quired by necessity or conscience. But when many were certain, he strove to meet and guide the measures of the Legislature. Once, in the storms that attended the Reform Bill, he was grossly insulted on his entrance into the city of Canterbury; a scene from which not even his meekness could protect him; a scene resembling none since the day when Laud was the victim. When the Ecclesiastical Commission was framed, Archbishop Howley was placed at its head, and wisely concurred in arrangements which, on the whole, perhaps in themselves, but certainly by satisfying popular objections, were expedient and useful. He was led to oppose the appointment of Dr. Hampden to the Regius Professorship of Divinity at Oxford, and afterwards to allude in Parliament to his opposition, which drew from the Professor a public and indignant remonstrance. The many designs which demanded charitable aid, and especially those of the colonial bishoprics, were uniformly sustained by the Primate with impartial benevolence. In the controversies which had their origin in the tracts for the times, he was at length called forth; but his interposition was so moderate, and his decision so cautiously avoided every extreme, that it could do little more than declare his own gentleness of spirit.

A large and stately addition to Lambeth Palace was in 1833 brought to completion. It is in the garden east of the old edifice, and presents long fronts of stone, the ornamental portions copied from the Abbeys of Westminster and St. Albans. Within, among other rooms, over which Maitland presided, is the library. His work was accomplished at an expense of eighty thousand pounds; but it is one of the least among the memorials of the Primacy of Howley. His life sank gently and gradually to its close, on the ninth of February, 1848; and he was borne, without pomp, to his modest burial-place at the Church of Addington.

The qualities which recommended the elder Bishop Sumner to the highest Ecclesiastical position and influence, were a calm dignity, moderation, and an Episcopate successful almost beyond parallel. It is said that at the confirmation of his election, one of the congregation exclaimed, "God bless the Archbishop of Canterbury;" and that the Primate elect turned and said, "I thank you; I indeed need all your pray; ers." He has the prayers of a vast communion, now extended almost around the globe; and those prayers are not the less earnest, because they proceed from hearts that look with veneration and with confidence, to the man as well as to the

seat.

BISHOP CHASE'S REMINISCENCES.

ART. IV.-An Autobiography. Second Edition, in two volumes. 8vo. Boston: 1847.

SELDOM are we favored, during the life-time of the author, with a biographical sketch so voluminous, as the reminiscences of Bishop Chase. It is properly an auto-biography, though bearing the more comprehensive title of " Reminiscences;" for the events recorded are those in which the author was personally concerned. He figures not as a spectator, but as an actor in all. We do not say this in the way of censure, for it enhances the interest of the work. An author describes, with the most energy and vivacity, scenes and events, in which he has been personally interested. He can state not only the facts, but also the motives, of at least one of the actors, without error, only in so far as he is himself deceived. As we follow the narration, we are made acquainted with the hopes which stimulated to action, and the fears which dissuaded from it; with the joy of success, and the sorrow of disappointment, and with the faith which gave energy to effort, and support under discouragements.

But the biography of Bishop Chase is something more than the mere narrative of the fortunes of an individual. It has a deep historical interest. He entered upon life at a period when the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States was beginning to put forth her energies, and his labors have been identified with the rapid increase and extension of that Church, especially in the new settlements. The records which he has made of his labors, as a pioneer missionary, are most valuable. We may learn from them what measures have been most successful, with the blessing of GoD, in planting the Church in the wilderness; and securing an influence in behalf of sound doctrine and pure religion, which will continue to be felt, when the wilderness has been turned into a fruitful field, filled with a busy population.

The work begins with an account of the author's ancestors, who were persons of the highest respectability, and, we must infer from what he relates of them, possessed no small share of the decision and energy of character, for which he himself has been so much distinguished. His early life was spent in agricultural labors, for which he had so decided a preference, that he was unwilling to relinquish them for the pursuits of learning; hoping that it might be his good fortune (being the

youngest son) to spend his days at the old homestead, and comfort the declining years of his beloved parents. Providence, however, had otherwise determined. After suffering much from two painful accidents, which successively interrupted his labors on the farm, at the earnest request of his father, he commenced his classical studies, and entered Dartmouth College when about seventeen years of age.

Educated a Congregationalist, it was not until after being in College two years, that he became acquainted with the Prayer Book, the examination of which produced a change in his opinions. His parents and several other relatives conformed to the Church about the same time, captivated by the beauty and scriptural character of her Liturgy, and convinced of her claims to an Apostolical Constitution and ministry. As respects himself he says:-p. 17, vol. 1.

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Having become ardently desirous of entering, when qualified, into the ministry, the question, who had the divine power and authority to ordain him, and thereby give him an Apostolical commission to preach and administer the sacraments, became a matter of the utmost consequence affecting his conscience. How this was answered, his course of life has shown. As he depended not on others' opinions, but examined for himself, even so let others do, always remembering that truth depends not on man, but God."

No sooner had he united himself with the Church and received the Holy Communion, than we find him beginning his missionary career; officiating as a Lay Reader in Hartland and Bethel, Vermont, and in Cornish, New Hampshire. We pass over many interesting events in his life-his graduation at College at the age of twenty-one-his marriage the year after his journey to Albany and introduction to the Rev. Mr. Ellison, Rector of St. Peter's Church in that city-his theolo gical studies under the direction of that gentleman, while teaching school to defray his expenses-his ordination by Bishop Provost, in 1798, in the twenty-third year of his age.

Immediately after being admitted to Deacon's Orders, he was appointed itinerant missionary for the northern and western counties of New York, by the Missionary Society of the Diocese of New York, supposed to be the first society of the kind organized in the Church in the United States. He was the second Missionary employed by the Society; the Rev. Mr. Wetmore, its first missionary, having been compelled by ill health to discontinue his labors. He entered upon his duties with great energy and zeal-first visiting the northern counties, preaching in many places, and organizing two par

ishes, one on the west side of Lake George, and one at Hampton, on the border of Vermont. From thence he directed his steps westward, and we find him shortly afterward organizing the Parish of Trinity Church, Utica. That flourishing city was then a hamlet, and though there were few to organize, it was done in humble faith; and now that little flock has become one of the largest congregations in Western New York.

At Auburn, or rather the place where Auburn now stands, the missionary remained some time, organized a Parish, and baptized a number of children, among whom were those of Mr. Bostwick, recently from Massachusetts. The country was entirely new; a few families only had settled in the neighborhood, and it was in the log cabin of Mr. Bostwick, containing only one room, that the Parish was organized. It may seem doubtful policy to some, thus to organize Parishes in the wilderness, and leave them without a Clergyman, but the result has shown the wisdom of such a course in the cases before us; for nearly all those early organizations have since become flourishing Parishes. Twenty-four years after, Bishop Chase passed through Auburn, and called on his old friend, Mr. Bostwick. We give the conversation that ensued in the language of the Reminiscences:

"You hardly know this place," said he," the little one has become a thousand." "Where is the cabin in which I baptized your dear family?" “I will show you," said he, taking his hat and a great key, "we must stop at the Church as we go along." And so we did. There it stood, where the tall trees so lately occupied the ground, and shut out the light of heaven. It was a beautiful edifice, well furnished with pews and galleries, an organ, pulpit and altar. "This is the tree you planted; may it bear much fruit acceptable to the Heavenly Husbandman." "But where," asked the writer, "is the place on which your cabin stood ?" "I will show you," was the reply. We walked some distance beyond the Church, and found ourselves in the bustle of business-warehouses on each side, lofty and well suppliedstreets paved, and side-walks flagged. "Here," said he, "is the exact spot. But stop, let those coaches pass," at the same time pulling the writer by the arm. "Here," placing his staff upon the ground, "here is the spot where my cabin stood, and in which you baptized my children, preached to us, and incorporated our Parish." What reason we had for mutual congratulation, and for praise to Him who alone gives the power and grace to do his will, the reader may imagine." (Vol. i, p. 31.)

The visit of the missionary to Canandaigua, and the organization of a Parish there, and a further journey to Avon, on the Genesee River, completed his western tour, and he returned by the way he went, visiting the Parishes he had planted on his way out. The success of these efforts to establish the Church in Western New York, should teach us a lesson in the way of missionary enterprise in the new States.

VOL. I. NO. III.

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Let our missionaries go at once into the new settlements, before the ground is pre-occupied by error and infidelity, and let them organize Parishes without waiting to know whether Clergymen can be found to take charge of them or not. A great deal is accomplished when a Parish is organized in a new settlement. The members feel a responsibility resting upon them to maintain public worship in some form, and some one can generally be found to officiate as a Lay Reader, till, from the naturally rapid increase of the population, there is sufficient ability to support a Clergyman.

On his return, Mr. Chase passed through Otsego County for the purpose of making a visit to the Rev. Mr. Nash, a Clergyman, who had devoted his life to the labor of planting the Church in the new settlements. His interview with this excellent man gave great satisfaction to both. The following passage will give some idea of the privations which the latter cheerfully endured, that he might preach the Gospel of CHRIST to the scattered population of that region:

"That man, who was afterwards most emphatically called 'FATHER NASH,' being the founder of the Church in Otsego County-who baptized great numbers, both of adults and children, and thus was the spiritual father of so many of the family of CHRIST, and who spent all his life and strength in toiling for their spiritual benefit-was, at this period, so little regarded by the Church at large, and even by his neighbors, that he had not the means to move his substance from one cabin to another, but with his own hands, assisted only by his wife and small children, and by a passing missionary. Well does the writer remember how the little one-roomed cabin looked as he entered it; its rude door hung on wooden hinges, creaking as they turned; how joyful that good man was, that he had been mindful to fetch a few nails, which he had used in the cabin, just left, for his comfort in this now the receptacle of all his substance. These he drove into the logs with great judgment, choosing the place most appropriate for his hat, his coat, and other garments of himself and family. All this while his patient wife, who, directing the children to kindle the fire, prepared the food for whom? Shall it be said a stranger? No: but for one who, by sympathy, felt himself more their brother than by all the ties of nature, and who, by the example now set before him, learned a lesson of inexpressible use to him all the days of his subsequent life." (Vol. i, p. 33.)

Father Nash, notwithstanding his privations, lived to a great age, and enjoyed excellent health; no doubt, owing, in part, to his great cheerfulness. The writer of this article had the pleasure of seeing him when far advanced in age. He was still poor in this world's goods; but rich in contentment and a confiding trust in GoD's Providence. He spoke of his life, as having been crowned with mercies, rather than oppressed with privation and suffering. His conversation was pious and reverent, and, at the same time, cheerful and entertaining, and