TO THE CLERGY AND LAITY 
 
THE LIBRARY OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF 
 
 NORTH CAROLINA 
 
 THE COLLECTION OF 
 NORTH CAROLINIANA 
 
 C P 263 
 N87p 
 
 
 ONE M 4 
 
/ 
 
 TO THE CLERGY AND LAITY OF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL 
 CHURCH IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 Dear Brethren: — The approaching holy feast of Trinity Sunday 
 will be the two hundredth anniversary of the first recorded adminis- 
 tration of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper within the territory of 
 North Carolina. Some may conjecture that earlier instances are 
 probable, as certainly they were possible ; but the first of which we 
 have any record is that mentioned by Governor Glover in a letter to 
 Henry Compton, Bishop of London, dated September 25, 1708 
 (Hawks's N. C, II, 301, and N. C. C. R., I, 689), in these words : "The 
 Reverend Richard Marsden, waiting here for a passage to South Caro- 
 lina, thought it convenient to administer the Sacrament of the Lord's 
 Supper, which is the first time I can learn of its being administered 
 in this poor country ; this was done on Trinity Sunday, 1706." 
 
 We, your Bishops and servants in Christ, feel that so interesting an 
 anniversary should not be allowed to pass unnoticed. It marks in a 
 special way the feeble beginnings of our ancient Church in this new 
 country; it recalls the pathetic and heroic memories of those faithful 
 men who brought into the civilization of a new continent the leaven 
 of our historic faith, worship, and polity. We call upon our brethren 
 of the Clergy of North Carolina to remind our lay people of these 
 sacred memories and associations of our past, and especially on this 
 coming Trinity Sunday to remember before God with devout grati- 
 tude those of His servants departed to whom we owe so much, the 
 Clergy and Churchmen of our Colonial days. 
 
We therefore set forth and authorize for use in all our churches on 
 Trinity Sunday, June 10, 1906, immediately before the final Blessing, 
 or after the General Thanksgiving in Morning and Evening Prayer, 
 the special form of prayer printed on the following page. 
 
 "S. P. G." 
 
 In connection with this interesting anniversary we desire to call 
 your attention to the fact that 
 
 The Venerable Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, 
 
 to which the Church in the United States, and in an especial manner 
 the Church in North Carolina, is indebted, under God, "for its first 
 foundation and for long continuance of nursing care and protection," 
 is just at this time compelled to remove from its present offices, and 
 to provide a new home for itself. It has been suggested that American 
 churchmen should offer to take upon themselves to provide the 
 "Chapel" or the "Board Room" in the new quarters of the Society ; and 
 Mr. Robert Treat Paine, 85 State Street, Boston, has consented to act 
 as treasurer of a fund to be raised by voluntary personal subscriptions 
 to carry out this purpose. 
 
 Will you not bring this matter to the attention of your people, and 
 offer to receive and forward to Mr. Paine any donations which may 
 be intrusted to you? Some of our parishes have direct connection with 
 the work of the missionaries of this Society, and an almost unbroken 
 continuity of ministration from those days to the present. It is 
 thought that some at least of our people may be interested in con- 
 tributing to such an object. 
 
 Your brethren and servants in Christ, 
 
 Jos. Blount Cheshire, 
 
 Bishop of North Carolina. 
 
 Robert Strange, 
 
 Bislwp of East Carolina. 
 
 Junius M. Horner, 
 
 Bishop of Ashevillc. 
 
 Raleigh, N. C, May 30, 1906. 
 
Prayer of Special Commemoration and Thanksgiving, 
 Trinity Sunday, June 10, 1906. 
 
 .0 Cod of our fathers, Who, through the labors of Thy servants in 
 past ages, hast built up Thy Kingdom in this great country and 
 nation, toe give Thee hearty thanks and most high praise, as for the 
 lives and labors of all those faithful missionaries and pastors toho 
 gave themselves to Thy service in the Thirteen American Colonies, so 
 especially at this time, for those who in the Province and Colony of 
 North Carolina ministered Thy Word and Sacraments to the people. 
 Into this strawge land they came, the messengers of Thy Truth and 
 Love, and through many trials and dangers they sought Thy wander- 
 ing sheep. We thank Thee for their faith and patience, for their suf- 
 ferings and labors, and for the fruits of their sacrifices which we 
 to-day enjoy. Thou didst water with the deios of Thy grace tlie little 
 vine which on these shores they planted; Thou madest room for it, 
 so that when it had taken root it filled the land. 
 
 Continue, tee pray Thee, Thy love and favor to Thy Church and 
 people; pardon our sins, fill us with Thy Spirit, sustain us with the 
 heavenly food of Thy holy Word and Sacraments, keep us faithful to 
 Thy Truth, make Thy Church a light and a guide and a sure founda- 
 tion; bless our State and our country, and hasten the coming of Thy 
 Kingdom; through Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen. 
 
 The foregoing "Prayer of Special Commemoration and Thanks- 
 giving" is hereby licensed for use on Trinity Sunday, June 10, 1906. 
 
00034013353 
 
 FOR USE ONLY IN 
 THE NORTH CAROLINA COLLECTION