of opinion, that he deserves a severer ecclesiastical censure, that of degradation from the ministry.

In regard to the question, To what authority is Mr. Rogers amenable? this house are sensible, that there not having been previously to the present convention, any sufficient provision for a case of a clergyman removing from one diocese to another, it might easily happen, that different sentiments would arise as to this point. We are of opinion, that Mr. Rogers's residence being in Connecticut, it is to the authority of that diocese he is exclusively amenable. But as the imposition practised with a view to the ministry was in New-York, we recommend to the bishop and standing committee of that state, to send to the bishop in Connecticut such documents, duly attested, of the measure referred to, as will be a ground of procedure in that particular.

We further direct the secretary, to deliver a copy of the above to the clerical deputies from Connecticut, and another copy to the Rev. Ammi Rogers. And we further direct, that either of the aforesaid parties be permitted to have any documents respectively delivered in by them, a copy of it being first taken; except the petition and affidavit of the Rev. Ammi Rogers, of which he may have a copy if desired, as may either of the parties have of any document delivered by the other party.

No. 27. Page 218.

Of the Homilies.

The House of Bishops, taking into consideration, that the two books of Homilies are referred to in the thirty-fifth article of this Church, as containing a body of sound Christian doctrine; and knowing, by their respective experience, the scarcity of the volume, rendering it difficult for some candidates in the ministry to possess opportunities of studying its contents, propose to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, to make it a standing instruction to every bishop, and to the ecclesiastical authority in every state destitute of a bishop, to be furnished (as soon as may be) with a copy or copies of said work, and to require it to be studied by all candidates for the ministry within their respective bounds; under the expectation, that when offer

ing for ordination, the knowledge of its contents will be indispensably required.

This was concurred in by the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies.

No. 28. Page 219.

Concerning Posture during Psalmody.

Whereas a diversity of custom has of late years prevailed in the posture of ministers and of the people, during the act of singing the psalms and the hymns in metre; the former practice of sitting during this part of the service gradually giving way to the more comely posture of standing; it is hereby recommended by this convention, that it be considered as the duty of the ministers of this Church, to encourage the use of the latter posture, and to induce the members of their congregations, as circumstances may permit, to do the same: allowance to be made for cases, in which it may be considered inconvenient by age, or by infirmity. Practice, under this recommendation, is to begin from the time when suitable information shall have been given by the clergy to their respective flocks. And it shall be the duty of every minister, to give notice of this recommendation to his congregation, at such time as in his discretion may be the most proper.

The carrying into effect of the contemplated change, may be delayed by the bishop of any diocese, or, where there is no bishop, by the ecclesiastical authority therein, until there shall have been time and opportunity of explaining satisfactorily the grounds of the measure.

No. 29. Page 220.

Of a Proposal of new Anthems, and of Sanction requested in favour of a proposed Book.

The following proposition was submitted and agreed to, and communicated to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies.

The House of Bishops communicate to the House of

Clerical and Lay Deputies, the following resolve, and the following rule of the House of Bishops, to be entered on their journal after being returned by the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies.

There was laid before the house, an address from the Rev. Dr. William Smith, of Connecticut, together with sundry anthems, selected from holy scripture, and adapted to certain fasts and feasts of the Church. The object of the address is to induce the establishment of the said anthems as parts of the liturgy.

Whereupon, Resolved, That it is not expedient, during this convention, to go into a review, either in whole or in part, of the Book of Common Prayer. It could not, however, but give satisfaction to the bishops to recollect, that anthems taken from scripture, and judiciously arranged, may, according to the known allowance of this Church, be sung in congregations, at the discretion of their respective ministers. On this occasion, a question arose, how far it may be proper, at any meeting of the convention, to give their sanction, or that of this house in particular, to any work, however tending to religious instruction, or to the excitement of pious affections. In reference to this subject, it is the unanimous opinion of the bishops present, that no such sanction should be given. And it is hereby made a rule of the house, that if any application should be made, tending to such effect, it shall not be considered as regularly brought before them.

The above was returned by the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, with their respectful thanks, for what they were pleased to call the judicious course adopted by the bishops, in reference to the two subjects.

No. 30. Page 224.

Concerning the Identity of this Church with the former Church of England in America.

The following declaration was proposed and agreed to: It having been credibly stated to the House of Bishops, that on questions in reference to property devised before the revolution, to congregations belonging to "the Church of England," and to uses connected with that name, some doubts have been entertained in regard to the identity of

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the body to which the two names have been applied, the house think it expedient to make the declaration, and to request the concurrence of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies therein-That "The Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America" is the same body heretofore known in these states by the name of "the Church of England;" the change of name, although not of religious principle, in doctrine, or in worship, or in discipline, being induced by a characteristic of the Church of England, supposing the independence of Christian Churches, under the different sovereignties, to which, respectively, their allegiance in civil concerns belongs. But that when the severance alluded to took place, and ever since, this Church conceives of herself, as professing and acting on the principles of the Church of England, is evident from the organization of our conventions, and from their subsequent proceedings, as recorded on the journals; to which, accordingly, this convention refers for satisfaction in the premises. But it would be contrary to fact, were any one to infer, that the discipline exercised in this Church, or that any proceedings therein, are at all dependent on the will of the civil or of the ecclesiastical authority of any foreign country.

The above declaration having been communicated to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, they returned for answer, that they concurred therein.

No. 31. Page 229.

From the Journal.

The House of Bishops, solicitous for the preservation of the purity of the Church, and the piety of its members, are induced to impress upon the clergy the important duty, with a discreet but earnest zeal, of warning the people of their respective cures, of the danger of an indulgence in those worldly pleasures which may tend to withdraw the affections from spiritual things. And especially on the subject of gaming, of amusements involving cruelty to the brute creation, and of theatrical representations, to which some peculiar circumstances have called their attention,-they do not hesitate to express their unanimous opinion, that these amusements, as well from their licentious tendency, as from the strong temptations to vice which they afford, ought not

to be frequented. And the bishops cannot refrain from expressing their deep regret at the information, that in some of our large cities, so little respect is paid to the feelings of the members of the Church, that theatrical representations are fixed for the evenings of her most solemn festivals.

From the Pastoral Letter.

Both to the clergy and to the laity we desire to say, but most pointedly to the former, that the Christian profession exacts a greater abstraction from the world than that which consists in the abstaining from acknowledged sin. There are practices so nearly allied, and so easily abused to it, that we conceive of a professor of religion in duty bound either not to countenance them in the least degree; or, as is allowable in regard to some of the matters contemplated, to avoid the so employing of time, and the so lavishing of affection, as puts into a state of sin, although not necessarily belonging to the subject. We would be far from an endeavour after an abridgment of Christian liberty. But we cannot forget, that in a list of the classes of evil livers, there is introduced the description of persons who are "lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God;" nor, in respect to the female professors of religion in particular, the admonition, that "she who liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth." We are aware of the difficulty of drawing the line between the use of the world and the abuse of it that being conceived of by different persons equally pious and virtuous, according to the diversity of natural temperament, and of the states of society in which they have been placed by education or by habit: but we know, that where the conscience can reconcile itself to the drawing as near to the territory of sin, as it can persuade itself to be consistent with the still standing on secure ground, deadness to spiritual good at the best, but more commonly subjection to its opposite is the result.

In speaking of subjects of the above description, we would not be understood to class among them any practice which is either immoral in itself, or so customarily accompanied by immorality, that the one is necessarily countenanced with the other. Of the former description, is gaming in all the variety of its exercise: and the like may be said of whatever involves cruelty to the lower animals of the creation.