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In consequence of a communication to the bishops, proposing to them, what was considered as a profitable improvement in the Book of Common Prayer, they proposed to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies a declaration, that it was not intended to bring the book under review during this convention. And in consequence of a communication, proposing to the bishops to give their sanction to a work on a subject of great importance in religion, they made it a rule of their house, that in future, no application of this sort shall be considered as regularly before them: and they proposed to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, a declaration to the same effect. The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies signified their concurrence in the proposals, with their thanks, for what they called "the judicious course adopted in reference to these subjects."

A question was moved in each of the houses, as to the propriety of establishing a theological school, to be exclusively under the patronage of the General Convention. The subject was referred to a future meeting of the body; and, in the mean time, measures were to be taken to ascertain the general wish on the subject in each of the

states.

A proposal was also made, to grant an exclusive copyright of the Book of Common Prayer, for a valuable consideration. This also was delayed, under the same provision, for the ascertaining of the general sense of the Church; and, with it, advice in law.

As at each of the last two conventions, a pastoral letter was drawn up by the House of Bishops, and read in the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies.

The convention appointed their next triennial meeting to be in the city of New-York. R.

Agreeably to appointment at the last General Convention, there assembled another in the city of New-York, on the 20th of May, 1817. There were present all the bishops: the house then consisting of Bishops White, Hobart, Griswold, Dehon, Moore, Kemp, and Croes. The occasion was opened by a discourse from Bishop Griswold.*

In consequence of an application from the Church in

During the recess of the convention, Dr. Kemp had been consecrated on the first day of September, 1814, in Christ Church, in the city of Brunswick, NewJersey, by the presiding bishop, assisted by Bishops Hobart and Moore. And Dr. Croes had been consecrated on the 19th day of November, 1815, in St. Peter's Church, in the city of Philadelphia, by the presiding bishop, assisted by Bishops Hobart and Kemp.

North-Carolina, in which a convention had been held, the said Church was considered as having acceded to the ecclesiastical constitution. From the time of the revolutionary war, there had been but temporary supplies of the ministry in a few places; but some clergymen, recently settled in the state, in connexion with some influential lay gentlemen, had taken active measures for the revival of our communion.

The presiding bishop made report of sundry matters committed to him by the last convention. They were the certifying to the venerable Society (in England) for the Propagation of the Gospel, of certain facts in favour of the Church in Vermont, relatively to lands of which the titles were vested in the society-the taking of measures relatively to the organizing of the Church beyond the Alleghany mountains, and the republishing of the journals of this Church from the beginning. The first and the last had been carried into effect, and the other had been attended to, as far as circumstances would permit. The thanks of the house were voted to the presiding bishop.

Relatively to the last mentioned subject, the House of Bishops saw cause to record their opinion as follows:

"Resolved, That it be recommended to the Episcopal congregations in the states referred to in the above communications, where conventions are not already organized, to organize conventions, which may be received into union with this convention, and, when expedient, may unite, according to the canons, in the choice of a bishop, having jurisdiction over those states; and that this convention have received, with much satisfaction, information of the measures which have been already adopted in the state of Ohio, for the organization of the Church in that state.

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"Resolved, That though the measure of a convention comprising sundry states in the western country, may be a measure of temporary expediency, it cannot be authorized by this convention consistently with the general constitution of the Church, which recognises only a convention of the Church in each state.

"Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to the authorities of this Church, in each state respectively, to adopt measures for sending missionaries to our destitute brethren in the western states: such missionaries to be subject to the direction of the ecclesiastical authority of the state or states in which they may officiate.

"Resolved, That the presiding bishop be requested to

transmit the foregoing resolutions to such person or persons as he may judge proper."

This resolve was carried into effect, partly by a canon made during the session, and partly by a forwarding of the contemplated communications.

The several bishops made reports on the sense of the Church in their respective diocesses, on the subject of a theological school. There was diversity of opinion, but the general sense, in both houses, was in favour of a general school; which, on the proposal of the House of Bishops, and with the consent of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, was determined to be instituted in New-York. For the carrying of the design into effect, there was chosen a committee, consisting of members of both houses. On the part of the House of Bishops, there were chosen Bishops White, Hobart, and Croes; and on the part of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, Drs. Wharton, Harris, and How, Hon. Rufus King, Charles Fenton Mercer, Esq. and William Meredith, Esq.

The House of Bishops thought it expedient to make a solemn call on the attention of the clergy in relation to the twenty-second canon, which enjoins on them diligence in catechetical instruction and lectures. The bishops consider these as among the most important duties of clergymen, and among the most effectual means of promoting religious knowledge and practical piety.

It being represented to the House of Bishops by Bishop Hobart, that the congregation du St. Esprit, in the city of New-York, having joined the communion of the Episcopal Church, with their minister, who had lately received Episcopal ordination, which congregation consisted originally of Protestant emigrants from France; and there being many to whom the French language is still more familiar than the English, it is expedient that they be furnished with the liturgy in the former language; and that there is such a liturgy, not sanctioned by this convention, it was recommended to the said bishop to cause the said French liturgy to be examined, in order to ascertain how far the translation is correct, and to confirm the use thereof, with such amendments and improvements as the case may call for; and to declare it to be the liturgy which may be used by any minister of this Church who may officiate in a congregation to whom the French language is familiar.

The bishops issued the following call on the members of this Church, and sent it to the House of Clerical and

Lay Deputies, to be there read: which was accordingly done.

"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."

On the question referred by the last convention, to be reported on in this, relatively to the copy-right of the Book of Common Prayer, the measure was considered as disapproved of, so far as opinion could be ascertained.

A proposed change in the ecclesiastical constitution was referred to the several state conventions. It was to change the time of the triennial meeting to the first Tuesday in October.

The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies proposed to the House of Bishops, the designating of a standard copy of the Old and New Testaments. It was too late to enter on the business, and "the House of Bishops deeming the fulfilment of the request of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, on the subject of an authentic edition of the Holy Bible, a matter requiring very serious attention and deliberation, resolve, that its members will give such attention and deliberation to the subject, previously to the next meeting of the General Convention, and report at the said meeting.

The table of degrees of consanguinity and affinity, prohibitory of marriage, was again referred, and a committee was appointed on the subject, consisting of Bishops White, Kemp, and Croes.

There passed three canons. The first was the limiting

of the operation of the second and thirty-seventh canons, so far as regarded the states westward of the mountains. The professed reason was, the providing of that country with a bishop, if a suitable person should be presented, whatever might be the number of resident presbyters, and even if there be none. There was the further reason, that if it should be thought convenient to unite with a western diocese the western counties of Pennsylvania and Virginia; and if there should be the consent of the Church in each of the said states, there might be a temporary provision for the purpose, consistent with the integrity of the Church in each state.

The second canon makes a clergyman's renunciation of the ministry a cause of admonition, or of suspension, or of degradation.

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The third canon provided, that in the case of expulsion from the communion, and information given to the bishop as required by the second rubric before the communion service; if the expelled party make no complaint, there shall be no inquiry instituted. The bishop, on receiving complaint, is to institute an inquiry, and the notice given by the minister is a sufficient presentation.

A pastoral letter was again drawn up by the House of Bishops, and read in the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies.

When the convention adjourned, Philadelphia was appointed to be the place of the next meeting. S.

[The narrative of the first edition here concluded.]

Agreeably to appointment, the General Convention assembled in St. James's Church, in the city of Philadelphia, on Tuesday, the 16th of May, 1820, and continued in session until Wednesday, the 24th of the same month. The bishops present, were Bishops White, Hobart, Griswold, Moore, Kemp, Croes, Bowen, and Brownell; being the whole of the Episcopal body, with the exception of Bishop Chasc. Bishop White presided in the House of Bishops, and Dr. William Wilmer in the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies. The Rev. William Augustus Muhlenburg was secretary of the former house, and the Rev. Ashbel Baldwin, with the Rev. John C. Rudd, were secretary and assistant secretary of the latter. On Wednesday, the 25th, the houses having been organized on the preceding day, the convention was opened with a sermon from Bishop Moore.

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