UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT LOS ANGELES

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JOURNALS OF GENERAL CONVENTIONS

OF THE

PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH,

IN THE UNITED STATES,

PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY OF GENERAL CONVENTION. EDITED BY

WILLIAM STEVENS PERKY, D. D.

VOL. III.

/ND J)OCUMENT£.

CLAREMONT, N. H

THE CLAREMONT MANUFACTUKING COMPANY. 1874.

HISTORICAL NOTES AND

ILLUSTRATING

THE

ORGANIZATION

OF THE

IN THE UNITED STATES

OF

AMERICA.

BY

WILLIAM STEYENS PERRY, D. D.,

HISTORIOGRAPHER OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH.

CLAREMONT, N. H

THE CLAREMONT MANUFACTURING COMPANY. 1874.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874,

BY WILLIAM STEVENS PERRY, D. D., In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

, • ,• •'

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PREFACE.

The present volume is mainly the reproduction in print of a collection of previously unpublished documents and letters il lustrating the history of the period of the organization of the American Church. These papers, drawn largely from the cor respondence and collections of the venerable Bishop White, preserved to the Church by the care of the late Francis Lister Hawks, D.D., LL. D., have been supplemented by the use of important MSS., in the possession of the families of Bps. Sea- bury and Parker. It will be borne in mind that these papers and letters were written with no thought of preservation, much less of publication, after an interval of nearly a hundred years. They are the more valuable from the freedom of style and al lusion which gives to epistolary correspondence its special charm. As illustrating the history of the measures which brought about our ecclesiastical independence and secured the formation of our present Ecclesiastical Constitution, these let ters are of peculiar interest and importance. By their aid we can trace step by step, the development of the principles un derlying our present system of government. We are admitted, as it were, into the councils of those who gave us our Church in the form and perfectness it now possesses. We hear in their own words and in fullest detail the reasons for their legislation and the explanation of their course of action. The editor has been at pains to group together these interesting papers, adding only enough of his own to supply deficiencies in the narrative and to elucidate that which required explanation. It is with

228059

IV PREFACE.

peculiar pleasure that he can state in this connection that the volume as now produced was carefully read in MSS., and whol ly approved, by the late Dr. Hawks, the Historiographer of the American Church, prior to his too early death. Not a letter appears on these pages without having received his examination, and it is with the sanction of his revered and honored name that these papers are given to the Church.

The press of duties incident upon the care of a large parish, together with the requirements of other official relations to the Church, must be the excuse for many imperfections in this work of which no one can be more sensible than the editor himself. He craves the indulgence of his readers for these infelicities of Style, and for the occasional typographical errors which, in view of the impossibility of his supervision in person of these pages as they passed through the press, were inevitable. If the work, — the preparation of which has been wholly a labor of love, and for which the writer asks no other remuneration than the kind approbation of his brethren of the clergy and laity, shall serve to acquaint those who care to learn with the principles of our constitutional history, the labor of years will not be in vain. For the Church of God he would gladly " spend and be spent."

Trinity Rectory, Geneva, October 5, 1874.

TABLE OF CONTEOTS.

THE PRELIMINARY CONVENTIONS, 3—68.

The " Broadside" proceedings of the Preliminary Meeting of October, 1784, 3, 4 ; Additional particulars, 5 ; Meeting at New Brunswick, May 11, 1784,7,8; Letters from the Rev. Abraham Beach, 8 — 12; Early Conventions, 13, 14; "An ad dress to the Members of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Maryland," 14 — 33 ; Election of a Bishop in Maryland, 34 ; For mation of a representative body of the Church in Pennsyl vania, 35, 36 ; Journal of Meetings leading to the institution of a Convention of the Church in Pennsylvania, 37—40 ; An Act of Association of the Clergy and Congregations in Penn sylvania, 40 — 43 ; Incorporation of the Church in Virginia, 44 — 51 ; Convention in South Carolina, 52, 53 ; Convention in New York, 53 — 55; Proceedings of the Convention in New- Jersey, 55, 56 ; State of the Church in Massachusetts, 57 — 59 ; Dr. White's letters to the Rev. Mr. Parker, 59—62 ; Proceed ings of the Clergy of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, 62 — 66 ; Other efforts for organization, 66 — 68.

THE CONVENTION OF 1785, 69—212.

Invitation of the Connecticut clergy to their brethren at the South, 69, 70; Letter from the Rev. Dr. Thomas Bradbury Chandler to the Rev Dr. White, 79—75 ; The Bishop of Con necticut to the Rev. Dr. Smith, 76 — 82 ; The same to the Rev. Dr. White, 82—84 ; The Rev. Dr. Chandler to Dr. White, 84— 87 ; Changes at the North, 87 ; The Rev. Benjamin Moore to the Rev. Mr. Parker, 88 ; Correspondence between Dr. White and the Rev. Mr. Parker, 88 — 91 ; Alterations adopted by the Convention of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hamp shire, 91—99.

I. Alterations in the Book of Common Prayer, 99 — 208 ; Chan ges in the " State Prayers" inevitable, 100; Alterations adopt ed by Trinity Church, Boston, 101 — 103 ; Legislation in Virgin ia accommodating the Prayer Book to the change in affairs, 103, 104; Letters from the Rev. Edward Bass, 104—107; Let ters of the Rev. Charles H. Wharton, 107, 108; General dis position to proceed to a review of the Liturgy, 108, 109 ; Alte-

VI TABLE OP CONTENTS.

rations agreed upon in 1785 to render the Liturgy conformable to the principles of the American Revolution and the Consti tutions of the several States, 109 — 113; Further alterations proposed ami recommended, 113 — 118; Articles of Religion, 118—124; The Table of Holy Days, 124, 125; Correspondence of the Committee charged with the publication of the •' Pro posed Book," 126— 198; The Rev. Dr. Smith to the Rev. Mr. Parker, 199,200; Bp. White's "notice" of the alterations in the Book of Common Prayer, 200 — 206 ; Account of the publi cation of the " proposed " Liturgy, 206—208;

II. The General Ecclesiastical Constitution, 209—212.

III. Measures for securing the succession of the Episcopate in the English Line, 213.

The struggle for the Episcopate, 213 ; Notices of the election of the Rev. Dr. Seabury to the Episcopate by the Connecticut Clergy, 213, 214; The result awaited with intei-est and anxiety, 216, 217 ; Granville Sharp's account of Dr. Seabury's application to the Archbishop of Canterbury, 217, 218; The Rev. Dr. George Berkeley to the Rt. Rev. John Skinner, 218 — 223 ; The Clergy of Connecticut to the Archbishop of York, 224—228 ; Dr. Seabury to the Rev. Myles Cooper, 228, 229 ; Further Correspondence, 230,231; Overtures to the non- ju- ring Bishops, 231 — 233 ; Opposition from America, 233, 234 ; Record of Seabury's Consecration, 234 — 236 ; The " Concor dat," 236 —238 ; Letter from the Bishops of Scotland to the Clergy of Connecticut, 238,289; Correspondence from Bish op Seabury's Letter Book, 240 — 244 ; Allusion to Dr. William Smith, 245; Reception of Bp. Seabury in Connecticut, 245 — 245; Letter to the Scottish Bishops, 247,248; Address of the Connecticut Clergy to their Bishop, 248 — 251 ; Bp. Seabury's Answer, 251, 252; The Bishop's primary Charge, 252 — 254;

t»I -»|»rtr» ^i*~" * ~ ^** ~^"" " * f\e A f\e e ^-t i

relating Drs. Ing

with the Rev. Alex. Murray and the Rev Jacob Duche, 260 — 262; The Rev. Dr. Inglis to the Rev. Dr, White, 262—266; Efforts to secure the succession in the English Line, 266; Granville Sharp to the Archbishop of Canterbury, 267, 268 ; Letters from the Rev. Mr. Duche, 268—270 ; Letters from the Rev. Dr. Murray, 270, 271 ; Efforts of Granville Sharp, 272— 274 ; Sharp's letter to Benjamin Franklin, 275 — 277 ; Address to the English prelates, 278, 279; Evidence of the concurrence of the civil authorities, 279 — 282 ; Letters from the Rev. Samuel Provoost to Dr. White, 283, 284 ; Alarm excited abroad as to the nature of the alterations in the new Liturgy, 284, 285 ; Ix-tters from the Rev. Dr. Murray, 285 — 287; Letters from Mr. Duche and Dr. Murray, 287—292; The omission of the Article in the Creed excepted to, 292 ; The Rev. Dr. West to the Rev Dr. White, 293; Bishop Seabury to Dr. White, 293, 294- The Rev. Mr. Parker to Dr. White, 294—296 ; Obstacles to the acceptance of the "Proposed Book," 296, 297; The Rev. Mr. West to Dr. White, 297 — 299: Correspondence with Mr. Pro^ voost, 299—301 ; Letter from the Rev. Dr. Inglis to Dr White 801—304 ; The Rev. Dr. Murray to Dr. White, 304, 305 • Letter from the Rev. Dr. West, 30«, 307 ; Opposition to Bishops at the

TABLE OF CONTENTS. vii

South, 307 ; Alterations in the Liturgy distasteful at the North, 307, 308 ; The Rev. Edward Bass to the Rev. Mr. Parker, 309 ; Jealousy of a Bishop from England existing at the North, 309; Bishop Seabury to the Rev. Dr. White, 310; The answer, and the Bishop's letter to Mr. Parker, 311, 312;

THE CONVENTIONS OP 1786.

Opposition toBp. Seabury, 312 — 314; Original Draft of the let ter to the English prelates, 314 — 316 ; The New Jersey Memo rial, 316 ; Letters from England, 317, 318 ; Letters from the Rev. Drs. Bowden, West, Griffith and Smith 319—323 ; The Rev. Dr. White to the Rev. Mr. Parker, 323'; Letters from the Rev. Mr. Parker, 324—326 ; Drs. Griffith, Wharton and Provoost to Dr. White, 326—330 ; Dislike of the " Proposed Book" at the South, 330; Drs. West and Griffith to Dr, White, 331, 342; Letters from the Committee of Corres pondence, 332, 333 ; The Adjourned Convention, 333, 334 ; The refusal to sign the testimonials of the Rev. Dr. William Smith, 334, 335 ; Letters relating to the Wilmington Conven tion, 335 — 341; The Consecration of Bishops in the English line, 341, 842; The feeling at the North, 342, 343; The letters of congratulation written by Bp. Seabury to Bps. White and Provoost, 843 — 345; Bp. Seabury to William Stevens, of Lon don, 345; Bp. White to Bp. Seabury, 346, 347; Rev. Drs. Clag- gett and Griffith to Bp. White, 347—352 ; A proposition for the consecration of Parker as Bishop of Massachusetts, 352, 353 ; The Rev. Jeremiah Learning to Bp. White, 353 — 355; Rev. Mr. Parker to Bp. White, 355, 856 ; Mr. Learning to Bp. White, 356, 357; Bp. White to Mr. Parker, 358; Apathy in Virginia, 359; Dr. Griffith to Bp. White, 359, 360; Letter from Bp. Provoost, 360, 361 ; Rev. Drs. West and Griffith to Bp. White, 361—368 ; Notices of the Alterations adopted in Massachusetts, 363, 364 ; Rev. Mr. Parker to the Bp. of Connecticut, 364—366 ; The Bishop's reply, 366, 367 ; Mr. Learning to Bp. White, 367, 368 ; Letters from Drs. Griffith, West and Purcell to Bp. White, 369—873; Rev. Dr. Murray to the Bp. of Pennsylvania, 373— 375; Bp. Provoost to Bp. White, 376; Correspondence of Bps. White and Seabury with the Rev. Mr. Parker, 376—379 ; Dr. Griffith to Bp. White, 379—381 ; Bp. Provoost to Bp. White, 381, 382; Dr. Murray to Bp. White, 382; Overtures for Union, 383; Mr. Learning to Bp. White, 384; Bp. Seabury to Bp. Wrhite, 384—388 ;-Bp. Seabury to Dr. William Smith, 388, 389 ; Correspondence of Bps. Provoost and White and Dr. Griffith, 389—391.

THE CONVENTIONS OF 1789.

The Act of the Massachusetts and New Hampshire Clergy electing the Rev. Edward Bass to the Episcopate, 392 — 394 ; Action of the Convention, 394—396; Bp. White to Bp. Sea- bury, 396, 897 ; Minutes of the Proceedings of the Committee of Correspondence, 397, 398; Address to the Archbishops, 398—402; Bp. White to the Abp. of Canterbury, 402; 403; Rev. Dr. Smith to Bp. Seabury, 404, 405; The Committee to Bp. Sea- bury, 406—407; Bps. Seabury and Provoost to Bp. White, 407 — 112- Letter to Dr. Parker, 412, 413; Union of the Churches, 413; Changes in the Constitution, 413—415; The return to the

Vlli TABLE OF CONTENTS.

English Prayer Book, practically, in the preparation of the new liturgy, 416, 416 ; Report of Committee on the means of perpetuating the Episcopal Succession in the United States, 416.

APPENDIX OF DOCUMENTS 417

THE CASE OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH CONSIDERED 419

BP. SEARURY'S COMMUNION OFFICE, 437

THE ALTERATIONS IN THE PRAYER BOOK ADOPTED IN 1789, 448

INDEX OF THE PRINCIPAL MATTERS CONTAINED IN THE JOURNALS OF 1785—1835... 487

THE PRELIMINARY CONVENTIONS.

IT was in accordance with the following recommendations and proposals, issued by a voluntary gathering of Clergy and Laymen, that the Convention of 1785 assembled.

At a Convention of Clergymen and Lay Deputies of the Protestant EPISCOPAL CHURCH in the United States of Ame rica, held in New- York, Oct. 6th and 1th, 1784: — Present as follows;

Revd. SAMUEL PARKER, A.M., Massachusets and Rhode-Island. Revd. JOHN R. MARSHAL, A.M., Connecticut.

NEW-YORK

Hevd. SAMUEL PROVOOST, A.M. Revd. ABRAHAM BEACH, A.M. Revd. BENJAMIN MOORE, A.M. Revd. JOSHUA BLOOMER, A.M. Revd. LEONARD CUTTING, A.M.

NEW-JERSEY

Revd. THOMAS MOORE, Hon. JAMES DUANE. MARINUS WILLET. > •& JOHN ALSOP, '} Esquires.

Revd. UZAL OGDEN. JOHN DE HART, Esquire.

JOHN CHETWOOD, Esquire. Mr. SAMUEL SPRAGG.

PENNSYLVANIA

Revd. WILLIAM WHITE, D.D. Revd. SAMUEL MAGAW, D.D. Revd. JOSEPH HUTCHINS, A.M.

RICHARD WILLING, \

SAMUEL POWELL, > Esquires.

RICHARD PETERS. '

MATTHEW CLARKSON, Esquire.

DELAWARE STATE Revd. SYDENHAM THORN, Revd. CHARLES WHARTON, Mr. ROBERT CLAY.

MARYLAND

Revd. WILLIAM SMITH, D.D.

N.B. The Revd. Mr. GRIFFITH from the State of Virginia, was present by permission. The Clergy of that State being restricted by Laws yet in force there, were not at liberty to send Delegates, or consent to any Altera tions in the Order Government, Doctrine, or Worship of the Church.

(3)

4 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

IHE Body now assembled, recommend to the Clergy and Congregations of their Communion in the States repre sented as above, and propose to those of the other States not represented, That as soon as they shall have organized or associated themselves in the States to which they respec tively belong, agreeably to such Rules as they shall think proper, they unite in a general ecclesiastical Constitution, on the following fundamental Principles.

I. That there shall be a general Convention of the Epis copal Church in the United States of America.

II. That the Episcopal Church in each State, send Depu ties to the Convention, consisting of Clergy and Laity.

III. That associated Congregations in two or more States, may send Deputies jointly.

IV. That the said Church shall maintain the Doctrines of the Gospel as now 'held by the Church of England, and shall adhere to the Liturgy of the said Church, as far as shall be consistent with the American Revolution and the Constitu tions of the respective States.

V. That in every State where there shall be a Bishop duly consecrated and settled, he shall be considered as a member of the Convention ex Officio.

VI. That the Clergy and Laity assembled in Convention* shall deliberate in one Body, but shall vote seperately; and the concurrence of both shall be necessary to give Validity to every Measure.

VII. That the first meeting of the Convention shall be at Philadelphia, 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 instructed and authorized to proceed on the necessary Business herein proposed for their Deliberation.

Signed by Order, of the Convention,

WILLIAM SMITH, D.D. President.^) To this, the printed account of the meeting in New York, we add, from a paper endorsed by Bishop White, "as in ye

(1) Reprinted, VERBATIM ET LITERATIM, from Bp. White's copy of "the short printed account of the proceedings of this meeting," which the Bishop tells us in his Memoirs (p. 80) " was in very few hands at the time, and is probably at this time generally destroyed or lost."

HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS. 5

Hand writing of Dr. Wm. Smith, who presided," the follow ing additional particulars.

Octr. 6th, A. M.

Upon motion, the Rev. Dr. William Smith was called to the Chair as President of this Convention; and the Rev. Mr. Benjamin Moore was appointed Secretary.

The Letters of Appointment and other Documents pro duced by the several Members above mentioned were read ; and also the following Letters from the Clergy of Massachu setts Bay and Connecticut.

It being resolved that a Committee of Clerical and Lay Deputies be appointed to essay the fundamental principles of a general Constitution, the following gentlemen were ap pointed, viz.,

Revd. Dr. Smith, Mr. Clarkson,

" Dr. White, Mr. De Hart,

" Mr. Parker, Mr. Clay,

" Mr. Provoost, Mr. Duane.

The same Committee are desired to frame and propose to the Convention, a proper substitute for the State Prayers in the Liturgy, to be used for the sake [of] uniformity, till a fur ther Review shall be undertaken by general Authority and Consent of the Church.

Octr. 7th. Present as above.

The Committee appointed yesterday to essay the funda mental Principles of an ecclesiastical Constitution for this Church, reported an Essay for this purpose, which being read and duly considered, and amended, was adopted as fol lows, viz.,

THE Body now assembled, recommend [etc., as above].

Resolved, that it be recommended to the Clergy in the re spective Churches here represented, to appoint in each State a Committee of not less than two Clergymen to examine Persons who, in the present exigency, are desirous of officiat ing as Readers, and to direct them to such duties as they are to perform ; and that it be recommended to the Congregations not to suffer any Lay Persons to officiate in their Churches, other than such as shall be certified by said Committee to be duly qualified.

WM. SMITH, President.

6 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

Earlier in the same year, on the llth(l) of May, the preli minary step had been taken for effecting the union of the Churches in the various States. Several clergymen from the States of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, met by previous agreement at New Brunswick, in New Jersey, ostensibly to take measures for the revival of the Corporation for the relief of the Widows and Children of the Clergy, but primarily for the discussion of principles of ecclesiastical union. These clergymen, whose names we give below, together with several prominent laymen of New York and New Jersey, who were invited to attend the meeting of the Clergy, found themselves at the outset unable to agree upon the funda mental principles of union. Not only were the more north ern clergymen apprehensive of a disposition on the part of their southern brethren to deviate materially from the eccle siastical system of England in the matter of Episcopal po lity, but the previous application of some of the New York Clergy, in connection with those of Connecticut, to the En glish bishops, for the consecration of Dr. Samuel Seabury, was considered as a bar to any further measures, while this petition was pending. A single result was, however, attain ed. Before the separation of the Clergy, the appointment of a meeting in October was determined upon, and the re cognition of the Laity as a co-ordinate branch of the deliberative and executive assemblies of the Church, was secured.

The Minutes of this Meeting, so far as preserved, are here with presented. Though they add little information to that which we have already presented, — as condensed from Bishop White's Memoirs, they serve to correct several tri fling errors in the Bishop's account, and are of interest as the original records of our first prelimihary Convention of the Churches in the different States.

(1) BUhop White's Memoirs, page 21, says "the 13th and 14th of May."

HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

Meeting at New Brunswick, May 11, 1784.

(1) At a voluntary meeting of sundry members of the Corporation for the "Relief of Widows, &c.," held at New Brunswick, on Tuesday, llth May, 1784, the following gen tlemen being present, —

The Rev. Dr. White, Rev. Dr. Magaw, Rev. Mr. Beach, Rev. Mr. Bloomer, Rev. Mr. Blackwell, and James Parker, Esq.,

They were unanimously of opinion, that the next meeting of the said Corporation, agreeable to the directions of the Charter, is to be held in the City of New York, on the Tu esday after the Feast of St. Michael next ensuing.

They accordingly request the Revd. Dr. Smith, the Revd. Dr.' White, Revd. Mr. Beech, and Revd. Mr. Bloomer, to notify the meeting of the said Corporation ; there being, at present, no Secretary regularly to perform the same.

The same gentlemen are also requested to remind the Rev. Mr. Thompson that it will be his turn to preach on the above- mentioned occasion ; and that Mr. Cutting and Dr. Magaw, who are the next in rotation, be prepared to preach in case of any failure on the part of Mr. Thompson.

At New Brunswick, Tuesday, llth May, 1784, several members of the Episcopal Church, both of the Clergy and Laity, from the States of New York, New Jersey, and Penn sylvania, were assembled together.

Present: The Revd. Dr. White, Revd. Dr. Magaw, Revd. Mr. Beech, Revd. Mr. Bloomer, Revd. Mr.'Frazer, Revd. Mr. Ogden, Revd. Mr. Blackwell, Revd. Mr. Boden, Revd. Mr. Benjamin Moore, Revd. Mr. Thomas Moore, James Parker, John Stevens, Richard Stevens, John Dennis, Es quires, Col. Hoyt, and Col. Furman.

It was agreed, that the Revd. Messrs. Beach, Bloomer, and B. Moore, be requested to wait upon the Clergy of Con necticut, who are to be convened on the Wednesday in Tri nity week next ensuing, for the Purpose of soliciting their Concurrence with us in such Measures as may be deemed conducive to the Union and Prosperity of the Episcopal Churches in the States of America.

(1) Endorsed by Bishop White as follows: "The original of ye Mi nutes of ye Meeting in *N. Brunswick, in May, 1784, in ye Hand-writing of ye revd. Benjamin (since Bp.) Moore of N. York."

8 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

Also agreed by the gentlemen present, that the undermen tioned Persons be requested to correspond with each other, and with any other Persons, for the Purpose of forming a Continental Representation of the Episcopal Church, and for the better management of the concerns of the said Church.

Revd. Messrs. Bloomer, Provoost, and B. Moor*, for New York; Revd. Messrs. Beach, Ogden, and Ayres, for New Jersey; Revd. Dr. White, Dr. Magaw, and Mr. Blackwell, for Pennsylvania.

Any one of which Persons of each State respectively, to correspond with the others, without consulting his colleagues of the same State, whenever it may be deemed expedient.

It is time that the Church should know to whom the idea of this preliminary meeting was due. The following letters from the Rev. Abraham Beach, of New Brunswick, printed from the original among the Bishop White MSS., contain the first suggestion of this gathering for conference. They are also valuable as furnishing information as to the state of feeling in the Church at that time, with reference to these measures for organization and union.

NEW BRUNSWICK, 26th January, 1784. Reverend Sir:

I always expected that as soon as the Return of Peace should put it in their Power, that the Members of the Episcopal Church in this Country would interest themselves in its Behalf — would endeavour to introduce Order and Uniformity into it, and provide for a Succession in the Minis try. The Silence on this Subject which hath universally prevailed, and still prevails, is a Matter of real Concern to me, as it seems to portend an utter extinction of that Church which I so highly venerate.

As I flatter myself your Sentiments correspond with my own, I cannot deny myself the Satisfaction of writing you on the Subject.

Every Person I have conversed with is fully sensible that something should be done, and the sooner the better. , For my own Part, I think the fisrt step that should be taken, in the present unsettled State of the Church, is to get a Meeting of as many of the Clergy as can be conveni ently collected. Such a Meeting appears to be peculiarly necessary in order to look into the condition of the Widows Fund, which may at pre sent be an object worth attending to, but will unavoidably dwindle to nothing, if much longer neglected. Would it not therefore be proper to

HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS. 9

advertise a Meeting of the Corporation in the Spring at Brunswick, or any other place that may be thought more convenient; and endeavour to get together as many as possible of the Clergy who are not members, at the same time and place.

A sincere Regard to the Interests of the Church, induces me to make these Proposals, wishing to be favoured with your sentiments upon this subject. If any Thing should occur to you as necessary to be done, in order to put us upon an equal Footing with other Denominations of Christians, and cement us together in the Bonds of Love, I should be happy in an opportunity of assisting in ft. I am, Reverend Sir,

Your affectionate Brother,

And very humble Servant,

ABRAHAM BEACH. The Reverend Dr. WHITE, Rector of Christ Church and St. Peters, Philadelphia.

These proposals secured at once the approbation of Dr. White ; and the communication of his approval of Mr. Beach's plan, was shortly after followed by the following reply.

NEW BRUNSWICK,

22d March, 1784. Reverend Sir:

As soon as I was made acquainted by your Favr. of the 7th Feby. of your concurrence in the Proposed Meeting of the Clergy, I wrote to Mr. Provost and Mr. Moore of New York, on the subject. They both approve of the Measure, and, not only APPROVE of it, but think it absolutely NE CESSARY.

In a Letter I received from Mr. Blackwell, sometime ago, he proposed Tuesday, llth May, as a proper TIME for the Meeting, and acquiesced with my proposal of Brunswick for the PLACE. I remarked this in my Letter to Mr. Provost ; in answer to which he acquainted me that on con sulting Mr. Duane, and other Members of the Corporation in New York, they discovered a desire that the Meeting should be held in New York on Wednesday, the 12th May.

For my own Part, I have no manner of Objection to the Alteration, any further than its depriving me of the Company of some of my Bre thren at my House. Even this Pleasure, however, I am ready to forego ; if our Meeting in N. York may have any tendency to promote PEACE and HARMONY in the Church there. This expectation and belief is the prin-

10 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

cipal Reason for their wishing for the Alteration with regard to TIME and PLACE.

Should this proposal of meeting in New York on Wednesday the 12th May, meet with your approbation, will you be so good as to acquaint the members of the Corporation in Pennsylvania, and desire their attend ance? Would not advertising in the public papers be proper?

Some of the Lay Members, may perhaps, scarcely think it worth their while to take so much Trouble without a prospect of immediate Profit to themselves. I cannot but flatter myself, however, that there are SOME still, who would wish to promote«the Interests of Religion in general — to save the Church of which we are Members from utter Decay — and conse quently to promote the real HAPPINESS AND PROSPERITY OF THE COUN TRY. Persons of this character will not, surely, withhold their assistance at this very CRITICAL JUNCTURE. t

You desire to know the State of the Fund in N. York and in N. Jer sey. With regard to the former, Mr. Provost writes me, that it has very much suffered by the Fire which consumed Mr. Laroy's House, the Trea surer. This Circumstance, by the way, is an additional inducement for the proposed Meeting; for undoubtedly the property consumed was in Bonds and Mortgages. Mr. Laroy may possibly recollect from whom they were taken ; and the Corporation may put Matters in such a train as to receive some Part of it at least. As to the Jersey Part, I have found a Bond of £150 or £200, which is safe and in good hands. I spoke to Mr. Cox, the late Treasurer, on the subject, just before he sailed for Europe. He informed me that had some Accts. and other Papers belongg. to the Corporn., which he promised to leave with Mrs. Cox, to be delivered to the Order of that Body — not thinking himself safe in de livering them to any particular Member.

I should be exceedingly happy to hear from you, as soon as your Con- veniency will permit ; and am,

Revd. Sir, Your affectionate Brothr.,

And very Hunil. Servt.,

ABRAHAM BEACH.

Eevd. Dr. WHITE.

A few weeks later we have the following letter, making further arrangements for the Clerical Meeting, and contain ing an allusion to Dr. White's celebrated pamphlet, " The Case of the Episcopal Churches in the United States Con sidered."

HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS. 11

NEW BRUNSWICK,

13th April, 1784. Reverend Sir

I have just received a letter from Mr. Provost, signifying his concur rence with the FIRST APPOINTMENT. It is at length agreed UPON ALL HANDS, that our Meeting be held at Brunswick, on Tuesday, the llth May; and as the day is near at hand, I think no Time ought to be lost in giving the proper Notice.

I wish you would be so good as to advertise it in one of your News Papei's, with an invitation to all Clergymen of the Episcopal Church, and perhaps you may think it proper to invite respectable characters of the LAITY, as matters of general concern to the Church may probably be dis cussed. As soon as I find the Advertisement in a Philadelphia paper, I will cause it to be inserted in one in N. York, and will WRITE" likewise to all concerned in Jersey.

You will undoubtedly agree with me in the propriety of having a Ser mon on the occasion. Will you be so good as to preach it?

I am much obliged to you for the Pamphlet(l) you was so kind to send me. I had the Pleasure of reading it on its first Publication, and am happy to agree with you in every particular, excepting the NECESSITY of receding from ancient usages. If this necessity existed in time of WAR, I cannot think that it does at PRESENT ; and as you convey the same idea in yr. letter, I flatter myself our sentiments on Church Government en tirely agree.

You will please make my best Respects to Dr. Magaw and Mr. Black- well, and believe me to be,

Reverend Sir,

Your affectionate Brother

And very Humble Servt.,

ABRAHAM BEACH. Reverend Dr. WHITE, Rector of Christ Church and St. Peter's, Philadelphia.

Notwithstanding the results of this primary Convention appeared at the time to be but trifling, the plan and purpose of union, so ardently desired by Mr. Beach, was not lost

(1) "The Case of the Episcopal Churches in the United States Consi dered. ' To make new articles of faith and doctrine, no man thinketh it lawful: new laws of government, what Commonwealth or Church is there which maketh not at one time or another.' — HOOKER. Philadelphia: Printed by David C. Claypole, 1783." Reprinted by William Stavely Philadelphia, 1827. Reprinted in the Prot. Epis. Quarterly Review, Vol. vi. 1859, and subsequently issued in a separate form, the same year, in New York.

12 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

sight of in the interim. Although no allusion to the fact is made by Bishop White, in his account of this gathering, (1) it appears, both from the original Minutes, as well as from the following letter, that Committees of Correspondence were chosen to interest the Clergymen and members of the scat tered Churches in the proposed meeting at New York. The report of the Committee appointed to visit the Convocation of the Connecticut Clergy, we give below. It is important from the light it throws upon the subject of Lay Representa tion, as viewed at that time by the Churchmen of New En gland.

NEW BRUNSWICK,

19th June, 1784. Dear Sir

I am just returned from New England in company with Mr. Bloomer and Mr. Moore ; and at their desire am now to acquaint you that th.4 Clergy there appear well disposed to join the Episcopal Church in the other States, in forming Regulations for the government of it, and for preserving uniformity of worship.

They, indeed, made some Objection with respect to LAY DELEGATES. We informed them, in answer to their Objections, that it was thought ne cessary in some of the States, particularly in Pennsylvania, to associate some respectable Characters amongst the Laity, in order to give weight and importance to the Church ; but we meant not to prescribe to OTHER STATES — provided the END was obtained, we would not differ with them as to the MEANS, if they were only fair and honest They replied, that they thought themselves fully adequate to the Business of representing the Episcopal Church in their State, and that the Laity did not EXPECT, or WISH to be called in as delegates on such an occasion ; but would, with full confidence, trust matters PURELY ECCLESIASTICAL to their Clergy. They accordingly determined unanimously, to send a Comtee. of their body to represent the Episcopal Church of Connecticut at our intended Meeting in N. York, on the Tuesday after Michaelmas ; and to get a representation of the States further eastward.

Thus you find the Comtee. appointed to attend the Convention in Connecticut have executed the Purposes of their appointment; and expect the Comtte. of Correspondence in Philadelphia will endeavour to procure a representation from the more Southern States.

(1) " Memoirs of the Episcopal Church," 2d Edition, pp. 78, 79.

HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS. 13

Previous to these informal gatherings, there had been in the past frequent, and recently quite important Conventions of the Clergy in the various Provinces and States. Dating far .back to the days of the worthy Commissary of Mary land, Dr. Thomas Bray, and his equally venerable brother, Dr. James Blair of Virginia, annual or occasional Convoca tions of the Clergy had been held in these two ancient Pro vinces. In South Carolina, in Pennsylvania, and at the North, there were also annual Conventions of the Clergy; and a published Sermon, of no ordinary merit, from the pen of Rev. James Honeyman, of Narragansett, Rhode Island, delivered before a Convention of the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Clergy, in the year 1726, and another, by the Rev. William Becket, Missionary at Lewes, at Commissary Cumings' first Visitation, held in September, 1731, are still extant. (1) In Connecticut, similar traces of occasional Cle rical gatherings are to be found, in the shape of dingy pam phlets, bearing the recommendation of the assembled Clergy,

\

(1) Vide " The Acts of Dr. Bray's Visitation held at Annopolis in Ma ryland, May 23, 24, 25. Anno 1700. London. Printed by W. Downing ia Bartholomew-Close, near West Smithfield. 1700." A folio pamphlet, reprinted in the Appendix to Dr. Hawks's Ecclesiastical Contributions, Vol. II., Maryland. Or such pamphlets as the following, among others: "A Ser mon preached at the King's Chapel in Boston, N. E., at a Convention of Episcopal Ministers in the year 1726. Printed at Boston MDCCXXXIII." (By the Rev. James Honeyman, of Narragansett, Rhode Island. Vide Historical Magazine, II., 338, 306.) In Harvard College Library, Cam bridge, Mass.

" An Exhortation to the Clergy of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, Sep tember the 24th, 1729. By the Rev. Archibald Cummings, Commissary, and Rector of Christ's Church in Philadelphia. Annapolis: Printed and Sold by W. Parks, M,DCC,XXIX."

" The Duty both of Clergy and Laity to each other. A Sermon preach ed before the Reverend Commissary, and the rest of the Clergy of Penn sylvania. In Christ Church, Philadelphia. On Wednesday, September 24, 1729. Being the first Visitation held there. By William Beckett, Missionary at Lewes. Annapolis: Printed and Sold by W. Parks, M,DCC,XXIX." From Dr. Hawks's Collection.

The Original Minutes of the Conventions of the Clergy of New York aud New Jersey, for the years 1766 and 1767, during the agitation of the question of an American Episcopate, are in the hands of the Rev. Profess or Seabury, of New York. These records are in the handwriting of the first Bishop of Connecticut.

14 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

or Sermons preaclied before them when in council together; while in New York these meetings formed a sort of Commis- sarial junto, exercising the power of deciding upon recom mendations for Orders, and giving to the ecclesiastica^ au thorities at home, authentic information with reference to Church matters in the Colonies.

W have already referred to the action of the assembled Clergy of Connecticut, with several from New York, in re commending Dr. Seabury to the Archbishop of York for consecration. But a little later there was convened in Mary land a Convention, the importance of which, from its bearing upon the subsequent action of the Church at large, requires a full and minute recital. We therefore incorporate, with additional notes, derived from various manuscript and printed sources, the following pamphlet, entitled, —

AN

TO THE

MEMBERS

OF THE

DProtestant Episcopal Clmrcli,

OF MARYLAND,

CONTAINING

An ACCOUNT of the Proceedings of some late CONVEN TIONS both of CLERGY and LAITY, for the purpose of or ganizing the said Church, and providing a Succession in her Ministry agreeable to the Principles of the American Revolution.

Published by a COMMITTEE of Clerical and Lay-Members, appointed for that Purpose, by a Convention held at An napolis, June 22d, 1784.

BALTIMORE:

PRINTED FOR WILLIAM GODDARD. MDCCLXXXIV.

(1) To this Address is added "A Sermon preached at the Opening of the said Convention, by William Smith, ]>.D., President of the same," which it is unnecessary to reprint.

HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS. 15

At a Meeting or Convention of Clergy and Lay Delegates of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Maryland, at Annap olis, June 22d — 24th, 1784. Agreed —

I HAT a Committee of three Clerical and three Lay Mern- "bers be appointed to digest and publish the Proceed- " ings of this and such Parts of the Proceedings of the for- " mer Convention, as they may judge necessary to lay before "the Public; and to confer and treat with any Committees " that may be appointed in the Sister States, for considering " and drawing up a Plan of such Alterations in the Liturgy " of the Church, as may be necessary under the American " Revolution for Uniformity of Worship, and Church Cro- "vernment."

The Committee of this Convention appointed for the above Purposes, are —

f WILLIAM SMITH, D.D., President. Rev. -< WILLIAM WEST, Secretary; and (.JOHN ANDREWS, A.M. RICHARD RIDGELY, Esq. JOSEPH COUDEN, A.M.; and Dr. THOMAS CRADOCK.

They are empowered to nominate any Members of their own Body, not less than three, to transact Business, if more cannot possibly attend.

A true Copy.

WM. WEST, Secretary.

[Page 3.1 AN

TO THE

MEMBERS of the PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH in the State of MARYLAND, $>c.

1HE Proceedings of the Clergy and Laity of this Church, at Sundry Conferences, Meetings, or Conventions (both jointly and severally) during the three last years, having no other Object than is in general set forth in the Title-Page, and Minute of Convention, prefixed to this Address ; and our Bu siness, as a Committee, being to digest and publish those Pro ceedings, for the information of all whom it may concern; We shall begin with the first Petition to the General Assem bly of this State, for a Law towards the Support of the

16 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

CHRISTIAN RELIGION, agreeably to the Provision made in the Bill of Rights. It was the separate Act of a very con siderable number of Vestries, wholly in their Lay Character, and was in the following Words; viz.,

To the HONORABLE the GENERAL ASSEMBLY of the State of MARYLAND.

The PETITION of the VESTRY and CHURCH- WARDENS of

the Parish of , County,

HUMBLY SHEWETH,

THAT it is manifest from Reason, as well as the clearer Light of Revelation, that the Worship of the ALMIGHTY CREATOR and GOVERNOR of the Universe, is the indispensible Duty of his dependent Creatures, and the surest Means of preserving their temporal as well as eternal Happiness ; That, where RELIGION is left unsupported, neither LAWS or GOVERN MENT can be duly administered; And, as the Experience of Ages has shewn the Necessity of a Provision for supporting the Officers [Page 4.] and Ministers of Government, in all Civil Societies ; so the like Experience shews the Necessity of providing a Sppport for the Ordinances and Ministers of Religion — because if either of them [viz., Religion or Govern ment] were left wholly dependent on the Benevolence of In dividuals, such is the Frailty of human Nature, and the Averseness of many to their best Interests, that the Sordid, and Selfish, the Licentious, and Prophane, would avail them selves of such Liberty to shrink from their Share of Labor and Expence, and thereby render that, which would be easy when borne by All, an intolerable Burden to the Few, whose Conscience and Principles of Justice would not permit them in this, or in any other Case, to swerve from their Duties, Civil or Religious.

That our pious Ancestors, the worthy and respectable Founders of this State, convinced of the foregoing Truths, and declaring that, " In every well-grounded Commonwealth, " Matters concerning Religion ought, in the first place, to be " taken into consideration, countenanced, and encouraged ; " as being not only most acceptable to God, but the best " Way and Means of obtaining his Mercy and a Blessing "upon a People and Country," (having the Promises of this Life and of the Life to come,) did frame and enact sundry Laws for erecting Churches and Places of public Worship,

HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS. 17

the Maintenance of an orthodox Clergy, the Support and Advancement of Religion, and the orderly Administration of its divine and saving Ordinances.

That the Delegates of this State, at the great dEra of our Independence, in free and full Convention assembled, for the Purpose of establishing a new Constitution and Form of Go vernment, upon the Authority of the People, appearing in their Wisdom to have considered some Parts of the said Laws as inconsistent with that Religious Liberty and Equality of Assessment, which they intended as the basis of their future Government; Did, by the 33d Section of the DECLARATION OF RIGHTS, abrogate all such Laws theretofore passed, as en abled any County Courts, on the Application of Vestrymen and Church-Wardens, to make Assessments or Levies for Support of the Religious Establishment ; but not with a View of being less attentive than their pious Ancestors had been, to the Interests of RELIGION, LEARNING, and GOOD MORALS. On the contrary, by the very same Section, an express Re commendation and Authority are given to future Legisla tures, "• At their Discretion, to lay a general and equal Tax, "for the support of the Christian Religion," agreeably to the said Declaration.

That your Petitioners are sensible of the many urgent civil Concerns, in which the honorable and worthy Legislatures of this State have been engaged, since the Commencement of the [Page 5.] present great and trying Period; and how much Wisdom and Deliberation are at all times necessary in framing equal Laws for the Support of Religion and Learn ing, and more especially amidst the horrors and confusions of an expensive, cruel, and unrelenting War. But they are sensible, at the same Time (and persuaded the honorable Assembly are equally sensible), that w[h]ere RELIGION is left to mourn and droop her head, while her sacred Ordinan ces are unsupported, and Vice and Immorality gain Ground, even WTAR itself will be but feebly carried on, Patriotism will lose its most animating Principle, Corruption will win its Wray from the lowest to the highest Places, Distress will soon pervade every public Measure; our Churches, our Grave- Yards — the Monuments of the Piety of our Ancestors, run ning into Ruin, will become the Reproach of their Posterity; nay more, the great and glorious Fabric of public Happiness which we are striving to build up, and cement with an Im mensity of Blood and Treasure, might be in Danger of turn-

18 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

bling into the Dust, as wanting the stronger Cement of Vir tue and Religion,or perhaps would fall an easy Prey to some haughty Invader!

Deeply impressed with these momentous Considerations, and conceiving ourselves fully warranted by our Constituents, in this Application to your honorable Body, having duly ad vertised our Design, without any Objections yet notified to us — Your Petitioners, therefore, most earnestly and humbly pray- That an Act may be passed, agreeably to the aforesaid Sec tion of the Declaration of Rights, for the support of pub lic Religion, by an equal Assessment and Tax, and also to enable the Vestry and Church- Wardens of this Pa rish, by Rates on the Pews, from Time to Time, or otherwise, as in your Wisdom you shall think fit, to repair and uphold the Church and Chapel, and the Church Yards and Burying Grounds of the same; all which, your Peti tioners conceive, may be done, not only for this Parish, but at the same Time, if thought best, for every other Parish within this State (which, it is believed, earnestly desires the same) by a single law, in a Manner perfectly agreeably to the Liberty and Wishes of every Denomination of Men who would be deemed good Christians and faithful Citizens of this State. And your Petitioners, as bound, shall ever pray, &c.

In the foregoing Petition,™ exclusive Privilege is PRAYED for; only, " That a Law may be passed agreeably to the Bill " of Rights, and to the Liberty and Wishes of every Denomi- " nation of Men, who would be deemed good Christians and "faithful Citizens of this State." And some of the Vestries that presented the Petitions, finding the public Difficulties encreasing, soon afterwards [Page 6.] signified their Desire to the Creneral Assembly that all further Consideration of the matter, might be postponed to a Time of less Distress and Danger.

But on the happy Establishment of Peace, his Excellency Governor PACA, in Council, with a truly paternal and pious Care for the Concerns of Religion, as inseparably connected with the Interest of the State, was pleased to revive this im portant Business, in an Address to the General Assembly (M;.y 6th, 1783) as follows, viz.

" It is far from our Intentions to embarrass your Deliber- " ations with a Variety of Objects, but we cannot pass over

HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS. 19

"Matters of so high Concernment as RELIGION and LEARN ING. The Sufferings of the Ministers of the Gospel of all " Denominations, during the War, have been very consider- " able; and the Perseverance and Firmness of those, who dis- " charged their sacred Functions under many discouraging " Circumstances, claim our Acknowledgments and Thanks. " The Bill of Rights and Form of Government recognize the " principle of public Support for the Ministers of the Gospel, " and ascertain the Mode. Anxiously solicitous for the Bless- " ings of Government, and the Welfare and Happiness of " our Citizens, and thoroughly convinced of the powerful " Influence of Religion, when diffused by its respectable " Teachers, we beg Leave most seriously and warmly to re- " commend, among the first Objects of your Attention, on " the Return of Peace, the making such Provision, as the " Constitution, in this case, authorizes and approves."

A Copy of this Address, about a Week after it was deliv ered to the Assembly, came into the Hands of sundry of the Episcopal Clergy;(l) who, finding the Concerns of Religion so strongly recommended by the Executive to the Legislative Part of Government, thought it immediately necessary that there should be a Council or Consultation of Clergy held for the Purpose of considering " What Alterations might be ne cessary in our Liturgy and Service; and how our Church might be organized, and a Succession in the Ministry kept up, so as to be an Object of public Notice and Support, in common with other Christian Churches under the Revolu tion."

It was considered that some Legislative Interposition or Sanction might probably be necessary in the Course of this Business; for as our Church derived her Liturgy from the Church of England, and was formerly dependent on the same Church [Page 7.] for a Succession in her Ministry, and had certain Property reserved to her by the Constitution of this State, under the Name of the Church of England; it became a Question whether, if any Alterations should be made in the Liturgy, or in the Mode of Succession in the Ministry, she could any longer be considered as the Cfiurch described in the Constitution of this State, or entitled to the perpetual Use of the Property aforesaid. An incorporating

(1) They were occasionally assembled at the FIRST COMMENCEMENT in WASHINGTON COLLEGE, May, 1783.

20 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

Act or Cfiarter was also deemed necessary to enable the Cler gy or some Representative Body of the Church, to raise and manage a Fund for certain charitable and pious Purposes; such Charters having been granted to Christian /Societies of every Denomination in other of the neighbouring States, whenever they have been prayed for.

Such was the Foundation of the following Petition, which has nothing for itsObject but equal Privileges; and prays for nothing but what the Members of our Church consider as their undoubted Right, and which cannot be called in question by any who claim and enjoy the like Rights, under the Con stitution and Laws of this State.

To the Honorable the General Assembly of the State of MARYLAND.

The MEMORIAL and PETITION of the Subscribers, in be half of themselves and others the Clergy of the Episco pal Churches,

SUEWETH,

IHAT the happy Termination of War, the Establishment of Peace, and the final Recognition and Acknowledgment of the Sovereignty and Independence of these United States among the Powers of the World, yield a favorable Occasion (which this State in particular hath long desired) of making some permanent Provision, agreeably to the Constitution, for " the Ministers of Religion," and the Advancement of use ful Knowledge and Literature, through this rising American Empire.

That, in Respect to the Episcopal Churches in this State (to the communion of which so large a Proportion of the good People of Maryland belongs) the following Things are abso lutely necessary, viz.

[Page 8.] 1st. That some Alterations should be made in the Liturgy and Service, in order to adapt the same to the Revolution, and for other Purposes of Uniformity, Concord, and Subordination to the State.

2d. That a Method and Plan for educating, ordaining, and keeping up a Succession of able and fit Ministers or Pastors, for the Service of the said Churches, agreeably to ancient Practice and their proposed Principles, as well as that uni versal Toleration established by the Constitution, be speedily determined upon, and fixed, under the public Authority of

HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS. 21

the State, and with the Advice and Consent of the Clergy of the said Churcb.es, after due Consultation had thereupon.

Your Petitioners, therefore, Humbly pray — That the said Clergy may have leave to consult, prepare and offer to the General Assembly, the Draft of a Bill, for the good Purposes aforesaid — and your Petitioners, as in Duty bound, shall pray, &c.

Signed, *

WILLIAM SMITH. THOMAS GATES.

The PRAYER of the foregoing Petition was readily grant ed, and at a Meeting or Convention of the Clergy which, in pursuance thereof, was held at Annapolis, 13th August, 1783, one Part of the Proceedings, which according to our Appointment, we come now to lay before the Public, was to nominate a Committee (1) " To prepare the Draft of an Act or " Charter of Incorporation, to enable the Episcopal Church " of this State, as a Body Corporate, to hold Goods, Lands "and Chattels, by Deed, Gift, Devise, &c., to the Amount " of . . . per Annum, as a Fund for providing small " Annuities to the Widows of Clergymen, and for the Edu- " cation of their Children, or any poor Children in general, " who may be found of promising Genius and Disposition " for a Supply of Ministers in the said Church, and for other " pious and charitable uses."

These were the Purposes for which the Committee were in- structed to prepare the Draft of a Bill, and they were fur ther instructed to bring it forward to the Spring-Sessions of Assembly [Page 9.] then following. But as no Spring-Ses sions have been held this Year, the proposed Bill could not yet be brought forward. And whenever it shall be offered to the Legislative Body, they will be the best Judges of its Pro priety ; or may, if they think proper, direct it to be published for consideration before it is enacted into a Law; and then it will be fully seen, whether it hath any Thing for its Ob ject but what is of equal and common Might, as hath been already set forth.

The remaining Business of this Convention was to deliber-

(1) The Committee consists of three Clergymen of each Shore, viz., the same who are here-in-after named as Examiners of Candidates foi holy Orders.

22 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

ate concerning the Mode of obtaining a Succession in the Ministry, the Choice of fit Persons for the different Orders of the same, and some fundamental Articles for future Uni formity, Concord, and good Government, for which Purpose the following were unanimously agreed upon and subscribed, viz. —

^DECLARATION of certain fundamental Rights and Li berties of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Mary- hind, &C.(1)

WHEREAS by the CONSTITUTION and FORM of Govern ment of this State — " All Persons professing the Christian " Religion, are equally entitled to Protection in their Religi- " ous Liberty, and no Person, by any Law [or otherwise] " ought to be molested in his Person or Estate on Account of " his religious Persuasion or Profession, or for his religious " Practice ; unless, under Colour of Religion, any Man shall " disturb the good Order, Peace, or Safety of the State, " or shall infringe the Laws of Morality, or injure others in "their natural, civil, or religious Rights:" And Whereas the ecclesiastical and spiritual Independence of the differ ent religious Denominations, Societies, Congregations, and Churches of Christians in this State, necessarily follows from, or is included in, their civil Independence.^)

(1) The original manuscript of this important document, with the sig natures of the Clergy attached, is to be found in the Collection of Dr. Smith's papers and correspondence, in the hands of the Rev. Dr. Hawks.

(2) In connection with these "Fundamental Principles," which appear not only in this printed address, but again and again in subsequent Jour nals and fragments of Journals of the Maryland Conventions, it may be well to subjoin the following important letter, from the Rev. Dr. William Smith, the leading spirit in the Maryland organization, which bears strongly upon the question of diocesan independence, as held by the framers of our ecclesiastical Constitution. It forms, moreover, a fitting preface to the " Proceedings" it so clearly indicates in advance.

Dear Sir:

The Clergy of Maryland are to meet (in pursuance of the sanction ob tained from the G. Assembly) on the 13th of this Month; but as Mr. Gates and myself were to call this Meeting, we found on consulting some of our nearest Brethren, that they did not think it proper, nor that we were authorized, to call any Clergy to our assistance from the neighbor ing States — that the Episcopal Clergy of Maryland were in some respecta

HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS. 23

WHEREFORE WE the Clergy of the Protestant Epis copal Church of Maryland (heretofore denominated the Church of England, as by Law established) with all Duty to the civil Authority of the State, and with all Love and Good-will to our Fellow-Christians of every other religious Denomination, do hereby declare, make known, and claim, the following, as certain of the fundamental Rights and Li berties inherent in and belonging to the said Episcopal Church, not only of common Right, but agreeably to the ex press Words, Spirit, and Design of the Constitution and Form of Government aforesaid, viz.

[Page 10.]

I. WE consider it as the undoubted Right of the said Pro testant Episcopal Church, in common with other Christian Churches under the American Revolution, to compleat and preserve herself as an entire Church, agreeably to her an cient Usages and Profession, and to have the free Enjoy ment and free Exercise of those purely spiritual Powers, which are essential to the Being of every Church or Con gregation of the faithful, and which, being derived only from CHRIST and his APOSTLES, are to be maintained in-

peculiarly circumstanced, and ought, in the first instance, to have a pre paratory Convention or Conference, to consider and frame a DECLARA TION of their own Rights as one of the Churches of a separate and inde pendent State, to agree upon some articles of Government and Unity among themselves, to fix some future Time of meeting by adjournment, to appoint a Committee to bring in a Plan of SOME FEW alterations that may be found necessary in the Liturgy and Service of the Church, and by the authority of this first Meeting to open a correspondence on the subject with the Clergy of the neighboring States, and to have some speedy future and more general meeting with the Clergy of those States, or Commit tees from them, to unite if possible in the alterations to be made, which many among us think cannot have a full Church Ratification, till we have on some plan or another the three Orders of Bishops, Priests and Deacons to concur in the same. What STATE or civic ratification may be neces sary, or whether any. is a question yet to be determined. In Maryland, I presume, a few words of a Declaratory Act, that a Clergy, ordained in such a form, and using a Liturgy with such alterations as may be agreed upon, are to be considered as entitled to the Glebes, Churches and other property declared by the Constitution to belong to the CHURCH OF EN GLAND for ever — I say such a short Act as this, or the Opinion of the Judges that such Act is not necessary — is I conceive all that will be wanted.

Chester: August 4th, 1783.

To Rev. Dr. WHITE. — From the Bishop White MSS., in the possession of the Rev. F. L.

Hawks, D.D.

24 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

dependent of every foreign or other Jurisdiction, so far as may be consistent with the civil Rights of Society.

II. That ever since the Reformation, it hath been the re ceived Doctrine of the Church whereof we are Members (and which by the Constitution of this State is entitled to the perpetual Enjoyment of certain Property and Rights under the Denomination of the Church of England] " That "there be these three Orders of Ministers in CHRIST'S " Church, BISHOPS, PRIESTS, and DEACONS," and that an Episcopal Ordination and Commission are necessary to the valid Administration of the Sacraments, and the due Ex ercise of the Ministerial Functions in the said Church.

III. That, without calling in Question the Rights, Modes, and Forms of any other Christian Churches or Societies, or wishing the least Contest with them on that Subject, we consider and declare it to be an essential Right of the said Protestant Episcopal Church to have and enjoy the Continuance of the said three Orders of Ministers forever, so far as concerns Matters purely spiritual; and that no Persons, in the Character of Ministers, except such as are in the Communion of the said Church, and duly called to the Ministry by regular Episcopal Ordination, can or ought to be admitted into, or enjoy any of the " Churches, Chapels, Glebes, or other Property," formerly belonging to the Church of England in this State, and which by the Constitution and Form of Government is secured to the said Church forever, by whatsoever Name, she the said Church, or her superior Order of Ministers, may in future be denominated.

IV. That as it is the Right, so it will be the Duty, of the said Church, when duly organized, constituted, and repre sented in a Synod or Convention of the different Orders of her Ministry and People, to revise her Liturgy, Forms of Prayer, and public1 Worship, in order to adapt the same to the late Revolution and other local Circumstances of America; which it is humbly conceived, may and will be done, without any other [Page 11.] or farther Departure from the venerable Order and beautiful Forms of Worship of the Church from whence we sprung, than may be found expedient in the Change of our Situation from a DAUGHTER to a SISTER-CHURCH.

SIGNED, August 13th, 1783.

William Smith, President, St. Pauls $• Chester Parishes, Kent County.

HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS. 25

John Gordon, St. Michael's^ Talbot.

John MPherson, William and Mary Parish, Charles

County.

Samuel Keene, Dorchester Parish, Dorchester County. William West, St. Pauls Parish, Baltimore County. William Thompson, St. Stephen s, Coecil County. Walter Magowan, St. James s Parish, Ann-Arundel

County. f John Stephen, All Faith Parish, St. Mary's County.

Tho. Jno. Claggett, St. Pauls Parish, Prince G-eorge's

County.

G-eorge G-oldie, King and Queen, St. Mary's County. Joseph Messinger, St. Andrew's Parish, St. Mary's

County.

John Bowie, St. Peter's Parish, Talbot County. Walter Harrison, Durham Parish, Charles County. William Hanna, St. Margaret's Westminster Parish,

Ann-Arundel County. Thomas Crates, St. Ann's, Annapolis.

John Andrews, St. Thomas's Parish, Baltimore ~\ ~.

County. SlSned

Hamilton Bell, Stephney Parish, Somerset Co', i- wi1^6 Francis Walker, now of Shrewsbury Parish, -frfo^'

Kent County. J 1784'

The foregoing Declaration of Rights being made and sub scribed, a Copy of the same was presented to his Excellency the Governor, with the following Address, viz.

To. HIS EXCELLENCY WILLIAM PACA, Esq;

Grovernor and Commander in Chief, $c. &c. of the State of Maryland.

WE the Protestant Episcopal Clergy of the said State, at a Meeting or Convention held at Annapolis this 13th August, 1783, (in pursuance of a Vote of the House of Delegates passed at their last Session) in order to consider, make known and declare those fundamental Christian Rights, to which we conceive [Page 12.] ourselves entitled, in common with other Christian Churches ; Do hereby, in the first Place, return your Excellency our most sincere and hearty Thanks for your great Concern and Attention manifested for the Christian

26 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

Church in general and her suffering Clergy of all Denomina tions. We trust and pray that your Excellency will conti nue your powerful Intercession till some Law is passed for their future Support and Encouragement, agreeably to the Constitution.

We herewith lay before your Excellency an authentic Copy of a Declaration of certain Rights, to which, according to our best Knowledge of the Laws and Constitution of our Coun try, we think ourselves entitled, in common with other Churches. Should your Excellency, from your superior Knowledge of both, think that the Declaration we have made stands in need of any further Sanction, Legislative or other wise, we are well persuaded that a Continuance of the same Zeal and Regard which you have formerly shown, will at Length produce the happy Effect which you so anxiously desire.

Praying for a continued Encrease of your Excellency's public Usefulness, and that you meet the reward thereof in the World to come,

We are, &c.

[Signed by all the Members, as the above Declaration of Rights was signed.]

To which his Excellency was pleased to return the follow ing Answer, viz.

GENTLEMEN,

1 HAVE attentively considered the Paper entitled " A De claration of certain fundamental Rights and Liberties of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Maryland." And as every Denomination of Clergy are to be deemed adequate Judges of their own spiritual Rights, and of the ministerial Commis sion and Authority necessary to the due Administration of the Ordinances of Religion among themselves, it would be a very partial and unjust Distinction to deny that Right to the respectable and learned Body of the Episcopal Clergy in this State ; and it will give me the highest Happiness and Satis faction, if, either in my individual Capacity, or in the public Character which I now have the Honor to sustain, I can be instrumental [Page 13.] in advancing the interests of Reli gion in general, alleviating the Sufferings of any of her Mi-

HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS. 27

nisters, and placing every Branch of the Christian Church in this State, upon the most equal and respectable Footing.

I am,

GENTLEMEN, Your most obedient humble Servant,

WILLIAM PACA. Annapolis, 2Qth August, 1783.

The preceding Address and Communication to the Gover nor seeks not to obtain any exclusive^} Privileges or Advan tages. It only thanks his Excellency for his "Great Care and At- " tendon manifested for the Christian Church in general, and her " suffering Clergy of all Denominations; and prays the Con- " tinuance of his powerful IntercessioiKill some Law is passed " for their future Support and Encouragement, agreeably to the Constitution." And, in the same liberal and catholic Spirit, his Excellency is pleased to answer, — " That it will " give him the highest Happiness and Satisfaction, if either in " his individual Capacity or public Character, he could be in- "strumental in advancing the Interests of Religion in gene- " ral, alleviating the sufferings of any of her Ministers, and " placing every Branch of the Christian Church in this State, "upon the most equal and respectable Footing."

Similar to the foregoing Declaration of religious Rights, and partly founded thereon, are the following "fundamental Rules or Principles agreed upon at- a Meeting of Clergymen and Lay-Delegates from sundry Congregations of the EPIS COPAL CHURCH in the State of PENNSYLVANIA, May 25th,

(1) The apologetic tone of this pamphlet is doubtless due, in a great measure, to the opposition excited by the opponents of the Church throughout the State, in consequence of these attempts at organization. The violence of this opposition is. apparent, not only from the numerous newspaper articles on the subject, filling the columns of the Maryland press of the time, but especially in an anonymous pamphlet, abounding in personalities of the most offensive character, and calculated to inflame the popular mind with the gravest apprehension as to the designs of the Clergy of the Episcopal Church. This pamphlet, published in small oc tavo, and attributed to a prominent member of the Presbyterian body, Dr. Patrick Allison, is entitled " Candid Animadversions respecting a Petition to the late General Assembly of Maryland, in behalf of the Epis copal Ministers in the same. By Vindex. ' If any Person considers these Things, and yet thinks our Liberties in no Danger, I wonder at that Person's security.' Baltimore: Printed by Hayes and Killen, in Market-street. M.DCC.LXXXIII." Pp. iv- 19.— From Dr. Hawks's Collection of Pamphlets.

28 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

1784," and which were communicated to this Convention, viz.

I. That the Episcopal Church in these States is and ought to be independent of all foreign Authority, ecclesiastical or civil.

II. That it hath and ought to have, in common with all other religious Societies, full and exclusive Powers to regulate the Concerns of its own Communion.

III. That the Doctrines of the Gospel be maintained as now professed by the Church of England; and Uniformity of Worship be continued, as near as may be, to the Liturgy of the said Church.

[Page 14.]

IV. That the Succession of the Ministry be agreeably to the Usage which requireth the three Orders of BISHOPS, PRIESTS, and DEACONS ; that the Rights and Powers of the same respectively be ascertained, and that they be ex ercised according to reasonable Laws, to be duly made.

V. That to make Canons or Laws, there be no other Autho rity than that of a Representative Body of the Clergy and Laity conjointly.

VI. That no Powers be delegated to a general ecclesiastical Government, except such as cannot conveniently be exer cised by the Clergy and Vestries in their respective Con gregations.

Signed,

WM. WHITE, Chairman.

We have only here to observe that the general Judgment of all our Churches at this Time, so far as it hath been yet collected, is for the invariable Maintenance of the three dis tinct Orders of our Ministry. It is a Matter that cannot con cern any other religious Society, and in which, without en tering into any Contest, we have certainly a Right to our own Judgment.

Of the Business transacted at the Clerical Meeting or Convention of August, 1783, there remains only to add the following Minute, viz.

" The Declaration of certain fundamental Rights, &c., having been unanimously agreed to and subscribed as above,

HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS. 29

the Convention proceeded to take into Consideration the pre sent State of the Church, and the great Distress of many Parishes and Congregations, from the Want of Clergy, or proper Instruction in the Principles of Religion; and it was agreed, that until a regular Ordination of Clergy could be obtained, there should be three Clergymen appointed on each Shore, in order to examine such young Gentlemen as may offer themselves Candidates for Holy Orders in our Church : Such Examination to respect their moral Character, their Knowledge in the learned Languages, and Divinity, and their Attachment to the Doctrines of the Christian Religion as professed and taught in our Church ; and to recommend such Candidates as (upon such Examination may be thought worthy) to serve as Readers in any Parishes that may think proper to employ them ; leaving such Parishes, as to the Ad ministration of the Sacraments, and other proper Func- [Page 15.] tions of the clerical Character ', to the more immedi ate Direction of such neighbouring Clergymen, as may agree to visit them occasionally for that Purpose."

The Committee appointed Examiners —

r Dr. William Smith, ~\

Revd. } Mr. John Gordon, I For the Eastern Shore. (Mr. Samuel Keene, ) C Mr. William West, ~)

Revd. 1 Mr. Tho. Jno. Claggett, >• For the Western Shore.

(Mr. Thomas Gates, J

The Convention then adjourned to the second Week of the Spring- Session of the General Assembly, or until especially called by their President, or the above Committee. As there was no Spring-Session, it was afterward agreed, that the President should call a Meeting in June, and that the differ ent Parishes or Vestries should be invited to send Delegates to the same; which produced the

Convention of June 22d, 1784.

This Convention being duly formed, their first Business was to take into Consideration the Proceedings of the Cleri cal Members at their Meeting in August, 1783; and the De claration of certain fundamental Rights, &c. as above insert ed, being laid before them, the Lay-Delegates desired Leave to retire and consult upon the same; and on their Return

30 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

reported by Mr. Joseph Couden, that they had read and dis cussed the same, Paragraph by Paragraph, and unanimously approved thereof.

A Committee of Clergymen and Lay Delegates was then appointed to essay a Plan of ecclesiastical Government for the Episcopal Church in this State, and to define therein the Duties of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons in Matters spiritual ; and the Rights and Duties both of Clergy and Laity in gen eral Synods or Conventions for the Government of this Church, preserving Uniformity of Worship, and the reclaim ing or excluding from Church-Communion scandalous Mem bers, whether of the Clerical or Lay Order.

The aforesaid Committee not having Time to essay a full Plan for the Purposes above mentioned, reported the following as some of the fundamental Principles thereof, which were agreed to, viz.

[Page 16.]

I. That none of the Orders of the Clergy, whether BisJiops, Priests or Deacons, who may be under the Necessity of ob taining Ordination in any foreign State with a View to of ficiate or settle in this State, shall, at the Time of their Ordination, or at any Time afterwards, take or subscribe any Obligation of Obedience, civil or canonical to any fo reign Power or Authority whatsoever; nor be admissible into the Ministry of this Church, if such Obligations have been taken for a settlement in any foreign Country, with out renouncing the same by taking the Oaths required by Law as a Test of Allegiance to this State. •*

II. According to what we conceive to be of true Apostolic Institution, the Duty and Office of a Bishop, differs in nothing from that of other Priests, except in the power of Ordina tion and Confirmation ; and in the Right of Precedency in ecclesiastical Meetings or Synods, and shall accordingly be so exercised in this Church ; the Duty and Office of Priests and Deacons to remain as heretofore. And if any further Distinctions and Regulations in the different Orders of the Ministry should afterwards be found necessary for the good Government of the Church, the same shall be made and established by the joint Voice and Authority of a Repre sentative Body of the Clergy and Laity, at future ecclesi astical Synods or Conventions.

III. This third Section is intended to define or discriminate

HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS. 31

some of the separate Rights and Powers of the Clergy, and was proposed and agreed to as follows, viz. That the Clergy should be deemed adequate Judges of the Ministe rial Commission and Authority which rs necessary to the due Administration of the Ordinances of Religion in their own Church ; and of the literary, moral and religious Quali ties and Abilities of Persons fit to be nominated and ap pointed to the different Orders of the Ministry; but the approving and receiving such Persons to any particular Cure, Duty or Parish, when so nominated, appointed, set apart, consecrated and ordained, is in the People who are to support them, and to receive the Benefit of their Mi nistry.

IV. The fourth Section provides that Ecclesiastical Conven- ventions or Synods of this Church shall consist of the Clergy and one Lay-Delegate or Representative from each Vestry or Parish, in a Majority of the same; and shall be held annually on the 4th Tuesday in October, unless some Canon or Rule should be made at some future Convention, for altering the Time of Meeting, or for Meeting oftener than once a Year, or not so often, or with a larger or smaller Representation of the Church, as may be judged necessary. But fundamental Rules, once duly made, shall not be altered unless two Thirds of such Majority as aforesaid, duly assembled, shall agree therein.

[Page 17.J

The remaining Proceedings of the Clerical Meeting of Au gust 1783, having been read and approved of, and it being thought reasonable that for the future every third Meeting should be held on the Eastern Shore, the Convention ad journed to meet at the Town of Chester, the fourth Tuesday of October next; when, from the Importance of the Business to be yet settled, it is hoped that there will be a full Meeting as well of the Clergy as of Representatives from the different Vestries and Parishes.

WILLIAM SMITH, R. RIDGELY,

WM. WEST, THOS. CRADOCK.

JOHN ANDREWS,

N.B. JOSEPH COUDEN, one of the Lay-Committee, had not Notice in Time to attend the other Members at Baltimore for digesting these Proceedings.

P. S. The following Heads of additional Articles which

32 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

could not be taken up at the last Convention, have been pro posed as some of the Matters necessary to be more fully pro vided for in the Plan of Ecclesiastical Government, by the next Convention, and are here added for Consideration, viz.

I. That the Power and Authority necessary for reclaiming or excluding scandalous Members, whether Lay or Clerical, and all Jurisdiction with regard to Offenders, be exercised only by a Representative Body of Clergy and Laity jointly.

II. That the Power of suspending or dismissing Clergymen from the Exercise of their Ministry, in any particular Church, Parish or District, be by the like Authority.

III. That all Canons or Laws for Church Government, and all Alterations, Changes or Reforms in the Church Ser vice and Liturgy, or in Points of Doctrine to be professed and taught in the Church, shall also be by the like joint Authority. [N.B. The fourth Article of the foregoing Declaration of Rights seems to provide for this — But it may be further explained, if necessary.]

Inserted in some Copies as a part of the foregoing Pamph let, and added in others as a supplemental half-sheet, with slight variations in wording and typography, are the fol lowing "Additional Constitutions or Rules," important from their containing references to "General Conventions" and " Standing Committees," together with definitions of the rights and powers conferred upon the same.

At a CONVENTION of the CLERGY and LAY-DELEGATES, of the PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH in the State of MA RYLAND, held at Chester, on the Fourth Tuesday of Octo ber 1784, in Pursuance of the Fourth Constitution made at a former Convention, at Annapolis, June 22, 1784.(1)

J.HE following additional Constitutions respecting the fu ture Discipline and Government of this Church, in ANNUAL or GENERAL CONVENTIONS, were agreed upon, viz.

I. GENERAL CONVENTIONS of this Church, consisting of the different Orders of Clergy and Laity duly represented (agreeably to the Fourth Constitution aforesaid) shall have

(1) From the copy in Harvard College Library, Cambridge, Mass.

HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS. 33

the general Cognizance of all Affairs, necessary to the Disci pline and good Government of this Church, including parti cularly the following Matters, viz. — The Power and Autho rity necessary for receiving, or excluding from Church-Pri vileges, scandalous Members, whether Lay or Clerical, and all Jurisdiction with Regard to Offenders ; the Power of sus pending or dismissing Clergymen from the Exercise of their Ministry in this Church ; the framing, approving of, or con firming all Canons, or Laws, for Church-Government: and such Alterations, or Reforms, in the Church-Service, Litur gy, or Points of Doctrine, as may be afterwards found ne cessary or expedient, by our Church in this State, or of the United States in GENERAL CONVENTION. And in all Matters that shall come before the Convention, the Clergy and Laity shall deliberate in one Body ; But if any Vote shall be found necessary, or be called for by any two Members, they shall vote separately ; that is to say, the Clergy in their different Orders, according to their own Rules, shall have one Vote; and the Laity, according to their Rules, shall have another Vote ; and the Concurrence of both shall be necessary to give Validity to any Measure.

II. Future Conventions shall frame and establish Rules, or Canons, for receiving Complaints ; and shall annually ap point a Committee, consisting of an equal Number of Cler gy and Laity, (including the BISHOP, when there shall be one duly consecrated, among the Number of the Clergy) which Committee shall have standing Authority, Government, and Jurisdiction, agreeably to such Rules as may be given them for that Purpose, in all Matters respecting the Discipline and Government of the Church, that may arise or be necessary to be proceeded upon, during the Recess or Adjournment of GENERAL CONVENTIONS: All which Rules shall be framed, and Jurisdiction exercised in Conformity to the Constitution and Laws of this State for the Time being. (1)

(1) In the copy of these Additional Constitutions in the Collection of Early Journals in the possession of the Rev. Dr. Hawks, which, though evidently inserted after the rest of the pamphlet was printed, is continu ously paged with the preceding sheets, the words " or general" in the heading, and " the following Matters, viz.," in Paragraph I. are omitted ; the parenthetical clause " (of all Orders)" is added to the assertion of " the power of suspending or dismissing Clergymen" ; and the words " or Rule" appended at the close of the paragraph. There are several varia tions in typography, which, as they do not at all affect the sense, it is hardly important to notice.

34 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

At the Convention of August, 1783, other business had transpired, beyond that which appears in the printed record we have above transcribed. In a letter from the Rev. Tho mas John Claggett to his friend William Duke, subsequently a Clergyman of the Church, but at that time a preacher among the Methodists, under date of " Upper Marlboro', September 20, 1783,"(1) the following paragraph occurs.

" I suppose you have long ago heard that the Clergy of the Protestant Episcopal Church met last month at Annapo lis, and that we formed a bill of rights : chose Dr. Smith to go to Europe to be ordained an antistes, President of the Clergy, or Bishop (if that name does not hurt your feelings.) He will probably be back some time next Spring. In the mean time, we have appointed three of the Clergy on each Shore to license candidates for Holy Orders in our Church, to act as readers in the different parishes."

The first Bishop-Elect of Maryland was never consecrated. Opposition, at first from abroad, and subsequently from nearer home, delayed from time to time, and finally prevent ed the accession to the American Episcopate of the able and accomplished President of Washington College. The dis sension arising from this matter served to depress the Mary land Church for a number of years; and the early Conven tional history of the period immediately succeeding that em braced in the "Address" we have reprinted, is contained alone in letters, and fragments of letters, preserved among the Bishop White MSS., or in similar unpublished col lections.

In close connection, as will be found by a comparison of dates, with the efforts of the Rev. Mr. Beach for a general ecclesiastical organization, the following preparatory steps

(1) Quoted in the valuable " Notices and Journals and Remains of Journals," Ac., of the Church in Maryland, from 1783 to 1788 inclusive, first published from the papers of the Rev. Dr. Wm. West, as an Appendix to the Maryland Convention Journal of 1855, by the Rev. Ethan Allen, D.D.

HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS. 35

were taken by the Vestries of the united churches of Christ Church and St. Peter's, Philadelphia.

Philadelphia, March 29, 1784.

At ye House of ye revd. Dr. White, Hector of Christ's Church & St. Peter's.

In consequence of Appointments made by ye vestry of Christ's Church and St. Peter's as followeth : —

" The Rector mentioned to ye Vestry, that he lately had a Conversation with ye revd. Dr. Magaw, on ye Subject of appointing a Committee from ye Vestries of their respective Churches, to confer with ye Clergy of ye said Churches, on ye Subject of forming a Representative Body of ye Episcopal Churches in this State, and wished to have ye Sense of this Vestry thereon. After some consideration, ye Vestry agreed to appoint Matthew Clarkson and Wm. Pollard for Christ's Church, and Dr. Clarkson and Mr. John Chaloner for St. Peter's."

And by ye Vestry of St. Paul's Church as followeth : —

" A Copy of ye Minute of ye Vestry of ye united Churches Christ's Church and St. Peter's, of the 13th of Novr. last, was, by ye Revd. Dr. Magaw, laid before this Vestry, and is asfollows. (Here followeth ye above Minute.) The above Minute being taken into consideration, and this Vestry concurring in Opinon thereon, unanimously appointed Lambert Wilmer and Plunk et Fleeson, Esqres., on ye part of this Church, to car ry into Execution ye good Intentions of the aforesaid re cited Minute."

The Clergy, together with ye Gentlemen named in ye said appointments, (except Matthew Clarkson, Esqre., and Dr. Clarkson, who were detained by sickness,) assembled at ye time and place above mentioned.

The Body thus assembled, having taken into consideration ye Necessity of speedily adopting Measures for ye forming of a Plan of ecclesiastical Government for ye Episcopal Church, are of Opinion, that a Subject of such Importance ought to be taken up, if possible, with ye concurrence of ye Episcopalians generally in ye States. They, therefore, re solved to ask a Conference with such Members of ye Episco pal Congregations in ye Counties of this State as are now in Town ; and they authorize ye clergymen now present to con verse with such Persons as they gan find of ye above Descrip tion, and to request their Meeting this Body at Christ's Church, on Wednesday evening, at seven o'clock.

36 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

Adjourned to ye same Time and Place.

Christ Church, March 31.

The Clergy and ye two Committees assembled according to adjournment (all ye Members being present except M. Clarkson, Esq., detained by sickness) and ye Body thus as sembled elected Dr. White their Chairman.

The Clergy reported that agreeably to ye appointment of ye last Meeting, they had spoken to several Gentlemen, who readily consented to ye proposed Conference.

The Meeting continued some time; when it was signified to them, that several Gentlemen, who had designed to at tend, were detained by ye unexpected Sitting of ye honl. House of Assembly, they being Members of that House. The Honl. James Read Esqre. attended, according to Desire.

After some Conversation on ye Business of this Meeting, it was resolved that a circular letter be addressed to ye Ch. wardens and Vestry men of ye respective Episcopal Congre gations in ye State; and that ye same be as followeth, viz. —

Gentlemen :

The Episcopal Clergy in this City, together with a Committee appointed by ye Vestry of Christ's Church and St. Peter's, and another Committee appointed by ye Vestry of St. Paul's Church, in ye same, for ye purpose of propos ing a Plan of ecclesiastical Government, being now assembled, are of Opinion, that a Subject of such Importance ought to be taken up, if possible, with ye concurrence of ye Episco palians generally in ye States. They have therefore resolved, as preparatory to a general Consultation, to request ye Church-wardens and Vestry men of each Episcopal Congre gation in ye State, to delegate one or more of their Body to assist at a Meeting to be held in this City on Monday, ye 24th day of May next; and such Clergymen as have paro chial Cure in ye said Congregations to attend ye Meeting ; which they hope will contain a full Representation of the Episcopal Church in this State.

The above Resolve, Gentlemen, the first Step in their Pro ceedings, they now respectfully and affectionately communi cate to you.

Signed, in behalf of the Body now assembled,

WM. WHITE, Chairman.(l)

(1) From the original Manuscript in the handwriting of Bishop White, and preserved among his papers.

HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS. 37

In furtherance of the proposal contained in this Circular, there was a meeting of Clergy and Laity in Christ Church, Philadelphia, on the 24th of May, 1784.

At this meeting, and at an adjourned gathering the follow ing day, there were present, — as appears from the printed " Journal of the Meetings, which led to the institution of a Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of Pennsylvania : together with the Journals of the first six Conventions of the said Church,"!1) —

From Christ Church and St. Peter 8, Rev. William White, D.D., Rev. Robert Blackwell, Mr. Matthew Clarkson, Mr. William Pollard, Dr. Clarkson, and Mr. John Chaloner.

From St. Pauls Church, Rev. Samuel Magaw, D.D., Mr. Lambert Wilmer, and Plunket Fleeson, Esquire. St. James's, Bristol, Mr. Christopher Merrick. Trinity Church, Oxford, Mr. Benjamin Cottrnan. All Saints, Pemapecka, Mr. Benjamin Johnson. St. Pauls, Chester, Dr. William Currie and Mr. James

Withy.

From St. David's, Radnor, Richard Willing, Esquire. From St. Peter s, in the Valley, Mr. John Francis. From St. Martin s, Marcus Hook, Mr. Joseph Marshall. From St. James's, Lancaster, Rev. Jos. Hutchins and

W. Parr, Esquire. From St. James s, Perkioming, Dr. Robert Shannon and

Mr. John Bean.

From St. Johns, New London, Mr. John Wade. From Huntington Church, York County, Mr. Joseph

Folks.

The Rev. Dr. White was chosen chairman, and Mr. Wil liam Pollard, clerk.

The gentlemen assembled, after some conversation con cerning a concurrence with their brethren in other states, on means for the preservation of their communion, agreed to appoint a committee to consider the matter more maturely, and to report at 3 o'clock, P.M. (2)

(1) Philadelphia: Printed by Hall and Sellers. M.DCC.XC. Svo.pp. 26.

(2) Tuesday, May 25, 1784.

38 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

The committee appointed consisted of the clergy, Dr. Clarkson, Mr. Parr, Mr. Willing, Mr. Fleeson, and Dr. Shannon.

Resolved, That each church shall have one vote, whether represented by one or more persons ; or whether two or more united congregations be represented by one man, or set of men.

Adjourned.

Three o'clock, P.M.

The committee met.

The Hon. James Read, Esquire, from St. Mary's church, Reading, and Mr. George Douglas, from St. Gabriel's, Mor- latton, in Berks county, joined the meeting.

The committee appointed in the morning reported, as follows :

" That they think it expedient to appoint a standing com mittee of the Episcopal church in this state, consisting of clergy and laity ; that the said committee be empowered to correspond and confer with representatives from the Episco pal church in the other states, or any of them ; and assist in framing an ecclesiastical government ; that a constitution of ecclesiastical government, when framed, be reported to the several congregations, through their respective ministers, church-wardens, and vestrymen, to be binding on all the con gregations consenting to it, as soon as a majority of the con gregations shall have consented ; that a majority of the committee, or any less number by them appointed, be a quorum ; that they be desired to keep minutes of their pro ceedings ; and that they be bound by the following instruc tions or fundamental principles.

First. That the Episcopal church in these states is and ought to be independent of all foreign Authority, ecclesias tical or civil,

Second. That it hath, and ought to have, in common with all other religious Societies, full and exclusive Powers to re gulate the Concerns of its own communion.

Third. That the Doctrines of the Gospel be maintained, as now professed by the church of England ; and Unifor mity of Worship be continued, as near as may be to the li turgy of the said church.

Fourth. That the succession of the ministry be agreeable to the usage which requireth the three orders of bishops, priests, and deacons ; that the rights and powers of the same

HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS. 39

respectively be ascertained ; and that they be exercised ac cording to reasonable Laws, to be duly made.

Fifth. That to make canons or laws, there be no other au thority than that of a representative body of the clergy and laity conjointly.

Sixth. That no powers be delegated to a general ecclesias tical government, except such as cannot conveniently be ex ercised by the clergy and vestries in their respective congre gations."

This was the first ecclesiastical assembly, in any of the States, consisting partly of lay members.U) The standing Committee appointed by its authority, and consisting of the Rev. Drs. White and Magaw, and the Rev. Messrs. Hutchins and Blackwell, together with Messrs. Clarkson, Fleeson, Wil ling, the Hon. Mr. Read, Drs. Clarkson and Shannon, and Messrs. Chaloner and Johnson, delegated their powers by a special vote to such of their number, together with Samuel Powel and Richard Peters, Esquires, as attended the meet ing in New York ; and at a subsequent meeting at the house of the Rev. Dr. White, on the 7th of February, 1785, (2)

Resolved, That there be sent to every clergyman and con gregation in the state, an account of the proceedings of the committee, in concurrence with sundry clergymen and others,

(1) White's Memoirs of the Church, p. 36.

(2) In connection with these extracts from the printed proceedings of the Vestries at this meeting, it may be well to add, from the Bishop White MSS., a letter of instructions, addressed by the Rev. William Smith, D.D., to the deputies of the parish he had previously served, under the appoint ment of the venerable Society.

Messrs. Benjm. Cotman and Benjm. Johnson.

I know not what can be done at your meeting of vestries. This at least I wish, that a Clergyman or two, and about two Vestrymen, may be appointed a Committee to meet Committees from the neighbouring States, at some convenient place, about next October, to fix on a general plan for all our Churches, both in respect to Discipline and our Church Service. Something fundamental ought also to be agreed upon respect ing Ordination, &c., similar to what was done in Maryland, a copy of which I gave to Dr. Magaw, declaring that Episcopal Ordination is an indispensible qualification for every person who may be desirous to hold any living in our Church. Certainly none else can hold any of the

40 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

at a meeting in the city of New- York, on the 6th and 7th days of October last; that it be recommended, that the clergy, and deputies from the several congregations, assemble in Christ-Church in this city, on Monday, the 23d day of May next, at eleven o'clock in the forenoon, in order to organ ize the Episcopal church in this state agreeably to the inten tions of the body assembled in New- York, as aforesaid; and that it be recommended to the vestries to declare, at some congregational meeting, the object of the intended meeting in May, and to propose to the congregations, to enable them to send deputies, duly authorized, to the said meeting.

The results of this resolution are sufficiently indicated in the following important document, which we print from the original folio sheet, preserved in the collection of early Con ventional papers made by Bishop White.

AN

-A.CT OF1 ^SSOOIATIOIV

OF THE

CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS OF THE

PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH,

IX THE STATE OP PENNSYLVANIA.

WlIEREAS, by the late Revolution, the Protestant Episco pal Church in the United States of America is become inde pendent of the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction in England; in consequence whereof it is necessary for the Clergy and Con gregations of the said Church to associate themselves, for maintaining Uniformity in divine Worship, for procuring the Powers of Ordination, and for establishing and maintaining a System of Ecclesiastical Government:

churches heretofore established or built under the Society for propagating the Gospel, nor the glebes where any are. There will be Committees from several of the Southern States, especially Maryland and Virginia, but they can hardly begot together till towards the end of September. I hope they may be induced to meet as far North as conveniently may be, perhaps at Philada. or Brunswick, or Wilmington in Delaware State.

WM SMITH Dated from Chester, Maryland, May 23.

This letter, as appears from its endorsement, was read by Dr. White, before the Committee, at their meeting in Christ Church, May 26, 1784.

HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS. 41

And whereas, at a Meeting of sundry Clergymen and of Lay Deputies from sundry Congregations of the Protestant Episcopal Church in this State, held in the City of Philadel phia, on the 24th Day of May, 1784, there was appointed a Committee to confer and correspond with Representatives from the Church in the other States, for the Purpose of con stituting an Ecclesiastical Government, agreeably to certain Instructions or fundamental Principles:

And whereas the said Committee, being assembled in the City of New- York, on the 6th and 7th days of October, in the same Year, did concur with Clergymen and Lay Deputies from sundry States, in proposing a Convention from all the States, to be held in the City of Philadelphia, on the Tues day before the Feast of St. Michael next ensuing, in order to unite in an Ecclesiastical Constitution agreeably to certain fundamental Principles, expressed in the said Proposal:

And whereas the Body which assembled as aforesaid in New-York did recommend to the Church in the several States, that previously to the said intended Meeting, they should organize or associate themselves, agreeably to such rules as they shall think proper :

It is therefore hereby determined and declared by the Clergy who do now, or who hereafter shall sign this Act, and by the Congregations who do now or who hereafter shall con sent to this Act, either by its being ratified by their respec tive Vestries, or by its being signed by their Deputies duly authorized, that the said Clergy and Congregations shall be called and known by the Name of The Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of Pennsylvania.

And it is hereby further determined and declared by the said Clergy and Congregations, That there shall be a Conven tion of the said Church; which Convention shall consist of all the Clergy of the same, and of Lay Deputies; and that all the Acts and Proceedings of said Convention shall be considered as the Acts and Proceedings of the Protestant Episcopal Church in this State; provided always, That the same shall be consistent Avith the fundamental Principles agreed on at the two aforesaid Meetings in Philadelphia and New- York.

And it is hereby further determined and declared by the said Clergy and Congregations, That each Congregation may send to the Convention a Deputy or Deputies; and where two or more Congregations are united they may send a De-

42 HISTORICAL "NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

puty or Deputies for each Congregation ; and no Congregation may send a Clergyman as their Deputy ; and each Congrega tion represented in Convention shall have one Vote.

And it is hereby further determined and declared by the said Clergy and Congregations, That the Clergy and Lay Deputies in Convention shall deliberate in one Body, but shall vote as two distinct Orders, and that the Concurrence of both Orders shall be necessary to give Validity to every Measure; and such Clergymen and Lay Deputies as shall at any time be duly assembled in Convention shall be a Quorum; and on every question the Votes of a Majority of those present of the two Orders respectively shall decide.

And it is hereby further determined and declared by the said Clergy and Congregations, That all such Clergymen aa shall hereafter be settled as the Ministers of the Congrega tions ratifying this Act, shall have the same Privileges, and be subject to the same Regulations as the Clergy now sub scribing the same.

And it is hereby further determined and declared by the said Clergy and Congregations, That the Convention shall meet on Monday, the 22d Day of May, which will be in the year of our Lord 1786, and forever after on such annual Day, and at such other Times and at such Place, as shall be fixed by future Rules of the Convention.

And it is hereby further determined and declared by the said Clergy and Congregations, That if the Clergy and Con gregations of any adjoining State or States, shall desire to unite with the Church in this State, agreeably to the funda mental Principles established at the aforesaid Meeting in New York, then the Convention shall have power to admit the said Clergy and Deputies from the Congregations of such adjoining State or States, to have the same Privileges, and to be subject to the same Regulations, as the Clergy and Con gregations in this State.

Done in Christ Church, in the City of Philadelphia, this

24th Day of May, in the year of our Lord, 1785. Witness our hands in Ratification of the Premises. (1) WILLIAM WHITE, D.D., Rector of Christ Church

and tit. Peters, in Philadelphia, SAMUEL MAGAW, D.D., Rector of St. Paul's Church, Philadelphia,

(1) The signing of those Deputies who were sent to the Convention lout written Powers, was deferred until such Powers can be procured.

HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS. 43

ROBERT BLACKWELL, Assistant Minister of Christ

Church and St. Peter's, Philadephia, JOSEPH HUTCHINS, Rector of St. James's, Lancaster. JOHN CAMPBELL, Rector of the Episcopal Churches

of York and Huntingdon, JOSEPH SWIFT, Deputy for Christ Church, SAMUEL POWEL, | Deputies for St. Peter's

GERARDUS CLARKSON, j" Church,

PLUNKET FLEESON, ")

JOHN WOOD, > Deputies for St. Paul's Clmrch,

ANDREW Doz, j EDWARD HAND, Deputy for the Congregation of St.

James's, Lancaster, NICHOLAS JONES, Deputy for St. G-abriel's, Morlat-

ton, Berks, JOHN CAMPBELL, Deputy for the Congregations of

York and Huntingdon,

JOHN CROSBY, jun.l Deputies for St. Paul's Church, JOHN SHAW, j Chester,

At this meeting Deputies were chosen in accordance with the recommendation of the preliminary Convention at New York, for the meeting in Philadelphia, in September, 1785. The names of these gentlemen, thus delegated to represent the Church in Pennsylvania, at the first General Convention, are found in the Proceedings of the early Pennsylvania Con ventions, and also in a foot note to the " Act of Associa tion," above reprinted. They were as follows — viz., Clerical Deputies: the Rev.' Drs. White and Magaw, and the Rev. Messrs. Blackwell, Hutchins, and Campbell; together with Messrs. Richard Peters, Gerardus Clarkson, Samuel Powel, William Atlee, Jasper Yeates, Stephen Chambers, Edward Hand, Thomas Hartley, John Clarke, Archibald McGrew, Plunket Fleeson, Edward Shippen, Joseph Swift, Andrew Doz, John Wood, Nicholas Jones, and Edward Duffield, as Lay Deputies. (1)

(1) A Committee, consisting of the Rev. Drs. White and Magaw, the Rev. Mr. Blackwell, with Messrs. Powel, Swift, and Doz, was also ap pointed, " they, or any three of them," " to carry on all necessary corres-

44 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

Measures for the incorporation of the Church in Virginia had been taken at an even earlier date ; and an Act of Assem bly had been obtained in 1784 for this purpose — in response to a petition of the Clergy, assembled at Richmond.

pondence, to superintend the printing of the Act of Association, and to transmit the same to the several congregations in this State ; and in gene ral, to transact all business relative to the concerns of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of Pennsylvania." This Committee ap pears to have entered at once upon their duties ; and we insert in this con nection the following letter, received in reply to one of their communica tions, as attesting, perhaps more strongly than any similar document we have noticed, the idea of Diocesan independence, as held by the Mary land Clergy, in common with their brethren throughout the land.

BALTIMORE, July 5, 1784. Reverend and dear Sir,

I am glad that I have an Opportunity of returning you my hearty Thanks for your letter, and the Proceedings of your Committee respecting Church Matters. I think with you that a Communication of Sentiments among its Clergy is necessary in the present circumstances of our Com mon Church; and that their most vigorous Exertions, and harmonizing Affections are equally so

I think that the Protestant Episcopal Church, in each particular State, is fully entitled to all the Rights and Authority that are essentially neces sary to form and compleat an Entire Church ; and that, as the several States in Confederation have essential Rights and Powers independent on each other, so the Church in each State has essential Rights and Powers independent on those in other States. But still, as each State harmonizes with its Sister-States, for the Common Good of the Confederation ; so, in like manner, each Particular Chh. should harmonize with its Sister Churches in the different States, for the Common Good of its Communion or Society at large.

If I am right in this, then it seems to me that the Particular Chh. in each State has an inherent and fundamental Right to exercise the Authority you allude to; tho' it might happen that the ACTUAL Exercise of each in dependent Authority might not be consistent with some mere " General Plan."

Yet notwithstanding I do not think it impracticable to answer every GOOD Purpose of any general Plan, and reserve at the same time, to each particular State-Church, all the Rights and Authority I have mentioned. For this end it appears to me that no more is necessary than such a Con vocation as you mention (or something adequate to it) for the Purpose of iblishing throughout the Confederated States, an Uniformity of Wor ship and of Church Government.

When this foundation is once happily laid, the unimportant local vari ations of the several State Chhs. from each other, according to their par ticular Circumstances, cannot in my apprehension, either break its Com munion or injure the Prosperity of the Church in general.

And in order to form such a Convocation, or adopt such Measures as would effectually answer the end, I conceive it not only prudent tut even

HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS. 45

The only record of this primary Convention we are able to furnish, is the brief reference to its proceedings contained

in the following letter: — (1)

\

necessary that Lay- Members be delegated by the People for the Purpose, and that they concur with the Clergy.

As to the usage of the Primitive Chh. with respect to the Election of Bishops, I need not mention to you that it is difficult to speak positively. The Approbation of the Laity, tho' desirable, was not I believe necessary. And even tho' the Clergy might nominate, and be unhappy in an injudi cious Nomination ; yet still the Approbation or Disapprobation of the Laity would have its due Effects, as the Encouragement and Support of a Bishop would rest almost entirely with them.

'But happily for us, these Matters need occasion no Controversy. An injudicious Election may be laid aside, and a more judicious one made. Or if no Characters can be found, as yet, in these States, fit for the Pur pose, an Invitation may be given to some Pious, Exemplary, and Able Bishop or Bishops, to come and help us in the present Exigencies of our dismembered Church. Under the Presidency and Influence of such a Character, I doubt not every true member of the Chh., whether Lay or Clerical, would be heartily desirous of adhering as closely to the Liturgy and Rules of the Church of England, as is consistent with the Principles of the late Revolution ; and that the Laity would be as ready to approve of the Liturgy and Canons thus adapted to the Civil Governmt. of these States, as the Clergy would be unwilling to depart from the fundamental Principles of Episcopacy, and further than necessary from the beautiful Form, and approved Standard before them.

As to the Division of these States into some few Districts, and placing a Bishop in each of thorn, I confess I cannot see the least necessity for it. The limits of each State appears to me the most proper, as well as the most natural District for each Bishop. In this case each Chh. will be entire and independent, as the State in which it is ; and will naturally form the proper Diocese of its Bishop. And supposing the States multi plied even into 23, I cannot think 23 Bishops too many for America. If they prove worthy of the high and sacred character, the more of them the better. And if some few should unhappily disgrace the Dignity of the Office, a respectable Number of the Order, being pious and venerable, will give weight and Sanction to Spiritual (which will probably be their ONLY) Reproofs; and preserve it from Contempt.

These, Sir, are my present Sentiments on the Subject, and I shall be heartily thankful if you will endeavour to put me right where you think I am wrong.

The Proceedings of the late Convention at Annapolis are ordered to be published. At which Time I will endeavour to transmit you a Copy of them. In the interim, I cannot but inform you that a Committee is ap pointed for like Purposes with your Committee. But that the Letter you mention as addressed, or to be addressed to them, has not yet been re ceived.

I am, Reverend and dear Sir, your affectionate Servant,

WM. WEST.

Revd. Doctor WHITE.

(1) Bishop White MSS.

46 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

FAIRFAX GLEBE, 26th July, 1784. Dear Sir,

Your different letters, to the Convention at Richmond and to myself, on the subject of a general meeting of the Episcopal Clergy at New York, were all received, but not time enough to be laid before Convention, which sat only three days. The Episcopal Church in Virginia is so fettered by Laws, that the Clergy could do no more than petition for a repeal of those laws — for liberty to introduce Ordination and Government and to revise and alter the Liturgy. The session is passed over without our be ing able to accomplish this. The few Clergymen at Richmond to whom your Letter was shewn, approved of the Plan and proceedings of the Penn sylvania Convention, and also of the general meeting at New' York, but no delegates have been appointed to attend. In the Present State of Ec clesiastical affairs in this State, the Clergy could not, with propriety, and indeed without great danger to the Church, empower any Persons to agree to the least alteration whatever. I shall be able to explain to you the necessity of their acting with this caution when I shall have the pleasure of seeing you. Having some business in New York with the Executors of ray Mother in Law, I shall endeavour to be there about the time of the general Convention; perhaps a few days before it: I shall, therefore, say no more ou the subject of the Circular Letter, only that no notice of the intended meeting has been sent to North Carolina ; none of the Clergy present, at the time of receiving your letter, having any acquaintance with the Brethren in that State.

Altho' this letter is addressed to you, yet I beg it may be considered as an answer to those signed by yourself together with our Brothers McGaw and Blackwell. To whom (tho' I have not the pleasure of being Person ally known to the former) I beg to be affectionately remembered. I am, Dr. Sir,

Your affct. hmble. servt.,

DAVID GRIFFITH. Rev. Dr. WHITE.

The Act of the General Assemoly authorized a Conven tion, " to consist of a deputation of two persons from each parish, whereof the Minister shall always be one, if there be a Minister in the parish, and the other person or persons shall be appointed by the Vestries," " to regulate all the religious concerns of the Protestant Episcopal Church, its doctrines, discipline, and worship ; and to institute such rules and regulations as they may judge necessary for the good government thereof, and the same to revoke and alter at

HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS. 47

their pleasure." This Act of Incorporation required the ap pointment of forty persons to constitute the Convention, and made its first meeting " at the call of any three Ministers of the Protestant Episcopal Church." Agreeably to the terms of this Act, a Convention, consisting of thirty-six clergy men and upwards of seventy laymen, assembled at the Capi tol in the City of Richmond, on Wednesday, the 18th of May, 1785.

At this Convention, the following resolutions, reported by the Committee of the whole on the State of the Church, were adopted.(l)

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee that de puties be appointed to represent the Protestant Episcopal Church of Virginia in the General Convention to be holden in the City of Philadelphia on. the Tuesday before the feast of St. Michael next.

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee that the deputation to the General Convention consist of two clergy men and two laymen ; any two of whom shall be considered as a representation.

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee that in structions be prepared for the conduct of the said deputies.

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee that the said instructions be so framed as to leave the Convention of this state at liberty to approve or disapprove of the proceed ings of the General Convention.

On the following Monday, May 23, 1785, the following ad ditional resolutions were reported and agreed to.

Resolved, That this Convention are willing to unite in a general ecclesiastical constitution with the members of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the other states of America.

Resolved, That this Convention do accede to the following recommendation of the late Convention at New York, as fundamental principles in the said ecclesiastical constitu tions .

(1) Vide, " Journal of a Convention of the Clergy and Laity of the Protestant Episcopal Church, of Virginia, begun and holden in the City of Richmond, Wednesday, May 18, 1785. Richmond: Printed by Dixoa and Holt. M DCC LXXXV." 8vo. pp. 23.

48 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

1. That there shall be a General Convention of the Pro testant Episcopal Church in America.

2. That the Episcopal Church in each State send deputies to the said Convention, consisting of clergy and laity.

3. That associated congregations in two or more states may send deputies jointly.

4. That in every state where there shall be a Bishop consecrated and settled, he shall be considered a mem ber of the said Convention ex officio.

Resolved, That this Convention cannot bind themselves on the subject of the fourth article, until the same shall be re vised, at the next General Convention at Philadelphia, and reported to the next Convention.

Resolved, That this Convention cannot accede to the sixth article, recommended as a fundamental principle of the said ecclesiastical constitution.

Resolved, That this Convention will however accede to the mode of voting, recommended in the sixth article, with re spect to the Convention to be holden at Philadelphia, re serving a right to approve or disapprove their proceedings.

In addition to these resolutions, which are of no little im portance when viewed in connection with subsequent mea sures of the Virginia Church, the Convention gave the fol lowing instructions to their deputies, appointed to attend the General Convention at Philadelphia. GENTLEMEN :

During your representation of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the General Convention, we recommend to your observance the following sentiments concerning doctrine and worship. We refer you at the same time, for these and other objects of your mission, to our resolutions on the proceedings of the late Convention at New York.

Uniformity in doctrine and worship will unquestionably contribute to the prosperity of the Protestant Episcopal Church. But we earnestly wish that this may be pursued with liberality and moderation. The ob stacles which stand in the way of union amongst Christian societies are too often founded on matters of mere form. They are surmountable therefore by those, who breathing the spirit of Christianity, earnestly la bour in this pious work.

From the holy scriptures themselves, rather than the comments of men, must we learn the terms of salvation. Creeds therefore ought to be simple : And we are not anxious to retain any other than that which is commonly called the Apostles creed.

HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS. 49

Should a change in the liturgy be proposed, let it be made with cau tion ; Aiid in that case let the alterations be lew, and the stile of prayer continue as agreeable as may be to the essential characteristics of our persuasion.

We will not now decide what ceremonies ought to be retained. We wish, however, that those, which exist, may be estimated according to their utility ; and that such as may appear fit to be laid aside, may no longer be appendages of our church.

We need only add that we shall expect a report of your proceedings to those whom we shall vest with authority to call a Convention.

Done in Convention on this 22d day of May in the year of our Lord 1785.

The Convention having agreed upon the foregoing instruc tions, proceeded to ballot for the deputies to the Philadel phia General Convention. Their names are arranged in the record of proceedings, in the order of the number of ballots they respectively received, and are as follows: The Rev. David Griffith; John Page, Esq.; William Lee, Esq.; and the Rev. Samuel Smith M'Croskey. After preparing an " Address to the Members of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Virginia," and further instructing their depu ties to communicate to the General Convention certain pa pers concerning the proposal of the King of Denmark to permit the ordination of American clergymen by the Danish Bishops, they passed a resolution, " that until the farther order of the Convention, the liturgy of the Church of En gland be used in the several churches throughout this Com monwealth with such alterations as the American Revolution has rendered necessary ;" and proceeded to the enactment of " Rules for the Order, Government, and Discipline, of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Virginia." Some of these regulations, designed to take the place of the English Canons, which, in the opinion of the Convention, as had just been resolved, had no obligation on the Virginia Church, we have reprinted, from their bearing on the opinions then entertained with reference to our ecclesiastical order and dis cipline.

50 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

" 9. The clergy who shall minister in this church shall be the three orders of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons.

10. Every person hereafter to officiate in this church as a Bishop, shall be nominated by the Convention, and having received Episcopal conse cration, before he enters upon his office— shall take the oath of allegi ance to this commonwealth, and subscribe to conform to the doctrine, dis- ciplinfe, and worship of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Virginia : And no person shall be received into the church as a Bishop, until he shall have completed the 30th year of his age.

11. As we conceive the office of a Bishop, according to the true Apos tolic institution, differs in nothing from that of other ministers of God's word, except in the power of ordination and confirmation and the rights of superintending the conduct of the clergy, and of precedency in ecclesias tical assemblies, that office shall accordingly be so exercised in this church : And every Bishop, after his promotion to the Episcopal order, shall con tinue to hold a parish and to do the duty of a parish minister, except when he is necessarily employed in the discharge of his Episcopal office.

12. No Bishop shall, inflict any censure upon or exercise any power over the clergy, under his inspection, other than he is allowed to do by the laws and institutions of this church made in Convention.

13. No priest or minister shall, hereafter, be received into any parish within this Commonwealth unless he first produce to the vestry sufficient testimonials of his having been regularly ordained as a priest by some Protestant Bishop— take the oath of allegiance to this commonwealth, and subscribe to bo conformable to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Provided, that any person who hath been ordained by a Bishop of the Church of Rome may also be re ceived as a minister, who shall produce satisfactory testimonials respect ing his ordination, morals and conduct — renouncing the errors of that church — take the oath, and subscribe as aforesaid.

26. Bishops shall be amenable to the Convention, who shall be a court to try them, from which there shall be no appeal. On all such occasions a President shall be chosen by the Convention to sit as judge, and they shall also appoint a clerk to the court.

27. All accusations against a Bishop, as such, shall come from the ves tries; but no accusation against a Bishop shall be received unless three vestries join in the complaint All complaints against a Bishop shall be lodged with such persons as may be appointed to call a Convention, and ft copy of the charge or charges to be brought against him shall be com municated to him in writing at least two months before the trial. Counsel may be employed on both sides; and none but legal evidence shall be ad mitted.

28. Disorderly, scandalous, and immoral conduct, neglect of duty, a

HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS. 51

disregard to the rules and canons of the church, or taking a bribe to grant either ordination or a recommendation for a vacant parish, shall be con sidered as offences in a Bishop, for which he may be brought to trial, and on his being convicted of any of these he shall be reproved, suspended, or dismissed at the discretion of the court.

A Standing Committee was further chosen, whose business, as expressed in the resolution authorizing their appointment, was, " to correspond with any society or societies of the Pro testant Episcopal Church in the United States, on any mat ters relating thereto; to call a meeting of the Convention whensoever it shall seem necessary; to receive complaints against the Clergy, and to direct courts of examination, pursuant to the rules for the government of the church ; to make such representations on behalf of the church as may from time to time be expedient ; to give advice on difficulties propounded to them concerning the church during the recess of the Convention ; and to report their proceedings to every succeeding Convention to be confirmed or rescinded." This Committee, consisting of the Rev. Robert Andrews, the Se cretary of the Convention, the Rev. John Bracken, the Hon. John Blair, and John Page, Esquire, were further " instruct ed to consider of the proper means of obtaining consecra tion for a Bishop to officiate in this Church ; of sending the person who may be hereafter appointed to be consecrated ; and of supporting him during his continuance in office; and to make their report to the next Convention."

After a session extending from May 18th to May 25th, inclusive, the records of which, as printed in the origi nal Journal now before us, comprise twenty- three pages in small type, this Convention adjourned. It is hardly too much to say of it, that in the influence it had upon subse quent legislation of the Church at large — in the principles it enunciates, and in the evidence it affords us of the temper and opinions of the Virginia Churchmen of that day, it is second in importance only to that of Maryland.

Still further at the South there had been an ineffectual

52 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

gathering of the Clergy and Laity of the Church in South Carolina the same month. The reception of the Rev. Dr. Win. Smith's letter, enclosing the recommendations of the Con vention of New York, the preceding year, had been followed by the issue of Circular letters, addressed to the Vestries of the Protestant Episcopal Churches by the two Vestries of St. Philip's and St. Michael's, requesting the appointment of deputies to meet at the State House in Charleston, May 12th, 1785, to take into consideration -the matters recommended by the meeting at New York. Agreeably to this Circular letter, several clergymen and laymen met at the time ap pointed; and inconsequence of the smallness of the repre sentation of the churches, postponed the consideration of the New York recommendations to another meeting, the 12th of the ensuing July. This meeting was attended by only three clergymen — the Reverend Messrs. Robert Smith, Henry Purcell and Edward Ellington, who had been also pre sent at the primary meeting in May, together with lay de puties from the parishes of St. Philip's and St. Michael's, Charleston; St. James's, Goose-Creek; St. James's, Santee; St. Bartholomew's, St. George's, Dorchester, Prince George, Winyaw, and St. John's, Colleton. A striking feature of this Convention was the appointment of a layman, Hugh Rut- ledge, Esq., a deputy from St. Philip's, Charleston, to the Chair. Little appears from the printed Journal to have been done by this Convention, either in the way of the organiza tion of the Church in South Carolina, or in originating or suggesting action for the deputies of the Church at large Avhon assembled in council. Deputies were chosen — five by the Convention, " one" of whom, " at least," was required "to be a clergyman," and three of whom were authorized to proceed on the business proposed for deliberation in the "Recommendations;" and the nomination of the sixth de puty was left with the Chairman, should his appointment be deemed necessary. The Rev. Robert Smith, the Hon. Jacob Read, the Hon. Charles Pinckney, the Hon. John Bull, and

HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS. 53

the Hon. John Kean, were elected deputies ; the Rev. Henry Purcell being subsequently substituted by the Convention, in consequence of the Rev. Robert Smith having declined his appointment "from the peculiar situation of his family." An allowance of £80 was made to defray the expenses of the clerical delegates ; and the deputies were " left to act accord ing to their judgment," with the single request on the part of the Convention, that future meetings of the general -body should be " held in the beginning of August." But while the Journal! 1) affords us no hint of any further action on the part of these primary gatherings of the Clergy and Laity of South Carolina, Bishop White, in his Memoirs,(2) gives us from his personal knowledge this important additional in formation.

" In consequence of the recommendation and proposal of the meeting of 1784, in New York, there was a Convention of the Clergy of South Carolina, at Charleston, in the spring of 1785. This was the state in which there was the most to be apprehended, an opposition to the very principle of Epis copacy, from its being connected, in the minds of some peo ple, with the idea of an attachment to the British govern ment. The citizens of South Carolina were the last visited by the British armies, and had suffered more than any others by their ravages. The truth is, there was real danger of an opposition in the Convention, to a compliance with the invi tation given. But the danger was warded off, by a proposal made by the Rev. Robert Smith, to accompany their compli ance with the measure, by its being understood, that there awas to be no bishop settled in that state. Such a proposal, from the gentleman who, it was presumed, would be the bishop, were there to be any chosen, had the effect intended. Some gentlemen, it is said, declared in conversation, that they had contemplated an opposition, but were prevented by this caution."

In New York, on the 22d of June, 1785, a Convention as sembled, consisting of the following members.

(1) Reprint of the S. C. Journals, 1785-1818, inclusive, appended to Dalcho's Historical Account of the Protestant Episcopal Church in South Carolina. 8vo. Charleston, 1820.

(2) Pp. 95, 96. Vide, also Hawks's Constitution and Canons, pp. 6, 7.

54 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

From Trinity Church, New- York, the Reverend Samuel Provoost, the Reverend Mr. Beach, Reverend Mr. Moore, Honorable James Duane, Marinus Willet, and John Alsop, Esquires.

From the united parishes of Jamaica, Newtown, and ^ lusn- ing, on Long-Island, the Reverend Mr. Bloomer, Mr. Charles Crommeline, Mr. Daniel Kissam, Mr. Joseph Burrows, Mr. John Johnson.

From Staten Island, the Reverend Mr. Rowland, and Paul Micheau, Esquire.

From New-Rochelle, Mr. Andrew Fowler.

From Ulster and Orange Counties, Mr. Joseph Jarvis.

From Dutchess County, Mr. John Davis. (1)

The proceedings of this primary Convention of New York, other than the preceding record of names, and the announce ment of the election of the Rev. Mr. Provoost as President, and the Rev. Benjamin Moore, as Secretary, is contained in the following preamble and resolutions, which we extract from the original Journal, as quoted before.

" This state convention having associated agreeably to the recommendation of the general convention held in this city on the 6th and 7th of October, 1784, proceeded to take into consideration the matters recommended by the said general convention; thereupon

Resolved, That three clerical and three lay deputies, be appointed to represent the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of New York, in the general convention which is to be held at Philadelphia on the Tuesday before the feast of St. Michael next; and that any one or more of each order form a quorum.

Resolved, That the Reverend Mr. Provoost, Reverend Mr. Beach, and Reverend Mr. Moore, of the clergy ; and the Honor able James Duane, Daniel Kissam, and John Davis, Esquires, of the laity, be appointed for the above mentioned purpose ; and they are hereby authorized to proceed on the necessary

(1) Proceedings of the Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of New-York ; Held in the City of New-York, on Wednesday, June 22d, 1785. New-York: Printed by Hugh Gaine, in Hanover- Square. M.DCC.LXXXVIL

HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS. 55

business which may be proposed for their deliberation at the said convention, so far as they conform to the general princi ples which are established to regulate their conduct in this matter.

Resolved, That the president be requested to call another convention, at such time and place as he shall deem most conducive to the interest of the church."

A much more numerous Convention assembled in Christ Church, New Brunswick, in New Jersey, on the 6th day of July, 1785. There were present, as we learn from the origi nal Journal, — (1)

From Christ's Church, New-Brunswick, the Reverend Abraham Beach, Messrs. Levinus Clarkson and James Douglass.

From Trinity Church, Newark, the Reverend Uzal Ogden and Mr. John Schuyler.

From St. John's Church, Elizabeth-Town, Mr. Patrick Dennis.

From St. Peter's Church, Perth-Amboy, the Reverend John-Hamilton Rowland, James Parker, and Matthias Hal- sted, Esquires.

From Christ's Church, Shrewsbury, Messrs. Thomas Mor ton and Thomas Lloyd.

From St. James's Church, Piscataway, Messrs. John Ar nold and Henry Sutton.

From St. Mary's Church, Burlington, Abraham Hewlings, Esq., and Mr. Samuel Roe.

From St. Andrew's Church, Mount -Holly, Messrs. John Clark and Samuel Spraggs.

The proceedings of this Convention, at its first sitting, were as follows.

" The convention being assembled,

Prayers were read, and the Reverend Mr. Rowland de livered a sermon.

Adjourned to three o'clock, P.M.

(1) Proceedings of the Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the State of New Jersey : Including the three first Meetings. With an Appendix. Trenton: Printed by Isaac Collins. M.DCC.LXXXVII. 8vo. pp. 42.

56 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

The convention met.

The Reverend Mr. Beach was chosen president, and the Reverend Mr. Ogden, secretary,

Ordered, That the deputies from the several congregations produce the testimonials of their appointment ; Avhich being done, the same were read and approved.

Resolved, That the thanks of this convention be given to the Reverend Mr. Rowland for his sermon, and that he be requested to publish the same.

A general convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America being appointed to be held, in the city of Philadelphia, on the Tuesday before the Feast of St. Michael next;

Resolved, That this convention will send a representation to the said general convention; whereupon, the Reverend Doctor Thomas B. Chandler, the Reverend Messrs. Beach, Ogden and Rowland, the Honourable John Stevens, Esquire, Abraham Hewlings, Esquire, Messrs. John Halsted, Patrick Dennis, Joseph Throckmorton and James Douglass, were elected for that purpose, with power to accede, on the part of this convention, to the fundamental principles published by the convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church, held in New-York, the 6th and 7th days of October 1784 ; and to adopt such measures, as the said general convention may deem necessary for the utility of the said church, not repug nant to the aforesaid fundamental principles.

Resolved, That the next convention of the Protestant Epis copal church in this state be held at Burlington on the last Wednesday in May next, unless a previous meeting becomes necessary, in which case the president may convene it, on some Tuesday previous thereto, at Perth-Amboy ; and that the members of this convention recommend it to the vestries of their respective congregations, to appoint deputies for that purpose, in order to promote the general interest of this church.

Resolved, That the Reverend Mr. Ogden be requested to preach a sermon before the next convention. End of the first sitting."

The letter of the Chairman of the Committee of Corres pondence, appointed by the primary convention of Pennsyl-

HISTORICAL NOTES AXD DOCUMENTS. 57

vania, as referred to above, was received in Massachusetts with interest, and evidently influenced the subsequent action of the Churches in that State and New Hampshire. The Rev. Samuel Parker, Rector of Trinity Church, in the city of Boston, addressed to Dr. White, in reply to his commu nication, the following interesting and important letter,(l) which furnishes a fitting preface to the record of the con ventional proceedings in which the writer had so great a share.

Reverend Sir :

I had the Honour of receiving your favour of 30 ulto. enclosing several Copies of the minutes of a Meeting of. the Episcopal Churches at Philadelphia, by the Honble. Mr. Lowell last week.

You judged very right that the Opportunity then presented would con vey the annexed Information sooner than the Plan agreed on between you and the Gentlemen of New York and New Jersey, as no Intelligence from any of them has yet reached me. I have communicated a copy of the minutes to each of the Episcopal clergy in this Commonwealth.

We are indeed but five in Number, for when the British Troops evacu ated this Town in March 1776, all the Episcopal Clergy in this Town myself excepted and many from the other Towns accompanied them and have never since returned. Indeed, but two others remained in the whole Government, these were the Revd. Mr. Bass of Newburyport who was a Missionary from the Society, but now for reasons unknown dismissed their Service, and Revd. Mr. Wheeler, who was an Assistant to the Rector of Trinity Church in Newport, Rhode Island ; the latter being a native of this Province, upon the breaking out of the War retired to a small patri mony in the Vicinity of this Town and did not officiate at all till within a Twelvemonth past he was invited to the churches in Scituate and Marshfield in the County of Plymouth. Since the War two Clergymen have settled in this State, Revd. Mr. Lewis, who was Chaplain in Bur- goyne's Regiment of light Dragoons, left that Service and came to this Town in 1778 and settled at Christ's Church;

The other, the Revd. Mr. Fisher, who came from Annapolis in Nova Scotia in 1780 and settled in Salem. The oldest Church in this Town, formerly known by the Name of King's Chapel is now supplied by a Lay Reader who is a Candidate for holy Orders.(2) There are five or six

(1) From the Bishop White MSS.

(2) James Freeman, refused Ordination on account of Arianism. Vide Greenwood's History of King's Chapel.

53 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

other Churches in some of which lay readers now officiate. In the State of New Hampshire, there are but two Episcopal Churches, one at Ports mouth the metropolis of the Government, where there has been no cler gyman since the War, the other in a new Settlement in the western part of the State(l) where a Missionary from the Society in England is now resident. In the State of Rhode Island are three Churches only, exclu sive of one at Bristol which was burnt by the British. In neither of these is there a Clergyman in holy Orders, but in two of them there are Lay Readers who are candidates. Mr. Graves Missionary from the Society still resides at Providence but has not officiated since the commencement of the War. The State of Connecticut contains the greatest Number of Episcopal Churches of any of the New England States. There are now fourteen missionaries from the Society besides seven other Clergymen not in their service. This, Sir, is a brief State of the Episcopal Church in the four Northern Governments which are contained in what is called New England. I flatter myself this account will not be disagreeable nor perhaps useless to you in your future Consultations respecting the Episco pal Church in America.

Permit me now, Sir, to make several Enquiries respecting the Plan proposed at your Meeting. Was it the intention of the Churches that met at Philadelphia to devise a Plan for the future Government of the Epis copal Churches in all the States or for Pennsylvania only? How far did your Convention mean to carry their first Instruction or fundamental Principle respecting the independence of the Episcopal Church in these States of all foreign ecclesiastical authority? Is it meant to carry the Inde pendence so far as to exclude the obtaining a Bishop from England? If so I plainly foresee great Objections will arise in the Northern States and especially in those Churches which have been and still are under the Pa tronage of the Society at home. What Plan is proposed for the procuring an Episcopate and from what Source can a sufficient support be derived.

I shall esteem it a peculiar favour, Sir, if it is not imposg. too great a task, to have your Sentiments upon these Points, and that you will also oblige me with an Account of the Alterations in and Additions to the Liturgy already in use in your State. As no Alteration except that of omitting the Prayers for the King and Royal Family has taken place in the Churches in general in these States, I am desirous of knowing how the Churches at the Southward manage in this affair, that if possible a Uni formity as far as the civil government of each State will permit may be maintained.

I esteem myself very happy in having this occasion of opening a Cor respondence, to the continuance of which nothing shall be wanting in my power.

(1) Claremont.

HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS. 59

Be kind enough to present my Kind Regards to your Brethren in the Ministry, and be assured I shall take Pleasure in exerting my little Influ ence and Endeavours to promote a Uniformity of Government and Wor ship, and preserving the Communion of the Episcopal Churches in the United States.

I have the Honour to be, Revd. Sir, with great esteem,

Your Brother, and very humble Servant,

SAMUEL PARKER. Boston, June 21, 1784.

The Revd. WILLIAM WHITE, D.D.

Evidently prior to the reception of this interesting reply to his first official communication, Dr. White forwarded the following letter, (1) of which, unfortunately, but a fragment remains.

Revd. Sir:

I am informed by your Townsman ye revd. Mr. Clarke, that you wish to be informed of ye Measures in contemplation with ye epl. Clergy in these parts for ye continuance of our Church & that you did me ye honor to name me as one of whom you wished him to make ye Inquiry. I embrace ye Opportunity of opening my Mind to you in some sentiments additional to those general Principles which ye Clergy in this City for warded to you by ye honl. Mr. Lowell. From these last you will learn ye outlines of our System : & it only remains to mention in what way we wish to see a representative Body of ye Church constituted in each State and a general Representative Body for ye Continent.

I therefore, Sir, propose for your consideration, whether it will not be expedient to have in each State a certain Body composed of all ye Clergy and Lay-Delegates from ye Congregations (perhaps) according to yr re spective Numbers — Whether it will not be proper to provide that where ye Church is numerous in any State or may hereafter become so in others, such States should be divided into Districts & ye State representative Body formed by Delegation therefrom — Whether ye Church of a State thought not numerous enough to have a Bishop may not be perfectly or ganized, except a Dependence required on some other for ye single pur pose of Ordination, a President in such case to be chosen annually; & Whether, if a State be divided into Districts there may not be a Bishop in each District, whereby each Bp. having a very moderate superintendance,

(1) From Bishop Parker's MSS. in the possession of his daughter, the wife of the Rev. Theodore Edson, D.D., of Lowell, Mass.

60 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

might be also a Parish Minister & would not require a separate Revenue for his Support, je getting such a Revenue being perhaps impracticable?

In respect to a continental Representative, — or a Convocation of ye ep. Ch. in ye U S, I submit to you, whether (were they even to meet but once in 3, 4, or 5 years) such a Body be not essential to our keeping to gether one Church as ye R. Catholics, Presbyterians & Quakers do re spectively — & whether such a Body might not be formed, without any great Burthen, by a Delegation from each State?

I know, revd. Sir, that ye introducing the Laity into our Scheme is thought exceptionable by some of our Brethren. In answer, I will not pretend any apprehensions of ye Clergy acquiring extravagant Powers; altho' could I foresee such an event, it would confirm me in my principle. But under present Circumstances, I rather expect, that without ye Laity, there will be no Govt. at all;(l) and that there will be no persons capable of exercising that Authority which ye 20th & 34th Articles of ye Church of England consider essentially inherent to every Church ; In short, what ever ye Clergy alone shall do will be treated as what a Congn. may either receive or reject & as not even binding on ye dissenting Members of their own Body; & ye Consequence will at last be, that ye several Congrega tions being independent of one another, will gradually widen in Doctrine, and Worship, agreeing perhaps in ye single circumstance of their requir ing episcopal Ordination.

On ye Subject of procuring ye succession I shall only observe, that if any private Measures said to have been undertaken for this End shd prove successful, I think ye whole Church shd gladly avail itself of ye Acquisi tion. If not, an Application to our Mother Church from Representatives of ye epl. Church generally will be surely too respectable to be slighted ; & such an Application might be easily framed by correspondence among ourselves.

Should you, revd. Sir, think any Part of our Plan exceptionable or have any thing in Addition to offer, I shall be as friendly in attending to your Sentiments as I am free in offering my own.

I have ye pleasure to inform you, that last Tuesday there must have been a Meeting of ye Clergy of Maryld. & Delegates from ye Vestries ; but their Proceedings are not yet known here.

By a Letter from ye revd. Mr. Beach of Brunswick, I am informed that ut a late Meeting of ye Clergy of Connecticut, they appointed a Committee of their Body to meet us in N. York, on ye 1st Tuesday after Michaelmas & have ....

(1) Bishop White repeatedly told the writer of this note, that such was the feeling on the subject of introducing the laity, that had they been ex cluded, no union or constitution would ever have been formed.

F. L. HAWKS.

HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS. 61

Following this, we extract from the same source Dr. White's reply to Mr. Parker's first letter. Taken in connec tion with the important queries to which it is intended as an answer, it furnishes us with an authoritative, and at the same time unstudied and free explanation of the action of the Pennsylvania Churches.

Revd. Sir,

My delay in answering your kind Letter of ye 21 of June has been owing to my Desire of sending to you some Acct. of the Proceedings of ye Clergy & Lay-Delegates in Maryld. But being disappointed in my Expectation of receiving it, owing as I suppose to the Delay in printing it, as it contains both a Sermon & a projected Constitution, I can no longer postpone acknowledging your favour & giving an Answer to your En quiries.

The fundamental Principles which you have seen were merely meant as Instructions to a Committee in their Consultations with our Brethren in ye other States for ye forming a general Constitution for ye Continent, which we think shd be attempted before we venture to form a Constitu tion for this State in particular. The Independence asserted is intended in ye most unlimited Sense ; but we do not think this precludes us from procuring a Bishop from England, he becoming on his Arrival a Citizen of ye U. S. Proper Measures for procuring an Episcopate we wish to see taken at ye ensuing Meeting in N. York : but, as to his support, I know no source for it but a parochial Living. The only Addition we have made to ye Prayers is to alter that for ye Parliamt. so as to suit for ye Delegates of these States in Congress & all others vested with civil Authority ; we are sensible of the Imperfection of our Plan & that ye Litany and other Prayers ought to be accommodated to ye political Change ; but, lest Uniformity should be precluded, we chose to leave this to a gen eral Communication of Sentiment.

I thank you, Sir, for ye Information contained in your Letter. Our Numbers are as follows. Those of us who were settled in this State be fore ye War are Mr. Currie of Chester County whose Age & Infirmities prevent his officiating, Mr. Elling of Caernavon, & myself. During ye War, ye revd. Dr. Magaw (formerly Missionary in Delaware) settled as Rector of St. Paul's in this City, & Mr. Blackwell (formerly Missionary in Jersey) settled as Asst. to me in ye United Churches. Since ye Peace we have ye accession of Mr. Hutchins at Lancaster & Mr. Campbell at Yorktown ; ye former a Native & late Resident of Barbadoes but edu cated in this City & ye latter a Native of this State who went for Orders in 1772, where he has resided untill his late Return.

62 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

Once more, revd. Sir, I take ye Liberty of expressing my Hopes of see ing you at N. York on ye 5th of Octr. & am

Your Brother & humble Servt., Philada. Aug. 10, 1784. W. WHITE.

Revd. Mr. PARKER. P.S. Our Brethren in ye Ministry here desire their kind remembrances.

Through the exertions of Mr. Parker, the few Clergy of Massachusetts and Rhode Island gathered together in Bos ton the month preceding that appointed for the Convention in New York. The following correspondence, now first printed from the original Manuscript, preserved among the Bishop White papers, fully explains their action, and marks the zealous Rector of Trinity Church, Boston, as the leading spirit of them all.

Revd. Sir:

I have the honour to enclose you an Extract of the Proceedings of a Convention of the Episcopal Clergy of the States of Massachusetts & Rhode Island held at Boston the 8th Instant & also a Letter from said Convention to the Comtte. of the Churches in your State, both which I hope you will safely receive. The Perusal of these will fully inform you of the Sentiments of the Clergy in these States, & will preclude the Ne cessity of my enlarging on these points. You will perceive they have adopted your plan with a small addition to your first Article, without which, as I mentioned to you in my Letter by Mr. Morris I supposed the Article would be objected to. In my private Opinion I do not see that the Limi tation was at all necessary, because I do not apprehend the Independency there intended would in the least be affected by an application to a foreign Power for the Succession of Episcopal Authority. The churches here being most of them without a Minister, a representative body chosen by the several Churches would consist almost entirely of Laymen & if they are vested with the Power of making Laws, it will be in their power to subject the Clergy to what Laws they please, & for that reason the Con vention thought best to add a clause to your fifth Article to put the Clergy & Laity more upon a par, & they have accordingly proposed & adopted this mode of Representation, that each Church chuse one lay Delegate in conjunction with their Minister & that those Churches that are destitute of a Clergyman shd chuse one of the neighbouring Ministers to represent them with one of their own Laymen, & in this mode they think there is no great danger of their having too much Power.

HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS. 63

I have yet heard nothing more of the Meeting of the Churches by their Committees at New York than what you mention in yours by the Revd. Mr. Clark, & therefore shall not proceed thither agreeable to the Request of our Convention unless I can learn that such a meeting will certainly be held.

I have flattered myself that you would before this have favoured me with further Information upon that as well as some other matters. The Plan of Correspondence agreed on between your Brethren in New York & New Jersey mentioned in yours of May 30 has not taken Effect as we have in these parts had not the least Intelligence from that Quarter. Should any general Meeting of the Churches be proposed, we shall be obliged to you for Notice thereof as we are perfectly disposed to adopt any measures calculated to promote the Welfare of our Church.

I am requested by the Comtee. of our Convention to ask the favour of you to transmit an Account of our proceedings to the more southern Churches & also would acquaint you & them that we shall be happy to receive any Communications you or they shall be pleased to favour us with. We wish also for your Opinion whether it is probable Congress will interfere in any matter of an Ecclesiastical Nature & whether they would countenance a Request made to England for a Bishop.

Wishing you all possible happiness I remain Revd. Sir, with the utmost Respect & Esteem

Your Brother & very humble Servt.

SAM'L PARKER.

Boston, Sept. 10, 1784. Revd. Dr. WHITE.

At a Meeting of the Episcopal Clergy of the States of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, held at Boston, Sept. 8,

1784,

Voted. That the Episcopal Church in the united States of America is & ought to be independent of all foreign Au thority ecclesiastical & civil. But it is the Opinion of the Convention that this ludependence be not construed or taken in so rigorous a Sense as to exclude the Churches of America separately or collectively from applying for & obtain ing from some regular Episcopal foreign Power an American Episcopate.

Secondly. That the Episcopal Church in these States hath & ought to have in common with all other religious Societies full & exclusive Powers to regulate the concerns of its own Communion.

64 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

Thirdly. That the "Doctrines of the Gospel be maintained as now professed by the Church of England £ Uniformity of Worship be continued as near as may be to the Liturgy of said Church.

Fourthly. That the Succession of the Ministry be agree able to the Usage which requireth the three Orders of Bish ops, Priests, £ Deacons, that the rights & Powers of the same be respectively ascertained £ that they be exercised according to reasonable Laws to be duly made.

Fifthly. That the Power of making Canons £ Laws be vested solely in a representative Body of the Clergy £ Laity conjointly; in which Body the Laity ought not to exceed or their Votes to be more in Number than those of the Clergy.

Sixthly. That no Powers be delegated to a general eccle siastical Government except such as cannot conveniently be exercised by the Clergy £ Vestries in their respective Con gregations.

Voted. That the Revd. Mr. Parker, Revd. Mr. Bass £ Revd. Mr. Fisher be a Comtee. on behalf of the Churches in these States to correspond £ consult with the Clergy of the other Episcopal Churches in America in Convention, Committees or otherways.

Voted. That a circular Letter be written in the Name of this Convention to the Episcopal Clergy in the States of Con necticut, New York £ Pensylvania urging the Necessity of their uniting with us in adopting some speedy Measures to procure an American Episcopate. As it is the unanimous Opinion of this Convention that this is the primary Object they ought to have in view, because the very Existence of the Church requires some speedy Mode of obtaining regular Ordination.

Voted. That in Case a general Meeting of the Episcopal Churches in the united States by their Representatives is now or shall at any future time before the next Meeting of this Convention be proposed by any number of Churches to be held for the purpose of promoting the Welfare of said Church, the Revd. Mr. Parker be desired to meet £ act with said representative body on behalf of this Convention.

Voted. That the Convention or Committee of Churches in the States of Connecticut, New York £ Pensylvania be informed of the Proceedings of this Convention £ that they

HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS. 65

or some of them be requested to transmit the same to our more southern Brethren.

A true Extract from the Minutes.

Attest.

Reverend & Honoured Brethren.

Having been favoured with the Minutes of the Meeting of the Clergy & Lay Delegates from sundry Congregations of the Episcopal Church in the State of Pensylvania held at Philadelphia the 25th of May last, communicated to us by your Chairman, We the Clergy of the Episcopal Churches in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts & State of Rhode Is land met in Convention at Boston Septemr. 8th, 1784, have duly considered the same and have unanimously adopted the fundamental Principles or Instructions to which you are bound, and think the same not only unexceptionable but such as the Episcopal Churches in the united States ought to adopt. We have indeed thought proper to add a Restriction or an explanatory clause to the first and fifth Article, more for the Sake of avoiding any Mistakes hereafter than because we suppose we differ from you in Sentiment.

But it is our unanimous Opinion that it is beginning at the wrong end to attempt to organize our Church before we have obtained a head. Our Churches at present resemble the scattered Limbs of the body without any common Centre of Union, or Principle to animate the whole. We cannot con ceive it probable or even possible to carry the Plan you have pointed out into Execution before an Episcopate is obtained to direct our Motions, & by a delegated Authority to claim our Assent. It is needless to represent to you the absolute Necessity of adopting & uniting in some speedy measures to procure some reputable Person who is regularly invested with the powers of Ordination, &c. to reside among us, with out which scarce the Shadow of an Episcopal Church will soon remain in these States. Many are the Congregations here destitute of a Clergyman, & we must be left to the dis agreeable Alternative of having no Church in many of our Settlements where there would probably be a respectable one, or of having clerical Powers conveyed in an irregular manner.

As to the mode of obtaining what we stand in such need of, we wish above all things to procure it in the most regular manner & particularly from our mother church in England. Whether any of the Bishops in England or Ireland would

66 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

consecrate a Person chosen among ourselves & sent there for th:tt Purpose without a mandate from the King of England or the authority of his Parliament, we are at a loss to determine; but we have no doubt that a regular Application made by a representative Body of the Episcopal Churches in America would easily obtain a consecrated head, & in order to this we earnestly wish a mode of applying in some such way may be immediately adopted by the American Churches.

We are of Opinion that we ought to leave no means un tried to procure a regular Succession of the Episcopacy be fore we think of obtaining it in an irregular Manner. To accomplish this we have chosen a Committee of our Body to correspond with you upon this Subject & adopt such Measures for the same as may be expedient or necessary. And in case a Meeting of a representative Body shall be agreed upon, we have delegated a Power to one of our Number to represent us & our Churches in such a Meeting. We are extremely anxious for the Preservation of our Communion & the Con tinuance of an Uniformity of Doctrine & Worship, but we see not how this can be maintained without a common head, & are therefore desirous of uniting with you in such Mea sures as shall be found expedient & proper for the common good.

We are Gentlemen your affectionate Bretliren

& Friends, Signed in behalf of said Convention,

J GRAVES,

Modr. Boston, Commonwealth of Massachusets,

Septemr. 8th, 1784.

The Committee of the Episcopal Churches in the State of Pensylvania.(l)

In Connecticut, the Clergy, though assembling from time to time in Convocation, adhered to the principle of their pri mary action, which was, that the Episcopal Succession should be first secured, and that measures for re-organizing and per fecting the system of Ecclesiastical government should then be taken With this feeling, the Clergy of Massachusetts

(1) From Bishop White's MSS. Collections, compared with the original draft among the Bishop Parker Correspondence in the possession of the Editor.

HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS. 67

and elsewhere throughout the New England States sympa thised: and the contrary opinion, held, and prosecuted with so much determination by the Southern Conventions, served for a time to delay the union of the Churches. As we have already seen, the admission of the laity to the councils of the Church was another subject of disagreement; and the con troversy with respect to this point ceased only at the ratifi cation of the Ecclesiastical Constitution in October, 1789, by the Bishop of Connecticut and the deputies from that State, and Massachusetts and Rhode Island. To these matters the following pages will again revert. In the mean time, with a brief glance at an abortive attempt at organization, still further to the North, we will pass to the consideration of the first Convention of the associated Churches.

In addition to these Conventions, there had been assembled in that portion of the present States of New Hampshire and Vermont, then known as " the Hampshire Grants," a meet ing of Episcopalians from a number of neighboring towns, at which a delegate to the Convention in Philadelphia, in 1785, was duly appointed ;(1) and the same gentleman, Gen eral Roger Enos, deputed to attend the State Convention of Massachusetts, with which body the more northern Churches seemed to feel most closely allied. General Enos failed to present himself either at Philadelphia or Boston, and we hear little more of the Episcopalians of the Hampshire Grants. Those of Vermont subsequently met in Convention, and under the guidance of a zealous but erratic Clergyman, the Rev. John Cousens Ogden, chose the Rev. Samuel Peters, LL.D., formerly Missionary in Hebron, Conn., as their Bishop, and applied in vain, as we shall subsequently see, both to the English and American Bishops, for his consecra tion. Those living in the valley of the Connecticut River, who were, upon the settlement of the disputed boundary line between New Hampshire and Vermont, declared to belong

(1) Vide unpublished records in the keeping of the Registrar of the Diocese of New Hampshire.

C8 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

to the former State, united with a portion of their brethren in Vermont, and obtained for a time the consent of the General Convention to a conventional organization independent of the Clergy in the Eastern part of the State. These mat ters, however, will receive attention at a subsequent stage of our progress.

To this extended view of the Preliminary Conventions in various sections of the Church, we need add merely the re mark, in recapitulation, that these proceedings, to quote the language of Bishop White, showed " an accommodation to the civil system" of our government, and asserted, perhaps for the first time since apostolic days, the right of the Laity to a vote and a voice in the general and particular councils of the Church.

THE CONVENTION OF 1785.

THE meeting of the first General Convention of the Church was awaited with great interest. Since the gathering in New York the preceding Octoher, the Rt. Kev. Dr. Samuel Seabury had returned to Connec ticut, having succeeded in his application for consecra tion at the hands of the Bishops of the Church in Scot land. Thus provided with a head, the clergy of Connec ticut addressed an invitation, to their Southern brethren to meet them in Convention at MiddletownjQ with a

1 Bp. White, in his Memoirs, says, at New Haven, (p. 100 ;) but the following letter, which we transcribe from his MSS., seems to sustain the statement we have made in the text : —

STRATFORD, July 14, 1785. DEAR SIR: —

I am desired to acquaint you, that the Clergy of this State are to meet at Middletown in this State, on the third of August next, at which time and place, they would be much pleased to see you, and the rest of the Oiergy of your State.

We must all wish for a Christian Union of all the Churches in the thirteen States, for which good purpose we must allow private Conve nience to give way to public Utility.

We have no Views of usurping any Authority over our Brothers and Neighbours, but wish them to unite with us, in the same friendly manner, that we are ready and willing to do, with them. I must earnestly entreat you to come upon this occasion, for the sake of the peace of the Church, — for your own satisfaction, in what friendly manner the Clergy here would treat you, — not to mention what happiness the sight of you would give to your sincere friend and brother, JEREMIAH LEAMING.

In further confirmation of the above, we transcribe from the original, a letter issued by two of the members of a Clerical Committee of the first Convention of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, who were invested, as it appears from the Eecords of that meeting,

70 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

view to adopting measures for union and permanent organization. The reply of the Philadelphia clergy, as we are informed by Bp. "White, was an invitation to those of Connecticut to come to the approaching General Convention in September — the appointment of which meeting was made the excuse for their non-acceptance of the Connecticut proposal.

This interchange of congratulatory and apologetic letters gave occasion for the following interesting cor respondence, addressed by the newly consecrated Bishop and the venerable Dr. Thomas Bradbury Chandler, of New Jersey, to Drs. White and Smith. These letters, which we transcribe from the originals, and two of which are now for the first time made public, are of the greatest value, as illustrating the obstacles to union resulting from the radical movements of the Southern clergy, and, on the other hand, the sound conservatism of their brethren at the North : —

MY DEAR SIR :

A day or two ago I received from Bp. Seabury, and was by him desired to forward, the enclosed letters, addressed to you and Dr. Smith. That to Dr. Smith was

"with power to summon this Convention to meet at such time and place as they shall judge most convenient, when the exigences of the Church make it necessary," apparently appointing the other member of their body to attend the Connecticut Convention as a Representative of the Churches of the two States.

SALE*, July 28th, 1785. REV'DSIR:—

We request you to attend the approaching Convention of the Episcopal Clergy, to be holden at the Town of Middletown, in Con necticut! ; then and there to learn what measures they mean to adopt ; in order to the maintaining uniformity of divine worship in the Episcopal Church, &c. &c. «fec. We are

Rev'd Sir, Your very H'ble Ser't.

EDWARD BASS, Minuter of St. Paul's Church, Newbury Pert.

NATH'EL FISHER, RBV'D MR. PARKER. Minuter of St. Peter's Church, Salem.

HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS. 71

sent open for my inspection ; and, instead of sealing it, I have taken the liberty to send it open to you, wishing that you also may have a sight of it. You will, there fore, after reading it, be so good as to seal and send it forward.

As the time of your continental Convention now ap preaches, I doubt not but 3<ou and the other friends of the Church in general, throughout the country, are be ginning to grow very anxious about the event. For the fate of the Episcopal Church in America will, in a great measure, depend upon the deliberations and decisions of that general meeting. On this account I could wish to be present at a consultation of such capital importance; and, indeed, upon my late arrival from England, I found that I had been chosen as one of the Representatives of the Church in this State on the grand occasion ; but such is my situation, with regard to a scorbutic, corrosive dis order, with which I have been long troubled, that I fear it will be impossible for me to accept the Commission by a personal attendance. "Will you then permit me, in this way, to give you a sketch of my hopes #nd apprehensions, as well as my opinion on some matters relative to the case? From what I know of your character, I cannot doubt but you will ; and not the less readily, on account of the freedom which I think it my duty to use, when ever I pretend to offer my opinion on the subject.

My hopes arise from the anxiety and concern, which have been so generally shown by the Episcopalians in the several States, for setting the Church upon a proper bottom — from the attachment they have discovered to the Episcopal mode of government — and from the venera tion they have expressed for the Liturgy of the Church of England, as the proper Basis of a Liturgy to be pre pared for the general use of the churches in America. Now as such a disposition seems fortunately to prevail, I cannot but hope that, under the direction and blessing of Divine Providence, it will produce the happiest effects.

My apprehensions are owing to some measures that have been adopted by most of the particular Conventions, and some expedients that have been proposed, which are contrary to the established maxims of ecclesiastical polity, and the practice of the Church in all ages, a few modern instances excepted. In this I have reference to the ad

72 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

mission of the Laity to vote in ecclesiastical Councils; the divesting Bishops of their proper and essential authority, and making them subject to their own Presbyters, &c. &c. The Church is a Society founded by Christ; all ec clesiastical authority and jurisdiction must be derived from him, and not from any natural rights, &c. ; — this authority he was pleased to lodge in the hands of certain officers of his appointment, to be communicated to their successors ; — those, therefore, who are not officers in the Church, i. e. the Laity, can have no share of ecclesiastical authority. And as to the other point : If the Bishops are not allowed to govern the Church, the Church is not under Episcopal government, and cannot be Episcopal ; but is under the government of those who govern the Bishops.

The concessions of this kind which have been made by any of the Clergy, I suppose have been made through a desire to gratify and encrease the number of the Church's friends ; but we are not at liberty, even for so good an end, to alter the original constitution of the Church, and to sacrifice the essential rights of Episcopacy. Besides: although in this way we might, perhaps, gain some new friends, yet I am sure that we should lose many more old ones ; and many thousands of the best-informed Episco palians on this continent would renounce all communion with us — as would also the Church of England, to say nothing of the other Episcopal Churches in Europe. The consequence of this would be, that we should lose pur respectability in the eyes of the world, be involved in eternal disputes with other Episcopalians, and wretch edly defeat our own purpose.

As to the Laity — I am clearly of opinion that they ought to be consulted on this occasion, and that it is proper that a representation of them should meet at the same time and place (I mean Town or City) with a re presentation of the Clergy. It depends upon them, whether — how far — and in what manner, our Church shall be supported. But had I been in this country at the time of the first meetings, I should certainly have proposed, and if necessary have urged, that the two Con ventions of the Clergy and Laity should be kept separate; — that a friendly communication between them should be kept up, in the way of conference ; — that the Clergy,

HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS. 73

after mature deliberation, defining the nature and prin ciples of that Church, to which they thought it their duty, under all circumstances, to adhere, should re commend it to the other Convention, and beg their support of it; — that they should, from day to day, inform them of their proceedings, and be ready to hear their objections, and to consider their proposed alterations and amendments; — but that they should by no means admit the Laity to vote with them on any ecclesiastical questions. ISTor would the gentlemen of the Laity think such an ex clusion, when candidly explained to them, any mark of our want of affection or respect for them ; for they can have no wish, but to see the just rights and dignity of their own Church duly ascertained and supported. They would as soon complain that they are not allowed to ad minister Baptism or the H. Eucharist.

Had I time, and would it not be tedious to you, I would make some remarks upon the several late Conven tions, so far as they have come to my knowledge. But, for *iie present, I shall confine myself to a few hasty ob servations on the printed account of the transactions of the Convention in Virginia held in May last.

In the first place in addition to the general objection against the voting of Laymen in an ecclesiastical Coun cil, it may be observed that, 1st, on some days the Lay- members of that Convention, who were twice as numerous as the Clerical ones, seem to have taken the lead ; for we find Mr. JBraxton in the chair. This is so contrary to every idea of propriety and decorum, that I cannot but wonder that any one of the Laity should ever have proposed, or the Clergy have consented to, so unprecedented a mode of conduct.

Secondly. The Convention seem to have mistaken their proper business, which was, and could be, no 'other, than to agree upon the best expedients for supporting the inte rests and honour and rights of the Church in its present imperfect State, and to concert measures for compleating its constitution, by the introduction of an Episcopate as soon as possible. Here, in my humble opinion, they ought to have stopt ; and not, to have proceeded to organ ize the government of the Church, and to establish Canons, or rules for its future order, government and discipline. I believe it was never heard of before, that the Presbyters only, or

74 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

the Presbyters and Laity, of an Episcopal Church, under took to make ecclesiastical Canons ; which is the peculiar office of the Bishop or Bishops, with the advice of their Clergy. [See on this subject, Hooker, Potter, Bingham, and the Original Draft, in answer to Sir P. King, &c. £c.j

Thirdly. The Bishop, when introduced into Virginia, must not only be governed by Canons, in the forming of which no Bishop was ever eonsulted, but he must consent to give up a principal part of his office, which has always been considered as inalienable, and consent to be little more than a Parish Minister. Although a Bishop imij take particular charge of a Parish, yet this, I believe, is the first time that a Bishop was ever obliged to do so, and, however well he may otherwise be provided for, to do the duty of a Parish Minister. In consequence of this degra dation, the Clergy are to meet together in Presbyteries, without the call of the Bishop, and are to enforce the Canons of the Church, without his authority ; which regu lations are contrary to all the maxims of ecclesiastical polity, and to the very essence of an Episcopal Church. Instead of dividing the Clergy into Presbyteries, acting in dependently of the Bishop, why may not the several ends proposed by it be as well, or better, answered, by dividing them into Archdeaconries or Rural Deanries, acting under the authority of the Bishop, according to the practice of all other Episcopal Churches ? In short, the whole system of discipline is so destructive to the authority of Bishops, that it must necessarily be reprobated by every real Epis copalian in Christendom, who duly considers it.

In saying this, I mean not to reflect upon those worthy persons, who constituted the above-mentioned Convention in Virginia. On the contrary, I applaud and honour the well-meant zeal which they discovered for supporting the interests of the Church^ and I believe they acted, though wrongly, from worthy motives; but their accomodating disposition evidently carried them much too far. And I cannot but hope that, upon a careful reconsideration of the proceedings they have published, they will be willing to rescind some of their decisions. I trust that the above points will be thoroughly discussed at the ensuing general Convention, in the spirit of peace, unity and concord. May the great founder and head of the Church, who has promised to be always with it to the end of the world,

HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS. 75

prosper your consultations, and bring them to a happy issue!

It will be of the utmost consequence to the Episcopal Church in America that it should preserve an uniformity, at least a similarity, quails decet esse Sororum, through the different States. In Connecticut the constitution of the Church is now compleated, as far as I can judge, upon right principles. I wish that in the other States the example may be followed; for I do not believe that the Christian world affords one more conformable to the primitive pattern, all things considered, than the Church in Connecticut.

As I am hourly expecting the bearer to call upon me, I must now conclude. Possibly I may hereafter find my self disposed to resume this subject. In this Letter I have not had time to speak to the several points I in tended, nor to study propriety of expression. However, if you think any thing here said or suggested may be useful, it is submitted to your disposal*

With my best compliments to your good Lady, I have the honour to subscribe myself, with much esteem,

Your affectionate Brother,

and humble Servant, T. B. CHANDLEK.Q

ELIZABETH-TOWN, Sept. 2d, 1785.

To this important document, emanating from perhaps the foremost man in ability and reputation among the American clergy, we add the letter from Bp. Seabury to Dr. Smith, referred to as enclosed for Dr. White's perusal. It is printed in the appendix to Bp. White's Memoirs of the Church; but, for the correction of several trifling errors which appear in the Bishop's copy, we have tran scribed it anew from the original, which is still preserved among the manuscripts of the General Convention.

1 From the original letter among the Bp. White MSS.

76 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

(') NEW LONDON, Augt. 15th, 1785.

REV'D AND DEAR SlR,

It has not been in my power till this day, to pay that attention to your letter of July 19th, which the im portance of its several subjects demanded.

The grand difficulty that defeated my application for Consecration in England appeared to me to be the want of an application from the State of Connecticut. Other objections were made, viz : that there was no precise diocese marked out by the civil authority, nor a stated revenue appointed for the Bp's support: But those were removed. The other remained — for the civil authority in Connecticut is Presbyterian, and therefore could not be supposed would petition for a Bp. And had this beer\ removed, I am not sure another would not have started up: For this happened to me several times. I waited, and procured a copy of an Act of the Legislature of Con necticut, which puts all denominations of Christians on a footing of equality, (except the Roman Catholics, and to them it gives a free toleration) certified by the Secretary of State : For to Connecticut all my negociations were confined. The Abp. of Cant, wished it had been fuller, but thought it afforded ground on which to proceed. Yet he afterwards said it would not do; and that the minister, without a formal requisition from the State would not suffer the Bill, enabling the Bp. of London to ordain foreign Candidates without their taking the Oaths, to pass the Commons, if it contained a clause for Consecrating American Bps. And as his Grace did not choose to pro ceed without parliamentary authority — though if I under stood him right, a majority of the Judges and Crown Lawyers were of opinion he might safely do it — I turned my attention to the remains of the old Scots Episcopal Church, whose Consecrations I knew were derived from England, and their authority in an ecclesiastical sense, fully equal to the English Bps. — No objection was ever made to me on account of the legacies left for American Bps. Some people had surmises of this kind, but I know not whence they arose.

1 From the original manuscript preserved among Bp. White's papers. The printed copy in the Appendix to the Bishop's Memoirs (pages 286-292 inclusiVe) is incorrect in several particulars.

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I can see no good ground of apprehension concerning the titles of estates or emoluments belonging to the Ch'ch in your State. Your Ch'ch is still the Ch'ch of England subsisting under a different civil government. We have in America, the Ch'ch of Holland, of Scotland, of Sweden, of Moravia, and why not of England. Our being of the Ch'ch of England, no more implies dependence on, or subjection to England, than being of the Ch'ch of Holland implies subjection to Holland.

The plea of the Methodists is something like impu dence. Mr. Wesley is only a Presbyter, and all his Ordi nations Presbyterian, and in direct opposition to the Ch'ch of England: And they can have no pretence for calling themselves Ch'chmen till they return to the unity of the Ch'ch, which they have unreasonably, unnecessarily and wickedly broken, by their separation and schism.

Your two cautions respecting recommendations and titles are certainly just. Till you are so happy as to have a Bp of your own, it will be a pleasure to me to do every thing I can, fof the supply of your Ch'ches: And I am confident the Clergy of Maryland, and the other States, will be very particular with regard to. the qualifications and titles of persons to be admitted into their own Order. Should they think proper to send any Candidates hither, I could wish that it might be at the stated times of Ordina tion; because the Clergy here living so scattered, it is not easy on every emergency to get three of them together; and never without some expence wThich they cannot well afford. — I cannot omit to mention again, the particular satisfaction Mr. Ferguson gave, not only to me, but to all our Clergy. I Lope he will prove a worthy and useful Clergyman. I flatter myself he got home without any disagreeable accident.

I thank you for your communications respecting Wash ington College, and the various Conventions you have had in your State, and neighbourhood. The Clergy and Laity have particular merit in making so great exertions to get our Ch'ch into a settled and respectful state. But on objects of such magnitude and variety it is to be expected that senti ments will differ. All men do not always see the same object in the same light : And persons at a distance are not always masters of the precise reasons and circumstances which have occasioned particular modes of acting. Of

78 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

aome things therefore in }Tour proceedings I cannot be a competent judge, without minute information ; and I am very sorry that my present circumstances, and duty here, will not permit me to make so long a journey at this time ; because by personal interview and conversation only can such information be had.

But, my dear Sir, there are some things which, if I do not much misapprehend, are really wrong. In giving my opinion of them, I must claim the same privilege of judg ing for myself which others claim; and also that right of fair and candid interpretation of my sentiments which is due to all men.

1. I think you have done wrong in establishing so many, and so precise, fundamental rules. You seem thereby to have precluded yourselves from the benefit of after consideration. And by having the power of altering fundamental rules diffused through so large a body, it appears to me next to impossible to have them altered^ even in some reasonable cases ; because cases really reasonable may not always appear so to'two-thirds of a large assembly. It should also be remembered that while human nature is, as it is, something of party, passion, or partiality, will ever be apt, in some degree, to influence the views and debates of a numerous and mixed assembly.

2. I think you have too much circumscribed the power of your Bp. That the Duty and Office of a Bishop, differs in nothing from that of other Priests, except in the power of Ordination and Confirmation, (Pamph. p. 16) and the right of Precedency, &c. is a position that carries Jeroms opinion to the highest pitch. — Quidfacit Episcopus, quod Presbyter nonfaciat, excepta ordinatione? But it does not appear that Jerom had the support of the Ch'ch, in this opinion, but rather the contrary. Government as essentially pertains to Bps as ordination ; nay ordination is but the particular exercise of government. Whatever share of government Presbyters have in the Ch'ch, they have from the Bp, and must exercise it in conjunction with, or in subordination to him. And though a Congregation may have a right — and I am willing to allow it — to choose their minister, as they are to support him and live under his ministry, yet the Bps concurrence or license is necessary, because they are part of his charge ; he has the care of their souls, and is accountable for them ; and therefore the ministers

HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS. 79

authority to take charge of that congregation must come through the Bp.

The choice of the Bp. is in the Presbyters, but the neighbouring Bps who are to consecrate him must have the right of judging whether he be a proper person or not. The Presbyters are the Bps council, without whom he ought to do nothing but matters of course. The Presbyters have always a check upon their Bp. because they can, neither Bp nor Presbyters, do any thing beyond the common course of duty without each other. I mean with regard to a particular diocese; for it does not appear that Presbyters had any seat in general councils, but by particular indulgence.

The people being the patrons of the Ch'ches in this country, and having the means of the Bps and ministers support in their hands, have a sufficient restraint upon them. In cases that require it, they can apply to their Bp, who, with the assistance of his Presbyters, will pro ceed, as the case may require, to censure, suspension or deposition of the offending Clergyman. If a Bp behaves amiss the neighbouring Bps are his judges. — Men that are not to be trusted with these powers are not fit to be Bps or Presbyters at all.

This, I take it, is the constitution of the Christian Ch'ch, in its pure and simple State. And it is a constitu tion which, if adhered to, will carry itself into full effect. This constitution we have adopted in Connecticut; and we do hope and trust that we shall, by God's grace, exhibit to the world, in our government, discipline and order, a pure and perfect model of primitive simplicity.

Presbyters cannot be too careful in choosing their Bp ; nor the People in choosing their Minister. Improper men may, however, sometimes succeed: And so they will, make as exact rules, and circumscribe their power, as you can. And an improper man in the Ch'ch, is an improper man, however he came there, and however his power be limited. The more you circumscribe him, the greater temptation he is under to form a party to support him ; and when his party is formed, all the power of your convention will not be able to displace him. In short if you get a bad man, your laws and regulations will not be effectual — if a good man the general laws of the Ch'ch are sufficient.

80 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

When civil States have made provision for ministers, it seems reasonable that they should define the qualifica tions, and regulate the conduct of those who are to enjoy the emolument. But voluntary associations for the exer cise of such powers as your Convention is to have, are always apt — such is the infirmity of human nature — to fall into parties ; and when party enters, animosity and discord soon follow. — From what has been said you will suppose I shall object

3. To the admission of Lay members into Synods &c. : I must confess I do, especially in the degree your funda mental rules allow. I have as great a regard for the laity as any man can have. It is for their sake that Ministers are appointed in the Ch'ch. I have no idea of aggran dizing the Clergy at the expense of the laity: nor indeed of aggrandizing them at all. Decent means of living is all they have a right to expect. But I cannot conceive that the Laity can with any propriety be admitted to sit in judgment on B^s and Presbyters, especially when deposition may be the event; because they cannot take away a character which they cannot confer. It is incon gruous to every idea of Episcopal government. That authority which confers power, can, for proper reasons, take it away : But where there is no authority to confer power, there can be none to disanul it. Wherever, therefore, the power of Ordination is lodged, the power of deprivation is lodged also.

Should it be thought necessary that the laity should have a share in the choice of their Bp — if it can be put on a proper footing, so as to avoid party and confusion, — I see not but that it might be admitted. But I do not apprehend that this was the practice of the primitive Ch'ch. In short, the rights of the Christian Ch'ch arise not from nature or compact, but from the institution of Christ ; and we ought not to alter them, but to receive and maintain them, as the holy Apostles left them. The government, sacraments, faith and doctrines of the Ch'ch are fixed and settled. We have a right to examine what they are, but we must take them as they are. If we new model the government, why not the sacraments, creeds and doctrines of the Ch'ch ; But then it would not be Christs Ch'ch, but our Ch'ch ; and would remain so call it by what name we please.

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I do therefore beseech the Clergy and Laity, who shall meet at Philadelphia, to reconsider the matter before a final step be taken : and to endeavour to bring their Ch'ch government as near to the primitive pattern as may be. They will find it the simplest, and most easy to carry into effect; and if it be adhered to will be in no danger of sinking or failing.

I^do not think it necessary that the Ch'ch in every State should be just as the Ch'ch in Connecticut is ; though I think that the best model. Particular circum stances, I know, will call for particular considerations. But in so essential a matter as Ch'ch government is, no alterations should be made that affect its foundation. If a man be called aBp who has not the Episcopal powers of government, he is called by a wrong name, even though he should have the power of Ordination and Confirmation.

Let me therefore again entreat that such material alter ations, and forgive me if I say, unjustifiable ones, may not be made in the government of the Ch'ch. I have written freely as becomes an honest man ; and in a case which I think calls for freedom of sentiment and ex pression. I wish not to give offence, and I hope none will be taken. Whatever I can do consistently to assist in procuring Bps in America, I shall do cheerfully, but beyond that I cannot go; and I am sure neither you, nor any of the friends of the Ch'ch, would wish I should.

If any expression in the letter should seem too warm, I will be ready to correct the mode, but the sentiments I must retain till I find them wrong, and then I will freely give them up. In this matter I am not interested. My ground is taken, and I wish not to extend mj authority beyond its present limits. But I do most earnestly wish to have our Ch'ch in all the States so settled that it may be one Ch'ch, united in government, doctrine, and dis cipline — that there may be no divisions among us — no opposition of interests — no clashing of opinions. And permit me to hope that you will at your approaching Convention so far receed on the points I have mentioned, as to make this practicable. Your Convention will be large and very much to be respected. Its determinations will influence many of the American States, and posterity will be»materially affected by them. These considerations are so many arguments for calm and cool deliberation.

82 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

Tinman passions and prejudices, and, if possible, infirm ities, should be laid aside. A wrong step will be attended with dreadful consequences. Patience and prudence must be exercised: And should there be some circum stances that press hard for a remedy, hasty decisions will not mend them. In doubtful cases they will probably have a bad effect.

May the Spirit of God be with you at Philadelphia; and as I persuade myself, the sole good of his Ch'ch is the sole aim of you all, I hope for the best effects from your meeting.

I send you the alterations which it has been here thought proper to make in the Liturgy, to accomodate it to the civil constitution of this State. You will observe that there is no collect for the Congress. We have no backwardness in that respect, but thought it our duty to know whether the civil authority in this State has any directions to give in this matter; and thai; cannot be known till their next meeting in October.

Some other alterations were proposed, of which Mr. Ferguson took a copy ; and I would send you a copy had I time to transcribe it. The matter will be resumed at Kew Haven the 14th of September. Should we come to any determination, the Brethren to the southward shall be informed of it.

With my best regards to the Convention and to you, I remain your affect, hum'l Serv't.

SAMUEL, BP. EP'L CH'CH, CONNECT.

I have taken the liberty to enclose a copy cf my letters of Consecration, which you will please to communicate to the Convention. You will also perceive it to be my wish that this letter should be communicated to them; to which, I presume, there can be no objection.

Resuming the same subject a few days later, Bp. Sea- bury addressed the following letter directly to Dr. White : —

(^NEW LONDON, Augt. 19, 1785. REVEREND AND DEAR SIR,

I thank you for your several letters since my arrival in America, and particularly for the Pamphlets you sent

1 From the Bp. White MSS.

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me. I had heard of them, and -wanted much to see them. I have not yet had time to do more than look at them, but should be glad to cultivate an acquaintance with a gentleman of so much learning and merit as the author of the (^Letter and Reply evidently is.

It is a grief to me that I cannot be with you at your ensuing Convention. Neither my circumstances, nor duty will permit it. I am utterly unprovided for so long a journey, not being, at present, master even of a horse. I have written particularly to Dr. Smith, from whom I had a long letter, and have explained to him my senti ments on one or two points in your fundamental rules, which I fear are not right. I suppose, and expect, that Dr. Smith will read my letter to him to the Convention ; it is my wish he should. You, and the Brethren, and Gentlemen who shall assemble, will, my good Sir, excuse my apprehensions, and the freedom I have taken, to express myself, as an honest man should do, in plain language. And I hope you will be induced to reconsider the matters pointed out in my letter. The two points which I am most concerned about, are, your circumscrib ing the Episcopal power within such narrow bounds, depriving the Bp. of all government in the Ch'ch except as a Presbyter; and your subjecting him and yourselves to be tried before a Convention of Presbyters and lay men.

There are some other things which I think exception able ; But if these two points are adhered to, it matters

1 "A Letter to the Roman Catholics of the City of Worcester, from the late Chaplain of that Society, stating the Motives which induced him to relinquish their Communion, and become a Member of the Protestant Church." * * * * Philadelphia: Printed by Robert Aitken, &c. M.DCC.LXXXIV. Sm. 8vo, pp. 40. In the Editor's collection of Pamphlets.

This letter, which was republished at New York by David Long- worth in 1817, and still again in the second volume of " The Remains'' of Dr. Wharton, edited by Bp. Doane, in Philadelphia, in 1834, was replied to by Archbishop Carroll, of the Roman Catholic Church, in an "Address to the Roman Catholics of America." This Address elicited the " Reply" by Dr. Wharton, to which allusion is made in the letter from Bp. Seabury, printed above. Two other small pub lications on the subject followed from Dr. Wharton's pen, all of which were republished in New York in 1817, and are reprinted in the volume of " Remains" already referred to as issued by Bp. Doane.

84 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

little how exceptionable your constitution may be in other respects ; because I conceive it impossible it should long subsist in its present form — It will either fall into parties, and dissolve, or sink into real Presbyterianism.

The enclosed are such alterations as have here been thought necessary, to accomodate our Liturgy to the civil constitution of this State. Should more be done, it must be a work of time and great deliberation.

I am much obliged to you for your attention to the letters directed to your care from England. Please to make my regards to Dr. Magaw, Dr. Andrews, and Mr. Blackwell. I wish you a happy meeting — may the Holy Spirit be with you at your meeting, and direct your con sultations to the good of his Church. I shall always be glad to hear from you. Messrs. Spragg, and Row, are now with me. Their business cannot be completed till the Ordination in September.

Believe me to be, Rev'd Sir, with esteem and regard, your affect'te Bro'r and Serv't,

SAMUEL, BP. EP. CH'CH. CONNECT.

The replies to these earnest appeals have not been pre served. The views of Dr. White in this matter may, however, be readily surmised from the following letter, addressed to him by Dr. Chandler a week before the time appointed for the meeting of the Convention: —

MY DEAR SIR,

******

I am greatly obliged to you for your polite invita tion to put up at your house, and were I to come to Philadelphia, I would accept of it with pleasure; but my situation is such with regard to my disorder and the pro cess I am pursuing in hope of removing it, that I find it will be impracticable. Whether my presence at the ensu ing Convention would be of any use is a matter of uncer tainty ; yet were I able to attend I should think it my duty — and besides, I should have an opportunity of seeing some pereons, with whom I wish to be better acquainted!

Were you and I to talk over, at leisure, the business of this Convention, I natter myself that, afterwards, we should not differ widely in our opinions, upon most of

HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS. 85

the points in question. There is however, one point, on which at present we seem to think very differently ; I mean the right of the Laity to some share of ecclesiastical authority. In my former Letter I briefly suggested some reasons why I thought they should be excluded, and took the liberty to refer to some authors proper to be consulted on the subject. In yours of the 8th you oifer several reasons why you think they ought to be admitted.

Your first reason is taken from what appears to you to have been the practice of the Prim. Church; but I think I have seen it unanswerably proved, over and over, by different authors, that there is nothing in ecclesiastical antiquity, or very little indeed, to countenance this claim of the Laity. You seem to wonder that I referred to Hooker on the subject, as you think his Sentiments are directly opposite to mine. It was indeed a long time since I had looked into Hooker, but I recollected the general drift of his Book VII, and more particularly some passages which, formerly, I had occasion to pro duce: such as, for instance: "a Bishop is a Minister of God, unto whom with permanent continuance, is com mitted — a power of chiefty in government over Presby ters as well as Laymen, a power to be by way of Jurisdic tion, a Pastor even to Pastors themselves." Again : " We require you to find out but one Church upon the face of the whole earth, that hath been ordered by your discipline (i. e. a discipline much like that which was settled last May in Virginia) or hath not been ordered by ours, that is to say, by Episcopal regiment, since the time that the B. Apostles were here conversant. Many things out of antiquity ye bring, as if the purest times of the Church had observed the self-same orders which you require ; and . as though your desire were, that the Churches of old should be patterns for us to follow, and even glasses wherein we might see the practice of that, which by you is gathered out of Scripture. But the truth is, ye mean nothing less." From these and similar passages, I concluded that Hooker excluded the Laity from every part of purely ecclesiastical authority, and consequently from the highest act of it, viz : that of making Canons. I have since tumbled over some leaves of his Book, and I think it would be an easy task to prove that I was not mistaken with regard to his opinion.

86 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

Had I time, I could point out much in Bingham, that clearly supports my side of the question. You allow that Potter is with me ; and I will only observe, that what he wrote on the subject was never answered, or disputed with him. With regard to Slater's Original Draft, as you have never seen it, as he has handled the point before us in a masterly manner, as he wrote against a very erro neous and popular Book, and as I happen to have two copies of his work, I now send you one of them, and beg your acceptance of it. I wish you had time also to read Maurice on Diocesan Episcopacy, in answer to Bax ter — Sage's Principles of the Cyprianic Age, and his Defence of it — and Bp. Hoadly on Episcopal Ordination, who candidly and effectually confutes all these claims of the Laity. In short, this is a radical point, and I entreat you not to give your consent to robbing Episcopacy of its essential rights. I am the more urgent with you on this head, as I hope the time is not far distant when I am to see you vested with the Episcopal character. I have often talked the matter over with Bp. Seabury in Lon don ; and we both agreed that you were the properest person for the State of Pensylvania, and, unless we should liiid ourselves mistaken with regard to your character, which I believe we were not, that we would do all that we consistently could to befriend you in this way.

Your second reason is ; that in the Church of England, nothing can be done without the Laity, &c. In -answer to which I will only observe, that in that Church none are allowed the right of making Canons, but the two Houses of Convocation, who indeed must be called together by the King's Writ. Those Canons I confess cannot be legally binding upon the Laity without an Act of the State ; but were it not for the alliance it has with the State, they would still be binding upon the consciences of the faithful. Where a government means to establish any particular Church, it has a right to make laws relative to that establishment, and to expect concessions from the Church, so far as they can be made consistently with ita own principles, on that account. The Royal supremacy in England, founded on the Act of Submission, is a matter with which, at present, we have nothing to do, and is I conceive, peculiar to an establishment. That the Laity should have their check upon the Clergy, I allow to be

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reasonable ; but where they are patrons of all the Church Livings, have the means of supporting the Clergy in their own hands, and have an unquestionable right to prefer complaints or well founded accusations against them, I think they have check enough in all conscience.

Tliis last observation meets your third reason. Under this head you go on to say, that all reasonable measures (I suppose you mean of restraining the Clergy) will, on the plan in question, be easier carried into effect, and sooner vindi cated against misrepresentation. This to me, is at present inconceivable ; but my reasons must be omitted. Since I began this letter I have had an unlucky fall, which has almost blinded me, and so wounded my right hand, that I hold my pen with difficulty. However, before I con clude, I must not omit to inform you, that the explana tion of some points given in your last Letter, has afforded me much satisfaction as it shews that we are not so different in our opinions, as I at first imagined. I wish that the Convention may be, in reality, as favourable to Episcopacy as your explanation is — but I have my fears.

I thank you for the pamphlets you sent, which have afforded me considerable amusement. Mr. Wharton appears to advantage in his publication, and his anta gonist is a man of ingenuity and dexterity. They treat each other with personal respect, which I am pleased to see in all controversies. * *

Very sincerly and affectionately yours,

T. B. CHANDLER.

ELIZ : TOWN, Sept. 20th, 1785.

At the North, the arrival of Bp. Seabury had produced marked changes in the disposition of the more prominent clergy, with regard to liturgical revision and measures for union. Early in the year 1785, the news of the suc cess of Dr. Seabury's application to the Scottish Bishops, had been reQeived in New York, and intelligence of the fact was immediately communicated by the Rev. Benja min Moore, to the clergy of Massachusetts, in the follow ing letter to Mr. Parker.

88 HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS.

NEW YORK, Feb'y 14, 1785.

DEAR SIR,

******

I received a Letter, by the last Packet, from Dr. Inglis, in which he informs me, that after every Applica tion in England had proved ineffectual, Dr. Seabury went to Scotland, and was consecrated by some of the Nonjuring Bishops near Aberdeen, on the 14th Nov'r. last. He was on his Way to England, when Dr. Inglis wrote, and intends to embark for America, by the first convenient Opportunity. There can be no Doubt of the Validity of .this Ordination. I am sure you will rejoice at it, and if he is so fortunate as to arrive safe in America, will join Heart and Hand with your Staunch, Orthodox Brethren, in supporting our venerable Church upon true Episcopal Principles. I hope Dr. I. has been very accu rate in ascertaining the Succession among the Conjurors, since the Time of the Revolution. As he is the first American Bishop, it may, in future years, be a Matter of some Consequence to be able to trace the Current up to the Fountain Head.

Your Friend and Brother,

BENJ'N MOORE.

REV'D MR. PARKER.

Soon after the meeting in Philadelphia, Dr. "White had enclosed the Act of Association of the Pennsylvania Churches in a letter to Mr. Parker, which, as it illus trates the apprehensions entertained at the North with reference to the proceedings of the coming Convention, we subjoin, together with its reply. To this letter of Dr. White's there is no date appended; but the original, still preserved among the Bp. Parker correspondence,^) is endorsed as having been received in June, 1785.

DEAR SIR,

I should have answered your last Favor sooner, but for my Desire of furnishing you at ye same Time with an Acc't of our Proceedings in Consequence of ye

1 In the possession of the Editor.

HISTORICAL NOTES AND DOCUMENTS. 89

Measures taken in N". York. I am sorry to find that those Measures have been so construed by some of our Friends in England, as if we had refused to ye Ep'l Order ye Right of Precedency in our Conventions. Pro bably you will recollect, that in ye original Draft it was provided that ye senior Bp : present sh'd preside ; and that this was erased, not from ye Idea that any other than a Bp ought to be Presid't, but from an Observation of Dr. S. that to restrain it to ye senior Bp. might be some times inconvenient ; I wish that ye Clause had stood.

We have no information of Bishop Seabury's Arrival at N. London or in any Part of ye U. States ; I hope we may expect him at ye Meeting in Sep'r. The Papers mention ye Consecration of a Dr. M. Moffat for Rhode- Island, but they are ye only Channel by which we have even heard ye Name of that Gentleman.

I suppose you have had nothing further from ye Block head who wrote under ye Signature of "A Presby terian." In ye present State of Affairs, ye Appearance of such an intolerant Spirit will rather have a Tendency to assist us.

The intended Academy of which I informed you has been opened about two months. The Schools contain 125 Boys and are continually increasing. We have elected for Principal Mr. Andrews of Maryl'd, a worthy Clergyman of our Church, whom we daily expect to take ye Charge of it. * * * *

Perhaps you will think we have appointed too many Lay Gent'n to ye Convention. This was owing to an Opinion advanced by ye Clergy from ye Country, that it would expedite ye removing of any Prejudices that may be remaining. As it is preparatory to ye framing a Const'n, it will not be a Precedent under it. I am, dear Sir,

Your Friend and Brother,

W. WHITE.

The following, from the Bp. White MSS., was Mr. Parker's reply : —

BOSTON, Septem'r 14, 1785. REV'RD AND DEAR SIR, 1 have to acknowledge the Receipt of a Letter re-

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ceived from you about 6 weeks since inclosing the Act of Association of the Churches in the State of Pensyl- vania, but the letter being without Date I cannot say how long it was on its Journey. I am with you equally sen sible that the fifth of the fundamental Principles in the paper printed at N. York has operated much to the Dis advantage of that Convention. Had it stood as I pro posed that a Bishop (if one in any State) sh'd be Presi dent of the Convention, I make no doubt there would have been one present. You will be at no loss to con clude that I mean Doct'r Seabury, who you must 'ere this have heard is arrived and entered upon the exercise of his Offices in Connecticutt. Being present in Convocation at Middletown the 4th of Aug'st last, I much urged his attending the Convention at Philadelphia this month, but that very Article discouraged him so much that no argu ments I could use were sufficient to prevail with him. Had that Article stood as proposed, the Gentleman who moved the Amendment would not have suffered by it, nor [would] the Convention [have been] stigmatized as Anti- Episcopalian. It was at my Request that the Bishop with his clergy agreed to make some Alterations in the Liturgy and Offices of the Church, and a Com'tee from the body of the Clergy was chosen to attend him for that purpose,