Memoirs of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America

PRETACE TO THE FIRST EDITIOX.

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character, for an author to represent him as his own prejudices or his passions dictate; when, perhaps, the other party would have had the precautiou to make liis own story known, had he foreseen such a result of the freedom of social intercourse.

Another license which has grown out of the adopted plan, is the anticipating of some circumstances which took place in England, during the intercourse with his grace the archbishop of Canterbury; when such anticipation might illustrate any matter previously under review. The motive, was the desire to record the said intercourse in the form in which it now appears, that is, in letters to the committee of the Church in Pennsylvania; which, having been written when the matters related were fresh on the mind of the narrator, is the more likely to be a faithful exhibition of them. To bave enlarged the letters would have been incorrect; and yet, in what passed in the intercourse, there was such connexion with some points in an earlier part of the work, as was too material to be disregarded. Although there has not been an enlargement of the letters, nor au alteration of them in any instance, there have been attached to them a few notes, containing maiters of less moment.

The motive of the author in the statements, is principally to record facts, which may otherwise be swept into oblivion by the lapse of time. For the mixing of his opinions with the facts, a reason may be thought due. It is, that the habits of his life having exercised him much, on subjects which have bearings on the concerns of the Church in doctrine, in discipline, and in worship; and his principles having been formed with deliberation, and acted on with perseverance, not without prayer to the Father of Lights for his holy guidance; there seems to bim nothing unreasonable in the wish, to give the weight of long observation, to what are truth and order in his esteem. lle has not the presumption to aspire to, nor the vanity to expect to share in the direction of the concerns of the Church, after the very

few years, in which there will be a possibility of his being present in her councils : but he commits his opinions, to the issue of what may be thought in reason due to them.

On the author's review of his statements and remarks, he had often a painful sensation of the frequent prominence in them of himself. In the way of apology, let it be remarked—first, that the apparent fault is in a great degree inseparable from the delivery of the results of personal observation; and, secondly, that he has had more agency than any other person, in the transactions recorded : owing to the circumstances in which he was placed; to a cause for which he cannot be sufficiently thankful, the continuance of his health and strength; and to his having attended every General Convention, from the beginning to the present time. Under the weight of these considerations, he commits himself to the candour of the reader.

Of the papers in the Appendix, a great proportion are what may be read in the printed journals; but they were thought necessary to the series of the events presented. Those papers which were in the private possession of the author, and were designed to have an influence on the concerns of the Church, he has thought it due to the object of this work, to perpetuate. The printing of any document which took the shape of a canon, has been judged unnecessary.

In regard to letters, let it be noticed, that there are none besides those, which, like the papers above referred to, were designed to have public influence. In private letters, there is much to confirm the statements made, and to enlarge them, if that were the design.

PRE FACE

THE SECOND EDITION

The Memoirs of the Episcopal Church, edited some years ago by the present author, being out of print; and there being none on hand so far as is known to him, except a few copies in his possession; he lays by the following sheets, under the idea, that in the event of a future reprint, they may be thought a desirable addition to the volume. It will then contain whatever relates materially to the concerns of the Episcopal Church for the space of fifty-two years; of which the former publication was devoted to the first thirty; and the present is limited to the remaining twenty-two.

The author cannot expect, at his time of life, that he will much longer live to be present at the counsels of the Church; or that, if living, his mind will be competent to the continuation of the present work. Accordingly, in these considerations, he perceives a call on him, to say, in accordance with a sentiment of the Mantuan poet--" Claudite jam Rivos.”

To whatever period the days of his earthly pilgrimage may be extended; and whatever may be the dispensations of Providence in the course of them ; whether, as hitherto, the uninterrupted enjoyment of health, and a considerable

measure of worldly comforts; or such visitations, as he has witnessed in the persons of many, whose merits and whose usefulness, had they been the rule of divine procedure, in this life of uncertainty of change, as they are not, are far beyond what can be supposed his own; it will be his endeavour and his prayer, that he may live in daily dependence on the gracious Providence which has conducted him to an advance in years beyond that of the usual lot of man; and under the assurance, that if there should be for him, in reserve, any portion of bodily suffering or of sorrow, it will be sent in mercy, and will be no more than is necessary for the correction of his frailties.

Wbether prosperity or adversity be his appointed lot, he is sure, that if his reason should be continued to him, his life will not end, without prayer for the Church, in the concerns of which he has been so long engaged; and especially for the divine blessing on her ministry and her institutions; to be manifested in the conversion of sinners, in the edification of the godly, and in the end of both-the glory of God, and the enlargement of the kingdom of his Son, the adorable Redeemer.

April, 1836

CONTENT S.

1. NARRATIVE OF THE ORGANIZATION AND OF THE EARLY

MEASURES OF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

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State of the Church before the Revolutionary War, and at the conclusion

of it

Intercourse with Denmark

A Meeting in New-Brunswick, New Jersey

A Meeting in New-York

Convention of 1785

1786