permission of the use of either. The clause in the latter creed, of the descent into hell, occasioned considerable debate, but it was finally restored. The restoration of the Athanasian Creed was negatived. The result of the deliberations of the convention was addressed to the two archbishops, with thanks for their fatherly attention to the Church, especially in procuring legal permission for the conveying of the succession.

The deputies from the several states were called on, beginning from the northward, for information, whether any persons had been chosen in them respectively, to proceed to England for consecration: when it appeared, that the Rev. Samuel Provoost, D. D. rector of Trinity Church, in the city of New York, had been chosen for that purpose by the convention in that state; that the Rev. William White, D. D. rector of Christ Church and St. Peter's, in the city of Philadelphia, had been chosen by the convention in Pennsylvania; and that the Rev. David Griffith, D. D. rector of Fairfax Parish, Virginia, had been chosen by the convention there. Testimonials in their favour from the conventions in the respective states, agreeable to the form prescribed by the archbishops, were laid before the General Convention, who immediately signed, in favour of each of the bishops elect, a testimonial, according to the form prescribed to them by the same authority. G.

The two former of the above-named clergymen, having embarked together early in the next month, arrived at Falmouth, after a passage of eighteen days. On their reaching of London, they were introduced to his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, by his Excellency Mr. Adams, who, in this particular, and in every instance in which his personal attentions could be either of use or an evidence of his respect and kindness, continued to manifest his concern for the interests of a church, of which he was not a member.

Before the accomplishing of the object of the voyage, there occurred the delay of a few weeks; owing to the archbishop's desire of previously laying before the bishops the grouuds of his proceeding to the accomplishment of the business, in the early stages of which they had been consulted. The greater number of them were at their diocesses, but were expected to be in tewn at the ensuing opening of parliament, appointed for about the middle of January. Very soon afterwards, the 4th of February, was appointed for the consecration.

On that day, and in the chapel of the archiepiscopal palace of Lambeth, Dr. White and Dr. Proroost were ordained and consecrated bishops, by the Miost Rev. John Moore, archbishop ot' Canterbury. The Most Rev. William Markham, archbishop of York, presented. And the bishops who joined with the two archbishops in the imposition of hands, were the Right Rev. Charles Moss, bishop of Buth and Wells, and the Right Rev. John Ilinchliff, bishop of Peterborough. Before the end of the same month, the newly consecrated bishops sailed from Falmouth for NewYork, where they arrived on Easter Sunday, April the 7th, and soon afterwards began the exercise of the Episcopacy in their respective diocesses. H.

On the 28th of July, 1789, there assembled the Triennial Convention, by whom the Episcopacy of Bishops White and Provoost, of whom the former only was present, the latter being detained by sickness, was duly recognised. At this convention, there naturally occurred the importance of taking measures for the perpetuating of the succession : a matter, which some circumstances had subjected to considerable difficulty. The Rev. Dr. Griffith had been prevented by occurrences in his domestic situation, from prosecuting his intended voyage to England, and had given in his resignation to the convention in Virginia. In consequence of their direction, the resignation was notified to the General Convention, on the first day of their entering on business. The doctor himself had come to attend it, as one of the deputies from Virginia ; but his attendance was prevented by sickness, which ended in his dissolution during the session. The subject of perpetuating the succession from England, with the relation which it bore to the question of embracing that from the Scotch Episcopacy, was brought into view by a measure of the clergy in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. This body had elected the Rev. Edward Bass, rector of St. Paul's Church in Newburyport, their bishop; and had addressed a letter to the bishops in Connecticut, New York, and Pennsylvania, praying them to unite in consecrating him. The last of these bishops, being the only one of them now present in convention, laid the letter addressed to him before the body, intimating his sincere wish to join in such measures as they might adopt, for the forming of a permanent union with the churches in the eastern states, but at the same time expressing his doubt of its being consistent with the faith impliedly pledged to the English prelates, to proceed to any consecration, without first obtaining from them the number held in their Church

to be canonically necessary to such an act. This sentiment, which he also supposed to be entertained by the gentleman who had been consecrated with him, was duly respected by the body, while they manifested an earnest desire of the union alluded to; and, with a view to it, voted their opinion in favour of the validity of Bishop Seabury's consecration; in which their president concurred.

In order to carry the sentiments of the convention into effect, they signified their request to the two bishops consecrated in England, that they would unite with Bishop Seabury in the consecration of Mr. Bass; and they framed an address to the archbishops and bishops of England, requesting their approbation of the measure, for the removing of any difficulty or delicacy which might remain on the minds of the bishops whom they had already consecrated. And here it may be proper to record, that the difficulty was not long after removed in another way by the convention of Virginia, in their electing of the Rev. James Madison, D. D. president of William and Mary College, Williamsburg, their bishop; and by his being consecrated in England.

At the present session of the General Convention, the constitution formed in 1786 was reviewed and new modelled. The principal feature now given to it, was a distribution into two houses, one consisting of the bishops, and the other of the clerical and lay deputies, who must vote, when required by the clerical or by the lay representation from any state, as under the former constitution, by orders. The stated meetings were to be on the second Tuesday in September in every third year; but intermediate meetings might be called by the bishops.

When the convention adjourned, it was to the 29th of September following: and before the adjournment, an invitation was given by them to Bishop Seabury, and to their br ren generally in the eastern states, to be present at the proposed session, with a view to a permanent union.

On that day the convention reassembled, when it appeared that Bishop Seabury, with sundry of the clergy from Massachusetts and Connecticut, had accepted the invitation given them. There was laid before the convention, and by them ordered to be recorded, evidence of that bishop's consecration; which had been performed by Bishops Kilgour, Petrie, and Skinner, of the non-juring Church in Scotland. There then ensued a conference between a committee of the convention and the clergy from the eastern states; the result of which was, that, after one alteration of the constitution at their desire, they declared their acquiescence in it, and gave it their signatures accordingly.

It had been provided in the constitution, that the arrangement of two houses should take place, as soon as three bishops should belong to the body. This circumstance now occurred, although there were present only two of them, who accordingly formed the House of Bishops.

The two houses entered on a review of the liturgy, the bishops originating alterations in some services, and the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies proposing others. The result was the Book of Common Prayer, as then established, and has been ever since used.

Some canons had been passed in the preceding session; but they were reconsidered and passed with sundry others, which continue to this day substantially the same; but with some alterations and additions by succeeding conventions. I.

The next Triennial Convention was held in the city of New-York, in the autumn of 1792, at which were present the four bishops already mentioned to have been consecrated abroad. Hitherto there had been no consecration in America; but at this convention, although nothing further was brought before them from Massachusetts, relative to Dr. Bass, the deputies from Maryland applied to the assembled bishops for the consecration of the Rev. Thomas John Claggett, D. D. who had been elected bishop by the convention of that state. Dr. Claggett was accordingly consecrated, during the session of the convention, in Trinity Church, of the city in which they were assembled.*

The bishops, having reviewed the ordinal of the Church of England, proposed a few alterations in it to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies; principally such as were necessary for the accommodating of it to local circumstances. The ordinal, thus reviewed, is now the established form for the consecrating of bishops and the ordaining of priests and deacons. K.

In September, 1795, there was held another Triennial Convention, in the city of Philadelphia; at which were present all the bishops, except Bishop Seabury. Besides other matters acted on, some canons were made; and a service was ordered for the consecrating of a church or

* Dr. Claggett was consecrated by Bishop Provoost, who presided at this convention, assisted by Bishops Seabury, White, and Madison.

chapel. It is substantially the game with a service composed by Bishop Andrews, in the reign of James the First; and since commonly used by the English bishops in such consecration; but without the authority of convocation or of parliament. During the session, there took place the consecration of the Rev. Robert Smith, D. D. rector of St. Philip's, in Charleston, South-Carolina ; who had been elected by the convention in that state their bishop. * L.

Between this and the next convention, there was consecrated the Rev. Edward Bass ; again recommended from Massachusetts and New Hampshire: the certificate usually given on such occasions by the General Convention, being in this instance given by a standing committee of that body, agreeably to a provision which had been made to that effect.

And on the 18th of October of the same year, there was consecrated, in Trinity Church, in the city of New-Haven, the Rev. Abraham Jarvis, D.D. for the state of Connecticut.I

There would have been a convention in Philadelphia, in September, 1798; but the prevalence of epidemical disease preventing their assembling, the bishops, agreeably to a power vested in them when desired by a standing committee of the convention, summoned that body to meet, in the same city, on the 11th of June, 1799. On this occasion, the review of the articles was moved in the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies. And a committee was appointed, who drew up a body of articles; which were not acted on, but

a ordered to be printed on the journal, as a report of a committee of one of the houses, to lie over for the consideration of the next convention; which was appointed to be in the city of Trenton, New Jersey. M.

It assembled there, in September, 1801; when there was brought before the bishops present at it, three in number, the question of the admissibility of a resignation of the Episcopal charge. A letter from Bishop Provoost had been addressed to one of the bishops present, and by him laid before the house, stating, that, induced by ill