Clerical and Lay De- 
 puties, a proposed canon to alter the canon concerning the age of 
 persons jo be ordained. 
 
 This House returned to the House of Clerical and Lay Depu- 
 ties their proposed canon concerning the learning of persons to 
 be ordained with an amendment, and also the proposed canon to 
 alter the 3d canon of 1789, Avith an amendment. 
 
 This House passed the proposed canon to alter the canon re- 
 specting the age of persons to be ordained. 
 
 This House passed the canon to alter the 6th canon of 1792, of 
 officiating in the parishes or parochial cures of other ministers. 
 
 The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies signified their non- 
 concurrence with the amendment of the proposed canon, concern- 
 ing the learning of persons to be ordained. 
 
 Resolved^ That a- conference be requested on the said proposed 
 canon, at such hour as the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies 
 may appoint. 
 
 This House received a message from the House of Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies informing that they agreed to the conference. 
 
 The two Houses then went into conference, and after some 
 time spent therein, this House returned to their chamber. 
 
 This House received from the House of Clerical and Lay De- 
 puties a proposed canon, authorising the Bishop of any diocese to 
 appoint forms of prayer or thanksgiving for extraordinary occa- 
 sions ; which was passed and returned. 
 
 Resolved wiammoiisli/. That the thanks of this House be pre- 
 sented to'the Kev. Dr. William Smith, for his sermon delivered 
 in Christ Church, at the consecration of the Right Rev. Dr. Ro- 
 bert Smith ; and that he be requested to furnish a copy of the 
 iame to be printed. 
 
 The Right Rev. Bishop Madison obtained leave of absence. 
 
 This House then adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Thursday morning, nine o'clock. 
 
 The House met : present, as yesterday, except the Right Rev. 
 Bishop Madison. 
 
 This House returned to the House of Clerical and Lay Depu- 
 ties, the proposed canon of the learning of persons to be ordained, 
 with an amendment. • 
 
 The above proposed canon was retui'ned to the House with an 
 amendment, with which thts House concurred. 
 
 ^his House received a resolution fi-om the House of Clerical 
 and Lay Deputies, for the appointing of a committee, for the ar- 
 
151 
 
 rangement of the canons and other papers belonging to this Con- 
 vention, desiring the concurrence of this House. 
 
 This House concurred in the same. 
 
 This House requested the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, • 
 to appoint a committee of their House to meet a committee of the 
 House of Bishops. 
 
 The committee of this House is, Bishop White and Bisliop 
 Provoost. 
 
 The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies agreed to the request 
 of this House, and the joint committee met in the Bishops' 
 chamber. 
 
 This being done, this House returned to their chamber. 
 
 A message came to this House from the House of Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies, that they had agreed to the report of the joint com- 
 mittee Avith a small amendment, Avhich was agreed to. 
 
 Bishop Provoost obtained leave of absence. 
 
 The House then adjourned to 9 o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Friday Morning, 9 o'clock. 
 
 The House met : present, the Right Rev. Bishop White and 
 the Right Rev. Bishop Smith. 
 
 There was returned to this House the proposed canon from the 
 House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, to prevent any church from 
 uniting themselves to any other diocese, than to that in the state 
 in which they belong, with an amendment to the said canon ; 
 which amendment was agreed to, and the canon passed. 
 
 This House received from the House of Clerical and Lay De- 
 puties, papers respecting the election of Dr. Peters to be Bishop 
 in the state of Vermont. 
 
 The President of this House is desired to give such an answer 
 as the nature of the case requires, and particularly to mention in 
 the said answer, that the Bishops cannot with propriety conse- 
 crate a Bishop for the church in any state, until such church shall 
 have acceded to the general ecclesiastical constitution of the 
 church in the United States. 
 
 This House received a resolution from the House of Clerical 
 and Lay Deputies, proposing that the moneys collected for the 
 purpose of sending Missionaries to the frontiers, be returned to 
 the churches in the states in which they were respectively col- 
 lected; and proposing, that the object of the institution be pur- 
 sued by the churches in the individual states, with which this 
 House agreed. * 
 
 This House received a proposed constitutional alteration of the 
 manner of voting in the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies ; in 
 which this House concurred. 
 
 This House received a resolution from the House of Clerical 
 and Lay Deputies, to appoint a committee that may digest and 
 report to the next Convention, a course of studies for candidates 
 for holy orders, in which this House concurred, and the Right 
 
152 
 
 Hev* Bishop "White, Bishop Provoost and Bishop Madison, are 
 the committee from this House for the above purpose. 
 
 The House of Bishops concurred with the House of Clerical 
 and Lay Deputies in thanks to the Mayor of the city for the use 
 of the hall. 
 
 The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies inform this House, 
 that 800 copies of the Journals of this Convention, are proposed 
 to be printed, which was agreed to. 
 
 IHie House of Clerical and Lay Deputies sent a message to this 
 House, expressing their intention ot rising ; and that they had 
 appointed Philadelphia for the place of meeting of the next Gre- 
 neral Convention. 
 
 The thanks of the House of Bishops were given to the Rev. 
 Joseph Turner, for his services as Secretary. 
 Signed bu order of the House^ 
 
 WILLIAM WHITE, Presiding Bishop. 
 
 Attest. Joseph Turner, Secretary. 
 
 The Certificate of the Consecration of the Right Rev. Bishop 
 S}nzth^ is as folloivs : _ 
 
 KNOW all men by these presents, that we, William White, 
 D. D. Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the state of 
 Pennsylvania, presiding Bishop ; Samuel Provoost, D. D. Bi- 
 shop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the state of New 
 York ; James Madison, D. D, Bishop of the Protestant Episco- 
 pal Church in the state of Virginia; and Thomas John Claggett, 
 D. D. Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the state of 
 Maryland, under the protection of Almighty God, in Christ 
 Church, in the city of Philadelphia, on Sunday, the thirteenth 
 day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven 
 hundred and ninety-five, did then and there rightly and canoni- 
 cally consecrate our beloved in Christ, Robert Smith, D. D. 
 Provost of Charleston College, and Rector of St. Philip's Church, 
 Charleston, in the state of South Carolina, of whose sufficiency 
 in good learning, soundness in the faith and purity of manners 
 we were fully ascertained, into the office of Bishop of the Protes- 
 tant Episcopal Church in the said state, to which the said Ro- 
 bert Smith hath been elected by the Convention of the said state. 
 In testimony whereof, we have signed our names, and caused 
 our seals to be affixed. Given in the citv of Philadelphia, this 
 fourteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord one thou- 
 sand seven hundred and ninety-five. 
 
 WILLIAM WHITE, (l.s.) 
 
 SA?1UEL PROVOOST, (l.s.) 
 
 JAMES MADISON, (l. s.) 
 
 THOMAS JOHN CLAGGETT, (l. s.) 
 
153 
 
 APPEISDIX. 
 
 CANONS. 
 
 Cawon I. — Of Episcopal Visitation. 
 
 EVERY Bishop in this church shall visit the churches with- 
 in his diocese or district, for the purpose of examining the state 
 of his church, inspecting the behaviour of the clergy, and admi- 
 nistering the apostolic rite of confirmation. And it is deemed 
 proper, that such visitations be made once in three years at least, 
 by everv Bishop to every church within his diocese or district, 
 which shall make provision for defraying the necessary expenses 
 of the Bishop at such visitation. And it is hereby declared to be 
 the duty of the minister and vestry of every church or congrega- 
 tion, to make such provision accordingly. 
 
 The Bishop of any diocese or state district, may, on the invita- 
 tion of the Convention or standing committee of the church in 
 any state where there is not a Bishop, visit and perform the epis- 
 copal offices in that state, or part of the state, as the case may be, 
 provision being made for defraying his expenses as aforesaid : 
 and such state, or part of a state, shall be considered as annexed 
 to the district or diocese of such Bishop, until a Bishop is duly 
 elected and consecrated for such state, or until the invitation 
 given by the Convention or standing committee be revoked. But 
 it is to be understood, that to enable the Bishop to make the 
 aforesaid visitations, it shall be the duty of the clergy, in such 
 reasonable rotation as may be devised, to officiate for hira in any 
 parochial duties which belong to him. And no' state shall pro- 
 ceed to the election or appointment of a Bishop, unless there be 
 at least six Presbyters residing and officiating therein, a majority 
 of whom, at least, shall concur jp such election. But the Con- 
 ventions of two or more states, having together nine or more set- 
 tled and officiating Presbyters, may associate, and join in the 
 election of a Bishop. 
 
 The third canon of the year 1789 is hereby rescinded. 
 
 Canon II. — Of the testimonials to be produced on the part of 
 
 those -who are to he ordained. 
 
 Every candidate for holy orders, shall be recommended to the 
 Bishop by a standing committee appointed by the Convention of 
 the church in that state wherein he resides, which recommenda- 
 tion shall be signed by the names of a majority of the committee, 
 and shall be in the following words : 
 
 " We whose names are here underwritten, testify, that A. B. 
 " hath laid before us satisfactory testimonials, that for the space 
 " of three years last past, he hath lived piously, soberly, and ho- 
 " nestly ; and hath not written, taught, ur held any thing con- 
 
 X 
 
154 
 
 " trary to the doctrine or discipline of the Protestant Episcopal 
 " Church : And moreover, we think hun a person worthy to be 
 ** adnr)itted to the sacred order of " ' In witness M'hereof, 
 
 " we have hereunto set our hands this day of , in the 
 
 " year of our Lord ." 
 
 But before a standing committee in any state shall proceed t» 
 recommend any candidate, as aforesaid to the Bishop, such can- 
 didate shall produce from the minister and vestry of the parish 
 where he resides, or from the vestry alone if the parish be vacant, 
 or if there be no vestry, from at Itast twelve respectable persons 
 of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the neighbourhood in 
 which he resides, testimonials of his good morals and orderly 
 conduct for three years last past, and that he has not, so far as 
 they know and believe, written, taught, or held any thing con- 
 trary to the doctrine or discipline of the Protestant Episcopal 
 Church ; a publication of his intention to apply for holy orders 
 having been previously made by such minister or vestr}% He 
 shall also lay before the standing committee, testimonials to the 
 same efft ct, signed by at least one respectable clergyman of the 
 Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States, from his per- 
 sonal knowledge of the candidate for at least one year. 
 
 In every state in which there is no standing committee, such 
 committee shall be appointed at its next ensuing Convention; and 
 in the mean time, every candidate for holy orders shall be recom- 
 mended according to the regulations or usage of the church in 
 each state, and the requisitions of the Bishop to whom he applies. 
 
 The 6th canon passed in October, 1789, concerning the testi- 
 monials to be produced on the part of those who are to be or- 
 dained, and so much of the 4th canon passed in 1792, as relates 
 to the subject of this canon, are hereby rescinded. 
 
 Canon 111. — Of the age of those who are to be Ordabied or 
 
 Consecrated. 
 
 Deacon's orders shall not be conferred on any person until he 
 shall be twenty-one years old, nor Priest's orders on any one un- 
 til he shall be twenty four years old, and unless he shall have 
 been a Deacon one year. No man shall be consecrated a Bishop 
 of this church, until he shall be thirty years old. 
 
 The 4th canon of the year 1789, is hereby rescinded. 
 
 Cai^on IV. — Of the Learning of those zuho are to be Ordained, 
 
 No person shall be ordained in this church, until he shall have 
 satisfied the Bishop and the two Presbytei-s by whom he shall be 
 examined, that he is well acquainted with the holy scriptures, can 
 read the New '^restament in the original Greek, and give an ac- 
 count of his faith in the Latin tongue ; and that he hath a compe- 
 tent knowledge of natural and moral philosophy and church h\.S'- 
 tory, and hath paid attention to composition and pulpit elo^uence^ 
 
155 
 
 as means of giving additional efficacy to his labours ; unless the 
 Bishop shall judge it proper to dispense with the above requis'tes 
 in part, in consideration of certain other qualifications in the can- 
 didate peculiarly fitting him for the gospel ministry. 
 The 7th canon of the year 1789, is hereby rescinded. 
 
 Canon V. — Of the officiating of Ministers of this Churchy in the 
 Churches or within the Parochial Cures of other Clergyynen. 
 
 No clergyman belonging to this church shall officiate, e ther by 
 preaching or reading prayers in the parish, or within the paro- 
 chial cure of another clergyman, unless he have received express 
 permission for that purpose from the minister of the parish or 
 cure, or in his absence, from the church wardens and vestrymen, 
 or trustees of the congregation. But, if any ministi r of a cliurch 
 shall, from inability, or any other cause, neglect to perform the 
 regular services to his congregation, and shall refuse his consent 
 to any other minister of this church to officiate within his cure, 
 the church wardens, vestrymen, or trustees of such congregation 
 shall, on proof of such neglect and refusal before the Bishop ol the 
 diocese, or, if there be no Bishop, before the standing commit- 
 tee, or before such persons as may be deputed by him or them, 
 or before such persons as may be, by the regulations of this church 
 in any state, vested with the power of hearing and deciding on 
 complaints against clergymen, have power to open the doors of 
 their churches to any regular minister of the Protestant Episcopal 
 Church. 
 
 The 6th canon of 1792, is hereby rescinded. 
 
 Canon VI. — Of the preparatory exercises of a Candidate for the 
 
 Ministry. 
 
 Every candidate for the ministry shall give notice of his inten- 
 tion to the Bishop, or to such body as the church in the state in 
 which the candidate resides, may l^e appointed to superintend 
 the instruction of candidates for holy orders, at least one year be- 
 fore his ordination. And if there be a Bishop within the state or 
 district where the candidate resides, he shall apply to no other 
 Bishop for ordination, without the permission of the former. 
 And the said candidate shall pass through the preparatory exer- 
 cises which the Bishop, or such body aforesaid, may appoint ; 
 such as composing of theses, homilies or sermons, one or more, 
 to be delivered, either publicly or privately, in his or their pre- 
 sence, at such time or times as may be appointed by the autho- 
 rity aforesaid- 
 
 And this canon shall be in force from and after the first day of 
 January next. 
 
 Canon VII. — For the better accomplishing of the objects of the 
 sixth Canon of 17 92, 
 
 Whereas there is no provision made in the 6th canon of 1 792, 
 
156 
 
 for the case of such a vicinity of two or tnore churches, as that 
 there can be no local boundaries drawn between their respective 
 cures, it is hereby ordained, that in every such case, no minister 
 of this church, other than the parochial clergy of the said cures^ 
 shall preach within the connmon limits of the same, in any other 
 place than in one of the churches thereof, without the consent of 
 the major number of the parochial clergy of the said churches. 
 
 Canon VIII. — To prevent a Cdngreg-ation in anij Diocese or 
 State to unite with a Church in any other Diocese or State. 
 
 "Whereas a question may arise, whether a congregation within 
 the dioctse of any Bishop, or within any state in which there is 
 not yet any Bishop settled, may unite themselves with the church 
 in any other diocese or state ; it is hereby determined and declar- 
 ed, that all such unions shall be considered as irregular and void; 
 and that every congregation of this church shall be considered as 
 belonging to the body of the church of the diocese, or of the state^ 
 within the limits of which they dwell j or within which there is 
 seated a church to which they belong. And no clergyman having 
 a parish or cure in more than one state, shall have a seat in the 
 Convention of any state, other than that in which he resides. 
 
 Canon IX, — To empoxver the Bishop in each diocese or district 
 to compose forms of prayer or thanksgiving for extraordinary 
 occasions. 
 
 The Bishop of each diocese or district may compose forms of 
 prayer or Thanksgiving, as the case may require, for extraordi- 
 nary occasions, and transmit them to each clergyman within his 
 diocese or district, whose duty it shall be to use such forms in his 
 church, on such occasions. And the Clergy in those states in 
 which there is no Bishop, may use the forms of prayer or thanks- 
 givmg compoijcd by the Bishop of any other state. 
 
 Done in Convention, and jdgned by order of the House of Bi- 
 shops, 
 
 WILLIAM WHITE, D. D. Presiding Bishop. 
 WILLIAM SMITH, D. D President of the 
 House of Clerical and Lay Deputies. 
 
157 
 
 List of the Clergy of the Protestant Episcopal Churchy delivered 
 in^ and published^ agreeably to the 16th canon of the General 
 Convention of 1789* 
 
 From New Hampsliire and Massachusetts no lists wei"e delivered in. 
 
 The lists from Rhode Island and Connecticut are tlie same as those in the last 
 Joui-nal, no new lists having- been delivered in. 
 
 f 
 
 Rhode Island. 
 
 Rev. Moses Badger, Rector of King's 
 church. Providence. 
 
 Rev. William Smith, Rector of Trini- 
 ty church, Newport. 
 
 Cormectictit. 
 
 Right Rev. Samuel Seabury, D. D. 
 Bishop. 
 
 Rev. Ebenezer Dibble, Rector of St. 
 John's church, Stamford. 
 
 Rev. George Ogilvie, St. Paul's church, 
 Norwalk. 
 
 Rev. Philo Shehon, Stratfield. 
 Rev. Dr. Bela Hubbard, Trinity church, 
 New Haven. 
 
 Rev. Philo Perry, Christ church, New- 
 town. 
 
 Rev. David Perry, Reading, &c. 
 
 Rev. Marsh, New Milford. 
 
 Rev. Ashbel Baldwin, Litchfield. 
 
 Rev. Ambrose Todd, Sj-msbury. 
 
 Rev. Abraham Lynsen Clarke, Hunt- 
 ington. 
 
 i<ev. Dr. Richard Mansfield, Derby. 
 
 Rev. Reuben Ives, Cheshire. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Abraham Jarvis, Christ 
 rhurch, Middleton. 
 
 Rev. Daniel Fcigg, Brooklyn. 
 
 Rev. John Tyler, Christ church, Nor- 
 wich. 
 
 Rev. Prindle, WeStbury. 
 
 Rev. John Bowden, residing at Strat- 
 ford. 
 
 Rev. Edwai'd Blackslee, Deacon, 
 Woodbridge. 
 
 Rev. .Solomon Blackslee, Deacon, East 
 Haddam, 
 
 Rev. Da\'id Belden, Deacon, , 
 
 Rev. Seth Hart, Deacon, Waterbury. 
 
 Rev. David Butler, Deacon, North 
 Guilford. 
 
 J^''eiv York. 
 
 Right Rev. Samuel Provoost, D. D. 
 Bishop. 
 
 Rev. Jeremiah Learning, D. D. resid- 
 ing in New York. 
 
 — Abraham Beach, D. D. Assistant 
 Minister of Trinity church. New York. 
 
 — Benjamin Moore, D. D. Assistant 
 Minister of Trinity church, New York. 
 
 — Thomas L. Moore, Rector of St. 
 George's church. South Hempstead. 
 
 — Thomas Ellison, ResWr of St. Pe- 
 ter's church, Albany. 
 
 Rev. John Bisset, Assistant Minister o 
 Trinity church, in the city of New York' 
 
 — Richard C. Moore, Rector of St- 
 Andrew's church, Stat* n Island. 
 
 — George H. Spieren, Rector of 
 Christ church, Poughkeepsie. 
 
 — Samutl Nosbit, Rector of SL Anne's 
 church, Brooklyn. 
 
 — Elias Cooper, Rector of St. John's 
 church, Fhilipsburg. 
 
 — Andrew Fowler, Rector of ■ ■ 
 church, Bedford. 
 
 — Theodosius Bartow, Rector of 
 Trinity church. New Roclielle. 
 
 — A\'iliiam Hammel, Rector of the 
 churches at Jamaica, Newtow^n and 
 Flushing. 
 
 — John J. Sands, Minister of Christ 
 church. Rye. 
 
 — - Elijah D. Rattoone, Professor of the 
 Greek and Latin Languages in Columbia 
 college. 
 
 — Ammi Rogers, Rector of the 
 chiuches at Schenectady and Ballston. 
 
 — John Ireland, Rector of St. Peter's 
 church, Westchester. 
 
 — . Belden, Rector of Christ 
 
 church, Daiuiesburgh. 
 
 — Frederick Van Home, Minister of 
 St. Andrew's church, Ulster county. 
 
 Gardiner, Minister of Christ 
 
 church, Hudson. 
 
 Haskill, Minister of • — 
 
 church Peek^kiil. 
 
 — James Nicholls officiates every 3d 
 Sunday at Camden. 
 
 — Daniel Baaber officiates every 3d 
 Sunday at Kingsbm'y. 
 
 J\'eiu Jersey. 
 
 — Uzal Ogden, Rector of Tiinity 
 church, Newark. 
 
 — Henry Waddell, Rector of Christ 
 church, Shrewsbury, and Christ chiuch, 
 Middletown. 
 
 — Henry Van Djke, Rector of St. 
 Mary's church, Burlington. 
 
 William Ayres, Rector of St. Peter's 
 church, Spotswood. 
 
 — John Crocs, Rector of Trinity 
 church, Sweedsborough. 
 
 — Richard C. Moore, Rector of St. 
 Peter's church, Amboy, but residing in 
 the state of New York. 
 
 — Ehsha D. Rattoone, Assistant Mi- 
 
158 
 
 jiister of Trinity church, Newark, but 
 residihgin New York. 
 
 — John Wade, residing- at present in 
 Cole's Town. 
 
 Pennsylvania. 
 The Right Rev. William AVhite, D. D, 
 
 Bishop. 
 The Rev. WiUiam Smith, D. D. 
 • Samuel Magaw, D. D. Rector of St. 
 
 Paul's chui-ch, Philadelphia. 
 — ' -« / . John A ndrews, D. D. Vice Pro- 
 
 vost of the University of i-'enn- 
 
 sylvania. 
 — — Robert Blackwell, D. D. Assistant 
 
 Minister of Christ church and 
 
 St. Peters, in the city of Phila- 
 delphia. 
 
 Joseph Hutchins, D. D. 
 
 — — John Campbell, Rector of the 
 
 Episcopal churches ot York and 
 
 Huntingdon, 
 -r.— Slator Clay, Rector of St. David's, 
 
 Radnor, St Peter's in the Valley, 
 
 and .St. James's, Perkiomen. 
 Ehsha Rigg, Rector of St, James's, 
 
 Lancaster. 
 — — Levi Heath, rector of Pequea and 
 
 Bangor churches, Lancaster co. 
 Robert Ayre«, rector of Kmanuel 
 
 church aiKl .St. Peter's clmrch in 
 
 Washington & Fayette counties. 
 — — Francis Rene, Westmoreland co. 
 Joseph Tur:.er, rector of St. Paul's 
 
 church, Cliester, and St. Martin's 
 
 church, Marcus Hook. 
 
 Caleb Hopkins, rector of Christ 
 
 church, Derry township, and 
 Chrisv cliuich, Turbut township, 
 Northumberland county. 
 — — Thomas Davis, Washington co. 
 James Abercrombie, .-. ssistant Mi- 
 nister of Christ church and St. 
 Petei''s, in the city of Pliila. 
 
 Joseph Doddridge, Deacon in 
 
 Washington county. 
 John Taylor, Deacon in Northum- 
 berland county. 
 
 Absalom Jones, a black man. 
 
 Deacon in the African church of 
 St. Thomas, Philadelphia. 
 
 Delaioare. 
 
 ■ Joseph Clarkson, rector of Trmity 
 
 church, Wilmington. 
 Robert Clay, Emanuel church. New 
 
 Castle. 
 •— — George Dasheille, St. Anne's 
 
 church, Middlctown, New Castle 
 
 county. 
 Wilham Pryce, Christ church, Kent 
 
 county. 
 
 William Skeliyi Christ church i 
 
 rev. James Wiltbank, St. Peter's 
 church, aussex county. 
 Maryland. 
 
 The Right Rev. ; homas J. Clagget, 
 D. D. Bishop. 
 
 The Rev. Andi-ew Elliott, rector of 
 King and Queen ; rev. Francis 
 Walker, St. Andrews; rev. 
 Charles Smoot, Wilham and 
 M;.ry, St. Maiy's county 
 
 Rev. John W. Compton, WiUiam 
 
 and Maiy ; rev. John Weems, 
 Porto Tobacco; Walter Harrison, 
 Durham, Charles county. 
 
 * Edward Gantt, jun. All Saints, 
 
 Calvert. 
 
 * Joseph Messenger, St. John's; 
 
 rev. Joseph J ackson. Queen Ami's, 
 Prince George. 
 
 Clement Brook ; rev. Walter .-Ad- 
 
 dison ; Andrew T. Macormick, 
 
 residing in Prince Gtorge. 
 — — * 'I'liomas Scott, St. James's ; rev. 
 
 Heni-y Moscrop, All Hallows ; 
 
 rev. Ralph Hig-ginbottoni, St. 
 
 Ann's ; rev. Stepiien Sjkes, Ann 
 
 Arimdel. 
 — — • Thomas Read, Prince George's ; 
 
 George,Raipii, Waslimgton ; rev. 
 
 Edward Gantt, M. D. ; rev. Ni- 
 
 cliolas W. Lane, St. Peter's, 
 
 Montgomery. 
 George Bowei-, Rectorof All Saints, 
 
 Fredei'ick. 
 * Joseph G. J. Bend, St. Paul's ; 
 
 rev. 'V. Fitch OUver, St. Tho. 
 
 mas's, Baltimore. 
 — — * John Coleman, St. John's ; rev. 
 
 John Allen, St. George's; rev. 
 
 Jolm Ireland, Harford. 
 * WiUiam Duke, St. Mary Ann's ; 
 
 rev. Jeremiah Cosden, St Ste* 
 
 phen's, Cecil. 
 Colm Ferguson, D. D. St. Paul's ; 
 
 rev. Archibald Walker, Kent. 
 * .Samuel Keene, D. D. St. Luke's ; 
 
 rev. Samuel Keene, jun. Queen 
 
 Anne's. 
 — - Owen F. Magrath, St. Peter's, rev. 
 
 Jolm Bowie, D. D. St. Michael's, 
 
 Talbot. 
 * James Kemp, Great Choptank, 
 
 Dorchester. 
 
 Samuel Tingeley ; rev. Samuel 
 
 Sloan, Somerset. 
 David Ball, Rector of All Hallow's 
 
 pai'ish, Worcester. 
 Virginia. 
 The Right Rev. James Madison, D. D. 
 
 Bishop. 
 
 * Those gentlemen whose names are marked thus, (*) were elected members 
 of the standing committee in the state Convention of 1795. 
 
159 
 
 The Rev. Charles O'Neil, rector of Am- 
 
 herst parisii. 
 
 Alexander Hay, Anlrim do. 
 
 — — Dcvereux Jairatt, Batli do 
 — — <^ray, Botetourt do. 
 
 HughCorrans Bogju^s, Berkley do. 
 — — Benjamin Brown, JBrisland do. 
 
 — Jo!)n Syme, Bristol do. 
 
 John Cameron, D. D. rector of——. 
 
 — — Alexander M'Failand, Brunswick 
 
 parish. 
 — — John Bracken, D. D. Brutun do. 
 
 John Camm, Charles do. 
 
 — — Hefiernam ; lev. David Ball, 
 
 Christ Church do. 
 I James Elliott, Cople do. 
 
 — — Needier Robinson, Dale do. 
 — — Spence Grayson, Dettingen do. 
 
 Jesse Carter, Di") sdale do. 
 
 John J. Spooner, Elizabeth City do. 
 
 James Whitehead, Elizabetli Kiver 
 
 parish. 
 — — Thomas Davis, Fairfax do. 
 
 Alexander Balmain, Frederick do. 
 
 — — Mattliew Maury, . Fredericksnlle 
 
 parish, 
 
 — James Craig-, Hamilton do. 
 
 — — John Buchanan, D D. Henrico do. 
 
 Samuel S. M'Croskey, D. D. Hun- 
 
 gars parish 
 — — James Thompson, Leeds do. 
 Charles Crawford, Lexington do. 
 
 William Crawford, do. 
 
 Eikanah 1 alley, Littleton do. 
 
 Isaac William Gibbern, Lunenburgh 
 parish. 
 
 — Anthony Walke, Lynhaven do. 
 William (Jameron, Manchester do. 
 
 William Hubard, Newport do. 
 
 Henry J. Burgess, Nottoway do, 
 
 Robert BuciuiP, Overwharton do. 
 
 Arthur Emerson, Portsmouth do. 
 
 John BrunskiU, Raleigh de. 
 
 Tlie Rev. Alexander Lundie, St. An- 
 drew's parish. 
 — — John Mattliews, St. Bride's do, 
 
 - Reuben Clopton, . 
 
 — ^ Cave Jones, St. George's do, 
 
 ■ Isaac Foster, — — , 
 
 Jiimes Stenvenson, St. George's do. 
 
 —— Charles Hopkins, St. James North- 
 am parish. 
 
 James Price, St, John's do, 
 
 Archibald Dick, St Margaret's do. 
 
 John Woodvllle, St Mark's do. 
 
 Peter Nelson, St. Martin's do. 
 
 Abner Waugh, St. Mary's do. 
 
 . William Stewart, St. Paul's do. 
 
 John Parsons, . 
 
 John Seward, St. Stephen's do. 
 
 John Hyde Saunders, Southam do^. 
 
 Samuel Butler, Squthwark do. 
 
 Lee Massey, Truro, do. 
 
 Sewal Cliapin, Westover do. 
 
 James Henderson, York do, 
 
 Jolm Bryan, Wicomico do, 
 
 John O'Donnel, Hampshire do, 
 
 — — 1 homas Hughes, Petswortli do. 
 — r— Joseph Wilson. 
 
 Stephen Johnson. 
 
 John Wade. 
 
 Armistead Smith, Matthews do. 
 
 South Carolina. 
 
 Right Rev. Robert Smith, D. D. 
 Bishop, 
 
 Rev. Mr. Frost. 
 
 Dr. Purcell, St. Michael's. 
 
 Dr. Gates. 
 
 Mr. Jenkins. 
 
 Mr. Nixon, master of an academy. 
 
 Mr. W) lite, Charleston. 
 
 Mr. Mills, St. Andi-ew's, 
 
 Mr. M'Culley, St. Luke's, 
 
 Mr. Tate, St. Helen's. 
 
 Mr. Blackwall, St, Bartholomew's. 
 
 Mr. Connor, Edisto. 
 
JOURNAL 
 
 OF THE PROCEEDINGS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 JBISHOPS, CLERGY AND LAITY, 
 
 OF THE 
 
 PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 
 
 UNITED S-FATES OF AMERICA, 
 
 IN A 
 
 (§(BWf^EMWMM 
 
 9 
 
 HELD IN 
 
 The City of Philadelphia, from Tuesday, June 11th, to Wed- 
 nesday, June 19th, 1799. 
 
LIST OF THE MEMBERS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 HOUSE OF CLERICAL AND LAY DBPUTIES. 
 
 From the State of Massachusetts, 
 Rev. William Walter, D. D. 
 
 from the State of Rhode Idand, 
 Rev. Abraham Lynsen Clarke. 
 
 From the State of Connecticut. 
 
 Rev. William Smith, D. D. Rev. Ashbel Baldwin, Benjamin 
 Mall, Esquire.. 
 
 From the State of New Tork, 
 Rev. John Bisset, Rev. Ammi Rogers. 
 
 From the State of New fersey. 
 
 Rev. Uzal Ogden, D. D. Rev. Henry Waddell, Rev. John 
 Croes, Rev. Menzies Rayner, John Rutherford, Esquire, Mr. 
 JefFery Clarke, Mr. John Dennis. 
 
 From the State of Pennsylvania* 
 
 Rev. William Smith, D. D. Rev. John Andrews, D. D. Rev. 
 Samuel Magaw, D. D. Rev. Robert Blackwell, D. D. General 
 F'-ancis Gurney, John C. Stocker, Esquire, Mr. Joseph Sims, 
 Mr. J. B. Gilpin. 
 
 From the State of Delaware, 
 
 Rev. Robert Clay, Rev. Joseph Clarkson, Rev. William Pryce, 
 Rev. Walter C. Gardiner, Joseph Burn, Esquire. 
 
 From the State of Virgmia, 
 Rev. John Br^icken, D. D. Robert Andrews, Esquire. 
 
JOURNAL 
 
 OF THE 
 
 HOUSE OF CLERICAL AND LAY DEPUTIES. 
 
 FhiladeLphia, Christ Church, Twes^flz/, y tine 11 , 1799. 
 
 A SUFFlCIENT-m^mijeir^of Ck?icajl\9n.d^.^i«y Deputies, to 
 form a Convention not ai^pearing, the.. members; present adjourn- 
 ed to meet at the State Hoiise, tb-mori"bw morning at ten o'clock. 
 
 STAf^tiovsi.j Wednesday'^yune 12. 
 
 The members met agreeably to adjournment, ^nd a quorum be- 
 ing formed, .^^-.v ■ .uu^ti \p ■sV.>-.V. nAi s^^o-C^ 
 
 Tfae Right -Rev. Dr. .Whiftcread ]^yils^diiiuH uu;\ni'it .rAl 
 
 Deputies from seven states appearing, the house pconeedbc^'fa^^ 
 the appointment, by. biUlot,. of a President, and a majority of 
 votes were found for the'ReV. ^iltmttl Smithy B. D.^ 
 
 The Rev. JaMes Ab(ii-femmb.i'6v'oi>€ tjf"^ thss'^ttssistatit ministers 
 of Christ Church aii4 SUtPeter's-^vy^a.^papinte.dvSecretaiy to the 
 onvention. ' , ' , t* _»! 
 
 ■^'esolvf^,^ That the mV: 'l>r.' Aii(lreWsitiforbi^''th^ HoSsfe^oFW-. 
 shopfr^ thtit the house off Glerfcal and _Laj Depfiitics "i^ forn^ied]"* 
 gnd ready to proceed to business; ^ nn.)., .\jii ^xAiiAJ f^iAm ^^ 
 
 Resolved^ That thje, rules of .order established /by the house of 
 Clerical jmd Lay DepLities, of the two preceding General Co^- 
 veriti«n^,,^l3e .zid'opttid';' ■- '-';'^' " '■ --^ ■ ■ •• ' ^ ■■'; 'f-' ''- •'' •'•'-'«• 
 
 'The Rev." -Willia^^ Wail^ri'-^ D. t>. ' tkrit:^ ;(ftpii't5t, fj-^rfx'-'tft^'ft 
 state of Massa'chiisetts'i 'tKi'^'Revl Abrahaih ' iA'Hse«-€l^r¥,.^Clfei^''''^ 
 cal deputy from the state of Rhode Island ; the Rtfv.iJPcifin^bil^etf ■' 
 -^r.d the Rev. Ammi |iogei^s,, clerical -deputies, fimm the state of 
 New York ; . the .Rev,,lD"zal Ogden, D.' J), "the" Re v.^ Henry, VVad- 
 dell, and'the Rev; John Crd'es;d6i-icat!Beputtes,''tltt'cf'Mi'.'^^^^ 
 Clarke, lay depury,-frotn the state of Ntw-Jei^^f/ R^evV'WfiliaM'^' 
 8mith, D. D. the Rey> John. Andrpj^s, ^p,, Dt- the Rev. Samuel 
 Magaw, D. p. and the. liev. |lob^t^Rlaclcwei|^ D., I), clerical 
 «ieputi»?§^''Cjeneral Frartcis'^irtiey, ' and 'Mk^ilbs^ph Slidsf,' lay 
 deputies, from the state of Pennsylvania ; the Rev. Joseph Clark- 
 son, the Rev. William Pryce, and the Rev. Walter C. Gardiner, 
 clerical deputies, and Joseph Burn, Esquire, lay deputy, from 
 the state of Delaware j and the Rev., John Bracken, D. D. cleri- 
 cal duty, and Robert Andrews, Esquire, lay deputy from the 
 gt^te of Virginia j delivered in at the Secretary's table, certifi- 
 fatec of iheir appointment, which were read, and determined to 
 f^e satisfactory, 
 
 P'll', IJisset proposed the following resolution, viz : " That a 
 
1G3 
 
 committee consisting of members, be appointed to re- 
 
 Vls^'tWe Canons, tojirbpo^e amendments, 'and t6' t'epot'tf the whole 
 iii oWe^i^et^ular sldi^Pes." 'IHiis resbluti6ri vVa^ rpad iind^irdered'to 
 lie on the table. , . ■ t ' <\ 
 
 'Adjbornedtb.tenb'clotk to-raorrov^ mbrnitig. 
 
 Thursdax, y^^!^ ^^' 
 
 ..;i J .-.;.■ . ■ '■'■>• .:.■■■ 
 
 Prayers being. read Jsy^' the 'Secretary, th<e hbuse proceeded to 
 business. ■ i ; ^ . . • 
 
 The Rev. William Smith. D. D. and the Rev. Ashbel Bald- 
 win, clerical deputies, and Benjamin tfall, Esquire, lay deputy 
 from the state of Connecticut, presented their testimonials, which 
 were approved, and they took their seats accordingly. Mr. John 
 Dennis, a lay deputy from the state of New Jersey, and J-yhn C. 
 'Stocker, Esquire, a lay deputy, from the state of Pennsylvania, 
 took their seats. ' •; ," 
 
 Mr, Bisset's proposed resolution of yesterday, was taken up, 
 tind carried, and the blank ordered to be filled up with the word 
 " five." 
 , . The members appointed were, 
 
 Rev. Dr. Smith, of Connecticut, 
 Rev. Mr. Bisset, of New York, 
 Rev.Mr. Waddell, of New Jersey, 
 Gen. Gurney, of Pennsylvania, and 
 Mr. Hall, of Connecticut. 
 
 The house resolved itself into a committee of the whole, on the 
 state of the church ; 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Walter in the chair. 
 
 After some time the committee rose, and the chairman reported 
 the following resolution, viz : 
 
 Resolved^ That the consideration of the resolution, for an alter- 
 ation_,in the constitution of this church, proposed in the last Ge- 
 neral Convention, in these words : " But if the church shall not 
 be represented in both orders, by a majority of the states, then 
 the votes shall be given by states, without regard to orders," be 
 postponed to the next General Convention. 
 
 This resolution was disagreed to by the House. 
 
 Resolved^ That this House will now go into a committee of 
 the whole, to take into consideration the second resolution of the 
 General Convention of Friday, Sept. 18, 1795, and to report 
 thereon. 
 
 The house resolved itself accordingly. Dr. Walter in the chair. 
 
 The chairman of the committee of the whole reported, that the 
 committee hud risen, and requested leave to sit again. 
 
 Resolved^ That in the places of Dr. Moore and Mr. Bend, who 
 are absent, Dr. Smith of Connecticut, and Mr. Bisset, be added 
 to the other three members, viz : Dr. Smith of Pennsylvania, 
 Dr. Andrews, and Dr. Magaw, the comtnittee appointed by th'; 
 
i6i 
 
 last General Convention to digest and report a course of study tor 
 candidates for holy orders, and that they be requested to report 
 the same during the present session. 
 
 Resolved^ That Dr. Andrews and Mr. Andrews be a committee, 
 to bring in a canon prescribing the mode of calling special meet- 
 ings of the General Convention. 
 
 Resolved, That the Secretary be requested to officiate as Chap« 
 lain to the Convention during the present session. 
 
 Adjourned to 10 o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Friday, yune 14. 
 
 The House met, and the Chaplain read prayers. 
 The Rev. Menzies Rayner, a clerical deputy from the state of 
 ■^ew Jersey, and the Rev. Robert Clay, a clerical deputy from 
 the state of Delaware, took their seats. 
 
 Mr. Andrews, from the committee appointed to report a canon 
 for calling special Conventions, reported a canon, prescribing the 
 mode of calling special Conventions ; which was read the first 
 time, and ordered for a second reading. 
 
 On motion, the canon prescribing the mode of calling special 
 Conventions, was read a second time, amended, and ordered to 
 be fairly transcribed for a third reading : it was then passed, and 
 sent for concurrence, by the Secretary, to the house of Bishops, 
 
 Mr. Croes presented testimonials from the State Convention of 
 New Jersey, recommending the Rev. Uzal Ogden, D. D. as 
 Bishop of that state. 
 
 Ordered to lie on the table. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Baldwin, the House resolved itself into a 
 committee of the whole, to take into consideration the propriety 
 of framing articles of religion. Dr. Walter in the chair. 
 
 The chairman of the committee reported the following resolu- 
 tion, viz : 
 
 Resolved, That the articles of our faith and religion, as found- 
 ed on the holy scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, arc 
 sufficiently declared in our creeds and liturgy, as set forth in the 
 book of common prayer estiblished for the use of this church; 
 and that further articles do not appear necessary. 
 This resolution was disagreed to by the House. 
 The house of Bishops, sent for concurrence a form of conse- 
 cration of a church or chapel, which was ordered to lie on the 
 table. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Clarkson asked leave of absence till Tuesday, 
 which was not granted. 
 
 Adjourned to 6 o'clock this evening. 
 
 Friday evening, 6 d^clock. 
 
 The House met. 
 ■ The canon, prescribing the mode of calling special Conventions, 
 
165 
 
 <lras returned with amendments from the house of Bishops, which 
 were agrted to. 
 
 The form of consecration of a church or chapel, sent to this 
 House by the Bishops, was read, and referred to a committee of 
 the whole house to-morrow morning. 
 
 On motion. Resolved, That the testimonials, respecting the Bi- 
 shop elect of New Jersey, be read, which was done. 
 
 Resolved^ That the consideration of this subject be postponed 
 till to-morrow. 
 
 Adjourned to 9 o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Saturday, Jwie 15. 
 
 The House met, and the Chaplain read prayers. 
 The House proceeded to the consideration of the testimonials 
 in favour of the Bishop elect of New Jersey, and, after discus- 
 sion, the subject was postponed. 
 
 A resolution was proposed by Mr. Bisset, that the Convention 
 now proceed to the framing of articles of religion for this church. 
 The question was taken by yeas and nays as follows : 
 Clergy. Laitv. 
 
 Massachusetts — No. Connecticut — Yea. 
 
 Connecticut — Yea. New Jersey — Yea. 
 
 Rhode Island — Yea. Pennsylvania — Yea, 
 
 New York — Yea. "Virginia— -No. 
 
 New Jersey — Yea. 
 Pennsylvania — No. 
 Delaware — Yea. 
 Virginia — No. 
 So it was carried in the affirmative. 
 
 Resolved^ That the committee shall consist of a. member frem 
 each state now represented; who were chosen, and were as 
 follows : 
 
 Massachusetts, Dr. Walter; Connecticut, Dr. Smith; New York, 
 Mr. Bisset; New Jersey, Mr. Waddellj Pennsylvania, Dr. An- 
 drews; Delaware, Mr. Clay; Virginia, Dr. Bracken. 
 
 Resolved^ That leave be given to Mr. Baldwin to bring in a ca- 
 non, to regulate the qualifications of ministers to vote in State 
 and General Conventions. 
 
 A message was received from the house of Bishops, communi- 
 cating " a resolution for altering the 1st article of the constitu- 
 tion ;" and " a proposal of a prayer, to be used at the meetings of 
 Conventions." 
 
 The House resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to 
 lake into consideration the communications from the house of Bi- 
 shops. Dr. Walter in the chair. 
 
 The committee rose, and reported certain amendments in the 
 " Form of consecration of a church, or chapel ;" also, amend- 
 ments to the " resolution, for the time of meeting of future Ge- 
 aeral Conventions ;" together with an amendment to the " prayer, 
 
concur rfeu m by the Ifouse. , ,^ 
 
 Gren<:ral Convention;' wnich.y^fls,jp;r^gq^tv«[c[^y.rg^"^^j^ 
 Adjoijrne4:^q;pp)o'^l9<;>,iPn :^.0i^% mprpipg, .,/. (,, , - . 
 
 The House met,;ahd tttfe CJhajilainread^nl^^rsi 
 M.Y. Ba]d\vin presented ," -h c^qon^ to r-ggulate the qualifications 
 of ministers to vote m State "arid' General' Conventions ;" which 
 was read, and,oi!'d<?r«4 ^tt) iie <&flE.th.<>abt(?.' .,,■,■> ■ .,;i ': s I'i' 
 f!;;fjli*«; proposed, V t^anon^ ieapQciing, ^h)G cpnsecration of Bisj^ops 
 ifl the rf <jji5? piitibe.€QTivttttioiV*^- Wft?,rea,^,a, second ^i;Tve, ^fl;^]eq4- 
 ed, and ordered to be sent to tKs housppf Jf.i^hop5,! .;,; .r.-v 
 r o!T:be.;c!D*nflOiunicati9as ,ft-oi>i.thft House oi IJi^hops, wiith' the 
 ^teenilmiwits;. proposed ihy thd hpase of .Cjier^pal ^n<rl I^f^y .Depijiijes, 
 were returned by Uie House of Bishops, with tijieir cpucurr^nce. 
 
 The chairman of the committee, for revising aad j^mending the 
 canons,; ;oliule a report'^ which was rea.d,,-and ordered to; be re- 
 committed— ■/ , •" . - -. , ,. ■ 
 
 At 1 1 o'clock, the ho«se adjourned fo^ t^Ji'o hsouils>- in oriier that 
 the several committees, niight finish their reports*-- ^ 
 
 Monday, 1 o'clock^ P. M. 
 
 The House met. '"''"'. '" ' . 
 
 Mr. Andrews solicited leav.e to bring in ^ ■Capon^'r'^pealing in 
 part the canon of, 1 795, " coftcerning the learning bf those who are 
 fo^be ordained i"' which was grantfe'd ; and the carton was read, 
 appr6vedi and Sent for concurretice to the house of Bishops. 
 
 . On motion of Mr, Bisset, Resolved, That the committee, ap- 
 pointed. tO review and arrange the 'canons, be dischdrged ; and 
 tliat ah' the canons which have been passed in preceding General 
 Conventions, togetlfcr with those which may be passed during 
 the present session, shall be arranged under the respective years 
 In which they Were' eiliacted, arid printed at the end of the Jour- 
 nal of this Convention. Provided, nevertheless, that, if any^ ca- 
 non of the preceding Cony entions has been repealed, it shall be 
 mentioned by its number and title only, followed by a notification 
 of its having been repealed.' 
 
 A motion was made by Mr- Bisset, that it be made known to 
 the several State Cdnventvohs, that it is proposed to consider and 
 determine in the nbXt General Convention, on the following ad- 
 dition to the second article of the constitution, to be introduced 
 m^he 9th line, after the word " Convention," viz : 
 
 «', But if the church shall not be represented in both orders, in 
 a.' majority of the states, then the votes shall be by states^ with- 
 out regard to oi'ders.** ' 
 
167'^ 
 
 " canon, respepting trie consccrauun oi nisnops avuing T.ne:,retps(S 
 Adiouri;ied,to ten o'clcjek ^o-Wom\v-hloi^hin'g.. '■-'\';;?'/l^T '''T^"" 
 
 • ^Tuesday morninq^ Jp^. 1^ ^ ^,, ^; ,,^^.^^^ ^j,^^^ 
 
 'l^hVfibiib"^ .met,-^tI:the'\Ghafj|Mn VM'pi^ft^eiis'. ' ^ >^'^^-'^^^ 
 The prop-6^b(J''t:6ti'6Yl, 'l-espefctl^gih(r''quJi?ir«tktiWh' bf 'i*(Mstei^T 
 
 and ordered to be §ent for concurrence to'VhtiHoii^ bi^^K^o^i^i'^ 
 wEich ^vHi^idb^^. ^'■•^ ■-'^^•^"''"^"'■"'^^ ^■" J>"J'^-'-Jp^' ^' ' JJ^^:** ''•- 
 Mr. J, B. Gilpin, a Lay Depj#i^!'f6^'ifte'ljfete'offpt^i|s5^^^ 
 
 •1%e.fchii\rWilh/W^?I '■ '■" ""' ' " "" -" -'' '-^ 
 
 venteen ^rticlS^^c^j'ifeH^ 
 md^itih 'oF Mf f B^et'," 
 
 the consjderauon of the articles/A'oiir i»^|ibfe'^rfd^'W^a^ tte' jl6^t'-' 
 potiedTancT'-'t^t^tHr^S^^trtli<^f>^''lii^n^d^^ ._ 
 
 Journal of this Convention, to lie over for the c.9nsideyA^!bn' IpF^ 
 the next GeneraJ Convention. •' '^'-^ ■^^'*^'' f'^'-"'''' 'L'^- --^'^^'i -■'^ 
 
 I)r., Brac^^n j^sjc^^oj, ^eaye^t«,^j^^^^ Ay^ca^on^ s^PP^^me^jt^ry to 
 the '2d c^nofr of 1795, ^ concerning the tcsrunonials' to be^'^rodu- 
 " ce^, on^tb£l<paltt^of|1^O6e]]^rh0 ajMW be ordained j" which was 
 read twice, and, upon the question (q^ ^e thk^l r^eajiii^ wp,§^^ 
 gatived. ' • "' ' 
 
 The testimonials of the Bishop, dec! of New Jersey being called 
 up, the following resolution passed : 
 
 " Whereas doubts have arisen ^^i;f^'e\ nn in ds of some mem- 
 bers of the Convention, whether all the Priests who voted in the 
 ele«tiDQ^<tftbciR€KJ\tIi.£i|OgdeA,DiD. "to* the office of a Bishop 
 in the state of N4.W"»IerBey, were ;SQ qitiaUfied, .as to constitute 
 them i 
 sta?6v 
 and'^i , „ ^. ^ . -, 
 
 -tiie'lhtjA-t'^t'ofW^ib'n iiM tti^'ftbffoui'''df tHir^'chtirct'it'ii nBt 
 
 to'the'lhtf^t'^t'oiPi^t^^ib'n itHA tti^'ftbffOui'''df^tH^r'c 
 
 tnendin^ ta \^ of* 
 
16« 
 
 lice so very sacred,, should have a full conviction of the fitness of 
 the person they recommend, but that they should also be perfect- 
 ly satisfied with respect to the regularity of every step which had 
 been taken in the business : 
 
 Resolved therefore, That in the opinion of the House of De- 
 puties, all proceedings, respecting the consecration of the Rev. 
 Uzal bgden, D. D. ought to be suspended, until a future Con- 
 vention of the state of New Jersey shall declare their sense of the 
 subject." 
 
 The house of Bishops returned the canon, " to regulate the 
 qualifications of Ministers, ike." with amendments. The amended 
 title was adopted; the other proposed amendment was rejected. 
 
 The House of Bishops receded from their amendment of the 
 canon, explanatory of the 1st canon of 1795. 
 
 Resolved^ That the next general Convention, to be held agreea- 
 bly to the constitution on the second Tuesday of September, 1801, 
 shall meet In the city of Trenton. 
 
 Resolved^ That the I^ight Rev. Dr. White be requested to 
 preach, at the opening of the nexjt General Convention. 
 
 Resohfidf That the House of Bishops be informed, that this 
 house is ready to adjourn. 
 
 Mr. Bisset was requested to communicate the two preceding 
 resolves to the House of Bishops. ; , - ; 
 
 Resolved^ That the thanks of this house be given to jtjjeir Pre- 
 sident, the Rev. Dr. Smith, and to their Secretary and Ohaplaini 
 the Rev. Mr. Abercrombie, for then attention and services. 
 
 Mr. Bisset reported, " That the Right Rev. Dr. White would 
 •'comply with the request of this house, and that the house of 
 *' Bishops, having no further communications to make, concurred i 
 "in the resolution of adjournment." 
 
 Ordered, That five hundred and seventy copies of the journal 
 be printed. 
 
 The house adjourned, sine die* 
 
 Signed by order of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies. 
 
 WILLIAM SMITH, President* 
 
 James AseRcecmbie, Secretary. 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Extract from the Journal of the House of Cknical and Lay Der- 
 puties, in Convention met^ 1799. 
 
 *' Resolved unanimously^ That on account of the advanced pe- 
 " riod of the present session, and the thinness of the Convention, 
 *' the consideration of the articles, now reported and read, be 
 " postponed »nd that the Secretary transcribe the articles info 
 
169 
 
 " the journal of this Convention, to lie over for the consideration 
 
 *' of the next General Convention." 
 The articles, referred to are as follows. 
 
 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 Godhead, 
 there are three persons ; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost: 
 our Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier. 
 
 II. Of the Holy Scripture. 
 
 Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation ; so 
 that whatsoever is not read therein, and cannot 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 Testa-^ 
 
 ment. 
 
 CHAPTERS, 
 
 
 
 
 CHAPTERS, 
 
 1. Genesis having' 
 
 50 
 
 21. 
 
 Ecclesiastes 
 
 having 
 
 
 12 
 
 2. Exodus . - - . 
 
 40 
 
 22. 
 
 The song of Solomon 
 
 . 
 
 8 
 
 3. Leviticus .... 
 
 27 
 
 23. 
 
 Ibaiah 
 
 . 
 
 , 
 
 66 
 
 4. Numbers .... 
 
 36 
 
 24. 
 
 Jeremiah - 
 
 . 
 
 . 
 
 52 
 
 5. Deuteronomy ... 
 
 34 
 
 25. 
 
 Lamentations 
 
 . 
 
 . 
 
 5 
 
 6. Joshua .... 
 
 24 
 
 26. 
 
 Ezelciel 
 
 . 
 
 . 
 
 48 
 
 7. Judges .... 
 
 21 
 
 27. 
 
 Daniel 
 
 . 
 
 . 
 
 12 
 
 8. Kuth .... 
 
 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 1st book of Kings 
 
 22 
 
 31. 
 
 Obadiah 
 
 . 
 
 . 
 
 1 
 
 12. The 2d book of Kings 
 
 25 
 
 32. 
 
 Jonah 
 
 . 
 
 . 
 
 4 
 
 13. The 1st book oi" Chronicles 
 
 29 
 
 33. 
 
 Micah 
 
 , 
 
 . 
 
 7 
 
 14. The 2d book of Chronicles 
 
 36 
 
 34. 
 
 Nahum 
 
 _ 
 
 _ 
 
 3 
 
 15. Ezra .... 
 
 10 
 
 35. 
 
 Habakuk 
 
 , . 
 
 . 
 
 3 
 
 16. Nehemiah ... 
 
 13 
 
 36. 
 
 Zephaniah 
 
 , 
 
 . 
 
 3 
 
 17. The book of Esther . 
 
 10 
 
 37. 
 
 Haggai 
 
 . 
 
 . 
 
 2 
 
 18. The book of Job 
 
 42 
 
 38. 
 
 Zechariah 
 
 . 
 
 . 
 
 14 
 
 19. The Psalms. 
 
 150 
 
 39. 
 
 Malachi 
 
 . 
 
 . 
 
 4 
 
 30. The Proverbs 
 
 31 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 The names and number of the canonical books of the New Testament. 
 
 
 CHAPTERS. 
 
 
 
 
 CHAPTERS. 
 
 1. St Matthew having 
 
 28 
 
 15 
 
 1st Epistle to Ti 
 
 mothy 
 
 having 
 
 & 
 
 2. St. Mark .... 
 
 16 
 
 16. 
 
 2d Epistle to Timothy 
 
 . 
 
 4 
 
 3. St. Luke .... 
 
 24 
 
 17. 
 
 Epistle to Titus 
 
 . 
 
 . 
 
 3 
 
 4. St. John .... 
 
 21 
 
 18. 
 
 Epistle to Philemon 
 
 . 
 
 1 
 
 5. The Acts of the Apostles 
 
 28 
 
 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 Galaiians 
 
 5 
 
 23. 
 
 1st. Epistle of St John 
 
 . 
 
 5 
 
 10. Epistle to the Epheiians 
 
 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 Jude. 
 
 . 
 
 1 
 
 13. 1st Epistle to the Thessalonians 
 
 5 
 
 27. 
 
 Revelation of St. John the Divine 
 
 2? 
 
 14, 2d Epistle to the Thessalonians 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 z 
 
IVO 
 
 The Apocryphal books are read by the church, for example of 
 life, and instruction of manners, not for the establishment of dis- 
 cipline, 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 everlasting 
 " life are offered to mankind through Christ, who is the only me- 
 " diator 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 Creeds. 
 
 The Nicene creed and the Apostles creed, ought to be retained 
 and believed ; because every article, contained in them may be 
 proved by Holy Scripture. 
 
 V. Of the transgression of our first parents. 
 
 By the transgression of our first parents, they lost that primitive 
 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. 
 
 VI. Of Justification. 
 
 We are justified, or pardoned by 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, " without holiness, 
 "' no man shall see the Lord." ' 
 
 VII. Of Predestination and Election. 
 
 Being well assured, from holy scripture, of the eternal purpose 
 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 unrevealed secrets of either past 
 
171 
 
 or future eternity^ but always remembering 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. Of 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 autho- 
 rised to assert, that men shall not be saved by the name of Jesus 
 Christ, to whom his gospel has not been promulgated. We leave 
 them to the uncovenanted mercies of God. 
 
 IX. Of the Church. 
 
 The visible church of Christ is the whole multitude of believ- 
 ers, of whatsoever nation or language, dwelling on the face of the 
 earth, among whom the pure word of God is preached, the sa- 
 craments duly administered, and the order of the priesthood ob- 
 served, according to Christ's ordinance and appointment. 
 
 X. Of the authority of the Church. 
 
 The church hath 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 scrip- 
 ture ; or to expound one part of the same, so as to be repugnant 
 to another. The church, also, is the witness, or keeper of holy 
 writ ; and must neither adulterate, nor add to, nor take from, the 
 same. 
 
 XI. Of ministeri7ig in the Church. 
 
 It is not lawful for any man to take upon him the office of pub- 
 lic preaching, or administering 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. Of the Sacraments, 
 
 Sacran>ents were ordained by Christ, not only to be badges or 
 tokens of christian profession, but to be outward and visible signs 
 of inward and spiritual grace ; by which he doth work invisibly 
 in us, and doth not only quicken, but also strengthen and con- 
 firrii, our faith in him. 
 
 XIII. Of Baptisin. 
 
 Baptism is an ordinance by which we are regenerated, and bom 
 
172 
 
 again of water and the Holy Ghost, received into Christ*s church, 
 and made living members of the same. 
 
 XIV. Of the Lord's Supper. 
 
 The Supper of the Lord is not only a token of the love that 
 christians ought to have towards one another, but rather a pledge 
 of our redemption by Christ's death. To such as worthily re- 
 ceive the same, the bread which is broken is a partaking of the 
 body of Christ ; and the cup of blessing is a partaking of the 
 blood of Christ : both which are spiritually received, for the pre- 
 servation of our souls and bodies unto everlasting life. 
 
 XY. Of the oblation of Christ. 
 
 The oblation of the body of Christ, once made, is that perfect 
 sacrifice, propitiation, and satisfaction, which was offered for the 
 sins of the whole world. And there is no other sacrifice, satis- 
 faction, or atonement, for sin, but that only. 
 
 XVI. Of excommunicated Persons. 
 
 Whosoever is publicly excommunicated by the governors of 
 the church, and cut off from the unity of the same, is to be consi- 
 dered as an alien from the promises of the gospel, until he be 
 openly reconciled, and received again into communion. 
 
 XVII. Of 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 legitimately constituted. 
 
 JOURNAL OF THE HOUSE OF BISHOPS. 
 
 Philadelphia, Christ Church, Tuesday., June 11, 1799. 
 
 THIS being the day of a special meeting of the General Con- 
 vention of the Protestant Episcopal Church duly summoned, the 
 Right Rev. Bishop White, of the House of Bishops, attended ; 
 and appointed to meet the next day at 10 o'clock, in the com- 
 mittee room of the House of Assembly : leave having been given 
 to meet there, by his excellency the Governor. 
 
 Wednesday., June 12^ 1799. 
 
 In the committee room of the House of Assembly, 
 
173 
 
 Present as before, together with the Right Rev. Bishop Pro- 
 voost, of the state ot" New York, and the Right Rev. Bishop 
 Bass, of the state of Massachusetts. 
 
 This being a special meeting ; and the Bishop, whose turn it 
 would have been to preside agreeably to the rules ot this House, 
 not attending, Bishop A> hite, the president of the last Convention 
 was requested to preside. 
 
 Resolved^ That, during the session of the Convention, the 
 House will attend divine service in the House of Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies. 
 
 The house received a message, by the Rev. Dr. Andrews, 
 from the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, infurming, that 
 they are organized and ready to proceed to business. This House 
 declared, that they also are read) to proceed. 
 
 After some time, the House adjourned until to-morrow morn- 
 ing at ten o'clock. 
 
 Thursday^ June 13. 
 
 The House met. Present as yesterday. 
 
 The Rev. John Henry Hobart was appointed Secretary. 
 
 The Right Rev. Bishop Provoost proposed to the considera- 
 tion of this House, a form of consecration of a church or chapel, 
 which was read, and made the order of the day for to-morrow. 
 
 The House adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Friday^ J line 14. 
 
 The house met. Present as yesterday. 
 
 The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies presented, by their 
 Secretary a proposed canon, prescribing the mode of calling spe- 
 cial meetings ot the General Convention. 
 
 The House went into the consideration of the " form of conse- 
 cration of a church or chapel ;" which, after amendment, they 
 adopted, and sent to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies for 
 their concurrence. 
 
 The House returned to the House of Clerical and Lay Depu- 
 ties the proposed " canon, prescribing the mode of calling special 
 " meetings of the General Convention," with amendments. 
 
 The house then adjourned to 9 o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Saturday^ June 15. 
 
 The House met. Present as yesterday. 
 
 The House agreed to a resolve, respecting an alteration in the 
 *' first ariicle of the general constitution,'' and sent it to the House 
 of Clerical and Lay Deputies for their concurrence. 
 
 The House proposed to the House of Clerical and Lay Depu- 
 ties, " a prayer, to be used at the meeting of the Convention," 
 and to be printed with the Journal of the present Convention. 
 
 The House adjourned to Monday morning, 9 o'clock. 
 
174 
 
 Monday, June 17, 1799. 
 
 '^I'he hoube met. Present as on Saturday. 
 
 The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies returned to this 
 house, by their Secretary, the resolution for altering the "First 
 "article of the general constitution," with an amendment. Also 
 the " Prayer to be used at meetings of the Convention," with an 
 amendment. Also, the " Form of consecration of a church or 
 chapel," with sundry amendments. 
 
 1'he house passed the resolution, respecting the alteration of 
 the *' First article of the General constitution," with the proposed 
 amendnient ; which resolution is as follows, viz. 
 
 Resolved^ That it be made known to the several state Conven- 
 tions J that it is proposed, to consider and determine in the next 
 General Convention, on the following alteration ot the "First 
 "article of the constitution." 
 
 " Article I. There shall be a general convention of the Pro- 
 " testant Episcopal church, in the United States of America, on 
 "the third Tuesday in May, in the year of our Lord 1805, and 
 " on the third Tuesday in May, in every fifth year afterwards in 
 "■ such place, &c." as before. 
 
 The house passed the " Prayer to be used at meetings of the 
 Convention," with the proposed amendment. 
 
 The house approved of the amendments to the " Form of con- 
 " secration of a church or chapel," with an exception to one, 
 which they ordered to be returned to the House of Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies ; that they had receded from their amendment to the 
 " Form of consecration of a church or chapel ;" which amendment 
 had been disagreed to by this house. 
 
 The " Form of consecration," was then passed as amended. 
 
 A proposed canon was received from the House of Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies, respecting the consecration of Bishops in the recess 
 of the General Convention. 
 
 The above canon was returned to the House of Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies, with a proposed substitute. 
 
 The house received from the House of Clerical and Lay De- 
 puties a proposed canon, repealing in part, the " Fourth canon of 
 " 1795, concerning the learning of those who are to be ordained." 
 
 The house passed the above canon. 
 
 The Right Rev. Bishop Provoost obtained leave of absence. 
 
 The house adjourned to 10 o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Tuesday, June 18, 1799. 
 
 The house met. Present as yesterday, except the Right Rev. 
 Bishop Provoost. 
 
 The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies informed the house, 
 r,hat they had agreed to the proposed substitute to the canon, re- 
 
175 
 
 specting- the " consecration of Bishops in the recess of the Gene- 
 *"" ral Convention-" 
 
 The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, presented to this 
 house a proposed canon, to regulate the qualification of Ministers 
 to vote in the state and General Conventions. 
 
 The aforesaid canon was returned to the House of Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies, with a substitute for the title, and another proposed 
 amendment. 
 
 The house concurred in the foVunving resolution, which they 
 received from the House of Clerical ond Lay Deputies, viz. 
 
 Resolved, That Trenton in New Jersey, be the place of meet- 
 ing of the next General Convention. 
 
 The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies informed this house, 
 that they had concurred in the amendments to the proposed canon, 
 prescribing the " mode of calling special meetings of the General 
 Convention." 
 
 The house then passed the above canon. 
 
 'The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, informed this house, 
 that they had concurred in the proposed " substitute to the title 
 " of a canon," which originated in their house ; and that they had 
 disagreed to the proposed amendment. 
 
 The house receded from the amendment, and passed the canon, 
 in title as follows. 
 
 " A canon explanatory, of part of the * First canon of 1795." 
 
 The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, informed this house, 
 that they had finished the business before them, and were ready 
 to rise. 
 
 The house declared that they also are ready to rise. 
 
 The house rose. 
 
 Signed by order of the House of Bishops^ 
 
 WILLIAM WHITE, Presiding Bishop. 
 Attested., John Henry Hob art, Secretary. 
 
 CANONS 
 
 For the government of the Protestant Episcopal church.^ in the 
 United States of America. 
 
 The following canons were agreed on, and ratified in the General 
 Convention of said church, held in the city of Philadelphia, 
 from the 29th day of September to the 16th day of October, 
 1789, inclusive. 
 
 Canon I. Of the orders of the Ministers in this church. 
 
 In this church there shall always be three orders in the Ministry; 
 viz. Bishops, Priests, and Deacons. 
 
176 
 
 Cakon II. Certificates to be produced on the part of Bishops elect. 
 
 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 Gene- 
 ral Convention, or a committee of that body, to be 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- 
 portant it is, that the sacred office of a Bishop should not be un- 
 worthily 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 joindy and severally declare, that, havmg personally 
 known him for three years last past, we do *in our consciences 
 believe him to be of such sufficiency in good learning, such sound- 
 ness in the faith, and of such virtuous and pure manners, and 
 godly conversation, that he is apt and meet to exercise the office 
 of a Bishop, to die 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 un- 
 worthily 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, jusdy 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, on ac- 
 count of which he ought not to be consecrated to that holy office, 
 but that he hath, as we believe, led his life, for three years last 
 past, piously, soberly and honestly. 
 
 Canon III. Of Episcopal visitation. 
 
 Repealed by canon I. of 1795. 
 
 Canon IY. Of the age of those ivho a^e to he ordained or conse- 
 crated. 
 
 Eepealed by canon III. of 1795. 
 
177 
 
 Canon V. Of the titles of those who are to be ordained, 
 
 No person shall be ordained either Deacon or Priest, unless 
 he shall produce a satisfactory certificate from some church, pa- 
 rish or congregation, that he is engaged with them, and that 
 they will receive him as their minister, and allow him a reason- 
 able support; or, unless he be engaged as a professor, tutor, or 
 instructor of youth, in some college, academy, or general semi- 
 nary of learning, duly incorporated ; or unless the standing com- 
 mittee 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 Pastor, by some one of the 
 vacant churches in that state. 
 
 Canon VI. The testimonials to be produced on the part of those 
 who are to be ordained. 
 
 Repealed by canon 2, of 1795. 
 
 Canon VII. Of the Learning of those who are to be ordained. 
 
 Repealed by canon 4, of 1795. 
 
 Canon VIII. Of the stated times of Ordination, 
 
 Agreeably to the practice of the prhnitive church, the stated 
 times of ordination shall be on the Sundays folio >ving the Ember 
 weeks ; viz : the second Sunday in Lent, the Feast of Trinity, 
 and the Sundays after the Wednesdays following the fourteenth 
 day of September, and the thirteenth of December. 
 
 Canon IX. Of those whoy having- been ordained by foreign Bi" 
 
 shopSj settle in this Church. 
 
 No person, not a member of this church, who shall profess to 
 be episcopally ordained, shall be permitted to officiate therein, 
 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 Convention of that 
 state, that his letters of orders are auAientic, and given by some 
 Bishop whose authority is acknowledged by this church, and als© 
 satisfactory evidence of his moral character. 
 
 Canon X. Of the Use of the B^ok of Common Prayer, 
 
 Every minister shall, before all sermons and lectures, use thjh 
 beok of common prayer, as the same shall be set forth and estab- 
 lished by the authority of this, or some future General Conven- 
 tion ; and until such establishment of an uniform book of common 
 prayer in this church, every minister shall read the book of com- 
 mon prayer directed to be used by the Convention of the church 
 
 A SI 
 
178 
 
 in the state in which he resides : and no other prayer shall be 
 used besides those contained in the said book. 
 
 Canon XI. Of the duty of Ministers^ in regard to Episcopal 
 
 Visitations- 
 
 It shall be the duty of ministers to prepare children and others, 
 for the holy ordinance of confirmation. And on notice being re- 
 ceived from the Bishop, of his intention to visit any church, 
 which notice shall be at lea'St one month before the intended visit- 
 ation, the minister shall be ready to present, for confirmation, 
 those who shall have been previously instructed for the same ; 
 and shall deliver to the Bishop a list of the names of those pre- 
 sented. 
 
 And at every visitation it shall be the duty of the minister, and 
 of the church wardens, to give information to the Bishop of the 
 state of the congregation ; under such heads, as shall have been 
 committed to them in the notice given as aforesaid. 
 
 And further, the ministers and church wardens of such con- 
 gregations as cannot be conveniently visited in any year, shall 
 bring or send to the Bishop, at the stated meeting of the Conven- 
 tion of the diocese or district, information of the state of the 
 congregation, under such heads, as shall have been committed to 
 them, at least one month betore the meeting of the convention. 
 
 Canon XII. Notorious Crimes and Scandals to be censured. 
 
 If any person within this church offend their brethren by any 
 vnckedness of life, such persons shall be x-epelled from the holy 
 communion, agreeably to the rubric, and may be further pro- 
 ceeded against, to the depriving them of all privileges of church 
 membership ; according to such rules or process as may be pro- 
 vided, either by General Convention, or by the conventions in 
 the different states. 
 
 Canon XIII. Sober CanveHatio?! required in Mi?ifsters. 
 
 No ecclesiastical persons shall, other than for their honest ne- 
 cessities, resort to taverns, or other places most liable to be abus- 
 ed to licentiousn'^ss. FuTfher, they shall not give themselves to 
 any luist- or servile labour, or to drinking or riot, or to the spend- 
 ing of their time idly. And if anv offend in the above, they shall 
 be liable to the ecclesinstical cen , are of admonition, or suspen- 
 sion, or degradation, as the nattire of the case may require, and 
 ^iccording to such rules or process as may be provided, either by 
 the General Convention, or by the Conventions in the different 
 states. 
 
 Canon XIV. Of the due celebration of ■Su7idays. 
 
 All manner of persons within this church, shall celebrate and 
 
179 
 
 lieep the Lord's day, commonly called Sunday, in hearing the 
 word of God read and taught, in private and public prayer, in 
 other exercises of devotion, and in acts of charity, using all godly 
 conversation. 
 
 Canon XV. ^linisters to keep a Register. 
 
 Every minister of this church shall keep a register of baptisms, 
 marriages, and funerals, within his cure, agreeably to such rules 
 as mry be provided by the ecclesiastical authority where his cure 
 lies ; and if none such be provided, then in such manner, as, in 
 his discretion, he shall think best suited to the uses of such a 
 register. 
 
 And the intention of the register of baptisms is hereby declared 
 to be, as for other good uses, so especially for the proving of the 
 right of church membership of those, who may have been ad- 
 mitted into this church by the holy ordinance of baptism. 
 
 And further, every minister of this churcn shall, within a rea- 
 sonable time after the publication of this canon, make out and 
 continue a list of all adult persons within his cure ; to remain for 
 the use of his successor, to be continued by him, and by every fu- 
 ture minister in the same parish. 
 
 And no minister shall place on the said list tlie names of any 
 persons, except of those, who, on due enquiry, he shall find to 
 have been baptised in this church; or who, having been otherwise 
 baptised, shall have been received into this church, either by the 
 holy rite of confirmation, or by receiving the holy communion, or 
 by some other joint acts of the parties, and of a minister of this 
 church ; whereby such persons shall have attached themselves to 
 the same. 
 
 Canon XVI. A Lht to be )nade, ajid published^ of the Ministers 
 
 of this Church. 
 
 The Secretary of the General Convention shall keep a register 
 of all the clergy of this church, whose names shall be delivered 
 to him in the following manner ; that is to say : — Everv l»ishop 
 of this church, or, where there is no Bishop, the standing com- 
 mittee of that diocese or district, shall, at the time of every Ge- 
 neral Convention, deliver, or cause to be delivered to the Secre- 
 tary, a list of the names of all the ministers of this church in 
 their proper diocese or district, annexing the names of their res- 
 pective cures, or of their stations in anv colleges or other incor- 
 porated seminaries of learning, or, in regard to those who have 
 not any cures or such stations, their places of residence only. And 
 the said list shall, from time to time, be published on the Jour- 
 nals of the General Convention. 
 
 And further, it is recommended to the several Bishops of this 
 church, and to the several standing committees, that, during the 
 intervals between the meetings of the General Convention, they 
 
180 
 
 take such means of notifying the admission of ministers among 
 them, as, in their discretio ^ respectively, they shall think effec- 
 tual to the purpose of preventing ignorant and unwary people 
 from being imposed on, by persons pretending to be authorized 
 Ministers of this church. 
 
 Canon XVII. Notice to be given of the induction and dismission 
 
 of Ministers, 
 
 It is hereby required, that, on the induction of a Minister 
 into any church or parish, the parties shall deliver, or cause to be 
 delivered to the Bishop, or to the standing committee of the dio- 
 cese or district, notice of the same in the following form, or to this 
 effect : 
 
 We, the Church wardens (or in case of an assistant Minister, 
 we, the Rector and Church wardens) do certify to the Right Rev» 
 (naming the Bishop) that (naming the person) has been duly 
 chosen Rector, (or assistant Minister, as the case may be) of 
 (naming the church or churches.) 
 
 Which certificate shall be signed with the names of those who 
 certify. 
 
 And if the Bishop, or the standing committee, be satisfied that 
 the person so chosen is a qualified Minister of this church, he 
 shall transmit the said certificate to the Secretary of the Conven- 
 tion, who shall record it in a book to be kept by him for that pur- 
 pose. 
 
 But if the Bishop or the standing committee be not satisfied as 
 above, he or they shall, at the instance of the parties, proceed to 
 enquire into th" sufficiency of the person so chosen, according to 
 such ruhs as may be made in the states respectively, and shall 
 confirm or reject the appointment, as the issue of that enquiry 
 may be. 
 
 Passed October 16th, 1789. 
 
 House of Bishops y 
 SAMUEL SEABURY, Bp. Connect. Pres. 
 WILLIAM WHITE, Pennsylvania. 
 Attested. Joseph Clarkson, Secretary. 
 
 House of Clerical and Lay Deputies^ 
 
 WILLIAM SMITH, President. 
 Attested, Francis Hopkinsoj*, Secretary. 
 
 ADDITIONAL CANONS— Passed 1/92. 
 
 I. Of Clergymen claiming to be ministers of this church, 
 
 FOR a more full accomplishment of the good purposes to be 
 answered by the 16th canon, enacted by the last General Conven- 
 
181 
 
 tion, it is hereby required, that every Clergyman, claiming to be 
 a Minister of this church, shall deliver in his name to the Bishop, 
 or, if there be no Bishop, to the chairman, or some member of the 
 standing committee, of the church in the state in which he resides, 
 on or before Easter Monday, 1 793 ; or, if he be not within any of 
 the states which have acceded to the constitution of this church, 
 then within three months after he shall come to reside in any of 
 the said states. And every Clergyman, during his neglect of con- 
 formity to this canon, shall not be known as a Clergyman of this 
 church, or be admitted to minister in any office of the same. 
 
 II. Of a Clergyman in any diocese^ chargeable -with misdemeanor 
 
 in any other* 
 
 If a clergyman of the church, in any diocese or district within 
 this union, shall, in any other diocese or district, conduct himself 
 in such a way as is contrary to the rules of this church, and dis- 
 graceful to his office ; the Bishop, or, if there be no Bishop, the 
 standing committee, shall give notice thereof to the ecclesiastical 
 authority of the diocese or district to which such offender belongs, 
 exhibiting, with the information given, the proofs of the charges 
 made against him. 
 
 III. Of publishing the sentence of degradation against a Clergy- 
 
 man. 
 Whenever a Clergyman shall be degraded, agreeably to the 
 canons of any particular church in the union, the Bishop who 
 pronounces sentence, shall, without delay, cause the sentence of 
 degradation to be published from every pulpit where there may 
 be an officiating minister, throughout the diocese or district in 
 which the degraded minister resided; and also shall give inior- 
 macion of the sentence to all Bishops of this church ; and, where 
 there is no Bishop, to the standing committee. 
 
 IV. Of the declaration which may be prefixed to certain signa- 
 
 tures. 
 
 In regard to the first certificate required in favour of a Bishop 
 elect, by the 2d canon of the last General Convention, and the 
 certificate required in favour of a candidate for Priest's or Dea- 
 con's orders, by the 6th canon ; if there be any members of the 
 bodies respectively concerned, who have not the requisite personal 
 knowledge of the parties, such persons may prefix the following 
 declaration to their signatures : 
 
 WE believe the testimony contaiyied in the above Certificate ; and 
 Tvejoin in the recommendation of A.. B. to the office of on suf- 
 ficient evidence ojffered to us of the facts set forth. 
 
 Provided, That in the case of a Priest or Deacon^ two at least 
 of the standing committee sign the same ; as being personally ac" 
 quainted with the candidate* 
 
182 
 
 V. Of the officiating of strangers. 
 
 No siranger r>hall be permitted to officiate in any congregation 
 of this church, without first producing the evidences of his being 
 a minister thereof to the minister, or, in case of vacancy or ab- 
 sence, to the church wardens, vestrymen, or trustees of the con- 
 gregation. And in case any person not regularly ordained shall 
 assume the ministerial office, and perform any of the duties there- 
 of in this church, the minister, or in case of vacancy or absence, 
 the church wardens, vestrymen, or trustees of the congregation, 
 where such offence may be committed, shall cause the name of 
 such person, together with the offence, to be published in as many 
 of the public papers as may be convenient. 
 
 VI. Repealed by canon Y. of 1795. 
 Of one Clergyman officiating within the parochial cure of another 
 
 Clergyman. 
 
 House of Bishops^ 
 
 SAMUEL PROYOOST, President. 
 
 Attest. L. Cutting, Secretary. 
 
 House of Clerical and Lay Deputies^ 
 
 WILLIAM SMITH, President. 
 Attest, J. Bisset, Secretary. 
 
 CANONS— Passed 1795. 
 
 Canon. I. Of Episcopal visitation. 
 
 E\ £RY Bishop in this church shall visit the churches within 
 his diocese or district, for the purpose of examining the state of 
 his church, inspecting the behaviour of the Clergy, and adminis- 
 tering the Apostolic rite of confirmation. And it is deemed pro- 
 per, that such visitations be made once in three years, at least, 
 by every Bishon to every church within his diocese or district, 
 which shall make provision for defraying the necessary expenses 
 ©f the Bishop at such visitation. And it is hereby declared to be 
 the duty of the Minister and vestry of every church or congrega- 
 tion, to make such provision accordingly. 
 
 The Bishop of any diocese, state, or district, may, on the invi- 
 tation of the Convention, or standing committee of the church in 
 -any state where there is not a Bishop, visit and perform the 
 Episcopal offices in that state, or part of the state, as the case may 
 be, provision being made for defraying his expenses as aforesaid : 
 and such state, or part of a state shall be considered as annexed 
 to the district or diocese of such Bishop, until a Bishop is duly 
 elected and consecrated for such state, or until the invitation given 
 by the convention or standing committee be revoked. But it is 
 
183 
 
 to be understood, that to enable the Bishop to make the aforesaid 
 visitations, it shall be the duty of the Clergy, in such reasonable 
 rotation as may be devised, to officiate for him in any parochial 
 duties which belong to; him. And no state shall proceed to the 
 election or appo! tmeat of a Bishop, unless there be at least six 
 Presbyters residing and officiating therein, a majority of whom, at 
 least, shall concur in such election. But the Conventions of two 
 or more states, having together nine or more settled and officiating 
 Presbyters, may associate, and join in the election of a Bishop. 
 The third canon of the year 1789 is hereby rescinded. 
 
 Canon II. Of the testimonials to be produced on the part of those 
 xvho are to be Ordained. 
 
 Every candidate for holy orders shall be recommended to the 
 Bishop by a standing committee appointed by the Convention of 
 the church in that state wherein he resides, which recommenda- 
 tion shall be signed by the names of a majority of the committee., 
 and shall be in the following words : 
 
 " We, whose names are here underwritten, testify, that A. B= 
 "hath laid before us satisfactory testimonials, that for the space 
 " of three years last past, he hath lived piously, soberly, and ho- 
 *' nestly : and hath not v.'ritten, taught, or held any thing 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 . In witness whereof we have here- 
 
 " unto set our hands this — day of in the year of 
 
 " our Lord — ^." 
 
 But before a, standing committee in any state shall proceed to 
 recommend any candidate, as aforesaid, to the Bishop, such can- 
 didate shall produce from the Minister and vestry of the parish 
 where he resides, or from the vestry albne, if the parish be vacant, 
 or it there be no vestry, from at least twelve respectable persons 
 of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the neighbourhood in which 
 he resides, testimonials of his good morals and orderly conduct 
 for three years' last past, and that he has not, so far as they know 
 and believe, written, taught or held any thing contrary to the doc- 
 trine or discipline of the Protestant Episcopal Church ; a publica- 
 tion of his intention to apply for holy orders having been previous - 
 ly made by such minister or vestry. He shall also lay before die 
 standing committee, testimonials to the same eifect, signed by at 
 least one respectable Clergyman of the Protestant Episcopal Churcli 
 in the United States, from his personal knowledge of the candidate 
 for at least one year. 
 
 In every state in which there is no standing committee, such 
 committee shall be appointed at its next ensuing Convention ,• and 
 in the mean time, every candidirte for holy orders shall be re- 
 commended according to the regulations or usage of the church in 
 each state, and the requisitions of the Bishop to %yliom he applies. 
 
184 
 
 The 6th canon, passed in October, If 89, concerning the " tes- 
 " timonials to be produced on the part of those who are to be or- 
 " dained," and so much of the 4th canon, passed in 1792, as re- 
 lates to the subject of this canon, are hereby rescinded. 
 
 Canon III. Of the age of those who are to he ordained or cori' 
 
 secrated* 
 
 Deacon's orders shall not be conferred on any person until he 
 shall be twenty-one years old, nor Priest's orders on any one un- 
 til he shall be twenty-four years old, and unless he shall have 
 been a Deacon one year. No man shall be consecrated a Bishop 
 of this church until he shall be thirty years old. 
 
 The fourth canon of the year 1789 is hereby rescinded. 
 
 Canon IV. Of the Learning of those who are to be ordained. 
 
 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 well acquainted with the holy scriptures, 
 can read the New Testament in the original Greek, and give an 
 account of his faith in the Latin tongue ; and that he hath a com- 
 petent knowledge of natural and moral philosophy and church 
 history, and hath paid attention to composition and pulpit elo- 
 quence, as means of giving additional efficacy to his labours; 
 [unless the Bishop shall judge it proper to dispense with the above 
 requisites in part, in consideration of certain other qualifications 
 in the candidate peculiarly fitting him for the gospel ministry.] 
 
 The 7th canon of the year 1789, is hereby rescinded, 
 
 N. B. The last clause of this canon marked thus [ ] was repeal- 
 ed by the '^th canon of 1799. 
 
 Canon V. Of the officiating of Ministers of this Church in the 
 Churches^ or xuithin the Parochial Cures of other Clergymen, 
 
 No clergyman belonging to this church shall officiate, either 
 by preaching or reading prayers, in the parish or within the paro- 
 chial cure of another clergyman, unless he have received express 
 permission for that purpose from the minister of the parish or 
 cure, or, in his absence, from the church wardens and vestry- 
 men, or trustees of the congregation. But if any minister of a 
 church shall, from inability, or any other cause, neglect to per- 
 form the regular services to his congregation, and shall refuse 
 his consent to any other minister of this church to officiate within 
 his cure, the church wardens, vestrymen, or trustees of such 
 congregation, shall, on proof of such neglect and refusal before the 
 Bishop of the diocese, or, if there be no Bishop, before the 
 standing committee, or before such persons as may be deputed 
 by him, or them, or before such persons as may be, by the re- 
 gulations of this church in any state, vested with the power of 
 
185 
 
 hearing and deciding on complaints against clergynien, have power 
 Xo open the doors of their churches to any regular nainister of the 
 Protestant Episcopal Church. 
 
 The 6th canon of 1792, is hereby recinded. 
 
 Canon VI. Of the preparatory exercises of a Candidate for the 
 
 Ministry, 
 
 Every candidate for the ministry shall give notice of his inten- 
 tion to the Bishop, or to such body as the church in the state in 
 which the candidate resides may have appointed to superintend 
 the instruction of candidates for holy orders, at least one year 
 before his ordination. And if there be a Bishop within the state 
 or district where the candidate resides, he shall apply to no other 
 Bishop for ordination, without the permission of the former. And 
 the said candidate shall pass through the preparatory exercises 
 which the Bishop, or such body aforesaid, may appoint ; such 
 as composing of theses, homilies, or sermons, one or more, to be 
 delivered, either publicly or privately, in his or their presence, 
 at such time or times as may be appointed by the authority afore- 
 said. 
 
 And this canon shall be in force from and after the first day of 
 January next. 
 
 Canon VII. For the better accomplishing of the objects of the 6th 
 Canon of 1 792. 
 
 Whereas there is no provisien made in the " 6th canon of 
 1792," for the case of such a vicinity of two or more churches, as 
 that there can be no local boundaries drawn between their res- 
 pective cures, it is hereby ordained, that in every such case, no 
 minister of this church, other than the parochial clergy of the said 
 cures, shall preach within the common limits of the same, in any 
 other place than in one of the churches thereof, without the con- 
 sent of the major number of the parochial clergy of the said 
 churches. 
 
 Canon VIII. To prevejit a Congregation in any Diocese or State, 
 to unite zvith a Church in any other Diocese or State. 
 
 Whereas a question may arise, whether a congregation within 
 the diocese of any Bishop, or within any state in which there is 
 not yet any Bishop settled, may unite themselves with the church 
 in any other diocese or state ; it is hereby determined and declar» 
 ed, that all such unions shall be considered as irregular and void; 
 and that every congregation of this church shall be considered as 
 belonging to the body of the church of the diocese, or of the state, 
 within the limits of which they dwell ; or within which there is 
 seated a church to which they belong. And no clergyman having 
 a parish or cure in more than one state, shall have a seat in the 
 Convention of any state, other than that in which he resides, 
 
 Bb 
 
186 
 
 Cakon IX. To empotver the Bishop in each Diocese or District 
 to compose forms of Prayer or Thanksgiving for extraordinary 
 occasions, • 
 
 The Bishop of each diocese or district may compose forms of 
 prayer or thanksgiving, as the case may require, for extraordi- 
 nary occasions, and transmit them to each clergyman within his 
 diocese or district, whose duty it shall be to use such forms in 
 his church on such occasions. And the clergy in those states in 
 which there is no Bishop, may use the form of prayer or thanks- 
 giving composed by the Bishop of any other state. 
 
 Dona in Convention, and signed by order of the House of Bi- 
 shops. 
 
 WILLIAM WHITE, D. D presiding Bishop. 
 WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. President of the 
 House of Clerical and Lay Deputies. 
 
 CANONS— Passed 1799. 
 
 Canon I. Of the mode of calling Special Meetings of the General 
 
 Convention. 
 
 THE right of calling special meetings of the Geneiral Con- 
 vention, shall be in the Bishops ; this right shall be exercised by 
 the presiding Bishop, or, in the case of his death, by the Bishop, 
 who, according to the rules of the House of Bishops, is to pre- 
 side at the next General Convention ; provided, that the sum- 
 mons shall be with the consent, or on the requisition of a majo- 
 rity of the Bishops, expressed to him in writing. 
 
 The place of holding any special Convention, shall be that fixed 
 on by the preceding General Convention, for the meeting of the 
 next General Convention, unless circumstances to be judged of 
 by the Bishops, shall render a meeting at such place unsafe ; in 
 which case, the Bishops shall appoint some other place. 
 
 Canon II. Of the consecration of Bishops in the recess of th* 
 General Convention. 
 
 If, during the recess of the General Convention, the church in 
 any state should be desirous of the consecration of a Bishop, the 
 standing committee of the church in such state, may, by their 
 president, or by some other person or persons, specially appoint- 
 ed, communicate the desire to the standing committees of the 
 churches in the different states, together with copies of the ne- 
 cessary testimonials : and if the major number of the standing 
 committees shall consent to the proposed consecration, the stand- 
 ing committee of the state concerned, may communicate the evi- 
 dences of such consent, together with the other testimonials, to 
 
187 
 
 any three Bishops of this church, who may thereon proceed to 
 the consecration. The evidences of the consent of the different 
 standing committees shall be in the form prescribed for the Ge- 
 neral Convention in the "2d canon of 1789:" and without the 
 aforesaid requisites, no consecration shall take place, during the 
 recess of the General Convention. 
 
 Canon III. Explanatory of part of the " 1st canon of 1795.'' 
 
 No clergyman employed by the year, or for any limited time, 
 shall be considered as a regularly officiating and resident Minister 
 of the church in any state, for the purpose expressed in the two 
 concluding sentences of the " 1st canon of 1795," entitled "a ca- 
 " non concerning Episcopal visitation." 
 
 Canon IV. Repealing in part the '■'■Wth canon o/1795," con- 
 cerning the " Learning of those who are to be ordained'' 
 Whereas, by the " Canon of 1 795," entitled " Of the learning of 
 " those who are to be ordained ;" a power is vested in the Bishops 
 of dispensing with certain enumerated requisites in part, which 
 power is not only too indefinitely expressed, but may be abused, 
 so much therefore of the said canon, as authorises Bishops to dis- 
 pense with any of the qualifications required in candidates for 
 holy orders, is hereby repealed. 
 
 By order oj the House of Bishops, 
 WILLIAM WHITE, D. D. Presiding Bishop. 
 By order of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies^ 
 
 WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. President. 
 
 A PRAYER 
 
 To be used at the meetings of the Convention. 
 
 " ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who, by thy holy spirit, 
 "didst preside in the council of the blessed Aposdes, and hast 
 "promised, through thy son Jesus Christ, to be with thy church 
 ** to the end of the world ; we beseech thee to be present with the 
 " council of thy church here assembled in thy name and presence. 
 " Save them from all error, ignorance, pride, and prejudice ; and 
 " of thy great mercy vouchsafe we beseech thee, so to direct, 
 " sanctify, -and govern us in our present work, by the mighty 
 " power of the Holy Ghost, that the comfortable gospel of Christ 
 " may be truly preached, truly received, and truly followed, in all 
 " places, to the breaking down the kingdom of sin, satan, and 
 "death-, till at length the whole of thy dispersed sheep, being 
 " gathered into one fold, shall become partakers of everlasting life 
 ^ through the merits and death of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. 
 
188 
 
 LiH pf the Clergy of the Pmtestant Episcopal Churchy in the dif- 
 ferent States, 1799. 
 
 CLERGY. 
 
 JVt'w Hampshire. 
 The Rev. Joseph Wilhird, Rector of St. 
 John's church, Portsmouth. 
 
 Robert H. Fowie, Rector of 
 
 church, Haldernesse. 
 ' ' Daniel Barber, Rector of ' ' 
 church, Clairmont. 
 jyiassachusetts. 
 Irhe Right Rev. Edward Bass, D. D. 
 
 Bishop 
 The Rev. W. W. Wheeler, Rector of 
 - — church, Scituate. 
 
 ■ William Walter, D D. ReCtor of 
 
 Christ church, Boston 
 
 Samuel Parker, U. D. Rector of 
 
 Ti'inity church, Boston. 
 
 . John Sylvester J. Gardner, assistant 
 
 Minister of Trinity church, Bos- 
 ton. 
 -~— Nathaniel Fisher, Rector of — — 
 
 cliurch, Salem. 
 William I [arris. Rector of St. Mi- 
 chael's church, Maj-blehead. 
 
 Wm. Montag-ue, Rector of 
 
 church, Deedham. 
 
 ■ ■ Dunicl Bui'hans, Uectorof — - 
 
 church, Lanesborough 
 
 =—— • Bradlee, Rector of — — — 
 
 church, Barrington. 
 — — James Boweis, Deacon, Pittston. 
 
 Rhode Island. 
 The Rev. Abraham Lynsen Clarke, Rec- 
 tor of St. Jolm's church. Provi- 
 dence. 
 — ~ John Usher, Rector of St. .Michael's 
 
 church, Bristol. ^.. 
 
 — — Joseph Warren, Rector of St. 
 Paul's church, isiorth King&town. 
 — — Theodore Dehon, Dcucon, Hector 
 of Trinit} church, Newport. 
 Cormecticut. 
 The Right Rev. Abraham Jai-vis, D. D. 
 
 U. D. Bishop. 
 The Rev. Jeremiah Leaoiing, residing at 
 
 New Haven. 
 — - John Bowden, D. D. Principal of tlie 
 
 Episcopal acadeniy at Chesliire. 
 «— • Kichaid Mansheld, \). D. l?ector of 
 Christ's church, at Derby, and of 
 the churches of Oxford and Great 
 Hill. 
 =- — Bela Hubbard, Trinity church. New 
 Haven, and Christ's church. West 
 Haven. 
 «— - John Tyler, Christ church, Nor- 
 wich. 
 — . I Daniel Fogg, Rector of - 
 
 church, Pomphret. 
 -r-^ William Smith, D. D. Rector of St. 
 Paul's church, Norwalk. 
 
 The Rev, Philo Sheltoh, Rector of Trinity 
 church, Strattield, St. John's, 
 Fairfield, and a church in Weston. 
 
 Ashbel Baldwin, Rector of Christ^s 
 
 church, Sttatford, and Trinity 
 chui-ch, Trumbul. 
 
 ■'-^— Ghauncey Prindle, Rector' of 
 Christ's church, Watertown, and 
 St. Peter's, Plymouth. 
 
 — — Reuben Jors, Rector of St. Pe- 
 ter's church, Cheshire, and the 
 churches at Hamden, and South- 
 ington. 
 ■ Tiliotson Brownson, Rector of St. 
 Peter's church at Waterbury, 
 and of the churches at Salem. 
 
 Truman Marsh, Rector of St. 
 
 John's chlirch. New Millbrd, and 
 the cliurches of Roxburj', and 
 New Preston. 
 
 Ambrose Todd, Rector of St. An- 
 drew's church, Symsbury, and; 
 St. Peter's church, Granby. 
 
 — — Solomon Blakesley, Rector of St. 
 Stephen's church, in East Had- 
 dam. 
 
 Setli Hart, Rector of St. Paul'* 
 
 church, Wallingsford, and a 
 church in Tierlin. 
 
 — — Charles Seabury, Rector of St. 
 James's church. New London. 
 
 — — Smith Miles, Rector of the church- 
 es at Chatham, and middle Had- 
 dam. 
 
 David Butler, Rector of Christ's 
 
 churcl), Reading, and the church 
 
 at Ridgfield. 
 Alexander V. Griswold, Rector of 
 
 St. Matthew's church, Bristol, St. 
 
 Mark's, Harwington, and a church 
 
 in Northfield. 
 • Wilham Green, Rector of St. 
 
 John's church, Seabi-ook. 
 — — Calvin White, Deacon, St. John's 
 
 church, Stanford, and a church 
 
 at Horseneck. 
 — — Evan Rogers, Deacon, tlie churches 
 
 of Hebron, and Pompliret. 
 Bethel J udd. Deacon. 
 
 JVety York. 
 
 The Right Rev. Sanmel Provoost, D. D. 
 Bishop. 
 
 The Rev. Benjamin Moore, D. D. As- 
 sistant Minister of Trinity churchj 
 New York. 
 
 — — Abraham Beach, D. D. Assistant 
 Minister of Trinity church. New 
 York. 
 
 — — John Bisset, assistant Minister of 
 Trinity chiirch. New York. 
 
189 
 
 The Rev. Thomas EUison, Rector of 
 
 St. Peter's church, Albany. 
 — — Ammi Rog«rs, Rector of Christ 
 church, BattstoNvn, St. James's, Milton, 
 St. John's, Stillwater and Trinity 
 Church, Waterfbrd. 
 
 Robert G. Wetmore, Rector of St. 
 
 George's church, Schenectady, Mid 
 Christ church, Duanesborough- 
 
 . John Urquhart, Rector of St. Jolin's 
 
 church, Johnstown, and church. 
 
 Fort Hunter. 
 
 Richard C. Moore, Rector of St. 
 
 Andrew's church, Staten Island. 
 
 Elias Cooper, Rector of St. John's 
 
 church, Philipsbuigh. 
 
 —I Theodosius Bartow, Rector of Tri. 
 
 nity church, New Rochelle. 
 — — Elijah D. Rattoone, Rector ef Grace 
 chui-ch, Jamaica, and St. George's 
 Flushing. 
 
 John Ireland, Rector of St. Ann's 
 
 church, Brooklyn. 
 . Frederick ^ an Home, Rector of 
 St. Andrew's church, Ulster county. 
 
 . Amos Pardee, Rector of -^ '■— 
 
 church, Hampton. 
 
 Philander Chase, Missionary of the 
 
 Protestant Episcopal church in the 
 state of New York. 
 
 Samuel Nesbit, resident Minister 
 
 in New York. 
 
 John J. Sands, Minister of the 
 
 churches in Islop and Brookhaven. 
 
 Samuel Haskill, Rector of Christ 
 
 church, in Rye. 
 
 Henry Van Dyke, Rector of St. 
 
 James's church, Newtown. 
 
 Daniel Nash, minister of the church- 
 es in Otsego. 
 
 JVew Jersey. 
 
 The Rev. Charles H. Wharton, D. D. 
 Rector of St. Mary's church, Burling- 
 ton. 
 
 Uzal Ogden, D. D. Rector of Tri- 
 nity church, Newark. 
 
 Henry Waddell, Rector of St. Mi- 
 
 chad's church, Trenton. 
 The Rev. JohnCroes, Hector of Trinity 
 
 church, Swedesborough. 
 — — Menzies Rayner, Rector of St. 
 
 John's church, Elizabethtown. 
 Andrew Fowler, Hector of St. Pe- 
 ter's church, Spotswood. 
 John Henry Hobart, Deacon of 
 
 Christ Church, New Brunswick. 
 Pe?insylvania. 
 The Right Rev. William White, D. D. 
 
 Bishop. 
 The Rev. William Smith, D. D. 
 Samuel Magaw, U. D. Rector of 
 
 St. Paul's church, l*liiladelphia. 
 ■^ John Andrews, D. D. Vice Provost 
 
 of the Univensivy of Pennsylvania. 
 
 -^-^ Robert Blackwell, D. D. AssisUnt 
 Minister of Christ church artd St. Pe- 
 ter's, in the city of Philadelphia. 
 
 Joseph Hutchins, D. D. 
 
 — ^^ John Campbell, Rector of the 
 Episcopal churches of York and Hun- 
 tingdon. 
 
 --lator Clay, Rector of St. David's, 
 
 Radnor ; St. Peter's in tlie Valley ; 
 and St. James's, Perkiomen. 
 
 . ' • Joseph Clarkson, Rector of St. 
 James's, Lancaster, and of Pequca 
 and Carnarvon, Lancaster county. 
 
 Robert AjTes, Rector of Emanuel 
 
 church, and St. Peter's church, in 
 Washington and Fayette counties. 
 
 Francis Reno, Westmoreland coun- 
 
 ty- 
 
 — Joseph Turner, Rector of St 
 Paul's church, Chester, and St. Mar- 
 tin's church, Marcus Hook. 
 
 — Caleb Hopkins, Rector of Christ 
 church, iDerry township, and Christ 
 church, Turbut township, Northum- 
 berland county. 
 
 — — Thomas Davis, Washington coun- 
 ty- 
 
 James Abercrombie, Assistant Mi- 
 nister of Christ church and St. Pe- 
 ter's, in the city of Philadelphia. 
 
 — - Absalom Jones (a black man,) 
 Deacon in the African cliurch of St. 
 Thomas's, Philadelphia. 
 
 Delaware. 
 The Rev. Robert Clay, Emanuel church. 
 
 New Castle. 
 — -^ Walter C. Gardiner Christ church, 
 
 Dover. 
 William Pryce, Christ church, Kent 
 
 county. 
 James Wiltbank, St. Peters church, 
 
 Sussex. 
 
 jyTaryland. 
 The Right Rev. Thomas J. Claggett, 
 
 D. D. Bishop. 
 The Rev. Charles Sm cot, Rector of Wfl- 
 
 liam and Mary Pa-'-ish, St. Mary's. 
 
 - Henry Lyon Davis, St. Mary's. 
 
 John Weenis, Port Tobacco, 
 
 Charles. 
 
 Mr. — — , William and Mar)', 
 
 Charles. 
 
 Hatch Dent, Trinity, Charles. 
 
 Edward Gant, jun. Christ church, 
 
 Calvert. 
 
 Nicholas W. Lane, All Saints, Cal- 
 vert 
 
 Francis Walker, residing in Cal- 
 vert. 
 
 *Gcorge Ralph, Rector of Queen 
 
 Anne's parish, Prince George's county. 
 
 John Me-singer, St John's, Prince 
 
 George's county. 
 
190 
 
 The Rev. Andrew M'Cormick, Wash- 
 ington, Prince George's county. 
 
 Clement Brook, residing in Prince 
 
 George's county. 
 
 . Walter D. Addison, residing in 
 
 Prince George's county. 
 
 John W. Compton, St. James's, 
 
 Anne Arundel, 
 
 ^ Ralph Higinbothom, St- Anne's, 
 
 Anne Arundel. 
 
 Owen F. Magrath, residing in An- 
 ne Arundel. 
 
 Henry Moscrop, residing in Anne 
 
 Arundel. 
 
 *Thomas Read, Prince George's, 
 
 Montgomery. 
 
 — — r WiUiam Swan, St. Peter's, Mont- 
 gomery. 
 
 —— Edward Gant, residing in Montgo- 
 mery. 
 
 George Bower, All Saints, Frederic 
 
 county. 
 
 Joseph G. J. Bend, and John Ire- 
 land, associate Rectors of St. Paul's, 
 Baltimore. 
 
 — — John Coleman, St Thomas', Balti- 
 more. 
 
 John Allen, St. George's, Hart- 
 ford. 
 
 . Jeremiah Cosden, St. Stephen's, 
 
 Cecil. 
 
 George Dashlell, Shrewsbury. 
 
 Archibald Walker, D. D. Chester, 
 
 Kent. 
 
 Colin Ferguson, D. D. residing in 
 
 Kent 
 
 — — William Duke, residing in Kent. 
 
 Samuel Keene, D. D. St. Luke's, 
 
 Queen Anne's. 
 
 *Ellsha Rigg, St. Paul's, Queen 
 
 Anne's. 
 
 Joseph Jackson, St. Peter's, Tal- 
 bot. 
 
 John Bowie, D.D. St. Michaels, 
 
 Talbot. 
 
 . •James Kemp, Great Choptank, 
 
 Dorchester. 
 
 Joshua Reece. Stepney, Somerset. 
 
 . Thomas Scott, Somerset, Somer- 
 set. 
 
 *Isaac Foster, Coventry, Somerset. 
 
 ,— ■ Samuel Sloan, residing in Somer- 
 set. 
 
 , *David Ball, All Hallows, Wor- 
 
 cester. 
 
 t Samuel Tingley, Worcester, Wor- 
 cester. 
 
 Virginia. 
 
 The Right Rev. James Madison, D.D. 
 Bishop. 
 
 The Rev. Charles O'Neil, Rector of Am- 
 herst parish. 
 
 Alexander Hay, Antrim. 
 
 —— Devereux Jarratt, Bath. 
 
 — — Gray Bottetourt. 
 
 Hugh Corran Boggs, Berkeley. 
 
 Benjamin Brown, Blisland. 
 
 Andrew Syme, Bristol. 
 
 John Cameron, Rector of — . 
 
 Alexander M'Farland, Brunswrick. 
 
 Henry Spjering, 
 
 John Bracken, D. D. Bruton. 
 
 John Camm, Charles. 
 
 HefFemen, Christ church. 
 
 James Elliott, Cople. 
 
 Needier Robinson, Dale. 
 
 Spence Grayson, Dettingen. 
 
 Jesse Garter, Drysdale. 
 
 Darnel M'Naughton, Christ Church. 
 
 John I. Spooner, Elizabeth city. 
 
 James Whitehead, EUzabeth river. 
 
 Thomas Davis, Fairfax. 
 
 • Alexander Balmain, Frederick. 
 
 John V. Weylie, Lecturer, Frede- 
 rick. 
 
 Matthew Maury, Fredericksville. 
 
 James Craig, Hamilton. 
 
 John Buchanan, D. D. Henrico. 
 
 Samuel S, M'Croskey, D.D.Hun- 
 gars. 
 
 John Thompson, Leeds. 
 
 Charles Crawford, Lexington. 
 
 William Crawford, — . 
 
 James Dickinson, Littleton. 
 
 Young, Lunenburg. 
 
 Anthony Walke, Lynhaven. 
 
 John Dunn, Manchester. 
 
 William Hubard, Newport. 
 
 Jacob Keeling, Nunseniond. 
 
 Robert Buchan, Overwharton. 
 
 Arthur Emerson, Portsmouth. 
 
 John Brun skill, Raleigh. 
 
 Alexander Lundie, St. Andrew's. 
 
 John Matthews, St. Bride's. 
 
 Reuben Clopton, 
 
 Cave Jones, St. George's. 
 
 James Stevenson, St. George's. 
 
 Charles Hopkins, St. James Nor- 
 
 tham. 
 
 James Price, St. John's. 
 
 Thomas Hughes, St. Darid. 
 
 Archibald Dick, St. Margaret's. 
 
 John Woodville, St. Mark's. 
 
 Abner Waugh, St. Mai7's. 
 
 William Stewart, St. Paul's. 
 
 John Parsons. 
 
 John Seward, St. Stephen's. 
 
 John Hyde Saunders, Southam, 
 
 Samuel Buder, Southwark. 
 
 Samuel Chapin, Westover. 
 
 James Evans, Yorkhampton. 
 
 John O'Donnel, Hampshhe. 
 
 Lee iMassey, I'riu-o. 
 
 Armistead Smith, Matthews. 
 
 * JMembers of the standing committee this year. 
 
191 
 
 The Rev. John C Brockenboroug, 
 
 Washington. 
 
 Duncan M'Naughton, Wicomico. 
 
 ■ — Joseph Wilson, 
 
 Stephen Thomson, 
 
 John AVade, 
 
 Cornelius Carvert, 
 
 cures not known. 
 
 South Carolina. 
 The Right Rev. Robert Smith, D. D, 
 
 Bishop. 
 The Kev. Thomas Frost, St. Philip's. 
 Henry Purcell, D. D. St. Michael's, 
 
 Charleston. 
 Edward Jenkins, St Michael's, 
 
 Charleston. 
 — ■■ — Milwood Pogson, St. James', 
 
 Goose creek, St. George's, Dorches- 
 ter. 
 Peter M. Parker, St John's, Berk- 
 
 ley. 
 
 John Thompson, St. Thomas's. 
 
 Thomas Mills, St. Andrews, James' 
 
 Island, St. Andrew's, Main. , 
 — — Edmund Matthews, St. John's, 
 
 Edisto. 
 Mr. Nixon, St. Bartholomew's. 
 
 Thomas D. Bladen, St. James', 
 
 Santee. 
 
 — — James Connor, St. Stephen's. 
 
 George H. Spierin. Prince George's. 
 
 John O'Donnel, All Saints. 
 
 Frazier, Prince Frederick's. 
 
 Residents in the state, without cures. 
 
 Dr. Gates, 
 
 Mr. Cotton, teacher in Charleston 
 
 college. 
 
 Mr. M«Culley, Master of an Aca- 
 demy, Bea\ifort. 
 
 Mr. BlackwaU. 
 
 Mr. Best, Master of an Academy, 
 
 Charleston. 
 
JOURNAL 
 
 OF THE PROCEEDINGS 
 
 OP THE 
 
 BISHOPS, CLERGY AND LAITY, 
 
 OF THE 
 
 PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 
 
 IN THE 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 
 
 Uf A 
 
 (§(^mwmmsmm 
 
 9 
 
 HEIiD IN 
 
 The City ot Trenton, in New Jersey, from Tuesday, September 
 8, to Saturday, September 12, 1801. 
 
LIST OF THE MEMBERS 
 
 HOUSE OF CLERICAL AND LAY DEPUTIES* 
 
 From the State of Massachusetts. 
 
 Rev. Samuel Parker, D. D. 
 Rev. William Harris. 
 
 From the State of Connecticut* 
 
 Rev. Ashbel Baldwin, 
 Rev. Philo Shelton, 
 Rev. Evan Rogers, 
 James Clark, Esquire. 
 
 Frotn the State of Nezv Tork, 
 
 Rev. Abraham Beach, D. D. 
 Rev. Isaac Wilkins, 
 Rev. John Ireland, 
 Rev. John Henry Hobart, 
 John Read, Esquire, 
 AVilliam Ogden, Esquire. 
 
 From the State of New Jersey* 
 
 Rev. Uzal Ogden, D. D. 
 
 Rev. Charles H. Wharton, D. D. 
 
 Colonel Samuel Ogden, 
 
 Matthias Williamson, jun. Esquire, 
 
 John Dennis, Esquire. 
 
 From the State of Pennsylvania, 
 
 Rev. William Smith, D. D. 
 Rev. Robert Blackwell, D. D. 
 
 From the State of Delaware, 
 
 Rev. Robert Clay, 
 Rev. William Pryce, 
 Joseph Burn, Esquire, 
 
 From the State of Maryland. 
 
 Rev. James Kemp, 
 Rev. Joseph G. J. Bend, 
 Rev. John Coleman, 
 Rev. George Dashiell, 
 David Kerr, Esquire. 
 William Helmsley, Esquirc« 
 
JOURNAL 
 
 OF THE 
 
 HOUSE OF CLERICAL AND LAY DEPUTIES. 
 
 Trenton, State or New Jersey. 
 
 St. Jylkhaers Church, Sept. 8, 1801. 
 A SUFFICIENT number of Clerical and Lay Deputies to 
 form a quorum not appearing, the members present adjourned to 
 meet at the church to-morrow morning at nine o'clock. 
 
 Wednesday, 6"^/?;. 9, 1801. 
 
 The house met, and the Rev. Mr. Ireland read prayers. 
 
 The members then adjourned to the State House, when a suf- 
 ficient number of Clerical and Lay Deputies to form a house 
 appearing, and a quorum being formed, the house proceeded to 
 the appointment, by ballot, of a President, and a majority of votes 
 was found for the Rev- Abraham Beach, D. D. 'l1ie Rev. Ash- 
 bel Baldwin was appointed Secretary and Chaplain to the Con- 
 vention. 
 
 Resolved, That the Rev. Dr. Parker, and William Ogden, Esq. 
 inform the House of Bishops that the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies is formed and ready to proceed to business. 
 
 Resolved, That the rules of order established by the House of 
 Clerical and Lay Deputies of the three preceding Conventions be 
 adopted by this house. 
 
 The Rev. Samuel Pi.rker, D. D. and the Rev. William Harris, 
 Clerical Deputies from Massachusetts ; the Rev. Ashl^el Baldwin, 
 Rev. Philo Shelton, and Rev. Evan Rogers, Clerical Deputies, 
 and James Clarke, Esq. Lay Deputy, from Connecticut j the Rev. 
 Abraham Beach, D. D. Rev. Isaac Wilkins, Rev. John Ireland, 
 and Rev. John Henry Hobart, Clerical Deputies, and John Read 
 and William Ogden, Esqrs. Lay Deputies, from New York; the 
 Rev. Uzal Ogden, D. D. Clerical Deputy, and Col. Saaiuel Og- 
 den and .John Dennis, Esq. Lay Deputies, from New Jersey ; the 
 Rev. William Smith, D. D. and Rev. Robert Blackwell, D. D. 
 Clerical Deputies from Pennsylvania ; the Rev. James Keinp, 
 Clerical Deputy, and David Kerr, Esq. Lay Deput)-, from Ma- 
 ryland, delivered in, at the Secretary's table, certificates of their 
 appointment, which were read, and determined to be satisfactory. 
 
 Dr. Parker proposed the following resolution, wliich v/as adopt- 
 ed, viz. That, during the session of the present Convention, they 
 shall meet each day at 9 o'clock, A. M. and adjourn at 1 o'clock, 
 P. M. and meet again at 4 o'clock, P. M. 
 
 Dr. Parker was requested by this house to give information to 
 ihe House of Bishops of the foregoing resolution, who reported 
 that thev acceded to the saine. 
 
195 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Beach presented the testimonial required by the 
 canons, from the state ('onvcntion of New York, in favour of the 
 Rev. Benjamin 3Ioore, D. 1^ the Bishop elect of that state. 
 
 On motion, the following message was sent by the Rev. Mr, 
 Ilobart to the House of Bishops : " The House of Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies wish to know from the House of Bishops, whether 
 they have received any communication from Bishop Provoost, on 
 the subject of his resignation of his Episcopal jurisdiction in the 
 state of New York.'* 
 
 A communication was received from the House of Bishops, on 
 the subject of the foregoing message from this house. 
 
 The house then proceeded to sign the testimonial required by 
 the canons in favour of the Rev- Benjamin Moore, D. D. Bishop 
 elect of the state of New York ; which, together with the testimo- 
 nial from the state Convention of New York, was ordered to be 
 presented to the House of Bishops. 
 
 The house then adjourned until 4 o'clock. 
 
 Wednesday, 4 o'clock^ P. M. 
 
 The house met. 
 
 The Rev. Charles H. Wharton, D. D. a Clerical Deputy from 
 the state of New Jersey, and the Rev Joseph G. J. Btnd, a Cle- 
 rical Deputy from the state of Maryland, presented their testimo- 
 nials, which were approved, and they took their seats accordingly. 
 
 Resolved^ That the proceedings of this house shall be read at the 
 opening of the house every morning. 
 
 The question being called for upon the alteration of the first 
 article of the constitution, as proposed by the last General Con- 
 vention ; and the votes being taken by states, it was negaiived. 
 
 The house then adjourned until 9 o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Thursday Morning, Sept. 10. 
 
 The house met according to adjournment, and the Chaplain 
 read prayers. 
 
 'Matthias Williamson, jun. Esq. Lay Deputy from the state of 
 New Jersey ; the Rev. Robert Clay, and the Rev. William Price, 
 Clerical Deputies, and Joseph Burn, Esq. Lay Deputy from the 
 state of Delaware ; the Rev, John Coleman, and Rev. George 
 Dashiell, Clerical Deputies, and William Helmsley, Esq. a Lay 
 Deputy from the state of Maryland, presented their testimonials, 
 which were read and approved, and they took their seats accord- 
 ingly. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Bishops, informing 
 this house that they had read and approved the testimonials in fa- 
 vour ©f the Rev. Dr. Benjamin Moore, Bishop elect of the state 
 of New York, and had appointed to-morrow morning, 10 o'clock, 
 for his consecration. 
 
 On motion, Rtsohcd^ That the Rev. IMr. Bend inform the 
 House of Bishops, t!ut this House will attend the consecration of 
 the Rev. Dr. 3Ioore at the apnointed time. 
 
196 
 
 On motion of the Rev. Dr. "Wharton, Resolved^ That the fol- 
 lowing addition be made to the 4th canon of 1799; viz. "unless 
 when such candidate come recommended by the General Con- 
 vention." 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Wharton was requested to carry the foregoing 
 resolution to the House of Bishops for their concurrence. 
 
 The following resolution was moved by Mr. Kerr : 
 
 Whereas the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies of the Ge- 
 neral Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church, held at 
 Philadelphia in June, 1799, resolved that all proceedings respect- 
 ing the consecration of the Rev. Uzal Ogden, D. D. ought to be 
 suspended until a future Convention of the state of New Jersey 
 shall declare their sense of the subject ; 
 
 Resolved^ That the proceedings and declaration of the state 
 Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in New Jersey, on 
 the subject to them referred, be read, and that the testimonials of 
 this house, requisite on such occasions, be given by this house. 
 
 The proceedings of the state Convention of the Protestant 
 Episcopal church in New Jersey, respecting the election of Dr. 
 Ogden as Bishop for that state, were accordingly read, and fully 
 considered; and the question upon signing the requisite testimo- 
 nial being taken by states, it was negatived. 
 
 The house adjourned to 4 o'clock. 
 
 «• 
 
 Thursday, 4 o'clock^ P, M, 
 
 The house met. 
 
 A communication from the House of" Bishops, respecting the 
 articles of religion, was read ; 
 
 And, on motion, a committee, consisting of a Clerical member 
 from each state, viz. Dr. Parker, Mr. Baldwin, Mr. Wilkins, Dr. 
 Ogden, Dr. Smith, Mr, Clay, and Mr. Kemp, were appointed to 
 take into consideration the foregoing communication from the 
 House of Bishops, and were ordered to report to this house to- 
 morrow. 
 
 A messsage was received from the House of Bishops, disa- 
 greeing to the resolution of this house, making an addition to the 
 fourth canon of 1799, and proposing instead thereof, that the 
 fourth canon of 1795 be revived, wi':h the following addition; 
 viz. " In which case the Bishop shall record the reasons of the 
 aforesaid dispensation ; and the reasons so recorded shall be liable 
 to be called for at any meeting of the state Convention, and, if 
 said Convention think proper, shall be entered on their journals." 
 «-" the fourth canon of 1799 to be repealed." 
 
 This house disagreed to the proposed substitute from the House 
 pf Bishops to their resolution, and requested a conference. Dr. 
 J*arker, Rev. Mr. Wilkins, and Rev. Mr. Kemp, were appointed 
 a committee on the part of this house ; and the Rev. Mr. Hobart 
 was requested to inform the House of Bishops thereof. 
 
 The following resolution was received from the House of Bi- 
 sjiops, and agreed to by this house ; viz. 
 
197 
 
 Resolved^ That it be made known to the State Conventions, 
 that it is proposed to consider and determine, in the next General 
 Convention, on the following alteration of the first article of the 
 constitution, viz : 
 
 Art. 1. There shall be a General Convention of the Protestant 
 Episcopal Church in the United States of America, on the third 
 Tuesday of May, 1808, and on the third Tuesday of May in every 
 third year afterwards, &c. as before- 
 
 A proposed canon was received from the House of Bishops, 
 respecting those persons who shall discontinue, without lawful 
 cause, all exercise of the ministerial office; which was considered 
 by this House, and agreed to. 
 
 On motion, Resolved, That the following clause be added to the 
 6th rule ol order : " without the consent of two-thirds of the 
 House." 
 
 On motion of Mr. Kerr, Resolved^ That the presiding Bishop 
 in the House of Bishops, be requested to appoint a clergyman of 
 this House, to perform divine service, and preach a sermon every 
 evening during the present session. 
 
 On motion of the Rev Mr. Bend, Resolved^ That it be recom- 
 mended to the several State Conventions of this church, to cause 
 as great a number as possible of the constitution and canons of 
 the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States, and of the 
 constitution and canons of their respective churches, to be printed 
 and distributed among their respective congreg.itions. 
 
 The foregoing resolution was transmitted to the House of Bi- 
 shops, and a message was received from them, informing this 
 House that they had concurred in the same. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Rogers, from Connecticut, asked leave of ab- 
 sence during the remainder of the session, which was granted. 
 
 The Rev. Mr- Ireland, from the state of New York, asked 
 leave of absence during the remainder of the session, which was 
 granted. 
 
 Adjourned to 9 o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Friday^ September \1. 
 
 The house met, and the Chaplain read pravers. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Harris, from Massachusetts, asked leave of ab- 
 sence during the remainder of the session, which was granted. 
 
 The House then adjourned to attend divine service at St. Mi- 
 chael's church, Trenton, on occasion of the consecration of the 
 Rev. Dr. Moore, Bishop elect of the church in New York. 
 
 After divine service, the House met at 4 o'clock, P. M. 
 
 On motion, Resolved^ That the thanks of this House be pre- 
 sented to the Right Rrv. Bishop White, for his sermon delivered 
 this day, at the consecration of the Rev. Dr. Moore, and that he 
 be requested to furnish a cop}' of the same for publication. 
 
 A proposed canon was received from the House of Bishops, 
 limiting the operation of the 4th canon of 1795. 
 
198 
 
 The foregoing canon was adopted with an amendment. 
 The Rev. Dr. Parker, Rev. Mr. Shelton, and James Clark, Esq, 
 were appointed a committee to consider certain memorials pre- 
 sented to this House from churches in New Hampshire and Ver- 
 mont, and to report thereon. / 
 
 The committee appointed to consider the communication from 
 the House of Bishops, respecting the articles of religion, made 
 a report, which was unanimously adopted, and sent to the House 
 of Bishops for their concurrence. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Wilkins presented the following proposed canon: 
 " No Lay Deputy shall be admitted as a member of this House, 
 who shall not have been a communicant of the Protestant Episco- 
 pal Church, for at least one year previous to his appointment. 
 
 The question was taken by states on the foregoing canon, and 
 the yeas and nays were as follows : 
 
 Clergy. Laity. 
 
 Massachusetts — No. 
 
 Connecticut — Yea. Connecticut — No. 
 
 New York — Yea. New York — Yea. 
 
 New Jersey — No. 
 Pennsylvania — No. 
 
 Delaware — No. Delaware — No. 
 
 Maryland — No. Maryland — No. 
 
 So it was determined in the negative. 
 
 Reaolvtd, That the Secretaries of the former Convention, and 
 the Secretaries of the present Convention, be requested to trans- 
 mit all the papers to the committee who were appointed for the 
 purpose of airranging and recording the Journals of the General 
 Convention ; and, when these papers are recorded, they shall be 
 deposited with the Bishop of this church in Pennsylvania, to be 
 transmitted to the next General Convention. 
 
 The House of Bishops informed this House, that they had con- 
 curred in the amendment proposed by this House, to the propos- 
 ed canon limiting the operation of the 4th canon of 1795. 
 The House adjourned to 8 o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Saturday^ 8 o'clock^ A. M. 
 
 The House met, and the Chaplain read prayers. 
 
 The committee appointed to consider the memorials from cer- 
 tain churches in New Hampshire and Vermont, made the follow- 
 ing report, which was read, and unanimously adopted ; viz : 
 
 Report of the Committee. 
 
 It appears from the memorials of certain churches in the west- 
 ern part of the state of New Hampshire, and the eastern part of 
 the state of Vermont, that, having agreed to and adopted the ge- 
 neral constitution of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Uni- 
 ted States, they are desirous of forming a junction, and uniting 
 themselves, for the purpose of holding Conventions, and effect- 
 
199 
 
 ing a clue organization of their C:.urches ; and, on account of the 
 impracticabiht^ of joining with tht other churches in said respec- 
 tive states, they are desirous of bei^r considered as a separate 
 district. Your committee are of opi.\on, that the 8th canon of 
 1795 militates against the wishes of saia jviemorialists, but that 
 their local situation requires a dispensation iVom the operation of 
 said canon, moi'e especially as many valuable tracts of land have 
 been granted to the Episcopal Church in those towns, and others 
 in the vicinity, which land requires the attention of a duly orga- 
 nized church for its preservation and improvement. Your com- 
 mittee are therefore of opinion, that, from their peculiar circum- 
 stances, they ought to be allowed to put themselves under the ju- 
 risdiction of a Bishop of one of the neighbouring states, until a 
 Bishop shall be duly consecrated and settled in said states, as the 
 only measure that can relieve them under their peculiar situation 
 and circumstances. Signed by order, 
 
 S. PARKER. 
 
 The above report was sent to the House of Bishops, and re- 
 turned with their concurrence. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Hobart proposed a canon, prescribing the mode 
 of publishing authorized editions of the common prayer book, 
 &c. which was read and adopted, and sent to the House ot Bi- 
 shops. 
 
 The House of Bishops returned the foregoing canon, with an 
 amendment, in which this House concurred. 
 
 The House of Bishops also returned to this House the resolu- 
 tion respecting the articles of religion, with umendii>ents, which 
 were read and adopted. [For this resolution respecting articles 
 of reliifion^ as agreed to by the House of Bishops and the House 
 of Clerical and Lay Deputies ^ see Appendix,'] 
 
 This House adopted, and sent to the House of Bishops, a re- 
 solution respecting certain spurious editions of the book of com- 
 mon prayer. 
 
 The House of Bishops informed this House, that they disa- 
 greed to the above named resolution, and proposed another as a 
 substitute, which was adopted by this House. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Smith proposed a canon, making an addition to 
 the 1st canon of 1795, of Episcopal Visitation; which was read 
 and adopted, and sent to the House of Bishops. 
 
 The House of Bishops informed this House, that they concur- 
 red in the foregoing canon. 
 
 On motion of the Rev. Mr. Bend, Resolved^ That the House 
 of Bishops be requested to consider of and establish a course of 
 theological studies proper for candidates for holy orders, and to 
 report the same to the next General Convention. 
 
 The House of Bishops concurred in the foregoing resolution. 
 
 On motion. Resolved^ That the Rev. Mr. Bend, Rev. Mr. Ire- 
 land (of Baltimore,) Rev. Mr. Kemp, Rev. Mr. Coleman, and 
 
200 
 
 Rev. Mr. Dashiell, be appointed ^ committee to report to this 
 House, at the next General Contention, such additional hymns as 
 they shall think are adapted tc><:hristian worship. 
 
 On motion, Resolved^ TMt the Hev. Dr. Beach, Rev. Mr. Ho- 
 bart, with the Secretary e^ this House, be a committee on the part 
 of this House, to revisit and publish the Journals. &c. of this Con- 
 vention, and also to superintend the printing of Bishop White's 
 sermon, delivered before this Convention. 
 
 Ordered^ That five hundred copies of the Journals, and the same 
 number of the sermon, be printed. 
 
 On motion. Resolved^ That the next meeting of the General 
 Convention be held in the city of New York. 
 
 The House of Bishops concurred in the foregoing resolution. 
 
 On motion, Resohedy That the Right Rev. Bishop Moore be 
 requested to preach a sermon at the opening of the next General 
 Convention ; and that the Rev. Mr. Hobart inform the House of^ 
 Bishops of the foregoing resolution, and that this House are ready 
 to adjourn. 
 
 On motion, Resolved^ That the Rev. Mr. Waddell, Secretary of 
 the House of Bishops, be requested to return the thanks of this 
 Convention to the Governor for the use of the rooms in the State 
 House. 
 
 Resolved^ That the thanks of this House be given to their Presi- 
 dent, the Rev. Dr. Beach, and to their Secretary and Chaplain, the 
 Rev. Mr. Baldwin, for their attention and services. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Hobart reported, that the Right Rev. Bishop 
 Moore would- comply with the request of this House, to preach a 
 sermon at the opening of the next General Convention ; and that 
 the House of Bishops, having no further communications to make, 
 concurred in the resolution of adjournment. 
 
 The House adjourned sine die. 
 Signed hu order of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, 
 
 ABRAHAM BEAcJS, President. 
 Ashbel Baldwin, Secretary. 
 
 JOURNAL OF THE HOUSE OF BISHOPS. 
 
 Trenton, State of New Jersey. 
 
 St. Michael's church, Sept. 8, 1801. 
 
 THIS being the day of the meeting ot the General Conven- 
 tion of the Protestant Episcopal Church, the Right Rev. Bishop 
 White, of Pennsylvania, appeared, and appointed to meet to-mor« 
 row at 9 o'clock. 
 
 Wednesday, Sept. 9, 1801. 
 
 Present as before, together with the Right Rev. Bishop Claggett, 
 of Maryland, and the Right Rev. Bishop Jarvis, of Connecticut. 
 
201 
 
 The house attended divine service with the House of Clerical 
 and Lay Deputit-s. • • u 
 
 His excellency the governor having granted permission to the 
 Convention to meet in the State House, Resolved, That this house 
 do adjourn to meet immediately in the council chamber of the sam6. 
 
 The house met at the State House. 
 
 Some doubt arising in regard to the meaning of the rule of this 
 house in the year 1792, substituted in the place of the Ist rule of 
 this house in 1789 — Resolved, That until the same shall be consi- 
 dered and explained by this house, the Right Rev. Bishop White 
 be requested to preside at the present session. 
 
 The Rev. Henry Waddell was appointed Secretary of this 
 
 house. _ 
 
 A message was received from the House of Clerical and Lay 
 
 Deputies, bv the Rev. Mr. Kemp, informing this house that they 
 
 were organised, and ready to proceed to business. This house 
 
 informed them, that they were ready for the same. 
 
 A letter was laid before this house from the Right Rev. Bishop 
 
 Provoost, addressed to Bishop AVhite, as follows : 
 
 "iVew 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, in- 
 duced by ill health, and some melancholy occurrences in my fa- 
 mily, and an ardent wish to retire from all public employment, I re- 
 signed, at the last meeting of our Church Convention, my jurisdic- 
 tion as Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the state of 
 
 New York. 
 
 ^ "1 am, with great regard, 
 
 *' Dear and Right Rev. Sir, 
 
 " Your affectionate brother, 
 
 '^ SAMUEL PROVOOST. 
 « Right Rev. Bishop White." 
 
 A message from the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies wa3 
 read, as follown :- -" The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies 
 wish to know from the House of Bishops, whether they have re- 
 ceived any communication from Bishop Provoost, on the subject 
 of the resignation of his Episcopal jurisdiction in the state of 
 New York." 
 
 The House of Bishops having considered the subject brought 
 before them by the letter of Bishop Provoost, and by the message 
 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. Accordinglx , while they sympathize 
 most tenderly with their brother Bishop Provoost, on account of 
 that ill health, and those melancholv occurrences which have led to 
 
 D d 
 
202 
 
 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. Neverthe* 
 less, being sensible of the present exigencies of the church of New- 
 York, and approving of their making provision for the actual dis- 
 charge of the duties of the episcopacy, the Bishops of this house 
 are ready to consecrate to the office of Bishop, any person who 
 may be presented to them with the requisite testimonials from 
 the General and State Conventions ; and of whose religious, mo- 
 ral, and literary character, due satisfaction may be given. Bat 
 this house must be understood to be explicit in their declaration, 
 that they 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 be discharged by him, to be dependent on such regu- 
 lations as expediency may dictate to the church in New York, 
 grounded on the indisposition of Bishop Provoosti and with his 
 concurrence. 
 
 The Secretary not being present. Bishop Jarvis is requested to 
 deliver the al)ove as a message to the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies, and to furnish that house with a copy of Bishop Pro- 
 voost's letter. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies, by the Rev. Dr. Parker, informing, that the meetings 
 of that house, during the session, are appointed to be at nine 
 o'clock in the forenoon, and at four in the afternoon. This house 
 agreed on the same hours, and informed the House of Clerical 
 and Lay Deputies thereof, by the Rev. Dr. Parker. 
 
 Adjourned to 4 o'clock, P. M. 
 
 Wednesday, Sept. 9, 4 d*ctock^ P. 3L 
 
 The house niPt. Present as yesterday. 
 
 The Rev. Henry Waddell took his place as Secretary to this 
 house. 
 
 I'he house agreed on a form and manner of setting forth the 
 articles of religion, ahd agreed that the same be sent to the House 
 of Clerical and Lay Deputies for their concurrence ; which was 
 done accordingly. 
 
 The house then adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Thursday, Sept, 10, 9 o'clock^ A. 3L 
 
 The house met. Present as yesterday. 
 
 The testimonial from the Convention of the church in the state 
 of New York, in favour of the Rev. Dr. Benjamin Moore, as Bi- 
 shop elect of the church in that state ; and also the testimonial from 
 the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, now sitting, in favour 
 of the said Dr. Moore, being received and read, and found agree- 
 tible to the prescribed forms ; Resolved^ That the House of Clerical 
 
203 
 
 and Lay Deputies be informed, that the Bishops now present ar^ 
 ready to proceed to the consecration of the Rev. Dr. Moore to- 
 morrow morning, at 10 o'clock. 
 
 The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies informed this house, 
 by the Rev. Mr. Bend, that they will attend the consecration of 
 the Rev. Dr. Moore at the time appointed. 
 
 This house received, by the Rev. Mr. Bend, a message as fol- 
 lows : " The question being taken in the Uouse of Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies, upon thv- following alteration in the 1st article of 
 the constitution ; viz. ' Art. 1. There shall be a General Coi.ven." 
 tion of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of 
 America on the third Tuesday of May, in the year of our Lord, 
 1805, and on the third Tuesday oi May, in every fifth year alter- 
 terwards,' &c. And the votes being taken, it was determined in 
 the negative." 
 
 This house resolved, That it be proposed to the House of Cle- 
 rical and Lay Deputies to propose to the next General Convention^ 
 that the first article of the constitution shall be as follows ; vii. 
 " Art. 1. There shall be a General Convention of the Protestant 
 Episcopal Church, in the United States of America, on the third 
 Tuesday in May, 1808, and in every third year," &c. as before. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies, by the Rev. Dr. AVharton, proposing an addition to the 
 4th canon of 1799. This house disagreed to the said proposal, 
 and instead thereof proposed to the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies the revival of, and an addition to, that part of the 4th 
 canon of 1795, which had been repealed, together with the repeal 
 of the 4th canon of 1799. 
 
 The house then adjourned to the afternoon. 
 
 Thursday, 4 o'clock^ P. M. 
 
 The house met. Present as before. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies, by the Rev. Mr. Hobart, informing this house that they 
 disagree to the proposal made to them by this house for the revival 
 of, and an addition to, that part of the 4th canon of 1795 which 
 had been repealed, together witji the repeal of the 4th canon of 
 1799, and requesting a conference on the subject with this house; 
 whereupon the Right Rev. Bishop Claggett was appointed a com- 
 mittee on the part of this house, to meet and confer with a com- 
 mittee of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies on the subject 
 aforesaid. 
 
 The house adjourned to 9 o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Friday, Sept. 11,9 o'clock. 
 
 The house met. Present as yesterday. 
 
 The house adjourned, in order to attend the consecration of the 
 Bishop elect of the church in the state of New York, 
 
i^04 
 
 Friday, 4 o'clock^ P. M. 
 
 The house met. Present as before. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Depuiies, by the Rev. Mr. Baldwin, with the following resolution: 
 
 Resolved^ That it be recommended to the several State Con- 
 ventions of this church, to cause as great a number as possible of 
 the constitution and canons of the Protestant Episcopal Church in 
 the United States, and of the consiitution and canons of their 
 respective churches, to be printed, and distributed among their 
 congregations. 
 
 Whv rcupon it was Resolved^ That this House do concur in the 
 aforesaid resolution. 
 
 The Right Rev. Bishop Moore, who was consecrated this 
 morning, appeared in the House and took his seat. 
 
 A- proposed canon, limiting the operation of the 4th canon of 
 179j, was adopted, and sent to the House of Clerical and Lay De- 
 puties for their concurrence. 
 
 The House of CI rical and Lay Deputies returned the above 
 canon asadopied by them, with an amendment, which was agreed 
 to by this House. 
 
 The Rignt Rev. Bishop Claggett asked and obtained leave of 
 absence. 
 
 The House adjourned to 8 o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Saturday, Sept, 12, 8 o'clock^ A. M, 
 
 The House met. Present, the Right Rev. Bishop White, the 
 Right Rev. Bishop Jarvis, and the Right Rev. Bishop Moore. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies, by the Rev. Dr. '^mith, with a proposed canon, making 
 an addition to the 1st canon of 1795. The proposed canon was 
 agreed to by this House. 
 
 This House agreed to a resolution received from the House of 
 Clerical and Lay Deputies, respecting ar icles of religion. 
 
 This House received from the House of Clerical and Lay De- 
 putit-s applications from certain churches of New Hampshire and 
 "Vermont, resp>:cting certain arrangements on account of their lo- 
 cal circumstances, which papers were accompanied with a reso- 
 lution of the House of Cler cal and Lay Deputies concerning the 
 same. This House concurr-d in the resolution. 
 
 This House received from the House of Clerical and Lay De- 
 puties, by the Rev. Mr. Hobart, a proposed canon, prescribing the 
 mode of publishing auhovised editions of the common prayer 
 boot,, &c. which canon this House agreed to with an amendment. 
 
 This House received from the House of Clerical and Lay De- 
 puties, a proposal, that the next meeting of the Convention should 
 be in the city of New York ; in which this House concurred. 
 
 The house of Clerical and Lay Deputies returned the amend- 
 
205 
 
 ment of this House, to the proposed canon prescribing the mode 
 of publishing authorised editions of the common prayer book, &c. 
 with their concurrence. 
 
 The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies sent to this House a 
 proposed resolution, requesting this House to consider of and es- 
 tablish a course of eccksiastical studies proper for candidates for 
 holy orders, and to report the same to the next General Con- 
 vention. 
 
 This House concurred in the foregoing resolution. 
 This House received from the House of Clerical and Lay De- 
 puties a proposed resolution, concerning spurious editions of the 
 common prayer, which this House disagreed to, and proposed 
 the following as a substitute, viz : 
 
 " Whereas this Convention has received information, that cer- 
 tain unauthorised books of common prayer have been published, 
 in which some parts of the authoi-ised book are omitted, and other 
 matters added ; 
 
 " Resolved^ That it shall be the duty of every Bishop to make 
 enquiry into, and report at every meeting of the Convention, such 
 cases of this sort as may have come within his knowledge." 
 
 This House received from the House of Clerical and Lay De- 
 puties their concurrence in the foregoing resolution. 
 
 This House received from the House of Clerical and Lay De- 
 puties a proposed resolve, that the Right Rev- Bishop Moore 
 be requested to preach a sermon at the next General Convention ; 
 which resolve was adopted by this House. 
 
 This House received a message from the House of Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies, naming a committee on their part for revising and 
 publishing the Journals; and the Right Rev. Bishop Moore was 
 appointed a committee on the part of this House. 
 
 A resolution was received from the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies, requesting the Rev. Mr. Waddell to return the thanks 
 of this Convention to the Governor, for the use of the rooms in 
 the State House. 
 
 This House concurred in the foregoing resolution. 
 A message was received from the House oi Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies, informing this House that they are ready to adjourn. 
 Resolved^ That this House are also ready to adjourn. 
 Resolved, That the thanksof this House be returned to the Rev. 
 Mr. Waddell, their Secretary, for his attention and services. 
 The House rose. 
 
 Signed by Order of the House of Bishops^ 
 
 WILLIAM WHITE, Presiding Bishop. 
 Attest. Henry Waddell, Secretary. 
 
 The Certifcate of the Consecration of the Right Rev. Bishop 
 Moore, is as follows : 
 " KNOW all men by these presents, that we, William White, 
 D. D. Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the state of 
 
206 
 
 Pennsylvania, presiding Bishop ; Thomas John Claggett, D. D. 
 Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the state of Mary- 
 land ; and Abraham Jarvis, D. D. Bishop of the Protestant Epis- 
 copal Church in the state of Connecticut; under the protection of 
 Almighty God, in St. Michael's Church, in the city of Trenton, 
 on Friday, the 1 1th day of September, in the year of our Lord one 
 thousand eight hundred and one, did then and there rightly and 
 canonically consecrate our beloved in Christ, Benjamin Moore, 
 D. D. Rector of Trinity Church in the city of New York, of whose 
 sufficiency in good learning, soundness in the faith, and purity of 
 manners, we were fully ascertained, into the office of Bishop of 
 the ProtestantEpiscopal Church in the state of New York; to which 
 the said Benjamin Moore, D. D, hath been elected by the Con- 
 vention of the said state, in consequence of the inability of the 
 Right Rev. Bishop Provoost, and of his declining all episcopal 
 jurisdiction within the said state. 
 
 " In testimony whereof, we have signed our names, and caused 
 our seals to be affixed. 
 
 ** Given in the city of Trenton, this eleventh day of September, 
 in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and one. 
 " WILLIAM WHITE, (l. s.) 
 
 " THOMAS J. CLAGGETT, (l. s.) 
 
 " ABRAHAM JARVIS." (l. s.) 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Resolution of the Bishops^ the Clergy y and Laity of the Protestant 
 Episcopal Church in the United States of America^ in Conven- 
 tiofiy in the city of Trenton^ the 12th day of Septemhery in the 
 year of our Lordy 1801, respecting articles of religion. 
 
 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. 
 
 " 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's creed, in the article, to be omitted, and the 
 article to read thus : 
 
 "Art. 8. Of the Creeds. 
 "The Nicene creed, and that which is commonly called the 
 
207 
 
 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 inserted ; 
 viz. 
 
 '* The 21st of the former articles 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 ; viz. 
 
 " This article is received in this church, so far as it declares 
 the books of homilies to be an explication of Christian doctrine, 
 and instructive in piety and morals. But all references to the 
 constitution and laws of England are considered as inapplicable^ 
 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 36th article, entitled, "pf 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 such consecration and 
 ordering; neither hath it any thing that, of itself, is superstitious 
 and ungodly: and, therefore, whosoever are consecrated or order- 
 ed according to said form, we decree all such to be rightly, or- 
 derly, and lawfully consecrated and ordered." 
 
 The Srth article to be omitted, and the following substituted in 
 its place : 
 
 " Of 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 autho- 
 rity in things purely spiritual. And we hold it to be the duty of 
 all men who are professors of the gospel, to pay respectful obedi- 
 ence to the civil authority, regularly and legitimately constituted/' 
 Adopted by the House of Bishops. 
 WILLIAM WHITE, 1). D. Presiding Bishop. 
 Adopted by the House of Cleriml and Lay Deputies, 
 ABRAHAM BEACH, D. D. President. 
 
 CANONS— Passed 1801. 
 
 Canon I. Respecting those who discontinue all exercise of the 
 Ministerial ojice without lawful cause^ £s?c. 
 If any person, having been ordained in this church, ov 
 having been otherwise regularly ordained and admitted a Mi* 
 nister in this church, shall discontinue all exercise of the Ministe- 
 rial office without lawful cause, or shall avow that he is no longer 
 a Minister of this church, or shrdl live in the liabitual disuse oi 
 
208 
 
 the public worship, or of the holy eucharist, according to the offices 
 of this church — such person, on due proof of the same, or on his 
 own confession, shall be liable to be degraded from the Ministry. 
 
 Canon II. Limiting the operatioji of the 4>th canon of 1795. 
 
 The Bishop of this church, in any state, with the advice and 
 consent of all the clerical members of the standing committee of 
 his diocese, may dispense with the knowledge of the Latin and 
 Greek languages, and other branches of learning not strictly ec- 
 clesiastical, which are required by the 4th canon of 1795. 
 
 Canon III. Prescribing the mode of publishing authorised editions 
 of the common prayer book^ ^c. 
 
 The Bishop of this church, in any state, or, where there is no 
 Bishop, the standing committee are authorised to appoint, from 
 time to time, some suitable person or persons to compare and 
 correct all new editions of the common prayer book, book of of- 
 fices, &c. by some standard book ; and a certificate of their having 
 been so compared and corrected shall be published with said 
 books. And in case any edition shall be published without such 
 correction, it shall be the duty of the Bishop, or, where tht-re is 
 no Bishop-, of the standing committee, to give public notice that 
 such edition is not authorised by the church. The Bishop of 
 this church in Pennsylvania, h hereby authorised to set forth an 
 edition of the articles of religion, which, when published, shall be 
 the standard copy. The octavo edition of the common prayer 
 book, published in New York in 1793, by Hugh Gaine, and the 
 quarto edition of the book of offices, &c. of the same year, pub- 
 lished in the same place, are hereby established as standard books, 
 with tfie exception of errors evidently typographical ; the correc- 
 tion of which errors, is confided to such person or persons, as the 
 Bishop or standing committee may appoint for superintending any 
 publication. 
 
 Canon IV. Making an addition to the 1st Canon of 1795, C(7«- 
 cerning Episcopal Visitation. 
 
 It shall be the duty of every Bishop of this church to keep a 
 register of his proceedings at every visitation of his diocese, and 
 particularly of the names and age of the persons confirmed, and 
 to report a copy of such register to the House of Bishops, at 
 every triennial meeting of the General Convention of this church, 
 in order that the same may be communicated to the House of 
 Clerical and Lay Deputies, to be preserved among the general 
 records of the church. 
 
 The above canons passed in Convention, September, 1801. 
 By order of the House of Bishops, 
 WILLLVM WHITE, D. D. Presiding Bishop. 
 By order of the House sf Clerical and Lay Deputies. 
 ABRAHAM BEACH, D.D. President, 
 
209 
 
 List of the Clergy of the Protestant Episcopal Churchy in the 
 United States of America, 
 
 DeUvered in and pubUshed agreeably to the 16th canon of 1789. 1801. 
 
 jV(?w Huvipshire.* 
 THE Rev. Joseph WiUaid, Rector of St. 
 John's church, Portsmoutli. 
 
 Robert H. Fowle, Rector of 
 
 church, Hoklernesse. 
 
 Daniel Barber, Rector of 
 
 church, Clcrnriont. 
 
 J\tassaclntsetts. 
 The Right Rev. Edward Bass, D. D. 
 
 Bisl)op. 
 The Rev William Willard Wheeler, Rec- 
 tor of St. Michael's cluirch, Scituate, 
 and St. I'eter's, Marslitield. 
 
 . Nathaniel Fisher, Rector of St. 
 
 Peter's cliurcli, >-ialeni. 
 
 Samuel Parker, 1>. D Rector of 
 
 Trinity cliarch, Boston. 
 John 'Sylvester I. Gardner, Assist- 
 ant Minister of Trinity church, 
 Boston. . 
 
 . Samuel Haskill, Rector of Christ 
 
 chiu-ch, Boston. 
 
 . VVill.am Montague, Rector of St. 
 
 Paid's church, Dedham, and 
 
 church, Quincy. 
 .^. W lliam Han-is, Rector of St. Mi- 
 chael's church, Marblehead. 
 - _ - James Bowers, Deacon, Pittstown. 
 
 I Rhode Island. 
 The Rev. John Usher, Kector of St. Mi- 
 chael's church, Bristol. 
 Abraham L. Clarke, Assistant Mi- 
 nister of St. Michael's church, Bris- 
 tol- 
 Theodore Dehon, Rector of Trmity 
 
 church, Newport. 
 ., Abraham Brunson, Deacon, Assist- 
 ant Minister of Trinity church, 
 Newport. 
 
 ■ Nathaniel Bow^n, Deacon, Provi- 
 dence. 
 
 CoJinectinit. 
 The Right Rev. Abraham Jarvis, D. D. 
 
 Bishop. 
 The Rev. Jeremiah Learning, residing at 
 New Haven. 
 
 „ John Bowden, D. D. principal of ■ 
 
 the Episcopai Academy, Cheshire. 
 _, Richard Mansfield, D. D Hector of 
 Christ church, Derby, and the 
 churches at Oxford and iireat Hill. 
 _ BelaHubbard, D. D. Rector oiTii- 
 nity church, New Haven, and Ohi-ist 
 church, West Haven. 
 .,— John lylev. Rector of Christ church, 
 Norwich. 
 
 • The list from this state is the same as 
 new list having been delivered in. 
 
 - Daniel Fogg, Rector of ' 
 churcli; I'omfret. 
 
 - Philo .-ihelton, Rector of Trinity 
 church, Fau^eld, St. John's church, 
 SU-atfield, and church, Wes- 
 ton 
 
 .'\ shbel Baldwin, Rector of Christ 
 
 church, Stratford, and Trinity 
 church, Trumbull. 
 
 Chauncey Prindle, Rector of Christ 
 
 churcli, WalertowH, and St. teeter's 
 
 clmrch, liymouth 
 Reuben Ives, Rector of St. Peter's 
 
 church, Cheshire, andtlie churches 
 
 of I lamden and Southington. 
 Tillotson Bronson, Recto; of St. 
 
 John's church, Waterbury, and ■ 
 
 church, Salem. 
 1 ruman Marsh, Rector of — • 
 
 church, Litchfield. 
 
 Ambrose Todd, Rector of St. 
 
 Paul's church, Huntingdon. 
 
 Daniel Burhans, Rector of Trinity 
 
 clmrch, Newtown, and— —church. 
 Brookfield. 
 
 Uavid Butler, Rector of Christ 
 
 church. Heading, and the churches 
 of Danbury and Ridgetield. 
 
 Alexander V. Griswold, Rector of 
 
 St. Matttiew's church, Bristol, St. 
 
 Mark's church, Hai-winstown, and 
 
 church, Norfield. 
 
 Solomon Blakslee,' Rector of St. 
 
 Stephen's chuixh, East Haddam. 
 
 Charles Seabury, Rector of St. 
 
 James's church. New London. 
 
 Smitli Miles Rector of the church- 
 
 es at Chatham and Middle Had- 
 dam. 
 
 Evan Rogers, Rector of St. Peter's, 
 
 Hebron, and church, Marlbo- 
 rough. 
 
 Joseph Warren, Rector of Christ 
 
 church, Middletown. 
 
 Widiam Green, residiig in New 
 
 London. 
 
 Calvin White, Rector of St. John's 
 
 church, Stamford, and church. 
 
 Horse Neck. 
 
 Meiizies Rayner, Rector of -— 
 
 church, Harilord. 
 
 Jasper D.Jones Deacon, 
 
 Natl-an B. Burges, Deacon, officU 
 
 ating at t.uilford and No; tli Bristol. 
 
 W'hitlock, Deacon, officiating- 
 
 at Ncrwalk and Dilton. 
 
 in the Journal of tlie last Convention, nl>\ 
 
210 
 
 The Rev. Bethuel Judd, Deacon, offici- 
 ating at Woodbury and Roxbury. 
 JVew York. 
 
 The Right Rev. Benjamin Moore, D.D. 
 Bishop. 
 
 The Rev. Abraham Beach, D.D. Rev. 
 John Henry Hobart, Rev. Cave Jones, 
 AssistantMinisters of I'rinity church, 
 New York. 
 
 Thomas ElUson, Rector of St. Pe- 
 ter's church, Albany- 
 
 Richard C. Moore, Rector of St. 
 
 Andrew's church, Staten Island. 
 
 Henry Van Dyke, Rector of St. 
 
 James's chiu-ch, Newtown. 
 
 Ehjah D. Rattoone, Rector of Grace 
 
 church, Jamaica, and St. George's 
 church, Flushing. 
 
 — . — Seth Hai-t, Rector of St. George's 
 church, Hempstead. 
 
 Isaac Wilkins, Rector of St. Peter's 
 
 church, Westchester ; and St. Paul's 
 church, East Chestei'. 
 
 - — - Theodosius Bai'tow, Rector of Tri- 
 nity church. New Rochelle. 
 
 John Ireland, Rector of St. Ann's 
 
 church, Brooklyn. 
 
 _ — Elias Cooper, Rector of St. John's 
 church, Yonkers. 
 
 _^ Frederick Van Home, Rector of 
 
 St. Andrew's church. Orange county. 
 
 — _ Robert G. Wetmore, Rector of St. 
 George's church, Schenectady, and 
 Christ clmrch, Duanesborough. 
 
 . John Urquhart, Rector of St. John's 
 
 church, Johnstown, and chui'ch. 
 
 Fort Hunter. 
 
 Philander Chase, Rector of Christ 
 
 church, Poughkeepsie, and Trinity 
 church, Fishkill. 
 
 Thatcher, Rector of Christ 
 
 church, Ballstown, and other 
 churches. 
 
 Daniel Nush, Rector of the church- 
 es, Otsego. 
 
 Amos Pardee, Rector of 
 
 chujch Hampton. 
 
 The Rigiit Rev. Bishop Provoost, Rev. 
 wTlliam Smith, D.D. Rev. Samuel 
 Nesbitt, residing in New York. 
 
 J^'e-iV Jersey. 
 
 'I'he Rev. Uzal Ogden, D. D. Rector of 
 
 Trinitv church, Newark. 
 
 Charles H. Wharton, D. D. Rector 
 
 of St. Marv's church, Burlington. 
 Henry Waddell, Rector of St. Mi- 
 chael's chiuxh, Trenton. 
 John Croes, Rector of Christ 
 
 church, New Brunswick. 
 Andrew Fowler, Rector of 
 
 church, Middleto wn. 
 Frederick Beu.sley, Deacon, St. 
 
 John's church, £li/iabctlitown. 
 
 The Re%'. Cotten, residing at present 
 at New Brunswick. 
 
 Pennsylvania. 
 
 The Right Rev. William White, D. D. 
 Bishop. 
 
 The Rev. William Smith, D. D. 
 
 Samuel Magaw, D. D. Rector of St. 
 
 Paul's church, Philadelphia. 
 
 John Andrews, D. D. Vice Pro- 
 vost in the University of Penn- 
 sylvania. 
 
 Robert Blackwell, D. D. Assistant 
 
 Minister of Clu-ist church and 
 St. Peters, in the city of Phi la. 
 delphia. 
 
 Joseph Hutchins, D. D. 
 
 John Campbell, Rector of the 
 
 churches of York and Hunting- 
 don. 
 
 Slator Clay, Rector of St. David's, 
 
 Radnor, St. Peter's in tlie Valley, 
 and St. James's, Perkiomen. 
 
 _ Joseph Clarkson, Rector of St, 
 
 James's, Lancaster, church, 
 
 Pequea, and church, Carnar- 
 von. 
 
 Robert Ayres, rector of jEmanuel 
 
 church, Washington county, and St. 
 Peter's church, Fayette comity. 
 
 Francis Reno, Westmoreland co. 
 
 Joseph 'I'ui-ner, rector of St. Paul's 
 
 church, Cliester, and St. Martm's 
 church, Marcus Hook. 
 
 — — Caleb Hopkins, rector of Christ 
 church, DeiTv township, and Christ 
 church, Turbut to wnslup, Nortlium- 
 berland county. 
 
 Thomas Davis, Washington co. 
 
 James Abercrombie, Assistant IVIi- 
 
 nister of Christ cluu-ch and St. Pe- 
 ter's, Philadelphia. 
 
 Al)salom Jones, (a black man,) 
 
 Deacon in the .'\fricanchm'ch of St. 
 Thomas, Pluladel]Dhla, 
 
 Dela-ivare. 
 The Rev. Robert Clay, Emanuel church. 
 New Castle. 
 
 William Pryce, Trkjity church, 
 
 Wilmington. 
 
 Joshua Reese, St. Anne's church, 
 
 Middleto wn. 
 
 James Wiltbank, St. George's 
 
 church, Sussex county. 
 
 JMaryland. 
 
 The Right Rev. Ihomas J. Claggett, 
 D. D. Bi^liop. 
 
 The Rev. Cliarles Smoot, Rector of Wil- 
 liam and Mary parish, St. Mar\''s co. 
 
 Henry Lyon Davis, King and Queen 
 
 parish, Si. Mary's county. 
 
 IJrockenbury, Deacon, Wil- 
 liam and Mary parish, Charles co.- 
 
 John I. Say'rs, Durham parish.. 
 
 Charles countv. 
 
211 
 
 George Ralph, Trinity parish, 
 
 Charles county. 
 
 - Edward Gantt, jun. Christ church, 
 Calvert. 
 
 Joseph Messenger, St. John's, 
 
 Prince George's. 
 
 Walter D. Addison, residing in 
 
 Prince George's. 
 
 Andrew M'Cormlck, Washington, 
 
 Prince George's. 
 
 Jolin W. Compton, St. James, Anne 
 
 Arundel. 
 
 Ralph Higginbotham, St. Ann's, 
 
 Ann Arundel. 
 
 — — Nicholas W. Lane, All Hallows, 
 Ann Arundel. 
 
 — — Owen F. Magrath, residing in An- 
 napolis, Ann Arundel. 
 
 Henry Moscrop, Westminster, Ami 
 
 Arundel. 
 
 William Swan, St. Margaret's, 
 
 Ann Arundel. 
 
 • Thomas Read, Prince George's, 
 
 Montgomery. 
 
 Edward Gantt, sen. residing at 
 
 Georgetown, Montgomery. 
 
 Thomas Scott, St. Peter's, Mont- 
 gomery. 
 
 George Bower, All Saints, Frede- 
 rick. 
 
 — — * Joseph G. I. Bend, associata Rec- 
 tor of St. Paul's, Baltimore. 
 
 John Ireland, associate Rector of 
 
 St. Paul's, Baltimore. 
 
 * John Coleman, St. Thomas, Bal- 
 timore. 
 
 Francis Barclay, residing in Balti- 
 more. 
 
 John Allen, St. George's, Harford. 
 
 James Jones Wilmer, St. John's, 
 
 Harford. 
 
 William Duke, residing in Cecil co. 
 
 Colin Ferguson, D. D. residing in 
 
 Kent county. 
 
 Archibald Walker, D. D. residing 
 
 in Kent county. 
 
 . George Uashiell, Chester and St. 
 
 Paul's, Kent county. 
 
 Samuel Keene, D. U. St. Luke's, 
 
 Queen Ann's. 
 
 Samuel Keene, jun. residing in St. 
 
 Luke's, Queen Ann's. 
 * Elisha Rigg, St. Paul's, Queen 
 
 Ann's. 
 
 Joseph Jackson, St. Peter'.s, Talbot. 
 
 . James Kemp, Great Choptank, 
 
 Dorchester. 
 
 William Price, Somerset, Somerset. 
 
 Samuel Sloan, residing in Somerset. 
 
 David Ball, All Hallow's, Worcester. 
 
 Vir^i7iia. 
 The Right Rev. James Madison, D. D. 
 
 Bishop. 
 
 The Rev. Charles O'Neil, rector of — *- 
 Amherst. 
 
 Alexander Hay, Antrim. 
 
 — — — — — • Graj-, Botetourt. 
 
 Hugli Corrans Boggs, Berkley. 
 
 — — Heath, Bei-kley. 
 
 Benjamin Brown, Brisland. 
 
 - Andrew Symc, Bristol. 
 
 John Cameron, D. U. rector of . 
 
 Alexander M'Faihmd, Brimswick . 
 
 — — John Bracken, D. D. Brutun. 
 
 Jolni Canun, Charles. 
 
 Hettbrnam, Christ Church. 
 
 James Elliott, Cople. 
 
 — — Needier Robinson, Dale. 
 
 Spence Grayson, Dettingen. 
 
 Daniel M'Naughton, Christ church. 
 
 James Whitehead, Ehzabeth River. 
 
 Thomas Davis, Fairfax. 
 
 Alexander Balmaui, Frederick. 
 
 John O'Weyhe, Lecturer, Fred- 
 
 erick. 
 
 Mattliew Maury, Fi'edericksvillc. 
 
 John Hooker Reynolds, Hardy. 
 
 —— — John Buchanan, D. D. Henrico. 
 
 Samuel S. M'Croskey, D. 13. Hun- 
 
 gars. 
 
 John Thompson, Leeds. 
 
 Charles Crawford, Lexington. 
 
 William Crawford, . 
 
 James Dickinson, Littleton. 
 
 Young', Linienburgh. 
 
 Anthony Walke, Ljnnhaven. 
 
 Armistead Smith, Matthews. 
 
 John Dumi, Manchester. 
 
 James Leach, Mecklenberg. 
 
 William Hubard, Newport. 
 
 Jacob Keeling, Nansemond. 
 
 Robert Buchan, Overwharton. 
 
 Arthur Emerson, Portsmouth. 
 
 John Brunskill, Raleigh. 
 
 James Stevenson, St. George's. 
 
 Charles Hopkins, St. James North- 
 am. 
 
 — — James Price, St. John's. 
 ——Thomas Hughes, St. David's. 
 
 Archibald Dick, St. Margaret's. 
 
 John Woodville, St. Mark's. 
 
 Abner Waugh, St. Mary's. 
 
 John Parsons, . 
 
 John Seward, St. Stephen's. 
 
 John Hyde Saunders, Soutliam,. 
 
 Samuel Butler, Southwark. 
 
 Lee Massey, Truro. 
 
 Samuel Chapin, Westover. 
 
 James Evans, Yorkhampton. 
 
 John C. Brockenboroug, Washing. 
 
 ton. 
 Duncan M'Naughton, Wicomico. 
 
 Joseph Wilson, Cure not known. 
 
 Stephen Thompson, do. do. 
 
 CorneUus Carvert, Ciu-e not known. 
 
 * Those marked tljas ("} are members of the Standing Committee this year. 
 
212 
 
 South Carolina.* 
 
 The Kg-ht Rev. llobert Smith, D. D. 
 Bishop. 
 
 The Rev. Thomas Frost., St. Phillip's, 
 Charleston, 
 
 .-— Henry Purcell, D. D. St. Michael's, 
 Charleston. 
 
 — Edward Jenkins, St. Michael's, 
 Charleston. 
 
 — — Millwood Pogson, St. James's. 
 Goose Creek, and St. George's, 
 Dorchester. 
 
 — — Peter M. Purker, St. John's, Berk- 
 ley. 
 
 -«— John Thompson, St. Thomas. 
 
 The Rev. Thomas Mills, St. Andrew's, 
 James Island, 8t St Andrew's, Main,' 
 
 Edmond Matthews, St. John'*, 
 
 Edisto. 
 
 Nixon, St. Bartholomew's. 
 
 — — Thomas D. Bladen, St. James, San- 
 tee. 
 
 George H. Spierin, Prince George. 
 
 ■■■ James Conner, St. Stephen's. 
 
 John O'Donnell, All Saints. 
 
 — — Frazier, Prince Frederick. 
 
 Gates, D. D. ~| 
 
 M'Cully,masterof I Residents 
 
 an academy, Beaufort, I in the state 
 
 ■ Blackwell, (without 
 
 Best, Master of an I cures. 
 
 Academy, Charleston. J 
 
 • The list from this state is the same as in the Journal of the last Conventioi^ 
 no new list having been delivered in. 
 
JOURNAL 
 
 OF THE PROCEEDINGS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 BISHOPS, CLERGY AND LAITY, 
 
 OP THE 
 
 PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 
 
 IN THE 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 
 
 IN A 
 
 (S®S3^I1S3=1PI1®S1( 
 
 HELD IN 
 
 The City of New York, from Tuesday, September 11th, to 
 Tuesday, September 18th, 1804, 
 
LIST OF THE MEMBERS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 HOUSE OF CLERICAL AND LAY DEPUTIES. 
 
 From the State of Massachusetts. 
 
 Rev. Samuel Parker, D. D. Rev. Samuel Haskell. 
 
 From the State of Connecticut, 
 
 Rev. Ashbel Baldwin, Rev. Philo Shelton, Rev. Tillotson 
 Bronson, Rev. Daniel Burhans, Nathan Smith, Esq. Andrew 
 Hilliar, Esq. 
 
 From the State of New Tork, 
 
 Rev. Abraham Beach, D. D. Rev. Isaac Wilkins, Rev. AVil"- 
 Ijam Harris, Rev. John Henry Hobart, William Ogden, Esq. 
 
 From the State of New Jersey. 
 
 Rev. Uzal Ogden, D. D. Rev. John Croes, Rev. Samuel Lil- 
 ly, Colonel Samuel Ogden. 
 
 From the State of Pemisylvania. 
 
 Rev. Robert Blackwell, D. D. Rev. Joseph Clarkson, Thomas 
 Cumpston, Esq. Gen. Francis Gurney, Mr. Levi Bull. 
 
 F'rom the State of Delatvare. 
 Rev. William Pryce. 
 
 From the State of Maryland. 
 
 Rev. Joseph G. J. Bend, D. D. Rev. James Kemp, D. D. Rev. 
 John Coleman, Rev. Joseph Jackson, William Helmsley, jun. 
 Esq. Richard Key Heath, Esq. 
 
JOURNAL 
 
 OK THE 
 
 HOUSE OF CLERICAL AND LAY DEPUTIES. * 
 
 New Yoky , September 11, 1804. 
 
 THIS being the day appointed for the meeting of the Gene- 
 ral Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United 
 States of America, several Clerical and Lay Deputies attended at 
 10 o'clock, A. M. in I'rinity Church; but not being a quorum, 
 adjourned to meet at five o'clock, P. M. in a room of the build- 
 ing belonging to the Episcopal Charity School. 
 
 Five o'clock, F. M. 
 
 A quorum of the House appearing, they proceeded to the elec- 
 tion, by ballot, of a President and Secretary, when the Rev. Dr. 
 Abraham Beach was duly chosen President, and the Rev. John H. 
 Hobart, Secretary. 
 
 The testimonials of the Clerical and Lay Delegates were then 
 read and approved of, and the following gentlemen took their seats 
 in the house. 
 
 From Massachtisetts, the Rev. Dr. Samuel Parker, Rev. Sa- 
 muel Haskell. — From Connecticut, the Rev. Ashbel Baldwin, Rev. 
 Philo Shelton, Rev. Tillotson Bronson, Rev. Daniel Burhans. — 
 From New Tork^ Rev. Dr. Abraham Beach, Rev. Isaac Wilkins, 
 Rev. AVilliam Harris, Rev. John H. Hobart. — From Nexv Jersey, 
 Rev. Dr. Uzal Ogden, Rev. Samuel Lilly, Col. Samuel Ogden. — 
 From Dclaxuare, Rev. William Pryce. — From Marylarid, Rev. 
 Dr. James Kemp, Rev. Joseph Jackson, Richard Key Heath, Esq. 
 
 The house not judging it expedient to do business the first day 
 ot the session, adjourned, to meet to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock. 
 
 Wednesday, Sept. 12, 1804, 9 o'' clock, A. M. 
 
 The House met. 
 
 The testimonials of the Clerical and Lay Deputies from the 
 state of Pennsylvania were read and approved of. And General 
 Francis Gurney, Thomas Cumpston, Esq. and Mr. Levi Bull, 
 Lay Deputies from the state of Pennsylvania ; the Rev. John 
 Croes, Clerical Deputy from New Jersey ; the Rev. Joseph G. 
 J. Bend, D. D. Clerical Deputy, and William Helmsley, jun. 
 Esq. Lay Deputy from the state of Mar\'htnd ; and Nathan Smith, 
 Esq. Lay Deputy from the state of Connecticut, appeared and 
 took their seats in the house. 
 
 A message was sent to the house of Bishops, informing them 
 that this house was organized, and ready to proceed to business. 
 
 The house of Bishops returned for answer, that they also were 
 organized, and ready to proceed to business. 
 
216 
 
 The rules of order established by the house of Clerical and Lay- 
 Deputies of the Convention of 1792, and the following Conven- 
 tions, were adopttid as the rules of order of this house, uith the 
 following addition to the 6th rule — " unless with the consent of 
 two-thirds of the house." 
 
 The record of the appointment of the Rev. Samuel Parker to 
 the office of Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the 
 state of Massachusetts, and also the requisite testimony from the 
 Convention of the church in that state, were presented and read ; 
 
 Whereupon it was unanvnouslif Resolved^ That the house do 
 sign, in favour of the Kev. Dr. Parker, the testimony required by 
 the canons in the election of a Bishop. The testimony was accord- 
 ingly signed, and, together with the testimony from the Conven- 
 tion of the church in Massachusetts, was laid before the house of 
 Bishops. 
 
 On motion, Resolved^ That the hours of meeting each day shall 
 be from nine o'clock, A. M. to three o'clock, P. M. and notice of 
 this resolution was transmitted to the House of Bishops. 
 
 A message was received from the house of Bishops, informing 
 this house that they had approved the testimonies in iavourof the 
 Rev. Dr. Parker, Bishop elect of this church in the state of Mas- 
 sachusetts, and that they had appointed Friday morning for his 
 consecration. They also informed this house, that they concurred 
 in the resolution relative to the hours of meeting. 
 
 The house then attended divine service in Trinity Church, 
 where prayers were read by the Right Rev. Bishop Claggett, and 
 a sermon on the occasion of the meeting of the Convention, de- 
 livered by the Right Rev. Bishop Moore. 
 
 The house having returned after divine service to their place of 
 sitting. 
 
 On motion, it was iinanhnously Resolved^ That the thanks of 
 the Convention be returned to the Right Rev. Bishop Moore, for 
 his sermon preached before the Convention this day, and that he 
 be requested to furnish a copy for publication. The house of Bi- 
 shops concurred in the above resolution, and informed this house 
 that the Right Rev. Bishop Moore had consented to furnish a copy 
 pf his sermon for the purpose aforesaid. 
 
 The house then took up and agreed to the alteration proposed 
 at the last General Convention, in the 1st article of the general 
 constitution, in the words following, viz : 
 
 Art. I. " There shall be a Generul Convention of the Protestant 
 Episcopal Church in the United States of America, on the third 
 Tuesday in May, 1808, and in every third year," &c. as before. 
 
 Information pf the above ratification of the proposed alteration 
 in the constitution was sent to the House of Bishops, who return- 
 ed for answer, that they concurred in the same. 
 
 The following resolution was moved and seconded, viz : 
 
 Resolved^ That a committee be appointed to enquire, whether 
 any and what alterations of, or additions to, the canons of the 
 
217 
 
 church are necessary, and to report. The question being taken on 
 the above resolution, it was determined in the negative. 
 The house adjourned. 
 
 Thursdaij, Sept. 13, 1804, 9 o'clock, A.M. 
 
 The house met, and prayers were read by the Secretary, as 
 Chaplain to the house. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Robert Blackwell, and Rev. Joseph Clarkson, 
 Clerical Deputies from the state of Pennsylvania ; Andrew Hil- 
 liar, Esq. a Lay Deputy from the state of Connecticut ; and Wil- 
 liam Ogden, Esq. a Lay Deputy from the state of New York, ap- 
 peared and took their seats in the house. 
 
 On motion. Resolved, That a committee be appointed to pre- 
 pare an office of induction into the rectorship of parishes. The 
 following members were appointed a committee : Rev. Dr. Par- 
 ker, Rev. Mr. Baldwin, Rev- Mr. Harris, Rev. Dr. Ogden, Rev., 
 Dr. Blackwell, Rev. Mr. Price, Rev. Dr. Bend. 
 
 A proposed canon concerning dioceses was taken up and consi- 
 dered, and the question being taken thereon, is was determined 
 in the negative. 
 
 The following proposed canons, viz : A canon concerning mi- 
 nisters moving from one diocese or state to another ; a canon 
 making an addition to the 17th canon of 1789, entitled, " Notice 
 to be given of the induction and dismission of ministers ;" a ca- 
 non altering the 7th canon of 1795; and a canon repealing the 
 2d canon of 1801, which limits the operation of the 4th canon of 
 1795 ; were passed, and sent to the House of Bishops for their 
 concurrence. 
 
 The house adjourned. 
 
 Friday, Sept. 14:, 1804, 9 o'clock, A.M. 
 
 The house met, and prayers were read by the Secretary, as 
 Chaplain to the house. 
 
 The committee appointed to prepare an office of induction, re- 
 ported an office ; and the house, after having entered on the con- 
 sideration of the same, proceeded to attend divine service in Tri- 
 nity Church, on the occasion of the consecration of the Rev. Dr. 
 Parker, Bishop elect of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the 
 state of Massachusetts. 
 
 Prayers were read by the Rev. Dr. Bend, and a sermon deli- 
 vered by the Right Rev. Bishop White ; who, assisted by the 
 Right Rev. Bishop Claggett, of Maryland ; the Right Rev. Bi- 
 shop Jarvis, of Connecticut ; and the Right Rev. Bishop Moore, 
 of New York ; performed the office of consecration. 
 
 After divine service the house returned to their place of sitting. 
 
 On motion, it was unanimously Resolved, That the thanks of 
 this house be returned to the Right Rev. Bishop White, for the 
 sermon delivered at the consecration of the Rev. Dr. Parker, and 
 that he be requested to furnish a copy for publication. 
 
 F f 
 
218 
 
 The above resolution was sent to the House of Bishops, who 
 returned it with their concurrence, and informed the house, that 
 the Right Rev. Bishop White had consented to furnish a copy of 
 his sermon for pubh cation. 
 
 The house resumed the consideration of the office of induction; 
 and having made progress in the same, adjourned. 
 
 Saturday y Sept. 15, 1804, nine o'clock^ A. M. 
 
 The house met, and prayers were read by the Secretary, as 
 Chaphiin to the house. 
 
 'Ihe house finished the consideration of the office of induction; 
 and having agreed to the same, sent it to the House of Bishops 
 for their concurrence. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Bishops, informing 
 this house that they proposed a substitute to the canon concerning 
 Ministers moving from one diocese or state to another; that they 
 did not concur in the canon altering the 7th canon of 1795 ; and 
 that they proposed a substitute to the canon repealing the 2d ca- 
 non of 1801, which limits the operation of the 4th canon of 1795. 
 
 The house agreed to the substitute proposed by the House of 
 Bishops, to the : anon concerning Ministers moving from one di- 
 ocese or state to another, with an amendment, which was sent to 
 the House ot Bishops, and adopted by them. 
 
 The house took up the consideration of the substitute proposed 
 by the house of Bishops to the canon repealing the 2d canon of 
 1801, which limits the operation of the 4th canon of 1795; and 
 the question being taken on agreeing to the same, it was determin- 
 ed in the negative. 
 
 A memorial was presented from the vestry of Trinity church, 
 Newark, New Jersey, stating that a very unhappy difference, 
 which appears to threaten the very existence of their church, sub- 
 sists between tne rector and the congregation of said church, and 
 praying the Convention to devise some means for their relief. The 
 above memorial was referred to the following committee to report 
 thereon. The Rev. Dr. Blackwell, Rev. Mr. Haskell, Rev. Mr. 
 Branson, Rev. Mr. Hobart, Rev. Mr. Price, Rev. Dr. Kemp, 
 WUliam Ogden, Thomas Cumpston, and Richard K. Heath, 
 Esqrs. 
 
 The following canons, viz. a canon additional to the 6th canon 
 of 1795, and a canon hmiting the operation of the 6th canon of 
 1795, were sent from the House of Bishops. The first canon was 
 read and concurred in by this house. 
 
 The office of induction was received from the House of Bishops 
 with amendments, which were adopted by this house. 
 
 Leave of absence was granted to the Rev. Mr. Lilly, and An- 
 drew Hilliar and Nathan Smith, Esqrs. during the remainder of 
 the session. 
 
 A proposed canon concerning Lay Readers was adopted and 
 sent to the House of Bishops, who returned it with their concur- 
 rence. 
 
219 
 
 A proposed canon was adopted, entitled, a canon providing for 
 an accurate view of the state of the church fro.n time to time^ 
 and sent to the House of Bishops for their concurrence. 
 
 The house adjourned. 
 
 Monday^ Sept. 17, 1804, nine o'clock, A. M. 
 
 The house met. 
 
 Prayers were read by the Secretary, as Chaplain to the house. 
 
 The committee appointed on the memorial from Trinity church, 
 Ne\\rwrk, New Jersey, made report : — on motion, the report was 
 recommitted to the same committee. 
 
 The house adopted a proposed substitute to the canon sent from 
 the House of Bishops, limiting the operation of the 6th canon o£ 
 1795, and sent it to the house of Bishops for their concurrence. 
 
 Leave of absence for the remainder of the session was granted 
 to Richard K. Heath, Esq. • 
 
 A proposed canon was adopted concerning candidates coming 
 from places wtihin the United States, in which the constitution of 
 the church has not been acceded to. A proposed canon was also 
 adopted, respecting the dissolution of all pastoral connection be- 
 tween Ministers and their congregations. 
 
 The above canons were sent to the House of Bishops. 
 
 The following message was received from the House of Bishops: 
 
 " The House of Bishops communicate to the House of Clerical 
 and Lay Deputies, the following extract from their journal. 
 
 * The papers presented to this house, by the president, from 
 the Rev. Ammi Rogers, of Connecticut, requesting their attention 
 to sundry matters affecting his standing in the church, and his 
 private character, were taken into consideration ; whereupon, 
 
 * Resolved, That there be declared to the House of Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies, the desire of the House of Bishops, that, if any 
 members of that house possess information respecting the conduct 
 of said Ammi Rogers, in the matters brought before the House 
 of Bishops, which matters will be communicated by the Bishops 
 to any members of the house aforesaid who may desire it, such 
 members will lay before the house of Bishops the information 
 possessed by them at twelve o'clock." 
 
 Whereupon the house Resolved, That any members who may 
 have any thing to communicate to the House of Bishops, on the 
 subject of the above message, have leave to withdraw at the hour 
 mentioned. 
 
 The House of Bishops also informed this house, that they had 
 concurred in the following canons, viz. a canon providing for an 
 accurate view of the state of the church from time to time ; and the 
 proposed substitute to the canon limiting the operation of the 6th 
 canon of 1795 ; and the canon concerning candidates coming trom 
 places within the United States which have not acceded to the 
 constitution of the church : and that they proposed to connect the 
 canon respecting the dissolution of all pastoral connection between 
 
220 
 
 Ministers and their congregations, with the canon making an ad- 
 diiion to the 17th canon of 1789; in which proposition the house 
 concurred. 
 
 A proposed canon respecting differences between Ministers and 
 their congregations was adopted, and sent to the House of Bishops 
 for thf ir concurrence. 
 
 A canon was received from the House of Bishops, entitled, 
 *' Notice to be given of the election of Ministers ;" which was 
 agreed to with amendments, and the change of the title to, '♦Ca- 
 non conceining the election and induction of Ministers into parish- 
 es or churches." 
 
 A proposed canon concerning Clergymen ordained by foreign 
 Bishops nnd desirous of settling in this church, was adopted, and 
 sent to th^ House of Bishops for their concurrence. 
 
 On moiion, the committee appointed at the last Convention to 
 report such additional hymns as they may think are adapted to 
 christian worship- was discharged. 
 
 The house adjourned. 
 
 Tuesday, Sept, 18, 1804, nine oWock^ A, 31, 
 
 The house met, and prayers were read by the Secretary, as 
 Chaplain to the house. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Bishops, stating that 
 they disagreed to the amendments to the canon concerning the 
 election and induction of Ministers into parishes or churches, and 
 request a conference on the subject; that they had negatived the 
 canon concerning Clergymen ordained by foreign Bishops; and 
 that they had passed the canon respecting differences between 
 Ministers and their congregations, with amendments. 
 
 The house agreed to the amendments of the House of Bishops 
 to the last mentioned canon, and to the conference requested. 
 
 Rt;solved, That the Rev. Dr. Blackwell, Rev. Dr. Kemp, and 
 Rev. Mr. Hobart, be a committee to manage the conference on 
 the part of this house ; and that, with the concurrence of the House 
 of Bishops, they make the proposed canon concerning foreign 
 Clergymen a subject of the conference. 
 
 The commitiec withdrew, and the Rev. Dr. Bend was request- 
 ed to officiate in the Secretary's stead during his absence. 
 
 The committee on the memorial of Trinity church, Newark, 
 made the following report : 
 
 "• The committee on the memorial of the vestry of Trinity 
 Church, Newark, whose report was yesterday recommitted to 
 them, made report, that as this Convention have passed a canon 
 providing for such cases as that of the vestry of said church, the 
 committee think it unnecessary that this house should go into an 
 investigation of the affair." 
 
 This report was agreed to by the house. 
 
 Resolved, That 1000 copies of the journals, 1000 copies of the 
 office of induction, and lOOO copies of each of the sermons preach- 
 ed before the Convention, be published. 
 
221 
 
 The President, Secretary, and the Rev. Mr. Harris were ap- 
 pointed a committee, in conjunction with the Right Rev. Bishop 
 Moore, to publish the Journals. The House of Bishops concur- 
 red in the appointment of this committee. 
 
 The house took into consideration the place at which the next 
 meeting of the General Convention should be held ; and unani- 
 mously dctetermined that the meeting should be at Baltimore. 
 
 It was moved and seconded, that those parts of the minutes 
 which respect the petition from Trinity church, Newark, be ex- 
 punged. 
 
 Resolved unanimously^ That they be not expunged. 
 
 Resolved^ That the Right Rev. Bishop Parker be requested to 
 preach a sermon at the opening of the next General Convention. 
 
 The committee of conference returned, and reported, that the 
 House of Bishops had receded from their negative to the amend- 
 ments proposed by this house to the canon concerning the elec- 
 tion and induction of ministers into parishes or churches, and pr<t- 
 posed another amendment; which amendment was agreed to by 
 this house : and also that they receded from their negntive to the 
 canon concerning clergymen ordained b} foreign Bishops, and 
 proposed a substitute ; which was agreed to by this house. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Bishops, informing, 
 that they had established a course of study for candidates for or- 
 ders, which will be published with their Journal. 
 
 A proposed canon, concerning the studies of candidates for or- 
 ders, was adopted, and sent to the House of Bishops for their 
 concurrence. 
 
 A proposed canon, concerning subscription to the articles of 
 the church, was negatived, under the impression that a sufficient 
 subscription to the articles is already required by the 7th article of 
 the constitution. 
 
 A proposed canon, concerning candidates who may be refused 
 orders, was adopted, and sent to the House of Bishops for their 
 concurrence. 
 
 On motion. Resolved^ That it be made known to the different 
 State Conventions, that it is proposed in the next General Con- 
 vention, to consider and determine on the following proposed al- 
 teration to the gent- ral constitution of the church, viz : that in 
 article III, the words ■' unless adhered to by four-fifths of the 
 other house," be struck out. 
 
 The above resolution was sent to the House of Bishops. 
 
 A resolution was adopted concerning the arrangement and pub- 
 lication of the constitution and all the canons of the church, and 
 sent to the House of Bishops for their concurrence. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Bishops, that they 
 had agreed to the resolution respecting a proposed alteration in the 
 constitution ; to the canon concerning candidates who may be re- 
 fused orders ; to the resolutions concerning printing the journals, 
 office of induction, and sermons; and that they proposed an 
 
222 
 
 amendment to the resolution concerning the arrangement and pub- 
 lication of the constitution and all the canons of the church; 
 which amendment was agreed to, and the resolution passed as 
 follows, viz : 
 
 Resolved^ That the committee appointed to publish the Jour- 
 nals, be authorised to publish the constitution and all the canons 
 of the church in the order of their enaction, making a reference 
 by asterisk at the end of every canon to a note pointing out the 
 various other canons which refer to the subject of that particular 
 canon. 
 
 The constitution and canons published by the above committee, 
 and the office of induction, are to be considered as authorised and 
 standard copies. 
 
 The House of Bishops also informed this house, that they had 
 negatived the canon concerning the studies of candidates ior or- 
 ders. 
 
 *The following message was also received from the House of 
 Bishops, viz : 
 
 *'' The House of Bishops propose to the House of Clerical and 
 * Lay Deputies, that the adjournment of the Convention be accom- 
 panied by prayer, in the presence of the two houses ; the presid- 
 ing Bishop to officiate." 
 
 The house unanimously concurred in the above resolution. 
 
 On motion, Resolved^'Vh^X. the thanks of this house be returned 
 to the President and Secretaiy for their services. 
 
 The House of Bishops then attended in the chamber of the 
 House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, when prayers were read by 
 the Right Rev. Bishop White, as presiding IJishop, 
 
 The house rose. 
 Signed by order of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies y 
 
 ABRAHAM BEACH, President. 
 John Henry Hobart, Secretary. 
 
 JOURNAL OF THE HOUSE OF BISHOPS, 
 
 New York, Sept. 11, 1804. 
 
 THIS being the day appointed for the meeting of the GeHe- 
 ral Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United 
 States of America, the Right Rev. Bishop Moore attended in Tri- 
 nity Church ; no other members of this house appearing, adjourn- 
 ed till to-morrov/ at nine o'clock, A. M. to meet in the house of 
 the Episcopal Charity School. 
 
 Wednesday^ Sept. 12, 1804, nine o^clock^ A. M. 
 
 The house met. Present, the Right Rev. Bishop White, of 
 Pennsylvania ; the Right Rev. Bishop Claggett, of Maryland ; 
 and the Right Rev. Bishop Moore, of New York. 
 
223 
 
 Resolved^ That it be a standing rule of this house, that the se- 
 nior Bishop present at the opening of any Convention, shall pre- 
 side. 
 
 The Right Rev, Bishop White, in consequence, took his seat 
 as presiding Bishop. 
 
 The Rev. Cave Jones was appointed Secretary to this house. 
 The Right Rev. Bishop Jarvis, of Connecticut, appeared and 
 took his seat. 
 
 This house received a message from the House of Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies, informing them that they were organized and 
 ready to proceed to business. 
 
 This house returned information that they were also ready for 
 the same. 
 
 A resolution, communicated from the House of Clerical and 
 L<ay Deputies, was agreed to by this house, "■ that the hours of 
 meeting, during the session, shall be from 9 o'clock, A. M- to 3 
 o'clock, P M." 
 
 This house received from the House of Clerical and Lay Depu- 
 ties, the requisite testimonials of the Rev. Dr. Parker, Bishop 
 elect of the state of Massachusetts. 
 
 A message was transmitted to the said house, informing that 
 the House of Bishops approve of the said testimonials, and will 
 proceed to the consecration of Dr. Parker on Friday next. 
 Adjourned, to attend divine service at Trinity Church. 
 The Right Rev. Bishop Claggett performed service, and the 
 Right Rev. Bishop Moore preached a sernion adapted to the oc- 
 casion of the meeting of this Convention. 
 
 After which, the house again met. A message was received 
 from the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, informing that a 
 resolution had passed that house, " that the thanks of the Con- 
 vention be presented to the Right Rev. Bishop Moore, for his 
 sermon preached before them this morning, and that he be re- 
 quested to fiTnish a copy for publication." 
 
 This jyouse concurred in the said resolution, and the Right Rev. 
 Bishop Moore consented to comply with their request. 
 
 Tnis House concurred in a resolution received from the House 
 of Clerical and Lay Deputies, ratifying the alteration of the first 
 article of the constitution, as proposed at the last General Con* 
 vention. 
 
 The house then adjourned. 
 
 Thursday ^ September 13, 1804, nine o'clock^ A.M. 
 
 Present as yesterday. 
 
 This House came to a resolution to attend prayers during the 
 session, in the chamber of the House of Clerical and Lay Depu- 
 ties. The house attended accordingly. 
 
 The following proposed canons were presented from the House 
 of Clerical and Lay Deputies, viz : " A canon concerning minis- 
 
224 
 
 tcrs removing from one diocese or state to another ; a canon mak- 
 ing an addition to the 17th canon of 1789 ; a canon repealing the 
 2d canon of 1801, which limits the operation of the 4th canon of 
 1795 ; a canon altering the 7th canon of 1795," 
 
 The proposed canon, entided, " A canon concerning ministers 
 removing from one diocese or state to another," was taken into 
 consideration, and a substitute was agreed to, and sent to the 
 House of Clerical and Lay Deputies. 
 
 The house then adjourned. 
 
 Friday^ Sept. 14, 1804, nine o'clock, A. M. 
 
 Present as yesterday. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies, informing that the said house was ready to attend the 
 consecration of the Rev. Dr. Parker, when this house shall see 
 proper. 
 
 This house informed the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, 
 that they are ready to proceed immediately to the consecration. 
 
 The house then adjourned for the above purpose. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Bend read prayers, and the Right Rev. Bishop 
 "White delivered a sermon, and, as presiding Bishop, performed 
 the consecration service, assisted by the other Bishops present. 
 
 The house again met. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies, informing that the said house had come to a resolution, 
 " That the thanks of the Convention be presented to the Right 
 Rev. Bishop White for his sermon preached before them this 
 day, at the consecration of the Rev. Dr- Parker; and that he be 
 requested to furnish a copy for publication." 
 
 This house concurred in the above resolution j and Bishop 
 White acceded to the request. 
 
 The proposed canon, entitled, " a canon altering the 7th canon 
 of 1795," was taken up, and negatived by this house. 
 
 The proposed canon, entitled, " a canon repealing the 2d ca- 
 non of 1801, which limits the operation of the 4th canon of 1795," 
 was returned to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, with a 
 substitute. 
 
 A memorial was laid on the table by the President, from the 
 Bcv. Ammi Rogers, accompanied with sundry documents, and a 
 letter, requesting that a day may be appointed for the considera- 
 tion of the points therein stated. 
 
 Monday next was assigned for the above purpose, and notice 
 ihereof was given to Mr. Rogers. 
 
 The House then adjourned. 
 
 Saturday, September 15, nine o'clock, A.M. 
 
 The house met. Present as yesterday. 
 
 The Bight Rev. Dr. Parker, who was yesterday consecrated 
 
225 
 
 in Trinity Church, Bishop of this church in the state of Massa- 
 chusetts, took his seat in this house. 
 
 A canon was passed, entitled, '* a canon limiting the operation 
 of the 6th canon of 1795," and was sent to the house of Clerical 
 and Lay Deputies. 
 
 A propos-d office was presented from the house of Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies, entitled, " an office of induction,'* &c. 
 
 A proposed canon was adopted by this house, and sent to the 
 House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, entitled, " a canon addi- 
 tional to the 6th canou of 1795." 
 
 The substitute to the canon, entitled, " concerning ministers 
 moving from one diocese or state to another,'* which was sent 
 from this house to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, was 
 returned from said house, with an amendment, which was adopt- 
 ed by this house. 
 
 The proposed office, entitled, " an office of induction," Sec. was 
 returned to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, with amend- 
 ments. 
 
 The canon which originated in this house entitled, " a canon 
 additional to the 6th canon of 1795," was returned from the 
 House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, with a message that it had 
 passed that house. 
 
 The proposed substitute, which was sent by this house to the 
 house of Clerical and Lay Deputies, for the proposed canon, en- 
 titled, " a canon repealing the 2d canon of 1801, which limits 
 the operation of the 4th canon of 1 7^5," was returned from that 
 house, with a message that they did not concur in the same. 
 
 A message was received from the house of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies, informing that the amendments proposed by this house 
 to the " office ot induction," &c. had been adopted by that house. 
 
 A proposed canon, entitled, " canon respecting lay readers,'* 
 was presented from the House of Cleric il and Lay Deputies, and 
 was immediately taken up and passed by this house. 
 
 The house then adjourned till Monday morning. 
 
 Monday, Sept. 17, 1804, 9 o'clocL A. M, 
 
 The House met. Present as on Saturday. 
 
 A proposed canon was presented from the House of Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies, entitled, " canon providing for an accurate view 
 of the state of the church from time to time," which was imme- 
 diately taken up and passed. 
 
 A proposed substitute was presented from the House of Cleri- 
 cal and Lay Deputies, to the canon, entitled, '* canon limiting the 
 operation of the 6th canon of 1 795," which passed this house. 
 
 The papers presented to this house by the President, from the 
 Rev. Ammi Rogers, of Connecticut, ri.questmg their attention to 
 sundry matters affecting his standing in the church, and his pri- 
 vate character, were then taken into consideration. 
 
 ^Vhereupon, Resolved, That there be declared to the house of 
 
 G g 
 
226 
 
 Clerical and Lay Deputies the desire of the house of Bishops, 
 that if any members of that house possess information respecting 
 the conduct of the said Rev. Ammi Rogers, in the matters brought 
 before the house of Bishops, which matters will be communicated 
 by the house of Bishops to any members of the house aforesaid 
 who may desire it, such members will lay before the house of Bi- 
 shops the information possessed by them at 12 o'clock. 
 
 Resolved^ That information of the above message be communi- 
 cated to the Rev. Ammi Rogers, in order that, if he have any 
 further matters to lay before the house of Bishops, the same may 
 be done at the said hour. 
 
 The information required in the above resolution was accord- 
 ingly communicated. 
 
 A proposed canon was presented from the house of Clerical and 
 liay Deputies, entitled, " canon of candidates coming from places 
 within the United States in which the constitution of this church 
 has not been acceded to ;" which canon passed this house. 
 
 This house received from the house of Clerical and Lay Depu- 
 ties a proposed canon, entitled, '* canon respecting the dissolu- 
 tion of all pastoral connection between ministers and congrega- 
 tions ;" \yhich was taken into consideration. Also, the proposed 
 canon presented on Thursday last, entitled, " canon making ad- 
 dition to the 17th canon of 1789,'* was taken up. 
 
 These two canons passed this house with amendments, and an 
 incorporation of both into one canon. 
 
 A proposed canon, entitled, " notice to be given of the election 
 of ministers," passed this house. 
 
 Agreeably to the resolution of the last General Convention, this 
 house considered and established a course of ecclesiastical stu- 
 dies for candidates for holy orders. 
 
 Txvelve o'clock* d 
 
 The clerical members from the state of Connecticut were ad- 
 mitted to a hearing on the subject of the Rev. Ammi Rogers ; 
 when Mr. Rogers was also called in. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Baldwin asked for leave to make a statement of 
 the case; which was granted. 
 
 Documents on both sides were then read, and a hearing was 
 given to the parties concerned. 
 
 While the subject of Mr. Rogers was under consideration, se- 
 veral canons were presented from the house of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies, as follow. 
 
 " A canon respecting differences between ministers and their 
 congregations ;" proposed. 
 
 " Canon respecting the dissolution of all pastoral connection 
 between ministers and congregations ;" and, " canon making ad- 
 dition to the 17th canon of 1789;" passed the house of Clerical 
 and Lay Deputies, with amendments, and an incorporation into 
 one canon, as proposed by this house. 
 
227 
 
 *' Notice to be given of the election of Ministers ;" returned 
 with amendments, and an alteration of the title. 
 
 " Of Clergymen ordained by foreign Bishops, and desirous of 
 settling in this church ;" proposed. 
 
 The house then adjourned till seven o'clock P. M. 
 
 Seven o'clock, P, M. 
 
 The amendments to the canon entitled, *' Notice to be given of 
 the election of Ministers," were considered, and not agreed to ; 
 and a conference th^eupon was requested. 
 
 The canon " respecting differences between Ministers and their 
 congregations," was passed with an amendment. 
 
 The canon, " Of Clergymen ordained by foreign Bishops, and 
 desirous of settling m this church," was negatived. 
 
 The Rev. Ammi Rogers appeared, and asked permission to see 
 one of the papers presented to this house by the Clerical Depu- 
 ties from Connecticut. Whereupon it was 
 
 Resolved, That nothing shall be done in the business except in 
 the presence of both parties. 
 
 Bishop Claggett obtained leave of absence. 
 
 The house then adjourned, till to morrow, eight o'clock, A. M. 
 
 Tuesday, Sept. 18, eight o'clock, A. M. 
 
 The house met. Present as yesterday, except Bishop Claggett, 
 
 A message was delivered from the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies, informing that the said House had agreed to the con- 
 ference requested on the amendments to the canon, entitled, " No- 
 tice to be given of the election of Ministers." This house agreed 
 to enter immediately on the business. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Blackwell, Rev. Dr. Kemp, and Rev. Mr. Ho- 
 bart, appeared as a committee from the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies to enter upon the conference proposed. After which 
 confer«nce, this house receded from their non-concurrence, on 
 condition of a small additional amendment. 
 
 A conference was then proposed by the House of Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies, on the canon, entitled, " Of Clergymen ordained 
 by foreign Bishops," Sec. which canon was negatived by this house. 
 The conference was assented to j and the aforementioned gentle- 
 men appeared as a committee from the house on the subject. 
 ArVhereupon a substitute was proposed by this house, and sent by 
 the above committee. 
 
 A message was sent to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies^ 
 informing that, agreeably to a requisition of the last General Con- 
 vention, this house have prepared a course of ecclesiastical stu- 
 di€s; which they intend to publish with their journals. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Shelton appeared, and asked permission to lay 
 further testimony before the house in the case of Mr. Ammi 
 Rogers. 
 
 Leave was given, on condition that Mr, Rogers be also informed. 
 
228 
 
 Both parties were then introduced, and further hearing was 
 given them. 
 
 A proposed canon was received from the House of Clerical 
 and Lay deputies, entided, " Of candidates who may be refused 
 orders," which was passed. 
 
 Also a proposed canon, entitled, " Concerning the studies of 
 candidates for orders j" which was negatived. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies in the following words: *' The House of Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies have acceded to the amendment proposed by the 
 House of Bishops to the canon * respecting differences between 
 Ministers and their congregations ;' and have agreed to the sub- 
 stitute for the canon * concerning Clergymen ordained by foreign 
 Bishops;' and to the amendment to the canon, entitled, ' Canon 
 concerning the election and induction of Ministers into parishes 
 or churches.'* 
 
 Also a message was received, informing that the House of Cle- 
 rical and Lay Deputies have agreed to the following resolution : 
 
 Resolved^ That it be made known to the different state Con- 
 ventions, that it is proposed in the next General Convention to 
 consider and determine on the followmg proposed alteration to 
 the general constitution of the church j that in Art. III. the fol- 
 lowing words be stricken out, *' unless adhered to by four-fifths 
 of the other house." 
 
 The above resolution was concurred in by this house. 
 Another resolution was received from the House of Clerical 
 and Lay Deputies, in the following words : 
 
 " Resolved^ That the committee appointed to publish the jour- 
 nals be authorized to publish the constitution and all the canons 
 of the church in the order of their enaction, noting at the end of 
 each canon the various other canons which refer to the subject of 
 that particular canon." 
 
 An amendment was proposed and carried in this House, to 
 strike out from the word "noting," and insert the following 
 words : " making a reference by asterisk at the end of every ca- 
 non to a note pointing out the various other canons which refer 
 to the subject of that particular canon." 
 
 This amendment was concurred in by the House of Clerical 
 and Lay Deputies. 
 
 A message was received in the following words : 
 " The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies request the concur- 
 rence of the House of Bishops, to a resolution for printing lOCX) 
 copies of the journals, 1000 copies of the office of induction, and 
 1000 copies of each of the sermons preached before the Conven- 
 tion ; a resolution appointing the Rev. Dr. Beach, the Rev. Mn 
 Harris, and the Rev. Mr. Hobart, in conjunction with Bishop 
 Moore, to arrange the canons of this church ; a resolution unani- 
 mously passed by the house, that the General Convention meet 
 next atBaltimore; and a resolution that Bishop Parker be re- 
 quested to preach at the opening of the next General Convention, 
 
229 
 
 *' The house also inform the House of Bishops, that it is their 
 wish, if possible, that an adjournment of the Convention should 
 take place this morning" 
 
 This house concurred in these several resolutions. 
 
 On motion of the Right Rev. Bishop Jarvis, Resolved^ That it 
 be proposed to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, that the 
 adjournment of the Convention be accompanied by prayer, in the 
 presence of the two houses ; the presiding Bishop to officiate." 
 
 The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies sent their concurrence. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies, informing that said house are ready to adjourn. 
 
 The house then attended prayers in the chamber of the House 
 of Clerical and Lay Deputies. 
 
 This house adjourned to meet at Bishop Moore's i^t seven 
 o'clock, P. M. 
 
 Seven o\lock^ P. M. 
 
 The House of Bishops met at Bishop Moore's dwelling. 
 
 Present. Right Rev. Bishop White, Right Rev. Bishop 
 Moore, Right Rev. Bishop Parker. 
 
 The house resumed the consideration of the matters brought 
 before them by the Rev. Ammi Rogers, and came to the follow- 
 ing determination concerning the same : 
 
 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 high- 
 est degree ; and, were it tolerated, would prove subversive of all 
 order and discipline in the church j and that the statement which 
 he made in justification of his conduct, was a mere tissue of equi- 
 vocation 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 j and, moreover, are of opinion, that he de- 
 serves a severe ecclesiastical censure, that of degradation from the 
 Ministry, 
 
 In regard to the question. To what authority is Mr. Rogers 
 amenable? this house are sensible, that here 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, thu 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 exclu- 
 
230 
 
 sively amenable. But as the imposition practised with a view to 
 the ministry was in New York, we recommend to the Bishop and 
 standing committee of that state, to send to the Bishop in Con- 
 necticut such documents, duly attested, of the measure referred 
 to, as will be a ground of procedure in that particular. 
 
 We further direct the Secretary to deliver a copy of the above, 
 to the Clerical Deputies from Connecticut, and another copy to 
 the Rev. Ammi Rogers. And we further direct, that either of 
 the aforesaid parties be permitted to have any documents respect- 
 ively delivered in by them, a copy of it being first taken; except 
 the petition and affidavit of the Rev. Ammi Rogers, of which he 
 may have a copy if desired, as may either of the parties have of 
 any document delivered by the other party. 
 
 Resolved^ That the thahks of this house be given to the Rev. 
 Mr. Jones, for his services as Secretary. 
 
 The House rose. 
 
 Signed by order of the House of Bishops, 
 
 WILLIAM WHITE, Presiding Bishop. 
 
 Attest, Cave Jones, Secretary. H. B. 
 
 Course of Ecclesiastical StudUs, established by the House of Bishops in 
 
 the Convention o/1804, in •pursuance of a Resolution of the preceding 
 
 General Convention. 
 IN attending to this subject, a considerable difficulty occurs, aris- 
 ing out of the ditference of the circumstances of students, in regard not 
 only to intellectual endowments and preparatory knowledge of langua- 
 ges and science ; but to access to authors, and time to be devoted to a 
 preparation for the ministry. For ia accommodating to those whose 
 means are slender, we are in danger of derogating from the importance 
 of religious knowledge; while, on the other hand, although we should 
 demand all that is desirable, we shall be obliged to content ourselves, 
 in some cases, with what is barely necessary. 
 
 In consideration of the above, it will be expedient to set down such a 
 course of study, as is accommodated to a moderate portion of time and 
 means ; and afterwards to suggest provision, as well for a more limited 
 as for a more enlarged share of both. 
 
 Let the student be required to begin with some books in proof of the 
 divine authority of Christianity ; such as Grotius on the Truth of the 
 Christian Rdigion ; Jenkins on the Reasonableness of Christianity ; Pa- 
 ley's Evidences ; Lesly's Methods with the Jews and Deists ; Stilling- 
 fleet's Origines Sacrce ; and Butler's Analogy. To che above should be 
 added some books which give a knowledge of the objections made by 
 Deists. For this, Leiand's View may be sufficient; except that it should 
 be followed by answers to deistical writers since Leland, whose works 
 and the answers to them may be supposed known to the student. It 
 would be best, if circumstances permit, that he should read what the 
 Deists themselves have written. 
 
 After the books in proof of revelation, let the student, previously to 
 the reading of any system of divinity, study the Scriptures with the help 
 
231 
 
 of some approved Commenlalors ; such as Patrick and Lowth on the 
 Old Testament, and Hammond, or Whitby, or Doddridge on the New : 
 being aware, in regard to the last mentioned author, of the points on 
 which he differs from our Church, although it be with moderation and 
 candour. During such his study of the scriplures, let him read some 
 work or works whicli give an account of the design of the different 
 books, and the gi'ounds on which their respective authority is asserted; 
 for instance, Father Simon's Canon of Scripture, Collier's Saacd In- 
 terpreter, Gray's Key to the Old Testament, and Percy's Key to the 
 New. Let the student read the scriptures over and over, referring to 
 his commentators as need may re(iuire, until he can give an account of 
 the design and character of each book, and explain the more difficult 
 jyassages of it. He is supposed to know enough of Profane History, to 
 give an account of that also, whenever it mixes with the Sacred. There 
 are certain important subjects which may be profitably attended to, as 
 matters of distinct study, during the course of the general study of scrip- 
 ture. For instance ; the student having proceeded as far As the Deluge, 
 may read some author who gives a larger accovd than the commenta- 
 tors, of the particulars attached to that crisis; ati also the principles oh 
 which are founded the different systems of Chronology : all which will 
 be found clearly done in the Universal History. In reading the book of 
 Leviticus, it will be useful to attend to some connected scheme of the 
 sacrifices ; such as is exhibited by Bishop Kidder in his Introduction to 
 the Pentateuch, and by Mr. Joseph Mede in some of his discourses. A 
 more full and interesting interpretation of the Prophecies than can be ex- 
 pected from the commentators, will be desirable , and for this purpose 
 kt Bishop Newton's IVork be taken. Between the study of the Old Tes- 
 tameni and that of the New, should be read Prideaux and Shuckford'e 
 Connections. With the New Testament should be taken some book re- 
 lating; to the Harmony of the Gospels, as M'Knight's orBishopNewcome's. 
 Let tiie student, b'^fore entering on the Gospels, read Dr. Campbell's 
 Introduclory Disserialions. Towards the close of the Gospels, the sub- 
 ject of tlie Resurrection should be particularly attended to ; for which 
 purpose let there be taken either Mr. West on the subject, or Bishop 
 Sherlock's Trial of the Witnesses. 
 
 After the study of the scriptures, let attention be given to Ecclesiasti- 
 cal History, so far as to the Council of Nice. This period is distinctly 
 taken, from a desire that the portion of history preceding it, as well as 
 the opinions then entertained, may be learned from original writers ; 
 which may be considered as one of the best expedients for the guarding 
 of the student against many errors of modern times. The writers of that 
 interval are not numerous or bulky. Eusebius is soon read through ; 
 and so are the Apostolic Fathers. Even the other writers are not volu- 
 minous, except Origen, the greater part of whose works may be passe 
 over. The dpostolic Fathers may be best read in Coteierius's edition ; 
 but there are translations of most of them by Archbishop Wake, and the 
 Rev. William Reeves. Cave's Lives of the Apostles and Fathers may 
 be prnfitably read at this period. 
 
 This stage of the student's progress seems the most proper for the 
 study oUhe two questions, of our Lord's Divinity, and of Episcopacy. 
 The aspect oi early works on these subjects, best enables us to ascertain 
 in what shape they appeared to the respective writers. And it is diffi- 
 cult to suppose, on the ground of what we know of human nature, that, 
 
232 
 
 during the first three centuries, either the character of Christ should have 
 been conceived of as materially different from what ha<i been the repre- 
 sentation of it by the first teachers of our religion ; or, that there should 
 have been a mateiial chamge o^ church gove/nment, without o|)position 
 to the innovation. For the former question, let the works of Bishop 
 Bull and the Rev. Charles Lesly be taken; to which may well be ad- 
 ded the late controversy between Bishop Korsley and Dr. Priestley ; 
 and for the latter, Mr. Hooker's Ecclesiastical Polity, Archbishop Pot- 
 ter on Church Government, and Daubeny's Guide to the Church. As 
 the Lord Chancellor King published a book on the discipline of the pri- 
 mitive Church, in which he has rested Episcopacy on insufficient 
 grounds, unwarily admitted by many on his authority ; let the student 
 read his book, and the refutation of it in Mr. Slater's Original draft of 
 the primitive Church. 
 
 After this, let the student go on with the History of the Fourth Cen- 
 tury, from Mosheim. But it will be of advantage to him to turn to 
 Fleury's History ior the Epitomies there given of the writings of the em- 
 inent men who abounded in that century and part of the next. Let him 
 then return to Mosheim, and go on with that writer to the Reformation. 
 Here let him pause and study, as the main hinges of Popery, its preten- 
 ces to supretjiacy and infallibility ; on which there will be found satis- 
 factory matter in Mr. Chillingworth's Religion of Protestants, a safe way 
 to Salvation, and i3r. Barrow's Treatise of the Pope's supremacy. Here 
 also let there be read Father Paul's History of the Council of Trent: 
 Then let the student resume Mosheim. But it will be best, if, for a 
 more minute knowledge of the History of the Church of England since 
 the Reformation, he take along with him Collier's History ; a very able 
 work ; but in the reading of which some allowance must be made for 
 peculiar prejudices. On coming, in the reign of Elizabeth, to the ques- 
 tions which arose between the Divines of the established Church and the 
 Presbyterians, then known by the name of Puritans, let recourse be 
 again had to Mr. Hooker's IVork, and to the London cases. Then let 
 Mosheim be proceeded with to the end. 
 
 After these studies, and not before, let Divinity be read in a systema- 
 tic method. Bishop Pearson's Exposition of the Creed may be consider- 
 ed as a small system; and, on account of the excellence of the work, is 
 recommended; as also Bishop Burnet's Exposition of the Thirty' JVine 
 ^irticles. Then let a larger system be taken; suppose Stackhouse's 
 Body of Divinity, with the addition of the following modern works : 
 Elements of Christian Theology, by the present Bishop of Lincoln, and 
 The Scholar Armed. That many works of this sort are not mentioned, 
 is because we think their utility is principally confined to arrangement, 
 and suppose that the knowledge they convey is to be obtained from the 
 scriptures and judicious commentators. 
 
 It seems necessary to this course of study, to recommend the Sermons 
 of some of the most distinguished preachers ; who have so abounded in 
 the Church of England for some ages past, that the only matter will be, 
 from among many of great name, to select a convenient number. And 
 ior this purpose we refer to the list at the end. 
 
 It seems not unnecessary to require attention to the History of the 
 Comrnon Prayei , the grounds on which the different services are con- 
 structed, and the meaning of the Rubrics. Perhaps a careful study of 
 Dr. Wheatley on the Common Prayer, and of the late work of Mr- 
 Reeves, will be sufficient. 
 
ISome books ^ould be read on the diUies of the Pastoral office ; such 
 as St. Chrysostom on the Priesthood, Bishop Burnet on the Pastoral 
 Care, and Bishop Wilson's Parochialia. It is, however, to be remem- 
 bered, that one reason of studying carefully the Book of Common Pray- 
 er and its Rubrics, is that, by the help of these, in connection with what 
 belongs in Scripture to the ministerial character, sufficient information of 
 its duties may be had, 
 
 A knowledge of the Constitution and the Canons should be held abso- 
 lutely necessary. And it is to be hoped that they will, on this account, 
 be soon published, detached from the journals. 
 
 To set down wliat books sliall be essential, no student to be ordained 
 without being Jidly prepared to answer oi> them, is more difficult. The 
 loivest requisition is as follows :— Paley's Evidences ; Mosheim, with a 
 reference to Mr. Hooker for the Episcopacy ; Stackhouse's Body ofDi- 
 vinily ; and Mr. Reeves on the Common Prayer ; the Constitution and 
 Canons of the Church; allowing in the study of the Scriptures a. latitude 
 of choice among the approved Commentators ; it being understood, that 
 if the student cannot, on the grounds contained in some good commenta- 
 ry, give an account of the different books, and explain such passages as 
 may be proposed to him, this is of itself a disqualification. 
 
 In the beginning it was intimated, that the course to be recommend- 
 ed would be disproportioned to the means of some, and fall short of what 
 would be within the compass of others. For the benefit of the latter, we 
 publish the following list of books on the different branches of ecclesias- 
 tical knowledge. 
 
 During the whole course of study, the student will endeavour, by the 
 grace of God, to cultivate his heart by attention to devotional and prac- 
 tical treatises ; several of which will be mentioned in the general list that 
 follows. 
 
 Library for a Parish Minister, prefaced to "Elements ofClvristian The-, 
 ology," published by the Right Rev. the present Bishop of Lincoln. 
 The books mentioned are divided into four classes. 
 
 " The first, containing such as relate to the exposition of the Old and 
 New Testaments : the second, such as serve to establish the divine au- 
 thority of the Scriptures ; the third, such as explain the doctrines and 
 discipline of the church, and the duties of its Ministers ; and the fourth, 
 miscellaneous, including sermons and Ecclesiastical History. 
 
 " Class the first.'' CampbeWs Translation of tlie Gospels, 2 
 
 vols. 4to. 
 
 " Bible, with marginal references, 8vo. Marsh's Michaelis, 3 vols. 8vo. 
 
 CrutwelVs Concordance of Parallels, 4to. fioivyer's Conjectures on the New Tes- 
 Buttenoorth's Concordance, 8vo. tament, 4to. 
 
 Patrick, I^-n-th, and WMtby, on the Old Mackviighi's Harmony, 4to. 
 
 and New Testament, 6 vols, folio. Macknight on the Epistles, 3 vols. 4t9. 
 
 Doddrige's Family Expositor, 6 vols. 8vo. Lo7uman on the Revelation, 8vo. 
 
 Poofs Synopsis, 5 vols, folio. Olivei^s Scripture Lexicon, 8vo. 
 
 Collier's Sacred Interpreter, 2 vols. 8vo. Macbean's Dictionary of the Bible, Svo. 
 .renm/j/s Jewish Antiquities, 2 vols. 8vo. ,j p cproNn 
 
 Lo-wmaies Rationale of the Hebrew Ri- l^LASa THE SECOND. 
 
 tual, Svo. " Stilliiigfeet's Oiigines Sacrae, 2 vols. 
 Gray's Key to the Old Testament, Svo. Svo. 
 
 Home's Scripture History of the Jews, Clarke's Grotius, Svo. 
 
 2 vols. Svo. Clarke's Evidences of Natural and Re- 
 Parkhurst's Greek Lexicon, 4to. realed Religion, 8vo. 
 
 H h 
 
234 
 
 tardner's Works, 11 vols. 8vo. 
 
 Paley's Evidences, 2 vols. 8vo. 
 
 Horae Paulinae, 8vo. 
 
 Jenkins on the Certainty and Reasona- 
 bleness of Christianity, 2 vols. 8yo. 
 
 Leland on the Advantage and Necessity 
 of Revelation, 2 vols. Svo. 
 
 Leland's View of Deistical Writers, 2 
 vols. Svo. 
 
 Butler's Analogy, Bvo. 
 
 Campbell on Miracles, 2 vols. Bvo. 
 
 J^Teivton on the Prophecies, 2 vols. Svo. 
 
 Kelt's History the Interpreter of Prophe- 
 cy, 3 vols. 12mo. 
 
 Leland on the Divine Authority of the 
 Old and New Testament, 2 vols. 
 Svo. 
 
 " Class the third. 
 « Burnetts History of the Reformation, 
 3 vols, folio. 
 
 Exposition of the 39 Articles, 
 
 Bvo. 
 
 — Pastoral Care, 8vo. 
 
 Pearson on the Creed, 2 vols. Svo. 
 JVicholls on the Common Prayer, Svo. 
 Wheatley on the Common Prayer, Svo. 
 Shepherd on the Common Prayer, Svo. 
 IVilson^ ParoChialia, 12mo. 
 JP»^«//on Infant Baptism, 2 vols. Svo. 
 Seeker on the Catecliism, 12mo. 
 
 Seeker's CTiarges, Svo, 
 The Homilies, by Sir Adam Gordon, 8vo, 
 Daubei^y's Guide to the Church. 
 Appendix to do. 2 vols. 
 
 " Class the fourth. 
 
 " CudtuortKs Intellectual System, 2 vols. 
 
 4to. 
 Hooker'' s Ecclesiastical Polity, 3 vols. Svo. 
 BinghanCs Antiquities, 2 vols, folio. 
 Broughton'e Dictionary of aU Religions, 
 
 2 vols. foho. 
 Shuckford's Connection, 4 vols. Svo. 
 I'rideaux's Connection, 4 vols. Bvo. 
 Echard'a Ecclesiastical History, 2 vols. 
 
 Bvo. 
 J^osheim^a Ecclesiastical History, 6 vols. 
 
 Svo. 
 Bum's Ecclesiastical Law, 4 vols. Svo. . 
 Common Place Book to the Holy Bible, 
 
 4to. 
 Barro-w's Works, 3 vols, folio. 
 Tillotson's Works, 3 vols, folio. 
 Clarke's Sermons, S vols. Svo. ■ 
 Sherlock's Sermons, 5 vols. Svo. 
 Seeker's Sermons, 9 vols. Bvo. 
 Scott's Christian Life, 5 vols. Svo. 
 Whole Duty of Man, 12mo. 
 Scholar armed, 2 vols Bvo. 
 Tracts by Society for Christian Know- 
 ledge, 12 vols. 12mo. 
 
 Jn addition to the preceding may be recommended the follotving list of Sermons and 
 devotional and practical Books. 
 
 Sermons by Bishop Pearce. 
 
 -., by Bishop Wilson. 
 
 — — by Bishop Home. 
 
 », ■.- by Bishop Porteus. 
 
 by Dr. Jortin. 
 
 by Dr. Brady. 
 
 by the late Right Rev. Bishop 
 
 Seabury, of this Church. 
 — _ by the late Rev. Dr. Smith, of 
 
 the same. 
 Bishop Gibson's Tracts. 
 Bishop Home's Commentary on the 
 
 Psalms. 
 
 Rev. Wm. Jones's (of Nayland) Works- 
 Nelson's Festivals and Fasts of the 
 Church. 
 
 Practice of true Devotion. 
 
 Christian Sacrifice. 
 
 Bishop Taylor's Rule of Holy Living and 
 
 Dying. 
 Scougall's Life of God in the Soul of 
 
 Man, 
 Dr. Sherlock on Death. 
 
 on Judgment. 
 
 on a Future State. 
 
 on Providence. 
 
 By order of the House of Bishops. 
 
 WILLIAM WHITE, Presi(Mng Bishop. 
 
 CANONS— Passed In 1804. 
 
 Canon I. Concerning' the Election and Induction of Ministers 
 into Parishes or Churches, 
 
 IT is hereby required, that on the election of a Minister into 
 any church, or parish, the vestry shall deliver, or cause to be de- 
 livered to the Bishop, or where there is no Bishop, to the stand- 
 ing committee of the diocese, notice of the same, in the following 
 form, or to this effect. 
 
235 
 
 "We the Church "Wardens (or in case of an associated Rector or 
 assistant Minister^ we the Rector and Church Wardens) do certi- 
 fy to the Right Re-v. (naming the Bishop,) or to ihe Rev. (naming 
 the t*resident of the standing committee,) that (naming the per- 
 son,) has been duly chosen Rector (or associated Rector, or as- 
 sistant Minister^ as the case may be) of (naming the parish, or 
 church or churchei.) 
 
 Which certificate shall be signed with the names of those who 
 certify. 
 
 And if the Bishop or the standing committee be satisfied, that 
 the person so chosen is a qualified minister of this church, the Bi- 
 shop, or the President of the standing committee, shall transmit 
 the said certificate to the Secretary of the Convention, who shall 
 record it in a book to be kept by him for that purpose. And if 
 the minister elect be a Presbyter, the Bishop, or President of 
 the standing committee, shall proceed to have him inducted ac- 
 cording to the office established by this church. But if he be a 
 Deacon, the act of induction shall not take place till after he shall 
 have received Priest*s orders, when it shall be the duty of the Bi- 
 shop or President to have it performed. 
 
 But if the Bishop or the standing committee be not satisfied as 
 above, he or they shall, at the instance of the parties, proceed to 
 inquire into the sufficiency of the person so chosen, according to 
 such rules as may be made in the respective dioceses, and shall 
 confirm or reject the appoiiltment, as the issue of that enquiry; 
 
 ihay be. . .. . .,.,-f •■•.,.)•■ ' •••'■'■ 5 '\ 
 
 No minister, who may be hereafter elected into any parish or 
 church, shall be considered as a regularly admitted and settled 
 parochial minister in any diocese or state, or shall, as such, have 
 any vote in the choice of a Bishop, until he shall have been in- 
 ducted according to the office prescribed by this church. 
 
 The 17th canon of 1789, and the 3d canon of 1799, are hereby- 
 repealed. 
 
 Canon II. Respecting the dissolution of all pastoral co'nnection be' 
 tween Ministers and their Congregations, 
 
 When any minister has been regularly inducted or settled in a 
 parish or church, he shall not be dismissed without the concur- 
 rence of the ecclesiastical authority of the diocese or state ; and 
 in case of his dismission without such concurrence, the vestry or 
 congregation of such parish or church shall have no right to a re- 
 presentation in the Convention of the state, until they have made; 
 such satisfaction as the Convention may require. Nor shall any 
 minister leave his congregation against their will, without the con- 
 currence of the ecclesiastical authority aforesaid \ and if he shall 
 leave them without suh concurrence, he shall not be allowed to 
 take a seat in any Convention of this church, or be eligible into 
 any church or parish wiihin the states which have acceded to the 
 constitution of this church, until he shall have made such satis- 
 
23^ 
 
 faction, as the ecclesiastical authority of the diocese or state may 
 require. 
 
 In the case of the regular and canonical dissolution of the con- 
 nection between a minister and his congregation, the Bishop, or 
 if there be no Bishop, the standing committee shall direct the Se- 
 cretary of the Convention to record the same. But if the disso- 
 lution of the connection between any minister and his congpega- 
 tion be not regular or canonical, the Bishop or standing commit- 
 tee, shall lay the same before the Convention of the diocese or 
 state, in order that the above-mentioned penalties may take effect. 
 
 Canon III. Concerning' 3fimsters removing front one DioQese or 
 State to another. 
 
 No minister, removing from one diocese to another, or coming 
 from any state which may not have acceded to the constitiation of 
 this church, shall be received as a minister by any congregation 
 of this church, until he shall have presented to the vestry thereof 
 a certificate from the ecclesiastical authority of the diocese or 
 state to which he is about to remove, that he has produced to 
 them satisfactory testimonials, that he has not been justly liable 
 to evil report, for error in religion, or viciousness of life, during 
 the three years last past ; which testimonials shall be signed by 
 the Bishop or Bishops, or where there is no Bishop, by the majo- 
 rity of the clerical members of the standing committee or commit- 
 tees of the diocese or dioceses wherein he has resided ; which 
 committee or committees shall, in all cases, be duly convened : or, 
 in case he comes from a state not in connection with this church, 
 and having no Convention, by three clergymen of this church. — 
 Nor shall any minister, so removing, be received by any vestry, 
 or acknowledged by any Bishop or Convention, as a minister of 
 the church to which he removes, until he shall have produced the 
 aforesaid testimonials. 
 
 Every minister shall be amenable for any offences committed by 
 him, in any diocese, to the ecclesiastical authority of the diocese in 
 which he resides. 
 
 Canon IV. Respectmg differences betxveen Ministers and their 
 Congregations. 
 
 In cases of controversy between ministers, who now, or may 
 hereafter hold the rectorship of churches or parishes, and the 
 vestry or congregation of such churches or parishes, which contro- 
 versies are of such a nature as cannot be settled by themselves, 
 the parties, or either of them, shall make application to the Bishop 
 of the diocese, or, in case there be no Bishop, to the convention 
 of the state. And if it appear to the Bishop and his Presbyters, 
 or, if there be no Bishop, to the Convention, or the standing com- 
 mittee of the diocese or state, if the authority should be commit- 
 ted to diem by the Convention, that the controversy has proceed- 
 ed to such lengths, as to preclude all hope of its favourable termina- 
 
237 
 
 tion, and that a dissolution of the connection which exists be- 
 tween them is indispensably necessary to restore the peace and 
 promote the prosperity of the church ; the Bishop and his Pres- 
 byters, or, if there be no Bishop, the Convention or the standing 
 committee of the diocese or state, if the authority should be com- 
 mitted to them by the Convention, shall recommend to such mi- 
 nisters to relinquish their titles to their rectorship, on such condi- 
 tions as may appear reasonable and proper to the Bishop and his 
 Presbyters, or if there be no Bishop, to the Convention, or the 
 standing committee of the diocese or state, if the authority should 
 be committed to them by the Convention. And if such rectors 
 or congregations refuse to comply with such recommendation, the 
 Bishop and his Presbyters, or, if there be no Bishop, the Conven- 
 tion or the standing committee of the diocese or state, if the a*' 
 thority sJiould be committed to them by the Convention, with th^ 
 aid and consent of a Bishop, may, at their discretion, proceed, ac- 
 cording to the canons of the church, to suspend the former from 
 the exercise of any ministerial duties within the diocese or state ; 
 and prohibit the latter from a seat in the Convention, until they 
 retract such refusal, and submit to the terms of the recommenda- 
 tion ,' and any minister so suspended shall not be permitted, dur- 
 ing his suspension, to exercise any ministerial duties in any other 
 diocese or state. This canon, shall apply also to the cases of asso- 
 ciated rectors and assistant ministers and their congregations. 
 
 Canon V. Of Clergymen ordained by foreign Bishops^ and desir- 
 ous of settling in this Church, 
 
 A Clergyman coming from a foreign country, and professing to 
 be regularly ordained, shall, before he be permitted to officiate in 
 any parish or church, exhibit to the vestry thereof satisfactory evi- 
 dence of his moral character, and a certificate signed by the Bi- 
 shop of the diocese, or. where there is no Bishop, by three cleri- 
 cal members of the standing committee, that his letters of orders 
 are authentic, and given by some Bishop whose authority is ac- 
 knowledged by this church. And should any such clergyman 
 desire to setde in any diocese, he shall first obtain the license of 
 the Bishop, or, where there is no Bishop, the permission of three 
 clerical members of the standing committee, to officiate within 
 the diocese or state. And if within one year he shall be guilty of 
 any unworthy conduct, the Bishop, or, where there is no Bishop, 
 three clerical members of the standing committee, shall withdraw 
 this license or permission : nor shall he be allowed to discharge 
 the clerical functions, till he shall have produced to the Bishop 
 such testimonials as are prescribed in the 2d canon of 1795, or to 
 the clerical members of the standing committee, such credentials 
 as would mduce them to give said testimonials. 
 
 And in any case, before he shall be entided to be inducted into 
 a parish or church, he shall have resided one vear in the Inited 
 States, 
 
238 
 
 And if any such foreign Clergyman shall remove from one dio- 
 cese to another, before one year have expired, he shall not be al- 
 lowed by the ecclesiastical authority of the diocese to which he 
 goes, to officiate in said diocese, till he shall have complied with 
 the requisitions of the canon concerning Ministers removing from 
 one diocese or state to another. 
 
 The 9th canon of the Convention of 1789 is hereby repealed. 
 
 Ga^*jon VI. Limiting the operation of the 6th canon oj 17^95. 
 
 "When a Minister of any other denomination of christians shall 
 apply for, orders in this church, the Bishop to whom application is 
 made, being satisfied that he is a man of piety and unexceptionable 
 character, that he holds the doctrines of the church, and that he 
 tlisesses all the literary and other qualifications required, and 
 bemg furnished with testimonials from the standing committee 
 duly cpnvened, may ordain him as soon as is convenient. In all 
 such cases the standing committee may insert in their testimonials, 
 the words, "• we believe him to be sincerely attached to the doc- 
 trines and discipline of the Protestant Episcopal Church," instead 
 of the words, " and hath not written, taught, or htld any thing 
 contrary to the doctrine or discipline of the Protestant Episcopal 
 Church." 
 
 Canon VIT. Additional to the 6th canon of 1 795. 
 
 Every candidate for holy orders, who may be recommended 
 by a standing committee of any church destitute of a Bishop, if 
 he have resided for a greater part of the three years last past 
 within the diocese of any Bi^op, shall apply to such Bishop for 
 ordination. And such candidate shall produce the usual testi- 
 monials, as well from the committee of the diocese in which he 
 has resided, as from the committee of the church in the state for 
 which he is to be ordained. 
 
 Canon VIII. Of Candidates coming from places within the 
 United States, in which the Constitution of this church has not 
 been acceded to- 
 ll is hereby declared, that the canons of this church which re- 
 spect candidates for holy orders, shall affect as well those coming 
 from places in the United States in which the constitution of this 
 church has not been acceded to, as those residing in states ia 
 which it has been adopted ; and in such cases, every candidate 
 shall produce to the Bishop, to whom he may apply for holy or- 
 ders, the requisite testimonials, subscribed by the standing com- 
 mittee of the diocese. 
 
 Canon IX. Of Candidates who may he refused orders. 
 No Bishop shall ordain any candidate, until he has required of 
 him, whether he has ever directly or indirectly applied for orders 
 in any other diocese or state ; and if the Bishop has reason to 
 
239 
 
 believe that the candidate has been refused orders in any other 
 diocese or state, he shall write to the Bishop of the diocest;, or, if 
 there be no Bishop, to the standing committee, to know whether 
 any just cause exists why the candidate should not be ordained. 
 When any Bishop rejects the application of any candidate for 
 orders, he shall immediately give notice to the Bishop of every 
 state or diocese, or, where there is no Bishop, to the standing 
 committee. 
 
 Canon X. Respecting Lay Readers, 
 
 No candidate for holy orders shall take upon him to perform 
 devotional service in any church, but by the permission of the Bi- 
 shop or ecclesiastical authority of the statv. in which said candidate 
 may wish to perform such service. And it shall be the duty of 
 the Bishop or ecclesiastical authority to limit and confine every 
 such candidate to such part or parts of the common prayer book, 
 to such dress, and to such stations in the church, as are appropriate 
 only to Lay Readers : and also to point out what sermons or 
 homilies he shall or may read to his congregation. And a non- 
 coiiformitv on the part of th' candidate to such restrictions, shall 
 be deemed m all cases a disqualification for holy orders. 
 
 Canon XI. Providing for an accurate viexu of the state of the 
 church from time to time. 
 
 As a full and accurate view of the state of the church, from 
 time to time, is highly useful and necessary, it is hereby ordered, 
 that every Minister of this church shall present or fortvard, at 
 every annual Convention, to the Bishop of the diocese, or, where 
 there is no Bishop, to the President of the Convention, a particu- 
 lar account of the state of his parish or church ; and these paro- 
 chial reports shall be read and entered on the journals of the Con- 
 vention. At every General Convention, the journals of the dif- 
 ferent state Conventions since the last General Convention, 
 together with such other papers, viz. episcopal charges, addresses, 
 and pastoral letters, as may tend to throw light on the state of the 
 church in each diocese, shall be presented to the House of Clerical 
 and Lay Deputies. And the parochial reports inserted on those 
 journals, together with the episcopal addresses and the episcopal 
 registers specified in the 2d canon of 1801, shall be read in the 
 said house. These journals and documents shall then be sent by 
 the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies to the House of Bishops, 
 who shall be requested to draw up a vie>r of the state of the church, 
 adding such remarks or counsel as they may think proper : the 
 whole in the form of " a pastoral letter from the House of Bi- 
 shops," which shall be read in the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies, and printed with the journals of the Convention, for 
 the general information of the church. 
 
 ^ It shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Convention of every 
 diocese or state, or of the person or persons with whom the jour- 
 
240 
 
 nnis or other esclesiastical papers are lodged, to forward to the 
 House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, at every General Conven- 
 tion, the documents and papers specified in this canon. At the 
 first General Convention iheld after the passing of this canon, the 
 journals of the state Conventions, since the organization of those 
 Conventions, with the constitution and canons of the church in 
 each state respectively, with all other useful ecclesiastical docu- 
 ments, shall be presented to the House of Clerical and Lay De- 
 puties, and sent, as before directed, to the House of Bishops, 
 Btf order of the House of Bishops^ 
 
 WILLIAM WHITE, D. D. Presiding Bishop. 
 Attest. Cave Jones, Secretary. 
 
 Bu order of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies^ 
 
 ABRAHAM BEACH, D. D. President. 
 Attest. J. H. HoBART, Secretary. 
 
 (f3^ The next General Convention -will be held in the city of" 
 Baltimore J on the third Tuesday in May^ 1808, 
 
 List of the Clergy of the Protestant Episcopal Churchy in the 
 United States of America, 
 
 Delivered in and published agreeably to the 16th canon of 1789. 1804. 
 
 JV'*ew Hampshire. 
 
 The Rev. Joseph Willard, Rector of St 
 John's churcli, Portsmouth. 
 
 — ~ Robert H. Fowle, Rector of 
 
 church, Holdernesse. 
 
 Daniel Barber, Hector of 
 
 churchjGlairmont. 
 
 Jttassaclmsctts. 
 The Right Rev. Samuel Parker, D. D. 
 
 Bishop, and Rector of Trinity 
 
 church, Boston. 
 The Rev. William WUlard Wheeler, 
 
 Rector of St. Michael's church, Sci- 
 
 tuate, and St. Peter's, Marshfield. 
 Nathaniel Fisher, Rector of St. 
 
 Peter's church, Salem. 
 John Sylvester I. Gardner, assistant 
 
 Minister of Trinity church, Boston. 
 . Samuel Haskill, Rector of St. Ann's 
 
 church, Gardiner. 
 William M. Montague, Rector of St. 
 
 Paul's church, Dedham. 
 James Bowers, Rector of St. Mi- 
 chael's church, Marblehead. 
 Timothy Hilliard, Minister of the 
 
 church at Portland. 
 . James Morss, Minister of St. Paul's, 
 
 Newburyport. 
 . Amos Pardy, Rector of St. Luke's 
 
 church, Lancsborough. 
 — — • — Griswold, Hector of St. James's 
 
 church. Great Harrington, and the 
 church at Lenox. 
 
 Rhode Island. 
 
 The Rev. Theodore Dehon, Rector of 
 Trinity church, Ne\v]5ort. 
 
 The Rev. Alexander V. Griswold, Rec- 
 tor of St. Michael's church, Bristol. 
 
 Joseph Warren, Rector of St. 
 
 Paul's clmrch, Narraganset. 
 Cotmectiait. 
 The Right Rev. Abraham Jarvis, D. D. 
 
 Bisliop. 
 The Rev. Jeremiah Learning, residing at 
 New Haven. 
 
 WiUiam Smith, D. D. Pj-incipal of 
 
 the Episcopal Academy, Cheshire. 
 
 Richard Mansfield, D. D. Rector of 
 
 Christ church, Derby, and the 
 churches at Oxfoi-d and Great Hill. 
 
 Bela Hubbard, D. D. Rector of 
 
 Trinity churcli. New Haven, and 
 Clu'ist church. West Haven. 
 
 John Tyler, Rector of Clirist church, 
 
 Norwich. 
 Daniel Fogg, Rector of , 
 
 church, Pomphret. 
 Philo Shelton, Rector of Trinity 
 
 church, Fairfield, St. John's church, 
 
 Stratfield, and church, Weston, 
 
 -■ Ashbel Baldwin, Rector of Christ's 
 
 church, Stratford, and Trinity 
 
 church, Trumbull. 
 
241 
 
 The Rev. Chauncey Prindle, Rector of 
 
 Christ's church, Watertown, and 
 
 St. Peter's, Plymouth. 
 — - Reuben Ives, Rector of St Peter's 
 
 church, Cheshire, and the churches 
 
 at Hamden, and Southington. 
 *— — Tillotson Bronson, Rector of St. 
 
 John's church, Waterbury, and 
 
 church, Salem. 
 — — Truman Marsh, Rector of 
 
 church, I/itchfield. 
 — — Ambrose Todd, Rector of St, 
 
 Paul's church, Huntingdon. 
 —— Daniel Burhans, Rector of Trinity 
 
 church, Newtown, and church, 
 
 Brookfield. 
 
 ■ Solomon Blakesley, Rector of St. 
 Stephen's church. East Haddam. 
 
 •— Cliarles Seabury, Rector of St. 
 James's church, New London. 
 
 ■ Smith Miles, Rector of the church- 
 es at Chatham, and middle Haddam. 
 
 ' Menzies Ravner, Rector of ^— 
 church, Hartford. 
 
 ■ Nathan B. Burges, Rector of the 
 churches at Guildford and Nortli 
 Bristol. 
 
 Henry Whitlock, Rector of the 
 
 churches at Norwalk and Wilton. 
 
 ■ Clement Merriam, Rector of 
 Christ church, Middletown. 
 
 JVew York. 
 The Right Rev. Benjamin Moore, D. D. 
 
 Bisliop, and Rector of Trinity 
 
 chuch. New York. 
 The Rev, Peter Anthony Albert, Rector 
 
 of the French church Du St. Esprit, 
 
 New York. 
 
 — Theodosius Bartow, Rector of 
 Trinity church, New Rochelle. 
 
 m Edmund D. Barry, Assistant Minis- 
 ter of the church Du St, Esprit, New 
 York. 
 
 •— — Abraham Beach> D. D. Assistant 
 Minister of Trinity church. New 
 York. 
 
 ■ ■ Frederick Beasley, Rector of St. 
 
 Peter's church, Albany. 
 
 — — John Bowden, D. D. Professor of 
 Moral PhUosophy, Logic, and Rhe- 
 toric in Columbia College, New 
 York. 
 
 — — Richard Bradford, Rector of St. 
 Luke's church, Catskill. 
 
 — — David Butler, officiating at Troy 
 and Lansinburgh. 
 
 •— — Philander Cliase, Rector of Christ 
 church, Poughkeepsie, and Trinity 
 church, Flshkill. 
 
 Abraham L. Clarke, Rector of St. 
 
 James's church, Newtown, and Sl 
 George's church, Flusliing. 
 
 -• Elias Cooper, Rector of St. John's 
 
 «hurch, Yonker?, 
 
 The Rev. William Harris, Rector of SL' 
 Mark's church. Bowery, New York, 
 
 Seth Hart, Rector of St. George's 
 
 church, Hempstead, with which \a 
 connected Christ church. North 
 Hempstead. 
 
 John Henry Hobart, an assistant 
 
 Minister of Trinity church. New 
 York, 
 
 John Ireland, Rector of St. Ann'a 
 church, Brooklyn. 
 — — Cave Jones, an assistant minister 
 Trinity church. New York. 
 
 Bethel Judd, Rector of Christ 
 
 church, Hudson. 
 
 Jonathan Judd, Deacon, Missionary 
 
 in the western part of the state. 
 
 Richard C. Moore, Rector of St, 
 
 Andrew's church, Staten Island. 
 
 Daniel Nash, Rector of St. John's 
 
 church, Otsego, St, Luke's, Rich- 
 field, and Harmony church. Butter- 
 nuts. 
 
 Samuel Nesbitt, residing in New 
 
 York, 
 
 Perry, officiating in the 
 
 church. New Stamford. 
 
 Davenport Phelps, Missionary in 
 
 the western part of the state. 
 
 ■■ Joseph Pilmore, Rector of Christ 
 
 church. New York. 
 The Right Rev. Bishop Provoost, New 
 
 York. 
 The Rev. Flvan Rogers, Rector of Christ 
 
 church. Rye. 
 George Strebeck, Deacon, officiat- 
 ing in the congregations at Bedford 
 
 and its vicinity 
 — — Gamaliel Thatcher, Missionary in 
 
 the western parts of the state. 
 — — John Urquhart, Principal of the 
 
 Academy at Johnstown. 
 Frederick Van Home, Rector of 
 
 Andrew's church. Orange county. 
 Isaac Wilkins, Rector of St. Peter's 
 
 church. West Chester, and St. 
 
 Paul's church. East Chester. 
 Jv'ew Jersey. 
 The Rev, Uzal Ogden, D. D. Rector of 
 
 Trinity church, Newark. 
 Charles H. Wharton, D. D. Rector 
 
 of St. Mary's church, Burhngton, 
 Henry Waddell, Rector of St Mi- 
 chael's church, Trenton. 
 
 John Croes, Rector of Christ 
 
 church, New Brunswick, and St. 
 Peter's church, Spotswood. 
 
 — — Andrew Fowler, Rector of Christ 
 church, Shrewsbury, and Christ- 
 church, Middletown. 
 
 Jasper D. Jones, Rector of St Pe- 
 ter's church, Perth .Amboy. 
 
 — — Henry I. Feltus, Minister at Trinity 
 church, Swedeaborou^b. 
 li 
 
2A^ 
 
 The Rev. Samuel Lilly, Rector of St. 
 John's church, Elizabethtown. 
 
 Pennsylvania. 
 
 The Right Rev. WUHam White, D. D. 
 Bishop. 
 
 The Rev. Samuel MagaW, D. D. 
 
 — — John Andrews, D. D. Vice Provost 
 of the University of Pennsylvania. 
 
 — — Robert Blackwell, D. D. Assistant 
 Ministei- of Christ church and St. Pe- 
 ter's, Philadelphia. 
 
 — — Joaeph Hutchins, D. D. 
 
 ■ John Campbell, Rector of the 
 Episcopal churches of York and Hun- 
 tingdon. 
 
 — Slator Clay, Rector of St. David's, 
 Radnor ; St. Peter's in the Valley ; 
 and St. James's, Perkiomen. 
 
 ■ Joseph Clarkson, Rector of St. 
 
 James's, Lancaster, church, 
 
 Pequea, and church, Carnarvon. 
 
 . II Robert Ayres, Rector of Emanuel 
 church, Wasliington county, and St. 
 Peter's church, Fayette county. 
 
 Francis Reno, Westmoreland coun- 
 ty- 
 
 Joseph Turner, Rector of St. 
 
 Paul's church, Chester, and St. Mar- 
 tin's church, Marcus Hook. 
 
 . . ■ Caleb Hopkins, Rector of Christ 
 chiu-ch, Derry township, and Christ 
 church, Turbut township, Northum- 
 berland county. 
 
 Thomas Davis, Washington coun- 
 ty- . . 
 
 ■ . James Abercrombie, Assistant Mi- 
 
 nister of Christ church and St. Pe- 
 ter's, Philadelpiiia. 
 I Absalom Jones (a black man,) 
 Rector of the African chiuxh of St. 
 Thomas, Philadelphia 
 John Taylor, Pittsburgh. 
 
 Dela-ware. 
 
 The Rev. Robert Clay, Emanuel church. 
 New Castle. 
 
 William Price, Trinity church, Wil- 
 mington. 
 
 James Wiltbank, St. Peter's church, 
 
 Lewes. 
 
 William L. Gibson, St. Paul's 
 
 church, Georgetown. 
 
 JMarylarkd. 
 
 The .Right Rev. Tliomas John Claggett, 
 D. D. Bishop, and Rector of St. Paul's 
 parish, Prince George's county. 
 
 The Rev. Charles Smoot, Rector of Wil- 
 liam and Mary Parish, St. Mary's. 
 
 George Ralph, AJl-Faith, St. Ma- 
 ry's. 
 
 Francis Walker, St. Andrew's, St. 
 
 Mary's, 
 
 The Rev. Benjamin Contee, William and 
 
 Mary, Charles. 
 Owen F. Magrath, King and Queen, 
 
 Charles. 
 Edward Gant, jun. Christ church, 
 
 Calvert. 
 Joseph Messinger, StJohn's, Prmce 
 
 George's. 
 • Thomas Scot, Queen Anne's, 
 
 Prince George's. 
 
 Walter D. Addison, residing in 
 
 Prince George's. 
 
 John W. Compton, St. James's, 
 
 Anne Arundel. 
 
 William Duke, St. Anne'3, Anne 
 
 Arundel. 
 
 Nicholas W. Lane, All Hallows, 
 
 Anne Arundel. 
 Ralph Iliginbothom, residing in 
 
 Annapolis, Anne Anmdel. 
 
 Thomas Read, Prince George's, 
 
 Montgomery. 
 
 Reynolds, St. Peter's, Mont- 
 gomery. 
 
 George Bower, All Saints, Frederic. 
 
 John Kewley, Emanuel, Alleghany. 
 
 Joseph G. J. Bend, D. D. St. Paul's 
 
 parish, Baltimore county. 
 
 Elijah D. Rattoone, D. D. St. 
 
 Paul's parish, Baltimore county. 
 
 John Coleman, St. James's and St. 
 
 Thomas's, Baltimore county. 
 
 WiUiam Swan, residing in Balti- 
 more county. 
 
 George Dashiell, St. Peter's, Bal- 
 timore. 
 
 John Allen, Rector of St. George's, 
 
 Harford. 
 
 Henry Lyon Davis, St. Stephen's, 
 
 Cecil. 
 
 Simon W^)lmer, Shrewsburj', Kent. 
 
 John Armstrong, St. Paul's, Kent. 
 
 . ■ Colin Ferguson, D. D. residing in 
 
 Chestertown, Kent 
 
 Archibald Walker, near Chestei-- 
 
 town, Kent. 
 
 Samuel Keene, D. D. residing In 
 
 Queen Anne's. 
 Samuel Keene, jun. reading in 
 
 Queen Anne's. 
 Joseph Jackson, St. Peter's, Tjilbot. 
 
 John Price, St. Michaels, Talbot- 
 
 — — Francis Barclay, residing in Eas- 
 
 ton, Talbot. 
 
 James Kemp, D. D. Great Chop- 
 tank, Dorchester. 
 
 Wilham M. Stone, Stepney, So- 
 merset. 
 
 Samuel Sloan, residing in Some set. 
 
 David Ball, All Hallows, Wor- 
 cester. 
 
 • .fames .Tones Wilmer, place of re- 
 sidence not known. 
 
243 
 
 Resident in that part of tlie JDietvict of ThcKev. Jumcs Price, St. John's 
 
 Thomas Hughes, St. David. 
 
 Archibald Dick, St. Margaret's. 
 
 John Wood\-ttle, St. Mark's. 
 
 Abncr Waugh, St. Mary's. 
 
 John Parsons, — . 
 
 John Seward, St. Stephen's. 
 
 John Hyde Saunders, Southam, 
 
 Samuel Butler, Southwark. 
 
 . L£e Massey, Truro. 
 
 Samuel Chapin, Westover. 
 
 James Evans, Yorkliampton. 
 
 John C. Brockenboroug, Wash- 
 ington. 
 
 '. Duncan M'Naughton, Wicomico, 
 
 —^Joseph Wilson, 
 
 Stephen Thomson, 
 
 Coi-nqUus Garv«rjt, . , rj i „ ^ 
 
 cures notknowti. . a r k i C^^ 1<I 
 \Soiitli Carolina. 
 The Rev. Edwai-d Jenkins, D. D. St Mi- 
 chael's, Charleston. 
 
 Nathanafil Bowen, St. Michael's, 
 
 Charleston. 
 
 Milwood Pogson, St. James', 
 
 Goose cjep^, and SL George's, Dor- 
 '■'chestfep. . i. r. i ) • . ; . , 
 
 John Thompson, St Thomas's. 
 
 Thomas Mills, St. Andrews, James' 
 
 Island, and St Andrew's, Main. 
 
 Edmund Matthews, St. John's, 
 
 Edisto. 
 
 Mr. Nixon, St Bartholomew's. 
 
 Thorpas D. Bladen, St. James', 
 
 Santee. ' 
 
 J.iTnes Connor, St. Stephen's. 
 
 George H. Spierin, Prince George's. 
 
 Jolin O'Donnel, All Saints. 
 
 Frazier, Prince Frederick. 
 
 Gates, D. D. 
 
 .-rr' — ,' « .,, M'piilley, Master of an Aca 
 i ^. deAj^, Sfeai^t.^ • 
 
 Blactwell. 
 
 Best, ^Master of an Academy, 
 
 Charleston. 
 . ■ . Residents in the state, without cures. 
 
 James Stevenson, St. George's j^.^^ Minister of the church 
 
 —^Charles Hopkins, St James Lor- ^^ Beaiifort. 
 
 • The list from this state is the same asjn the journal of the last General Con- 
 vention, no new list having been delivered in. 
 
 ■}■ No new list from this state has been delivered in. The list published is proba- 
 bly inaccurate, as it was drawn up only fi'om imperfect information. 
 
 Columbia, formerly part of Maryland .- 
 The Rev. John I. Sayrs. 
 
 Andrew M'Cormick. 
 
 Edward Gantt 
 
 • Virginia. 
 The Right Rev. James Madison, D,D. 
 
 Bishop. 
 The Rev. Charles O'Neil, Rector of , 
 
 Amherst. 
 
 Alex.inderHay, Antrim. 
 
 Gr.iy Bottetourt. 
 
 Hugh Conan Boggs, Berkeley. 
 
 Heath, Berkley. 
 
 Benjamin Brown, Blisland. 
 
 Andrew SjTne, Bristol. 
 
 John Cameron, D. D. Rector of — . 
 
 Alexander 31'Farland, Brunswick. 
 
 Jo^n Bricfcen, D. D. Bruton. 
 
 — — John Camm, Charles. 
 Heffernen, Christ church. 
 
 James Elliott, Cople. 
 
 Needier Robinson, Dale. 
 
 Spence Grayson, Dcttingen. 
 
 Daniel M'Naughton, Christ Church. 
 
 James Whitehead, Ehzabeth river. 
 
 Thomas Dajrfs, Fairfax^ ; , • 
 
 Alexander Balmaln, Frederick. 
 
 John O'Weylie, Lecturer, Frede- 
 rick. 
 
 Matthew Alaury, Fredericksville. 
 
 .John Hooker Reynolds, Hardy. 
 
 John Buchanan, D. D. Henrico. 
 
 John Thompson, Leeds, 
 
 Charles Crawford,- Lexington, i ^ 
 
 William Crawford. — . 
 
 James Dickinson, Littleton. 
 
 Young, Limenburg. 
 
 Anttu)ny Walke, Lynhaven. 
 
 Armistead Smith, Slatthews. 
 
 John Dunn, Manchester. 
 
 James Leach, MaAJenbufg.: 
 
 William Hubard^ W^wTwrt? t i«. 
 
 Jacob Keeling, Nansemond. 
 
 Robert Budian, Overwharton. 
 
 Arthur Emerson, Portsmouth- 
 John Brunskill, Raleigh. 
 
JOURNAL 
 
 OF THE PKOCEEDINGS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 IBISHOPS, CLERGY AND LAITY, 
 
 ^'hsiihl' OF THE 
 
 oa ' jij^oTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 
 
 IN THE 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 
 
 W A 
 
 9 
 
 HELD IN 
 
 The City of Baltimore, from Tuesday, May IT, to Thursday, 
 
 May 26, 1808. 
 
LIST OF THE MEMBERS 
 
 OP THE 
 
 HOUSE OF CLERICAL AND LAY DEPUTIES. 
 
 From the State of Rhode Island. 
 Rev. Theodore Dehon. 
 
 From the State of Connecticut* 
 
 Rev. Ashbel Baldwin, 
 Rev. Daniel Burhans, 
 Burrage Beach, Esq. 
 Mr. Joseph Nicoll. 
 
 From the State of New Tork. 
 
 Rev. Abraham Beach, D. D. 
 Rev. Richard C. Moore, D D. 
 Rev. John Henry Hobart, 
 Dr. John Onderdonk, 
 John Moore, Esq. 
 
 From the State of New Jersey, 
 Joshua M. W^lace, Esq. 
 
 From the State of Pennsylvmia. 
 
 Rev. Robert Blackwell, D. D. 
 Rev. Joseph Clarkson, 
 Rev. Levi Bull, 
 John Lardner, Esq. 
 Dr. P. F. Glentworth, 
 Joseph Sims, Esq. 
 
 From the S(a^ af Delaware. 
 Rev. William Pryce, ^'^ .b.jio.: 
 
 Mr. Joseph Bum. 
 
 From the State ofMarylarui. 
 
 Rev. Joseph G. J. Bend, 
 
 Rev. James Kemp, 
 Rev. George Dashiell, 
 Rev. Simon Wilmer, 
 William H. Dorsey, Esq. 
 James Ringgold, Esq. 
 John C. Weems, Esq. 
 George Robertson, Esquire 
 
JOURNAL 
 
 OF THE 
 
 HOUSE OF CLERICAL AND LAY DEPUTIES. 
 
 Baltimore^ May 17, 1808. 
 
 THIS being the day appointed for the meeting of the Ge- 
 neral Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the 
 United States of America, several Clerical and Lay Deputies at- 
 tended at twelve o'clock, A. M. in St. Paul's church ; but not be- 
 ing a quorum, adjourned to meet at five q'clock, P. M. 
 
 Five o'clock, P. M. 
 
 A quorum of the house appearing, the President of the hous^- 
 in the last Convention took the chair, and the Secretary of th/e 
 house in the last Convention acted as Secretary pro tempore. 
 
 The House then prQcei^jied to read the testimonials of the Cle- 
 rical and Lay Delegates ; wliicli were severally approved, and thei^ 
 following gentlemen took their seats iii the house. < ' Ji 
 
 From Rhode Island — the Rev. Theodore Dehon. '"_ ''"''t 
 
 From Connecticut — The Rev. Ashbel Baldwin, the Rev. i3atiT«!^ 
 Burhans, Burrage Beach, Esq. and Mr. Joserih NicoU. '■' ' * 
 
 From New Tork — the Rev. Abraham Beach,- D. D. thi? Revi* 
 Richard C. Moore, D. D. the Rev. John H. Hobart, D. D. Dr* 
 John Onderdonk, and Jenri M6ore, Esq. 
 
 From Pennsyhariia — the Rev. Joseph Clarksonj ' Jofm Lard- 
 ner, Esq. and Dr. P. F. Glentworth. 
 
 From Delaware — ReV. WiUiam Pryce, and Mr. Joseph Burns. 
 
 From Maryland — the Rev. Joseph G. J. BendvD. D. the Rev,J.. 
 James Kemp, D. D. the Rev. George Dashiell., the Rev. Simofi; 
 Wilmer,' James Ringgold, Esq. and William H. Dorsey, Esq.? ,.; 
 
 The house proceeded to the election of a, President and Se- 
 cretary, when it appeared that the Rev., Abraham Beach ;waS 
 unanimously chosen President, and the Rev. J« H. Hobart, Se-», 
 cretary. 
 
 A message was sent to the Ho<ia^ of Bishops, informing them 
 that this house was organized, and ready to proceed to business. :| 
 
 The House of Bishops returned for answer, that t^ey alspiwene;^ 
 organized, and ready to proceed to business. 
 
 The house took ioit^ consideration the rules of order of preced- 
 ing Houses of Clerical and Lay deputies,, and adopted the sam^ 
 as follows, with some small alterations. ' ' r'./-^ ' <f 
 
 J. The business of every day shall be infroaiicfed with tK^ 
 morning service of the church. ' ' " !: 
 
 II. When the President takes the chair, t^o member shall Con- 
 tinue standing, or shall afterwards stand up, unless to address the 
 chair. • , , . , 
 
 III. No member shall absent himself frc^ the service of the 
 House, unless he have leave, or be unable to attend. 
 
247 
 
 IV. "When any member is about to speak in debate, or deliver 
 any matter to the house, he shall rise from his seat, and, without 
 advancing, shall, with due respect, address himiHilf to the Presi- 
 dent, confining himself strictly to the point in debate. 
 
 V. No member shall speak more than twice in the same debate, 
 without leave of the house. 
 
 VI. A question being once determined, shall stand as the judg- 
 ment of the house, and shall not be again drawn into debate during 
 the same session, unless with the consent of two-thirds of the 
 house. 
 
 VII. While the President is putting any question, no one shall 
 hold private discourse, stand up, walk into, out of, or across^the 
 house, or read any book. 
 
 VIII. Every member who shall be in the house when any ques- 
 tion is put, shall, on a division, be counted, unless he be particiv- 
 larly interested in the decision. 
 
 IX. No motion shall be considered as before the house, unless 
 it be seconded, and reduced to writing when required. 
 
 X. "When any question is before the house, it shall be deter- 
 mined on before any thing new is introduced, except the question 
 
 . for adjournment. 
 
 .XI. The question on a motion for adjournment shall be taken 
 before any other, and without debate. 
 
 XII. When the house is to rise, every member shall keep his 
 seat until the President leaves the chair. 
 
 On motion. Resolved^ That the Clergy of the Protestant Epis- 
 copal Church who may be in the city of Baltimore, and who are 
 not members of this house, shall be admitted to the sittings of the 
 same. 
 
 ' This house Resolved^ That in consequence of the decease of the 
 Right Rev. Bishop Parker, who had been appointed to open the 
 meeting of this Convention with a sermon, the House of Bishops 
 be requested to appoint one of their number to perform that duty x 
 and the Rev. Dr. Bend was appointed to communicate this re- 
 quest to the House of Bishops. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Bend returned with a message from tlje House 
 of Bishops, that the Right Rev, Bishop White intends to open the 
 Convention, with a discourse, to-morrow, at the hour which has 
 been publiclj'' notified for divine service. 
 
 On motion, Resolved^ That the hour of meeting each day shall 
 be at nine o'clock, A. 31. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Dashiell, the rector of St. Peter's, gave notice, 
 that there would be divine service and sermon in that church 
 every evening during the session. The Rev. Dr. Bend informed 
 the house, that the church of St. Paul's and Christ church were 
 not fitted for service by candle-light. ' 
 
 Wednesday^ May 18, 1808, A. M. 
 The house attended divine service in St. Paul's church. 
 
248 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Beach performed service, and the ftight Rev* 
 Bishop White preached a sermon adapted to the occasion of the 
 meeting of the Convention. 
 
 After divine service the house met. 
 
 The Rev. Levi Bull, a Clerical Deputy from Pennsylvania, and 
 George Robertson, Esq. a Lay Deputy from Maryland, appeared, 
 and took their seats. 
 
 The testimonial of the appointment of deputies from New Jer- 
 sey was read, and approved of, and Joshua M. Wallace, Esq. a 
 Lay Deputy from New Jersey, appeared, and took his seat. 
 
 On motion, Resolved wianimouslif ^ That the thanks of the Con- 
 vention be returned to the Right Rev. Bishop White for his sermon 
 preached before the Convention this morning, and that he be re- 
 quested to furnish a ropy for public;ition. 
 
 The House of Bishops concurred in this resolution, and in- 
 formed this house, that the Right Rev. Bishop White would fur- 
 nish a copy of his sermon for the purpose aforesaid. 
 
 On motion. Resolved^ That a committee be appointed to revise 
 the canons, and to report the same for the consideration of this 
 house 
 
 The following gentlemen were appointed the committee: Tha 
 Rev. Dr. Kemp, Rev. Mr. Baldwin, Rev. Dr. Hobart, Dr. John 
 Onderdonk, and Joshua M. Wallace, Esq. 
 
 The house took up the alteration proposed by the last General 
 Convention in the constitution of the church, viz That in article 
 HI. the words, " unless adhered to by four-fifths of the other 
 house," be struck out ; and the farther consideration thereof was 
 postponed until to-morrow. 
 
 A mt morial to the General Convention was presented and read 
 from the Convention of the Clergy and the Lay Delegates of the 
 Protestant Episcopal Church in New Hampshire, praying the 
 Convention to rescind a resolution of the General Conven- 
 tion of 1801, relative to the permission of an union between cer* 
 tain churches in New Hampshire and the church in Vermonf. 
 The memorial was referred to the Rev. Mr. Baldwin, Rev. Mr. 
 Burhan^, and Burrage Beach, Esq. to report thereon. 
 
 The house adjourned. 
 
 Thursday, May 19, 1808. 
 
 The house met, and morning service was performed by the Se- 
 cretary, as Chaplain to the house. 
 
 The Rev. Robert Blackwell, D. D. a Clerical Deputy from 
 Pennsylvania ; Joseph Sims, Esq. a Lay Deputy from Pennsylva- 
 nia ; and John C Weems, Esq. a Lay Deputy from Maryland, 
 appeared, and took their seats. 
 
 The house resumed the*consideration of the resolution proposed 
 by the last General Convention, viz. 
 
 Resolved, That in article \\\. of the constitution of the Protes- 
 tant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, the 
 
249 
 
 words, " unless adhered to by four-fifths of the other house," be 
 struck out. 
 
 The question being taken by states on the above resolution, it 
 was agreed to as follows : 
 
 Rhode Island. Clergy, Aye. 
 
 Connecticut. Clergy, Aye. — Laity, Aye. 
 
 New Tork. Clergy, Aye.— Laity, Aye. 
 
 New Jersey. Laity, Aye. . 
 
 Pennsylvania. Clergy, Aye. — Laity, No.*— Divided. 
 
 Delaware. Clergy, Aye. — Laity, Aye. 
 
 Maryland. Clergy, Aye. — Laity, Aye. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Bend, and the Rev. Dr. Moore were requested 
 to carry the above resolution to the House of Bishops, who return- 
 ed it with their concurrence. 
 
 Agreeably to the 11th canon of 1804, the Journals of the State 
 Conventions and other ecclesiastical documents were presented ; 
 and after the parochial reports and episcopal addresses contained 
 on those Journals were read, the journals and documents were 
 transmitted to the House of Bishops, with a request that they 
 would draw up a view of the state of the church, adding such re- 
 marks or counsel as they might think proper, in the form of a 
 pastoral letter from the House of Bishops, agreeably to the 11th 
 canon of 1804. 
 
 The deputies from the church in Maryland informed the house, 
 that they were instructed by the Convention of said church, to 
 call the attention of the General Convention, to the expediency of 
 adopting the English canon concerning marriages, and inserting 
 the same in future editions of the book of common prayer; 'and 
 to the expediency of setting forth a companion for the altar ; and 
 they stated, that they were also instructed to enforce the necessity 
 ©f adopting an additional number of hymns. 
 
 In consequence of the above communication, the house adopted 
 the following resolutions : 
 
 Resolved^ That the communication from the convention of the 
 church in Maryland, on the subject of the English canon con- 
 cerning marriages, be referred to the House of Bishops, with a 
 request that they will consider the same, if they deem it expedi- 
 ent, during the present or at some future Convention, and will 
 make any communication to this house which they may deem 
 proper. 
 
 Resolved^ That it is not expedient to take any order on the 
 subject of setting forth a companion for the altar. The above re- 
 solutions were sent to the House of Bishops for their concurrence. 
 
 Resolved^ That it is expedient to add thirty hymns to the pre- 
 sent number contained in the prayer book : Provided that a ru- 
 
 • Joseph Sims, Esq. and Dr. P F. Glentworth, Lay Deputies from this stat'*, 
 were in favour of the resolution, but voted in the negative, because tliey supposed 
 It necessary that they should have received instructions on the subject from ^iz- 
 convention of the state, which ftistructions they had not received. 
 
 Kk 
 
250 
 
 brie be annexed thereto, directing that a certain portion or por- 
 tions of the Psalms of David, in metre, be sung at every celebra- 
 tion of divine service. 
 
 The following gentlemen, were appointed a committee to pre- 
 pare and report hymns for the consideration of this house. The 
 Rev. Dr. Moore, Rev. Dr. Kemp, Rev. Mr. Dashiell, Rev. Mr. 
 Burhans, and Joshua M. Wallace, Esq. 
 
 The deputies from the church in Maryland also informed the 
 Convention, that they were instructed to use their endeavours to 
 have the 1st and 2d canons of the General Convention of 1804 
 reconsidered, so far as they relate to the induction of ministers 
 into churches or parishes. 
 
 On motion. Resolved^ That the subject of induction be refer- 
 red to the committee on the canons. 
 
 The House adjourned. 
 
 Friday y 3Iai/ 20, 1808, nine o'clock^ A» M, 
 
 The house met, and morning prayer was performed by the Se- 
 cretary, as Chaplain to the house. 
 
 Leave of absence was granted to Mr. Burns, the Lay Deputy 
 from the state of Delaware. 
 
 The committee on the canons made a report in part, which was 
 read. 
 
 A message was received from the house of Bishops, with a^ 
 extract from their minutes, and a letter from William H. Winder, 
 Esq. enclosing a petition from Ammi Rogers. The Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies from the state of Connecticut, at their own re- 
 quest, were permitted to withdraw. 
 
 Whereupon, Resolved unanimGuslij^ That it is the opinion of 
 this house, that agreeably to the 6th article of the constitution, 
 the General Convention have no cognizance of the case of Ammi 
 Rogers, and that he therefore have leave to withdraw his petition. 
 
 Ordered^ That the Secretary carry a copy of tlie above resolu- 
 tion to the House of Bishops, and furnish a copy of the same to 
 William H. Winder, Esq. who transmitted the petition of Ammi 
 Rogers to the house of Bishops. 
 
 The house adjourned. 
 
 Saturday, May 21, 1808, 9 o'clock, A. M. 
 The house met, and morning service was performed by the Se- 
 cretary, as Chaplain to the house. 
 
 The committee on the canons made a further report, which was 
 
 read. 
 
 On motion, Resolved^ That the " prayer to be used at the meet- 
 ings of Convention," adopted in General Convention, 1799, be 
 inserted in all future editions of the book of common prayer, 
 "among the occasional prayers. 
 
 The above resolution was sent to the House of Bishops for their 
 concujrrence. 
 
251 
 
 The committee or. the memorial from the Convention of the 
 Protestant Episcopal Church in the state of New Hampshire, 
 made a report ; whereupon, 
 
 Resolved^ That a committee of two or more persons from the 
 state of Connecticut, Rhode Island, or Massachusetts, be appoint- 
 ed, whose duty it shall be to give notice to the parties interested, 
 to give them a hearing, if requested, and to make report to any two 
 of the Bishops of this church, whose decision shall be final, till 
 the meeting of the next General Convention. 
 
 Resolvedy That the Rev. Ashbel Baldwin, the Rev. Philo Shel- 
 ton, the Rev. Dani-el Burhans, Burrage Beach, Esq. and Mr. Jo- 
 seph Nicolls, be the committee. 
 
 Resolutions, proposing the appointment of a committee to ad- 
 dress the church in certain dioceses, were read, and ordered to lie 
 on the table. 
 
 A message from the House of Bishops, on the subject of the 
 English canon concerning marriages, was received and read. 
 
 The House adjourned. 
 
 Monday^ May 23, 1808, nbie o'clock, A, 31. 
 
 The house met, and prayers were read by the Secretary, as 
 Chaplain to the house. 
 
 The resolutions proposed and laid on the table on Saturday, 
 proposing the appointment of a committee to address the church 
 in certain districts, and for other purposes, were read and adopt- 
 ed, and sent to the House of Bishops for their concurrence. 
 
 The committee appointed to prepare an additie'nal number of 
 hymns made report. 
 
 The house took up the consideration of the canons as reported 
 by the committee appointed to digest and revise the same, and 
 made some progress therein. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Bishops, with a 
 '* pastoral address," prepared in pursuance of the 11th canon of 
 1 804, which was read in part. 
 
 The house then adjourned to meet at 5 o'clock, P. M. 
 
 Monday, jive o'clock, P. M. 
 
 The house met, and resumed and finished the reading of the 
 " pastoral letter from the House of Bishops," transmitted to them 
 by said house. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Bishops, with a 
 substitute to the resolutions for the appointment of a committee 
 to address the church in certain districts, and for other purposes. 
 
 The house then resumed the consideration of the canons as re- 
 ported by the committee, and made further progress therein. 
 
 The Secretary was directed to communicate to the House of 
 Bishops, the revised canons as far as they have been agreed to by 
 this house, with the necessary information relative to them. 
 
 The house adjourned. 
 
252 
 
 Tuesday^ May 24, 1808, nine o\locky A. M. 
 
 The house met, and morning service was performed by the 
 Secretary, as Chaplain to the house. 
 
 A memorial to this Convention, signed by the Rev. Nat.Bowen, 
 Rev. Andrew Fowler, and Robert I. TurnbuU, and David Alex- 
 ander, Clerical and Lay Deputies from the Convention of the 
 Protestant Episcopal Church in South Carolina, stating that they 
 were unable to attend the meeting of the General Convention, and 
 that it was the wish of the church in South Carolina that there 
 should be a repeal, or modification of certain canons — was pre- 
 sented and read, and ordered to be sent to the House of Bishops. 
 
 The house resumed the consideration of the report of the com- 
 mittee on the canons, and made further progress therein. 
 
 The house adjourned until 5 o'clock. 
 
 Tuesday^ jive o'clock^ P. M. 
 
 The house met, and finished the consideration of the report of 
 the committee on the canons. 
 
 The Secretary was desired to communicate the remainder of 
 the revised canons to the House of Bishops, with the necessary 
 information relative to them. 
 
 Leave of absence was granted to George Robertson, Esq. a 
 Lay Deputy from the state of Maryland. 
 
 The house adjourned. 
 
 Wednesday^ May 15^ 1808, nine o'clock^ A. M. 
 
 The house met, and prayers were read by the Secretary, as 
 Chaplain to the house. 
 
 The house considered the substitute of the House of Bishops to 
 the proposed resolutions of this house, for the appointment of a 
 committee to address the church in certain districts, and for other 
 purposes, and agreed to the same with amendments. These 
 amendments were sent to the House of Bishops, and concurred 
 in by them, and the resolutions finally adopted as follows : 
 
 1. Resolved^ That a committee be appointed, consisting of three 
 of the Bishops of this church, and two of the Clergy, and two of 
 the lay members of the same, to make a solemn and affectionate 
 address to the churches, represented in both orders in this Con- 
 vention, urging upon them the propriety, necessity and duty of 
 their sending regularly a deputation to the General Convention ; 
 and that the said address contain a respectful appeal to every Bi- 
 shop of this church, on the subject of attendance on his part. 
 
 2. Resolved^ That the same committee be authorized and de- 
 sired to address the Protestant Episcopal Church in every state 
 in which it is organized, but which has not acceded to the consti- 
 tution of this church, inviting it to accede to the same. 
 
 3. Resolved^ That the same committee address the clergy of 
 the several states or territories of the United States, in which the 
 church hath not been organized ; also, some of the most respect- 
 
253 
 
 able lay members of the church in such states dr territories, and 
 invite them to organize themselves, and accede to the constitution 
 of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of 
 America. 
 
 4. Resolved^ That the same committee be authorized and de- 
 sired to consider of and determine on the proper mode of sending 
 a Bishop into said states or territories ; and, in case of a reasona- 
 ble prospect of accomplishing this object, to elect a person to such 
 episcopacy ; and the certificate being given in the usual terms by 
 the standing committees of this church as prescribed in the canon 
 for the consecration of Bishops in the recess of the General Con- 
 vention, any three Bishops of the same be authorized to conse- 
 crate to the episcopacy the person elected as above. Provided 
 that the jurisdiction assigned him shall not interfere with the rights 
 of any state or diocese which shall hereafter adopt the constitution 
 of the church in the United States. 
 
 5. Resolved^ That the Right Rev. Bishop AVhite, Right Rev. 
 Bishop Claggett, the Right Rev. Bishop Moore, the Rev. Dr. 
 Beach, the Rev. Dr. Hobart, General Mathew Clarkson, and Dr. 
 John Onderdonk, be the committee for the purposes aforesaid ; 
 any four of whom shall be a quorum, provided it include one Bi- 
 shop, one Presbyter, and one Lavman. 
 
 6. Resolved^ That the said committee render an account of their 
 proceedings to the next General Convention. 
 
 On motion. Resolved^ 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 pro- 
 priety of the following addition to the 8th article of the constitu- 
 tution of the church : " No alteration or addition shall be made 
 in the book of common prayer or other offices of the church, un> 
 less the same shall be proposed in one General Convention, and 
 by a resolve thereof made known to the Convention of every dio- 
 cese or state, and adopted at the subsequent General Convention." 
 This resolution was sent to the House of Bishops, and returned 
 with their concurrence. 
 
 The report of the committee appointed to prepare an additional 
 number of hymns, was read and adopted. 
 
 This report, with the resolutions relative to an additional num- 
 ber of hymns, were sent by the Rev. Dr. Moore and the Rev. 
 Mr. Dashiell, to the House of Bishops for their concurrence. 
 
 The committee on the canons, to whom was referred the office 
 of induction, reported certain resolutions, which were adopted by 
 this house, sent to the House of Bishops, and returned with their 
 concurrence as follows, viz : 
 
 1. Resolved^ That the title of the office of induction be changed 
 to '•'■ office of institution ;" and that the corresponding alterations 
 of expression be made in the office itself. 
 
 2. Resolved^ That the following rubric be prefixed to the letter 
 of institution in said office. 
 
 " In any state or diocese the concluding paragraph in the letter 
 
254 
 
 of institution may be omitted, where it interferes with the usages, 
 laws, or charters of the church in the same." 
 
 3. Resolved^ That ui the first rubric, the words " as prescribed 
 by the 1st canon of 1804," be changed, and the word " shall" be 
 changed to" may." 
 
 Certain proposed resolutions on the subject of duels and divor- 
 ces, were read and adopted, and sent to the House of Bishops for 
 their concurrence. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Bishops with 
 proposed- amendments to the revised canons, in which they re- 
 quested the concurrence of this house. 
 
 The house then adjourned to 5 o'clock, P. M. 
 
 Five o'clock^ P. M, 
 
 A. further message from the House of Bishops, proposing 
 amendments in the revised canons, was received. 
 
 The house took up the consideration of the amendments pro- 
 posed by the House of Bishops, to the revised canons. 
 
 The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies concurred in these 
 amendments, with the exception of one amendment; proposed 
 further amendments ; and ordered notice of the same to be sent 
 by the Secretary to the House of Bishops. 
 
 The house adjourned until to-morrow 8 o'clock. 
 
 Thursdaij, Mai/ 26, 1808, eig-ht o'clock, A.M. 
 
 The house met, 
 
 A message was received from the House of Bishops, informing 
 this house that they had receded from the amendment to one of 
 the canons in which this house had non-concurred ; had concur- 
 red in the other amendments proposed by this house ; had pro- 
 posed a further amendment ; and also, tha.t they had postponed 
 the resolution concerning the insertion of the prayer at the open- 
 ings of Conv^ention among the occasional prayers in the common 
 prayer book. They also returned the resolutions concerning duels 
 and divorces, with a proposed aniendment, which was concurred 
 it! by this house, and the resolutions passed, as follows : 
 
 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 incon- 
 sistent with a 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. 
 
 This house also concurred in the further amendments from the 
 House of Bishops, to one of the canons. 
 
 A further message was received from the House of Bishops, 
 with the proposed hymns, and the resolution relative to the same, 
 which they had passed, with a substitute for one of the hymns. 
 Jn this proposed substitute the house concurred. 
 
255 
 
 Certain petitions addressed to the General Convention, com- 
 municated by Ammi Rogers to the Houie of Bishops, which they 
 had not opened, were sent by them to this house. Whereupon 
 the delegates from the state of Connecticut were, at their request, 
 permitted to withdraw, and, on motion, it was Resolved^ T^iat as 
 this house have aheady decided that they have no cognizance of 
 the case of Ammi Rogers, he have leave to withdraw ihese peti- 
 tions. 
 
 The following proposed resolution was passed unanimously : — 
 "Whereas associated rectorships are inconsistent with the usages 
 of the ""^rotestant Episcopal Church, and in many respects incon- 
 renient. Resolved^ That it be recommended to the ditterent state 
 Conventions of this church not to authorise in future associated 
 rectorships, and that when the existing associated rectorships shall 
 expire, not to renew the same. 
 
 The above resolution was sent to the House of Bishops, and 
 returned with their concurrence. 
 
 The following resolutions were also passed by this house, sent 
 by the Secretary of this house to the House of Bishops, and re- 
 turned with an amendment, in which this house concurred. 
 
 Resolved^ That the hymns set forth by this Convention, together 
 with those now authorized, be printed in a small volume, under the 
 direction of the Right Rev. Bishop Moore, of New York, and the 
 President and Secretary of the House of Clerical and Lay Depu- 
 ties; that the said committee be directed to annex tables to the 
 hymns and psalms, suiting them to particular subjects and occa- 
 sions ; that these hymns and tables be inserted in all future edi- 
 tions of the book of common prayer, under the regulations of the 
 canon prescribing the mode of publishing authorized editions of 
 the book of common prayer ; and that the edition of the hymns, 
 thus set forth by the authority of this Convention, be the standard 
 copy. 
 
 Resolved, That the Secretary of the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies prepare the journals and other acts of this Convention 
 for publication ; and that the said Secretary, with the President 
 of the house, and the Righi Rev. Bishop Moore, be a committee 
 to publish the same, together with the sermon preached at the 
 opening of this Convention, and the pastoral letter of the House 
 of Bishops ; and that the book of canons and the office of institu- 
 tion published by said committee, be authorised as standard copies. 
 Resolved^ That the city of New Haven, in the state of Connec- 
 ticut, be the place for the meeting of the next General Convention, 
 which will be held, agreeably to the constitution, on the third 
 Tuesday of May, A. D. 1811. 
 
 Resolved^ That the Right Rev. Bishop Claggett be requested to 
 preach a sermon at the opening of the next General Convention; 
 and that, in case of his absence, the House of Bishops be request- 
 ed to appoint one of their order to preach a sermon. 
 
 On motion, Resobed^Thnx. the thanks of this House be return- 
 ed to the President and Stcretarv 
 
25'6 
 
 This day being the festival of the Ascension, the House of Bi- 
 shops, and the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, attended 
 divine service in St. Paul's church — Service was celebrated by the 
 Right Rev. Bishop White. 
 
 ABRAHAM BEACH, President. 
 Attested, John Henry Hob art, Secretary. 
 
 JOURNAL OF THE HOUSE OF BISHOPS. 
 
 City of Baltimore^ Tuesday^ May 17, 1808, 9 o'clock^ A, M. 
 AGREEABLY to a resolution of the last General Conven- 
 tion of the Protestant Episcopal Church, appointing this city as 
 the place of the next meeting ; and this being the day of their said 
 meeting, fixed by the constitution of the said church, there met 
 in St. Paul's church, of the House of Bishops, the Right Rev. 
 Bishop White, of Pennsylvania, and the Right Rev. Bishop Clag- 
 gett, of Maryland ; who adjourned to five o'clock of the afternoon 
 of the same day. 
 
 Tuesday afternoon* 
 
 Present as in the forenoon. 
 
 The House of Bishops adjourned to the House of the Rev. Dr. 
 Bend, in the vicinity of St. Paul's church. 
 
 Resolved^ That agreeably to the offer of the Rev. Dr. Bend, 
 his house be the place of meeting during the sitting of the Con- 
 vention. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. James Whitehead, associate rector of St. Paul's 
 parish in this city, was appointed Secretary of this house. 
 
 This house received by the Rev. Dr. Bend, a message from the 
 House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, informing that they were 
 organized and ready to proceed to business. Resolved, That the 
 Rev. Dr. Bend be desired to inform the House of Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies that this house are also ready to proceed to busi- 
 ness. 
 
 This house also received a message from the House of Clerical 
 and Lay Deputies, stating, that the Right Rev. Bishop Parker, 
 who had been appointed to open this Convention with a sermon, 
 having departed this life, it is the wish of the House of Clerical 
 and Lay Deputies, that the said service may be performed by a 
 member of this house. Whereupon^ Resolved^ That the desire 
 be complied with ; and the Rev. Dr. Bend is authorised to inform 
 the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, that Bishop White in- 
 tends to open the Convention with a discourse to-morrow, at the 
 hour which has been publicly notified for divine service. 
 
 The House adjourned. 
 
 Wednesday^ May 18, nine o"* clocks A. M. 
 The house met, and adjourned to attend divine service in St. 
 
257 
 
 Paul's church. The Rev. Dr. Beach performed service, and a 
 
 sermon adapted to the occasion of the meeting of the Convontion 
 was preached by the Right Rev. Bishop White. After service the 
 Bishops returned to their place of meeting. Present as yesterday. 
 
 JResolved^ That this house will attend divine service during the 
 session, in the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, and the hours 
 of business appointed by said house be observed by this house. 
 
 A message was received from the house of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies, by the Rev. Dr. Hobart, with a communication of the 
 thanks of the said house to the Right Rev. Bishop White, for his 
 sermon preached this morning, and with a request that he furnish 
 a copy of the same for publication. AVith this request, the Right 
 Rev. Bishop White complied. 
 
 The house adjourned. 
 
 Thursday^ May 19M, nine o'clock^ A, M. 
 
 The house met. Present as yesterday. 
 
 A message was received by the Rev. Drs. Bend and Moore^ 
 with the following communication from the House of Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies. 
 
 Resolved^ That in article the third of the constitution, the words 
 "unless adhered to by four-fifths of the other house," be struck 
 out — to which resolution this house gave their concurrence. 
 
 A message was also received by the Rev. Mr. Bull, with the 
 following communication from the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies, viz. the house resolved that the journals of the different 
 state Conventions, Episcopal addresses, parochial reports, and 
 other ecclesiastical documents presented, and some of them read 
 in this house, be forwarded to the House of Bishops, in order 
 that they may draw up a pastoral letter from the House of Bi- 
 shops, to be read in this house, and published agreeably to the 
 eleventh canon of 1804. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Clerical and Lay ' 
 Deputies, by the Rev. Dr. Kemp, with a resolution against the 
 expediency of setting forth a Companion for the Altar, in which 
 resolution this house concurred. Tiiis house also received the 
 following resolution : 
 
 Resolved^ That the communication of the church in Maryland, 
 requesting the attention of the General Convention to the EngHsh 
 canon respecting marriages, and the expediency or inexpediency 
 of adopting the same, and ordering it to be inserted in the future 
 editions of the book of common prayer, be referred to the House 
 of Bishops, to take up the subject, if they deem it expedient, 
 during the present or some future Convention ; and to make any 
 communication to this house which they may think proper. 
 The house adjourned. 
 
 Frldajjy 3Iay 20, nine o'clock^ A. M. 
 The house met. Present as vesterday. 
 
 L 1 
 
258 
 
 There was presented to this house a letter signed William H. 
 Winder, enclosing two documents, signed Ammi Rogers. Mr. 
 Winder informs this house, that he is counsel for the said Ammi 
 Rogers ; who, in the documents referred to, appeals to the Ge- 
 neral Convention, from a sentence of degradation said to have 
 been passed on him without trial or hearing, by the Right Rev. 
 Bishop Jarvis, of Connecticut. 
 
 This house having considered the contents of the aforesaid pa- 
 pers, 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 that thei-e 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 Conven- 
 tion of the diocese to which such a Bishop should belong, and 
 conformably to rules of process by them established. 
 
 And whereas this house acted on the concerns of the said Ammi 
 Jlogers, in the session of 1804, as appears by the minutes; they 
 now wish it to be known, that their proceedings at that time ori- 
 ginated in his own petition, relative to the following points : 
 
 1st, Whether he belonged to the diocese of Connecticut, or to 
 that of I^ew 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 cha- 
 racter. 
 
 On the first of the said points, the house then assembled, be- 
 ing assured that both the parties were disposed to submit to their 
 determination, declared it to be, that AmiTii Rogers was a cler- 
 gyman not of New York, but of Connecticut. 
 
 The second point being a matter of internal concern of the 
 church in Connecticut, was not acted on judicially by this house; 
 although as their opinion was expected on both sides, they ex- 
 pressed it as it was, approbatory of the measure. 
 
 On the third point, they were of opinion that Ammi Rogers, 
 far from having been treated with injustice, had not received a 
 sentence sufficiently severe. 
 
 To the opinions thus given, no addition or alteration is intended 
 by this house ; and they finally dismiss the subject from their 
 consideration. 
 
 This house, wishing the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies to 
 fee informed of their proceedings on the application now before 
 them, direct, that the Secretary deliver to them a copy of the mi- 
 nute now made, with the papers on which it is grounded. They 
 also direct the Secretary to deliver a copy of the minute to Wil- 
 liam H. Winder, Esq. and for the further information of that 
 gendeman, to deliver vvith it a copy of the constitution ef this 
 f^urche 
 
259 
 
 The above was accordinc^ly communlcatied to the House of CIC'* 
 rical and Lav Dc-puties, and a message was received from them, 
 containing the following unanimous resolution : That it is the opi- 
 nion of this house, that, agreeably to the 6th article of the con- 
 stitution, the Gentral Convention have no cognizance of the case 
 of Amini Rogers, and that he therefore have leave to withdraw 
 his p'. tition. 
 
 The house adjourned. 
 
 Saturday y Mai/ 21, nine 6* clock ^ A, M, 
 
 The house met. Present as yesterday. 
 
 In consequence of the message received by this house from the 
 House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, concerning the English ca- 
 non about marriages, the following message was sent : 
 
 The House of Bishops, having taken into consideration the 
 message sent to them by the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, 
 relative to the subject of marriage, as connected with the table of 
 degrees, with which, according to the canons of the church of 
 England, marriage cannot be celebrated, observe as follows : 
 
 Agreeably to the sentiment entertained by them, in relation to 
 the whole ecclesiastical system, they consider that table as now 
 obligatory on this 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 im- 
 portance of it, and it is connected with so many questions, both 
 sacred and civil, that they doubt of the propriety of entering on it, 
 without muturer consideration than any expected length of the pre- 
 sent 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. 
 
 Accordingly, they content themselves with recommending the 
 subject to be considered and acted on at a future Convention, 
 
 This house received a message from the House of Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies, with certain resolutions, grounded on the memo- 
 rial of the Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the 
 state of New Hampshire, in which resolutions this house con- 
 curred. 
 
 This house also received from the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies, a resolution relative to the '' prayer to be used at X^t 
 meetings of the Convention." 
 
 The house adjourned. 
 
 Monday^ May 23, 1808, nine o*chck. 
 The house xatt. Present as on Saturday, 
 
260 
 
 This house, ift consequence of the communication from the 
 House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, of the Journals, parochial 
 reports, and other ecclesiastical documents, and agreeably to the 
 11th canon of the General Convention of 1804, agreed on " a pas- 
 toral letter from the House of Bishops, of the Protestant Episco- 
 pal church to the members of the same," which was sent by the 
 Secretary to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies in order to 
 be read in said house. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies, with certain resolutions on the subject of appointing a 
 committee to address the church in certain districts, and for other 
 purposes, which resolutions the house considered and sent to the 
 House of Clerical and Lay Deputies a substitute therefor. 
 
 Five o'clock^ P. IM. 
 
 The house received from the House of Clerical and Lay Depu- 
 ties a draft of the canons, as revised by said house ; and the Reva 
 Dr. Hobart, who delivered this message, was permitted, agree- 
 ably to a request of the said house, to give the necessary infor- 
 mation relative to said canons. The house entered on the consi- 
 deration of them, and adjourned without finishing the same. 
 
 Tuesday^ May 24, A. M. 
 
 The house met. Present as yesterday. 
 
 The house proceeded in the consideration of the canons, as 
 revised and amended by the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies: 
 
 Five o'clock^ P. M. 
 
 This house received from the House of Clerical and Lay Dcpu 
 ties, the remainder of the canons, revised and amended, with cer- 
 tain information relative to them, by the Secretary of said house. 
 
 Wed7iesday^May 25, 1808. 
 
 The house met. Present as yesterday. 
 
 This house received from the House of Clerical and Lay De- 
 puties, by the Rev. Mr. Clarkson, the proposed substitute from 
 this house to the resolutions for appointing a committee to address 
 the church in certain districts, and for other purposes, with pro- 
 posed amendments, in which this house concurred: And also a 
 resolution to make known to the state Conventions, a proposed 
 addition to the constitution of the church, in which this house 
 concurred. 
 
 This house received from the House of Clerical and Lay De- 
 puties, by the Rev. Dr. Moore and the Rev. Mr. Dashiel, a re- 
 solution relative to hymns, with a proposed additional number of 
 hymns. 
 
 A further message was received from the House of Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies, by the Rev. Dr. Hobart, with certain resolutions 
 
2G1 
 
 proposing alterations in the office of induction, in which this house 
 concurred : and this house also received certain resohxtions on the 
 subject of duels and divorces. 
 
 This house proceeded in the consideration of the revised canpns 
 received from the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, and having 
 passed several of them, with amendments, sent them to the House 
 of Clerical and Lay Deputies for their concurrence. 
 
 Five o'clock^ P, M. 
 
 This house finished the consideration of the revised canons_, 
 and returned them, with amendments, to the House of Clerical 
 and Lay Deputies. 
 
 This house sent to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, 
 the following resolve, concerning persons who have already been 
 received as candidates for orders. Resolved^ That the canon re- 
 gulating the preparatory exercises of candidates for orders, shall 
 not affect those persons who have already been received as candi- 
 dates ; but that their cases shall be governed by the canons on said 
 subject, wlfich were in existence at the commencement of the pre- 
 sent Convention.* 
 
 The house adjourned to eight o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Thursday, 3Iay 26, 1808, eight o'clock^ A. M. 
 
 The house met. Present as yesterday. 
 
 This house received from the House of Clerical and Lay De- 
 puties, by the Rev. Dr. Hobart, a message, that the said house had 
 non-concurred in one of the amendments proposed by this house, 
 to one of the revised canons, had concurred in the other amend- 
 ments, and proposed further amendments. In these amendments 
 this house concurred. They also receded from their proposed 
 amendment returned by the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, 
 and proposed a further amendment, in which they were afterwards 
 informed the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies concurred. 
 
 This house adopted the resolutions sent from the House of Cle- 
 rical and Lay Deputies, relative to duels and divorces, with an 
 amendment, in which the said house concurred. 
 
 This house returned to the House of Clerical and Lay Depu- 
 ties, the resolution concerning the prayer to be used at the open- 
 ing of the Convention, wishing to delay the insertion of the same, 
 among the occasional prayers in the book of common prayer, un- 
 til some future occasion. 
 
 This house took up the consideration of the resolution from the 
 House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, relative to an additional 
 
 * With the approbation of the presiding- Bisliop, tbe Secretary of the House oi" 
 Clerical and L;-y Deputies states, that, tliroiig-h inadverti-nce, this resolution was 
 not tv.'iT! emitted to tlie House orCkrical and Lay Deputies, but that from the senti- 
 ment'i exp: esscd in said house, diiring tlie consideration of the canons, it appeared 
 to be understood, that the canon concerning the preparatory exercises was not 
 designed to affect those persons who had alreatly been received as candidates ffir 
 orders. 
 
262 
 
 number of hymns, and adopted the same ; they also adopted the 
 proposL'd hymns, with the exception of one hymn, instead of 
 which they proposed another. 
 
 This house also received a message, by the Rev. Dr. Hobart, 
 from the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, stating that the said 
 house had agreed to the substitute to one of the hymns; and re- 
 questing tht; concurrence 'if this house in a resolution disapproving 
 of iiss. ciated rtcioj ship?., and to sundry resolutions relative to the 
 setting forth of the hymns, tht- publishingof the journals, the place 
 of meeting of the next General C invention, and the preacher at 
 the opening of the same. This house passed the aforesaid reso- 
 lutions, with an amendment to the resolution concerning the set- 
 ting forth of the hymns, in which amendment the House of Cleri- 
 cal and Lay Deputies concurred- 
 
 Certain petitions were received from Ammi Rogers, which, as 
 this house had resolved to dismiss the subject of his case finally 
 from their consideration, they did not open, but ordered them to 
 be sent to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, who informed 
 this house that they had granted leave to the said Amini Rogers 
 to withdrav/ these petitions. 
 
 Resolved^ That the thanks of this house be given to the Rev. 
 Dr. Bend, for the accommodations which they have received in the 
 use ot his parlour, and in other attentions, during the session of 
 the Convention. 
 
 The house rose, after attending, with the House of Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies, divine service at St. Paul's church; this day being 
 the festival of the Ascension. Divine service was celebrated by^ 
 the Right Rev. Bishop White. 
 
 Signed by order of the House of Bishops^ 
 
 WILLIAM WHITE, Presiding Bishop. 
 
 Attested^ James Whitehead, Secretary. 
 
 N. B. The canons passed at this Convention are published with 
 the constitution of this church in a distinct pamphlet. 
 
 lAst, of the Clergy of the Protestant Episcopal Churchy in the 
 United States of America^ 
 
 Dellvei-ed in and published agreeably to the canons.- 1808. 
 
 JVew Hampshire. The Rev. N.ithaniel Fishei', Rector of 
 
 St. Peter's church, Salem. 
 
 Si John's church, Portsmouth, vacant. John Sylvester I. Gardner, Rector 
 
 THE Rev. Robert H. Fowle, Rector of of Trinity church, Boston. 
 
 church, Holdernesse. .Mr. Eaton, Reotor of Christ churciv 
 
 Daniel BiU'ber, Rector of Boston. 
 
 church, Clermont. Samuel Haskill, Rector of St. 
 
 .Mr. Callin, officiates at Plainfield. Ann's church, Gardiner, 
 
 Samuel Mead. William Montag-ue, Rector of St. 
 
 T,r I ,, Paul's church, Dedham. 
 
 Ma^sachmetU. j^^^^ 3^^.^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^ g^ j^jj_ 
 
 The Rev. William Willard Wheeler, Rec- chad's churcli, Marblehead. 
 
 torofSt.Micliael's church, Scituate, ' ■ Timothy Hilhard, Minister of tJ\e 
 and St. Peter'B, Marshfield. church at Portland. 
 
26: 
 
 The Rev. James Morss, Minister of St. 
 
 Paul's, Newburyport. 
 Amos Pardy, Hector of St. Luke's 
 
 church, Lancsboroui^h. 
 
 Griswold, IJcctor of St. 
 
 James churcli, Great naiTington, 
 and the clmrcli at Lenos. 
 
 Rhodfi Island. 
 The Rev. Theodore Dehon, Rector of 
 
 Trinity churcli, Newport. 
 Alexander V. Griswold, Rector of 
 
 St. Michael's church, Bristol. 
 
 Mr. Ward, Assistant Minister of 
 
 Trinity church, Newport. 
 
 . Nathan B. Crocker, Hector of 
 
 chui'ch, Providence. 
 Connecticut. 
 
 T\\e Right Rev. Abraham Jarvis, D. D. 
 Bishop. 
 
 The Rev. Tillotson Bronson, principal of 
 the Episcopal Academy, Chesliire. 
 
 Richard Mansfield, D. D. Rector of 
 
 Christ church, Derby, and the 
 churches of Oxford imd Great Hill. 
 
 Bela Hubbard, D. D. Rector of Tri- 
 nity church. New Haven, and Christ 
 church. West Haven. 
 
 .r~ — John Tyler, Rector of Christ church, 
 Norwich. 
 
 Daniel Fogg-, Rector of 
 
 church; Pomtrct. 
 
 Pliilo Shelton, Hector of Trinity 
 
 church, Faii-ticld, St. John's church, 
 Stratheld, and church, Wes- 
 ton. 
 
 Ashbel Baldwin, Rector of Christ 
 
 church, Stratford, and Trinity 
 church, Trumbull. 
 
 Chaimcey Prindle, Rector of the 
 
 churclics of Oxford and Salem. 
 
 Reuben Ives, Rector of St. Peter's 
 
 church, Cheshire, and the churches 
 of Ilamden and Soutliington. 
 
 Truman Marsh, Rector of the As- 
 sociated churches, Litchfield. 
 
 ■■ I Ambrose Todd, Rector of St. 
 Paul's church, Huntingdon. 
 
 -■ Daniel Burhans, Rector of Trinity 
 church, Newtown, and St. Luke's 
 church, Brookfield. 
 
 - Solomon Blakslee, Rector of St. 
 Stephen's church, East Haddam. 
 
 Charles Seabui-y, Rector of St. 
 
 James's church, New London. 
 
 • Smith Miles, Hector of the church- 
 es at Chatham and Middle Had- 
 dam. 
 
 Menzies Rayner, Rector of tlie 
 
 church, Hartford. 
 
 Henry W hillock. Rector of the 
 
 churches at Norwalk and Wilton. 
 
 ——Calvin White, Assistant Minister of 
 Christ church, Derby. 
 
 Tlie Rev. Nathan B. Rm-g«8, Rector of 
 
 the cliurch, Hebron. 
 
 KogcrSearl, Rector of St. Mark's 
 
 church, Harrington, and the churcii 
 in Northfield. 
 . Horace ^'i^gil Barber, Rector of 
 
 St. Joim's church, Waterbury. 
 
 Ilussel Wheeler, Hector of Christ 
 
 church, Walertowp, and the church 
 in Bethlehem. 
 
 Asa Cornwall, Rector of the 
 
 churches in Simsbury and Granby. 
 
 Elijah G. Plumb, Deacon in the 
 
 churches of Danbury, Reading, and 
 Kidgfield. 
 
 Benjamin Benham, Deacon in St. 
 
 Peter's church, New Milford, and 
 the churches of Roxbury and New 
 Preston. 
 
 David Baldwin, Deacon in the 
 
 churches of Guilford and North 
 Bristol. 
 
 JVdiy York. 
 The Right Rev. Benjamin Moore, D. D. 
 Bishop, and Rector of Triiiity 
 church, New York 
 The Rev. Amos G Baldwin, Rector of 
 
 Trinity church, Utica. 
 Theodosius Bartow, Rector of Tri- 
 nity church. New Rochelle. 
 
 John F. Bartow, Deacon, St. Mi- 
 chael's church, Bloomingdale, New- 
 York. 
 
 Edmund D. Barry, Principal of the 
 
 Episcopal Academy, New York, 
 officiates at Grace church, Jamaica. 
 
 — Abraliam Be.ach, D. D. an Assist- 
 ant Minister of 1 rinity church, New 
 York. 
 
 — Frederick Beasley, Rector of St. 
 Peter's ciuircli, Albimy. 
 
 — John Bowden, D. I). Professor of 
 Moral Philosophy, Logic, and Rhe- 
 toric, in Columbia college, New 
 York. 
 
 — David Butler, officiating at Troy 
 and Lansingburgh. 
 
 — Harzillai Buckley, Rector of Christ 
 church, Poughkecpsie, and Trinity 
 clmrch, Fislikill. 
 
 — James Chapman, Deacon, Trinity 
 church, New York. 
 
 — Abraham L. Clarke, Rector of St. 
 Jiimes's church, Newtown, and St. 
 George's church, Flushing. 
 
 — Ehas Cooper, Rector of St. John's 
 church, Yonkers. 
 
 Joab (i. Cooper, Deacon, Christ 
 
 churcii, Hudson. 
 
 — Henry L Feltus, St. Ann's church, 
 Brooklyn. 
 
 \V illiam Harris, Rector of St. 
 
 Mark's church. Bowery, New York. 
 
264 
 
 The Rev. SethHart, Rector of St.George's 
 church, Hempstead, with which is 
 connected Christ chui-ch. North 
 Hempstead. 
 
 John Henry Hobart, D. D. an As- 
 sistant Minister of Trinity chmxh, 
 New Yorlc. 
 
 Thomas Y. How, Deacon, Trinity 
 
 church, New York. 
 
 Cave Jones, an Assistant Minister 
 
 of Trinity church, New York. 
 
 Jonathan Ji^dd, Rector of St. John's 
 
 church, Johnstown, and church, 
 
 Fort Hunter. 
 
 Thomas Lyell, Rector of Christ 
 
 church, ]Sew York. 
 
 Richard C. Moore, D. D. Rector 
 
 of St. Andrew's church, Staten 
 Island. 
 
 ■ David Moore, Deacon, Staten 
 
 Island. 
 
 - — Daniel Nash, Rector of St. John's 
 church, Otsego, St. Luke's, Rich- 
 field, and Harmony church, Butter- 
 nutts. 
 
 Samuel Nesbitt, residint? in New 
 
 York. 
 
 The Right Rev. Bishop Provoost, New 
 
 York. 
 The Rev. Perry, Christ church, 
 
 Ballstown. 
 ■— — Davenport Phelps, Missionary in 
 
 the Western part of the State. 
 Josc-pii Prentis, Deacon, Athens and 
 
 Cocksackie. 
 
 Joseph Reed, St. Luke's church, 
 
 Catskili. 
 
 Evan Rogers, Rector of Christ 
 
 church. Rye. 
 
 Cyrus Stebbins, Rector of St. 
 
 George's chui-ch, Schenectady. 
 
 George Strebeck, Rector of St. 
 
 Stephen's church, New York. 
 
 John Urquhart. 
 
 Frederick Vanhorne. 
 
 Joseph Warren, St. Peter's church, 
 
 Peekskill, and St. Philip's church, 
 Philipstown. 
 
 r Isaac Wilkins, Rector of St. Fe- 
 
 ter's church, West Chester; and 
 St. Paul's church, East Chester. 
 JVew Jersey. 
 
 Tiie Rev. Charles H. Wharton, D. D. 
 Rector of St. Miuy's church, Bur- 
 lington. 
 
 Henry Waddell, Rector of St. Mi- 
 chael's church, lYenton. 
 
 John Croes, Rector of Christ 
 
 cluii-ch. New Brunswick, and St. 
 Peter's, Spotswood. 
 
 Jasjjcr D. Jones, Rector of St. Pe- 
 ter's church, Pertli Amboy. 
 
 Joseph WlUard, D. D. Rector of 
 
 Trinity chuj'ch, Newark. 
 
 The Rev. John C. Rudd, Rector of St. 
 John's church, Elizabethtown. 
 
 Simon Wilmer, Trinity church, 
 
 Swedesborough. 
 
 JPennsi/lvimia.' 
 
 The Right Rev. William White, D. D. 
 Bishop. 
 
 The Rev. Samuel Magaw, D. D. 
 
 John Andrews, D. D. Vice Pro- 
 vost in the University of Penn- 
 sylvania. 
 
 Robert Black well, D. D. Assistant 
 
 Minister of Christ church and 
 St. Peters, in the city of Pliila- 
 delphia. 
 
 Joseph Hutchins, D. D. 
 
 John Campbell, Rector of the 
 
 churches of York and Hunting- 
 don. 
 
 Joseph Pilmore, D. D. Rector of 
 
 St. Paul's church, Philadelphia. 
 
 Slator Clay, Rector of St. David's, 
 
 Radnor, St. Peter's in the Valley, 
 and St. James's, Perkiomen. 
 
 Joseph Clarkson, Rector of St. 
 
 James's,Lancaster, St. John's church, 
 Pequea, and Bangor chiu-ch. Car- 
 narvon. 
 
 Robert Ayi'es, rector of Emanuel 
 
 church, Wasliington county, and St. 
 Peter's church, Fayette county. 
 
 — — Francis Reno, Westmoreland 
 county. 
 
 — <■ — Joseph Tm'ner, rector of St. Paul's 
 church, Cliester, and St. Martin's 
 church, Marcus Hook. 
 
 ■ Caleb Hopkins, rector of Christ 
 church, Deny township, and Christ 
 church, Turbut to wnsliip, Northum- 
 berland county. 
 
 — — Thomas Davis, Washington co. 
 
 James Abercrombie, D. D. Assistant 
 
 Minister of Christ church and St. 
 Peter's, Philadelphia. 
 
 Absalom Jones, (a black man,) 
 
 Rector of the African church of St. 
 Thomas, Pliiladelphla. 
 
 John Taylor, Pittsburgh. 
 
 Levi Bull, Rector of St. Gabriel's 
 
 church, Berks county, and St. Ma- 
 ry's church, Chester county. 
 
 Ayres. 
 
 Delaioare. 
 
 The Rev. Robert Clay, Emanuel church, 
 New Castle. 
 
 William Pryce, Trinity church, 
 
 Wilmington. 
 
 James Wiltbank, St. Peter's church, 
 
 Lewes, 
 
 Hamilton Bell, St. Paul's church, 
 
 Georgetown. 
 
 J^taryland. 
 The Right Rev. I homas J. Claggett, 
 D. D. Bishop. 
 
265 
 
 The Rev. Francis Barclay, A. M. Rector of 
 William &. M;iry parish,St. Mary's co. 
 
 — — George Kalpli, A. M. Rtctor of 
 All Faith parish, St. Mary's county. 
 
 • Henjamin Contee, Rector of Wil- 
 liam and Maiy parish, Cliarles co. 
 
 « John Weenis, Rector of f'ort To- 
 bacco pai-ish, Chailes county. 
 
 — Xicliolas W. Lane, residing in 
 Calvert county. 
 
 Edward Gantt, jun. residing in 
 
 Calvert county. 
 
 * Thomas Scott, Rector of Queen 
 
 Anne's parish, Prince George's co. 
 Walter D. Addison, Rector of St. 
 
 John's parish, Prince George's cO. 
 — — Joseph Messenger, resichng in St. 
 
 John's parish. Prince George's co. 
 — — William Swatin, residing in St. 
 
 Paul's, Prince George's county. 
 Bethel Judd, A. M. Principal of St. 
 
 John's College, and Rector of St. 
 
 Anne's, Anne Arundel. 
 John Wilson Compton, Rector of 
 
 St. James's parish, Anne Arundel. 
 — — Ralph Higginbotham, residing in 
 
 Annapolis, Ann Arundel. 
 
 — * Joseph G. I. Bend, D. D associate 
 Rector of St. Paul's pai-ish, Balti- 
 more. 
 
 m * James Whitehead, D. D. associate 
 
 Rector of St. Paul's parish, Balti- 
 more. 
 •^ George Dashiell, A. M. Rector of 
 
 St. Peter's church, Baltimore. 
 > John Armstrong, Rector of St. 
 
 Thomas, Baltimore county. 
 . John Coleman, Rector of St. James's 
 
 parish, Baltimore. 
 Elijah D. Rattoone, D. D. residing 
 
 in Baltimore. 
 John Allen, A. M. Rector of St. 
 
 George's parish, Harford county. 
 •^— George D. Handy, Rector of St. 
 
 John's parish, Harford county. 
 ■I Thomas Read, Rector of Prince 
 
 George's parish, Montgomery co. 
 — — George Bower, A. M. Rector of 
 
 All Saints, Washington county. 
 — — Andrew T. M'Cormick, i\eclor of 
 
 Washington parish, Columbia. 
 John I. Sayres, A. M. Minister of 
 
 St. John's church, Washington pa- 
 rish, Columbia. 
 * John Kewley, M D. Rector of 
 
 Chester parish, Kert covmty. 
 
 Archibald Walker, D. D. Kent co. 
 
 William Briscoe, Deacon, Kent co. 
 
 William Duke, A. M. residing in St. 
 
 Mai-y Anne's pai-ish, Cecil county. 
 * Henry Lyon Davis, A. M. Rector 
 
 of St. Stephen's parish, Cecil co. 
 
 The Rev. Jolm Hooker Reynolds, Rectijr 
 of St. Paul's, Queen Anne's county. 
 
 Joseph Jackson, RcctorofSt. PetePa 
 
 parish, Talbot county. 
 
 - .Samuel Keene, D. D. Talbot co. 
 John Price, Talbot county. 
 
 — — * James Kemp, D. D. Rector of 
 Great Choptank parish, Dorcliester 
 county. 
 
 ■ William Murray Stone, Rector of 
 Stepney parish, Somerset county. 
 
 — — James Laird, A. M. Rector of So- 
 merset parish, Somerset county. 
 
 David Ball, Rector of All Hallow's 
 
 parish, Worcester county. 
 Virginia. 
 
 The Right Rev. James Madison, D. D. 
 Bishop. 
 
 (C5" No list of the Clergy was received 
 from this State. 
 South Carolina. 
 
 The Rev. Edward Jenkins, D. D. Rector 
 of St. Philip's, Charleston. 
 
 N. Bowen, Rector of St. Michael's, 
 
 Charleston, 
 
 William Percy, D. D. officiating at 
 
 St. Philip's and St. Michael's, 
 Charleston. 
 
 J. D. Simons, Deacon, Charleston, 
 
 — — Thomas Mills, Rector of St. An- 
 drew's parish. 
 
 Andrew Fowler, Rector of St. 
 
 Bartholomew's. 
 
 Galen Hicks, Rector of St Helena's 
 
 church in Beaufort. 
 
 John T. Nankivel, Rector of St 
 
 Thomas and St. Dennis. 
 
 — — Hugli Fraser, Rector of Prince 
 
 Frederick's. 
 Christopher E. Gadsden, Deacon, 
 
 St. Jolin's, Berkley. 
 
 J. T. 'i'sheudy. Deacon, Clermont. 
 
 Gates, D. D. residing in St. 
 
 George's parish, Dorchester. 
 — — Milward Pogson, residing in 
 
 Charleston. 
 
 Paul 'i' rapier Gervais, Deacon, 
 
 Charleston. 
 
 Vacant Parishes in this State are. 
 Prince George VVinyah, Georgetown. 
 St. Stephen's, Santee. 
 St. James's, Goose Creek. 
 St. George's, Dorchester. 
 St. Jolm's, Colkton. 
 St. Helena, on the Island of St. Helena. 
 St. Luke's. 
 St. Peter's. 
 All Saints. 
 St. Matthew's. 
 Clurist church. 
 
 Most of them able and willing to sup!- 
 poit Ministers. 
 
 OCj* Those Clergymen to whom this mark • is prefixed, were elected mewUWS 
 of the Standing Comwiltee at the last Convention in this diocese. 
 
 M m 
 
JOURNAL 
 
 OF THE PROCEEDINGS 
 
 OP THE 
 
 BISHOPS, CLERGY AND LAITY, 
 
 OF THE 
 
 PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCEf, 
 
 IN THE 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA/ 
 
 IN A 
 
 GENERAL CONVENTION, 
 
 HELD IN 
 
 The City of New Haven, from May 21, to May 24, 1811. 
 
LIST OF THE MEMBERS 
 
 OV THE 
 
 HOUSE OF CLERICAL AND LAY DEPUTIES. 
 
 From the State of New Hampshire, 
 The Hon. James Sheafe. 
 
 From the State of Massachusetts, 
 
 Rev. James Bowers, Rev. William Montague, Rev. John S. I. 
 Gardiner, Rev. James Morss, Shubael Bell. 
 
 From the State of Rhode Island. 
 
 Rev. Alexander Viets Griswold, Rev. Nathan B. Crocker, Rev. 
 Salmon Wheaton, Benjamin Gardiner, John Russel. 
 
 From the State of Vermont, 
 Rev. Abraham Brunson, Rev. Parker Adams, Anson J. Sperry. 
 
 From the State of Connecticut. 
 Rev. Bela Hubbard, D. D. Rev. John Kewley, M. D. Rev. 
 Ashbel Baldwin, Rev. Henry Whitlock, Burrage Beach, Gene- 
 ral Matthias NicoU, Colonel William Moseley. 
 
 From the State of New Tork, 
 . Rev. John H. Hobart, D. D. Rev. Isaac Wilkins, Rev. Elias 
 Cooper, Hon. Rufus King, Hon. Philip S. Van Rensellear, Dr. 
 John Onderdonk. 
 
 From the State of Nexv Jersey. 
 Rev. Charles H.Wharton, D.D. Rev. John Croes, Rev. John 
 C. Rudd, Joshua M. Wallace, Peter Kean, Edward Carpenter, 
 John Dennis. 
 
 From the State of Pennsylvania, 
 
 Rev. Joseph Pilmore, D. D. Rev. Levi Bull, Hon. James Mil- 
 nor, P. F. Glentworth, M. D. Thomas M'Euen, Ephraim Clark. 
 
 From the State of Maryland. 
 Rev. Joseph G. I. Bend, D. D. Rev. George Dashiell, Rev. 
 James Kemp, D. D. Rev. Henry I.yon Davis, George Robertson, 
 Edward De Courcy, Joseph Cotman. 
 
JOURNAL 
 
 OF THE 
 
 HOUSE OF CLERICAL AND LAY DEPUTIES. 
 
 Netv Haven^ May 21, 1811. 
 
 THIS being the day appointed for the meeting of the Gene- 
 ral Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United 
 States of America, several Clerical and Lay Deputies attended at 
 ten o'clock, A. M. in Trinity church ; and a quorum of the house 
 being present, the Rev. Dr. Wharton was requested to take the 
 chair, and the Rev. Dr. Ilobart to act as Secretary pro tempore. 
 The House then proceeded to read the testimonials of the Cle- 
 rical and Lay Deputies ; which were severally approved, and the 
 following gentlemen took their seats in the House. 
 From New Hampshire^ the Hon. James Sheafe. 
 Froin Massachusetts^ the Rev. James Bowers, and the Rev. 
 William Montague. 
 
 From Rhode Island^ the Rev. Alexander Viets Griswold, the 
 Rev. Nathan B. Crocker, Benjamin Gardiner, and John Russel. 
 From Vermont^ the Rev. Abraham Brunson — ^he having pre- 
 viously presented a certificate that the state of Vermont had ac- 
 ceded to the constitution of this church. 
 
 From Connecticut, the Rev. Bela Hubbard, D. D. the Rev. 
 John Kewley, M. D. Rev. Ashbel Baldwin, Burrage Beach, Gen. 
 Matthias NicoU, and Col. William Moseley. 
 
 From New Tork^ the Rev. John H. Hobart, D. D. Hon. Rufus 
 Xing, and the Hon. Philip S. Van Rensellear. 
 
 From New Jersey^ the Rev. Charles H. Wharton, D. D. Rev. 
 John Croes, Rev. John C. Rudd, Joshua M. Wallace, and Peter 
 KLean. 
 
 From Pennsylvania^ the Rev. Joseph Pilmore, D. D. Rev. 
 Levi Bull, Hon. James Milnor, P. F. Glentworth, M. D. Tho- 
 mas M'Euen, and Ephraim Clark. 
 
 From Maryland^ the Rev. Joseph G. J. Bend, D. D. Rev. 
 Gtorge Dashiell, Rev. James Kemp, D. D. Rev. Henry Lyon 
 Davis, George Robertson, Edward Dc Courcy, and Joseph 
 Cotman. 
 
 The house proceeded to the election of a President and Secre- 
 tary, when it appeared that the Rev. Isaac Wilkins was chosen 
 president, and the Rev. Ashbel Baldwin, Secretary. 
 
 A message was sent to the House of Bishops, informing diem 
 that this house was organized and ready to proceed to business. 
 
 The House of Bishops returned for answer, that they also were 
 organized, and ready to proceed to business. 
 
 The house took into consideration the rules of order, and adopt- 
 ed the following : 
 
269 
 
 1. The business of every day shall be introduced with the moTn- 
 ing service of the church. 
 
 2. When the President takes the chair, no member shall con- 
 tinue standing, or shall afterwards stand up, unless to address the 
 chai?^. 
 
 3. No member shall absent himself from the service of the 
 house, unless he have leave, or be unable to attend. 
 
 4. When any member is about to speak in debate, or deliver 
 any matter to the house, he shall, with due respect, address him- 
 self to the President, confining himself strictly to the point in 
 debate. 
 
 5. No member shall speak more than twice in the same debate, 
 without leave of the house. 
 
 6. A question being once determined, shall stand as the judg- 
 ment of the house, and shall not be again drawn into debate dur- 
 ing the same session, unless with the consent of two-thirds of the 
 house. 
 
 7. While the President is putting any question, the members 
 shall continue in their seats, and shall not hold any private dis- 
 course. 
 
 8. 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 decision. 
 
 9. No motion shall be considered as before the house, unless it 
 be seconded, and, when required, reduced to writing. 
 
 10. When any question is before the house, it shall be deter- 
 mined on before any thing new is introduced, except the question 
 of adjournment. 
 
 11. The quesuon on a motion for adjournment shall be taken 
 before any other, and without debate. 
 
 12. When the house is about to rise, every member shall keep 
 his seat until the President shall leave his chair. 
 
 On motion. Resolved^ That the clergy of the Protestant Epis- 
 copal Church, who may be in the city of New Haven, and who 
 are not members of this house, shall be admitted to the sittings of 
 the same. 
 
 This house resolved, that in consequence of the absence of the 
 Right Rev. Bishop Claggett, who had been appointed to open 
 this convention with a sermon, the House of Bishops be requested 
 to appoint one of their number to perform that duty ; and the 
 Rev. Dr. Kemp was appointed to communicate this request to 
 the House of Bishops. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Kemp returned with a message from the House 
 of Bishops, that the Right Rev. Bishop AVhite intends to open the 
 Convention, with a discourse, to-morrow, at the hour which has 
 been appointed for divine service. 
 
 On motion. Resolved^ That the hour of meeting each day shall 
 be at nine o'clock, A. M. 
 
 This House adjourned, to meet at the court-house to-morrow. 
 
270 
 
 Wtdnesday, May 22, 1811. 
 
 The House met. 
 
 The Rev. Parker Adams, a Clerical Deputy, and Anson J. 
 Sperry, a Lay Deputy from the state of Vermont; the Rev. John 
 S. I. Gardiner, and the Rev. James Morss, Clerical Dep'ities, 
 and Shubael Bell, a Lay Deputy, from Massachusetts ; the Rev. 
 Isaac Wilkins and the Rev. Elias Cooper, Clerical Deputies, and 
 Dr. John Onderdonk, a Lay Deputy from New York; the Rev. 
 Salmon Wheaton, a Clerical Deputy from Rhode Island ; and 
 the Rev. Henry Whitlock, a Clerical Deputy from Connecticut, 
 appeared and took their seats. 
 
 The house attended divine service in Trinity church. 
 
 The Rev. Isaac Wilkins performed divine service, and the 
 Right Rev. Bishop White preached a sermon adapted to the occa- 
 sion of the meeting of the Convention, 
 
 After divine service the house met. 
 
 On motion, Resolved unanimously^ That the thanks of the Con- 
 vention be returned to the Right Rev Bishop White, for his ser- 
 mon preached before the Convention this morning, and that he 
 be requested to furnish a copy for publication. 
 
 The House of Bishops concurred in this resolution, and in- 
 formed this house that the Right Rev. Bishop White would fur- 
 nish a copy of his sermon for the purpose aforesaid. 
 
 On motion, by the Hon. Rulus King, Resolved^ That the fol- 
 lowing extract from the journals of a special Convention, held in 
 Trinity church, New York, May 15, 1811, be entered on the 
 journals of this house : " Resolved^ That the Convention will now 
 proceed to the choice of a Bishop ; to assist Bishop Moore in 
 the duties of his episcopal office, and to succeed him in case of 
 survivorship. The Convention then proceeded to the election ; 
 and, on counting the ballots, it appeared that the Rev. John H. 
 liobart, D. D. was elected by a majority of both orders." 
 
 On motion, Resolved., That this house will now proceed to sign 
 the testimonials in favour of the Rev. John H. Hobart, D. D. 
 Bishop elect of the state of New York ; which testimonials were 
 unanimously signed by the house, agreeably to the third canon of 
 this church. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Gardiner made a communication to this house, 
 that the Rev. Alexander Viets Griswold had been canonically 
 elected Bishop of the diocese, composed of the states of New 
 Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont. 
 
 On motion, Resolved^ That this house will now proceed to 
 sign the testimonials in favour of the Rev. Alexander V. Gris- 
 wold, Bishop elect of the eastern diocese ; which testimonials 
 were unanimously signed by the house, agreeably to the third 
 canon of this church. 
 
 The house adjourned. 
 
 Thursday, May 23, 1811. 
 'J1ie house met. 
 
271 
 
 John Dennis and Edward Carpenter, Lay Delegates from the 
 state of New Jersey, appeared and took their seats. 
 
 On motion, Resolved^ That the Delegation from the state of New 
 York be requested to present the testimonials signed by this house 
 in favour of the Rev. John H. Hobart, D. D. Bishop elect, to 
 the House of Bishops. 
 
 On motion, Resolved^ That the delegation from the states of 
 New Hampshire, ]\Iassachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont, 
 be requested to present to the House of Bishops the testimonials 
 signed by this house, in favor of the Rev. Alexander V. Gris- 
 wold, Bishop elect. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Barrow presented a certificate of his appoint- 
 ment to attend the Convention, signed by the wardens and vestry 
 of the episcopal church in the city of Savannah, state of Georgia, 
 which was read. Whereupon, Resolved^ That the Protestant 
 Episcopal Church in the state of Georgia, not being organized, 
 and not having, in Convention, acceded to the constitution of the 
 Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, 
 the Rev. Mr. Bartow cannot be admitted a member of this house, 
 but that he be allowed the privilege of an honorary seat. 
 
 This day being the festival of the Ascension, the houoe attended 
 divine service in Trinity church. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Pilmore performed service, and the Rev. Dr. 
 Wharton delivered a sermon. 
 
 After divine service the house met. 
 
 The house of Bishops informed this house, that they desired an 
 interview with the deputies of the churches in those states in which 
 the Rev. Mr. Griswold has been elected to the episcopal chair. 
 
 On motion. Resolved^ That the deputies from New Hampshire, 
 Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont, be requested to wait 
 on the House of Bishops. 
 
 Agreeably to the 45th canon of the church, the journals of seve- 
 ral State Conventions were handed into the house — the parochial 
 reports and episcopal addresses inserted in those journals were 
 read by the Secretary, and a particular inquiry was made into 
 the state of the church in each diocese. The Rev. Dr. Kemp, 
 Rev. Dr. Hobart, Rev. Mr. Montague, Dr. Glentworth, and 
 Burrage Beach, Esq. were appointed a committee to lay before 
 this house a view of the state of the church, agreeably to the 45th 
 canon. 
 
 The House of Bishops informed this house, that having re- 
 ceived from them the testimonials of two reverend gentlemen 
 elected to the episcopacy, they lament that they cannot proceed to 
 the consecration of those two reverend gentlemen during the ses- 
 sion of this Convention, there being only two Bishops present ; 
 but they propose (God willing) to carry this design into effect In 
 the city of New York, as soon as possible after the risinr, of this 
 Convention. 
 
 A petition was presented to this house, signed by Benajah 
 Hawley, which was read and ordered to lie on the table; 
 
212 
 
 The House of Bishops informed this house, in reference to 
 the object of the appointment of a committee at the last Con- 
 vention to act in the recess, for the devising measures for sending 
 a Bishop into the western states, that whenever the said business 
 shall be taken up by this Convention, the House of Bishops are 
 in possession of some communications which they think worthy 
 of consideration. 
 
 The House adjourned. 
 
 Friday, 3Iay 26, 1811. 
 
 The house met, and morning service was performed by the Se- 
 cretary, in Trinit)' church. 
 
 The committee appointed at the last General Convention on the 
 memorial from the Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church 
 in the state of New Hampshire, reported, that they had made no 
 progress on the subject of their appointment. Whereupon, Re- 
 solved, That inasmuch as this house has received information, 
 that the object of said committee has been happily accomplished, 
 said committee is consequently discharged from any further at- 
 tention to this business. 
 
 The committee appointed at the last General Convention to 
 address the church in certain districts, and for other purposes, 
 made the following report, which was read, and sent to the House 
 of Bishops. 
 
 " The committee appointed at the last General Convention to 
 address the church in certain districts, and for other purposes, 
 report, that a quorum of the said committee resident in the city 
 of New York, met, and appointed the Right Rev. Bishop Moore 
 to draft and to transmit the several addresses specified in the 
 first tlu-ee resolutions. This duty was discharged by him accord- 
 ingly. The committee not having any reasonable prospect of 
 accomplishing the object contemplated in the 4th resolution, of 
 sending a Bishop into those states or territories which have not 
 acceded to the constitution of the Protestant Episcopal Church in 
 the United States of America, did not proceed to elect a person 
 to said office, or to take any measures in that business. 
 
 " JOHN H. HOBART, Secretary of the commmittee.'' 
 
 A message was received from the House of Bishops, with cer- 
 tain documents on the subject of a western episcopacy, which were 
 read. 
 
 On motion, Resolved, That the documents from the House of 
 Bishops, relative to the western episcopac} , be returned to them, 
 with a request from this house, that they will take what order on 
 the subject they may deem adviseable. 
 
 There was laid before this house, by the House of Bishops, a 
 petition, addressed to this Convention, by the Rev. William 
 Smith, D. D. of Norwalk, in the state of Connecticut, relative to 
 a book of music composed by him, entitled, " The Churchman*^? 
 
273 
 
 Choral Companion to his Prayer Book." Whereupon, Resolved* 
 That it is inexpedient to take any order on that subject ; which re* 
 solve was sent to the House of Bishops. 
 
 The House of Bishops proposed to the House of Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies the appointment of a committee for further atten- 
 tion to the object of the 4th resolution (recorded page 14 in* the 
 journal of the last Convention,) and that the Bishops in Pennsyl- 
 vania and Virginia be requested to correspond with each other, 
 for the devising means whereby the congregations west of tlie Al- 
 legheny mountains may be benefited by any measures to be adopt- 
 ed by the committee, the appointment of which is hereby recom- 
 mended. 
 
 The foregoing communication was considered by this house ; 
 Whereupon, Resolved^ That the Bishops in Pennsylvania and Vir- 
 ginia be requested to devise means for supplying the congregations 
 of this church, west of the Allegheny mountains, with the minis- 
 trations and worship of the same, and for the organizing the 
 church in the western states, — any thing in the 37th canon to the 
 contrary notwithstanding. The foregoing resolves were ordered 
 to be sent to the House of Bishops. 
 
 The petition, signed by Benajah Hawley, which was yesterday 
 read before the house, was again considered. 
 
 On motion. Resolved^ That it is the sense of this house, that 
 the prayer of the petitioner cannot be granted, and that he have 
 leave to withdraw his petition. 
 
 A memorial, signed by the Rev. Benjamin Benham and the 
 Kev. Virgil H. Barber, was presented to this house, and read by 
 the Secretary. 
 
 On motion, Resolved^ That it is inexpedient to take any order 
 on the aforesaid memorial. 
 
 On motion. Resolved^ That the presiding Bishop of the House 
 of Bishops be respectfully requested to address a letter, in behalf 
 of this Convention, to the venerable society in England for pro- 
 pagating the gospel in foreign parts, informing them that the 
 church in the state of Vermont is duly organized, and in union 
 with the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States, being 
 placed under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of New Hampshire, 
 Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont. That a board of 
 trustees of donations to the church has been incorporated in the 
 state of Massachusetts ; and that, in the opinion of this Conven- 
 tion, the society may safely confide the care of their lands in Ver- 
 mont to such attorney or attomies as may be recommended by 
 the said board of trustees, and approved by the Ecclesiastical Con- 
 vention of Vermont. 
 
 The foregoing resolution was ordered to be sent to the House 
 of Bishops. 
 
 A canon repealing the 46th canon, for making known the con- 
 stitution and canons of this church, was proposed and adopted. 
 * Page 253 of this editipn. 
 
 N n 
 
274 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Bend was requested to caity the ahovfe ttoon to 
 the House of Bishops, who returned it with their concurrence. 
 
 On motion. Resolved^ That the following addition to the 8th 
 article of the constitution, proposed at the last General Conven- 
 tion, be agreed to. 
 
 *•- Ko alteration or addition shall be made in the book of com- 
 mon 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 Convention ;" which resolu- 
 tion was directed to be sent to the House of Bishops. 
 
 The House of Bishops informed this house, that they concur 
 Vrith them in the proposed addition to the 8th article of the con- 
 stitution. 
 
 The House of Bishops inform the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies, that the presiding Bishop undertakes (God willing) to 
 perform the service requested of him, in relation to certain lands 
 in Vermont belonging to the venerable society in England, for the 
 propagation of the gospel. 
 
 On motion, Resolved^ That the resolution passed by the last 
 Convention on the subject of duelling, be considered as not pre- 
 cluding any minister from performing the burial service, when 
 the person giving or receiving a challenge has afterwards exhibit- 
 ed evidences of sincere repentance. 
 
 The foregoing resolve was sent to the House of Bishops, and 
 returned with their concurrence. 
 
 Resolved^ That when this house shall adjourn, they will adjoura 
 to meet at 7 o'clock this evening. 
 
 Leave of absence was granted to the Rev. Mr. Croes, and Au" 
 «on J. Sperry, Esquire, during the remainder of the session. 
 
 The house adjourned. 
 
 Friday, 7 o'clock, P. M. 
 
 The house met. 
 
 On motion. Resolved, That the city of Philadelphia be the place 
 for the meeting of the next General Convention, which will be held 
 on the third Tuesday in May, 1814; which resolve was ordered 
 to be sent to the House of Bishops. 
 
 The committee appointed to draft a report of the state of the 
 churchf to be laid before the House of Bishops, made the follow- 
 ing rt-port, which was read and accepted, and directed to be 
 sent to that house. 
 
 ** The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, in compliance 
 with the requisitions of the 45th canon, have taken a general view 
 of the state of the church, and respectfully offer to the House of 
 Bishops the result of their enquiries. Time would not admit them 
 to enter into a minute detail ot every particular ; but, from the 
 few observations they have made, and the documents that will ac- 
 company them, they hope the House of Bishops will be able to 
 
275 
 
 o«inply with the requisition of the above-mentioned canon, in re- 
 gard to a pastoral letter. 
 
 New Hampshire. — " The number of churches in this state has 
 not increased, but respect for, and attachment to the church, 
 aeems to be growing in several places ; and were there more minis- 
 ters, there is reason to hope that it would soon be in a state of 
 prosperity. 
 
 Massachusetts.'^^^ In some parts of this commonwealth, it is 
 greatly to be lamented, that the churches are in a state of derange- 
 ment and decay ; while in other places the congregations have in- 
 creased. 
 
 Rhode Island, — " The congregations in this state, though few, 
 are large, and, with the exception of the church in Narraganset, 
 there appears to be a degree of zeal and regularity that promises 
 the happiest effect. 
 
 Vermont. — " We are highly gratified to find that the church in 
 this state is now organized, and that zealous exertions are making 
 to promote its interest and advancement. 
 
 Eastern Diocese in general. — ^" Although in these states, now 
 formed into a diocese, some irregularities have taken place, and 
 there has been a want of attention to the canons and rules of the 
 church, particularly to the canon which requires parochial re- 
 ports to be made, yet the arrangements lately formed, and the ex-» 
 ertions made to organize the church, and to obtain for it an epis- 
 copal head, yield a ground of hope that this branch of the church 
 of Christ will not only preserve, but even extend more and more 
 the light of the blessed gospel. 
 
 Connecticut. — ^'* In Connecticut, we have reason to believe that 
 the canons and rules of the church are duly observed. Since the 
 last General Convention, between four and five hundred families 
 have been added to the church ; the congregations are in a flou- 
 rishing condition; a number of new churches have been built; and 
 with the zeal and exertions of the clergy, we may cherish the ex- 
 pectation, that the power, as well as the form of godliness, will 
 greatly advance. 
 
 New Tork.—*"^ Here it is believed that the church is orderly and 
 regular. Congregations are every year forming, and the old ones 
 seem to maintain their usual ground. In the city of New York, 
 in particular, several new churches have been built, and in the dio- 
 cese in general, prosperity seems to attend the church. 
 
 New Jersey. — " In this state the church appears to conduct her 
 affairs with regularity and attention. The congregations are not 
 numerous, but they are generally orderly and attentive. 
 
 Pennsylvania. — " From the documents laid before us, it ap- 
 pears that, although the Bishop has called the attention of the 
 Clergy to the requisition of the 45th canon, still they have not 
 presented their parochial reports, and the Convention is very par- 
 tially attended. Many, however, ot the Clergy and Laity are zea- 
 lous and attentive. In the city of Philadelphia, and in some of 
 the neighbouring counties, new congregations have been formed^ 
 
276 
 
 and churches built, and the affairs of the church are managed with 
 
 attention and regularity. 
 
 Maryland. — " The church in Maryland is still in a deplorable 
 condition; the zeal, ho\'vever, manifested in some parts of the 
 state, yield a hope that she will again rise» and become a distin- 
 guished part of the church in the United States. 
 
 " There being no representation from the states of Delaware, 
 Virginia, and South Carolina, and no copies of the journals of 
 the Conventions of those states, this house are unable to speak 
 with certainty as to the situation of the churches in those districts. 
 They fear, indeed, that the church in Virginia is, from various 
 causes, so depressed, that there is danger of her total ruin, un- 
 less great exertions, favoured by the blessing of Providence, are 
 employed to raise her. In South Carolina, there is reason to be- 
 lieve, that a lively zeal for the interests of the church prevails, 
 which, guided by sound principles, has already suggested vari- 
 ous measures, which promise great and lasting benefit. The 
 House of Clerical and Lay Deputies beg leave to observe to the 
 House of Bishops, that while the review in which they have been 
 engaged of the state of the church, affords too much cause for de- 
 ploring her declension in some places where she once flourished, 
 her prosperity in other parts, and her general situation, justify the 
 most sanguine hopes of her friends. With an increasing attach- 
 ment to her apostolic ministry, and her primitive forms, they trust 
 there is a corresponding mcrease of that power of godliness, which 
 the outward order of the church is designed to excite and nourish. 
 
 " They pray for the church and for themselves, your counsel, 
 and the blessing of Almighty God. 
 
 *' Signed bt/ order of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, 
 
 " ISAAC WILKINS, President." 
 
 On motion. Resolved, That this Conventioji have understood, 
 with satisfaction, that the Convention of the church in Connecticut 
 are engaged in obtaining for the Episcopal Academy in that state, 
 a charter ; empowering the trustees to grant degrees and this 
 Convention do express their earnest wish for the success of this 
 measure. This resolution was sent to the House of Bishops, and 
 returned with their concurrence. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Bishops, informing 
 this house, that they concur with them in appointing the city of 
 Philadelphia for the meeting of the next General Convention. 
 
 A " pastoral address," prepared in pursuance of the 45th canon, 
 was received from the House of Bishops. 
 
 On motion. Resolved, That the House of Bishops be requested 
 to appoint one of their own order to preach a sermon at the open- 
 ing of the next General Convention ; which was sent to the House 
 of Bishops, and returned with the following message : — 
 
 " The House of Bishops state to the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies, that they hope, under the blessing of God, for the at- 
 tendance of their brother, the Right Rev. Bishop Claggett, at the 
 
AW* 
 
 2/ 4 
 
 next General Convention, and for his performance of tHe duty- 
 looked for from him, had his health permitted him, at the open- 
 ing of the present. But should there be a disappointment in this 
 respect, the two Bishops now present (God willing) intend to 
 provide by correspondence between themselves, or with some one 
 of their Right Reverend brethren, for the performance of this 
 duty." 
 
 On motion, Resolved^ That the Secretary of the House of Cle- 
 rical and Lay Deputies prepare the journals of this Convention 
 for publication ; and that the said Secretary, with the Rev. Dr. 
 Hobart, the Hon. Rufus King, and Dr. John Onderdonk, be a 
 committee to publish the same, together with the sermon preach- 
 ed at the opening of the Convention, and the pastoral address of 
 the House of Bishops. 
 
 ' On motion, Resolved^ That the thanks of this house be present- 
 ed to the President and Secretarv. 
 
 ISAAC WILKINS, President. 
 Attested. Ashbel Baldwin, Secretary. 
 
 JOURNAL OF THE HOUSE OF BISHOPS. 
 
 ^ City of New Haven^ Tuesday , 3Iay 21, 1811. 
 THIS being the day appointed by the constitution of the 
 Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, for 
 the meeting of the General Convention of said church; and 
 agreeably to a resolve of the last General Convention of the 
 church, in the city of Baltimore, the city of New Haven being ap- 
 pointed the place of meeting, the Right Rev. Bishop AVhite, of 
 Pennsylvania, andthe Right Rev. Bishop Jarvis, of Connecticut, 
 met in Trinity Church, in the aforesaid city. It appeared that 
 Bishop Claggett, who engaged to open the Convention with a 
 sermon, had left his place of residence, on his way to this city, 
 but was obliged by indisposition to return. 
 
 The Right Rev. Bishop Provoost, and the Right Rev. Bishop 
 Moore, were prevented from attending by bodily disability, and 
 the Right Rev. Bishop Madison by engagements, which, in his 
 estimation, did not admit of being dispensed with at this time. 
 
 The House of Bishops received a communication from the 
 House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, by the Rev. Dr. Bend, in- 
 forming them that they were organized, and ready to proceed to 
 business. Dr. Bend was desired to inform the House of Clerical 
 and Lay Deputies, that the House of Bishops was also ready. 
 
 This house was informed by the Rev. Dr. Kemp, that it was 
 the desire of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, that the 
 House of Bishops would provide one of their own order to deliver 
 a sermon to-morrow morning at ten o'clock. They returned for 
 answer, that the Right Rev. Bishop White would deliver a dis- 
 course at the afore-mentioned time. 
 
 Resolved, That this house attend divine service with the Hous^- 
 •f Clerical and Lay Deputies, during the session. 
 
278 
 
 Resolved^ That this house adjourn to 9 o'clock to-mortow 
 morning, to meet in the State House. 
 
 Wednesday^ 9 o*clock^ A, M* 
 
 Met according to adjournment. Present as yesterday. 
 
 This house was informed, by the Kev. Dr. Hubbard, that the 
 House of Clerical and Lay Deputies were ready to proceed to 
 church for divine service. This house joined the procession, and 
 went to Trinity church. The Rev. Mr. Wilkins read prayers, 
 and the Right Rev. Bishop White delivered a sermon. After 
 divine service they returned to the State House. 
 
 Resolved^ That the Rev. Philo Shelton act as Secretary to thi^s 
 house. 
 
 A message was received, by the Rev. Dr. Bend, from the Hou^e 
 of Clerical and Lay Deputies, that they returned the thanks of that 
 house to the Right Rev. Bishop White, for his sermon delivered 
 this day before the Convention, and that he be requested to fur- 
 nish a copy for publication. 
 
 Their request was complied with. 
 
 This house adjourned to 9 o'clock to-morrow morning. 
 
 Thursday^ 9 o'clock^ A. M, 
 
 Met according to adjournment. Present as yesterday. 
 At 10 o'clock this house joined the procession of Clerical andi 
 Lay Deputies, and went to Trinity church, where divine service 
 was read by the Rev. Dr. Pilmore, and a sermon delivered by the 
 Rev. Dr. Wharton ; they then returned to the State House, and 
 resumed their business. 
 
 This house received from the House of Clerical and Lay De- 
 puties, the testimonials in favour of the Rev. John Henry Hobart, 
 D. D. as Bishop elect for the diocese of New York ; also testimo- 
 nials in favour of the Rev. Alexander Viets Griswold, for the 
 churches of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and 
 Vermont. 
 
 In reference to the election of the Rev. John H. Hobart, D. D. 
 there was laid before this house the following letter froixi the 
 Right Rev. Bishop Moore. 
 
 " New York^ May 18, 1811. 
 ** Brethren, 
 
 ** You will perceive by the proceedings of the Convention 
 lately held in this state, that the Rev. Dr. John Henry Hobart 
 has been elected assistant Bishop in this diocese. My design ia 
 addressing these few lines to you, is to express my heart-felt ap- 
 probation of the above measure. 
 
 ** Your affectionate brother, 
 
 "BENJAMIN MOORE. 
 " By his son Clement C. Moore. 
 •*' To the Right Rev. the Bishops of the Protestant Episcopal 
 Church in the United States of America, assembled in General 
 Convention, at New Haven, in Connecticut." 
 
279 
 
 It not ap]itaving on the faee of thfc testimonials of the Rev. 
 Alexander V. Griswold, how tar the iJonvention of the churches, 
 for which he was elected, had given their respective sanctions to 
 his election, this house sent the following message to the House of 
 Clerical and Lay Deputies. 
 
 " The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies are informed by 
 the House of Bishops, that they desire an interview with the de- 
 puties of the churches in those states in which the Rev, Alexan- 
 der V. Griswold has been elected to the episcopal chair." 
 
 In consequence of the above message, there appeared frorti the 
 House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, a delegation from Massachu- 
 setts, New Hampshire, and Vermont, which gave this house satis- 
 faction, that the Rev. Alexander V. Griswold was unanimously 
 elected by the Convention of the church in Massachusetts, and so 
 far as the election affected the church in the other states, it was 
 concurred in by their respective Conventions, and reported to their 
 several constituents, and approved of by them. With this evi- 
 ence the house was satisfied. 
 
 On the subject of the consecration of the Bishops elect, the houM 
 sent the following message to the House of Clerical and Lay De- 
 puties. 
 
 **The House of Bishops inform the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies, that having received from them the testimonials of two 
 reverend gentlemen, elected to the episcopacy, they lament that 
 they cannot proceed to the consecration of those two reverend 
 gentlemen during the session of this Convention, there being only 
 two Bishops present; but they propose (God willing) to carry 
 this design mto effect in the city of New York, as soon as possible 
 after the rising of this Convention." 
 
 The House of Bishops inform the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies, in reference to the object of the appointment of a com- 
 mittee to act in the recess, for the devising of measures for the 
 sending of a Bishop into the western states, that whenever the said 
 business shall be taken up by this Convention, the House of Bi- 
 shops are in possession of some communications which they think 
 worthy of consideration. 
 
 This house adjourned to 9 o'clock to-morrow, A. M» 
 
 Friday y 9 o'clock^ A. M. 
 
 The house, after attending divine service in Trinity church, 
 met in the State House. Present as the day before. 
 
 This house received, by the Rev. Dr. Bend, a message from the 
 House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, with the following resolution : 
 
 " Resolved, That the documents from the House of Bishops 
 relative to the western episcopacy, be returned to them, with the 
 request of this house, that they will take what order upon this 
 subject they may deem adviseable." 
 
 There was laid before this house and read, a letter addressed to 
 koth houses, by the Rev. Dr. Smith, residing in Norwalk, in this 
 
280 
 
 state, relative to a book of music composed by him, called, " The 
 Churchman's Choral Companion to his Prayer Book." 
 
 Resolved^ That the said letter be communicated to the House 
 of Clerical and Lay Deputies ; which was accordingly done by their 
 Secretary. 
 
 The following message was received, by the Rev. Mr. Davis, 
 from the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies. 
 
 " There was laid before this house, by the House of Bishops, a 
 petition addressed to this Convention, by the Rev. William Smith, 
 D. D. residing in Norwalk, in the state of Connecticut, relative 
 to a book of music composed by him, entitled, ' The Church- 
 man's Choral Companion to his Prayer Book.' 
 
 Resolved^ That it is inexpedient for the Convention to take any 
 order on the subject" 
 
 Resolved^ That in the above resolution this house concur. 
 
 This house received from the House of Clerical and Lay De- 
 puties, a report from the committee appointed at the last General 
 Convention to address the church in the western districts, and for 
 other purposes. 
 
 The following message was sent to the House of Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies : 
 
 " The House of Bishops propose to the House of Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies, the appointment of a committee for further attention 
 to the object of the 4th resolution (recorded page 14* in the jour- 
 nal of the last Convention,) and that the Bishops in Pennsylva- 
 nia and Virginia be requested to correspond with each other, 
 for the devising means whereby the congregations in those states 
 westward of the Allegheny mountains may be benefited by any 
 measures to be adopted by the committee, the appointing of which 
 is hereby recommended." 
 
 This house received, by Dr. Kemp, from the House of Clerical 
 and Lay Deputies, the following resolution : 
 
 " Resolved^ That the Bishops in Pennsylvania and Virginia be 
 requested to devise means for supplying the congregations of this 
 church west of the Allegany mountains, with the ministrations and 
 worship of the same, and for organizing the church in the western 
 states, any thing in the STth canon to the contrary notwithstand- 
 ing." 
 
 The above resolution was concurred in by this house. 
 
 This house received, by the Rev. Dr. Hubbard, from the 
 House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, the following resolve : 
 
 " Resolved^ That the presiding Bishop of the House of Bishops 
 be respectfully requested to address a letter, in behalf of this 
 Convention, to the venerable society in England for propagating 
 the gospel in foreign parts, informing them that the church in the 
 state of Vermont is duly organized, and in union with the Pro- 
 testant Episcopal Church of the United States of America, being 
 
 * Page 253 of tliis edition. 
 
281 
 
 placed under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of the diocese of New 
 Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont. That 
 a board of trustees of donations to the church has been incorpo- 
 rated in the state of Massachusetts ; and that, in the opinion of 
 this Convention, the society may safely confide the care of their 
 lands in Vermont to such attorney or attornies as may be recom- 
 mended by the said board of trustees, and approved of by the Ec- 
 clesiastical Convention of Vermont." 
 
 The House of Bishops informed the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies, that the presiding Bishop will, by the providence of 
 Almighty God, perform the services requested of him, in relation 
 to certain lands in Vermont, belonging to the venerable society of 
 England for propagating the gospel. 
 
 This house received from the House of Clerical and Lay Depu- 
 ties a proposed canon, repealing the tGth canon for making known 
 the constitution and canons of the church. 
 
 The House of Bishops concur with tHe House of Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies in the repealing the aforesaid canon. 
 
 The House of Bishops concur with the House of Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies, in the proposed addition to the 8th article of the 
 constitution by them resolved, viz. 
 
 " Resolved^ That the following addition to the 8th article of the 
 constitution, proposed at the last General Convention, be agreed 
 to. 
 
 " 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 Convention." 
 
 This house received from the House of Clerical and Lay De- 
 puties, a resolution on the subject of duelling, in which resolution 
 this house concurred. 
 
 This house adjourned to meet at 7 o'clock, P. M. 
 
 Friday^ 7 o'clock^ P. M, 
 
 The House met according to adjournment. 
 
 This house received from the House of Clerical and Lay De- 
 puties, by the hand of the Rev. Dr. fiend, the following resolu- 
 tion : 
 
 " On motion, Resolved^ That the next meeting of the General 
 Convention be in the city of Philadelphia." 
 
 In the above resolution this house concur. 
 
 This house received from the House of Clerical and Lay De- 
 puties, the following resolve : 
 
 " Resolved^ That this Convention have understood, with satis- 
 faction, that the Convention of the church in Connecticut are en- 
 gaged in obtaining for the episcopal academy in Cheshire, a 
 charter, empowering the trustees to grant degrees ; and this Con- 
 vention do express their earnest wish for the success of this mea- 
 sure." O o 
 
282 
 
 In the above resolve this house concur. 
 
 The House of Bishops, agreeably to the 45th canon, providing 
 for a review of the state of the church, adopted a pastoral ad- 
 dress ; which was sent to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies. 
 
 This house received, by the hands of the Rev. Dr. Hubbard, 
 from the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, a resolve in the 
 following words : 
 
 *^ Resolved^ That the House of Bishops be requtsted to appoint 
 one of their own order to preach a sermon at the opening of the 
 next General Convention." 
 
 This house state to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, 
 that they hope, under the blessing of God, for the attendance of 
 their brother, the Right Rev. Bishop Claggett, at the next Gene- 
 ral Convention, and for his performance of the duty looked lor 
 from him, had his health permitted, at the opening of the present. 
 But should there be a disappointment in this respect, the two Bi- 
 shops now present (God 'willing) intend to provide, by correspon- 
 dence between themselves, or with some one of their Right Reve- 
 rend brethren, for the performance of that duty. 
 
 The house adjourned. 
 
 Signed by Order of the House of Bishops^ 
 
 WILLIAM WHITE, Presiding Bishop. 
 
 Attested. Philo Shelton, Secretary. 
 
 Canon repealing the 46th Canon. 
 
 The 46th canon, providing for making known the constitution 
 and canons of the church, is hereby repealed. 
 
 Additio7i t9 the 8th Article of the Constitution. 
 
 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 Convention. 
 
 House of Clerical arid Lay Deputies^ 
 
 ISAAC WILKINS, President. 
 Ashbel Baldwin, Secretary. 
 
 House of Bishops, 
 
 WILLIAM WHITE, Presiding Bishop. 
 Philo Shelton, Secretary. 
 
 The following Clergy attended the General Convention, and 
 were admitted to the sittings of the Ilottse of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies. 
 
 From Georgia, the Rev. Mr. Bartow. 
 
 From Virginia, the Rev. William Gibson. 
 
 From Maryland, the Rev. Mr. Norris. 
 
 From Nexv Jersey, the Rev. Simon Wilmer. 
 
283 . 
 
 From New Tork^ the Rev. Thomas Lyell, Rev. Samuel F. 
 Jarvis. 
 
 From Connecticut^ the Rev. Elijah G. Plumb, Rev. Benjamin 
 Benham, Rev. Daniel Burhans, Rev. Richard Mansfield, D. D. 
 Rev. Calvin White, Rev. Russcl "Wheeler, Rev. Virgil H. Barber, 
 Rev. Truman Marsh, Rev. Chauncy Prindle, Rev. Tillotson Bron- 
 son, Rev. Joseph D. Welton, Rev. Roger Searle, Rev. Menzies 
 Rayner, Rev. Smith Miles, Rev. John Tyler, Rev. Charles Sea- 
 bury, Rev. Solomon Blakely, Rev. David Baldwin, Rev. Daniel 
 M'Donald, Rev. Isaac Jones. 
 
 Fro}n Massachusetts, the Rev. Asa Eaton. 
 
 List of the Clergy of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the 
 United States of America, 
 
 Delivered in and published agreeably to the canons, 1808. 
 
 Eastern Diocese. 
 Composed of the states of Massachu- 
 setts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire 
 and Vermont. 
 Tlie Rig-ht Rev. Alexander Viets Gris- 
 wold. Bishop. 
 
 i'Wto Hampshire. 
 
 The Rev. Charles Burroug-hs, Deacon, 
 
 St. Jolin's church, Portsmouth. 
 
 John H. Fowlc, Rector of 
 
 church, Holdernesse. 
 
 Daniei Barber, Rector of 
 
 chureh, Clermont. 
 
 Mr. Catlin, officiates at Plainfield. 
 
 — — Samuel Mead. 
 
 JMassdchusetts. 
 The Rev. John Sylvester I. Gardiner, 
 Rector of Trinity church, Boston 
 
 Asa Eaton, Rector of Christ church, 
 
 Boston. 
 
 Nathaniel Fisher, Rector of St. 
 
 Peter's church, Salem. 
 
 James Bowers, Rector of St. Mi- 
 
 chad's church, Marblehead. 
 
 William Montag-ue, Rector of St. 
 
 Paid's church, Dedliam. 
 
 James Morss, Rector of St. Paul's 
 
 church, Nev/buryport. 
 Amos Purdy, Hector of St. Luke's 
 
 church, Lanesboroutrh. 
 Griswold, Rector of St. James's 
 
 church. Great Barrington, and the 
 
 chui-ch at Lenox. 
 St. Michael's church, Scituate, and St. 
 
 Peter's, Marshfield, vacant. 
 St. Ann's church, Gardiner, vacant. 
 The church at Portland vacant. 
 The clnirch at Hanover vacant. 
 
 Rhode Island. 
 The Right Rev. AlexjinderV. Griswold, 
 Rector of St. Michael's church, Bristol. 
 
 The Rev. Nathan B. Crocker, Rector 
 of St. John's church. Providence. 
 
 Salmon Wheaton, Rector of Tri- 
 nity church, Newport. 
 
 Vermont. 
 The Rev. Abraham Brunson, Manches- 
 ter and Arlington. 
 
 Parker Adams, Deacon, Vergei*- 
 
 nes, Middlehuiy, and Charlotte. 
 
 Connecticut. 
 The Riglit Rev. Abraham Jarvis, D. D. 
 
 Bisliop. 
 The Rev. Tillotson Bronson, Principal 
 
 of tlie Episcopal Academy, Ches- 
 
 hire. 
 
 Ricliard Mansfield, D. D. Rector of 
 
 Christ church, Derby, and the 
 churches of Oxford and Great Hill. 
 
 Bela Hubbard, D. D. Rector of 
 
 Trinity church. New Haven, and 
 Cln-ist church, SVest Haven. 
 
 John Tylei-, Rector of Christ church, 
 
 Norwich. 
 
 Daniel Fog-g-, Rector of . — -. 
 
 church, Pomfret. 
 
 Philo Shelton, Rector of Trinity 
 
 chiu-cli. Fail-field, St. John's church, 
 Stratfield, and the church at Wes- 
 ton. 
 
 Ashbel Baldwin, Rect<)r of Christ's 
 
 church, Stratford, and Trinity 
 chiu-ch, Trumbull. 
 
 Chauncy Prindle, Rector of the 
 
 churches of Oxford and Salem. 
 
 Reuben Ives, Rector of St. Peter's 
 
 church, Cheshire, .and ofliciating in 
 the churches in Hambden and Wal- 
 lingford 
 
 Truman Marsh, Rector of the As- 
 sociated churches in Litchfield. 
 Daniel Burhans, Rector of Trinity 
 
284 
 
 cliurcli, Newtown, and St. Luke's, 
 
 Brookfield, 
 The Rev. Solomon Blakesley, Rector of 
 
 St. Stephen's church. East Haddam. 
 — — Charles Seabury, Rector of St. 
 
 James's church. New London. 
 Smith Miles, Rector of the church- 
 es of Chatham, and middle Haddam. 
 .. . Menzies Rayner, Rector of tlie 
 
 church, Hartford. 
 Calvin White, Assistant Minister 
 
 of the church in Derby. 
 
 John Kewley, M. D. Rector of 
 
 Christ church, Middletown. 
 
 Henry Whitlock, Rector of St. 
 
 Paul's church, Norwalk, and the 
 church at Wilton. 
 
 —— Rosier Searel, Rector of St. Peter's 
 church, Plymouth, and St, Mat- 
 thew's, Bristol. 
 
 — ^ Vu-gil H. Barber, Rector of St. 
 Jolm's church, Waterbury. 
 
 Russel Wheeler, Rector of Christ 
 
 church, Watertown. 
 
 ■ ■ Asa Cornwall, Rector of the 
 churches in Simsbury and Granby. 
 
 Elijah G. Plumb, Minister of the 
 
 churches in Reading^, Danbury, and 
 Ridgefield. 
 . I ' Benjamin Benham, Rector of St. 
 John's church, New Milford, and 
 the churches of New Preston and 
 Bridgewater, 
 
 David Baldwin, Rector of the 
 
 churches of Guildford and North 
 Bristol. 
 
 — — Joseph D. Welton, officiating in the 
 churches of Woodbury, Roxbury, 
 and Bettilehem. 
 
 Sturgis Gilbert, officiating in the 
 
 churches of Kent and Sharon. 
 
 — — Daniel M'Donald, Deacon, an As- 
 sistant Instructor in the Episcopal 
 Academy, Cheshire. 
 .. Nathaniel Huse, Deacon, officiating 
 at Warehouse Point. 
 
 William Smith, D. D. resident at 
 
 Norwalk. 
 
 JVeiu York. 
 
 The Right Rev. Samuel Provobst, D, D. 
 Bishop. 
 
 Benjamin Moore, D. D. Bishop. 
 
 John Henry Hobart, D. D. Bishop. 
 
 The Kev. Amos G. Baldwin, Rector of 
 Trinity church, Utica, 
 
 Theodosius B..artow, Rector of 
 
 Trinity church. New Rochelle. 
 
 rdmund D. Bariy, Principal of the 
 
 Protestant Episcopal • Academy, 
 New York ; officiating at St. Mat- 
 tliew's churcli, city of Jersey. 
 
 . Abraham Beach, D. D. Assistant 
 
 Rector of Trinity church, New York. 
 
 — »— Wilham Berriuii, Deacon, residing 
 
 in New York; officiating atBelville, 
 New Jersey. 
 The Rev. John Bowden, D. D. Professor 
 of Rhetoric and Moral Philosophy 
 in Columbia College. 
 
 Natlianael Bowen, Rector of 
 
 Grace church, New York. 
 
 David Butler, Rector of St. Paul's 
 
 church, Troy, and Trinity church, 
 Lansinburgh. 
 
 Barzillai Bulkeley, Rector of St. 
 
 George's church. Flushing, Long 
 Island. 
 
 Nathan B. Burgess, Caroline clvurch, 
 
 Brookhaven, Long Island. 
 . WUUam Clark, Deacon, Missionary. 
 
 Timothy Clowes, Deacon, St. Pe- 
 ter's church, Albany. 
 
 Elias Cooper, Rector of St. John's 
 
 church, Yonkers. 
 Joab G. Cooper, Christ church, 
 
 Hudson, Columbia county. 
 Adam Empie, Deacon, Hempstead, 
 
 Long Island. 
 Henry I. Feltus, Rector of St. Ann's 
 
 church, Brooklyn, Long Island. 
 
 Samuel Fuller, beacon, Missionary. 
 
 Feltch, churches at Bedford 
 
 and North Castle, West Chester co. 
 
 - William Harris, Rector of St. 
 Mark's church. New York. 
 
 Setli Hart, Rector of St. George's 
 
 church, Hempstead, and Christ 
 church. North Hempstead, Long 
 Island. 
 
 Samuel Haskill, Rector of Christ 
 
 church. Rye, West Chester county. 
 
 Thomas Y. How, an Assistant Mi- 
 nister of Trinity chui'ch, New York. 
 
 Hubbard, Duanesborough. 
 
 — — Samuel F. Jarvis, St. Micliael's 
 church, Bloomingdale, New York. 
 
 Cave Jones, an assistant minister 
 
 of Trinity church, New York. 
 
 Jonathan .Tudd, Rector of St. John's 
 
 church, Johnstown, and St. Ann's 
 church. Fort Hunter, Montgomery 
 county. 
 
 Thomas Lyell, Rector of Christ 
 
 church. New York. 
 
 Richard C. Moore, D. D. Rector of 
 
 St. Stephen's church. New York. 
 
 David Moore, Deacon, St. Andrew's 
 
 church, Staten Island. 
 
 Daniel Nash, Rector of St. John's 
 
 church, Otsego, St. Luke's, Rich- 
 field, Harmony church, Butternutts, 
 andotlier churches in Otsego co. 
 
 Samuel Nesbit, residing in New 
 
 York. 
 
 Joseph Perry, Christ church. Ball- 
 town. 
 
 Davenport Phelps, IMission.ary in 
 
 the western part of the state. 
 
285 
 
 Tlie Rev. Joseph Prentice, Rector of 
 Trinity churcli, Athens, Greene co. 
 1 ■ WiUiam Powell, Deacon, St. An- 
 drew's church, Coldenhum, Orange 
 county. 
 
 ■ Jolin Reed, Rector of Christ 
 
 church, Poughkeepsie, Dutchess 
 county. 
 
 Gilbert H. Sayres, Deacon, Grace 
 
 cliurch, Jamaica, Long Island. 
 
 Cyrus Stcbbins, Rector of St. 
 
 George's church, Schenectady. 
 
 ■ George Su-ebeck, residing in New 
 York. 
 
 - John Urquhart, Peekskill and 
 Phihp's Town, Dutchess county. 
 
 — — E'rederick Van Home, residmg at 
 
 Coldeuliam. 
 Isaac Wilkins, Rector of St. Peter's 
 
 church, West Chester, and St. 
 
 Paul's chui'ch. East Chester. 
 Ralph M^illiston, Deacon, Zion 
 
 church, New York. 
 — — William E. A\'yatt, Deacon, St. 
 
 James's church, Newtown, Long 
 
 Island. 
 
 JVew Jersey. 
 
 The Rev. Charles H. Wharton, D. D- 
 Rector of St. Mary's church, Bur- 
 lington. 
 - John Croes, Rector of Christ 
 church. New Brunswick, and St 
 Peter's church, Spotswood. 
 
 Joseph Willard, Rector of Trinity 
 
 church, Newark. 
 
 John C. Rudd, Rector of St. 
 
 John's church, Ehzabethtown. 
 
 Simon Wilmer, Rector of Trinity 
 
 church, Swedesborough. 
 
 James Chapman, St. Peter's church, 
 
 Perth Amboy. 
 
 Daniel Higbee, St. Andrew's church, 
 
 • Mount Holly, & St Mary's cliurch, 
 Colestown. 
 
 John Croes, jun. Deacon, officiating 
 
 in St. Peter's church, Freehold, 
 Christ church, Shrewsbuiy, and 
 Christ church, Middletown. 
 
 Pennsylvania. 
 
 The Right Rev. William White, D. D. 
 Bishop. 
 
 The Rev. Samuel Magaw, D. D. 
 
 — — John Andrews, D. D. Provost of 
 the University of Pennsylvania. 
 
 Robert Blackwell, D. D. 
 
 Joseph Hutchins, D. D. 
 
 James Abercrombie, D. D. Assistant 
 
 Minister of Christ church, St. Pe- 
 ter's and St. James's, Philadelphia. 
 
 ■ Joseph Pilmore, D. D. Rector of 
 
 St. Paul's church, Philadelphia 
 
 William Ayres. 
 
 Slator Clay, Rector of St. James's, 
 
 Perkiomen, and St Peter's in Ute 
 Valley 
 The Rev, Joseph Clarkson, Rector of St 
 James's, Lancaster, St. John's* 
 church, Pcquca, ^iiid Bangor 
 church, Carnarvon. 
 
 Robert Ayres. 
 
 Francis Reno, Westmoi-eland coun- 
 Joseph Turner, Rector of St. Mar- 
 tin's church, Marcus Hook. 
 — — Caleb Hopkins, Rector of Christ 
 chui-ch, Derry townsliip, and Christ 
 church, Tuabut township, North- 
 umberland county. 
 
 Thomas Davis, Somerset county. 
 
 James Wiltbank, Rector of Trini- 
 ty church, Oxford, and All Saints, 
 Pequeston. 
 
 — — Absalom Jones (a black man,) 
 Rector of tlie African church of 
 St. Thomas, Philadelphia. 
 
 John Taylor, Rectfcr of the Epis- 
 copal church in Pittsburgh. 
 
 Levi Bull, Rector of St. Gabriel's 
 
 church, Berks county, and St. Ma- 
 ry's, Chester county. 
 
 Joseph Hulbert Turner, A. M. 
 
 Deacon. 
 
 Jackson Kemper, Deacon, As- 
 sistant Minister of Christ church, 
 St. Peter's and St James's, Phila- 
 delphia. 
 
 Dela-vare. 
 
 03° No list of the Clergy was received 
 
 from tliis state. 
 
 Maryland. 
 
 The Right Rev. Thomas Johit Claggett, 
 D. D. Bishop. 
 
 ♦The Rev. Benjamin Contee, Rector of 
 William and Mary, Charles county. 
 
 John "Weems, Rector of Port To- 
 bacco parish, Charles county. 
 
 William Swan, residing in Port To- 
 bacco, Charles comity. 
 
 — '— William Duncan, Rector of Dur- 
 ham, Charles county- 
 
 Nicholas W. Lane, residing in 
 
 Calvert county. 
 
 — — Thomas Scott, Rectcfr of Queen 
 Anne's, Prince George's county. 
 
 • Bethel Judd, A. M. principal of 
 
 St. John's college, and Rector of 
 St. Anne's parish, Anne Arundel 
 county. 
 
 . Ralph Higinbothom, vice princi- 
 pal, residing in Annapolis, Anne 
 Arundel county. 
 
 John W. Compton, Rector of St 
 
 James's parish, Anne Arundel co. 
 William Hind, Rector of Marga- 
 ret, Westmoreland? Anne Arundel 
 county. 
 
286 
 
 The Rev. Oliver ?s orris, Rector of Queen 
 Cra-oline, Anne Arundel county. 
 
 Walter D. Addison, Ractor of St. 
 
 John's, Territory of Columbia. 
 
 - Andrew T. M'Coi'mick, Rector of 
 Washingto , Territory of Cohimbi.i. 
 
 Thomas Read, Hector of Prince 
 
 Georg-c's, Montgomery county. 
 
 John Chandler, Rector of St. Pe- 
 ter's, Montgomery county. 
 
 — — George Bower, Rector of St. John's, 
 Montgomery county. 
 
 George Bower, Rectov of St. John's, 
 
 Washington county. 
 
 * Joseph G. J. Bend, D. D. Associ- 
 ate Rector of St. Paul's parish, Bal- 
 timore county. 
 
 Frederic Beasley, Associate Rec- 
 tor of St. Paul's parish, Balti- 
 more county. 
 
 George Ralph, A. M. residing in 
 
 St. Paul's parish, Baltimore county. 
 
 Henry Moscrop, residing in St. 
 
 Paul's parish, Baltimore count}'. 
 
 * George Dashiell, Rector of St. 
 
 Peter's, Baltimore county. 
 
 John Coleman, Rector of St. 
 
 James's, Baltimore county. 
 
 George D. Handy, Rector of St. 
 
 John's, Harford county. 
 
 John Allen, Rector of St. George's, 
 
 Harford county. 
 
 * Henry L. Davis, Rector of St. Ste- 
 phen's, Cecil county. 
 
 William Duke, residing in Elkton, 
 
 Cecil county. 
 
 William H. Wilmer, Rector of 
 
 Charlestown, Kent count)% 
 
 Daniel Stephen's, Rector of St. 
 
 Luke's, Queen Anne's county. 
 
 *- Joseph Jackson, St. Peter's, Tal- 
 bot county, 
 
 James Kemp. D. D. Rector of 
 
 Great Choptank, Dorchester co. 
 
 ' — r- William M.Stone, Rector of Step- 
 ney, Somerset county. 
 
 The Rev. James Laird, Rector of So- 
 merset. Somerset countv. 
 
 David Ball. Rector of All Hallows, 
 
 Worcester county. 
 
 Virginia. 
 The Right Rev. James Madison, D,D 
 
 Bishop. 
 (Xj' No list of the Clergj- was received 
 from tliis state. 
 
 Sotith Carolina. 
 The Rev. Theodore Dehon, D. D. Rec- 
 tor of St Michael's church, Cliarles- 
 ton. 
 
 James D. Simons, Rector of St. 
 
 Philip's. 
 
 Christopher Edward Gadsden, As- 
 sistant Minister of St. Philip's 
 church, Charleston. 
 
 M'illiam Percy, Rector of the 3d 
 
 . Episcopal church, Charleston. 
 
 Thomas Mills, D. D. Rector of St 
 
 Andrew's parish. 
 
 Andrew Fowler. 
 
 ftnowden. Rector of St. Ste 
 
 phen's parish. 
 
 John T. Tsheudy, Rector of Clare- 
 
 montparisl). 
 
 Solomon Hailing, Rector of Prince 
 
 Grt;orge Winyah, Georgetown. 
 
 John Barnwell Campbell, Rector of 
 
 St. Helena's church, Beaufort. 
 
 Hugh Frazer, Rector of Prince 
 
 Frederick's parish. 
 
 Joseph Warren, Rector of the Epis- 
 copal church on Edisto Island. 
 
 Clergymen in the state not having cures. 
 
 The Rev. Thomas Gates, D. D, 
 
 Milward Pogson. 
 
 P.aul T. Gervais. 
 
 Galen Hicks. 
 
 Georgia, 
 The Rev. John V. Bartow, Rector of 
 Christ church, Savannah. 
 
 This mark * denotes members of the standing committee. 
 
 On Wednesday, the 29th day of May, in Trinity Church, in 
 the city of New York, the Right Rev. Bishop "White, of Penn- 
 sylvania, being presiding Bishop, the Right Rev. Bishop Pro- 
 voost, of New York, and the Right Rev. Bishop Jarvis, of 
 Connecticut, being present, and assisting, the Rev. John Henry 
 Hobart, D. D. of New York, and the Rev. Alexander V. Gris- 
 wold, of Bristol, Rhode Island, were consecrated Bishops : the 
 former for the diocese of New York, and the latter for the east- 
 ern diocese, composed of the states of Massachusetts, Rhode 
 Island, New Hampshire, and Vermont. 
 
287 
 
 The following are the certificates of consecration : 
 Know all men by these presents, that we, William White, D. D. 
 Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the state of Penn- 
 sylvania, presiding Bishop; Samuel Provoost, D. D. Bishop of 
 the Protestant Episcopal Church in the state of New York ; and 
 Abraham Jarvis, D. D. Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal church 
 in the state of Connecticut, under the protection of Almighty 
 God, in Trinity Church, in the city of New York, on Wednes- 
 day, the twenty-ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord one 
 thousand eight hundred and eleven, did then and there rightly 
 and canonically consecrate our beloved in Christ, Jc^hn Henry 
 Hobart, D. D. an Assistant Minister of Trinity Church in the 
 city of New York, of whose sufficiency in good learning, sound- 
 ness in the faith, and purity of manners we were fully ascertain- 
 ed, into the office of Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church 
 in the state of New York, to which he hath been elected by the 
 Convention of said state ; to assist the Bishops of the church in 
 said state in the duties of the Episcopal office, and to succeed in 
 case of survivorship. 
 
 Given in the citi/ of New Tori, this twenty -ninth day of May, 
 in the year of our Lord one thousand ei^ht hundred and eleven. 
 
 WILLIAM WHT'I E. 
 
 SAMUEL PROVOOST. 
 
 ABRAHAM JARVIS. 
 
 Know all men by these presents, that we, William W^hite, D. D, 
 Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the state of Penn- 
 sylvania, presiding Bishop ; Samuel Provoost, D. D. Bishop of 
 the Protestant Episcopal Church in the state of New York ; and 
 Abraham Jarvis, D. D. Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church, 
 in the state of Connecticut, under the protection of Almighty 
 God, in Trinity Church, in the city of New York, on Wednes- 
 day, the twenty-ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord one 
 thousand eight hundred *and eleven, did then and there rightly 
 and canonically consecrate our beloved in Christ, Alexander 
 Viets Griswold, Rector of St. Michael's Church, Rhode Island, 
 of whose sufficiency in good learning, soundness in the faith, and 
 purity of manners we were fully ascertained, into the office ot Bi- 
 shop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Eastern Diocese, 
 composed of the states of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New 
 Hampshire, and Vermont, to which he hath been elected by the 
 Convention of said states. 
 
 Given in the city of New Tork, this twenty-ninth day of May, in 
 the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eleven. 
 
 WILLIAM WHITE. 
 
 SAMUEL PROVOOST. 
 
 ABRAHAM JARVIS. 
 
JOURNAL 
 
 OF THE PROCEEmNGS 
 
 OP THE 
 
 BISHOPS, CLERGY AND LAITY. 
 
 OF THE 
 
 PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 
 
 IN THE 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 
 
 IN A 
 
 GENERAL CONVENTION, 
 
 HELD IN 
 
 'i'hc City ot Philadelphia, from May 17,, to May 24, 1814, 
 
 incKisive. 
 
LIST OF THE MEMBERS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 HOUSE OF CLERICAL AND LAY DEPUTIES, 
 
 Who attended the Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church, 
 in the United States, held in Philadelphia, in May, 1814. . 
 
 CLERICAL DEPUTIES. 
 
 Massachusetts — Rev. John Sylvester J. Gardiner, D. D. Rev. 
 Asa Eaton, Rev. James Morss. 
 
 Vermont — Rev. John P. K. Henshaw. 
 
 Rhode Island — Rev. Salmon Wheaton, Rev. Nathan B. Crocker. 
 
 Connecticut — Rev. Ashbel Baldwin, Rev. Philo Shelton. 
 
 Nexv Tork—Yitv, John Kewley, M. D. Rev. Thomas Y.How, 
 D.D. 
 
 Nexv Jersey — Rev. Charles Wharton, D. D. Rev. John Croes, 
 D. D. Rev. John C. Rudd. 
 
 Pennsylvania — Rev. Joseph Pilmore, D. D. Rev. James Aber- 
 crombie, D. D. Rev. James Wiltbank, Rev. Levi Bull. 
 
 Delaware — Rev. William Pryce, Rev. Robert Clay. 
 
 31aryland — Rev. James Kemp, D. D. Rev. George Dashiell, 
 Rev. William M. Stone, Rev. Daniel Stephens. 
 
 Virginia — Rev. William A. Wilmer, Rev. Oliver Norris, Rev. 
 Hugh C. Boggs. 
 
 South Carolina — Rev. John J. Tsheudy, Rev. Christopher E. 
 Gadsden. 
 
 LAY DEPUTIES. 
 
 3Tassachusetts — John Deane, Esq. 
 
 Rhode Island — Benjamin Gardner, Esq. Abel Jones, Esq. 
 
 Connecticut — Charles Segourney, Esq. 
 
 New York — Hon. Philip S. Van Rensselaer, Dr. John Onder- 
 donk. 
 
 New Jersey — Joshua M. Wallace, Esq. Hon. William Coxe, 
 Joseph Higby, Esq. Josiah Harrison, Esq. 
 
 Pennsylvania — Gen. Francis Gurney, Thomas M'Euen, Esq. 
 John M'Elroy, Esq. Jacob Warren, Esq. 
 
 Delaware — Joseph Burn, Esq. Joseph Reynolds, Esq. 
 
 Maryland — Robert Dunn, Esq. John C. Herbert, Esq. 
 
 Virginia — George Deneale, Esq. Edward M'Guire, Colonel 
 Hugh Mercer. 
 
 Ijist of the Clergy who were admitted to attend the sittings of the 
 Convention of 1814, not being Members of the same. 
 
 Nexu York — Rev- Timothy Clowes, Rev. John Brady, Rev. 
 David Moore. 
 
 Nei.v Jersey — ^Rev. Simon Wilmer. 
 
 Pennsylvania — Rev. Joseph Hutchins, D. D. Rev. Joseph 
 Turner, Rev. Frederic Beasley, D. D. Rev. Jehu C. Clay. 
 
 Maryland — Rev. Henry Lyon Davis, Rev. Purnell F. Smith, 
 Rev. Samuel H. Turner. P p 
 
JOURNAL. 
 
 Philadelphia^ Tuesday^ May 17 th^ 1814. 
 
 THIS being the day appointed for the meeting of the Gene- 
 ral Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United 
 States of America, several Clerical and Liay Deputies attended at 
 12 o'clock, A. M. in St. James's Church, and adjourned to meet 
 at 5 o'clock, P. M. 
 
 Same day, S o'clock, P. M, , 
 
 A quorum of the house appearing, the Secretary of the house 
 in the last Convention acted as Secretary pro tempore. 
 
 The house then proceeded to read the testimonials of the Clerr- 
 cal and Lay Deputies, which were severally approved, and the 
 following gentlemen took their seats in the house : 
 
 From Massachusetts, Rev. John S. J. Gardiner, D. D. Rev. 
 James Morss, and John Deane, Esq. 
 
 From Rhode Island, Rev. Salmon Wheaton, Rev. Nathan B* 
 Crocker, Benjamin Gardner, and Abel Jones, Esquires. 
 
 From Connecticut, Rev. Ashbel Baldwin, Rev. Philo Shelton, 
 and Charles Segournev, Esq. 
 
 From New Tork, Rev. John Kewley, M. D. Rev. Thomas Y. 
 How, D. D. and Hon. Philip S. Van Rensselaer. 
 
 From New Jersey, Rev. Charles H. Wharton, D. D. Rev. 
 John Croes, D. D. Rev John C. Rudd, Joshua M. Wallace, 
 Esq. Hon. William Coxe, and Joseph Higby, Esq. 
 
 From Pennsylvania, Rev. James Wiltbank, Rev. Levi Bull, 
 Rev. James Abercrombie, D. D. Rev. Joseph Pilmore, D. D. 
 Gen. Francis Gurney, Thomas M'Euen and John M'Elroy, 
 Esquires. 
 
 From Delaware, Rev. William Pryce. 
 
 From Virginia, Rev. Hugh C. Boggs. 
 
 From Maryland, Rev. Daniel Stephens, Rev. James Kemp, 
 D. D. Rev. William M. Stone, and 1-iobert Dunn, Esq. 
 
 From South Carolina, Rev. John J. Tsheudy, and Rev. Chris- 
 topher E. Gadsden. 
 
 The house proceeded to the election of a President and Secre- 
 tary, when it appeared that the Rev. John Croes, D. D. was cho- 
 sen President, and the Rev. Ashbel Baldwin, Secretary. 
 
 On motion, Resolved unanimously. That James Milnor, Esq. 
 be invited to assist the Secretary in the duties of his office. 
 
 The following rules of order were then read and adopted : 
 
 1. The business of every day shall be introduced with the morn- 
 ing service of the church. 
 
 2. When the President takes the chair, no member shall conti- 
 nue standing, or shall afterwards stand up, unless to address the 
 chair. 
 
291 
 
 3. No member shall absent himself from the service of the 
 house, unless he have leave, or be unable to attend. 
 
 4. When any member is about to speak in debute, or deliver 
 any matter to the house, he shall, with due respect, address 
 himself to the President, confining himself strictly to the point in 
 debate. 
 
 5. No member shall speak more than twice in the same debate, 
 without leave of the house. 
 
 6. A question being once determined, shall stand as the judg- 
 ment of the house, and shall not be again drawn into debate dur- 
 ing the same session, unless with the consent of two-thirds of the 
 house. 
 
 7. While the President is putting any question, the members 
 shall contifwe in their seats, and shall not hold any private dis- 
 course. 
 
 8. 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 decision. 
 
 9. No motion shall be considered as before the house, unless it 
 be seconded, and, when required, reduced to writing. 
 
 10. When any question is before the house, it shall be deter- 
 mined on before any thing new is introduced, except the question 
 of adjournment. 
 
 11. The question, on a motion for adjournment, shall be taken 
 before any other, and without debate. 
 
 12. "\Vhen the house is about to rise, every member shall keep 
 his seat until the President shall leave his chair. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. How presented a certificate, signed by the Clerk 
 ot the vestry, of the Protestant Episcopal Church, at Lexington, 
 in the state of Kentucky, of the appointment of Mr. John D. 
 Clifford, to represent the church of that state in this Convention, 
 which was read. 
 
 Whereupon, Resolved^ That the Protestant Episcopal Church, 
 in the state of Kentucky, not being organized, and not having in 
 Convention, acceded to the constitution of the Protestant Episco- 
 pal Church in the United States of America, Mr. Clifford cannot 
 be admitted a member of this house, but that he be allowed the 
 privilege of an honorary seat. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Kemp was appointed to inform the House of Bi- 
 shops, that this house was organized, and ready to proceed to 
 business. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Kemp reported that he had performed that ser- 
 vice, and that he was requested by the House of Bishjps, to inform 
 this house, that they also were p'-epared to proceed to business. 
 
 It having been stated that the Rev. Mr. Henshaw, although a 
 yesidejit in Vermont, at the time of his election as a Clerical De- 
 legate from that state, had since removed, and was a resident in 
 another state, it was, on motion, Resolved^ That Mr. Henshtiw 
 be admitted to a seat as a member of this Convention : 
 
292 
 
 And Mr. Henshaw took his seat accordingly. 
 
 On motion, Resolvedy That the Clergy of the Protestant Epis- 
 copal Church, who may be in this city during the sitting of this 
 Convention, and who are not members, be admitted to attend the 
 same, as visitors. 
 
 On motion. Ordered^ That unless otherwise directed, the hour 
 of meeting, be in future, at 9 o'clock, A. M. 
 
 Adjourned. 
 
 Wednesday^ May 18, 1814, St. James's Church. 
 
 The house met. 
 
 The following gentlemen appeared and took their seats in this 
 house : 
 
 From Virginia^ Rev. William 11, Wilmer, Rev. Oliver Norris, 
 George Deneale, Esq. Edward C. M'Guire, and Colonel Hugh 
 Mercer. 
 
 From Maryland^ Rev. George Dashiell, John C. Herbert, Esq. 
 
 From Delaxvare^ Joseph Burn, and Joseph Reynolds, Esqrs. 
 
 From Massachusetts^ Rev- Asa Eaton. 
 
 From Pennsylvania^ Jacob Warren, Esq. 
 
 From New Tork^ Dr. John Onderdonk. 
 
 A certified extract from the minutes of the Convention of the 
 Protestant Episcopal Church of the state of Virginia, stating the 
 election by that body of the Rev. Richard Channing Moore, as 
 Bishop of that diocess, was presented and read. 
 
 Whereupon, Resolved^ That the members of this house do now 
 proceed to sign the testimonials required by the canons, in favour 
 of the Rev. Richard Channing Moore, D. D. in order to his conse- 
 cration as Bishop of the diocese of Virginia ; which was accord- 
 ingly done, and the certificate in proper form transmitted to the 
 House of Bishops. 
 
 The house then rose for the purpose of attending divine ser- 
 vice, and sermon by the Right Rev. Bishop Hobart, on occasion 
 of the meeting of this Convention, and the consecration of the 
 Rev. Dr. Moore. After which the house resumed their session ; 
 and it was, 
 
 On motion. Resolved unanimously^ That the thanks of this Con- 
 vention be communicated to Bishop Hobart, for his appropriate 
 and excellent sermon, and that he be requested to furnish a copy 
 of the same, for pttblication. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Wharton was appointed to communicate the 
 foregoing resolution to the House of Bishops, for their concur- 
 rence, and if concurred in by them, to wait upon the Right Rev. 
 Bishop Hobart with the same. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Wharton reported that he had performed the ser- 
 vices assigned him ', that the resolution had been concurred in by 
 the House of Bishops, and communicated to Bishop Hobart ; who 
 promised to comply with the request of the Convention. 
 
 On motion, Resolved, That a committee, consisting of one 
 
293 
 
 member from each state represented in this house, be appointed to 
 examine the Journals of the different State Conventions, Episco- 
 pal charges, addresses, and pastoral letters, which have been or 
 may be, laid before this house during the present session, to mafce 
 enquiry into the state of the church iu each diocese, and into the 
 attention paid to the canons and rules of the church ; to draw up 
 a view of the state of the church, and report the same to the 
 house, agreeably to the 45th canon. 
 
 The following gentlemen were appointed to compose said com- 
 mittee : 
 
 From Massachusetts — Rev. Dr. Gardiner. 
 
 Vermont — Rev. Mr. Henshaw. 
 
 Rhode Island — Rev. Mr. Wheaton. 
 
 Connecticut — Rev. Mr. Shelton. 
 
 New Tork — Rev. Dr. How. 
 
 Nero Jersey — Rev. Mr. Rudd. 
 
 Pennsijlvania — Rev. Dr. Abercrombie. 
 
 Delaxvare — Rev. Mr. Pryce. 
 
 Virginia — Rev. Mr. Wilmer. 
 
 South Carolina — Rev. Mr. Tsheudy. 
 Divine service and sermon having been announced as intended 
 to take place in this church to-morrow morning, at 10 o'clock, the 
 house agreed to meet at that time for the purpose of attending the 
 same, and immediately afterwards to proceed to the transaction 
 of business. Adjourned. 
 
 Thursday^ May 19th^ 1814. 
 
 The house attended divine service in St. James's Church. Di- 
 vine service was performed by the Rev. Simon Wilmer, and a 
 sermon preached by the Rev. Dr. How. 
 
 After divine service the house met. 
 
 Josiah Harrison, Esq. a Lay Delegate from New Jersey, ap- 
 peared and took his seat. 
 
 On motion, Resolved unanimously^ That at the next General 
 Convention, and at all future Conventions, the session shall be 
 opened, in addition to the prayers and sermon, usual on such oc- 
 casions, with the celebration of the Lord's Supper ; in which re- 
 solution the House of Bishops concurred. 
 
 The following resolution was submitted for consideration by 
 Mr. Herbert, and ordered to lie on the table. 
 
 Resolved^ That the following clause be added as an amendment 
 to the 9th canon : 
 
 " Provided always, That the Bishop, with the advice and con- 
 sent of two-thirds of the standing committee, may dispense with 
 the knowledge of the Latin and Greek languages in candidates for 
 Deacon's orders." 
 
 The following documents were laid before the house, ia com- 
 pliance Wit the 45th canon : 
 
 From Massachusetts, a certified copy from the records of the 
 church of that state, up to the year 1813, inclusive. 
 
294 
 
 From Rhode Island, a certified abstract of the returns made to 
 the Convention ot the church in that state. 
 
 From Connecticut, a printed journal of the proceedings of the 
 Convention of that diocese, for the years 1811, 1812 and 1813. 
 
 From New York, printed journals from the year 1785, to the 
 year 1813, inclusive. 
 
 From New Jersey, printed journals for the years 1811, 1812, 
 and 1813, and a report containing the substance of the three 
 journals. 
 
 From Pennsylvania, printed journals for the years 1811, 1812, 
 and 1813. 
 
 From Maryland, printed journals for the years 1811, 1812, 
 and 1813. 
 
 From Virginia, journals up to the year 1813, inclusive. 
 
 From South Carolina, journals up to the year 1813, inclusive. 
 
 The following resolution was communicated by the House of 
 Bishops, as adopted by them, in which they requested the con- 
 currence of this house : 
 
 Resolved^ That the journals of the General Convention of the 
 Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, 
 from the commencement of the said Conventions, together with 
 an appendix, containing the constitution and canons of the church, 
 be published under the superintendance of the Bishop of this 
 church in Pennsylvania; provided a number be engaged for, suf- 
 ficient for the encouragement of a bookseller : which resolution 
 was read, and concurred in by this house. 
 
 Mr. Higby asked for, and obtained leave of absence during the 
 remainder of the session. 
 
 Adjourned until to-morrow morning at 10 o'clock. 
 
 Fridaxj^ May 20th, 1814. 
 
 The house attended divine service in St. James's Church. 
 The President performed divine service, and the Right Rev. Bi- 
 shop Griswold preached a sermon. 
 
 After divine service the house met. 
 
 The Rev. Robert Clay, a Clerical Delegate from the state of 
 Delaware, appeared and took his seat. 
 
 Mr. Wallace asked, and obtained leave of absence for Mr. 
 Coxe, during the remainder of the session. 
 
 The following resolution was offered by the Rev. Mr. Gadsden, 
 and ordered to lie on the table until to-morrow. 
 
 Resolved, That with the consent of the House of Bishops, a 
 joint committee of both houses be appointed, to take into consi- 
 deration, the institution of a theological seminary, and if they 
 should deem the same expedient, to report a plan for the raising 
 of funds, and generally for the accomplishment of the object. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Bishops, communi- 
 cating a declaration of that house, explanatory of the 19tU canon 
 so far as concerns the place of officiating and the dress of Lay 
 Readers, which was read and returned to said house. 
 
295 
 
 A message was received from the House of Bishops, communi- 
 cating a declaration, propose-d to be made by this Convention, of 
 the identity of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the United 
 States of America, with the body heretofore known by the name of 
 the Church of England ; and of the present entire independence of 
 the former, of the civil and ecclesiastical authority of any foreign 
 country : which declaration was concurred in, and returned to the 
 House of Bishops. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Bishops, commu- 
 nicating a canon, which had been adopted by that house, entitled, 
 *' A canon altering and explaining the 29th canon, concerning the 
 election and institution of Ministers ;" in which they requested the 
 concurrence of this house : on motion it was ordered to lie on the 
 table. 
 
 Mr. Bums asked for, and obtained leave of absence, during the 
 remainder of the session. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Bishops, transmit- 
 ting a proposition for directing the Bishop, or other ecclesiastical 
 authority in each state or diocese, to furnish themselves with a 
 copy or copies of the book of homilies, and requiring the same to 
 be studied by candidates for the ministry : which on motion was 
 ordered to lie on the table. 
 
 Adjourned, until 10 o'clock, to-morrow morning. 
 
 Saturday^ May 21, 1814. 
 
 The house attended divine service in St. James's church. The 
 Rev. Mr. Wheaton performed divine service, and the Right Rev. 
 Bishop Dehon, preached a sermon. 
 After divine service, the house met. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Henshaw asked for, and obtained leave of ab- 
 sence, until Tuesday next. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Wilmer proposed the following resolution : 
 Resolved^ That the next session of the General Convention be 
 
 hold en at . 
 
 On motion, the said resolution was laid on the table. 
 The committee appointed to examine the journals of the differ^ 
 ent state Conventions, episcopal charges, addresses and pastoral 
 letters, and to draw up a view of the state of the church, made re- 
 port as follows : 
 
 The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, in compliance with 
 the requisitions of the 45th canon, have taken a general view of the 
 sfate of the church, and respectfully offer to the House of Bishops, 
 the result' of their inquiries. From these observations, and the 
 accompanying documents, it is hoped, that the House of Bishops 
 will be able to comply with the requisition of the above mentioned 
 canon, in regard to a Pastoral letter. 
 
 Eastern Diocese. 
 NeHi) Hampshire. 
 The church in this state appears to be stationary ; no material 
 
296 
 
 alteration having taken place for several years past. The congre- 
 gations, though not numerous, are attached to the worship of the 
 church, and perform their devotional exercises with order and re- 
 gularity. 
 
 31assachus€tts. 
 
 In this state, the general appearance of the church is highly flat- 
 tering. Two new church edifices have been erected ; new congre- 
 gations have been formed ; and some of the former ones consi- 
 derably enlarged. A growing zeal for the cause of religion, and 
 an attachment to the interests of the church, are visible in many 
 parts of the state, and promise increasing prosperity. Though 
 some instances have occurred, in which the rubricks and canons 
 have not been regarded, it is believed that such instances are less 
 frequent than on former occasions, and that an attachment to the 
 prescribed order and worship of the church, is daily increasing. 
 
 Rhode Island. 
 
 The state of the church in this part of the Eastern Diocese, is 
 also flourishing. The congregations are all, except one, large and 
 prosperous. Some have much increased, both in the number of 
 families and the number of communicants ; order and regularity 
 generally prevail, and every deviation from the established regu- 
 lations of the church, meets with decided disapprobation. 
 
 Vermont, 
 
 The great question, in regard to the church lands in this state, 
 yet remains undecided. Consequently, the difficulty of providing 
 support for a sufficient number of pious and active Clergymen, 
 presents an insuperable obstacle to the growth of the church here. 
 The labours, however, of those two or three Clergymen who have 
 officiated here, have in general been crowned with success, and 
 several congregations formed which are zealous and flourishing. 
 
 Eastehn Diocese, — Generally, 
 
 From the returns made by the Bishop of the Eastern Diocese, 
 composed of the above mentioned states, it appears that there 
 have been since the last General Convention, the following ordi- 
 nations, viz : the Rev. I'arker Adams, Rev. Charles Burroughs, 
 Rev. Nathanael Huse, (for Connecticut.) — Priests. Aaron Hum- 
 phrey, John Prentice, John P. K. lienshaw, Evan Malbone John- 
 son, (for Connecticut,) and Titus Strong, Deacons. 
 
 The number of confirmations, in three years, have been 1504^.— 
 The Rev. Joab G. Cooper has been instituted rector of the church 
 in Hanover, and the Rev. Charles Burroughs, rector of the church 
 in Portsmouth, (N. H.) — Six persons have been admitted as can- 
 didates, for holy orders. 
 
 Connecticut. 
 
 The church in this state app'tars to be increasing in num- 
 bers, and in vital religion. Though frowned upon in the re- 
 moval of her venerable Bishop, by death, yet the diocese conti- 
 
297 
 
 nues regular in holding Conventions, and in a due attention to 
 the canons ot the church. The Clergy are zealous in the discharge 
 of their duties. The vacancy of the episcopate, it is believed, will 
 be filled, as soon as provision is made for its support. This de- 
 sirable object is in a train favourable to its accomplishment, in the 
 establishment of a permanent fund. Several new church edifices 
 have been erected, since the last General Convention; there is 
 also an increased solicitude, on the part of tlie Laity, to provide 
 means for the support of the Clergy, and to have the places for 
 public worship kept in decent repair. 
 
 The number of confirmatiohis in the last two years of the Bi- 
 shop's life, was 464. 
 
 During the year 1811, (since which there appear no returns of 
 ordination) the Rev. Samuel F. Jarvis was ordained Priest, and 
 Frederick Holcombe, Stephen Jewett, and Orin Clark, Deacons. 
 
 New Tork. 
 The congregations in this diocese, are very numerous and 
 respectable, and supplied with the constant, or occasional services 
 of stated Clergymen, or missionaries. 
 
 The parochial reports are regularly exhibited. In 1812, the 
 Right Rev. Bishop Ilobart, visited thirty-seven congregations, id 
 various parts of the state, and administered the rite of confirma- 
 tion in twenty-one congregations, to 500 persons. 
 
 In the year 1813, thirty-two congi'egations were visited, and the 
 rite of confirmation administered in sixteen congregations to 1100. 
 Since the last General Convention, in May 1811, and until the 
 State Convention in October 1813, six persons,— John Brady, 
 John M'Vickar, David Huntington, Benjamin T. Onderdonk, 
 Lewis P. Bayard, (of New Jersey,) and James Thomson, have 
 been admitted to the holy order of Deacons ; — and thirteen Dea- 
 cons, David Moore, Adam Empie, Ralph Williston, Wm. Berrian, 
 Gilbert H. Sayres, Wm. A. Clark, John M'Vickar, Orin Clark, 
 John Brady, Timothy Clowes, John Croes, jun. (ofN. J.) William 
 Powel, Isaac Jones, (of Connecticut,) AVm. E. Wyatt, and Stephen 
 Jewett, have been admitted to the holy order of Priests — Several 
 persons have been admitted as candidates, for Deacons' orders. 
 
 During the period above mentioned, the following institutions 
 have taken place : The Rev. Wm. Berrian, an assistant minister of 
 Trinity Church, of New Y^ork ; the Rev. Joseph Perry, Rector of 
 St. Paul's Church, Ballstcfn Spa, and St. James's Church, Mil- 
 ton ; the Rev. John Kewley, INL D. Rector of St. George's Church, 
 New York; the Rev. John Brady, assistant minister of the same; 
 the Rev. Ralph Williston, Rector of Zion Church, New York, 
 and Timothy Clowes, Rector of St. Peter's Church, Albany. — 
 During the same period, the Rev. Jonulhan Judd, and the Rev. 
 Reuben Hubbard, removed to the diocese of Connecticut ; the 
 Rev. Adam Empie, to North Carolina, and the Rev. Dr. Abraham 
 Reach, to New Jersey. 
 
 The following churches have been consecrated : St. James's 
 
298 
 
 Church, Hyde Park, Dutchess county ; St. James*s Church, Mil> 
 ton, Saratoga county ; St. Peter's church, Auburn, Cayuga coun- 
 ty ; St. Luke's Church, Richfield, Otsego county ; St. James's 
 Church, Goshen ; Grace Church, Waterford j and Christ Church, 
 Hampton. 
 
 The following missionaries, have also been employed in the part 
 of the state, west of Albany, viz. the Rev. Samuel Fuller, the Rev. 
 Wm. A. Clark, the Rev. Orin Clark, and the Rev. Davenport 
 Phelps, lately deceased, who is justly regarded as the founder of 
 the congregations in the most western counties of the state, whom 
 he attached, not merely, to his personal ministrations, but to the 
 doctrines, the order, and the liturgy of our church. 
 
 On the whole, there is every reason to believe, tlaat in this dio- 
 cese, the canons of the church are faithfully observed, and the 
 clergy regular and zealous, in their ministrations. And ia con- 
 sequence, under the divine blessing, the congregations increase, 
 not only in numbers, but in attachment to the principles of the 
 church, and in the spirit of Evangelical piety, as exhibited in her 
 articles and Liturgy. 
 
 New jfersei/. 
 
 From the journals and reports of the Convention in this state, 
 it appears that the number of congregations, duly organized, 
 is twenty-seven. Of this number, only seven enjoy the constant 
 services of the ministry ; four or five others have their churches 
 regularly, though but a part of the time opened on Sundays, 
 by Clergymen. To provide for the remaining congregations, 
 which are unable to maintain clergymen for themselves, with the 
 administration of the word and ordinances, a fund has been raised 
 by the Convention, which is always in a state of gradual augmen- 
 tation. There are in the diocese six instituted Rectors ; the whole 
 number of officiating ministers, is nine. 
 
 An episcopal society has been recently established, in the dio- 
 cese, principally in the northern part, for the purpose of gratuitous- 
 ly distributing bibles, prayer books, and religious tracts, and if the 
 funds admit of it, of giving aid to young men, designed for the 
 ministry. 
 
 The congregations belonging to this Convention, appear to be, 
 in general, strongly attached to the services and usages of the 
 church, and in the management of their affairs, to be actuated by 
 a strict and sincere regard to the rubricks and canons. Since the 
 last General Convention, there has been an increased attention to 
 the concerns of religion, and the church, which has manifested it- 
 self, particularly in repairing and improving the places of public 
 worship ; and it is believed, that the number of pious churchmen, 
 has been considerably enlarged. 
 
 Pennsylvania. 
 
 There is every reason to believe, that there is an increased 
 attention to the concerns of the church in this state. The 
 Conventions have of late been well attended, and the Clergy have 
 
299 
 
 in a great measure been punctual, in presenting their parochial 
 reports. From these reports it appears, that the number of com- 
 municants, in the several congregations throughout the state, have 
 considerably augmented, particularly in those in the city of Phila- 
 delphia. It is highly gratifying to find, that since the last General 
 Convention, exertions have been made for the establishment of an 
 episcopal fund. A society has been formed, for the advancement 
 of Christianity, which at present promises extensive usefulness to 
 the church in this state. " Most of the vacant churches," says 
 the Bishop, in one of his addresses, "have been visited under the 
 directions of this society, and from the satisfaction given, we may 
 hope, that under the divine blessing, there will be an increasing 
 Usefulness of the institution." The venerable head of this diocese, 
 has been enabled to visit, during the two last years, some of the 
 country congregations ; the happy effects of these visits, are for- 
 cibly illustrated by the fact, that in 1811, he reported to the Con- 
 vention, that during the past year, 61 persons had been confirmed j 
 in 1812, he Reported that 306, had received this holy rite; in 
 1813, he announced, that during the last year, the number amount- 
 ed to 581. These circumstances are auspicious; it is hoped they 
 will be followed by a rapid increase of vital godliness, among all 
 the members of our apostolic church, in this quarter, — and in 
 general the rubricks are duly observed. Since the last General 
 Convention, until the present time, five persons, Samuel Ilulbert 
 Turner, Jackson Kemper, Charles Blair Snowden, (of South 
 Carolina,) Richard D. Hall, and Jehu Curtis Clay, have been 
 admitted to the holy order of Deacons : and seven Deacons, 
 Daniel Higbee, (of New Jersey,) John Barnwell Campbell, (of 
 South Carolina,) Charles Blair Snowden, (of South Carolina,) 
 William King, (of Virginia,) Samuel Hulbert Turner, (of Mary- 
 land,) Jackson Kemper, and Richard D. Hall, have been admit- 
 ted to the holy order of Priests. 
 
 Delaxvare. 
 
 The condition of the church in this state is truly distressing, and 
 the prospect gloomy. Of the eleven congregations in Delaware, 
 two are supplied by the Rev. Mr. Clay, and one by the Rev. Mr. 
 Davis, from Maryland. It is however gratifying to learn, that 
 there is an increasing anxiety manifested for obtaining clergymen. 
 Some of the vscant congregations, have the service performed on 
 Sundays, by laymen. Where the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper 
 has been administered, by visiting clergymen, the communicants 
 have been numerous. Could the church in this state, be supplied 
 with zealous and pious ministers, there is every reason to believe 
 that their labours would be crowned with success, in advancing 
 the interests of the church and vital godliness. 
 
 Maryland' 
 
 The church in Maryland, still continues in a state of depres- 
 sion ; many parishes are without ministers, and a considerable 
 number of the churches are in a decked condition ; the clergy 
 
300 
 
 are so ill provided for, that except iti Baltimore and George- 
 town, their livings are quite insufficient for the support of their 
 families, and of course they are obliged to resort to some other 
 means. In these cities the clergy are well supported, and the 
 churches kept in good repair, and there appear to be evident symp- 
 toms of the increase of piety. In some parts of the state, by the 
 exertions of pious and zealous ministers, there seems to be a re- 
 vival of religion, — churches have been repaired, and some built ; 
 the prevailing vices have been checked, and greater attention to 
 divine worship has appeared ; besides there is an increasing dis- 
 position to relish the fine service of our church, and to comply 
 with her ordinances, so that if it should please God, to raise up 
 pious, enlightened, and zealous ministers, who would continue to 
 labour in this part of our divine mastei-'s vineyard, the church in 
 Maryland might still be raised, and prove a nurserj' for good 
 principles, enlightened devotion and pure piety. As the charges 
 and returns of the Bishop are but partially inserted on the jour- 
 nals of the Convention, and as no account of his proceedings dur- 
 ing the last year has been received, it is impossible to state the 
 number of churches consecrated, or Clergymen ordained, since 
 the last General Convention. 
 
 Virginia. 
 
 From a variety of causes, not necessary, and perhaps not 
 proper to detail here, the church in this state has fallen into 
 a deplorable condition j in many places her ministers have 
 thrown off their sacred profession ; her liturgy is either contemn- 
 ed or unknown, and her sanctuaries are desolate. It would rend 
 any feeling heart, to see spacious temples, venerable even in their 
 delapidation and ruins, now the habitations of the wild beast of 
 the forest. 
 
 But amidst this gloomy scene, a ray of light breaks in upon the 
 prospect, cheering the hearts of the friends of the church. Her 
 members in Virginia have been taught, by a dreadful experience, 
 the value of their peculiar institutions. They look back with re- 
 gret, and sigh when they talk of former days, when they were 
 wont to go with joy into the courts of Zion; they are ready and 
 desirous to return to that fold from which they have wandered so 
 long, as sheep having no shepherd, — They anxiously seek the 
 restoration of their primitive and apostolical form of worship, and 
 sound doctrine, and pray that ministers, of zeal and piety^ may 
 come and help them. Perhaps no place in the United States 
 presents a more extensive field for the faithful labourer, — Here 
 •are the best of materials, and here are the noblest inducements of 
 duty, of honour, and reward. 
 
 The dispositions of the people, and especially of some eminent 
 liaymen, who have come forward, with interest and zeal, afford 
 pleasing pledges of those good fruits, which their active exertions 
 Avill not fail to produce. A magnificent church has sprung up in 
 Richmond, from the ashes of the theatre ; it has the patronage 
 
301 
 
 and support of men of the greatest talents, and highest rank in 
 Virginia. — They have chosen as their Pastor, the Rev. R. C. 
 Moore, D. D. who is now the Bishop of the diocese, and under 
 whose auspices there is reason to hope for the most favourable 
 results. 
 
 The corner-stone of a large and respectable church, has been 
 laid in Fredericksburg, on the scite of the old building which has 
 gone to decay. For Leesburgh also they have obtained a sub- 
 scription adequate to the expense of erecting a respectable church; 
 and, in the counties of Frederick, and Spottsylvania, and per- 
 haps, in other places, from which reports have not been received, 
 the state of the church is improving. In Alexandria, there are 
 two large and respectable congregations. From the present excite- 
 ment which is manifest thi*)ughoat the state, nothing more seems 
 wanting, under the blessing of God, than faithful ministers, to 
 realise the hopes which are entertained of the future prosperity of 
 this important part of our Zion. Let ill who wish her well, pray 
 the Lord of the harvest to send forth labourers into his harvest. 
 South Carolina. 
 There is cause of rejoicing to the friends of the church in this 
 diocese. There is an evident revival of religion, and a visible 
 growth in piety. From various causes, not necessary, and per- 
 haps not expedient to state, the church in this state had sunk very 
 low ; but through the blessing of the Almighty, on the zealous ex- 
 ertions of the visible head of it, much has been done for its good, 
 and more is to be confidently expected. 
 
 The various parishes are making exertions to provide for their 
 ministers, and to re-establish divine service in the vacant church- 
 es. A resolution has also been entered into by the Clergy, tr> 
 supply the services and ordinances of the church, as often as pos- 
 sible, to the vacant parishes. It appears from the 15ishop's ad- 
 dress, in 1812, that two new Episcopal congregations were col- 
 lected and organized ; one at Columbia, the seat of government, 
 and one at Camden ; and that for the former, a Lay Reader was 
 provided by the Protestant Episcopal Society, for the advance- 
 ment of Christianity in South Carolina, — It appears also from the 
 same address, that Dr. Frederick Dalcho, of Charleston, had 
 been received as a candidate for holy orders, and the Rev. Chris- 
 tian Hanckel, formerly of Burlington, Xew Jersey, had been ad- 
 mitted to the order of Deacons. 
 
 In the year 1813, fourteen episcopal visitations were made, and 
 516 persons confirmed. Two candidates for holy orders, viz: — 
 Maurice Harvey Lance, and Albert MuUer, were received, and 
 Dr. Frederick Dalcho, was admitted to the order of Deacons. 
 The parish of St. George AVinyaw, was deprived, by death, of its 
 Rector, the Rev. Dr. Hailing. 
 
 The state of the church in this diocese will appear, from the 
 following extract from the last address of the Bishop, " In the 
 view (says he) which I am required, by a useful canon of the 
 
502 
 
 church, to give you of the affairs of the diocese, since the last 
 meeting of the Convention, it will fall within the scope of the re- 
 gulation, to congratulate you on the degree of concord and chris- 
 tian fellowship with which our churches are blessed. It is hardly 
 possible, that in any society, composed of many parts, and all 
 the parts of frail and fallible beings, there should exist such an 
 entire unity of opinion, and community of feelings, as to produce 
 always a perfectly harmonious co-operation, towards an accom- 
 plishment of the same ends. As near an approach to this happy 
 state as is compatible with the condition and infirmities of man, 
 is, through the good blessing of God, at present enjoyed by us in 
 this diocese. In a degree, which is gratifying to me to remark, 
 as it has doubtless been pleasing to you to notice, the clergy of 
 the diocege are kindly affectioned one to another, with brotherly 
 love ; and their respective parishes being knit together, and com- 
 pacted by that which every joint supplieth, are, it is humbly 
 hoped, making some increase of the body, to the edifying of it- 
 self in love. Thus far there is unity, and all will ever be con- 
 cerned for the interests and feelings of all, if vve be actuated by^ 
 the genuine spirit of the religion of Jesus Christ." 
 
 It ought to be mentioned, that In South Carolina, a society has 
 been instituted for the advancement of Christianity, which has 
 met with great success, and been instrumental in establishing two 
 churches in a section of the country where our worship was never 
 before held. This society, by distributing books, illustrative of 
 the distinctive principles of our church, and by assisting a young 
 man of genius and piety, a candidate for the ministry, has done 
 much to advance the interests of our religion, and of our excel- 
 lent church. 
 
 It is also to be stated, that the rubricks and canons are here con- 
 scientiously and strictly observed. 
 
 The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, in laying the preced- 
 ing statement before the venerable House of Bishops, pray, for 
 themselves and the church, their counsel, and the blessing of Al- 
 mighty God. 
 
 Signed by order of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, 
 
 JOHN CROES, Prasident. 
 
 3£ay 21//, ISl*. 
 
 The said report having been read and considered, was adopted, 
 directed to be signed by the President, and sent to the House of 
 Bishops, which were accordingly done. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Bishops, communi- 
 cating a canon adopted by them, entitled " a canoa concerning the 
 alms and contributions at the holy communion,*' in which they 
 requested the concurrence of this house. The said canon was 
 considered, concurred in by the house, and returned to the House 
 of Biehops. 
 
 A communication was received from the House of Bishops, on 
 
305 
 
 t'hc subject of devising means for supplying the congregations of 
 this church, west of the Allegheny mountains ; and respecting a 
 correspondence with the venerable society in England for propa- 
 gating the gospel in foreign parts, on the subject of certain lands, 
 to which the church has a claim, in the state of Vermont ; which 
 communication was read, and returned to the House of Bishops, 
 agreeably td their request, to be entered upon their journals. 
 
 The canon sent yesterday from the House of Bishops, altering 
 and explaining the 29th canon, concerning the election and insti- 
 tution of ministers, was taken up for consideration, concurred in, 
 and sent back to that house. 
 
 ' The proposition sent yesterday from the House of Bishops, 
 respecting the book of homilies, was taken up for consideration, 
 concurred in, and returned to that house. 
 
 A resolution was adopted and sent to the House of Bishops for 
 their concurrence, respecting the preparation and transmission of 
 reports from the State Conventions to the General Convention. 
 
 A message was received from theHouse of Bishops, communi- 
 cating a proposition submitted to them, for the publication of cer- 
 tain anthems, with their determination thereon ; and also a gene- 
 ral resolution adopted by them, with respect to the recommenda- 
 tion of proposed publications, which, after being read, were re- 
 turned to the House of Bishops, with the respectful thanks of this 
 house, for the judicious course adopted by them, in reference to 
 these subjects. 
 
 A resolution, respecting the posture of minister and people, 
 during the singing of the metre psalms and hymns, was received 
 from the House of Bishops ; which, after having been read, was 
 postponed until Monday next. 
 
 The Rev. Messrs. Stone, Eaton, and Morss, Mr. Harrison, and 
 Dr. Onderdonk, asked, and obtained leave of absence during the 
 remainder of the session. Adjourned. 
 
 Monday, May 23, 1814. 
 
 The house attended divine service in St. James's church. Di- 
 vine service was performed by the Rev. A. Baldwin, Secretary of 
 this house, and a sermon preached by the Rev. Dr. Croes, Presi- 
 dent of the same. 
 
 After divine service the house met. 
 
 The recommendation of the House of Bishops, relative to the 
 posture of ministers and people, during the singing of the metre 
 psalms and hymns, was taken up for consideration, approved of, 
 and, agreeably to request, returned to that house, to be entered 
 on their journal. 
 
 Mr. Gadsden's resolution respecting a theological seminary, 
 was taken up for consideration, and after some debate, it was 
 moved and seconded, to postpone the further consideration of the 
 same. The votes being required, to be taken by states, the ayes 
 and noe;s on the question of jiostponement were as follow: 
 
304 
 
 Massachusetts — Clergy, No. — Laity — — — '. 
 
 Connecticut — Clergy, Aye. — Laity, No. 
 
 Rhode Ishind — Clergy, No. — Laity, No. 
 ^Neiv York — Clergy, No. — Laity, No. 
 
 Neiv Jersey — Clergy, No. — Laity, No. 
 
 Pennsylvania — Clergy, Aye. — Laity, Aye. 
 
 Delaxuare — Clergy, No. — Laity . 
 
 Marylajid — Clergy, Aye- — Laity, Divided. 
 
 Virg-inia — Clergy, No. — Laity, No. 
 
 South Carolina — Clergy, No, — Laity . 
 
 And so the motion for postponement was negatived. 
 
 The question on the resolution recurring, the vote thereon wa» 
 required to be taken by states, and the ayes and noes were as fol- 
 low. 
 
 3Iassachusetts — Clergy, Aye. — Laity, — — . 
 
 Connecticut — Clergy, No. — Laity, No. 
 
 Rhode Island — Clergy, Aye. — Laity, Aye- 
 
 Nexu York — Clergy, No. — Laity, No. 
 
 New Jersey — Clergy, No. — Laity, Aye. 
 
 P^ennsylvania — Clergy, No. — Laity, No. 
 
 Delaware — Clergy, No. — Laity, . 
 
 Maryland — Clergy, No. — Laity, Divided. 
 
 Virginia — Clergy, Aye. — Laity, Aye. 
 
 South Carolina — Clergy, Aye. — Laity, — — . 
 
 And so the resolution was negatived. 
 
 The House of Bishops communicated a written opinion, expla- 
 natory of the 9th and 40th canons, which was considered, approved 
 of, and returned to that house. 
 
 Tlie following resolution was proposed and adopted. 
 
 Resolved^ That a committee of two persons be appointed to con- 
 fer with the House of Bishops, on the expediency of securing to 
 the General Convention, the right of the book of common prayer, 
 and to report to the house. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Wilmer, and the Rev. Dr. How, were appointed 
 ■x committee on the part of this house, for the purpose expressed 
 in the foregoing resolution. 
 
 Mr. Warren asked, and obtained leave of absence. 
 
 The following resolution was proposed, and adopted. 
 
 "Whereas, the mode heretofore adopted, for making known the 
 constitution and canons of the church, has fallen short of that de- 
 sirable end, and in order that the interest of the church may be 
 advanced by a more general knowledge of the said constitution 
 and canons, and also that the proceedings of the General Conven- 
 tion may be promulgated, to the members of the church at large; 
 Resolved^ That it be recommended to the ecclesiastical authorities 
 in the several dioceses, to cause the same to be made known in the 
 congregations respectively within their bounds, by such measures 
 as may be deemed expedient, and accommodated to local circum- 
 stances. 
 
305 
 
 The said resolution was sent to the House of Bishops, for their 
 concurrence, and was concurred in by them. 
 
 On motion. Resolved^ That the thanks of this Convention be 
 presented to the Bishops, who have preached before the Conven- 
 tion, during the present session, and that they be requested to 
 furnish copies of their sermons, for pubUcation. 
 
 The said resolution was sent to the House of Bishops, for their 
 concurrence, and the said house concurred in the same, with an 
 amendment, inserting the words " and the President of the House 
 of Clerical and Lay Deputies," which amendment was agreed to 
 by this house. The Rev. Dr. Kemp and Mr. Herbert, were ap- 
 pointed on the part of this house, to carry the same into effect. 
 
 The committee appointed to confer with the House of Bishops, 
 upon the expediency of securing to the General Convention, a copy 
 right of the book of common prayer, reported that they had per- 
 formed that duty ; that the House of Bishops return for answer, 
 that they will appoint a committee to confer with the committee 
 of this house, and report at a convenient season. 
 
 Mr. Wilmer's resolution, as to the place of meeting of the next 
 General Convention was taken up, and the blank left therein filled 
 with the word " New York." 
 
 The vote having been required to be taken by states, the ayes 
 and noes thereon, were as follow : 
 
 Vermont — Clergy, No. — Laity, . 
 
 Massachusetts — Clergy, Aye. — Laity, — — . 
 
 Connecticut — Clergy, Aye. — ^Laity, Aye. 
 
 Rhode Island — Clergy, Aye. — Laity, Aye. 
 
 New Tork — Clergy, Aye. — Laity, Aye.* 
 
 Pennsylvania — Clerg}', Aye. — Laity, No. 
 
 Delaware — Clergy, No. — Laity, . 
 
 Maryland — Clergy, No. — Laity, No. 
 
 Virginia — Clergy, No. — Laity, — — . 
 
 South Carolina — Clergy, No. — Laity, ■. 
 
 The house of Bishops informed this house, that they had ap- 
 pointed the Right Rev. Bishops White and Hobart, a committee 
 on their part, on the subject of a copy right, for the book of com- 
 mon prayer. 
 
 The following message was received from the House of Bish- 
 ops, together with a pastoral letter, prepared by said house. 
 
 The House of Bishops having examined and considered the 
 report of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, presented 
 agreeably to the provisions of the 45th canon, transmit to them 
 agreeably to the same canon, a pastoral letter, founded on the re- 
 port. The House of Bishops, reciprocating the affectionate sen- 
 timents of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, accompanying 
 their report, request their aid in all proper measures of the epis- 
 copacy, for the extending of the influence of religion, and the in- 
 
 * The vote of New .lersey was omitted in the first edition of this journal. Both 
 Clcrqy and I^iitv voted in the affirmutivf. 
 
 R r 
 
306 
 
 crease of the church ; imploring the divine blessing on them in- 
 dividually, and on the churches which they respectively represent. 
 
 The resolution sent to the House of Bishops, on the subject of 
 the preparation and transmission of reports from each State Con- 
 vention, on the state of the church, was returned with an amend- 
 ment, in which this house concurred. The resolution, as amend- 
 ed and finally agreed to, is as follows : 
 
 Resolved^ That it be recommended, that the ecclesiastical au- 
 thority of the church, in every state or diocese, prepare a report 
 on the state of the church, in their state or diocese, previously to the 
 meeting of every General Convention, for the purpose of aiding 
 the committee on the state of the church, appointed by the House 
 of Clerical and Lay Deputies, in drafting their report. 
 
 The committee appointed on the part of this House, to return 
 the thanks of the Convention to the Bishops, and the President of 
 this House, for the sermons preached by them respectively, and to 
 request copies for publication, reported, that they had performed 
 that service, and that the Reverend Gentlemen would comply with 
 the request of the Convention. 
 
 Adjourned. 
 
 Tuesday, May 24, 1814. 
 
 The house attended divine service, in St. James's church, which 
 was performed by the Rev. W. Wilmer. 
 
 After divine service, house met. 
 
 The pastoral letter of the House of Bishops, transmitted to this 
 house yesterday, was read, ai.d then returned to the House of Bi- 
 shops. 
 
 The joint committee of the two houses, on the question of a copy 
 right, for the book of common prayer, reported as follows : — That 
 they are informed on credible authority, that the same object was 
 contemplated In the year 1789, on the editing of the book, as it is 
 now established by the authority of this church ; but was relin- 
 quished, in consequence of perceiving that complaints were likely 
 to arise from the apprehension that the price would be thereby en- 
 hanced. The objection was, that an appropriation of the proceeds, 
 to a purpose both religious and charitable, would not reconcile the 
 members of this church to a tax ; which, it was alledged was thus 
 imposed ; the book being of a character, which it was a duty to 
 possess. Whether the objection may not be guarded against by a 
 contract, in which the prices of books should be fixed agreeably to 
 their different sizes; and whether in this case, there ought to be 
 regarded the complaints which would still be made of an alledg- 
 ed unreasonableness of price, the committee submit to the consi- 
 deration of the Convention. The committee are not sufficiently 
 informed of the operation of law, on the present subject, so as to 
 judge of the practicability of the n:ea">ure proposed ; nor have they 
 had either time, or the authority of the Convention, to take advice 
 thereon, — but, they propose tiiat law advice should be taken, be- 
 
307 
 
 fore further progress. Further, it has not occurred to the com- 
 mittee, how the copy right may be so contrived, as to be made 
 consistent with the 8th article of the ecclesiastical constitution. 
 That some alteration must be made in the present book, to bring 
 it under the exclusive claim of a copy right, is evident. If the 
 alteration should affect the book, as described by its known name, 
 the difficulty here noticed must present itself. But if the altera- 
 tion should be made in any of the instruments of this church, 
 which are usually bound up with the book of common prayer, it 
 would seem that the latter might be still published without legal 
 interference. On the ground of tlje premises, the joint committee 
 propose to the two houses as follows : 
 
 Resohedy That it be referred to the Bishops to consider of the 
 propriety of granting a copy right in the book of common prayer; 
 to inquire in their respective dioceses, and elsewhere, as circum- 
 stances may permit, whether the said measuj-e can be adopted, 
 consistently with law, and the approbation of the Conventions in 
 the diftercnt dioceses, and to report to the next General Conven- 
 tion. 
 
 The foregoing report having been adopted in the House of 
 Bishops, on motion, this house concurred in the adoption of the 
 5;ime, 
 
 The following resolution was proposed and adopted. 
 
 Resolved^ That this Convention contemplate with much plea- 
 sure the rise and progress of institutions for the advancement of 
 Christianity, in several of the dioceses in the United States, and 
 that they recommend such institutions to the patronage of all the 
 friends of our church. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Bishops, commu- 
 nicating a resoluton which originated in, and had been adopted by 
 that house, on the subject of a theological seminary; in which, 
 this house concurred. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Wilmer, and Mr. M*Guire asked for and obtain- 
 ed leave of absence. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Bishops, com» 
 municating a canon which had passed that house, entitled " A 
 canon repealing a part of the 45th canon of 1808," which was 
 concurred in by this house. 
 
 A resolution was .received from the house of Bishops, for the 
 addition of a second appendix to the volume oi journals proposed 
 to be reprinted ; said second appendix, to contain the pastoral 
 letters ot the House of Bishops for the two last and the present 
 Conventions, which resolution was concurred in by this house. 
 
 On motion, Re&olved^ That the thanks of this house be present- 
 ed to the President, Secretary, and assistant Secretary, for the 
 services rendered by them respectively during the present session. 
 
 On motion, Resohtd^ That the House of Bishops be requested, 
 to appoint one of their own order to preach a sermon at the open- 
 ing of the next General Convention. 
 
308 
 
 The foregoing resolution having been communicated to the 
 House of Bishops, a message was returned from that house, in- 
 forming of their concurrence in the same, and stating their hope, 
 that it may be consistent with the state of health of their brother 
 the Right Rev. Bishop Claggett to be present and to preach ; and 
 in case of his absence, their resolution that the next Bishop in se- 
 niority, who may not already have preached at the opening of a 
 Convention, be requested to perform that duty. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Abercrombie, Mr. M*Euen, and Mr. Milnor, the 
 assistant Secretary, were appointed a committee to superintend the 
 publication of the journal of the proceedings of this house at the 
 present Convention. 
 
 In pursuance of a request from this house, the Right Reverend 
 members of the House of Bishops attended in the same, for the 
 purpose of closing the session of the Convention by solemn prayer, 
 which was performed by the Right Rev. Dr. White, presiding 
 Bishop : after which 
 
 Adjourned si7ie die, 
 
 JOHN CROES, President, 
 
 Attested, Ashbel Baldwin, Secretary. 
 
 JOURNAL OF THE HOUSE OF BISHOPS. 
 
 City of Philadelphia^ Tuesday^ May 17, 1814. 
 
 THIS being the day appointed by the constitution of the 
 Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, for 
 the meeting of the General Convention of said church ; and agree- 
 ably to a resolve of the last General Convention of the church, in 
 the city of New Haven, the city of Philadelphia being appointed 
 the place of meeting, the Right Rev. Bishop "White, of Pennsyl- 
 vania, the Right Rev. Bishop Hobart, of New York, the Right 
 Rev. Bishop Griswold, of the eastern diocess, and the Right Rev. 
 Bishop Dehon, of South Carolina, met in the vestry room of St. 
 James's church, at 12 o'clock, in the aforesaid city. It appeared 
 that Bishop Claggett, who was to have opened the Convention 
 with a sermon, was prevented from attending by indisposition. 
 
 The house, having chosen the Rev. Jackson Kemper to act as 
 Secretary, adjourned to meet at 5 o'clock, P. M. 
 
 Five d*cU)ck, P. 31. 
 
 Met according to adjournment. 
 
 This house received a communication from the House of Cle- 
 rical and Lay Deputies, by the Rev. Dr. Kemp, informing them 
 that they were organized, and ready to proceed to business, Dn 
 Kemp was desired to inform the House of Clerical and La^' Depu- 
 ties, that the House of Bishops were also ready. 
 
 The house adjourned to 9 o'clock, to-morrow morning. 
 
309 
 
 JVednesdoif^ 9 o'clock^ A. M. 
 
 Met according to adjournment. Present as yesterday. 
 
 This house received from the House of Clerical and Lay Depu- 
 ties the testimonials required by the canons, from the Convention 
 of the church in Virginia, and from the said house, in favour of 
 the Rev. Richard Channing Moore, D. D. as Bishop elect for the 
 diocess of Virginia j whereupon this house approved the said tes- 
 timonials, and resolved to proceed to the consecration. 
 
 At 10 o'clock, the house attended divine service. Morning 
 prayers were read by the Rev. Dr. How, and a sermon on the 
 occasion of the opening of the Convention, was preached by Bi- 
 shop Hobart : after which, the Rev. Dr. Moore was consecrated 
 Bishop : the Right Rev. Bishop White, as presiding Bishop, per- 
 forming the office of consecration, assisted by the Bishops present. 
 
 Divine service being ended, the house returned to the vestry 
 room, when the Right Rev. Bishop Moore took his seat in the 
 house. 
 
 A message was received, by the Rev. Dr. "yi/^harton, from the 
 House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, informing, that a resolution 
 hiid passed that house, " that the thanks of the Convention be 
 presented to the Right Rev. Bishop Hobart, for his sermon preach- 
 ed before them this morning, and that he be requested to furnish 
 a copy for publication." 
 
 This house concurred in the said resolution, and the Right 
 Rev. Bishop Hobart consented to comply with their request. 
 
 The following resolution was proposed : That the journals of 
 the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the 
 United States of America, from the commencement of the said 
 Conventions, together with an appendix, containing the constitution 
 and the canons of the church, be published under the superinten- 
 dence of the Bishop of this church in Pennsylvania; provided a 
 number be engaged for, sufficient for the encouragement of a 
 bookseller. If the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies should 
 concur in this resolve, the design will be forwarded by a knowledge 
 of the number of copies which could be engaged for in the respec- 
 tive states. 
 
 The above resolution was adopted, and ordered to be sent to 
 the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies for their concurrence. 
 
 On motion, the house agreed to attend divine service every 
 morning in the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies. 
 
 The house adjourned to meet at 10 o'clock to-morrow morning, 
 
 Thursday Morning-, Mcnj 19th, 1814. 
 
 The house met, after having attended divine service, in the 
 House of Clerical and Lay Deputies. 
 
 Present. Bishop White, Bishop Hobart, Bishop Griswold, 
 Bishop Dehon, Bishop Moore. 
 
 The House received from the House of Clerical and Lay De- 
 puties, by Joshua Wallace, Esiq. a resolution relative to the ad- 
 
310 
 
 ministering of the Lord's Supper at the opening of the General 
 Convention ; in which resolution, the House of Bishops concurred. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Clerical and Lay- 
 Deputies, by their Secretary, the Rev. Mr. Baldwin, informing 
 this house that they agreed with them in the resolution concerning 
 the publishing of the journals of the General Conventions. 
 
 Adjourned to meet to-morrow at 10, A. M. 
 
 Fridatj Mornings May 20, 1814. 
 
 The following declaration was proposed and agreed to. 
 
 It having come to the knowledge of this house, that some 
 doubts have arisen in certain districts, in reference to the sense of 
 some of the provisions of the 19th canon; they hold it expedient 
 to make the following declaration, to record it on their minutes, 
 and to communicate it to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, 
 
 So far as concerns regulations, in reference to the place of offi- 
 ciating and to ministerial dress, the Bishops suppose, that the pro- 
 hibitions of the canon, were grounded merely on the propriety of 
 guarding against popular mistakes; which, might otherwise rank 
 among the number of the Clergy a person not ordained. Accord- 
 ingly they conceive, that the design of the canon reaches every 
 circumstance of position and of dress, which the custom of the 
 church, and the habits of social life, may render liable to miscon- 
 ception in the premises. On this ground, the House of Bishops 
 consider it as contrary to the design of the canon, for candidates 
 to read sermons from the places usually considered as appropri- 
 ated to ordained ministers, or to appear in bands, or gowns, or 
 surplices. 
 
 The Secretary communicated the above declaration to the House 
 of Clerical and Lay Deputies. 
 
 The following declaration was proposed and agreed to : 
 
 It having been credibly stated to the House of Bishops, that on 
 questions, in reference to property devised, before the revolution, 
 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 Protestant Episcopal Church in the 
 United States of America" is 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 discipline, being induced by a characteris- 
 tic of the Church of England, supposing the independence of 
 christian churches, under the different sovereignties, to which, re- 
 spectively, their allegiance in civil concerns belongs. But that 
 when the severance alluded to took place, and ever since, this 
 church conceives of herself, as professing and acting on the prin- 
 ciples of the Church of England, is evident from the organization 
 
Sll 
 
 of our Conventions, and from their subsequent proceedings, as 
 recorded on the journals ; to which, accordingly, this Convt-ntion 
 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. 
 
 The above declaration having been communicated to the House 
 of Clerical and Lay Deputies, they returned for answer that they 
 concurred therein. 
 
 A canon, altering and explaining the 29th canon, concerning the 
 election and institution of ministers, was proposed and agreed to, 
 and sent to the other house for their concurrence. 
 
 The following resolution concerning the book of homilies, was 
 proposed and adopted, and sent to the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies for their concurrence. 
 
 The House of Bishops, taking into consideration, that the two 
 books of homilies are referred to in the 35th article of this church, 
 as containing a body of sound christian doctrine ; and knowing, by 
 their respective experience, the scarcity of the volume, rendering 
 it difficult for some candidates in the ministry to possess oppor- 
 tunities of studying its contents, propose to the House of Clerical 
 and Lay Deputies, to make it a standing instruction to every Bi- 
 shop, and to the ecclesiastical authority in every state destitute of 
 a Bishop, to be furnisned (as soon as may be) with a copy or copies 
 of said work, and to require it to be studied by all candidates for 
 the ministry within their respective bounds : under the expectation, 
 that when offering for ordination, the knowledge of its contents will 
 be indispensibly required. 
 
 A canon, concerning the alms and contributions at the holy 
 communion, was proposed and adopted. 
 
 Adjourned to meet to-morrow morning at 10 o'clock. 
 
 Saturday 3Iorning^ Maij 21s?, 1814.. 
 
 The canon, concerning the alms and contributions at the holy 
 communion, was taken to the House of Clerical and Lay Depu- 
 ties, by the Secretary, for their concurrence. 
 
 A communication was made to this house by the President, re- 
 specting two matters committed to him by the last triennial Con- 
 vention. 
 
 Whereupon, Resolved^ That information of the same be trans- 
 mitted to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies ; to be returned 
 to this house and entered on their journal. The communication 
 is as follows : 
 
 The president requests the attention of the house, to those pas- 
 sages in the journal of 1811, where it appears, that there were laid 
 on him two acts of duty, which consequent circumstances have 
 prevented from being carried into effect. 
 
 The president, and the Bishop of this church in Virginia, were 
 
312 
 
 requested " to devise means for supplying the congregations of 
 this church, west of the Allegheny mountains, with the ministra- 
 tion and worship of the same, and for organizing the church in 
 the western states." In consequence of this request, the Presi- 
 dent had begun a correspondence with Bishop Madison ; but all 
 further progress, was arrested by the decease of the said Right 
 Rev. Brother. This did not hinder the President from submit- 
 ting to the Convention of this church, in Pennsylvania, a propo- 
 sal, which was complied with, designed so far to meet the desires 
 of some members of this church, in the western country, as that 
 in the event of a settlement of a Bishop therein, the congrega- 
 tions in the western counties of the state might be under his su- 
 pei-intendance ; on such a plan as would not affect the integrity of 
 the church, in the state of Pennsylvania, as a component member 
 of the body of this church throughout our union, in contrariety to 
 the constitution. 
 
 The President was further requested, to address a letter in be- 
 half of the Convention to the venerable society in England, for 
 propagating the gospel in foreign parts, in reference to certain 
 lands held by them in the state of Vermont, and intended in the 
 original grant for the benefit of the Episcopal Church therein. It 
 was necessary to the execution of this commission, that the Pre- 
 sident should have been furnished with certain documents. These 
 were delayed by some circumstances not under his controul, un- 
 til the occurrence of the present war ; which rendered a corres- 
 pondence in the premises improper. 
 
 ' The above information was carried to the House of Clerical 
 and Lay Deputies, by the Secretary. 
 
 The following recommendation was proposed and adopted : 
 The House of Bishops, propose to the House of Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies, the following recommendation, to be considered of 
 by the house, and, if agreeable, to be returned to this house and 
 entered on their journal. 
 
 Whereas, a diversity of custom has of late years prevailed in 
 the posture of ministers and of the people, during the act of sing- 
 ing the psalms and the hymns in metre ; the former practice of 
 sitting during this part of the service gradually giving way to the 
 more comely posture of standing; it is hereby recommended by 
 this Convention, that it be considered as the duty of the ministers 
 of this church, to encourage the use of the latter posture, and to 
 induce the members of their congregations, as circumstances may 
 permit, to do the same : allowance to be made for cases, in which 
 it may be considered inconvenient by age, or by infirmity. Prac- 
 tice under this recommendation, is to begin from the time when 
 suitable information shall have been given by the clergy to their 
 respective flocks. And, it shall be the duty of every minister to 
 give notice of this recommendation to his congregation, at such , 
 time las in his discretion may be the most proper. 
 
 The carrying into effect of the contemplated change, may be 
 
313 
 
 delayed by the Bishop of any diocess, or, where there is no Bishop, 
 by the ecclesiastical authority therein, until there shall have been 
 time and opportunity of explaining satisfactorily the grounds of 
 the me;(sure. 
 
 This recommendation was taken by the Secretary, to the 
 House of Clerical and Lay Deputies. 
 
 The following proposition was submitted and agreed to, and 
 communicated to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies. 
 
 The House oi Bishops communicate to the House of Clerical 
 and Lay Deputies, thti following resolve, and the following rule 
 of the House of Bishops, to be entered on their journal after be- 
 ing returned by the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies. 
 
 There was laid before the house, an address from the Rev. Dr. 
 AVm. Smith, of Connecticut, together with sundry anthems se- 
 lected from holy scripture, and adapted to certain fasts and feasts 
 of the church. The object of the address, is to induce the estab- 
 lishment of the said anthems as parts of the Liturgy. 
 
 Whereupon, Resolved^ That it is not expedient during this 
 Convention, to go into a review, either in whole or in part, of 
 the book -of common prayer. It could not, however, but give sa- 
 tisfaction to the Bishops to recollect, that anthems taken from 
 scripture, and judiciously arranged, may, according to the known 
 allowance of this church, be sung in congregations at the discre- 
 tion of their respective ministers. On this occasion, a question 
 arose, how far it may be proper at any meeting of the Convention, 
 to give their sanction, or that of this house in particular, to any 
 work, however tending to religious instruction, or to the excite- 
 ment of pious affections. In reference to this subject, it is the 
 unanimous opinion of the Bishops present, that no such sanction 
 should be given. And it is hereby made a rule of the house, that 
 if any application should be made tending to such effect, it shall 
 not be considered as regularly brought before them. 
 
 A message was rect ived from the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies, communicating their concurrence in the canon, con- 
 cerning the alms and contributions at the holy communion. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies, informing, that they agreed to the canon, concerning 
 the election and institution of ministers, and to the resolution 
 concerning the book of homilies. 
 
 The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, returned to the House 
 of Bishops their communication concerning anthems, with the 
 thanks of said house, for the course adopted by the House of Bi- 
 shops. They likewise returned the communication respecting a 
 Bishop for the Western country, and the correspondence which 
 the President of this house was requested to hold with the vener- 
 able society in England, for propagating the gospel in foreign 
 parts, relative to lands in Vermont. 
 
 A resolve was received from the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies, concermng" the appointment of a committee in each dl- 
 
314 
 
 ocess, to prepare a report on the state ot the church in that state 
 or diocess, previous to the meetings of the General Convention. 
 
 The above resolution was ordered to lie on the table. 
 
 A report on the state of the church, signed by the President of 
 the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, agreeably to the 45th 
 canon, was received from said house. 
 
 Adjourned to meet at 9 o'clock Monday morning. 
 
 3Ionday morning. May 23</, 1814. 
 
 Present as usual. 
 
 The resolution of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies con- 
 cerning the preparation of a report on the state of the church, 
 was agreed to with an amendment, which was sent to said house 
 for their concurrence. 
 
 The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies returned the recom- 
 mendation concerning posture during the singing of the metre 
 psalms, with their concurrence. 
 
 The following message was sent to the House of Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies : 
 
 The House of Bishops transmit to the House of Clerical and 
 Lay Deputies the following opinions, the result of attention to an 
 application of the Clerical Deputies from Connecticut. If ap- 
 proved of, it will be entered on the journal of the former house. 
 
 The Clerical Deputies from the diocess of Connecticut, by di- 
 rection of the Convention of the same, requested the opinions of 
 the Bishops present, on the meaning of two passages of the ca- 
 nons : 1st. Of this phrase in the 9th canon — " In consideration of 
 certain other qualifications of the candidates ;" and 2dly, Of this 
 phrase in the 40th canon—-" or by some other joint act of the par- 
 ties, and of a minister of this church." 
 
 In explanation of the former phrase, the Bishops are of opinion, 
 that if a candidate should possess extraordinary strength of natu- 
 ral understanding, a considerable extent of theological erudition, 
 although not derived through the medium of the original langua- 
 ges of scripture, a peculiar aptitude to teach, and a large share of 
 prudence ; those qualifications may be a ground of the dispensa- 
 tion here referred to. 
 
 In reference to the phrase in the 40th canon, it would perhaps 
 be d'fficult to define the various ways in which the consent spoken 
 of may be satisfactorily evidenced. But the Bishops are of opi- 
 nion, that any person duly baptized in any religious society extra- 
 neous to this communion, joining himself to any congregation of 
 this communion, and possessing an interest in its concerns, in con- 
 sequence of express or implied permission, may be properly en- 
 tered by the minister, on the list of the names of persons under 
 his parochial care. But the Bishops do not consider themselves 
 as now called on 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. 
 
315 
 
 A message was received from the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies, by their Secretary, signifying the concurrence of that 
 house with the proposed amendment to the resolution concerning 
 the preparation of a report on the state of the church, and their ap- 
 probation of the opinions with respect to the 9th and 40th canons. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies, requesting the concurrence of this house, in a resolu- 
 tion respecting the securing of a copy-right of the book of com- 
 mon prayer. ^ 
 
 This house appointed Bishops White and Hobart a committee 
 to consult with tlHj- Rev. Dr. How, and the Rev. Mr. Wm. Wil- 
 mer, a committee of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, up- 
 on the above mentioned subject. 
 
 The report on the state of the church, transmitted to this house 
 by the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, was read by the Se- 
 cretary. 
 
 A pastoral letter was proposed and adopted, and sent to the 
 House of Clerical and Lay Deputies. 
 
 A message was received from the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies, requesting the concurrence of this house in a resolution 
 concerning the making better known the constitution, canons, &Cf 
 of the church. 
 
 Dr. Kemp and Mr. Herbert were the bearers of a resolve from 
 the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, concerning the publica- 
 tion of the sermons delivered by the Bishops before the Conven- 
 tion, which resolve, after being so amended by the House of Bi- 
 shops as to include the sermon preached by the President of the 
 House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, was agreed to by this house. 
 
 The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies concurred in the 
 amendment. 
 
 Adjourned to meet to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock. 
 
 Tuesday mornings 3Iay 24f/j, 1814. 
 
 This house attended divine service as usual in the House of 
 Clerical and Lay Deputies. 
 
 The joint committee of the two houses, on securing the copy- 
 right of the book of common prayer, reported ; which report was 
 adopted by both houses. 
 
 Resolved^ That to the volume of Journals already directed to 
 be reprinted, there be added a second appendix containing the 
 two pastoral letters read in the last two preceding Conventions, 
 and the pastoral letter read in this Convention. 
 
 This resolution was taken to the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies, and returned with their concurrence. 
 
 Resolved^ That it be referred to the Bishops, and, in those dio- 
 cesses in which there are no Bishops, to the standing committees 
 therein, to enquire in the respective diocesses or states, and to 
 consider for themselves, concerning the expediency of establish- 
 ing a theological seminary^ to be conducted under the general au- 
 
316 
 
 thority of this church ; and to report to the next General Conven- 
 tion. 
 
 The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies concurred in the above 
 resolution. 
 
 The resolution concerning the making known the constitution, 
 canons, &c. was considered, agreed to, and sent back to the House 
 of Clerical and Lay Deputies. 
 
 The house received from the Hou^se of Clerical and Lay De- 
 puties, a resolution respecting institutions for the advancement of 
 Christianity, in which they concurred. 
 
 This house agreed with the House of CleriocI and Lay Depu- 
 ties, in appointing the next General Convention to be held at New 
 York. 
 
 Information having been received from the House of Clerical 
 and Lay Deputies, that they had appointed a committee of their 
 house to superintend the publication of the Journal, &c. Bishop 
 White was requested to act as a committee on the part of this 
 house. 
 
 This house received from the House of Clerical and Lay De- 
 puties, a resolve, requesting the House of Bishops to appoint one 
 of their own order to preach a sermon at the opening of the next 
 General Convention. 
 
 A canon repealing part of the 45th canon of 1 808, was adopted, 
 and sent to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, in which 
 they concurred. 
 
 This house returned for answer to the resolve of the House of 
 Clerical and Lay Deputies, requesting the House of Bishops to 
 appoint one of their own order to preach a sermon at the opening 
 of the next General Convention. 
 
 The Bishops concur in the above resolve ; hoping that it may 
 be consistent with the state of health of their brother the Right 
 Rev. Bishop Ciaggett to be present, and to preach ; and, in the 
 case of his absence, resolving, that the next Bishop In seniority, 
 who may not already have preached at the opening of a Conven- 
 tion, be requested to perform the duty. 
 
 The House of Bishops beinj; ready to adjourn, and having re- 
 ceived information from the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies 
 that they were also ready, the business of the Convention was 
 concluded with solemn prayer by the presiding Bishop. 
 Signed by order of the House of Bishops^ 
 
 WILLIAM WHITE, Presiding B;shop. 
 
 Attested. Jackson Kemper, Secretary. 
 
 canons—Passed in 1814. 
 Canon I. Concerning the Ahis and Contributions at the Holy 
 
 Communion. 
 Whereas, it appears, that ro direction has been made, as to the 
 
317 
 
 mode in which the alms and contributions at the administration of 
 the holy communion are to be applied, it is hereby declared, that 
 they shall be deposited with the minister of the parish, or witii such 
 church officer as shall be appointed by him, to be applied by the 
 minister or under his superintendance, to such pious and charita- 
 ble uses as shall be thought fit. 
 
 Canon II. Altering' and explaining the 29th Canon^ concerning 
 
 the election and institution of Ministers. 
 
 So much of the 29th canon of 1808, as requires the institution 
 of an assistant minister, in order to his being considered as a re- 
 gularly admitted and settled parochial minister in any diocess or 
 state, and his having a voice in the choice of a Bishop, in conse- 
 quence of his not having been instituted, and as excludes a Dea- 
 con trom a seat and vote in any Convention where he is not ex- 
 cluded by the constitution and canons of the church in any diocess, 
 is hereby repealed. It is also declared, in explanation of the said 
 canon, that the provision concerning the use of the office of insti- 
 tution, is not to be considered as applying to any congregation 
 destitute of a house of worship. 
 
 Canon III. Repealing part ofthe^Sth Canon of 1808. 
 
 That part of the 45th canon of 1808, which requires that the 
 parochial reports inserted on the Journals of each state or dioce- 
 san Convention, shall be read in the House of Clerical and Lay 
 Deputies in General Convention, is hereby repealed. 
 Bi/ order oj the House of Bishops. 
 WILLIAM WHITE, D. D. Presiding Bishop. 
 Attest. Jackson Kemper, Secretary. 
 
 By order of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies^ 
 
 JOHN CROES, D. D. President. 
 Attest, Ashbel Baldwin, Secretary. 
 
 List of the Clergy of the Protestant Episcopal Churchy in the 
 United States of America. 
 
 Eastern Diocess. Massachusetts. 
 
 Composed of the sUttes of Massachu- The Rev. John Sylvester J. Gardiner, 
 setts, Rhode Island, New Hampsiiire Rector of Trinity church, Boston. 
 
 and Vermont. Asa Eaton, Rector of Christ church, 
 
 The Right Rev. Alexander Viets Gris- Boston, of St. Mar}-*s, Newton, and 
 
 wold. Bishop. of Christ churcli, Cambridge. 
 
 JVe^u Hampshire. - ■ John P. K. Henshaw, Deacon, offi- 
 Thp Rev. Charles Bui-roughs, Rector ciates at Marblehead. 
 
 of St. John's church, Portsmouth. ■ William Montague, Rector of St. 
 
 John H. Fowle, Rector of Paul's church, Dedham. 
 
 church, Holdcrnesse. James Morss, Rector of St. Paul's 
 
 — — Daniei Barber, Rector of Union church, Newburyport, 
 
 church, Clermont. Amos Purdy, Hector of St. Luke's 
 
 — - Mr. Catlin, officiates at Plainfield. church, Lanesborough. 
 
 —— • Samuel Mead. Samuel Griswold, Rector of Su 
 
318 
 
 James's church. Great Barring- 
 ton, and the church at Lenox. 
 
 — k— Joab G. Cooper, Rector of St. An- 
 drew's church, Hanover, and offici- 
 ates also at Marshfield and Quincy. 
 
 — — Aaron Humphrey, Deacon, offici- 
 ates in St. Ann's church, Gardhier. 
 
 -—» Titus Strong, Deacon, officiates at 
 Greenfield. 
 
 Rhode Island. 
 
 The Right Rev. Alexander V. Griswold, 
 Rector of St.Michaerschurch,Bristol. 
 
 The Rev. Xathan B. Crocker, Rector 
 of St. John's church. Providence. 
 
 Salmon Wheaton, Rector of Tri- 
 nity church, Newport. 
 
 — — James Bowers, officiates in Nar- 
 raganset. 
 
 Vermont. 
 
 The Rev. Abraham Brunson, Manches- 
 ter and Arlington. 
 
 Cmniecticut. 
 
 The Rev. Richard Mansfield, D. D. Rec- 
 tor of Christ church, Derby, and the 
 church in Great Hill. 
 
 John Tyler, Rector of Christ church, 
 
 Norwich. 
 
 Daniel Fogg, Rector of — — — 
 
 church, Pomfret. 
 
 ' Phiio Shelton, Rector of Trinity 
 
 church, Fairfield, St. John's church, 
 Stratfield, and the cluircli at Wes- 
 ton. 
 
 — — Ashbel Baldwin, Rector of Christ's 
 church, Stratford, and Trinity 
 church, Trumbull. 
 
 Tiilotson Bronson, D. D. Prin- 
 cipal of the Episcopal Acade- 
 my, Cheshire. 
 
 William Smitli, D. D. resident at 
 
 Norwalk. 
 
 Cliauncy Prindle, Rector of the 
 
 churches of Oxford and Salem. 
 
 Reuben Ives, Rector of St. Peter's 
 
 church, Cheshire, and officiating in 
 the churches in Hambden, Walhng- 
 ford, Southington and Meriden. 
 
 Truman Marsh, Rector of the As- 
 sociated churches in Litchfield. 
 
 L»aniel Burhans, Rector of Trinity 
 
 church, Newtown. 
 
 • Solomon Blakesley, Rector of St. 
 
 Stephen's church, East Haddam. 
 
 Charles Seabury, Rector of St. 
 
 James's churcii, New London. 
 
 Smith Miles, Rector of the church- 
 es of Chatham, and Ghistenbary. 
 
 Philander Chase, Rector of Trinity 
 
 churcli, Hartford. 
 
 Menzies Rayner, Rector of the 
 
 churches in Huntington. 
 
 Calvin White, Assistant Minister 
 
 of the church, in Derby. 
 
 The Rev. Bethel Judd, Rector of St 
 Paul's church, Nor\valk, and the 
 church at V/ilton. 
 
 — — Henry Whitlock, Rector of Trinity 
 church, Nev/ Haven, and St. Mat- 
 thew's, Bristol. 
 
 Roger Searl, Rector of St. Peter's 
 
 church, Plymouth. 
 
 Virgil H. Barber, Rector of St. 
 
 John's church, Waterbury. 
 
 - Asa Cornwall, Assistant in the 
 Episcopal Academy, Cheshire. 
 
 — — Jonatlian Judd, Minister of the 
 churches in Stamford and Horse- 
 neck. 
 
 Elijah G. Plumb, Minister of the 
 
 churches in Branford, East Haven, 
 North Branford, and Northford. 
 
 — — Benjamin Benham, Rector of St. 
 John's church. New Milford, and 
 the churches of Bridgewater, and 
 Brookfield. 
 
 David Baldwin, Rector of the 
 
 churches of Guildford, North Guild- 
 ford, and North Bristol. 
 
 Joseph D. Welton, Minister of the 
 
 churches of Woodburj', Roxbury, 
 and Kent. 
 
 Isaac Jones, Assistant Minister of 
 
 the churches, Litchfield. 
 
 Sturgis Gilbert, Minister in the 
 
 cliurches of Kent and Sharon. 
 
 Nathaniel Huse, Minister of the 
 
 church at East Windsor. 
 
 Frederick Holcomb, Minister of 
 
 the churches in Harwington, and 
 Northfield. 
 
 Birdseye G. Noble, Deacon, offici- 
 ating at Christ church, Middletown. 
 
 Nathan B. Burges, residing at Mil- 
 ford. 
 
 Jasper D. Jones, residing at Sims- 
 bury. 
 
 J\re7v York. 
 
 The Right Rev. Samuel Provoost, D. D. 
 
 Benjamin Moore, D. D. Bishop, and 
 
 Rector of Trinity church. New 
 York. 
 
 • John Henry Hobart, D. D. As- 
 sistant Bishop, and Assistant 
 Rector of Trinity cluirch. New York. 
 
 The Rev. Parker Adams, Trinity chm-ch, 
 Lansingburgh, Renssalaer county, 
 and Grace church, Waterford, Sa- 
 ratoga county. 
 
 Amos G. Baldwin, Rector of Trini- 
 ty church, Utica, Oneida county. 
 
 Virgil H. Barber, Principal of the 
 
 Academy, and Minister of Trinity 
 church, Fairfield. Herkimer county. 
 
 Theodosius Bartow, Rector of 
 
 Trinity cl\urch. New Rochellc, 
 W^est Chester. 
 
319 
 
 The Rev. Edmund D.Barry, Principal of 
 tlie Protestant Episcopal Academy, 
 New York ; officiating at St. Mat- 
 thew's clmrch, city of Jersey. 
 ■ William Berrian, Assistant Minis- 
 ter of Trinity church, New York. 
 
 -i^— John Bowden, D. D. Professor 
 of Rhetoric and Moral Philosophy 
 in Columbia CoUejje, New York. 
 
 Natlianael Bowen, 1). D. Rector of 
 
 Grace church, New York. 
 
 John Brady, Assistant Minister of 
 
 St. Georg-e's church, New York. 
 
 David Butler, Uector of St. Paul's 
 
 church, Troy, Renssalaer county. 
 
 .»■. Bai-zillai Bulkeley, Hector of St. 
 George's church. Flushing, Long 
 Island. 
 
 ——William A.Clark, Missionary, Onon- 
 dago county, and parts adjacent. 
 
 Orin Clark, Trinity church, Gene- 
 va, Ontario county. 
 
 Timothy Clowes, Rector of St. Pe- 
 ter's church, Albany. 
 
 Elias Cooper, Rector of St. John's 
 
 church, Yonkers, West Chester 
 coimty. 
 
 Harry Croswell, Deacon, Christ 
 
 church, Columbia county. 
 
 Adam Empie, West Point. 
 
 Henry J. Feltus, Rector of St. Ann's 
 
 church, Brooklyn, Long Island. 
 Samuel Fuller, Missionarj-, Albany 
 
 and Green couHties, 
 
 N. Felch, residing in West 
 
 Chester county. 
 
 WilUam Hammel, residing in New 
 
 York. 
 
 •—William Harris, D.D. Rector of St. 
 Mark's church. New York, and 
 President of Columbia college, New 
 York. 
 
 — — Setli Hart, Rector of St. George's 
 church, Hempstead, and Christ 
 church, Noi-th Hempstead, Long 
 Island. 
 
 — — Samuel Haskill, Rector of Christ 
 church. Rye, West Chester county. 
 
 Thomas Y. How, D. D. an Assist- 
 ant Minister of Trinity church. New 
 York. 
 
 — — David Huntington, Deacon, St. 
 Paul's church, Charlton, Saratoga 
 county. 
 
 .^amuel F. Jarvis, St. Michael's 
 
 church, Bloommgdule, and St. 
 James's, Hamilton Square, New 
 Y'ork. 
 
 Stephen Jewett, Christ church, 
 
 Hampton, Washington county. 
 
 Cave Jones, residing in tlie city of 
 
 New York. 
 
 Evan M.'.lbone Johnson, Deacen, 
 
 Grace church, New York. 
 
 The Rev. John Kewlej^ M. D. Rector 
 
 of St. George's church. New Y'ork. 
 
 WillLim B. Lacey, Deacon, St 
 
 Paul's church, Paris, Oneida coun- 
 ty- 
 
 Tliomas Lyell, Rector of Christ 
 
 churcli, New York. 
 
 Daniel M'Donald, SL Peter's 
 
 churcli. Auburn, Cayuga county. 
 
 John M*Vick:u', St. James's churchy 
 
 Hyde Park, Dutcliess county. 
 
 David Moore, St. Andrew's church, 
 
 Staten Island. 
 
 Henry Moscrop, residing in New 
 
 York. 
 
 Daniel Nash, Rector of the church- 
 es in Otsego county. 
 
 Benjamin 1'. Onderdonk, Deacon, 
 
 an Assistant Minister of Trinity 
 church. New York. 
 
 Joseph Perry, Rector of St. James's 
 
 churcli, Milton, and St. Paul's 
 church, Ballston Spa, Saratoga 
 county. 
 
 Joseph Prentice, Rector of Trinity 
 
 church, Athens, Greene county. 
 
 William Powell, St. Andrew's 
 
 church, Coldenham, and St. James's 
 church, Goshen, Orange county. 
 
 John Reed, Rector of Christ 
 
 church, Poughkeepsie, Dutchess 
 county. 
 
 Gilbert H. SajTes, Grace church, 
 
 Jamaica, Long Island. 
 
 Cyrus Stebbins, Rector of St. 
 
 George's church, Schenectady. 
 
 James Thompson, Deacon, Mis- 
 sionary, Greene and Delawai-e coun- 
 ties. 
 
 Frederick Van Home, residing at 
 
 Coldenham. 
 
 • Alanson W. Welton, Deacon, Mis- 
 sionary, Ontario and adjacent coun- 
 ties. 
 
 Russel Wheeler, Missionaiy, Har- 
 mony church, Butternutts, St. Mat- 
 thew's church, Unadilla, Otsego 
 county, and parts adjacent. 
 
 Eh Wheeler, Deacon, Hempstead, 
 
 Isaac Wilkins, D. D. Rector of St. 
 
 Peter's church, West Chester, and 
 St. Paul's church. East Chester. 
 
 Joseph Willai'd, residing in New 
 
 York. 
 
 Ralph Williston, Rector of Ziou 
 
 church. New York. 
 J\'*ew Jersey. 
 
 The Rev. Abraliam Beach, D. D. resid- 
 ing near New Brunswick. 
 
 Charles H. Wharton, D. D. Rec- 
 
 tor of St. Mar/s church, Burling- 
 ton. 
 
 John Croes, D. D. Rector of Christ 
 
 church. New Brunswick. 
 
320 
 
 The Rev. John C. Rudd, Rector of St. 
 
 Jolin's church, Elizabethtovvn. 
 
 — — Simon Wilmer, Rector of Trinity 
 chuixh, Swedesborough. 
 
 —— James Chapman, Rector of St. Pe- 
 ter's church, PerUi Amboy. 
 
 — — John Qroes, jun. Rector of Christ 
 church, Slu-ewsbury. 
 
 Daniel Higbee, St. Andrew's church, 
 
 Mount Holly. 
 
 — — Lewis P. Bayard, Deacon, Trinity 
 church, Newark. 
 
 Pen7isylvania. 
 
 The Right Rev. William White, I>. D, 
 
 Bishop, & ttector of Christ church, 
 St. Peter's and St. James's, Phila- 
 delphia. 
 
 The Rev Robert Blackwell,D. D. resid- 
 ing m Philadelphia. 
 
 — — Joseph Hutchins, D. D. residing in 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 ' James Abercrombie, D. D. senior 
 
 Assistant Minister of Christ church, 
 St. Petci-'s, and St. James's, Phila- 
 delphia. 
 
 — — Joseph Pilraore, D. D. Rector of 
 St. Paul's church, i'hiladeljihia 
 
 Frederick Beasley, 1>. 1). Provost 
 
 of the University of Pennsylvania. 
 
 WiUiam Ay res, residing in Phila- 
 delphia. 
 
 Jolm Campbell, Rector of Carlisle. 
 
 .^ Joseph Purner, Rector of St. Mar- 
 tin's, Marcus Hook. 
 
 Slator Clay, Rector of St. James's, 
 
 Perkiomen, St. Peter's Great Val- 
 ley, and St. Thomas's, Whitemarsh. 
 
 Joseph Clarkson, Rector of St. 
 
 James's, Lancaster, St. John's, Pe- 
 quea, and Bangor churcli, Carnar- 
 von. 
 
 James Wiltbank, Rector of Trini- 
 ty church, l)xford, and All Saints, 
 Lower Dublin. 
 
 Robert Ayres, residing in Browns- 
 ville. . ^ 
 
 ,- — Francis Reno, officiating in the 
 counties of Beaver and Alleglmny. 
 
 . Caleb Hopkins, Rector of Clirist 
 
 church, Derry township, St. Paul's, 
 Bloom township, and Christ cliurch, 
 Turbut township, Northumberland 
 county. 
 
 — — Absalom Jones, (a coloured man,) 
 Rector of the .'\frican chuixh of St. 
 Thomas, Philadelphia. 
 
 John Taylor, Hector of Trinity 
 
 church, Pittsburgh. 
 
 Levi Bull, Rector of St. Gabriel's, 
 
 Berks county, and St. Mary's, 
 Chester county. 
 
 — — - John Armstrong, Rector of St 
 John's, York town. 
 
 The Hev. Jackson Kempel*, Assistant Mi- 
 nister of Christ church, St. Peter's, 
 and St. James's, PhiladelpWa 
 
 — — . Richard D. Hall, Rector of St, 
 James the Greater's, Bristol. 
 
 — — Jehu Curtis Clay, Deacon, officiat- 
 ing at St. David's, Radnor. 
 Delaivare. 
 
 The Rev. Robert Clay, Rector of Emaiiu- 
 el chtu-ch. New Castle. 
 
 WiUiam Pryce, Rector of St. 
 
 James's, Newport. 
 
 J^'faryland. 
 The Right Rev. Thomas John Claggett, 
 
 D. D. Bishop. 
 The Rev. Dr. James Kemp, first Rector, 
 
 St. Paul's, Baltimore. 
 Wm. E. Wyatt, Second Rector, St. 
 
 Paul's, Baltimore. 
 
 Galen Hicks, Rector of Trinity, 
 
 Baltimore. 
 
 -^— George Dashiell, Rector of St. 
 Peter's, Baltimore. 
 
 — — Benjamin Contee, Rector of Wil- 
 Ham and Mary parish, Charles co. 
 
 John Weems, Rector of J'ort To- 
 bacco parish, Charles county. 
 
 Noble Young, Rector of Durham. 
 
 William Gibson, Rector of Queen 
 
 Anne's parish. Prince George's cov 
 
 William Ninde, Hector of St. Ann's 
 
 parish, Annapolis. 
 
 Purnell F. Smith, Rector of St. 
 
 James's parisli. Prince George's co. 
 
 — — George Lemmon, Rector of Queen 
 Caroline, Prince George's co. 
 
 Walter D. Addison, Rector of St, 
 
 John's, Territory of Columbia. 
 
 Andrew T. M'Cormick, Rector of 
 
 Washington, Territory of Columbia. 
 
 Thomas Read, Rector of Prince 
 
 George's, Montgomery co. 
 
 John Chandler, Rector of St. 
 
 Mark's, Montgomery county. 
 
 Irvine, Rector of St. John's, 
 
 Montgomery co. 
 John Allen, Rector of St. George's, 
 
 Harford county. 
 
 Henry Lyon Davis, Rector of St. 
 
 Stephen's, Cecil co. 
 
 William Duke, residing in Elkton. 
 
 Samuel H. Turner, Rector of 
 
 Chester parish, Kent county. 
 
 ' Daniel Stephens, Rector of St. 
 
 Paul'sj Queen Anne's coimty. 
 
 Tliomas Bayne, Rector of St. Pe- 
 ter's, Talbot county. 
 
 — — William Stone, Rector of Stepney 
 parish, Somerset county. 
 
 — — James Laird, Rector of Somerset 
 parish, Somerset county. 
 Virginia. 
 
 No list of tlie Clergy in this state was 
 fomisljed to the Convention: 
 
321 
 
 South Carolina, The Rev. William Percy, D. D. Rector of 
 
 The Rit^ht Rev. Theodore Dehon, D. D. the third Episcopal church, Charles- 
 
 Bishop. ton. 
 
 The Rev. John Barnwell Campbell, Rec- — — James Dewar Simons, Rector of St 
 
 tor of St. Helena's church, Beaufort. Philip's church, Charleston. 
 
 • Frederick Dalcho, Deacon, offici- — — Charles Blair Snowden, Rector of 
 
 ating in St. Paul's, Stono. St. Stephen's. 
 
 — — Andrew Fowler, Rector of the — — John Jacob Tschudy, Rector of 
 
 church on Edisto Island. St. John's parish, ff*irkley. 
 
 Hugh Fraser, Rector of All Saints. — Joseph Weaver, Rector of St, 
 
 Christopher E. Gadsden, assisting Thomas and St. Dennis. 
 
 minister of St. Philip's, Charleston. 
 
 —— Christian Hanckel, Deacon, officiat- Clergymen not having- Cures. 
 
 ing in St. Luke's parish. 
 
 — — Philip Matthews, Rector of the The Rev. Thomas Gates, D. D- 
 
 church on St. Helena's Island. Milwood Pogson. 
 
 — — Thomas jNIills, D. D. Rector of St. Paul Feropier Gervais, 
 
 Andrew's parish. O. Farrell. 
 
 Certificate of Bishop Mooters consecration. 
 
 Know all men by these presents, that we, William White, D. D. 
 Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the state of Penn- 
 sylvania, presiding Bishop ; John Henry Hobart, D. D. assistant 
 Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the state of New 
 York; Alexander Viets Griswold, D. D. Bishop of the Protestant 
 Episcopal Church in the eastern diocese, and Theodore Dehon, 
 D, D. Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the state of 
 South Carolina, under the protection of Almighty God, in St. 
 James's Church, in the city of Philadelphia, on Wednesday, the 
 eighteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand 
 eight hundred and fourteen, did then and there rightly and ca- 
 nonically consecrate our beloved in Christ, Richard Channing 
 Moore, D. D. Rector of St. Stephen's Church, in the city of 
 New York, of whose sufficiency in good learning, soundness in 
 the faith, and purity of manners we were fully ascertained, into 
 the office of Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the 
 state of Virginia, to which he hath been elected by the Conven- 
 tion of said state. 
 
 Given in the city of Philadelphia^ this eighteenth day of May ^ in 
 the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and four teeny 
 WILLIAM WHITE, (l. s.) 
 
 JOHN HENRY HOBART, (l. s.) 
 
 ALEXANDER V. GRISWOLD, (l. s.) 
 THEODORE DEHON, (l. s.) 
 
 Tt 
 
FIRST APPENDIX. 
 
 CANONS 
 
 FOR THE 
 
 GOVERNMENT 
 
 OP THE 
 
 PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH 
 
 , .1,.:..]. ..•-. i^i^i (i\f 
 
 IN THE 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: 
 
 .SOSrio no!lTJvnoOf>il)«I -ccii ,. ,. ,1 .'jv h- lu-n hn^;,bjHarldi;qo'i!)WSfui>MJ 
 
 vsdT . bj^; i r;!dju.'ije nohaii msi\i"Ui : . i ctimjs -jrfJ % .aoaup^anoo ni itwtsdmuB 
 
 JdiloJ. SUBSTAKCE OF VARIOUS CANONS : wra-^ 
 
 vnontj ::.c,.; Vi: c, ' ' idi^o ie.^ 
 
 ''■..' ,.i .•Li'>3C«»i8lci7 biss 3d. ,MPI 'Jo tjaorft bflB 1181 'io 
 
 ' ' ^^ • ADOPTED IN ■ ,, 
 
 GENERAL CONVENTIONS 
 
 OF SAID CHURCH, 
 
 Head in the Years of our Lord 1789, 1792, 1795, 1799, 1801, 1804, aiid set 
 forth, with alterations and additions, in General Convention, A. D. 1808. 
 
 LIKEWISE, 
 
 THE CANON OP 1811, AND THE CANONS OF 18U. 
 TO WHICH ARE AJ^J^EXED, 
 
 THE CONSTITUTION OF THE CHURCH; 
 
 The Prayer to be used at the Meetings of Convention; and the 
 Course of Ecclesiastical Studies. 
 
 k ' 
 

 advertisement! 
 
 %VTrH each of the journals to 1804, inclusively, the Canons passed at 
 the time were published, and numbered 1, 2, 3, &c. In the Convention of 1808, 
 as well the preceding Canons, as those at that time passed, were differently 
 numbered, in consequence of the arranging of them under suitable heads. They 
 are now printed as in the edition of those then pii^lishfedi except, that of the 
 last of them the title alone appears, it ha'nng been since repealed. The Canons 
 of 1811 and those of 1814, are exliibited as of the said years respectively, au^ 
 those of the latter year are accordingly numbered 1, 2, and 3. 
 
 
••• ■ \ ■ . M \.. ;.(.'■■■: >'■■■■. ■ 
 
 p«NSTSTt7TioN of the ProtjWtftnt Episcopal Chivob ib tte United States 
 
 of America. - - - • - •• - 327 
 
 CanoM of the Prqtestant Episcopal Church in the United gtates of America. 
 
 Canons c;/"1808. ,.; ; 
 
 Canon I. Of the Ordei's of Ministers in Uiis Churcl». , .).•>. - 329 
 
 Canon 11. Of the Election of Bishops. - . , - - ib. 
 
 Canon III. Certificates to b^ produced on the. part of Bishops elect. 
 Canon ly . Of Standing Comnuttees. - • - - - ib. 
 
 Canon V. Of the Consecration of Bishops in the recess of the General 
 
 Convention. - - - - " " 3j0 
 
 Canon VI. Of the Age of those who are to be ordained or consecrated, ib. 
 ConoK MI. Of Candidates for Orders. . - - - ^ib. 
 
 Ca7ion\l\\. Of the Conduct required in Candidate? for Orders. 331 
 
 Canon IJC. Of the Learning of those who are to be Ordained. - ib. 
 
 Canon X. Of the preparatory Exercises of a. Candidate for Deacon's 
 
 Orders. - - - - - - ib. 
 
 Canon XI. Of the preparatory exercises pf a Candidate for Priest's 
 
 Orders. » . , - - - - 332 
 
 . : Cq^wn XII. Of the Testimonials Ito be pi:<)du9ed on the pai^ of those 
 
 who are to be Ordained. . - - - - ib. 
 
 C<B|j«n Xin. Of the Titles of those who arc to be Ordained. - 333 
 
 Csinon XIT. Of Candidates coming from pkces within the United States 
 in which the Constitution of tliis Church has not been ac- 
 ceded to. - - . - - - - 354 
 
 Ca7ion XV. Of the times of Ordination. - . - - - ib. 
 
 Cw?w XVI- Of Candidates who may be refused Orders. - ib. 
 
 ' CflrufTi XVII. Of those who have officiated as Ministers among other 
 denomination of Cliristians, and apply for Orders in this 
 Church. - - - - - - ib. 
 
 Canon XVIII. Of Clergymen ordained for foreign parts. - - ^ ib. 
 
 Canon XIX. Respecting Candidates for Orders who are L.iy Readers. 335 
 Canon XX. Of Episcopal Visitation. . - - - ib. 
 
 Ca7Jo?iXXI. Ofthe duty of Ministers in regard to Episcopal Visitations, ib. 
 Canon XXII. Of Parochial Instruction. .... 336 
 
 Canon XXIII. Of Episcopal Charges and Pastoral Letters. - ib. 
 
 Canon XXIV. Of a Council of Advice. - - - - ib. 
 
 Canon XXV. Notorious Crimes and Scandals to be censured, - ib. 
 
 Canon XXVI, Sober conversation required in Ministeis. - - ib. 
 
 Canon XXVII. Of publishing the Sentence of Degradation against a 
 
 ClergAman. ....-- 337 
 
 Canon XXVIII. Of a Clergyman in any Diocese chargeable with mis- 
 demeanor in any other. - - - • ib. 
 Canon XXIX. Concerning the Election and Listitution of Ministers into 
 
 Parishes or Churches. . - - - ib. 
 
 Canon XXX. Respecting the Dissolution of all Pastoral Connection 
 
 between Ministers and tlieir congregations. - - 338 
 
 Canon XXXI. Concerning Ministers removing from one Diocese or 
 
 State to another. ..... 339 
 
 Canon XXXII. Respecting Differences between Ministers and their 
 
 Congregations. . - - - - ib. 
 
 CoTion XXXni. Of tlie officiating of Ministers of this Church in the 
 Churches, or within the Parochial Cures of otlier Clergy- 
 men. ....... 340 
 
 Canon XXXIV. Of the Use of the Book of Common Prayer. - ib. 
 
 Canon XXXV. Of the officiating of persons not Ministers of tliis 
 
 Church. ...... ib. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Canon XXXVT. Of Clergymen Ordained by Foreign Bishops, and de- 
 sirous of officiating or setUing in this Church. - 341 
 Cation XXXVII. To prevent a Congregation m any diocese or State 
 
 from uniting with' a Church in any- other Diocese or State, ib. 
 Canon XXXVIII. To empower the Bishop in each Diocese or District 
 to compose Forms of Prayer or Thanksgiving for extraor- 
 ..*' ^ dinary occasions. - - - - - il>. 
 
 ''■'^'IPanoTt XXXIX. Of the due Celebration of Sundays. ^ >or.r-j.TjT..: .-jl,^ 
 ^'''- Canon Xh. Ministers to keep a Register. - " - ^st-. .'!/_ ,.» 2^2- 
 
 Canoti XLI. A List to be made, and published, of the Mmisters of this 
 
 Church. - - - - - - ib. 
 
 ^po Canon XLII. Of the Mode of calling Special Meeting of* the; General 
 •"'. Convention. - - . .' J . ib. 
 
 Canon XLIII. Prescribing the mode of publishing authorizied Editions 
 
 of the Book of Common Prayer, &c. - ' - 343 
 
 ^'•^'^dnon XLIV. Concerning the Mode of transmitting Nbticd of all Mat- 
 ^''•'' ' ters submitted by the General Convention to the Conside- 
 
 •'■ ' *'■ ration of the State or Diocesan Conventions. ' '- - ib. 
 
 Canon XLV. Providing for an accurate View of the State of the Church 
 
 from time to time. - - - -' - ib. 
 
 CanonXLYl. Providing for making known the Ctmatitutibn sfnd Canons 
 
 of the Church. . - - ■ - - 344 
 
 Canon of 1811. .? .^JvO 
 
 Canon repealing the XLVIth Canon of 1808. -J 9^^ '^^ t*^ k-'^'"*. ib. 
 
 Ca7ions of 1814. ,. •'"/'"''■* 
 
 Canon i. eonceming the alms and contributions at tlte Holy Commu- 
 
 ' nion. - - ... - . ib. 
 
 Canoii II. Altering and expla:ining the XXIXth Canon, cdhcerning the 
 
 Election and Institution of Ministers. ' ' ■- . ' 345 
 
 Canon lU. Repealing part of the XLVth Canon of 1808. ib. 
 
 A Prayer to be used at the Meetings of Convention, adopted in General Con- 
 vention of 1799. - - - - - - - ib. 
 
 Course of Ecclesiastical Studies, established by the House of Bishops in the 
 Convention ofl8G4, in pursuance of a Resolution of the preceding General 
 Convention. - - - - - !•, i . . ib. 
 
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CONSTITUTION 
 
 Of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United Stales of America, 
 
 Art. 1. THERE shall be a General Convention of the Protestant Epis- 
 copal Church in the United States of America on the third Tuesday in 
 May, in the year of our Lord 1808, and on the third Tuesday in May in 
 every third year cfterrvards, in such place as shall be determined by the 
 Convention ; and special meetings may be called at other times, in the 
 manner hereafter to be provided for : and this Church, in a majority of 
 the states which shall have adopted this Constitution, shall be repres«nt- 
 ed, before they shall proceed to business ; except that the representation 
 from two states shall be sufficient to adjourn ; and in all business of the 
 Convention, freedom of debate shall be allowed. 
 
 Art. 2. The church in each state shall be entitled to a representation 
 of both the clergy and the laity ; which representation shall consist of 
 one or more deputies, not exceeding four of each order, chosen by the 
 Convention of the state ; and, in all questions, when required by the 
 Clerical and Lay Representation from any state, each order shall have 
 one vote ; and the majority of suffrages by states shall be conclusive in 
 each order, provided such majority comprehend a majority of the states 
 represented in that order : The concurrence of both orders shall be 
 necessary to constitute a vote of the Convention. If the Convention of 
 any state should neglect or decline to appoint clerical deputies, or if they 
 should neglect or decline to appoint lay deputies ; or if any of those of 
 either order appointed should neglect to attend, or be prevented by 
 isickness or any other accident, such state shall, nevertheless, be con- 
 sidered as duly represented by such deputy or deputies as may attend, 
 whether lay or clerical. And if, through the neglect of the Convention 
 of any of the churches which shall have adopted, or may hereafter adopt, 
 this constitution, no deputies, either lay or clerical, should attend at any 
 General Convention, the church in such state shall, nevertheless, be 
 bound by the acts of such Convention. 
 
 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 propos- 
 ed act shall have passed the house of deputies, the same shall be trans- 
 mitted to the house of bishops, who shall have a negative thereupon; 
 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 proposed act shall have been report- 
 ed 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, any bishop attending a general convention shall be a member 
 ex officio, and shall vote with the clerical de[)uties of the state to which 
 he belongs ; and a bishop shall then preside. 
 
328 
 
 Art. 4. The bishop or bishops in every state shall be chosen agreeably 
 to such rules as shall be fixed by the convention of that state : and every 
 bishop of this church shall confine the exercise of his Episcopal office 
 to his proper diocese or district ; unless requested to ordain, or confirm, 
 or perform any other act of the Episcopal office, by any church desti- 
 tute of a bishop. 
 
 Art. 5. A Protestant Episcopal Church in any of the United States, 
 not now represented, may, at any time hereafter, be admitted, on acced- 
 ing to this constitution. 
 
 Art. 6. In every state, the mode of trying clergymen shall be insti- 
 tuted by the convention of the church therein. At every trial of a 
 bishop, there shall be one or more of the Episcopal 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. 
 
 Art. 7. No person shall be admitted to Holy Orders, until he shall 
 have been examined by the bishop and by two presbyters, and shall 
 have exhibited such testimonials, and other requisites, as the canons in 
 that case provided may direct: nor shall any person be ordained, until 
 he shall have subscribed the following 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 en- 
 gage to conform to the doctrines and worship of the Protestant Episcopal 
 Church in these United States." No person ordained by a foreign 
 bishop shall be permitted to officiate as a minister of this church, until 
 he shall have complied with the canon or canons in that case provided, 
 and have also subscribed the aforesaid declaration. 
 
 Art. 8. A book of common prayer, administration of the sacraments, 
 and other rites and ceremonies of the church, articles of religion, and a 
 form and manner of making, ordaining 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 states which 
 shall have adopted this constitution. 
 
 No alteration or addition shall be made in the Book of Common 
 Prayer, or other offices in 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 convention. 
 
 Art. 9. This constitution shall be unalterable, unless in general con- 
 vention, by the church, in a majority of the states which may have adopted 
 the same ; and all alterations shall be first proposed in one general con- 
 vention, and made known to the several state conventions, before they 
 shall be finally agreed to, or ratified, in the ensuing general convention. 
 
 Done in the General Convention of the I^ishops, Clergy, and 
 Laity of the Church, the second day of October, 1789. 
 
 The first article was amended in general convention, 1804. 
 The third article was amended in general convention, 1808. 
 The second paragraph of the eighth article was added in general coa- 
 vention, 1811. 
 
CANONS 
 
 OF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE 
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 
 
 Agreed on in the several General Conventions of said Church, and s&t 
 forth, with Alterations and Additions, in General Convention, 1808. 
 t 
 Canon I. — Of the Orders of Ministers in this Church. 
 
 IN this church there shall always be three orders in tlie ministry, \\i, 
 bishops, priests, and deacons. 
 
 Canon II. — Of the Election of Bishops. 
 
 No diocese or state shall proceed to the election or appointment of 
 a bishop, unless there be at least six officiating presbyters residing there- 
 in, and who, agreeably to the canons of the church, may be qualified to 
 vote for a bisiiop; a majority of whom at least shall concur in such 
 election. But the conventions of two or more dioceses or states, having 
 together nine or more such presbyters, may associate and join in the 
 election of a bishop. 
 
 Canon III. — Certificates to be produced on the part of the Bishops elect. 
 
 Every bishop elect, before his consecration, shall produce to the 
 bishops to whom he is presented for that holy office, from the conven- 
 tion by whom he is elected a bishop, and from the house of clerical and 
 lay deputies in general convention, certificates, respectively, in the fol- 
 lowing words, viz. 
 
 Testimony from the Members of the Convention, in the State or Diocese 
 from whence the Persoyi is recommended for Consecration. 
 
 We, whose names are underwritten, fully sensible how important 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 in life ; and that 
 we do not know or believe there is any impediment, on account of which 
 he ought not to be consecrated to that holy office. We do moreover 
 jointly and severally declare, that we do in our consciences believe him 
 to be of such sufficiency in good learning, such soundness in the faith, 
 and of such virtuous and pure manners, and godly conversation, that he 
 is apt and meet to exercise the office of a bishop, to the honour of God, 
 and the edifying of his church, and to be an wholesome example to the 
 flock of Christ. 
 
 The above certificate shall be presented to the house of clerical and 
 lay deputies, in general convention. 
 
 Testitnonyfrom the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies in General 
 Convention. 
 
 We, whose names are undenvritten, fully sensible how important 
 13 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 
 
 U u 
 
330 
 
 God, testify, that ^.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, on account of 
 which he ought not ^o be consecrated to that holy office ; but that he 
 hath, as we believe, led his life, for three years last past, piously, sober- 
 ly, and honestly. 
 
 Canon IV. — Of Standing Committees. 
 
 In every state or diocese (here shall be a standing committee, to be 
 appointed by the convention thereof. 
 
 Canon V. — Of the Consecration of Bishops in the Recess of the 
 General Convention. 
 
 If, during the recess of the general convention, the church in any 
 state or diocese should be desirous of the consecration of a Bishop, the 
 standing committee of the church in such state or diocese may, by their 
 president, or by some person or persons, specially appointed, commu- 
 nicate the desire to the standing committees of the churches in the dif- 
 ferent states, together with copies of the necessary testimonials ; and 
 •if the major number of the standing committees shall consent to the 
 proposed consecration, the standing committees of the slate or diocese 
 concerned, may communicate the evidences of such consent, together 
 with the other testimonials, to any three Bishops of this church, who may 
 thereon proceed to the consecration. The evidences of tiie consent of 
 the different standing committees, shall be in the form prescribed for 
 the house of clerical and lay deputies in general convention ; and with- 
 out the aforesaid requisites, no consecration shall take place during the 
 recess of the general convention. 
 
 Canon VI. — Of the Age of those who are to he ordained or consecrated. 
 
 Deacon's orders shall not be conferred on any person until he shall 
 be twenty-one years old, nor priest's orders on any one until he shall 
 be twenty-four years old. And no deacon shall be ordained priest, un- 
 less he shall have been a deacon one year, except, for reasonable causes, 
 it shall otherwise seem good unto the Bishop. No man shall be conse- 
 crated a Bishop of this church, until he shall be thirty years old. 
 
 Canon VII. — Of Candidates for Orders. 
 
 Every person, who wishes to become a candidate for orders in this 
 church, shall give notice of his intention to the Bishop, or to such body 
 as the church in the diocese or state in vvliich he intends to apply for 
 orders may appoint, at least one year before his ordination. 
 
 No person shall be considered as a candidate for orders in this church, 
 unless he shall have produced to the Bishop of the diocese or state, to 
 whom he intends to apply for or<lers, a certificate from the standing 
 committee of said diocese or state, that they believe, from personal 
 knowledge, or from testimonials laid before them, that he hath lived 
 piously, soberly and honestly; that he is attached to the doctrines, disci- 
 pline and worship of the Protestant Episcopal Church ; and further, that 
 in their opinion he possesses such qualifications, as may render him apt 
 and meet to exercise the ministry to the glory of God, and the edifying 
 of the church. 
 
 With this enumeration of qualifications, it ought to be made known 
 
331 
 
 to the candidate, that the church expects of him, what can never be 
 brought to the test of any outward standard — an inward fear and wor- 
 ship of Ahnighty God; a love of religion and sensibility to its holy influ- 
 ence; an habit of devout affection; and, in short, a cultivation of all 
 those graces, which are called in scripture the fruits of the Spirit, and 
 by which alone his sacred influences can be manifested. 
 
 The Bishop may then admit the person as a candidate for orders. 
 
 In any state or diocese where there is no Bishop, the standing com- 
 mittee may, on the evidence aforesaid, admit the person as candidate; 
 unless the person should be desirous of being considered as a candidate 
 for orders in some state or diocese, where there is a Bishop. 
 
 A candidate for orders may, on letters dimissory ftom the Bishop 
 by whom he was admitted as a candidate, be ordained by any other 
 bishop of this church. 
 
 Canon VIII. — Of the conduct j (.quired in Candidates for Orders. 
 
 The Bishop or other ecclesiastical authority who may have the super- 
 intendence of candidates for orders, sliall take care that they do not 
 indulge in any vain or trifling coniluct, or in any amusements most liable 
 to be abused to licentiousness, or unfavourable to that seriousness, and 
 to those pious and studious habits, which become those who are prepar- 
 ing for the holy ministry. 
 
 Canon IX. — Of the Learning of those, rcho are to be ordained. 
 No person shall be ordained in this church, until he shall have satis- 
 fied the Bishop and the presbyters by whom he shall be examined, that 
 be is well acquainted with the holy scriptures, can read the New Testa- 
 ment in the original Greek, and give an account of his faith in the Latin 
 tongue; and that he hath a competent knowledge of natural and moral 
 philosophy and church history, a»id hath paid attention to composition 
 and pulpit eloquence, as means of giving additional efficacy to his la- 
 bours. It is also declared to be desirable, that every candidate for orders 
 should be acquainted with the Hebrew language. But the Bishop, witb 
 the advice and consent of all the clerical members of the standing com- 
 mittee of his diocese, may dispense with the knowledge of the Latiu 
 and Greek languages, and otiier branches of learning not strictly eccle- 
 siastical, in consideration of certain other qnaliticatioiis in the candidate 
 peculiarly fitting him for the gospel ministry. 
 
 Canon X. — Of the preparatory Exercises of a Candidate for Beacon* s 
 
 Orders. 
 
 There shall be assigned to every candidate for deacon's orders, four 
 different examinations, at such time and places as the Bishop to whonx^ 
 he applies for orders. shall appoint. And if there be a Bishop within 
 the state or diocese where the candidate resides, he shall apply to no 
 other Bishop for ordination without the permission of the former. The 
 examinations shall take place in the presence of the Bi.shop and as 
 many presbyters as can conveniently be convened, on the following 
 studies prescribed by the Canons, and by the course of study established 
 by the house of bishops. 
 
 ■ At the first examination — on some approved treatises on uahn-al phi- 
 losophy, moral philosophy, and rhetoric, and the Greek Testament; and 
 he shall be required to give an account of his faith in the Latin tongu,e. 
 
332 
 
 At the second examinatioa — on the books of scripture ; the candidate 
 being required to give an account of the different books, and to explain 
 such passages as may be proposed to him. At the third examination — 
 on the evidences of Christianity, and Systematic Divinity. And at the 
 last examination — on Church History, Ecclesiastical Polity, the Book of 
 Common Prayer, and the Constitution and Canons of the church, and 
 of the diocese or state for which he is to be ordained. In the choice of 
 books on the above subjects, the candidate is to be guided by the course 
 of study established by the house of bishops. At each of the foremen- 
 tioned examinations, he shall produce and read a sermon or discourse, 
 composed by himself on some passage of scripture previously assigned 
 him; which sermon or discourse, shall be submitted to the criticism of 
 the Bishop and clergy present. And before his ordination he shall be 
 required to perform such exercises in reading in the presence of the Bi- 
 shop and clergy, as may enable them to give him such advice and in- 
 structions, as may aid him in performing the service of the church, and 
 in delivering his sermons with propriety and devotion. 
 
 If the candidate should not reside convenient to the residence of the 
 Bishop, the Bishop may appoint some of his Presbyters to conduct the 
 above examinations ; and a certificate from these Presbyters, that the 
 prescribed examinations have been held accordingly and satisfaction giv- 
 en, shall be required of the candidate. Provided that, in this case, the 
 candidate shall, before his ordination, be examined by the Bishop and 
 some of his Presbyters on all the above named studies. 
 
 in a diocese where there is no Bishop, the standing committee shal! 
 act in his place for the purpose of carrying into effect this canon ; and in 
 this case, the candidate shall be examined by the Bishop to whom he ap- 
 plies for orders and his Presbyters, on the studies prescribed by the ca- 
 nons. . 
 
 A Clergyman who presents a person to the Bishop for orders, as spe- 
 cified in the office of ordination, without having good grounds to believe 
 that the requisitions of the canons have been complied witbj shall be lia- 
 ble to ecclesiastical censure. 
 
 Canon XI. Of Uie preparatory Exercises of a Candidate for Priest's 
 
 Orders. 
 
 A candidate for Priest's orders shall, before his ordination, be requir- 
 ed to undergo an examination in presence of the Bishop, and as many 
 Presbyters as can conveniently be convened, on those leading books in 
 the course of study prescribed by the House of Bishops, which he may 
 bave omitted in his preparation for Deacon's orders. 
 
 Canon XII. Of (he Teslimonials to be produced on the part oj those who 
 
 are to be ordained. 
 
 No person shall be ordained Deacon or P;-iest in this church, unless 
 he exhibit to the Bishop the following testimonial from the standing com- 
 mittee of the diocese or state, overwhich the Bishop presides to whom he 
 applies for holy orders ; which recommendation shall be signed by the 
 names of a majority of the committee duly convened, and shall be in 
 the following words : 
 
 " We, whose names are hereunder written, testify, that 3. B. hath laid 
 before tls satisfactory testimonials, that for the space of three years last 
 past be hath lived piously, soberly, and honestly ; and hath not written. 
 
taught, or held any thing contrary to the doctrine or discipline of the Pro- 
 testant Episcoi)al Church : and, moreover, we think hiin a person wor- 
 thy to be admitted to the sacred order of . In witness whereof, we 
 
 have hereunio set our hand? this day of , in the year of our 
 
 Lord ." 
 
 But before a standing committee shall proceed to recommend any I 
 candidate as aforesaid to the Bibhop, such candidate shall produce from 
 the minister and vestry of the parish wlicc he resides, or from the ves- 
 try aloue, if the parish be vacant ; or, if there be no vestry, from at least 
 twelve res[)ectab!e persons of the Protestant Episcopal Church; te^timo- 
 ni;'is ofhib piety, good morals, and orderly conduct for three years last 
 p' -'. fjid (hat he has not, so far as they know and believe, written, taught 
 o- I.^ I any thing contrary to the doctrine or discipline of the Protestant 
 Ep:C'.'jp.tl Cnurch. He shall »lso lay before the standing committee tes- 
 timonials to the same effect/ signed by al least r»ne respectable clergy- 
 man of the Frofestant Episcopal Church in the United States, from his 
 personal knowledge of th.e candidate for at least one year. 
 
 B 1' iu case a candidate, from some pecuhar circumstances not affect- 
 iiJi, his pious or moral character, should be unable to procure testimoni- 
 als fiom ths minister and vestry of the parish where he resides, the said 
 fact beinsc ascertained by the certificate of said minister and vestry, the 
 standing committee may accept testimonials of the purport above stated, 
 from at least twelve respectable members of the Protestant Episcopal 
 Church, and from at leq,st one respectable clergyman of the said church, 
 who has been personally acquainted with the candidate for at least one 
 year. 
 
 Every candidate for holy orders, who may be recommended by a 
 standing committee of any church destitute of a Bishop, if he have re- 
 sided for the greater part of the three years last past within the diocese 
 of any Bibhop, shall apply to such Bishop for ordination. And such can- 
 didate shall produce the usual testimonials, as well from tlie committee 
 of the diocese in which he has resided, as from the commiitee of the 
 church in the state or diocese for which he is to be ordained. 
 
 In the case of a candidate for Priest's orders, his letters of orders an 
 Deacon, shall be received by the standing committee as evidence of his 
 pious, moral, and orderly conduct for three years |)rior to his receiving 
 Deacon's orders; unlfess some circumstance should have occurred that 
 tends to invalidate the force of this evidence. 
 
 " Canon XIII. Oftlie Titles of those rvho are to he ordained. 
 
 No person shall be ordained Priest, unless he shall jjroduce a satisfac- 
 tory certificate from some church, parish or congregation, that he is en- 
 gaged with them, and that they will receive him as their minister, and 
 allow him a reasonable sufjport ; or, unless he be engaged as a professor, 
 tutor, or instructor of youth, in some college, academy, or general serai- 
 nary 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 set- 
 tled as a pastor by some one of the vacant churches in that state. 
 
 Every Deacon shall be subject to the regulation of the Bishop or ec- 
 clesiastical authority of the diocese for which he is ordained, unless he 
 receive letters dimissory therefrom to the Bishop or ecclesiastical au- 
 thority of some other diocese ; and he shall officiate in such places, as ti:e 
 Bishop or ecclesiastical authorify to which he is subject may dirocf. 
 
Canon XIV. Ofcandidtfies coming from places within the UniledState.s, 
 in which the constihUion of this church has not been accecledto. 
 
 It is hereby declared, that the canons of this church which respect can- 
 didates for holy orders, shall affect as well those coming from places in 
 the United States in which the constitution of this church has not been 
 acceded to, as those residing in states or districts in which it has been 
 adopted ; and in such cases, every candidate shall produce to the Bishop 
 to whom he may apply for holy orders, the requisite testimonials, sub- 
 scribed by the staading committee of the diocese. 
 
 Canon XV. Of the times of ordination. 
 
 Agreeably to the practice of the primitive church, the stated times of 
 ordination shall be on the Sundaj^s following the Ember weeks, viz : — 
 The second Sunday in Lent, the Feast of Trinity, and the Sundays after 
 the Wednesdays foliowiog the 14th day of September and the ISlh of 
 December. Occasional ordinations may be held at such other times as 
 the Bishop shall appoint. 
 
 Canon XVI. Of candidates mho may he refused orders. 
 
 No Bishop shall ordain any candidate, until he has required of him, 
 whether he has ever <Urecily or indirectly applied folr orders in any other 
 diocese or state ; and if the Bishop has reason to believe that the candi- 
 date has been refused orders in any other diocese or state, he shall write 
 to the Bishop of the diocese, or, if there be no Bishop, to the standing 
 committee, to know whether any just cause exists why the candidat^i 
 should not be ordained. When any Bishop rejects the application of any 
 candidate for orders, he shall immediately give notice to the Bishop of 
 ei^ery state or diocese, or, where there is no Bishop, to the standing com- 
 mittee. 
 
 Canon XVII. Of those ivho Itave officiated as Ministers among other de- 
 C nominations of christians, and apply fir orders in this church. 
 
 When any person who has officiated as a minister among any other de- 
 nomination of christians, shall apply for orders in this church, the Bishop 
 to w horn application is made, being satisfied, on examination according 
 to the canons, that he is a man of piety and unexceptionable character, 
 that he holds the doctrines of the church, and that he possesses all the 
 literary and other qualifications required, and being furnished with testi- 
 monials from the standing committee dulj;- convened, may ordain him as 
 »oon as is convenient. In all such cases, the standing commitice may in- 
 sert in their testimonials the words, " we believe him to be sincerely at- 
 tached to the doctrines and discipline of the Protestant Episcopal Church," 
 instead of the words, " and hath not written, taught, or held any thing 
 contrary to the doctrine or discipline of the Protestant Episcopal Church." 
 
 Canon XVIII. Of Clergymen ordair\cd for foreign parts. 
 
 No Bishop of this church shall ordain any person to officiate in any.con- 
 ^^regation or church destitute of aBishop, situated witJiout the jurisdiction 
 of these United States, until the usual testimony from the standing com- 
 mittee, founded upon sufficient evidence of his sounthiess in the faith, and 
 of his pious and moral character, has been obtained; nor until the candi- 
 date has been examined on the studies prescribed by the canons of (his 
 church. And should any such clergyman so ordained wish to settle in 
 
any congregation of this church, he must obtain a special liceuise therefor 
 from the Bishop, and officiate as a probationer for at least one year. 
 
 Canon XIX. Respccliriii; Candidates for orders rvho arc Lay Renders. 
 
 No candidate for holy orders shall take upon himself to perform the ser- 
 vice of the church, but by the license of the Bishop or ecclesiastical au- 
 thority of the diocese or state in which such candidate may wiah to per- 
 form the service. And such candidate shall submit to all (he regulations 
 which the Bishop or ecclesiastical authority may prescribe; he shall not 
 use the absolution nor benediction ; he shall not assume the dress nor the 
 stations which are appro|M-iate to clergymen ministering in the congrega- 
 tion, and shall officiate from the desk only; he shall conform to the direc- 
 tions of the Bishop or ecclesiastical authority, as to the sermons or homi- 
 lies to be read ; nor shall any lay reader deliver sermons of his own com- 
 position, nor, except in cases of extraordinary emergency, or very pe- 
 culiar expediency, perform any part of the service, when a clergyman is 
 present in the congregation. 
 
 A non-conformity to this canon, shall be deemed in all cases a disqua- 
 lification for holy orders. 
 
 Canon XX. Of Episcopal Visitation. 
 
 Every Bishop in this church shall visit the churches within his diocese 
 or district, for the purpose of examining the state of his church, inspect- 
 ing the behaviour of the clergy, and administering the apostolic rite of 
 confirmation. And it is deemed proper, that such visitations be made 
 once in three years at least, by every Bishop, to every church within 
 his diocese or district, which shall make provision for defraying the ne- 
 cessary expenses of (he Bishop at such visitation. And it is hereby de- 
 clared to be the duty of the minister and vestry of every church or con- 
 gregation, to make such provision accordingly. 
 
 The Bishop of any diocese, state or district, may^ on the invitation of 
 the convention, or standing committee of the church in any state on dio- 
 cese where there is not a Bishop, visit and perform the episcopal offices 
 in that state, or part of the state, as the case may be; provision being 
 made for defraying his expenses as aforesaid : and such state, or part of 
 a state, shall be considered as annexed to the district or diocese of such 
 Bishop, until a Bishop is duly elected and consecrated for such state or 
 diocese, or until the invitation given by the convention or standing coiji- 
 mittee be revoked. 
 
 But it is to be understood, that to enable the Bishop to make the 
 aforesaid visitations, it shall be the duty of the clergy, in such reasona- 
 ble rotation as may be devised, to officiate for him in any parochial du- 
 ties which belong to him. 
 
 It shall be the duty of theBishop to keep a register of his proceedings. 
 . at every visitation of his diocese. 
 
 Canon XXI. Of the duty of Ministers, in regard to Episcopal Visitation, 
 It shall be the duty of ministers, to prepare children and others for 
 the holy ordinance of confirmation! And on notice being received from 
 the bishop, of his intention to visit any church, which notice shall be 
 at least one month before the intended visitation, the minister shall be 
 ready to present, for confirmation, those who shall have been previously 
 instructed for the same ; and shall deliver to the bishop a list of the 
 names of those presented. 
 
O ''' c 
 
 And at every visitation it shall be the duty of the minister, and of the 
 church wardens or vestry, to give information to the bishop of the state 
 of the congregations, under such heads as shall have been committed to 
 them in the notice given as aforesaid. 
 
 And further, the ministers and church wardens of such congregations 
 as cannot be conveniently visited in any year, shall bring, or send to 
 the bishop, at the stated meeting of the convention of the diocese or dis- 
 trict, information of the state of the congregation, under such heads as 
 shall have been committed to them, at least one month before the 
 meeting of the convention. 
 
 Canon XXII. Of Parochial Inslrudion. 
 
 The ministers of this church who have charge of parishes or cure?, 
 shall not only be diligent in instructing the children in the catechism, 
 but shall also, by stated chatechetical lectures and instruction, be diligent 
 in informing the youth and others in the doctrines, constitution, and 
 liturgy of the church. 
 
 Canon XXIII. Of Episcopal Charges and Pastoral Letters. 
 
 It is deemed proper, that every bishop of this church shall deliver, at 
 least once in three years, a charge to the clergy of his diocese, unless 
 prevented by reasonable cause. And it is also deemed proper, that 
 from time to time he shall address to the pepple of his diocese, pastoral 
 letters on some points of christian doctrine, worship, or manners. 
 
 Canon XXIV. Of a Council of Advice. 
 
 In every diocese or state where there is a bishop, the standing com- 
 mittee shall be a council of advice to the bishop. The president of the 
 standing committee, shall be the person to summon them. They shall 
 be summoned on the requisition of the Bishop, whenever he shall wish 
 for their advice. And they may meet of their own accord, andT^reea- 
 bly to their own rules, when they may be disposed to advise the Bishop. 
 
 Canon XXV. Notorious Crimes and Scandals to be censured. 
 
 If any persons within this Church offend their brethren by any wick- 
 edness of life, such persons shall be repelled from the holy communion, 
 agreeably to the rubrick, and may be further proceeded against, to the 
 depriving them of all privilegps of Church membership, according to 
 such rules or process as may be provided, either by the general con- 
 vention, or by the convention in the different states or dioceses. 
 
 Canon XXVI. Sober Conversation required in Ministers. 
 
 No ecclesiastical persons shall, other than for their honest necessities, 
 resort to taverns, or other places most liable to be abused to licentious- . 
 ness. Further, they shall not give themselves to any base or servile 
 labour, or to drinking or riot, or to the spending of their time idly. And 
 if any offend in the above, or if any person having been ordained in this 
 church, or having been otherwise regularly ordained and admitted a 
 minister in this church, shall discontinue all exercise of the ministerial 
 office without lawful cause, or shall live in the habitual disuse of the 
 public worship, or of the holy eucharist, according to the offices of this 
 church ; such person, on due proof of the same, or on his own confes- 
 sion, shall be liable to the ecclesiastical censure of admonition^ or sns 
 
"337 
 
 pension, or degradation, as the nature of (he case may require, and 
 accordirg to such rules or process as may be provided by the conven- 
 tioos in the different states or dioceses. 
 
 Canon XXVII. Of piiblishi)ig the Sentence of Degradation against a 
 
 Cler^man. 
 
 Whenever a clergyman shall be degraded, agreeably to the canons of 
 any particular church in the union, tiie bishop who pronounces sentence 
 shall, without delay, cause the sentence of degradation to be published 
 from every pulpit where there may be an officiating minister, throughout 
 the diocese or district in which the degraded minister resided ; and also 
 shall give information of the sentence to all bishops of this church; and, 
 where there is no bishop, to the standing committee. 
 
 Canon XXVIII. Of a Clergyman in any Diocese chargeable itilk 
 Misdemeanor in any other. 
 
 If a clergyman of the church, in any diocese or district within this 
 union, shall, in any other diocese or district, conduct himself in such a 
 way as is contrary to the rules of this church, and disgraceful to his 
 office, the bishop, or if there be no bishop, the standing committee, shall 
 give notice thereof to tlie ecclesiastical authority of the diocese or dis- 
 trict to which such offender belongs, exhibiting, with the information 
 given, the proof of the charges made against him. 
 
 Canon XXIX. Concerning the election and inslilution of ministers into 
 FarisJies or Churches. 
 
 It is hereby required, that oh the election of a miiH^ter into any church 
 or parish, the vestry shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the bishop, 
 or, where there is no bishop, to the standing committee of the diocese, 
 notice of the same, in the following form, or to this effect: 
 
 We, the church wardens, (or, in case of an associatfd rector or an 
 assistant minister, We, the rector and church wardens) do certify to the 
 Right Rev. (naming thebisliop) or lo f'-j Tev. (ftaming the president 
 of the standing committee,) that (naming Uu. person) has been duly 
 chosen rector (or associated rector, or assibt.uit minister, as the case 
 may be,) oi (naming the parish, or church, or iJiurch.::. ' 
 
 Which certificate shall be signed with the names ^i Jiose who certify. 
 
 And if the bishop or the standing committee be satisfied tliat the per- 
 son so chosen is a qualified minister of this church, the bishop, or the 
 president of the standing committee, shall transmit the said certificate 
 to the secretary of the convention, who shall record it in a book to be 
 kept by him for that purpose. And if the minister elect be a presbyter, 
 the bishop, or president of the standing committee, may, at the instance 
 of the vestry, proceed to have him instituted according to the office 
 established by this church. But if he be a deacon, the act of institution 
 shall not take place till after he shall have received priest's orders, when 
 the bishop or president may have it performed. 
 
 But if the bishop or the standing committee be not satisfied as above, 
 he or they shall, at the instance of the parties, proceed to inquire into 
 the sufficiency of the person so chosen, according to such rules as may 
 be made in the respective dioceses, and shall confirm or reject the 
 appointment, as the issue of that inquiry may be. 
 
 No minister who mav be hereafter elected into any parish or church, 
 
 X X 
 
338 
 
 shall be considered as a regularly admitted and settled parochial minister 
 in any diocese or state, or shall, as such, have any vote in the choice of 
 a bishop, until he shall have been instituted according to the office pre- 
 scribed by this church. 
 
 This canon shall not be obligatory ^on the church in those dioceses or 
 states, with whose usages, laws, or cljarters it interferes. Nor shall any 
 thing in this canon, or in any other canon, or in any service of the 
 church relative to the office of associated rectors, apply to the church 
 in those states or dioceses where this office is not recognized by the 
 constitution, laws, or canons thereof.* 
 
 But it is to be understood, that this church designs not to express 
 any approbation of any laws or usages, which make the station of a 
 minister dependant on any thing else than his own soundness in the 
 faith, or worthy conduct. On the contrary, the church trusts that every 
 regulation in contrariety to this, will be in due lime reconsidered ; and 
 that there will be removed all hindrances to such reasonable discipline 
 as appears to have belonged to the churches of the most acknowledged 
 orthodoxy and respectability .f 
 
 Canon XXX. Respecting the Dissolution of all Pastoral Connection be- 
 tween Ministers and their Congregations, 
 
 When any minister has been regularly instituted or settled in a pa- 
 rish or church, he shall not be dismissed without the concurrence of the 
 ecclesiastical authority of the diocese or state ; and in case of his dis- 
 mission without such concurrence, the vestry or congregation of such 
 parish or church shall have no right to a representation in the convention 
 of the state or diocese, until they have made such satisfaction as the 
 convention may require. Nor shall any minister leave his congregation 
 against their will, without the concurrence of the ecclesiastical authority 
 aforesaid ; and if he shall leave them without such concurrence, he shall 
 not be allowed to take a seat in any convention of this church, or be 
 eligible into any church or parish within the states which have acceded 
 to the constitution of this church, until he shall have made such satis- 
 faction as the ecclesiastical authority of the diocese or state may re- 
 quire. 
 
 In the 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 con- 
 vention to record the same. But if the dissolution of the connection 
 between any minister and his congregation be not regular or canonical, 
 the Bishop or standing committee, shall lay the same before the Con- 
 vention of the diocese or state, in order that the above mentioned pe- 
 nalties may take effect. 
 
 This canon shall not be obligatory upon those states or dioceses, with 
 whose usages, laws, or charters it interferes. 
 
 Qlj" To this exception there applies the remark in the concluding paragraph of 
 canon 29. 
 
 ^ * As the following resolution of the general convention of 1808 relates to asso- 
 cia.ted rectorships, it is here inserted. 
 
 "Whereas associated rectorships are inconsistent with the usages of the Protes- 
 tant Episcopal Church, and in many respects inconvenient. Resolved, unanimously, 
 That it be recommended to tlie different state conventions of this church not to 
 authorize in future associated rectorships, and that when tlie existing associated 
 rectorslilps sliall expire, not to renew the same." 
 
 t See the 2d canon of 1814. 
 
Canon XXXI. Concerning Ministers removing from one Diocese m 
 state to another. 
 
 No minister removing from one diocese to another, or coming from 
 any statu or district which may not have acceded to tiie constitution of 
 this church, shall be received as a minister by any congregation of this 
 church, until he shall have presented to the vestry thereof, a certificate 
 from the ecclesiastical authority of the diocese or state to which he is 
 about to remove, that he has produced to them satisfactory testimonials, 
 that he has not been justly liable to evil report, for error in religion, or 
 viciousness of life during the three years last jjast; which testimonials 
 shall be signed by the Bishop or Bishops, or, where there is no Bishop, 
 by the majority of the clerical member- of the standing committee or 
 committees of the diocese or dioceses wherein he has resided ; which 
 committee or committees shall, in all cases, be duly convened; or, in 
 case he comes from a state or district not in connection with this church, 
 and having no convention, by three clergymen of this church. Nor 
 sliall any minister, so removing, be received by any vestry, or acknow- 
 ledged by any Bishop or convention, as a minister of the church to 
 which he removes, until he shall have produced the aforesaid testimo- 
 nials. 
 
 Every minister shall be amenable for any offences committed by him 
 in any diocese, to the ecclesiastical authority of the diocese in which he 
 resides. 
 
 Canon XXXII. Respecting Differences between Ministers and their 
 
 Coyigregatiojis, 
 
 In cases of controversy between ministers, who now, or may here 
 atfer, hold the rectorship of churches or parishes, and the vestry or 
 congregation of such churches or parishes, which controversies are of 
 such a nature as cannot be settled by themselves, the parties, or either of 
 them, shall make application to the Bishop of the diocese, or, in case 
 there be no Bishop, to the convention of the state. And if it appear to 
 tlie Bishop and his presbyters, or, if there be no Bishop, to the convention 
 or the standing committee of the diocese or state, if the authority should 
 be committed to them by the convention, that the controversy has pro- 
 ceeded such lengths as to pxeclude all hope of its favourable termination, 
 and that a dissolution of the connection which exists between them is 
 indispensably necessary to restore the peace, and promote the prosperity 
 of the church, the Bishop and his presbyters, or, if there be no Bishop, 
 the convention or the standing committee of the diocese or state, if the 
 authority should be committed to them by the convention, shall recom- 
 mend to such ministers to relinquish their titles to their rectorship on 
 such conditions as may appear reasonable and proper to the Bishop and 
 his presbyters, or, if there be no Bishop, to the convention, or the stand- 
 ing committee of the diocese or state, if the authority should be com- 
 mitted to them by the convention. And if such rectors or congregations 
 refuse to comply with such recommendation, the Bishop and his pres- 
 byters, or, if there be no Bishop, the convention or the standing commit- 
 tee of the diocese or state, if the authority should be committed to them 
 by the convention, with fhe aid and consent of a Bishop, may, at their 
 discretion, proceed, according to the canons of the church, to suspend 
 the former from the exercise of any ministerial duties within the diocese 
 or state ; and prohibit the latter from a seat in the convenHon, until they 
 
340 
 
 retract such refusal, and submit to the terms of the reconmieiidatiou : and 
 any minister so suspended shall not be permitted, during his suspension, 
 to exercise any ministerial duties in any ether diocese or state. This 
 canon shall app}y also to the cases of associated rectors and assistant mi- 
 nisters and their congregations. 
 
 This canon shall not be obligatory upon the church in those states or 
 • dioceses with whose usages, laws, or charters it interferes. 
 
 0^ To tills exception there applies the reinaik in the concluding paragraph of 
 Cftilon 29.. 
 
 Canon XXXIII. Of the offidallng of Minislers of this Church in the 
 Churches, ornithin the j>arochial cures of other Clergymen. 
 
 No clergyman belonging to this church shall officiate, either by preach- 
 ing or reading prayers, in the parish, or wiUiin the parochial cure of ano- 
 ther clergyman, unless he have received express permission for that pur- 
 pose from the Minister of the parish or cure, or, in his absence, from 
 the church- wardens and vestrymen, or trustees of the congregation. But 
 if any minister of a church shall, from inability, or any other cause, 
 neglect to perform the regular services to his congregation, and shall re- 
 fuse, without good cause his consent to any other minister of this church 
 to ofliciate w ithin his cure, the church-wardens, vestrymen, or trustees 
 of such congregalion, shall, on proof of such neglect and refusal before 
 the Bishop of the diocese, or, if there be no Bisliop, before the standing 
 committee, or before such persons as may be deputed by him or them, 
 or before such persons as may be, by the regulations of this church in any 
 state, vested with the power of hearing and deciding on complaints against 
 clergymen, have power to open the doors of their churches to any re- 
 gular minister of the Protestant Episcopal Church. And in case of such 
 a vicinity of two or more churches, as that there can be no local boun- 
 daries drawn between their respective cures, it is hereby ordained, that 
 in every such case, no minister of this church, other than the parochial 
 clergy of the said cures, shall preach within the common limits of the 
 same, in any other place than in one of the churches thereof, without 
 the consent of the major number of the parocliial clergy of the said 
 churches. 
 
 Canon XXXIV. Of the use of the Book of Common Prmjer. 
 Every minister shall, before •''' sermons and lectures, and on all other 
 occasions of public worship, -;• :he book of common prayer, as the 
 same is or may be established by ih? authority of the general conven- 
 tion of this church. And in perforir ■ r said service, no other prayei" 
 shall be used than those prescribed by V.'-: if*'!'' '>ook. 
 
 Canon XXXV. Of the. o^cialing of Persons not Ministers of this Church. 
 
 No person shall be permitted to officiate in any congregation of this 
 church, without first producing the evidences of his being a minister 
 thereof to the minister, or, in case of vacancy or absence, to the church- 
 wardens, vestrymen, or trustees of the congregation. And in case any 
 person not regularly ordained, shall assume the ministerial office, and 
 perform any of the duties thereof in this churCh, the minister, or, in case 
 of vacancy or absence, the church-wardens, vestrymen, or trustees of 
 the congregation where such offence may be committed, shall cause the 
 name of such person, together with the offence, to be published in as 
 many of the public papers as may be convenient. 
 
341 
 
 Canon XXXVI. Of Clersfynien ordained hji foreign Bishops, and desi^ 
 rous ofojjicialing or settlitig m this church. 
 
 A clergyman coming from a foreign country, and professing to be re- 
 gularly ordained, shall, before he be permitted to officiate in any parish 
 or congregation, exhibit to the minister, or if there be no minister, to 
 the vestry thereof, a certificate, signed by the Bishop of the diocese, or, 
 if there be no Biehop, by a majority of the standing committee duly 
 convened, that his letters of orders are authentic, and given by some 
 Bishop whose authority is acknowledged by this church; and also that 
 he has exhibited to the Bishop or standing committee satisfactory evi- 
 dence of his |)ious and moral character, and of his theological acquire- 
 ments. An<l should he be guilty of any unworthy conduct, he shall be 
 liable to presentment and trial. And in any case, before he shall be en- 
 titled to setde in any parish or church as the minister thereof, the Bi- 
 shop, or ecclesiastical authority of the diocese, must obtain satisfactory 
 evidence of his respectable standing in the church there ; and he must 
 also have resided one year in the United States. 
 
 And if any such foreign clergyman shall remove from one diocese to 
 another, before one year have expired, he shall not be allowed by the 
 ecclesiastical authority of the diocese to which he goes, to officiate in 
 said diocese, till be shall have complied with the requisitions of the ca- 
 non concerning ministers removing from one diocese or state to another. 
 
 Canon XXXVII. To prevent a Congregation in any Diocese or Stale from 
 uniting with a Church in any other Diocese or Stale. 
 
 Whereas a question may arise, whether a congregation within the di- 
 ocese of any Bishop, or within any state or diocese in which there is not 
 yet any Bishop settled, may unite themselves with the church in any 
 other diocese or state ; it is hereby determined and declared, that all such 
 unions shall be considered as irregular and void; and that every congre- 
 gation of this church shall be considered as belonging to (he body of the 
 church of the diocese, or of the state within the limits of which they 
 dwell, or within v/hich there is seated a church to which they helon?. 
 And no clergyman, having a parish or cure in more than one state or di- 
 ocese, shall have a seat in the convention ofany state or diocese, other 
 than that in which he resides. 
 
 Canon XXXVIII. To tmpower the Bishop in etich Diocese or District to 
 compose forms of Prayer or Thanksgiving for extraordinary occasions. 
 The Bishop of each diocese or distKct may comncje forms of prayer 
 or thanksgiving, as the case may require, for extrav-rdinary occasions, 
 and transmit tliem to each clergyman within his diocese or district, whose 
 duty it shall be to use such forms in his church on such occa^^ions. And 
 the clergy in those states or dioceses in which there is no Bishop, may 
 use the form of prayer or thanksgiving composed by the Biiliop of any- 
 other state or diocese. 
 
 Canon XXXIX. Of the due Celebration of Sundays. 
 
 All persons within this church shall celebrate and keep the Lord's 
 day, commonly called Sunday, in hearing the word of God read and 
 taught, in private and public prayer, in other exercises of devotion, and 
 ia acts of charity, using all godly and sober conversation. 
 
542 
 
 Canon XL. Ministers to keep a Register, 
 
 Every minister of this church shall keep a register of baptisms, mar- 
 riages, and funerals, within his cure, agreeably to such rules as may be 
 provided by the ecclesiastical authority where his cure lies ; and if none 
 such be provided, then in such a manner 9s, in his discretion, he shall 
 think best suited to the uses of such a register. 
 
 And the intention of the register of baptisms is hereby declared to be, 
 as for other good uses, so especially for the proving of the right of church 
 membership of those who may have been admitted into this church by 
 tlie holy ordinance of baptism. 
 
 And further, every minister of this church shall, within a reasonable 
 time after the publication of this canon, make out and continue a list of 
 all adult persons within his cure; to remain for the use of his successor, 
 to be continued by him, and by every future minister in the same parish. 
 
 And no minister shall place on the said Hst the names of any persons, 
 except of those who, on due enquiry, he shall find to have been bap- 
 tized in this church; or who, having been otherwise baptized, shall have 
 been received into this church, either by the holy rite of confirmation, or 
 by receiving the holy communion, or by some other joint acts of the par- 
 ties, and of a minister of this church; whereby such persons shall have 
 attached themselves to the same. 
 
 Canon XLI. ji List to be made and published^ of the Ministers of thi^ 
 
 Church. 
 
 The secretary of the general convention shall keep a register of all the 
 clergy of this church, whose names shall be delivered to him in the fol- 
 lowing manner; that is to say : — Every Bishop of this church, or, where 
 there is no Bishop, the standing committee of the diocese or district, 
 shall, at the time of every general convention, deliver, or cause to be de 
 livered, to the secretary, a list of the names of all the ministers of this 
 church iu their proper diocese or district, annexing the names of their 
 respective cures, or of their stations in any colleges or other incorporated 
 jiemiuaries of learning, or, in regard to those who have not any cures or 
 such stations, their places of residence only. And the said list shall, 
 from time to time, be published on the journals of the general convention. 
 
 And further, it is recommended to the several Bishops of this church, 
 and to the several standing committees, that, during the intervals be- 
 tween the meetings of the general convention, they take such means of 
 notifying the admission of ministers among them, as, in their discretion 
 respectively, they shall think etFectual to the purpose of preventing ig- 
 norant and unwary people from being imposed on, by persons pretend- 
 ing to be authorised ministers of this church. 
 
 Canon XLII. Of the mode of calling Special Meetings of the General 
 
 Conventioii. 
 
 The right of calling special meetings of the general convention shall 
 be in the Bishops. This right shall be exercised by the presiding Bi- 
 shop, or, in case of his death, by the Bishop who, according to the rules 
 of the house of bishops, is to preside at the next general convention ; pro- 
 vided, that the summons shall be with the consent, or on the requisition 
 of a majority of the Bishops, expressed to him in writing. 
 
 The place of holding any special convention, shall be that fixed on by 
 the preceding general convention for the meeting of the next general 
 
343 
 
 convention, unless circumstances, to be judged of by tlie Bishops, shall 
 render a meeting at such place unsafe; in which case the Bishops shall 
 appoint some other place. 
 
 Canon XLIII. Frescribing the mode of publishing authorized Edilions 
 of the Book of Common Prayer, SfC. 
 
 The Bishop of this church, in any state or diocese, or, where there is 
 no Bishop, the standing committee, are authorised to appoint, from 
 time to time, some suitable person or persons to compare and correct 
 all new editions of the common prayer book, book of offices, &tc, by 
 some standard book ; and a certificate of their having been so compared 
 and corrected shall be published with said books. And in case any edi- 
 tion shall be published without such correction, it shall be the duty of 
 the Bishop, or where there is no Bishop, of the standing committee, to 
 give public notice that such edition is not authorised by the church. 
 
 The edition of the articles of religion set forth by the Bishop of this 
 church in Pennsylvania, agreeably to the order of the general conven- 
 tion of 1804, shall be the standard copy. The octavo edition of the com- 
 mon prayer book, published in New York in 1793, by Hugh Gaine, and 
 the quarto edition of the book of offices, &.c. of the same year, published 
 in the same place, are hereby established as standard books, with the 
 exception of errors evidently typographical; the correction of which er- 
 rors is confided to such person or persons as the Bishop or standing 
 committee may appoint for superintending any publication. 
 
 Canon XLIV. Concerning the mode of transmitting Notice of all mat- 
 ters submitted by the General Convention to the cmmderation of the 
 State or Diocesan Conventions. 
 
 It shall be the duty of the secretary of the general convention, when- 
 ever any alteration of the constitution is proposed, or any other subject 
 submitted to the consideration of the several state or diocesan conven 
 tions, to give a particular notice thereof to the ecclesiastical authority 
 of this church in every state or diocese. 
 
 Canon XLV. Providing for an accurate view of the state of the Church 
 from time to time. 
 
 As a full and accurate view of the state of the church, from time to 
 time, is highly useful and necessary, it is hereby ordered, that every 
 minister of this church shall present or forward, at every annual con- 
 vention, to the Bishop of the diocese, or, where there is no Bishop, to 
 the president of the convention, a statement of the number of baptisms, 
 marriages, and funerals, and of the number of communicants in his 
 parish or church, and of all other matters that may throw light on the 
 state of the same : and these parochial reports shall be read and entered 
 on the Journals of the convention. 
 
 At every annual state or diocesan convention, the bishop shall deliver 
 an address, stating the affairs of the diocese since the last meeting of 
 the convention, the names of the churches which he has visited; the 
 •number of persons confirmed ; the names of those who have been re- 
 ceived as candidates for orders, and of those who have been ordained, 
 suspended, or degraded ; the changes by death, removal, or otherwise, 
 which have taken place among the clergy: and, in general, all matters 
 tending to throw light on the affairs of the diocese : which address shall 
 be ineerted on the Journals. 
 
314 
 
 At every general convention, the Journals of the different etate con- 
 ventions since the last general convention, together with such other 
 |>apers, Viz. Episcopal charges, addresses, and pastoral letters, as may 
 tend to throw light on the state of the church in each diocese, shall be 
 presented to the house of clerical and lay deputies. And the parochial 
 rieports inserted on those Journals, together with the Episcopal addres- 
 ses, shall be read in the said house. And a particular inquiry shall be 
 instituted into the state of the church in each diocese, and particularly 
 into the attention paid to the canons and rules of the church. A cora- 
 jnittee shall then be appointed to draw up a view of the state of the 
 church, and to make report to the house of clerical and lay deputies ; 
 which report, when agreed to by the said house, shall be sent to the 
 bouse of bishops, with a request, that they will draw up and cause to 
 be published, a pastoral letter to the members of the church. 
 
 It shall be tlie duty of the secretary of the convention of every dio- 
 cese or state, or of the person or persons with whom the Journals or 
 other ecclesiastical papers are lodged, to forward to the house of clerical 
 and lay deputies, at every general convention, the documents and papers 
 specified in this canon.* 
 
 Canon XLVI. Providing for making Jinown the Consiiluiion and Ca- 
 nons of the Church, f 
 
 In general convention, at Baltimore, May, 1808. 
 
 By order of the House of Bishops. 
 
 WILLIAM WHITE, D. D. President. 
 Attested, JAMES WHITEHEAD, D. D. Secretary. 
 
 By order of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, 
 
 ABRAHAM BEACH, D. D. President. 
 Attested, JOHN HENRY HOBART, D. Y . Secretary. 
 
 CANON OF 1 811. 
 
 Canon repealing the Mth Canon. 
 
 The 46th canon, providing for making known the constitution and 
 Ganons of the church, is hereby repealed. 
 
 House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, 
 
 ISAAC WILKINS, President. 
 Ashbel Baldwin, Secretary. 
 
 House of Bishops, 
 WILLIAM WHITE, Presiding Bishop. 
 Philo Shelton, Secretary. 
 
 CANONS OF 1814. 
 
 f.'ANON I. Concerning the Alms and Contributions at the Holy Commu 
 
 jiion. 
 
 Whereas, it appears, that no direction has been made, as to the mode 
 in which the alms and contributions at the administration of the holy 
 
 " Sec the llMcanon of 1814. f See the canon 6f 1811. 
 
communion are to be applied, it is hereby declared, that they sliall be 
 deposited with the miiiisler of the parish, or with such church officer as 
 shall be appointed by him, to be applied by the minister or under his su- 
 perintendance, to such pious and charitable uses as shall be thought fit. 
 
 Canon II. Altering and explainins; the 29lk Canon, concerning the elec- 
 tion and insliluUon oj' Ministers. 
 
 So much of the 29th canon of 1808, as requires the institution of an 
 assistant minister, in order to his being considered as a regularly admit- 
 ed and settled parochial minister in any diocess or state, and his having 
 a voice in the choice of a Bishop, in consequence of his not having been 
 instituted, and as excludes a deacon from a seat and vote in any con- 
 vention where he is not excluded by the constitution and canons of the 
 church in any diocess, is hereby repealed. It is also declared, in ex- 
 planation of the said canon, that the provision concerning the use of the 
 office of institution, is not to be considered as applying to any congre- 
 gation destitute of a house of worship. 
 
 Canon III. Repealing part of the h5th Canon of 1808. 
 
 That part of the 45th canon of 1808, which requires that the parochi- 
 al reports inserted on the journals of each state or diocesan convention, 
 shall be read in the house of clerical and lay deputies in general conven- 
 tion, is hereby repealed. 
 
 By order of the house of Bishops, 
 
 WILLIAM WHITE, D. D. Presiding Bishop. 
 Attest. Jackson Kemper, Secretary. 
 
 By order of the house of clerical and lay deputies, 
 
 JOHN CROES, D. D. President. 
 Attest. Ashbel Baldwin, Secretary. 
 
 A PRAYER 
 
 To he ustd at the meetings of Convention, adopted in General Con- 
 vention, 1799. 
 ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who, by thy Holy Spirit didst 
 preside in the council of the blessed Apostles, and hast promised, 
 through thy Son Jesus Chi#t, to be with thy church to the end of the 
 world; we beseech thee to be present with the council of thy church 
 here assembled in thy name and presence. Save them from all error, 
 ignorance, pride, and prejudice ; and of thy great mercy vouchsafe, we 
 beseech thee, so to direct, sanctify, and govern us in our present work, 
 by the mighty power of the Holy Ghcst, that the comfortable gospel of 
 Christ may be truly preached, truly received, and truly followed, in all 
 places, to the breaking down of tlie kingdom of sin, satan, and death ; 
 till at length the whole of thy dispersed sheep, being gathered into one 
 fold, shall become partakers of everlasting life, tlirough the merits and 
 death of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. 
 
 Course of Ecclesiastical Studies, established hij the House of Bishops iu 
 the Convention of IZQk.; in pursuance of a Resolution of the precetUng 
 General Convention. 
 IN attending to this subject, a considerable difficulty occurs, aris- 
 ing out of the difference of the circumstances of students, in regard nbt 
 
34G 
 
 only t0 intellectual endowments and preparatory knowledge of langua" 
 ges'and science ; but to access to authors, and time to be devoted to a 
 preparation for the ministry. For in accommodating to those whose 
 means are slender, we are in danger of derogating from the importance 
 of religious knowledge; while, on the other hand, although we should 
 demand all that is desirable, we shall be obliged to content ourselves, 
 in some cases, with what is barely necessary. 
 
 In consideration of the above, it will be expedient to set down such a 
 course of study, as is accommodated to a moderate portion of time and 
 means ; and afterwards to suggest provision, as well for a more limited 
 as for a more enlarged share of both. 
 
 Let the student be required to begin with some books, in proof of the 
 divine author ily q/' Christianity ; such as Grotius on the Truth of the 
 Christian Retigion ; Jenkins on the Reasonableness of Christianity ; Pa- 
 ley's Evidences ; Leslie's Methods with the Jervs and Deists ; Stilling- 
 fleet's Origines Sacrce ; and Butler's Analogy. To the above should be 
 added some books, which give a knowledge of the objections made by 
 Deists. For this, Leland's View may be sufficient ; except that it should 
 be followed by answers to deistical writers since Leiand, whose works 
 and the answers to them may be supposed known to the student. It 
 Would be best, if circumstances permit, that he should read what the 
 Deists themselves have written. 
 
 After (he books in proof of revelation, let the student, previously to 
 the reading of any system of divinity, study the Scriptures with the help 
 of some approved Commentators ; such as Patrick and Lowth on the 
 Old Testament, and Hammond, or Whitby, or Doddridge on the JVen?; 
 being aware, in regard to the last mentioned author, of the points on 
 which he tliffers from our Church, although it be with moderation and 
 candour. During such his study of the scriptures, let him read some 
 work or works which give an account of the design of the different 
 hooks, and the grounds on which their respective authority is asserted; 
 for instance. Father Simon's Canon of Scripture, Collier's Sacred In- 
 terpreter, Gray's Key to the Old Testament, and Percy's Key to the 
 New. Let the student read the scriptures over and over, referring to 
 his commentators as need may require, until he can give an account of 
 the design and character of each hook, arw explain the more difficult 
 passages of it. He is supposed to know enough of Profane History, to 
 give an account of that also, whenever it mixes with the Sacred. There 
 are certain important subjects which may be profitably attended to, as 
 matters of distinct study, during the course of the general study of scrip- 
 ture. For instance ; the student having proceeded as far as the Deluge, 
 may read some author who gives a larger account than the conwienta- 
 tors, of the particulars attached to that crisis ; and also the principles on 
 which are founded the different systems of Chronology : all which will 
 be found clearly done in the Universal History. In reading the book of 
 Leviticus, it will be useful to attend to some connected scheme of the 
 sacrifices ; such as is exhibited by Bishop Kidder in his Introduction to 
 the Pentateuch, and by Mr. Joseph Mede in some of his discourses. A 
 more full and interesting interpretation of the Prophecies, than can be ex- 
 pected from the commentators, will be desirable, and for this purpose, 
 let Bishop Newton's Work be taken. Between the study of the Old Tes- 
 tament and that of the New, should be read Prideaux's and Shuckford's 
 Connections. With the New Testament should be taken some book re- 
 lating to the Harmony oftht Gospels, as M'Knight's orBishop Newcome's. 
 
347 
 
 Let the student, before entering on the Gospels, read Dr. Campbell's 
 Introductory Dissertations. Towards the close of the Gospels, the sub- 
 ject of the Resurrection should be particularly attended to ; for which 
 purpose let there be taken either Mr. West on the sultject, or Bishop 
 Sherlock's Trial of (he Witnesses. 
 
 After the study of the scriptures, let attention be given to Ecclesiasti- 
 cal History, so far as to the Council of Nice. This period is distinctly 
 taken, from a desire that the portion of history precedins; it, as well as 
 the opinions then entertained, may be learned from original nrilcrs ; 
 which may be considered as one of the best expedients, for (he guarding 
 of the student against many errors of modern times. The wiilers of that 
 interval are not numerous or bulky. Eusebius is soon read through ; 
 and so are the Apostohc Fathers. Even the other writers are not volu- 
 minous, except Origen, the greater part of whose works may be passed 
 over. The Apostolic Fathers lany be best read in Cotelerius's edition ; 
 but there are translations of most of them by Archbishop Wake, and the 
 Rev. William Reeves. Cave's Lives of the Apostles and Fathers may 
 be profitably read at this period. 
 
 This stage of the student's progress seems the most proper for the 
 study oi the two questions, of our Lord's Divinity, and of Episcopacy. 
 The aspect of early ivorks on these subjects, best enables us to ascertain 
 in what shape they appeared to the respective writers. And it is diffi- 
 cult to suppose, on the grotind of what we know of human nature, that, 
 during the first three centuries, either the character of Christ should have 
 been conceived of as materially diH'erent from what had been the repre- 
 sentation of it by the first teachers of our religion ; or, (hat there should 
 have been a material change of church government, without opposition 
 to the innovation. For (he former question, let (he works of Bishop 
 Bull and the Rev. Charles Leslie be taken; to which may well be ad- 
 ded the late controversj' between Bishop Horsley and Dr. Priestley ; 
 and for the latter. Mr. Hooker's Ecclesiastical Polity, Archbishop Pot- 
 ter on Church Government, and Daubeny's Guide to the Church. As 
 the Lord Chancellor King published a book on tlic discipline of the pri- 
 mitive Church, in which he has rested E[>iscopaey on insufficient 
 grounds, unwarily admitted bv many on his authority ; let the student 
 read his book, and the refut^ion of it in Mr. Slater's Original draft of 
 the priynilive Church. 
 
 After this, let the student go on with the History of the Fourth Cen- 
 tury, from Mosheim. But it will be of advarita-j;*' to him to turn to 
 Fleury's /J/.sYor?/ for the Epilomies there given of the writings of the em- 
 inent men who abounded in that century and part of (he next. Lei him 
 then return to Mosheim, and go on with that writer to the Rrfurmation. 
 Here let him pause and studj% as the main hinges of Pop/ry, its preten- 
 ces to sw/7re?«frf?/ and injallilnlity ; on which there will be found satis- 
 factory matter in Mr. Chillingworfli's Religion of Protestants, a safe nay 
 to Salvation, and Dr. Barrow's Treatise of the Pope^s supremacy. Here 
 also, let there be read Father Paul's History of the Council of Trent. 
 Then let the s(uden( resume Mosheim. Bu( it will he be.st, if, for a 
 more minute knowledge of (he History of the Church of England since 
 the Reformation, he take along with him Collie r';; History ; a verj-^ able 
 work ; but in the reading of which, some allowance must be made for 
 peculiar |)re)udices. On cominsr, in tiie reigu ofElizabetli, to (he ques- 
 tions which arose between Ww Divines of the established fVn/rc/i and the 
 Presbyterians, then known by the name of Vuritans, let recourse he 
 
348 
 
 again had to Mr. Hooker's Work, and to the London cases. Then let 
 Mosheira be proceeded with to the end. 
 
 After these studies, and not before, let Divinity be read in a sysiema- 
 Uc method. Bishop Pearson's Exposilion of the Creed, may be consider- 
 ed as a small system ; and, on account of the excellence of the work, is 
 recommended; as also Bishop Burnet's Exposition of the Thirty-Nine 
 Articles- Then, let a larger system be taken; suppose Sfackhouse's 
 Body of Divinity, with the addition of the following modern works r 
 Elements of Christian Theology, by the present Bishop of Lincoln, and 
 The Scholar Armed. That many works of this sort are not mentioned, 
 is because we think their utility is principally confined to arrangement, 
 and suppose that the knowledge they convey is to be obtained from the 
 scriptures and judicious commentators. 
 
 It seems necessary to this course of study, to recommend the Sermons 
 of some of the most distinguished preachers ; who have so abounded in 
 the Church of England for some ages past, that the only matter will be, 
 from among many of great name, to select a convenient number. And 
 for this purpose we refer to the list at the end. 
 
 It seems not unnecessary to require attention to the History of the 
 Common Prayc? , the grounds on which the differcmt services are con- 
 structed, and the meaning of the Rubrics. Perhaps a careful study of 
 Dr. Wheatley on the Common Prayer, and of the late work of Mr. 
 Reeves, will be sufficient. 
 
 Some books should be read on the dtdies of the Pastoral office; such 
 as St. Chrysostom on tlie Priesthood, Bishop Burnet on the Pastoral 
 Care, and Bishop AVilson's Parochialia. It is, however, to be remem- 
 bered, that one reason of studying carefully the Book of Common Pray- 
 er and its Rubrics, is, that by the help of these, in connection with what 
 belongs in Scripture to the ministerial character, sufficient information of 
 its duties may be had. 
 
 A knowledge of the Constitidion and the Conors, should be held abso- 
 lutely necessary. And it is to be hoped that they will, on this account, 
 be soon published, detached from the journals. 
 
 To set down what books shall be essential, no student to be ordained 
 without he'mg fully prepared to answer on them, is more difficult. The 
 loivest requisition \s as follows: — Paley's Evidences; Mosheim, with a 
 reference to Mr. Hooker for the Episcopacy ; Stackhouse's Body of Di- 
 vinity ; and Mr. Reeves on the Common Prayer ; the Constitution and 
 Canons of the Church; allowing in the study of the Scriptures a latitude 
 of choice among approved Commentators ; it being understood, tliat 
 if the student cannot, on the grounds contained in some good commenta- 
 ry, give an account of the (liferent hooks, and explain such passages as 
 piay be proposed to him, thii; is of itself a disqualijication. 
 
 In the beginning it was intimated, that the course to be recommend- 
 ed would be disproportioned to the means of some, and fall short of wjiat 
 would l)e within the comp^^ss of others. For the benefit of the latter, we 
 publish the following list of books on the different branches of ecclesias- 
 «ical knowledge. 
 
 During the whole course of study, the student will endeavour, by the 
 grace of God, to cultivate his heart b}^ attention to devotional and prac- 
 tical treatises ; several of which will be mentioned in the general list that 
 folloyv'S. 
 
349 
 
 Library for a Parish Minister, j)rP.fi.red to " "Ehmenis of Christian The- 
 olog}/,'" published by the l{ii!;ht Rev. the present Bishop of Lincoln. 
 The books mentioned are divided into four classes. 
 
 " The first, containing; such as relate to the exposition of the Old and 
 New Testaments: the second, such as serve to establish the divine au- 
 thority of the Scriptures : the third, such as ex[)Iain the doctrines and 
 discipline of the cliurch, and the duties of its Ministers: and the fourth, 
 miscellaneous, including sermons and Ecclesiastical History. 
 
 " Class the first." 
 
 Leland on the Divine Authority 
 Old and New Testament, 
 8vo. 
 
 " Class the third. 
 
 of tlie 
 2 vols. 
 
 "Bible, with marg'inal references, 8vo. 
 
 CrtttiueW s Concordance of Parallels, 4to. 
 
 £utter~verth's Concordance, 8vo. 
 
 Patrick, Lo-wth, and Whitby, on the Old 
 and New Testament, 6 vols, folio. 
 
 Doddridge' sViimAy Expositor, 6 vols.Bvo. 
 
 JPool's Synopsis, 5 vols, folio. 
 
 Collier^s Sacred Interpreter, 2 vols. Bvo. 
 
 Jenninj^s Jewish Antiquities, 2 vols. Bvo. 
 
 Loiumaii^ s Rationale of the Hebrew Ri- 
 tual, Bvo. 
 
 Gray's Key to the Old Testament, Bvo. 
 
 Home's Scripture Histoiy of the Jews, 
 2 vols. Svo. 
 
 Parkhiirst's Greek Lexicon, 4to. 
 
 Campbell's Translation of tlie Gospels, 2 
 vols. 4to. 
 
 JMarsh's Michaelj^, 3 vols. Bvo. 
 
 Boiuyer's Conjectures on the New Tes- 
 tament, 4to. 
 
 JMacknight's Harmony, 4to. 
 
 JMacknight on the Epistles, 3 vols. 4to. 
 
 Lo-ivman on \hc Revelation, Bvo. 
 
 Oliver's Scripture Lexicon, Bvo. 
 
 jyiacbean's Dictionary of the Bible, Bvo. 
 
 " Class the second. 
 
 ** Stilliiigjleet' s Origlnes Sacrse, 2 vols. 
 Bvo. 
 
 darkens Grotius, Bvo. 
 
 Clarke's Evidences of Natural and Re- 
 vealed Religion, Bvo. 
 
 Lardner's Works, 11 vols. Bvo. 
 
 Paley's Evidences, 2 vols. Bvo. 
 
 Horse Paulins, Bvo. 
 
 Jenkins on the Certainty and Reasona- 
 bleness of Christianity, 2 vols. Bvo. 
 
 Leland on the A chantage and Necessity 
 of Revelation, 2 vols. Bvo. 
 
 Lelamrs View of Deistical Writers, 2 
 vols. Bvo. 
 
 Butler's Analogy, Bvo. 
 
 Campbell on Miracles, 2 vols. Bvo. 
 
 %f\'eiuton on the Prophecies, 2 vols. Bvo. 
 
 Kelt's History the Interpreter of Prophe- 
 cy, 3 vols. 12mo. 
 
 In addition to the preceding may be recommended the follo-vin^ 
 devotional and practical Books. 
 
 Sermons by Bishop Pearce. — — by Bishop Porteus 
 
 — — by Bishop Wilson. by Dr. Jortin. 
 
 '^ by Bishop Home. ^ by Dr. Brady. * 
 
 " Burnet's History of the Reformation, 
 3 vols, folio. 
 
 Exposition of the 39 Articles, 
 
 Bvo. 
 
 Pastoral Care, Bvo. 
 
 Pearson on the Creed, 2 vols. Bvo. 
 
 J^'ichoUs on the Common Prayer, Bvo. 
 
 Wheatley on the Common Prayer, Bvo. 
 
 Shepherd on tlie Common Praj-er, Bvo. 
 
 Wilson's Parochialia, 12mo. 
 
 fF(;7/on Infant Baptism, 2 vols. Svo. 
 
 Seeker on the Catechism, 12mo. 
 
 Seeker's liarges, Bvo. 
 
 The Ifomilies, by Sir Adam Gordon, ^\c, 
 
 Danbeny's Guide to the Church. 
 
 Appendix to do. 2 vols. 
 
 " Class the fourth. 
 
 " Cudivorth's Intellectual System, 2 volt. 
 4to. 
 
 Hooker's Ecclesiastical Polity, 3 vols. Bvo. 
 
 Bingham's Antiquities, 2 vols, folio. 
 
 Broughto7i's Dictionary of all Religions, 
 2 vols, folio. 
 
 Shuckford's Connection, 4 vols. Bvo. 
 
 Prideaux's Connection, 4 vols.Bvo. 
 
 Echard's Ecclesiastical History, 2 vols. 
 Bvo. 
 
 JMosheim's Ecclesiastical History, 6 vols. 
 Bvo. 
 
 Burn's Ecclesiastical Law, 4 vols. Bvo. 
 
 Common Place Book to the Holy Bible, 
 4to. 
 
 Barro-zv's Works, 3 vols, folio. 
 
 Tillotson's Works, 3 vols, folio. 
 
 Clarke's Sermons, B vols. Bvo. 
 
 Sherlock's Sermons, 5 vols. Bvo. 
 
 Seeker's Sermons, 9 vols. Bvo. 
 
 Scoti's Christian Life, 5 vols. Bvcj. 
 
 Whole Duty of Man, 12mo. 
 
 Scholar armed, 2 vols Bvo. 
 
 Tracts by Society for Christian Know- 
 ledge, 12 vols. 12mo. 
 
 list of Sermons and 
 
350 
 
 Sermons by the late Right Rev. Bishop Nelson's Practice of true Devotion. 
 
 Seabury, of this Church. — — Christian Sacrifice. 
 
 . by the late Rev. Dr. Smith, of Bishop Taylor's Rule of Holy Living and 
 
 the same. Dying. 
 
 Bishop Gibson's Tracts. Scougall's Life of God in the Soul of 
 Bishop Home's Commentary on the Man. 
 
 Psalms. Dr. Sherlock on Death. 
 
 Rev. Wm. Jones's (of Nayland) Works. on Judgment. 
 
 Nelson's Festivals and Fasts of the on a Future State. 
 
 Church. — __— . on Providence. 
 
 JBy order of the House of Bishops. 
 
 WILLIAM WHITE, Presiding Bishop. 
 
SECOND APPENDIX. 
 
 (NO. I.) 
 
 A 
 
 PASTORAL LETTER 
 
 TO THE 
 
 MEMBERS 
 
 OP THE 
 
 PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH 
 
 IN THE 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 
 
 FROM THE 
 
 HOUSE OF BISHOPS OF SAID CHURCH, 
 
 A.SSEMBLED IN 
 
 GENERAL CONVENTION, 
 
 AT BALTIMORE, 
 MAY, 1808. 
 
A PASTORAL LETTER 
 
 From the House of Bishops of tlie Protestant Episcopal Church to the 
 
 Members of the same. 
 Brethren, 
 
 BEING assembled in general convention, with the clerical and 
 lay deputies of our communion, we embrace the opportunity of address- 
 ing you on its concerns. But before we proceed to the subjects of 
 advice contemplated by us on this occasion, we lift up our hearts to the 
 Father of mercies, thanking him for our being in possession of all that 
 we esteem necessary for the professing of his holy and eternal truth. 
 And while we ascribe this benetit to his unbounded goodness, we re- 
 cognize in it the truth of the promises made to the church by her divine 
 Head, of being with her to the end of the world. 
 
 It is within the memory of many of you, that when these states, in 
 the course of divine Providence, became elevated to a place among the 
 nations of the earth ; and when, in consequence, our congregations, 
 planted under the jurisdiction of the Church of England, were with- 
 drawn from it, they had no longer any common centre of union ; being 
 not only without an entire ministry, but severally in a state of separate 
 independence, inconsistent with the catholic principles which they had 
 inherited from their founders. Under these circumstances, there was 
 required no small measure of faith, as well in the integrity of our sys- 
 tem, as in the divine blessing on any endeavours which might be begun, 
 to elevate us above those apprehensions which described the continuance 
 of our communion as problematical, if not to be despaired of. 
 
 From coirespondence in some instances, and from personal commu- 
 nications in others, it soon a()peared, that there was at least so much 
 attachment to the religious [)rinciples of our church, as ought to prevent 
 our considering of her cause as desperate. The correctness of this 
 sentiment became confirmed, by connections speedily created of our 
 churches, until then detached from one another, on terms which con- 
 tem[dated the perpeiualing of the communion, with all the distinguish- 
 ing properties of the Church of England. And the unanimity with 
 which this was accomplished, atforded a pleasing presage of whatever 
 else we now gratefully remember. 
 
 We were, however, without that order of the ministry, which we had 
 learned from scripture and primitive antiquity, to be essential to the 
 due conducting of ecclesiastical concerns; and to the clothing of others 
 with authority to preach the vvord, and to administer the sacraments. 
 The effects of this had become conspicuous, during the war then re- 
 cently ended ; in the course of which, the greater number of our con- 
 gregations had become deprived of tiieir ministers, without opportunities 
 of replacing them. Matters were approaching to the extreme, in which 
 the voice of a duly authorized ministry would not have been heard with- 
 in our walls. And what deepened the gloom of the prospect, were the 
 restraints laid on our former ecclesiastical superiors, by the establish- 
 ments under which they held their stations ; and which, unless removed 
 by authorities to which we could not with propriety apply, might pre 
 vent them from extending to us that aid, which, it was presumed, their 
 christian charity would otherwise dispose them to bestow-. 
 
353 
 
 Under these circumstances, recourse was had to the archbishops anJ 
 bishops of England, who best knew the nature of any civil impedimenla 
 in their way, and were the best judges of the means expedient for the 
 removing of them. That we now address you in our official characters, 
 is an evidence of the success of the application. And it ought not to be 
 noticed in this place, without the record of a debt of gratitude to the pre- 
 lates of England generally, and to their lately deceased venerable pri- 
 mate* in particular, who exerted all the influence of his high station, to 
 accomplish the wishes of this church ; and who, at last, carried them 
 into effect, with a deportment which endeared his character to those 
 who received the succession from his hands. While we thus do justice 
 to the source to which we principally looked in consequence of past 
 habits and a sense of past benefits, it is with pleasure we acknowledge 
 a similar debt of gratitude to the episcopacy which, in Scotland, sur- 
 vived the revolution in that country in the year 1688. AlthoU'j;h the 
 succession from thence derived is now incorporated with that obtained 
 from England, yet we retain a sense of the benefit, and oiler up our 
 pra3'ers for the perpetuity and the increase of the Episcopal Church of 
 Scotland. 
 
 Even when the succession had been obtained, there was far from being 
 a certainty of combining our church throughout the union. An impor- 
 tant step for the accomplishing of this, was the uniting in a common 
 liturgy. And althongh there was reason to believe, that the liturgy of 
 the Church of England was substantially acceptable to us all ; yet there 
 were some parts of it, utterly inconsistent with the new relations in which 
 we stood ; while, in regard to the rest, there was room for considerable 
 difference of opinion, on points confessedly within the sphere of liunian 
 prudence. The case was full of difficulties; which were at last removed 
 by that consent in all things necessary, and that temper of concession in 
 matters subjected to discretion, which led to the establishment of the 
 hook of common prayer, now the standard of the public worship of our 
 church. 
 
 There remained a work, in itself more fruitful than any hitherto 
 noticed, of discord and dissent. Our church had not made a pro- 
 fession of christian doctrine, with a reference to the points on which it 
 has been contradicted, by what we conceive to be «langerous error. 
 It is true, that the articles of the Church of England, except the parts of 
 them abrogated by the revolution, might still be considered as binding 
 on churches, which had been founded on a i)rofession of them. There 
 was, however, wanting an explicit declaration to silence all doubt, in 
 regard to their binding operation. And this, although a matter encum- 
 bered with much embarrassment, was at last happil}"^ effected. 
 
 Whatever labours, and whatever cares there may have been bestowed 
 for the accomplishing of the objects stated in this address, there must 
 have been an ample compensation for them, in an observation of their 
 effects. These are, indeed, far short of our wishes, and what should 
 still be the object of our endeavours : yet it must be confessed, that there 
 has not only been an arresting of the state of decline which threatened a 
 dissolution; but such a religious prosperity in many places, and such a 
 prospect of it in many more, as are at once a reward of zeal and an 
 incentive to it. By communications made to us from the church in 
 
 * The Most Rev. John Moore, D. D. late Archbishop of Canterbury. 
 
 Z z 
 
354 
 
 several states, in obedience to the 1 1th canon of the last general conven- 
 tion, we have been favoured with a more satisfactory view of this subject 
 than had been before possessed by us. While we record this, we take 
 occasion from it to express our expectations, that similar reports will be 
 more generally transmitted to the next triennial meeting. For we have 
 to lament, that the communications exacted by the said canon, have not 
 been universal ; owing, perhaps, to its not having been sufficiently made 
 known ; or perhaps, to there not having been sufficiently understood the 
 object of it. We are not to learn, how far such returns must be, from an 
 exact measure of the power of godliness. Yet, where there is a growth 
 of the profession of religion, there is occasion for charity to hope, and 
 even ground in human nature to justify the belief, that there must be, 
 in some proportion, an increase of its holy influence over the heart. 
 
 While we look back with gratitude on the blessings of Almighty God 
 vouchsafed to our communion, it is for the purpose of a due improve- 
 ment of them, that we now present them to the view of its members : 
 and, for the accomplishment of this, we invite their attention to the re- 
 sulting considerations, as they affect doclHne — worship — discipline — and 
 the end of all, an holy life and conversation. 
 
 In regard to doctrine ; although it vvoultl be foreign to the design of 
 this address, to display to you the whole body of christian truth, as af- 
 firmed in the articles of our church ; yet we think ourselves called on by 
 the occasion, to refer to some points, the contrary to which are the 
 most apt to show their heads, among persons calling themselves of our 
 communion. For the guarding of you, therefore, against that great dan- 
 ger, we affectionately remind you, that whatever derogates from the di- 
 vinity of our blessed Saviour, or from the honour due to the Holy Spi- 
 rit, with the Father and with the Son, divine ; that whatever detracts 
 from our Lord's sufferings on the cross, as a propitiatory sacrifice for sin; 
 that whatever supposes man in himself competent to his salvation, or to 
 anj' advance towards it, without the grace of God going before to dis- 
 pose him to the work, and concurring with him in the accomplishment 
 of it ; also, that whatever describes the favour of God in this life, and the 
 happiness which he offers to us in another, as the purchase of human 
 merit, or any thing else than of the free grace of God in Christ, and 
 through the merits of his death ; still, in connection with its end, which 
 is the bringing of us to be holy in heart and in conversation ; in short, 
 that whatever is in the least degree infected with the poison of the re- 
 cited errors, was intended to be guarded against by our church, in her 
 decisions in regard to doctrine. 
 
 We are not ignorant of the prejudices, which represent all eccJesiaeli- 
 cal decisions on these and the like points, as the arbitrary acts of man, 
 interfering with the word of God revealed in scripture. And we are 
 ready to acknowledge that, did this charge lie, the matter censured 
 would be not only presumptuous in itself, but especially inconsistent in 
 a church which has so explicitly declared her sense, that the scriptures 
 contain all things necessary to belief and practice. Let it then be under- 
 stood, that we disclaim all idea of adding to the word of God, or of its 
 being infalliby interpreted by any authority on earth. Still, it lies on 
 the ministers of the church to open to their flocks the truths of scripture, 
 and to guard them against interfering errors. What then is the making 
 of a declaration of the sense of the church, but her doing that as a so- 
 cial bod)-^, which must be done by her pastors individually ; although, 
 as may be supposed in some instances, not with due judgment and de- 
 
355 
 
 liberation ? It is evident, indeed, that this does not answer the objection 
 in anothor shape in which it meets us — the supposed hardship laid on 
 those who are otherwise minded, than as the standard may liave pre- 
 scribed. Still, the church exercises in this matter no power, but such 
 as must be exercised by every minister in his individual capacity, under 
 the danger of great abuse ; the effect of there being always the interfer- 
 ence of discretion, and sometimes that of passion. To go no further, 
 than to the few evangelic truths which have been referred to : there is 
 no faithful minister of Christ who will endure the denial of them, in a 
 church under his pastoral care, and in circumstances in which there 
 shall be no authority superior to his own, for the remedying of the evil; 
 and not exercise that authority, within its reasonable limits, in order to 
 defend his flock from errors. Thus, there would and ought to be accom- 
 plished by the individual, in the event of the silence of the church, what 
 she has rescued from arbitrary will, and made the subject of deliberate 
 law. 
 
 While we exhort all to sustain the evangelic truths found in the arti- 
 cles, as deduced from scripture and attested by the earliest ages of catho- 
 lic Christianity; we would particularly impress on the clergy, not only a 
 sufficient frequency in professedly stating to their hearers the same truths, 
 but also to manifest their salutary influence on all the other subjects of 
 their public administrations. We are aware of the interference of this 
 advice, with the opinion that mere morals are the only suitable topics of 
 discussion, and the only ends of exhortation, in discourses from the pul- 
 pit. Far be from us the thought of assigning to morals, considered as 
 comprehending not only a eorrect course of conduct, but an holy state 
 of heart, a subordinate rank in the scale of christian endowment. For 
 what is morahty, thus defined, but " the living godly, righteously and 
 soberly in this present world," which an apostle has pronounced the 
 very end for which '* the grace of God, bringing salvation to all men, 
 " hath appeared?" But when we take in connection with the subject, the 
 depravity of the human heart; when we recollect the influence of this, 
 wherever the gospel is unknown, as well on the theory of morals as on 
 practice ; and when there are many evidences before our eyes, how lit- 
 tle there is in the world adorned by the attribute of moral virtue, in any 
 other association than as embodied with, and growing out of the high 
 and leading sense of revelation; we suppose a fallacy in every modern 
 scheme of religion, which professes to make men virtuous without the 
 motives to virtue supplied to them in the gospel ; and we think, that, iu 
 every endeavour of ihis sort, in which infidelity is not avowed, we dis- 
 cover it in disguise. 
 
 Let there not be thought an objection to what we advise, in the unrea- 
 sonable conduct of those, who, in their zeal for unprofitable speculation, 
 lose sight of every practical use for which christian light has been be- 
 stowed. We believe, that from this there have arisen many errors and 
 much mischief. But we are so far from admitting it to be a reasonable 
 cause of dispensing with the matter of our present exhortation, that we 
 perceive, even in the errors the nearest allied to the truths of scripture 
 with which they are confounded, a motive to the laying of a due stress 
 ou these truths. 
 
 We shall say no more on the present branch of this address; except to 
 assure our brethren of every description in the church, that as, accord- 
 ing to our judgment, any preaching, falling short of what is here held up, 
 is not (hat which the gospel calls for: so, according to our experience, 
 
356 
 
 ceither is it of any considerable use. It has but little effect on the m6- 
 rals of society ; still less in the excitement of piety ; and least of all, iu 
 enlarging the bounds of the kingdom of the Redeemer, which is estab- 
 lished on quite another basis, and has always been extended by quite 
 other means. 
 
 AVhen we bring before you, brethren, the subject of public Tvorslnp; 
 y6u will of course suppose, that it is principally with a view to the devo- 
 tions, which, with an extraordinary degree of harmony and much pre- 
 vious deliberation, have been constituted our established liturgy. 
 
 Independently on the admirable prayer prescribed by our Lord him- 
 self;* there is no fact equally ancient, of which we are more fully per- 
 suaded, than that the having of prescribed devotions, is a practice that 
 has prevailed from the earliest origin of our religion. We mean not, that 
 there were ihe same forms of prayer in all churches ; but that every lo- 
 cal church had its rule, according to the suitableness of time and place, 
 and under the sanction of the episcopacy of the different districts. And 
 ■we are further persuaded, that the christian economy in this matter was 
 no other than a continuation of the Jewish, as prevailing in that very 
 worship which was attended on, and joined in, by our blessed Saviour 
 and his aposrles. This is a mode of worship, that has been handed down 
 to us through (he channel of the church of England ; and we suppose 
 that we may affiiiii, as a notorious fact, its being acceptable to our com- 
 munion o;enoral!y. 
 
 But if this feature of our system is to be retained, we cannot but per- 
 coi\ e, that the order of divine service must be directed, not by individual 
 discretion, but by public counsel. If, on the contrary, this principle is 
 to cease to govern, we know of no plea for deviation tolerfrted iu any 
 minister, which will not extend to the indulgence of the humojir of every 
 member of his congregation. For this is a necessary result if that pro- 
 perty of our ecclesiastical system, which contemplates the ^ercises of 
 prayer and praise as those of a social body, of which the minister is the 
 leader. 
 
 If there should be in any a rage for innovation, it would be the more 
 deplored by us, from the circumstance that it often originates in the af- 
 fecting of an extravagant degree of animal sensibiHfy ; which, it must 
 be confessed, will not be either excited or kept alive by (he temperate 
 devotions of our prescribed liturgy. There are but few prayers handed 
 down to us in (he New Testament : If, however, any who may be advq^ 
 cates of an enthusiastic fervour would duly contemplate the spirit that 
 animates these prayers, they wotdd not, we think, undervalue those of 
 U^e church, as though they were uninteresting to the best affections of 
 the human heart. 
 
 * The I ord's Prayer is g-i i to us by St. Luke (chap xi. 2.) under the injunction 
 •— '" When ve pray, say" — w. ch is evidently language expressive of the appoint- 
 ment of a form. But the construction has been thought to sustain an abiitement of 
 its force by tb.e words in the parallel place of St Matthew (chap. vi. 9.) — " After 
 this manner pray ye." There is, however, no difference of sense in tlie two places. 
 The Greek word kt*?, translated "after this manner," may be rendered " tUus ;" 
 that is, " in these wctrds." For that cither of the two phrases would have espres.sed 
 the meaning-, appears from chap. ii. 5, of the same evangelist. When Herod had 
 demanded of tlie sanhedrim — " where Christ should be born," they made answer — 
 " hi Bctiik-hem, of Judea ; for thus [st*;] it is written by the prophet." Then 
 they go on to repeat the prophet's words — " And thou Bethlehem, in the land of 
 Judah, art not the least among- the princes of Judah : for out of thee shall come 
 a g■o^'ernor, who shall rule my people Israel." 
 
357 
 
 It is impossible that there should be composed forms for public us«, 
 and yet that individuals should not perceive instances in which, accord- 
 ing to their respective habits of thinking, the matter might have been 
 more judiciously conceived, or more happily expressed. It is, how- 
 ever evident, that this, far from being prevented, would be much in- 
 creased, bj' removing the subject from the controlling authority of th« 
 church, to that of her ministers in their respective places. The cause 
 of the supposed evil, is an imperfection in human affairs, to which they 
 will be always liable ; and a temper to accommodate to it, is an essential 
 circumstance of a worthy membership of society, whether civil or reli- 
 gious. The dissatisfaction alluded to may effect either circumstantials, or 
 the essence of the established liturgy. If it apply to the former, submis- 
 sion of private opinion is one of the smallest sacrifices which may be 
 exacted, for the maintenance of order. But if any should lightly esteem 
 the service, froin the opinion that it is below the dignity of the subjects 
 comprehended in it, and unequal to the uses which prayers and praises 
 point to ; we have so much to oppose to such a sentiment, in the sense of 
 wise and holy men of our communion in former ages, still shining as Hghts 
 to the world in their estimable writings; so much, also, in the acknow- 
 ledgment of judicious persons not of our communion, both in past ages and 
 in the present ; and so much of the effects of the habitual use of the liturgy,. 
 on the tempers and on the lives of persons, v/ho, in their respective 
 days, have eminently " adorned the doctrine of their God and Saviour;" 
 that, if we spare an appeal to the modesty of the complainants, we are 
 constrained to make a demand on their justice; and, in the name of all 
 true members of our communion, to insist on being left in the secure 
 possession of a mode of worship, which has become endeared to us by 
 habit and by choice. It is on this ground, that we consider every church- 
 man as possessing a personal right to lift up his voice against the inter- 
 mixture of foreign matter with the service; rendering it such, as can 
 never be acceptable to the same judgments, or interesting to the same 
 affections. 
 
 In regard to any license which may be taken of another kind, that of 
 varying words or phrases, for an accommodation to the reader's ideas of 
 correct expression; to any minister who may be tempted to this fault, 
 we intimate, that it has the effect of subjecting him to the imputation of 
 a species of levity, which breeds contempt. Certainly, every conside- 
 ration which should relieve him from the charge of error, would propor- 
 ifionably expose him to that of vanity. But, whether it be error or 
 vanity, the fault of wanton irregularity is attached to it. 
 
 Under t!ie operaiion of the sentiments which have been delivered, we 
 should b3 especially giieved to hear of any ministers, that they make 
 the services of tiie church give way to their own crude conceptions. 
 We call them such, because it may be expected from experience of for- 
 mer times, that a practice so irref^ular in itself, would be generally found 
 in those who have tlie most moderate share of the knowledge and the 
 discretioi!, qua!ifving far a judicious e:Merci3e of the authority thus arro- 
 gated While we earnestly admonish all ministers agair.st this assumption 
 of a power not committed to them, we also exhort the laity to avoid 
 enccuragement of the delinquency, should it happen, and, much more, 
 induc<'nient to it. We know that the most infeiliirent and best informed 
 la}' niojnoi rs of our communion, if this license should be obtruded on 
 them, would disapprove of it ; and, if they did not complain in public, 
 would moum ia private. Even of those who, in any way, might coun- 
 
358 
 
 tcnance the irregularity we should hope, that they either did not knowr 
 or did not recollect the sacred promises which would be hereby broken. 
 And, on the whole, we announce, both to the clergy and to the laity, our 
 utter disapprobation of the irregularity here remarked on ; calling on 
 every one of them, in his place, to give his aid to the guarding against 
 the evil ; both by persuasion, and by every other temperate expedient 
 provided by the canons of the church. 
 
 We cannot be on this subject without lamenting, that, of a service 
 in itself so full of edification, a considerable proportion of the due effect 
 should be defeated, inconsequence not of disapprobation or dislike, but 
 of neglect of joining in it, as in heart, so likewise audibly and in the 
 prescribed postures. We pray you, brethren, not to impute what we 
 say on this point to a zeal for mere decorous appearance. We do not, 
 indeed, hesitate to acknowledge, even of this, that it is a laudable object 
 of endeavour. But the matters on which we have laid a stress, are 
 supposed by us to be considerably connected with the devotion of the. 
 inward man. It is one of the properties of social worship, that, of those 
 engaged in it, every one may excite and receive excitement from the 
 others. And, indeed, when we open the uses of such worship, in order 
 to demonstrate the reasonableness of its being required, this is the point 
 on which the weight of the argument principally rests. If the present 
 view of the subject be correct, the omissions complained of reach much 
 deeper than to the deforming of the service, and disclose to us how 
 much there may be imputed to this cause, of the entire neglect of it by 
 mawy. And even if the other only were the consequence, it ought to 
 have great weight; especially since, if the omission were defensible, the 
 service has been constructed on a mistaken plan, which occasions its 
 excellency to be in a great measure lost sight of, in the inconsistent 
 manner of the performance. 
 
 There is another department of our religious worship, necessarily left 
 in some measure to discretion, which we know to be much abused in 
 many places, and have reason to believe to be so in many more ; not 
 intei'tionally, either by ministers or by their congregations ; but probably 
 to the dissatisfaction of both, yet too patiently endured by them. What 
 we allude to, is the manner in which there is sometimes conducted the 
 otherwise pleasing and edifying exercise of psalmody. In this line there 
 are employed persons, who, being regardless alike of godliness and of 
 decency, presume to set themselves in contrarietj' to all the uses, for 
 vyhich alone the art of music can with propriety display its charms within 
 the house of God. Thus, there are outraged the feelings of all devout 
 persons; and not of them only, but of all who entertain a sense of con- 
 sistency and propriety. On the ratifying of the book of common pray- 
 er, an endeavour was made to give a check to this enormity, by the 
 rubrick preceding the psalms in metre. We desire to recal the aticiition 
 of the church generally, and of the clergy in particular, to the provisions 
 of that rubrick. And we further recommend to all those who have the 
 appointment of performers in the musical department, that, if possible, 
 none may be appointed in whom there are not found a visible profession 
 of religion, in alliance with an irreproachable conversation. But if, in 
 any instance, it should be thought that the profession must of necessity 
 be dispensed with ; let it at the most be in favour of persons who are not 
 capable of <lishonouring the worship of Almighty God. and of disgusting 
 those who join in it : for this is a censure which we do not hesitate to lay 
 on the conduct which Iras been referred to. 
 
359 
 
 From worship we proceed to discipline. And here we wish our cle^ 
 rical and our lay brethren to be aware, as, on one hand of the responsi- 
 bility under which we lie ; so, on the other, of tlie caution whicli justice 
 and impartiality require. The church has made provision, for the de- 
 gradation of unworthy clergymen. It is for us to suppose that there are 
 none of that description, Hutil the contrary is made known to us in our 
 respective places, in the manner which the canons have prescribed : 
 And if the contrary to what we wish is in any instance to be found, it 
 lies on you, our clerical and lay brethren, to present such faulty con- 
 duct; althoiish with due regard to proof ; and, above all, in a temper 
 which shows the impelling motive to be the glory of God, and the sanc- 
 tity of the reputation of his church. 
 
 While we are not conscious of any bias, which, under an official call, 
 would prevent the conscientious discharge of duty; we wish to be expli- 
 cit in making known to all, that we think it due to God and to his church, 
 to avoid whatever may sanction assumed power, however desirable the 
 end to which it may be directed. We have at least as weighty reasons 
 to restrain us from judging without enquiry, and from censuring without 
 evidence of crime. These are ends, to which men of impetuous spirits 
 would sometimes draw. But we would rather subject ourselves to the 
 charge of indifference, however little merited, than be the mean of es- 
 tablishing precedents, giving to slander an advantage, against which no 
 innocence can be a shield ; and leaving to no man a security either of 
 interest or of reputation. Although we have no reason to complain, that 
 sentiments in contrariety to these prevail among us to any considerable 
 extent; yet we freely deliver our sentiments on the subject, in order to 
 give us an opportunity of calling on all wise and good men — and we 
 shall not call on them in vain — to aid us in resisting, wherever it may 
 appear, that mischievous spirit which confounds right and wrong, in 
 judging of the characters and of the rights of others. 
 
 We should not discharge our consciences, could we be on this part of 
 the subject, without declaring unequivocally our hope, that the time 
 will come, when there shall not be acknowledged, even as nominally 
 of our society, any person of an immoral life and conversation. We 
 are not unapprized of the property of the christian church, stamped on 
 it by the hand of its holy author, that it was to comprehend the oppo- 
 site characters of good and bad, until the appointed time of an eternal 
 separation. But this, as is evident, relates to the hearts of men, which 
 cannot be known to one another. Every notorious sinner, is a scandal 
 to the church of Christ ; although he may be less guilty in the sight of 
 God than some hypocrite, whose depravity lies concealed within her 
 pale. Still it must be acknowledged, that there is no christian work 
 more full of embarrassment, than the one here referred to : And we 
 freely confess, that it were better left undone for ever, than to be ac- 
 complished at Ihe expense of the violation of impartiality, much more 
 of the gratification of malice. Still, the presenting of this object to your 
 view, is what the integrity of the christian economy requires of us. Un- 
 til it can be brought about, let us at least fence the table of the liOrd, 
 from the unhallowed approach of every ungodly liver. And while we 
 address this admonition especially to our brethren of the clergy, we 
 rejoice in the conviction, that there is no part of their duty which they 
 can execute, if it be done with a good conscience and with prudence, to 
 the more entire satisfaction of the people generally. For there are few, 
 perhaps none, disposed to tolerate the profanation of an ordinance, of 
 which there is, on the part of so many, a neglect. 
 
360 
 
 But while we thus admonish our brethren of the ministry to guard 
 against the profanation of the euchariat, we ought not to lose the oppor- 
 tunity of exhorting them to increase the number of the attendants on it, 
 as by all proper means, so especially, by opening the nature of the 
 apostolic rite of confirmation, and by persuading to an observance of it. 
 Were it aa institution of human origin, we should admire it for its ten- 
 dency to impress, on persons advancing to maturity, a sense of obliga- 
 tions resting on them, independently on their consent, in this ordinance 
 voluntarily given. But we remind our brethren, knowing that they agree 
 with us in the opinion, that it was ordained and practised by the apos- 
 tles of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ ; and that in the ages imme- 
 diately subsequent to the age of the apostles^ it was one of the means 
 of exciting to the sublime virtue which adorned them. Let us remem- 
 ber that the same grace, first given in baptismal regeneration, is increas- 
 ed and strengthened by confirmation. And let us extend the use of this 
 holy and apostolic rite, as one of the first principles of the christian re- 
 ligion, and a great mean of leading on towards that perfection of chris- 
 tian morals, which is its object. 
 
 When we look back on the subjects of this address, we find ourselves 
 impelled, by their united force, to direct our attention to an object deep- 
 ly interesting to us, as members of the episcopal church, of the catholic 
 church at large, and of civil society, with a due regard to its prosperity 
 and its peace. What we mean, is the taking of our share of the work of 
 extending christian preaching and worship to the states recently risen, 
 and to those still rising, within our federal republic. It is an effect of 
 *he civil privileges which we enjoy, and of the honourable exertions 
 which they prompt, that useless forests become changed to cultivated 
 fields, and that the reign of science and civilization supplant that of ig- 
 fjorance and barbarism. But this will be far from an addition to the 
 stock of human happiness, if, on such improvement, there be entailed 
 the effect of a population let loose from the restraints of religion ; with- 
 out which, the most estimable refinements of society only make men 
 the more ferocious, and the more mischievous (o one another. We have, 
 however, no considerable apprehension that this will be the result. The 
 progressive property of the kingdom of the Redeemer, stamped on it by 
 ilia own unerring hand ; and, harmonizing with this, the consent of pro- 
 phecy, as well under the law as under the gospel ; make us believe the 
 contrary : and, on the ground of the designs of Providence, disclosed 
 in scripture, we look forward to the time when, over the whole extent 
 of the regions beyond us, there shall ascend to heaven the inCense of 
 evangelical prayer and praise ; and there shall be presented the peace- 
 offering of the commemorative sacrifice of the passion of the Redeemer. 
 But while we rejoice in all suitable means conducted with a view to this 
 end. Under any systems, not so agreeable as we suppose our own to 
 Ihe word of God, we are urged to an extension of thelatter, by every 
 consideration which is an evidence to us of its superior usefulness. If, 
 in reference to those regions spoken of, there be wanting any further in- 
 ducement to a compliance with this gospel call, we may remind you of 
 some extravagances which we have heard of as there prevalent ; assum- 
 ing the name of the religion of Jesus, but alien from i(s blessed nature ; 
 and tending, as we presume to say from observation of the same cause, 
 and its effects more within the spheres of our observation, eventually to 
 increase that infidelity, which wages open war on whatever piety holds 
 sacred, and which is covertly pernicious to whatever humanity has rea- 
 
361 . 
 
 son to esteem. During the present session, our minds have been much 
 impressed by a sense of what is due from us to our western brethren, 
 and especially to those of them professing themselves of our commu- 
 nion. We wish to extend to them the episcopacy and the celebration 
 of the worship of this church : And we invite all our brethren now ad- 
 dressed to aid us in the accomplishment of these objects j and, until it 
 shall be found practicable to avail themselves of any opportunities oc- 
 curring, to encourage the settlement of suitable ministers of this church, 
 who may be disposed to remove from the elder states, into that vast 
 field of labour. And we further invite ministers and other members of 
 our communion, who may be already seated in those districts, to aid 
 us in carrying our purposes into effect; and, in the mean time, if it be 
 practicable, to make such internal organizations as may conduce to it. 
 
 But, brethren, we wish it to be understood, in what we have brought 
 before you, relative to doctrine, to worship, and to discipline, that it is 
 all with a view to practice, in order to call on and intreatyou, as a reli- 
 gious body, " to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called;" 
 illustrating the evangelic properties of your religious system, in its be- 
 ing seen to be productive of a religious life and conversation. The cler- 
 gy, in particular, we exhort to remember the holy walking attached to 
 the heavenly designation of their ministry, and with this their own as- 
 sent, in the promises made by them at ordination, to the responsibility 
 in which they stand. And we remind the laity, that, in respect to the 
 obligation of christian morals, there is no difference of extent over the 
 different orders in the church, whatever aggravation there be of delin- 
 quency in some, in consequence of the especial obligations which they 
 have assumed. 
 
 In thus exciting you to christian virtue, we find ourselves drawn to 
 the contemplating of it, in an alliance with the more conspicuous rela- 
 tions in which the providence of God has placed you. 
 
 And, first, when we consider you as citizens, and in relation to the 
 state, we exhort you not to view your character in this respect, as if it 
 were unconnected with christian obligation ; not only that which Chris- 
 tianity enjoins, under all circumstances, of submission to law and go- 
 Ternment, and of reverence of those who are cloalhed with its authori- 
 ties; but also the temperate exercise of the rights provided for bj^ the 
 Hberal genius of the constitutions under which we live. It is a property 
 of the course of divine Providence, that there can be no temporal mer- 
 cy of heaven, without the attendant danger of its being abused by u?, to 
 our moral loss ; which should be an admonition to us, in resi>ect to the 
 civil privileges which we enjoy, not to exert them iu such a manner, as 
 to add to the mass of inordinate ambition, of fierce contention, anil of 
 intemperate revilings, by which Ave observe the concerns of the caui- 
 monweallh dishonoured, and her peace occasionally disturbed. If pro- 
 vision for the public weal must necessarily open a field, on which the 
 worst passions of human nature are to (hsplay (hemselves in all their 
 enormity and outrage, let them be exclusively characteristic of those 
 who live professedly without God in the v.orUl ; being as nmcli lost to 
 the forms of piety, as they are strangers to its s|>irit. Then will they 
 of a contrary chai^cter, in the more reasonable exercise of privilege, 
 hold out a standing protest against the licentiousness which irreligion be- 
 gets and fosters ; while there will also thus be moderated the unhappy 
 effects resulting from it. And if, under this call to an holy care, lying 
 on all professors of Christianity, differing as they do in the forms of their 
 
 3 A 
 
362 
 
 profession, it should appear of our church in particular, that her sons, 
 in proportion to their subjection to the duties of devotion which she 
 enjoins on them, are also obsei'vant of the duties, of which the objects 
 are, the peace of society, the safety of the state, and the faithful admi- 
 nistration of law and justice ; there will result from it no inconsiderable 
 presumption, that their principles bear on themselves the evidences of 
 having had their origin in divine illumination. 
 
 If in your several relative situations of a civil nature, there be a de- 
 mand for the forbearance and the charity which have been recommend- 
 ed, how much more evidently are the same exacted by your respective 
 standings in the church of God ; which was founded on a new law of 
 love ; and of which one of the most illustrious properties is the " keeping 
 of the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace !" In this line, also, we 
 blame no man for maintaining his just claims, or for expressing his 
 opinions on subjects which are within its sphere. But we blame him, 
 if, in the exercise of these his rights, he break loose from the restraints 
 of the wisdom from above ; of which we are told that it is " first pure, 
 then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated." When in the line of 
 right, and even in that of duty, there is so much of " the wrath of man," 
 which " worketh not the righteousness of God," how much more distant 
 should every christian keep himself from that contentious spirit, which 
 seeks occasion to excite and to foment division ; which so conceives 
 of its own privilege to think and speak, as to leave no liberty elsewhere 
 to do the same ; and which is impatient of all government, except such 
 as is vested in itself, or which it can over-rule! Be assured, brethren, 
 of the love of strife, wherever it shows its head, that it falls under that 
 censure of holy writ — "This wisdom descendeth not from above, but 
 is earthly, sensual, devilish." Much more consistent would it be, to 
 deny the existence of the church of Christ, as a social body, divinely 
 instituted, than to imagine it divested of the properties found ttf belong 
 to society, in all the variety of its forms; and to suppose that in this 
 instance, although in no other, the individual is left to govern himself, 
 and to incommode others, according to his own opinion or caprice. 
 
 While we are thus inviting your attention to the duties attached to 
 your church-membership, it may, perhaps, be expected that we should 
 dwell on the magnitude of some objects which require expense. But we 
 wave all particular discussion, at the present^ of matters of this sort. It 
 is not, however, that we conceive of reasonable pecuniary contribution, 
 as any other than a christian duty ; in the extent, not only of the provi- 
 sions essential to public worship, but also of those which make it vene- 
 rable and comely. And indeed, it is a duty especially incumbent in a 
 country of increasing population, which, of course, frequently exacts 
 contributions for new houses of worship and new provisions for their 
 support. But we put these things out of view, because of a persuasion 
 in our minds, that the true mean of accomplishing the end, is the pos- 
 sessing of men with an adequate sense of the uses for which such 
 accommodations are designed. For if any one feel the weight of the 
 obligations of Christianity on his conscience, and the erlivening influence 
 of its consolations on his hopes, and, at the same time, be sensible how 
 much the welfare of civil society and of families require the restraints 
 OB passion, and the incitements to virtue, which the gospel only can 
 supply, and which nothing but its authenticity can sustain, there will be 
 no danger of his hesitating to give of his substance, according as God, 
 in his bounty, may have bestowed on him. And there is no instance, 
 
363 
 
 im which God's protecting and perpetuating of his church has been more 
 eonspicuously displayed, than in his thus disposing of his professiiig peo- 
 ple to contribute to her according as her exigencies have required. Yes, 
 brethren, let us, in the rearing of our spiritual fabric, reject the unlem- 
 pered mortar of wordly policy and of passion in every shape which it 
 may put on, and we need not fear the failure of the outward means, by 
 which Christ's kingdom is to be made visible on earth ; until it shall 
 exchange its properties in this respect, for those of a better kingdom in 
 the Heavens. 
 
 Finally ; in regard to domestic and personal conduct, we desire to be 
 considered as addressing ourselves to every individual of you in parti- 
 cular, and as admonishing that individual to act under the influence of 
 the christian name ; to remember, that even so far as the good of the 
 church is involved in the conduct of its members, no zeal in her cause, 
 and no apparent services in support of it, can balance the disgrace brought 
 On her by a licentious life ; and yet, that the responsibility created by a 
 religious profession towards man, is but an image of the higher responsi- 
 bility, which it increases towards the King of the whole earth ; wh j, in 
 the sentence which he will at last pronounce on the barren and false pro- 
 fessor, may well say, with a I'eference to the inconsistency between his 
 profession and his practice — " Out of thine own mouth will I judg^ 
 thee, thou wicked servant." 
 
 But we do not dwell on dissuasives from immoralities, which are a 
 disgrace to Christianity, when there is before us the more pleasing duty 
 of inciting you to the graces and to the works by which it may be adorn- 
 ed. It is by the being faithful and affectionate in the relations of husband 
 and wife ; the being kind and provident on one hand, and dutiful and 
 grateful on the other, in those of parent and child; and the being in the 
 exercise of justice and of mercy from masters to their servants, and of 
 fidelity and obedience from these to them, it is further, by righteous 
 and equitable dealings in all those intercourses with our fellow men, in 
 which there are so many temptations of rapacity impelling to wrong, and 
 so much influence of self to seduce to it under the appearance of right ; 
 in addition to these things, it is by the being liberal to the poor, in con- 
 tributing a full proportion to the tax laid by Providence on those who 
 have, in favour of those who want, for the relief of misery in all the 
 variety of its forms ; and finally, it is by the government of the appetites, 
 those foes of the household, which, unless subdued by religion's all 
 conquering power, breed conflict within, and very often, impatient of the 
 restraints of considerations from any other source, break forth into deeds 
 of disorder and big with temporal ruin ; it is, brethren, by such a disci- 
 pline in all its branches, that there must be felt the energy of a religion, 
 which is described to us as " the power of God unto salvation." 
 
 But, Brethren, the only way in which that power can be efiectual, is 
 in holiness of heart, under the operation of the divine Spirit, known no 
 otherwise, than by the precious fruits which it produces. Independent- 
 ly on the grace of God, through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, our 
 desires and our pursuits, besides being productive of guilt and misery in 
 their progress, look no further than to the objects of the present world; 
 the very shadow of which is daily passing away from us. Whatever ele^ 
 vates our minds with an hope full of immortality, much more whatever 
 prepares us for it by transifoiming us to the image of him who is "the pat- 
 tern of all goodness, and righteousness, and truth," can come from nothing 
 else, as we are assured in ?cripture, tban from his own holy influence. 
 
364 
 
 which must be cuUiva(ed by devotion, and carried into effect by a conti- 
 nual "pressing forward to the mark for the prize of our high calling." 
 
 That this grace, freely bestowed on all, may be improved by all, to 
 our comfort in the present life, and to the consummation of our happiness 
 in Heaven, is the fervent prayer of those who fill the episcopacy of this 
 Church. And, with this assurance, we commend ourselves to the pray- 
 ers of all her members. 
 
 Signed by order of the House of Bishops, in General Convention, at 
 Baltimore, May 23, 1808. 
 
 WILLIAM WHITE, Presiding Bishop. 
 Attested by 
 
 JAMES WHITEHEAD, Secretary. 
 
(NO. II.) 
 A 
 
 PASTORAL LETTER 
 
 TO THE 
 
 CLERGY AND LAITY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 
 
 IN THE 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 
 
 FROM THE 
 
 HOUSE OF BISHOPS OF SAID CHURCH, 
 
 ASSBMBLED tS 
 
 AT NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, 
 . MAY, AD, 181? . 
 
A PASTORAL LETTER, &c. 
 
 BaETHREN, 
 
 BEING assembled in general convention of our church, we evUf 
 brace the opportunity of once more inviting your attention to her con- 
 cerns. 
 
 In our former address, we held up to your view the leading principles 
 of our communion in doctrine, discipline and worship; exhnrtina; to a 
 steady maintenance of the profession of them; and, above aii, to a ma- 
 nifesting of their holy influence on practice. Whatever weight may be 
 supposed to have attached to the important considerations then urged ; 
 we refer to the subjects, in order to continue and perpetuate any salu- 
 tary impression which may have been made by them. But not going 
 again over the ground of the same topics; we shall at this time confine 
 our attention to some matters, which especially produce an intercourse 
 between us, and both our clerical and lay brethren, within the depart- 
 ment of the episcopacy. 
 
 The first matter which we have to mention — and this we address ex- 
 clusively to the clergy — is tlie duty lying on them, of making to their 
 respective Bishops, and where there are no Bishops, to the different 
 standing committees, reports on the subjects specified by the 45th ca- 
 non, thus qualifying the conventions in the different states, to make the 
 reports exacted of them by the same canon, to the general convention. 
 The imperfection of the latter description of reports, manifests too 
 clearly the inattention in some places to the requisition, and defeats in 
 a great measure the design of it. If the object should be thought by any 
 unimportant ; we do not hesitate to express our belief, that a continued 
 series of the documents demanded gives more aid, towards forming a 
 judgment of the progress or the decline of religion in different places, 
 than some species of accounts which might be given with the like in* 
 tent ; but which would be affected by a temporary interest taken in reli- 
 gion, and not producing any permanent effects. What occasions the de- 
 fault here complained of to be the more lamented by us, is the cause 
 which it gives to apprehend, that there are not every where kejrt records 
 of the transactions, of which the returns are to be made. The keeping 
 of those records is exacted of the clergy, independently on the objects 
 of the canon referred to ; and is occasionally of so much consequence to 
 the fortune •, and in some instances to the reputation of individuals, that 
 we do not know hov/ any clergyman, negligent in this particular, can an- 
 swer for it to God and to society. But even if he be punctual in the dis- 
 charge of this part of his duty, he ought to suppose, that if his Bishop and 
 his other brethren interest themselves in the success of the preaching of 
 the gospel, they will wish to know, and it is reasonable they should 
 know, what is the state of it within his cure. 
 
 The next subject on which we address you, is the preparing and the 
 presenting of young persons and others, for the holy rite of confirma- 
 tion. It is matter of grief to us, although we trust it is sufficiently ac- 
 counted for by the extent of our dioceses, and by our known engage-, 
 ments, that this apostolic ordinance cannot be carried, under present 
 circumstances, to all the churches under onr respective superintend- 
 ence. In regard to those within our reach ; it has not been unobserved 
 by us, how 7eaIoi!? K.iul how pucces'-ful some of the clergy have been, 
 
367 
 
 'm aiding our effort* in thia branch of the episcopacy; and e*'en io Boli- 
 citing our visits to their respective churches, with a view to it. And it' 
 the same cannot be affirmed of all our reverend brethren ; we are aware, 
 that, in some instances, it may have been less owing to inditierence and 
 neglect, than to the ditticulty of introducing a practice, which, until 
 within these few 5'ear3, was unknown in this country ; however in itself 
 coeval with our holy religion. Although the source from which it has 
 descended to us, as a mean of grace, appears to our minds a sufficient 
 reason for the upholding of it ; yet our desire of this is much increased, 
 by remarking its practical utility; in designating a time, when it becomes 
 especially proper to call the attention of young persons advancing to 
 maturity, to a weight of obligation which lies on them, independently 
 on any act of theirs ; but the pressure of which they are the more likely 
 to feel in succeeding life, in consequence of their assenting to promises 
 which had been before made by others in their names. 
 
 We combine with this, its kindred and instrumental subject of cateche- 
 tical instruction ; addressing what is to be said concerning it, as well to 
 those who have not, as to those of the clergy who have the opportunity 
 of presenting the members of their congregations for confirmation. We 
 think it no small branch of the utility of this rite, that it gives additional 
 calls to a species of instruction which is very important, but in danger 
 of being neglected. For while what are known under the name of ser- 
 mons have at their command a great variety of matter, calculated to 
 display any talents possessed by the preacher, and to gratify the curio- 
 sity of the hearers, there is nothing of this in the humble office of cate- 
 chetical instruction ; in which, he who gives it must be content to re- 
 peat the same truths over and over, in the same or nearly the same 
 form ; accommodating himself to that saying of the prophet Isaiah — • 
 *' Line upon line and precept upon precept." And yet observation may 
 abundantly convince any one, how much this is wanted by very many ; 
 who, although intelligent and informed in other matters, are incompe- 
 tent to the giving of a statement of the evidences, either of the christian 
 religion generally, or of the doctrines of it as professed by the church 
 in which they have been born and educated. Were we suspicious in re- 
 gard to the soundness of her principles, we should be less solicitous in 
 this matter. But believing them to be evangelical and rational ; we 
 wish, that there may be more generally invited to them the attention of 
 those, who do not esteem themselves too wise to receive instruction in 
 this line. It cannot but occur, that in the discharge of such duty, it is 
 desirable there should be shown the reasons of the decisions of our 
 • church, on points concerning which we differ from other bodies of pro- 
 fessing christians. But in saying this, we should be misunderstood, if 
 supposed to wish the duty performed in the spirit of uncharitableness. 
 The greatest possible distance from this, we hold to be consistent with 
 the most determitied attachment to what we receive as truths delivered 
 to us by the divine author of our religion, and his apostles ; and with a 
 temperate zeal to defend and to recommend them. 
 
 It is evident of the duty here stated as lying on the clergy, that it im- 
 plies a correspondent duty to lie on our brethren of the laity, to aid this 
 very powerful mean of giving religious instruction, and of impressing re- 
 ligious truth. The least that can be expected of heads of families, is to 
 send the younger and the less informed members of them, to profit by 
 any opportunities of this sort which may be offered. But they have il 
 in their power to do much more, by adding the sanction of tlieir autho- 
 
368 
 
 rity and their persuasion, to whatever may be Usefully delivered. Aud 
 here vire cannot lose the opportunity of making the remark, that it tends 
 strongly to show the importance of " adorning the gospel of our God 
 and Saviour in all things;" when it is considered, that those heads of fa- 
 milies who are notoriously deficient in the performance of their rehgious 
 duties, however their judgments may approve of sending those depen- 
 dent on them to opportunities of instruction, naturally indulge indisposi- 
 tion to a duty; in complying with which, they cannot but feel the sting 
 of censure on themselves. 
 
 We further address both our clerical and o.ur lay brethren, on the sub- 
 ject of the recommendation of candidates for holy orders. As our ca- 
 nons now stand, the recommendations come to us through the medium 
 of committees in the different states, who must be previously satisfied, 
 either from personal knowledge, or by documents laid before them. 
 Althoi/j^h we have too many opportunities of knowing, that a considera- 
 ble portion of the community are easily brought to testify what is not 
 within their knowledge, and even what is contrary to it ; yet we have no 
 reason to doubt of the discrimination made by the committees, as to the 
 characters on whom they place reliance. But what we have to recom- 
 mend to their particular attention on this point, is the responsibihty at- 
 tached to the circumstance, that they think the person recommended 
 fit to be admitted to the order for which he is a candidate. It is evident 
 that their opinion, thus expressed, ought to rest on rational ground ; 
 and that to constitute this, the party's being unimpeached as to his mo- 
 ral character, and his being possessed of a reasonable stock of learning, 
 is not sufficient. In addition to these qualifications, his habits should 
 evidence a spirit of piety, a disposition to the exercises of devotion, and 
 zeal for the extending of the influence of rehgious truth and duty. The 
 want of these properties of character, is radical unfitness: and there- 
 fore, what we recommend to influential members of our communion, 
 and especially to our clerical brethren, is, that they avail themselves of 
 opportunities to discourse with candidates for the ministry, on the qua- 
 lifications of inward character suited to it; and particularly, as describ- 
 ed in the promises exacted by the services of ordination. In this way, 
 it is possible to accomplish, in a degree at least, the object aimed at by 
 those, who advocate the making of the movements of the party's mind 
 a subject of formal enquiry in his examination. It is well known, that 
 our church carefully avoids every thing of this sort ; as not answering its 
 professed end, but producing unintended evils. It does not follow, that 
 she lays little stress, or rather, that she does not lay the greatest stress 
 of all, on the influence of divine grace over the heart. And therefore, 
 where this is wanting, it will be a deserving well of the church, and even 
 of the party, to suggest to him reflections which shall have a tendency 
 to induce him to reconsider and finally relinquish his rash design, of en- 
 gaging in a work to which he is not truly called, however he may de- 
 clare his thinking that he is so, before God and the church ; as is re- 
 quired of him in the service. 
 
 It will not be foreign to the subject, if we intreat our brethren of the 
 clergy to bestow pains, as opportunity may serve, in attention to the 
 course of reading of candidates for the ministry, and in advising them 
 concerning it ; so as the more to secure their preparation. Our church 
 is not possessed of any public provisions, which will enable learned di- 
 vines to devote themselves to this department of Instruction. We con- 
 v:eive, however, that when a good foundation has been laid in the learned 
 
369 
 
 languages, and in general science ; this deficiency may be in a great 
 measure supplied by well qualified ministers, in their respeclive 
 cures: and we invite their attention to the subject, from onr earnest de- 
 sire of recommending and of doing whatever promises to aid in the 
 securing of a learned ministry. We are aware, that as St. Paul com- 
 pared even miraculous endowments without chanty, to " sounding brass 
 and a tinkling cymbal ;" the same may be said with still more evident 
 propriety, of all possible learning, as well in theology as in philosophy; 
 without that grace of God which alone can render them subservient to 
 his glory. On the other hand, the effects of manifest literary defi<'icncy 
 in a clergyman, are too obvious to be overlooked. It tends to drive 
 some of the intelligent and well informed members of our church to 
 other societies, who may be more attentive to the qualifications for the 
 ministry in this respect ; and to detach others from all religious profes- 
 sion ; which tends to the increase of irreligion and infidelity. Even per- 
 sons who may be but imperfectly qualified to judge of the attainments of 
 Hieir ministers, become alienated from them by their reputation for in- 
 sufficiency. 
 
 We avail ourselves of this opportunity, to make a solemn call on both 
 clergy and laity, to put in our power, as circumstances may enable, to 
 cany into effect the official authority vested in us, for the relieving of 
 our church from the scandal of any minister — if there be any such — 
 who may dishonour his calling by an immoral, or an irreligious life and 
 conversation. Wherever the evil may exist, the canons are competent 
 to " the putting away from ourselves of that wicked person.'* We are 
 far from the wish of becoming ourselves, or of encouraging others to 
 become inquisitors ; and much less of hazarding the being false accus- 
 ers. But where reports are confident, and said to be sustained by facts; 
 as, on the one hand, justice both to the church and to the individual re- 
 quires the purging of character from infamy ; so. on the other hand, there 
 is no consideration conducing to the success of the gospel ministry, 
 which does not loudly call for the cutting off from it of every minister, 
 whose evil manners counteract its very design. And we do not hesitate to 
 say, that those of his brethren who do not discountenance his irregulari- 
 ties, counteract by such indifference, in their private deportment, the 
 effect of any instructions and exhortations which thej' may deliver from 
 the pulpit. It is to little purpose, that an offender is severed from a con- 
 gregation, if he be sent to dishonour the communion elsewhere. Its 
 not being done canonically, and as an effective removal from the mi- 
 nistry itself, is one of the impediments to the establishing of a consistent 
 system of discipline. We are persuaded, that for the sustaining of a 
 competent ministry, every member of it, when entrusted with the pasto- 
 ral charge of a congregation by their voluntary act, ought to have secu- 
 rity for permanency in his station ; until removed, after a fair trial, for 
 some error in religion or for some viciousness of life. But how far the 
 winking at an evil liver, by those who are especially looked to for the 
 taking of measures towards the removing of him, tends to the doing of 
 this in a way, which might be beneficial if it were sure to light on un- 
 worthy persons only, but which may be a precedent leaving to a good 
 man no security for his reputation ; is worthy of being considered by all 
 those, who have at heart the well-governing of our communion. 
 
 Considering the description of subjects on which we are now address- 
 ing you, it would be an omission, not to entreat you, to aid us in our 
 endeavours to carry into effect the canons of our church generally; and 
 
 3B 
 
370 
 
 especially the proviaions made for the using of her services agreeably to 
 the rubricks. And although this is a matter which belougs more imme- 
 diately to the clergy ; yet we tliink it not unworthy of the laity to dis^ 
 countenance deviations, if made by any minister in contrariety to his 
 solemn promises at ordination. We, ourselves, are not only under a 
 common weight of obligation with all the clergy; but make an especial 
 promise at our consecration, of " conformity and obedience to the doc- 
 trine, discipline, and worship" of our church. Now one part of the dis- 
 cipline, is the looking to the maintenance of order by others, in those 
 three deparlments. We have been sensibly affected by some instances 
 of the breach of promises made to us, under solemn appeals to God, and 
 invocations of the testimony of his church. We should hold ourselves 
 warting to our subject, if we were not now to declare our disappoint- 
 ment, and to invite to the irregularity the disapprobation of ail persons, 
 who entertain a sense of the obligations of integrity and truth. We do 
 this the more readily ; as there have not been wanting occasions, when 
 displeasure has been manifested in the premises with good effect, by 
 judicious lay members of congregations, on which the irregularities have 
 been obtruded. 
 
 We have one more subject to bring before you : and it is the propriety 
 of taking measures, towards all reasonable security for the perpetuating of 
 the episcopacy. It is well known, under what inconvenience our church 
 laboured from the want of it, while these states were dependent colonies. 
 It would be extremely unpleasant, to be under the necessity of having 
 recourse again, to the episcopacy of our mother church. Neither do 
 we know what civil considerations might interfere, to impede reiterated 
 recourse of this description. The decease of several of our Right Re- 
 verend brethren, the disability of others of them from indisposition, and 
 the advanced years of those who survive and are in health, induce the 
 present call on you ; which is to increase our number, so far as it can be 
 done with propriety, and particularly with entire satisfaction as to the 
 persons to be chosen. We wish not to lessen your responsibility in this 
 point. But that being supposed to be resarded by both you and us, we 
 take the liberty of holding out to you the importance of the object, and 
 to appeal to your own sense of the expediency of what we propose. The 
 attendance of but two bishops on this and at the last convention, and 
 the unavoidable causes prpveniing the attendance of others of our Right 
 Reverend brethren, afford too strong a proof of the propriety of what we 
 now suggest. For although two of our Reverend brethren have been 
 recently chosen to the episcopacy; and rejoicing in this event, we intend, 
 God willing, to proceed to their consecration very soon after the rising 
 of this convention; yet we shall not consider the addition of them to our 
 body, as sufficient for the exigency; or as affording the measure of se- 
 curity, which the case requires. 
 
 Finally, brethren, we assure you of our prayers, and invite yours, that 
 this and every other ^measure, designed for the glory of God and the 
 good of his church, may be blessed by him to that end. 
 
 Signed by order of the House of Bishops. 
 
 WILLIAM WHITE, Presiding Bishop' 
 
 New Haven, May, 1811^ 
 
(NO. III.) 
 
 PASTORAL LETTER 
 
 OP THE 
 
 HOUSE OF BISHOPS, 
 
 OF THE 
 
 PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH 
 
 IN THE 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMEBICA, 
 
 AD. 1814- 
 
A PASTORAL LETTER. 
 
 Brethren, 
 
 IN the general convention, held in the city of New York, in the year 
 ISO*, it was provided, that there should be a pastoral address from the 
 house of Bishops of this church, to the clergy and laity of the same ; on 
 such matters as might be thought the most pertinent to the state of the 
 church at each particular period ; and grounded on the documents 
 which, on every such occasion, might appear in the official reports from 
 the various sections of the union. In compliance with this provision, the 
 Bishops assembled in general convention in the city of Baltimore, in the 
 year 1808, addressed all orders of persons within our communion, on 
 the topics of doctrine, worship, discipline, and a christian life and con- 
 versation. During the next general convention, which was held in the 
 city of New Haven, in the year 1811, the Bishops there and then as- 
 sembled, issued their second pastoral letter ; which related to sundry 
 particulars, especially interesting to themselves in their ecclesiastical 
 administrations. Although any of the matters discussed on these occa- 
 sions, might be now profitably recurred to, as having not been before 
 exhausted ; yet we rather feel a desire to set before j'ou some circum- 
 stances in the state of our church, which we consider as fruitful of en- 
 couragement; and some other circumstances, which open to our pros- 
 pect an extensive field of zealous labour; and, on the review of these 
 two subjects, to ground some heads of advice and exhortation, deemed 
 by us worthy of being presented at (his time to the members of our 
 church in general, and to the clergy in particular. 
 
 One branch of the encouragement referred to, is the visible decline of 
 infidelity, and the growing disrepute attaching to activity in its cause. 
 It is within the memory of most of the present generation, when that de- 
 stroyer of human happiness broke in like a flood on civilized society, as 
 well in the new as in the old world, threatening destruction to all its best 
 interests ; although with the boast of introducing a new era, relieved 
 from prejudices of former times, and embellished by improvements not 
 heard of before, in public poHcy and in private morals. In this threa- 
 tened revolution, there was nothing new in the line of argument : so 
 that the defenders of the christian revelation had need of no other than 
 the old stores of answers Jto objections, which had been made at differ- 
 ent times, during the lapse of ages. Wiatever there was of novelty in 
 the event, arose from an extraordinary combination of circumstances in 
 the political concerns of nations ; which produced an imaginary alliance 
 between projected improvements in civil policy, and the eradicating of 
 religion under the name of superstition ; whereb}^, whatever was corrupt 
 or unreasonable in the former line, was supposed to be upheld. Under 
 gigantic struggles for the reformation of political abuses, there rose into 
 notice and into power a species of philosophy, which proclaimed war 
 with religion generally, and with Christianity in particular : and very ex- 
 tensive were the ravages which happened in consequence, in every line 
 wherein human happiness, either temporal or spiritual, is concerned. 
 The issue which we hold out as a subject of congratulation, although not 
 without painful sensibilities on account of intermediate mischief, is an 
 opening of the public mind to the shallowness of the pretences, by which 
 
373 
 
 10 many have been deceived and demoralized. It is more and more 
 confessed, that religion enters essentially into all the interests of indivi- 
 duals, of families, and of states; and while some are induced, on that 
 account, to encourage it with a view to public order and private morals, 
 and for the promoting of the temporal prosperity of the social body, 
 doubtless, a prevailing sentiment to this etiect must lead others to con- 
 template the important subject, as it manifests a bearing on the interests 
 which will remain, when the [)resent slate of things shall be forever at an 
 end. For when we sufier ourselves to proceed in the correct reason- 
 ing, which ascends from what we observe and know, to causes compe- 
 tent to the producing of it; we cannot but perceive, that the benetits 
 resulting from the due exercise of the religious principle, are evidence 
 of its being given by the great author of nature, for the government of 
 the human mind. The consequence is undeniable; unless on the pre- 
 tence, that in the contrivance of the present system, its order and its 
 continuance have been provided for by a salutary deception ; which yet 
 has not been so ingeniously contrived, as to escape detection by the 
 discernment of those, who cherish a sentiment so foolish and so profane. 
 This leads us to remark another article of encouragement, tending 
 more immediately to the same blessed end. We mean an increased 
 attendance on the duties of public worship, and an increasing desire to 
 provide the means of sustaining and continuing it, over a considerable 
 proportion of the territory of these slates. While we ascribe this, partly 
 to the detection of the insidious pretensions of infidelity, we cannot but 
 have our eyes open to the fact, that from whatever secondary cause it 
 may happen, there are seasons of religious sensibility, wherein it is 
 more easy than under ordinary circumstances, to call the attention of 
 the people to the things which belong to their everlasting peace. It is 
 for the purpose of improving an opportunity of this description, that the 
 remark is made: and accordingly we invite all sedous persons of our 
 communion, and especially the ministers of the gospel, to avail them- 
 selves of existing circumstances, for the sowing of the seed of gospel 
 doctrine; under the hope, tliat through the influences of the holy spirit 
 of God, it will bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and an hundred fold. A consi- 
 derable addition to the nuniber of our houses of public worship, a grow- 
 ing measure of attendance in them, an extending demand for the Holy 
 Bible, and for books on subjects of christian doctrine tending immedi- 
 ately to practice, and, we hope there may be added greater liberality 
 for the sujjply of the wants of those who seclude tliemselves from all lu- 
 crative employment, that they may devote themselves to the ministry; 
 are among the favourable ap{)eaiances, on the ground of which we in- 
 dulge ourselves in the prosjjects liere intimated. V»e are aware, how 
 easily there may take place counterfeit revivals of religion, and how of- 
 ten it has hap[)ened in ditTerent times and places, 'j'liere are now al- 
 luded to, what has been the etfect of violent agitations of the passions, 
 suddenly excited and soon subsiding. We neither aim nor rejoice at 
 such revivals; perceiving nothing like them cithtM" in the word of God, 
 or in the history of the primitive cliurch ; nor any thing favouring them 
 iu the institutions of our own. Accordingly, when we refer to a grow- 
 ing attention to religion, we mean of that cast which is agreeable to 
 truth and soberness, and congenial with the known devotions of our 
 church. While we thus dehne the religious profession which we are 
 desirous of perpetuating, we do not set up any institutions as conceiving 
 them to be acceptable to God, any further than as the outward form 
 
374 
 
 may be eijpre&aive of an inward power. But w^e do not aim at revivals 
 of religioa, in a departure from the principles of christian worship, which 
 we believe to have descended to us from Jesus Christ and his apostles, 
 through the channel of the primitive church and of the church of Eng- 
 land. On this ground, when we rejoice at what we conceive to be ob- 
 servable within our communion, of an increased interest in religious 
 enquiries and attention to religious duties ; we mean to be understood as 
 speaking of these, within the bounds which have been defined. 
 
 Having alluded, under the preceding bead, to some extravagancies 
 interfering with the spirit of the worship of this church, which, in some 
 districts of country, wherein there was the want of an inteliigent and 
 z^ealous ministry, have withdrawn many from her communion ; it is 
 with great satisfaction that we go on to remark, as another cause of 
 congratulation, a decrease of the disorder. In various vicinities of the 
 United States, wherein our communion was formerly numerous and 
 respectable — for we speak of the subject, onl}'^ as it has a bearing on our 
 own religious interests — there has been a visible decline of the ef- 
 fects of a species of zeal, covering itself with the character of our 
 church, although not in harmony with her institutions, and no longer 
 continuing to wear her name, than until circumstances sustained it in 
 secession, and often in undisguised hostility. We are not at a loss, to 
 discover some of the causes of this inroad, existing within ourselves.— 
 And although we plead, that it was partly owing to a cessation of public 
 ministry, in consequence of events brought about by the providence of 
 God ; yet, if any should lay a share of the blame on the want of godly 
 and rational zeal, or a holy life and conversation in some of our clergy, 
 we wish to humble ourselves under the charge, and to call on all our 
 brethren of the clergy to do the same, as a body, in proportion as it 
 may be just ; and each individual on his own account, who may be con- 
 sci(uis of having given occasion, in any degree, to the resulting evil. 
 
 \\'hatcver may have been the cause of it, we are persuaded of the 
 fact, that it is on the decline. We know that there are many, who feel 
 the lo3s of the substantial nourishment of doi trine which they had aban- 
 doned ; and who testify, that they have not found in other quarters the 
 gatisfaction which they had expected. We anticipate the growth of the 
 sentiment; in proportion as, under the divine blessing, we can send 
 qualified and faithful labourers into the vineyard. We deplore, as a les- 
 sening of the prospect of this, every instance in which there may have 
 intruded into our ministry, any person destitute of zeal for the work ; or 
 any one, who may have adopted the scheme of checking extravagancies 
 extraneous to our communion, by introducing the like to them within 
 her pale : conduct which we expect to see checked, by its being found 
 to be an expedient for the obtaining of popularity, not commonly at- 
 tended by permanent success, and always contrary to a good conscience. 
 While we invite our whole communion, to rejoice with us in the sour- 
 ces of satisfaction which have been disclosed ; the use to which we de- 
 sire to apply the consideration of them, is an increase of gospel zeal and 
 labour, by providing in all places the means of grace, where they arc 
 wanting or imperfectly enjoyed; and by exciting in the imperfect sense 
 in whicbsuch an object can be said to be accomplished by human mea- 
 sures, the spirit of religion ; in the exercises of a rational piety, and in a 
 suitable life and conversation. In our endeavours for the accomplish- 
 ing of this, there opens to our view a very extensive field, wherein we 
 cansider the following particulars as especially worthy of observation. 
 
375 
 
 Within thes€ few years, and within the bounda of this combined com-' 
 monwealtb, there have risen into existence sovereign states, with a nu- 
 merous and increasing population, but without a proportionate provision 
 for the ministry of the gospel ; and this perhaps tiie most of all, in regard 
 to those of the inhabitants wlio profess our principles in doctrine, wor- 
 ship and discipline. The condition of our professing members within 
 those states, has been a subject of our most serious concern : and the 
 pressure of the exigency seems to be in a great measure owing to the 
 want of exertion, for the concentering of the means within the power of 
 the persons principally concerned. Among the expedients which have 
 been proposed for the beUering of our prospects in the western states, 
 there has been that of extending the episcopacy to those regions. At 
 the time of the last general convention, this came with all the weight 
 of its importance, under the consideration of the only two bishops then 
 assembled. They expressed their wishes to the cflect, and gave a be- 
 ginning to measures, of which it was hoped, and is still hoped, that they 
 will issue in the accomplishment of the design : although, besides the 
 general difl&culty of the object, it has been hindered by events not then 
 foreseen. 
 
 As there are thus whole states recently risen, without any or with 
 Tery Uttle provision for the support of our religious profession ; so in the 
 older states, there are large districts equally destitute; and containiug 
 members of our communion, who are as much cut off from all inter- 
 course with us, as if they lived in the other hemisphere. In the former 
 emigrations from Europe into this new world, there seems to have been 
 a circumstance in the condition of those of our communion, which dis- 
 tinguished them in many instances from other emigrants, and eventually 
 added much to that scattered population of the former, which we are 
 here pointing out as the cause of a difficulty meeting us, in our exertions 
 for the sustaining of the existence of our communion. It was not un- 
 common, for a body of settlers to be bound closely together, either by 
 a foreign language, or by some peculiarity of religious opinion, labour- 
 ing under discouragement in the land of their nativity. To such per- 
 sons it was an obvious dictate of prudence, to form compact settlements 
 in the land chosen by them, to be in future the country of themselves 
 and their posterity. The case was otherwise, with the emigrants of the 
 church of England; who, being without such especial ties, were the ea- 
 sier induced to make their settlements, according to each family's sepa- 
 rate interest and convenience. As a counterbalance to this, so far as 
 their religious profession was concerred, it was natural to look for en- 
 couragement to the church in the parent country. This was indeed ex- 
 tended to them, until the change of the relative situation of the countries 
 in civil matters, produced such a severance of them in rehgious disci- 
 pline, as rendered pecuniary aid either impracticable or inexpedient. 
 The fact above stated, is at least one of the causes of the dispersed settle- 
 ments of the members of our communion, in districts wherein the mass 
 of population has risen uuder the influence of principles, and in some 
 instances of languages, different from ours. From members of oui 
 communion of this description, there continually reach our ears some 
 such incitement as that heard by St. Paul in a vision, from the men of 
 Macedonia — " Come and help us." While our means in their behalf 
 are Hmited, we cannot excuse ourselves from presenting them to the 
 members of our church in general, as fit objects of gospel care and labor- 
 Even in our settled congregations — some of them of long standing— 
 
o<o 
 
 there occa^ionaJiy occurs so much indifference to the sustaining of even 
 the profession oi reUgion, and the making of provision for the adminis- 
 tration of its ordinances, as that while their neglect renders them subjects 
 of censure, it ought also to be an excitement of our zeal. Even in such 
 congregations, there are always at least a few persons, who are ready to 
 " strengthen the things that remain, that are ready to die." And even 
 if there were none such, those of the contrary stamp are not out of the 
 reach of that voice of the gospel, which is raised, " not to call the righ- 
 teous but sinners to repentance." We have the satisfaction of knowing, 
 that the call has been made with great effect, even in congregations of 
 the description which has been stated. And this, we hope, will serve as 
 encouragement to those who are ready to do their part of the work of 
 God, leaving the issue of their labour to the influences of his Holy 
 Spirit. 
 
 It ought further to be taken into view, that even in neighbourhoods 
 wherein provision is made for the exercise of the ministry, and congre- 
 gations are duly organized, according to tht venerable institutions of the 
 church ; there are powerful incitements to zeal and labour, that we may 
 call sinners to repentance ; that we may direct th« attention of professors 
 beyond the forms, to the power of godliness ; that we may guard the 
 imperfectly informed, against the errors engrafted by the weakness of 
 men on the holy stock of christian doctrine ; that we may open all the 
 branches of this in their integrity, as found in the word of truth; and 
 that we may urge persons of all descriptions, to the attainment and the 
 practice of whatever may contribute to the adorning of the doctrine of 
 our God and Saviour. It is not here forgotten, that for the accomplish- 
 ing of these blessed ends, "although Paul plant and Apollos water," it 
 13 "God alone who giveth the increase." But he sees fit, as well in the 
 Lifluences of his grace as in the dealings of his providence, to produce 
 his high ends by the instrumentality of human means. And in each of 
 these tiepartments, the duties of all of !is are discernible, from the rela- 
 tions and from the circumstances in which we severally stand. 
 
 While we thus hold out to all the members of our communion, the 
 ^>r.pel work which we conceive to be laid on them by the divine author 
 of our religion ; we are not backward to extend their attention to some 
 articles of advice and exhortation, which we think especially worthy of 
 liotice, for the accomplishing of the ends which we have in view. 
 
 The first, and as essential to all the rest, is mutual incitement to the 
 work; and this, in the christian spirit, which alone can either render it an 
 object worthy of considerable exertion, or claim the promise of divine 
 support. We read in one of the prophets, that when a general refor- 
 mation was in prospect, " they who feared the Lord spake often one to 
 another," it being evidently meant in mutual incitement, to the object 
 of their common concern. The religion of the scriptures, is eminently 
 social: And whatever relates to the visible profession of it, must be 
 effected by joint exertions. Yet we mean not by this, that any con- 
 currence is solicited, without a sense of religion on the consciences, and 
 real piety in the affections of the agents. For we are free to declare our 
 opinion, that the encouraging of active endeavours, prompted by any 
 other motives than a religious state of mind, is that building with unlem- 
 pered mortar, to which there is not likely to be attached duration — much 
 less usefulness and beauty. 
 
 We consider as a necessary expedient for the perpetuating and for the 
 increasing of our church, that reasonable provision be made for the mi- 
 
377 
 
 jiisters, in proportion to the means of the people in their respective pa- 
 rishes. There is not here forgotten the delicacy of the subject, nor the 
 misconstruction liable to be put on whatever is said concerning it, 
 coming from men who are themselves of the body to which the discourse 
 applies. But while this is a consideration, prescribing the limits of mo- 
 deration on our zeal for the matter recommended, it does not cause us 
 to be silent on what we perceive to be a dictate of religious obligation. 
 Were we restrained by a mistaken delicacy, from the delivery of our 
 sentiments, we should find ourselves reproved by that of St. Paul to the 
 Galatians — " Be not deceived, God is not mocked ; for whatsoever a man 
 soweth, that shall he also reap :" words, which the connexion shews to 
 apply to the wants of those who labour in the gospel. There can be no 
 argument, adduced to prove the divine institution of the ministry, which 
 does not also prove, that ministers, received on the choice of the people, 
 and for their service, renouncing all secular means of maintenance, ought, 
 on the most obvious principles of justice, to be furnished with whatever 
 is essential to their sustenance and their comfort. While there is, in 
 theory, a general conviction of this pervading our communion; and 
 while the princi()le is acted on, in some places, to a reasonable extent; 
 there are others, wherein there has been lamentable deficiency, in the 
 discharge of pecuniary engagements. This is a hardship which affects 
 our own characters, in a point of great delicacy and difficulty. For being 
 pressed from various vicinities within our respective dioceses, for the 
 supplying of a resident ministry ; in addition to the distress which we 
 generally feel on account of the want of opportunities of meeting the 
 demand, there is often the additional embarrassment, when opportuni- 
 ties occur, that we may be the authors both of loss and of vexation to 
 worthy men, by encouraging them to trust to promises which will not be 
 fulfilled. 
 
 The comparatively small number of our clergy, induces us to recom- 
 mend to destitute congregations, especially to those whose number is 
 such as renders the speedy settlement of an ordained minister improba- 
 ble, to avail themselves of the services of a lay reader ; where such a 
 person, respectable in character, and sufficient in other respects, takes 
 so much interest in religion, as to be willing to read on Sundays those 
 parts of the liturgy, which are not appropriate to ordained ministers, and 
 such printed discourses as may be judged to be adapted to the under- 
 standings and the circumstances of fhe people. It will be no difficult 
 matter, under the superintendence of the proper ecclesiastical authority, 
 to select such discourses from the many able works of divines, which 
 have been given to the public from the press. We hold this to be a 
 laudable effort of christian zeal. Nevertheless, as like every other 
 expedient of the same description, it is liable to abuse ; we would hold 
 up to view the provisions of the 191h canon, in regard to the selection 
 of the sermons to be read. Neither will it be foreign to the purpose, to 
 allude to what the same canon provides, when, in relation to readers 
 having a view to the ministry, it forbids not only the use of such parts of 
 the service as are appropriate to it, but also some matters of little impor- 
 tance in themselves ; yet tending to mislead the world, as to the claims 
 of the agents to an official character, which is not yet, and perhaps may 
 not hereafter be conferred. 
 
 Another mean to be recommended, is encouragement and pecuniary 
 aid, where necessary and practicable, to young men of known piety and 
 virtue, and of promising qualifications in other respect-s, in their preparing 
 
 3C 
 
378 
 
 of themselves for the ministry. An apostle has said, " How shall they 
 hear without a preacher ? and how shall they preach except they be 
 sent?" What was the nature of the sending contemplated by him, is 
 sufficiently evident in the plan on which, in person, he sent labourers 
 into the vineyard. And if it was comprehended in the counsels of 
 divine wisdom, to extend Christianity to heathen countries, through the 
 medium of a preached gospel ; the same must be the mean of its con- 
 tinuance, in the countries in which it has been heretofore received. If 
 so, pious motions to such a ministry, ought to be a motive to the ex- 
 tending of aid for the supply of the necessary acquirements, in a church 
 which entertains the opinion, and contends for it as of vast importance 
 to the cause of Christianity in general, that her ministers should be fur- 
 nished with all those branches of literature, which are necessarj'^ to the 
 sustaining of the truth of Scripture against the assaults of infidelity, and 
 the errors of mistaken professors of Christianity. Besides pecuniary 
 aid, there is another species of it to which we invite. It is to be expect- 
 ed from the clergy in particular, and consists in assisting students in 
 their progress, by suitable instruction and advice. It is with pleasure 
 we add, that this benevolence has been extended in some instances, to 
 the great profit of the church ; which we mention under the hope, that 
 there will be an increase in the opportunities of the benefit, and in ability 
 and readiness for the extension of it. 
 
 But while we would thus expedite the means of accession to the 
 ministry ; we would be far from pressing the subject in such a manner, 
 as may incite to the forwarding of the expectations of any persons, con- 
 cerning whom it may afterwards appear, that due attention would have 
 shewn them to be very unlikely to be either useful or respectable. Our 
 stations have familiarized us to two great dangers, on the present sub- 
 ject. One is, that the desire of being engaged in the sacred function 
 occupies some persons, concerning whom there are manifest evidences 
 on the one hand of sincere piety, and on the other of such imbecility, as 
 will hot suffer us to believe, that they are within the meaning of that 
 qualification of our ordination service, " the being called by the Holy 
 Ghost to this office and ministry." The other case, is that of persons 
 who fancy the clerical profession ; sometimes from vanity in the dis- 
 play of talents real or imaginary, while their characters and their con- 
 versation may shew, that they have not an adequate apprehension, either 
 of the contemplated character, or of the temper of mind with which it 
 should be engaged in. However sensible of the disadvantage of the 
 paucity of our clergj^, we do not wish to add to their number, by either 
 of these descriptions of persons. On the contrary, we consider the dis- 
 couraging of them as a meritorious act, in any members of our church 
 who have opportunities to that effect. 
 
 - Increased exertion for the builditig of churches, and to keep in de- 
 scent order those heretofore erected, is another matter to be recom- 
 mended. In a country so much advancing as ours in population, it is 
 evident, that a very great proportion of the people must be without the 
 benefit of social worship; unless there be a proportionate addition of 
 houses, in which it is to be offered. We appeal to it as an incontrover- 
 tible fact, that in general, of the mass of societ}'^, in the portion of it who 
 become lost to this great mean of \vhatever is estimable in every depart- 
 ment of social life, there ensues manifest evidence of depravity in their 
 conversation and in their manners. Here is a canker in the body, which 
 cannot fail to spread; unless it be subdued by active efforts, for the 
 
379 
 
 putting of the means of public worship within the. power of all. In this 
 debt to the public welfare, have not we a share ? Have we not also a like 
 debt, to the church of which we call ourselves members ? Certain it is, 
 that very many have left the membership of it, because they and their 
 families could not enjoy the means of grace within its pale. It is not 
 improbable, that from the same cause, many have been lost to the 
 christian profession, in whatever shape. The keeping of churches 
 in decent repair, is so manifest a dictate of propriety ; that we should 
 not have mentioned it, were not the fact known to us, that in some 
 places, there is delinquency in this matter, to the dishonour of those 
 to whom it is to be ascribed: since in the vicinity of such neglect, there 
 is scarcely a passing stranger, who can forbear to remark severely on 
 the indifference or the parsimony which are the causes of it. 
 
 While the subject now before us is contemplated as leading to ex- 
 pense, we wish to detine the limits of it. There is reason to believe, 
 that in some instances, there has been discouragement of the de- 
 sign of erecting a house of worship to Almighty God, because the 
 agents in it could not compass the means of gratifying a taste for mag- 
 nificence and expensive ornament. We do not think with those, who 
 would interdict the fine arts from this department. On the contrary, 
 we are of opinion, that where wealth abounds, and where it can be be- 
 stowed on this object, without interfering with any other more imperious; 
 and while it carries with it the incidental benefit, of giving employment 
 to industrious tradesmen and subsistence to their families ; it may be 
 not only innocently, but even laudably thus bestowed. But under the 
 insufficiency for the erecting of splendid churches, we consider the af- 
 fecting of them as evidence of too weak an influence of the principle, 
 which should govern in accomplishing such objects ; and Ave know that 
 it has had a mischievous tendency, in the frustrating of some efforts and 
 in ihe discouraging of others. 
 
 Associations, in those vicinities wherein the number and the ability of 
 our people are competent to the sending of occasional aid to our more 
 scattered and less wealthy population, we hold to be a judicious mean 
 of building up our church ; and not unreasonably claimed of any mem- 
 bers of that mystical body, concerning which we are taught, that if one 
 member suffer, all the members should suffer with it. The expedient 
 recommended has been adopted in some states, and has already produ- 
 ced such fruits, as encourage us in pronouncing it to be an object emi- 
 nently worthy of christian care and exertion. 
 
 Another article of our recommendation, is the distribution of bibles, 
 of the books of common prayer, and of a few tracts on the principal 
 articles of christian faith, as held by our church. The benefit of such a 
 measure may be contemplated, as it respects places where no provision 
 exists for divine worship, and others where this benefit is enjoyed. As 
 to the former, without disparaging the divinely instituted ministry, we 
 may be assured, that even where Providence has not bestowed tliis 
 mean of grace, the gospel, tkrived immediately from the sacred re- 
 cords, will often be found " the power of God unto salvation." In the 
 latter instance, there will always be a proportion of the people, whose 
 indigent circumstances call for pecuniary aid in a variety of ways ; and 
 surely, among the means of their relief, no call can be more pressing, 
 than that which invites to the reaching out to them of the bread of 
 life. 
 
580 
 
 While we are on this part of the subject, we avail ourselves of the 
 opportunity of congratulating all the members of our church, on what 
 we conceive to be eminently a cause of joy to the christian world in 
 general — the wonderful efforts which have been made within these few 
 years, being begun principally by members of the parent church, by a 
 body known under the name of the British and Foreign Bible Society, 
 imitated in a arious countries of the old world, and concurred in with 
 alacrity and zeal throughout the extent of the American union — to dis- 
 perse the Bible in regions wherein it has been hitherto unknown ; and, 
 in those wherein the religion of it is professed, to provide that none shall 
 have reason to complain, of their being necessarily destitute of this in- 
 structor, this guide, and this source of the highest consolations. We 
 should conceive of ourselves as wanting on this occasion to the high duties 
 of our stations, were we to neglect to bear our testimony in favour of 
 this energetic eifort, for the disappointment of the wicked designs of 
 infidelity, for the extending of the influence of pure and undefiled reli- 
 gion, and finally, for the carrying into efleet of those gracious promises 
 of heaven, which will not have been accomplished, until " the know- 
 ledge of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea." 
 
 When we recommended exertions for the more general diffusion 
 of the Book of Common Prayer; it was not from the presumptuous 
 sentiment of ranking any compositions of mere men, with what was in- 
 dited under the immediate influence of the Holy Spirit. But it was on this 
 double ground ; first, that as the order of our service requiring the au- 
 dible voices of the people in the act of worship, there is peculiar pro- 
 priety in providing, that no portion of any congregation shall be neces- 
 sarily debarred from bearing their share, in what we deem essential to 
 "the worshipping in the beauty of holiness:" and principally, because, 
 as John the Baptist taught his disciples how to pray; and as a greater 
 than he gave similar instruction, in an admirable form left on record in 
 the gospel ; in like manner it is expedient, that the public wisdom of 
 the church should furnish her members with a body of devotions, held 
 to be agreeable to the direction of St. Paul, of " worshipping with the 
 understanding;" and yet not inconsistent with that higher principle of 
 liis and our master, of" worshipping in spirit and in truth." And al- 
 though we do not doubt, that the religious discipline of the heart, in 
 whatever language it may be clothed, rises an acceptable incense to the 
 throne of a gracious and common father ; yet, while we contend that 
 public devotions should be such, as the most intelligent and cultivated 
 understandings must approve of; we conceive that a body of public de- 
 votions, so framed, must have an influence on the retired exercises of 
 individuals ; so as to prevent their either sinking into indifference, or 
 running into the excesses of enthusiasm. 
 
 In the mention of small tracts, there were understood those which 
 give correct views of any of the doctrines, or any of the duties, applj^- 
 ing to all descriptions of persons ; and which it is especially desirable to 
 accommodate to those in the less informed departments of society. We 
 know, that similar attempts to what is now recommended, have had a 
 powerful influence in propagating opinions, which we believe to be not 
 agreeable to gospel verity : and this itself is a sufficient call to a coun- 
 terbalance of the evil, in the proper use of an engine so liable to be mis- 
 applied. We have had ample proof of what may be accomplished in 
 this very line, by the success therein of a society in the parent church, 
 known for above a century, and lately acting with a vast increase of en 
 
381 
 
 ergy, under the name of " The Society for the promoting of Christian 
 Knowledge :" which venerable body we cannot take notice of on this 
 occasion, without recommending the tracts pubHshed by them, as a store- 
 house from which there may be drawn the rehgious armour, competent 
 to the end within our view. 
 
 We have touched, although slightly, the various topics contemplated 
 by us in the beginning of this address. It must have been visible of the 
 mass of the remarks comprehended in it, that they apply alike to the 
 clergy and to the lay members of this church. But we ought not to 
 conclude without an especial call on the former, to be active in the pa- 
 tronizing and in the executing of designs, for the extending of the influ- 
 ence of religion ; agreeably to the principles, on which alone there can 
 be any acting to that effect, within the bounds of our communion. In a 
 church existing in countries not under the peculiar circumstances of 
 these United States, it must in general happen, that the objects of tiie 
 concern of a clergyman are within the bounds of the parish of which he 
 is the pastor. Our case is different; and will continue so, while there 
 shall apply to so many members of our communion, that they are 
 " scattered abroad, as sheep which have no shepherd," It would be a 
 mistaken remedy of the evil, to seal up sourcesof instruction now open, 
 in the uncertain search of opportunities of usefulness, where they are 
 wanting. Yet it is possible, and this is what we recommend, for any 
 minister, within the limits of his especial duties, and without injury to 
 any of them, to favour and to promote designs, by a zeal which ex- 
 tends beyond his more immediate sphere. Even where the efforts of 
 the several individuals may be small ; yet, combined, they will proba- 
 bly have an effect which shall be extensively, deeply, and permanently 
 felt. 
 
 The lay members of our communion we exhort, in reference to and 
 for the accomplishment of the objects which have been laid before 
 them, to aid the clergy in their measures ; or to propose and pursue 
 measures themselves, to the effect. We disclaim sectarian zeal, in eve- 
 ry matter which we propose for the increase of our church. We profess 
 to aim herein at the doing of our part, for the advancement of Christian- 
 ity ; a work, of which no share can be undertaken by us, except on the 
 ground of Ihe doctrine, the worship, and the discipline, which we be- 
 lieve to be the most agreeable to tlie scriptures, and to the practice of 
 the primitive ages of the church. Under the influence of this sentiment, 
 we invite all descriptions of persons contemplated in the present ad- 
 dress, to aid us in sustaining and extending a church, " built on the 
 foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the 
 chief corner stone :" not frirgetting, that in all endeavours to this effect, 
 an essential expedient, and without which we are not likely to be favour- 
 ed with the divine blessing, is the "adorning of the doctrine of our God 
 and Saviour in al! things." 
 
 Signed by order of the House of Bishops, 
 
 WILLIAM WHITE, Presiding Bisliop. 
 
 Philadelphia, May 23, 181 4. 
 
 riNis, 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Journal of the Convention of 1785. ... - - 1 
 
 Do. of the 1st Convention of 1786, - - - . - 17 
 
 Do. ofthe2cl do. of do. - - - - - 30 
 
 Do. of the 1st do. of 1789. - - - . - 45 
 Do, of the 2d do. of do. - - - - .69 
 
 Do, of the Convention of 1792. - . . . - 111 
 Do, of do. of 1795. - - - - .135 
 
 •Do. of do. of 1799. ..... 160 
 
 Do. of do. of 1801. ..... 192 
 
 Do. of do. of 1804. ..... 21" 
 
 Do. of do, of 1808. - - - . 244 
 
 Do. of do. of 1811. 266 
 
 Do. of do. of 1814. ..... 288 
 
 Constitution of tlieChui-ch. ...... 327 
 
 Canons of 1808, ....... 339 
 
 Canon of 1811. ........ 344 
 
 Canons of 1814. .-..-.. 344 
 
 Prajer at the meetings of Convention. - . - . . 345 
 
 Course of Ecclesiastical Studies. . - . - . ' 345 
 
 Pastoral Letter, 1. (from Baltimore.) ..... 351 
 
 Do. II. (from New Haven.) .... 365 
 
 Do. m. (from Philadelphia.) 371 
 
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