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ing, and soundness in the faith, we are induced to believe worthy of being consecrated to that important office. We hereby promise and engage to receive him as such when canonically consecrated and invested therewith, and to render that canonical obedience which we believe to be necessary to the due and proper discharge of so important a trust in the Church of Christ. And we now address the right reverend the bishops in the several United States, praying their united assistance in consecrating this our said brother, and canonically investing him with the apostolic office and powers. In testimony whereof, we hereunto subscribe our names, the day and year above written.

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Impressed with a fervent desire of being beneficial to the state in general, and of supporting religion among us, we, the subscribers, being a select committee from several of the united Episcopal Churches in this state, who met on the 16th of last October, are directed to address you. The subject is an important one, and requires consideration.

In the document some of the words are in larger characters than the rest. The same words are here given in italics, with the view of making a faithful representation of the instrument: the framers of which were careful to give this explanation of their design; however beneath them an attention to the laws of grammar.

From the proceedings of the two last General Conventions, held at Philadelphia and New-York, it has, with regret, been found by the representatives of this state, that the intention of all the eastern states was to form two separate houses of discussion on the forms and propagation of religion. To this all consented, not foreseeing any ill effects immediately arising from it. The one composed of bishops solely, the other of clergy and laity conjointly; and that a full consent of one house, together with two-thirds of the other, must be obtained, to effectually carry any proposition into effect. But in these two last meetings as above, many proposed, that the House of Bishops should have “an absolute negative" over the clergy and laity. To this Virginia and South-Carolina were firmly opposed; the eastern states as firmly supported. The next General Convention will be held at Philadelphia, where we wish to be represented, but upon the same determination, if approved by the vestries of our associated churches in this state, of opposition to the absolute negative; which, more than probably, will cause a secession of this state and Virginia from the general association. Considering the situation we shall then be left in, we are desirous, by the blessing of Almighty God directing us in our choice, to select one from the clergy of this state, to be sent forward immediately to the northward, and to obtain authority solely to ordain ministers for this state, as well as to renew that ordinance which has too long laid dormant in our country, confirmation. We have thought proper, therefore, to request your opinion on the subject, as we conceive, from many of our rising young men having devoted themselves to the study of divinity, and by selecting some worthy and good man, resident in a parish, and desirous of taking the office of the ministry upon him, and having him ordained, we shall be better enabled to have our churches provided than we are at present by the clergy which we have of late experienced from Europe, or from our northern states; and as this country will then be their native country, and from being accustomed to reside in it, the complaints of its sickliness, which have been the great arguments of desertion from their parishes, will in some measure, if not totally, lose their effect: and as, in that case, the minister may have some property of his own, the subscription of parishes where small, will in this manner be rendered sufficiently ample; as well as the doctrines propagated consistent with the situation the Almighty has been pleased to allot us. We beg leave further to mention,

not with an intention to bias your opinion, but as a reason for our present application, that Virginia has pursued the steps marked out, and with the blessing of heaven upon their endeavours, and under the direction and guardianship of Bishop Madison,* have obtained sixty good and reputable divines, men, if but of moderate learning, of sound and good morals, who have undertaken the ministry, not from a desire of gain, but from a desire of doing good, and spreading the effects of piety, brotherly love, and charity, in the several parishes where they reside. From these motives, and from the distressed situation we shall be in, if a secession takes place before we are provided with one to confirm and ordain, for then we must either take what they are pleased to send, or humbly entreat their favours to ordain for us, which might be refused after our secession, we have presumed to address you, hoping when these important concerns shall come before you, you will not refuse to lend us your aid, both in consulting in the most public manner the sentiments of our brethren at large, and informing us of them, by a representative or representatives, at our next state convention, to be held at St. Michael's Church, on the tenth day of next February, for the express purpose of relinquishing or carrying the above measures into effect. And we have appointed this day in particular (anxiously desirous of being fully represented,) as it is the day previous to the anniversary meeting of the Revolution society, to commemorate the birth day of General Washington, and conceiving many gentlemen may be in town upon so pleasing an occasion.

And we are, gentlemen, with all respect and esteem,
Your humble servants.

No. 24. Page 179.

A Letter from Bishop Provoost.

"Right Rev. and DEAR SIR,

"New-York, Sept. 7, 1801.

"I think it my duty to request, that, as president of the House of Bishops, you will inform that venerable body,

Who showed himself very indignant at the intended compliment.

that, induced by ill health, and some melancholy occur rences in my family, and an ardent wish to retire from all public employment, I resigned, at the last meeting of our Church convention, my jurisdiction as bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the state of New-York.

"I am, with great regard,

"Dear and Right Rev. Sir,

"Your affectionate brother,
"SAMUEL PROVOOST.

"Right Rev. Bishop White."

The House of Bishops having considered the subject brought before them by the letter of Bishop Provoost, and by the message from the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, touching the same, can see no grounds on which to believe, that the contemplated resignation is consistent with ecclesiastical order, or with the practice of Episcopal Churches in any ages, or with the tenour of the office of consecration. Accordingly, while they sympathize most tenderly with their brother, Bishop Provoost, on account of that ill health, and those melancholy occurrences which have led to the design in question, they judge it to be inconsistent with the sacred trust committed to them, to recognise the bishop's act as an effectual resignation of his Episcopal jurisdiction. Nevertheless, being sensible of the present exigencies of the Church of New-York, and approving of their making provision for the actual discharge of the duties of the Episcopacy, the bishops of this house are ready to consecrate to the office of bishop, any person who may be presented to them with the requisite testimonials from the General and State Conventions; and of whose religious, moral, and literary character, due satisfaction may be given. But this house must be understood to be explicit in their declaration, that they shall consider such a person as assistant or co-adjutor bishop, during Bishop Provoost's life, although competent in point of character to all the Episcopal duties; the extent in which the same shall be discharged by him, to be dependent on such regulations as expediency may dictate to the Church in New-York, grounded on the indisposition of Bishop Provoost, and with his concurrence.

No. 25. Page 186.

Forms of Subscription.

Form in this Church-" I do believe the holy scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the word of God, and to contain all things necessary to salvation. And I do solemnly engage to conform to the doctrines and worship of the Protestant Episcopal Church in these United States."

Form in the Church of England-The thirty-sixth canon requires the candidates, after reference, first, to the royal supremacy; second, to the Book of Common Prayer, with the ordinal; and third, to the thirty-nine Articles, to signify his assent as follows:-"I, N. N. do willingly and ex animo subscribe to those three articles above mentioned, and to all things that are contained in them."

No. 26. Page 190.

The house resumed the consideration of the matters brought before them by the Rev. Ammi Rogers, and came to the following determination concerning the same.

After full inquiry, and fair examination of all the evidence that could be procured, it appears to this house, that the said Ammi Rogers had produced to the standing committee of New-York, (upon the strength of which he obtained holy orders) a certificate, signed with the name of the Rev. Philo Perry, which certificate was not written nor signed by him.

That the conduct of the said Ammi Rogers in the state of Connecticut, during his residence in that state, since he left New-York, has been insulting, refractory, and schismatical in the highest degree; and, were it tolerated, would prove subversive of all order and discipline in the Church; and that the statement which he made in justification of his conduct, was a mere tissue of equivocation and evasion, and, of course, served rather to defeat than to establish his purpose.

Therefore, this house do approve of the proceedings of the Church in Connecticut, in reproving the said Ammi Rogers, and prohibiting him from the performance of any ministerial duties within that diocese; and, moreover, [are

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