are convinced that if he were only a ing a school for imparting instruction in that faith which they confess." After the above declarations in regard to the doctrines in support of which the School of Evangelical Theology has been established, the letter proceeds to explain the ecclesiastical relations in which it is placed: and as in regard to the former subject the directors reply to those who charged them with doing too much, they now reply to those who imagine they have done too little. They are anxious for it to be fully understood that they have no idea of forming a new church, and that they do not at all participate in the principles of dissent. After stating that a spot of ground had been purchased, on which it was intended to erect their college, with its chapel, they add: "But we shall not establish a church, or a system of church government, because it is not by the exterior, by forms, that the work of regeneration can be accomplished. Before the church can be re-established in the order and purity which belong to it, the Gospel must first be proclaimed with truth, force, and effect. We undoubtedly suppose that a discipline, wise, moderate, full of compassion and mildness, in the sense of the Apostles and the Reformers, may be of great utility to the church: but, on the one hand, we do not believe, like some of our brethren, whose faith in other respects we highly esteem, and whose persons we sincerely love, that a visible church ought necessarily to be composed only of men converted in their hearts. We believe, that to wish to place out of the pale of the church all whom we imagine not to be true Christians, is to fall into the error against which the Lord himself has forewarned his disciples in the parable: it is to wish, like the servants, to separate the tares from the wheat, though the Master has said, 'Let them grow both together, until the harvest.' We say, with the illustrious Father Cyprian: Though it may appear, there are tares in the church, let not this circumstance so trouble us in our faith and in our charity as to lead us to suppose, that, because we see these tares in the church, we ought to separate ourselves from the church. We ought only to exert ourselves to belong to the wheat, in order that, when the Lord shall gather it into his garner, we lose not our reward.'" Again, "If, on the one hand, we think that we ought to avoid the shoals we have just marked out, we believe, on the other, that we are not called to employ ourselves with the discipline of the church. We have risen up in the name of the faith, and not in the name of the ecclesiastical constitution. We belong to the Reformed Church, such as it was founded, three centuries ago, in Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Great Britain, France, and Geneva, and such as, since that period, it has not ceased to make itself known to the other communions of Christendom, by professions of faith in which the doctrines which compose it are clearly expressed. We have founded our school in this church, and for this church, which is so dear to us.' We merely add one other short extract from this letter, in order that the views and situation of this School of Theology may be fully understood. "Therefore, dear brethren, having such faith in Christ, we are full of hope in Him, not only for the Reformed Church in general, which discovers in our days so many signs of life, and from which nothing can separate us, but also for that Reformed Church in particular to which we belong; and we could not separate ourselves from it, as long as it has not solemnly renounced the Reformed doctrine." tures as Those readers who have mourned over the degenerate churches of Switzerland, without being apprised of the hopeful symptoms of a revival which, by the mercy of God, are now conspicuous, will be no less surprised than gratified at the above correspondence. That so large a proportion of the pastors of the Canton de Vaud should have signed the above address; and that the Geneva reply should display such respectable signathose of Merle-d'Aubigne, Steiger, Hævernick, and Galland (M. Gaussen was absent in England), is far more than we could have dared a few years since to anticipate. But the arm of the Lord is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor his ear heavy, that it cannot hear; and we rejoice to believe that a work has commenced in Switzerland which will not cease till the once honoured churches of that "cradle of the Reformation" shall again become "a praise in the earth." We heartily concur in the suggestion of a correspondent, who, addressing us from Geneva, says: 66 Wishing you the Divine support and blessing in your labours, in which for many years I have felt warmly interested, I doubt not you will consider it alike a duty and privilege to avail yourself of the extensive influence and circulation of the Christian Observer in order to obtain for Geneva, in this eventful crisis, the prayers, and all other possible co-operation, of Christians in England." Our correspondent overrates our power; but our best wishes and efforts are cordially at the service of our fellow-Christians in Switzerland. PROTESTANT CHURCH IN FRANCE. We throw together, under the general head of the Protestant Church of France, a few detached facts connected with its present condition and prospects. There is not in France any thing that answers to the current phrase in this country, of "the religious public." Religious books are few in number, and since the Revolution new Roman-Catholic pub lications are scarcely heard of. Protestantism, we rejoice to say, is more active; and though, compared with the wants of the people, the religious press has effected little, yet, compared with its feeble exertions a few years since, it is doing much. There are now several religious periodical publications issued in Paris, which are truly Evangelical in their doctrine and spirit: namely, The Sower, the Journal of Missions, and the Friend of Youth; besides the longer established Archives du Christianisme."" The Religious Tract Society has also issued many useful publications. We have not enumerated"The Protestant," and some other publications, because their doctrine is not Scriptural, but tinctured with Neology. Conversions are frequently occurring from Popery to Protestantism. The fol lowing is a recent and remarkable illustration. The town of Malaucene, in the department of Vaucluse, which is connected with Avignon, where formerly dwelt the popes from Clement V. to Gregory IX., has always been under the most bigotted dominion of the RomanCatholic priesthood. On every side are chapels and niches dedicated to papal saints; and the true worship of God had been superseded by the grossest idolatry. Lately, however, some Bibles have penetrated the place, and the perusal of them has been conspicuously attended by the blessing of God. M. Renous, a pious Protestant minister, hearing that some of the people were assiduously studying the word of God, and were even preparing to throw off the yoke of Popery, repaired to the place, and has been labouring diligently among them in preaching the doctrines of salvation. The attendance at his discourses has already increased from twenty to two hundred thirty heads of families have sent in a declaration to the mayor, that they are determined to live and die Protestants; and have demanded the protection of the laws as a religious body. M. Renous describes his discourses as being interrupted with the frequent exclamations of his astonished and delighted auditors; contrasting the blessedness of simple Christian truth, and the offer of free pardon through the blood of the Saviour, with the follies and penances to which they had been accustomed. The plan of circulating Bibles and Testaments in France by means of the hawkers, has had a most beneficial effect: for not only have copies of the word of God been by this means widely diffused, but, in various instances, the perusal of these copies has prepared the way for the stated preaching of the Gospel. This was poor Kieffer's favourite plan, and he wished to extend it as much as possible. The French Protestants complain that large funds, intended for the benefit of their church, are disposed of in a secret and irresponsible manner by a committee at Geneva. They state, that at the time of the persecution of their ancestors a considerable fund was raised by some French Protestant families for the promotion of religion, and especially in assisting the studies of candidates for holy orders, and that this fund has been largely increased by gifts and legacies. Its administration in the days of persecution was of necessity secret, and placed beyond the limits of France; but its objects were essentially French; and, the period for secrecy having long passed, the descendants of the donors wish an account of the amount of the funds, and the mode of apportioning them. The very names of the secret committee are only a matter of conjecture, and the whole affair is involved in mystery. We fear, however, there is too much reason to believe that they have for some years been rendered subservient to the growth of Neology, instead of building up the pure Protestant church, for which the original donors hazarded their property, their liberty, and their lives. The Paris anniversary meetings of the religious societies, will be held as follows: April 16, the Tract Society; 17, the Protestant Bible Society; 18, the Society of Christian Morals; and 19, The Evangelical Mission Society. GENERAL CONVENTION OF THE UNITED STATES PROTESTANTEPISCOPAL CHURCH. We have just received the journal of the proceedings of the bishops, clergy, and laity of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, in the General Triennial Convention, held in the city of New York, from the 17th to the 31st of last October. The journals of these conventions are always important ecclesiastical documents; but the one before us is peculiarly so, owing to the interesting circumstances of the American Episcopal Church at the present moment. The extension of the church; the state of the societies in connexion with it; the deaths and consecrations of bishops; the difficulties presented by the resignation of the bishoprick of Óhio by Dr. Chase; and the revision of the canons and constitution of the church, all afford topics on which British Episcopalians must feel interested; and more especially at a time when the proposed reforms in our own church have led many members of our communion to inquire with anxious sympathy into the practical workings of our sister, or rather daughter, communion, particularly in regard to the proceedings of its conventions-why not use the old ecclesiastical term convocations, rather than a word which reminds us of far other assemblies? or are French revolutionary phrases less odious to the public ear in the United States than the nomenclature of English Episcopacy? The venerable Bishop White, who will enter his eighty-seventh year on the 4th Seats of April instant, and who was consecrated by Archbishop Moore in the chapel of the archiepiscopal palace at Lambeth in 1787, was still able to preside in the House of Bishops. The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies chose the Rev. E. Wyatt, D. D. for its president. The election is always by ballot. were as usual provided in the lower house for the bishops, when they should see fit to attend; and it was resolved that all Episcopal and Protestant clergymen, students of theology, and candidates for holy orders, might be present at the sittings of the house. We think this select publicity a most judicious measure. The following is the substance of Dr. Wyatt's opening address to the lower house. "In the course of the transactions of the house, which are liable to become perplexing and exciting I may very much need both your aid, and your indulgence." en "While engaged in the most noble and beneficial of all undertakings-to further the interests of the church of Christ-we must be careful that the measures and the spirit have a correspondence with the end; I mean not only the measures finally adopted by the body, but the means by which they are attained. The proceedings of ecclesiasti cal bodies usually draw, in a considerable degree, the public attention; and whatever may be the purity of feeling and uprightness of purpose in those gaged, much more is understood, or imagined, or imputed, than is avowed upon the pages of a journal. And it would be a grievous thing that the first result of the assembling of such a body should be a diminished confidence in the efficiency of our religion to elevate the character, and control and hallow the passions. We, I trust, have one common object-the good of the churchwhich we are pursuing under the authority and observation of the great Head of the church; and He can never have made it necessary to attain such an end at the expense of Christian simplicity, forbearance, meekness, or benevolence. The benign Spirit, whose influence we invoke every day, could never be expected to dwell and lend his aid, where such a sacrifice was made for the sake of accomplishing what a manly and consistent policy had failed to secure. "Let us bring to the service of the Redeemer understandings disabused of prejudices and passions; and hearts united to each other by the power of our zeal and devotion to his Gospel. None will, I am sure, forget, that every occupation has its peculiar trials of principle; and that although, while engaged here as agents of Christ's kingdom, we are exempt from the temptations to those vanities and excesses which dishonour the world, vigilance and devotion are still in dispensable, if we would shun excite ments not less inconsistent with the spirit of genuine Christianity. But if our love be without dissimulation, we shall find it easy to combine-(as men of the world combine when effecting objects which demand great physical power, heartily co-operating without reflecting upon each other's private views and feelings) to extend the influence of the Gospel, and advance the Redeemer's honour. 66 Sanctioned by the expression of the sentiments of that venerable head of our community whom we all love and revere, I may add with propriety, how desirable it is that the public acts of devotion of this body should be punctually attended. He has observed this morning, that when, in the discharge of parochial duty, rebuking negligence in a similar matter, he has found no reply or attempt at vindication so unpleasant and perplexing to him, as that which was derived from the frequent practice of the members of ecclesiastical bodies. "May the Spirit which guided and hallowed the deliberations of the first preachers of the Gospel manifest his presence with us, in the fitness of our measures and motives to the sacred ends designed." Among the "exciting" subjects referred to by Dr. Wyatt, not the least was the question relative to the diocese of Ohio, differences of opinion having risen very high for some time in relation to the circumstances of Bishop Chase's resignation. We seldom trouble our readers with the vexations of local and foreign controversies, except as they happen to involve some important point or principle, having no wish to inflame or perpetuate disunion. We are glad to forget the discussions which have taken place in the Ohio question, and to give only the authoritative decisions at which, after much conference, the General Convention arrived. October 18. The House of Bishops agreed upon a communication to the House of Deputies, stating that their president had announced that Bishop Chase "had relinquished the episcopal charge of the diocese of Ohio, and removed to a territory beyond the organized jurisdiction of the church;" and suggesting the appointment of a joint committee of both houses to report upon the matter. The lower house concurring in this suggestion, a joint committee was appointed. This committee, after much discussion, decided by a majority of its members upon a report, which stated that they had before them a letter from Bishop Chase to the convention of Ohio, declaring his resignation; a certified copy of that convention's acceptance of his resignation; and credible testimony that he had sold his estate in Ohio, and purchased a tract of land in Michigan, and had domiciled himself in that state. The report recommended, that, without entering into the discussion of the abstract right of a bishop to resign his episcopal jurisdiction, the convention should resolve that Bishop Chase, by his letter and removal, had relinquished his episcopal charge of Ohio, and that it was vacant. The minority, who were one half of the committee-men appointed by the lower house, but were outvoted by the addition of the episcopal members, presented a counter report, in which they recommended that the house of bishops should address a pastoral letter to the diocese of Ohio, and a fraternal communication to Bishop Chase, with a view "to heal the existing separation" between the bishop and his diocese; that till this was done they should not sanction the disruption; but that, as the diocese had been without episcopal services since Sept. 1831, they ought not to wait for a re- union longer than till next May. After various "debates," (why do our brethren adopt this secular and harsh word?) the clergy and laity of the house of deputies not concurring in the adoption of the report of the joint committee, it was negatived. They next divided on the report of the minority, when, there not appearing a concurrence of the clergy and laity, this was negatived also. A member (Mr. Gibbes) then moved in substance, that the diocese of Ohio being vacant, and Dr. M'Ilvaine having been duly elected bishop by the majority of voices of the clergy and laity of that Idiocese, his testimonials should be considered and signed; but that the proceeding should not be construed to sanction the principle that a bishop can resign of his own will, either with or without the consent of his diocese. In the mean time a resolution came down from the house of bishops, stating the vacancy, and urging the necessity of another bishop's being consecrated. This resolution was not agreed to by the house of deputies; and eventually Mr. Gibbes's motion was carried. While these matters were proceeding in the lower house, several resolutions, amendments, and amendments upon amendments, were proposed in the upper; which, after much argument, ended in the resolution just mentioned as sent down to the deputies, accompanied by a declaration that the withdrawal of Bishop Chase was unwarrantable, but that under existing circumstances there was no remedy but to consecrate a new bishop. of the bishops had wished to declare that there was no vacancy, the resignation and dereliction of the episcopal charge not being in their opinion a sufficient ground for the acknowledgment of a vacancy; but they were willing to add that a vacancy should afterwards be declared, Some if thought fit, accompanied by a canon regulating episcopal resignations and translations for the future." The latter part of this suggestion was adopted, and a canon was framed accordingly; but the house resolved to consider the see vacant. The result was, that Dr. M'Ilvaine's testimonials were approved by both houses, and he was consecrated. At the same time were consecrated Dr. Hopkins for Vermont, Dr. Smith for Kentucky, and Dr. Doane for New Jersey. Michigan and Alabama were taken into union as new dioceses. The names of those who composed the majorities and minorities in the above divisions in the lower house are recorded, together with their respective votes, in the official journal, distinguishing the clerical from the lay deputies. In the upper house only the names of movers and seconders are mentioned, with the result of the division. We think this last the better fashion. Upon the whole, the peaceful issue of these and other matters in the general convention is highly honourable to that respectable assembly, and augurs well for the American Protestant Episcopal com munion. We are not disconcerted at a little zeal on either side, when each thinks his own views important to the best interests of a church which is the common object of the united regard and veneration of all. The working of such a body as this convention is probably very different from that which would characterise the movements of an English Convocation. The American is a comparatively small, as well as a voluntary and unendowed institution; and its proceedings are not likely to fall under the notice of the government or legislature; but the case is very different in the Church of England. The resolutions of a Convocation with us would of necessity become a political concern; at least this has always been the case in times past; and we fear that the collisions, and, still worse, the compromises which would hence ensue, would not be for the benefit either of the church or the state. We purpose resuming our notice of the proceedings of the Convention in another Number. LITERARY AND MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. OUR readers will have seen in Mr. Cardwell's paper, stitched up with our last Number, a powerful defence of the conductors of the privileged presses against the charges urged against them by Mr. Curtis and others, of their having acted as unfaithful stewards of the authorised text of the English Bible committed to their guardianship. Another most able pamphlet on the subject, containing much interesting important detail, has been published by the Dean of Peterborough, Dr. Turton, which takes up other parts of the question, and is a complete answer to some of the most specious of the charges. Further investigations are in progress. We purpose discussing the matter at length: we shall therefore not say any thing more at present, than that our current English Bibles are probably the most correctly printed, as well as the cheapest books in the whole world; that the charges urged against them are all grossly exaggerated, and the most serious of them utterly unfounded and that even if they were proved, it would still be a most unwise and dangerous measure to throw open the printing of Bibles to every press in the kingdom, which is the object aimed at by the opponents of the present system. We entreat our clerical readers in particular to beware that they do not fall into the snare which is preparing for them. A mandamus was lately applied for to the Court of King's Bench, Dublin, to compel the Archbishop of Dublin to admit a Mr. Hacket to be examined as a candidate for holy orders, the plaintiff being legally qualified, and having obtained a nomination to a curacy in the arch-diocese. The archbishop's objection was, that the church is overstocked with clergymen; that many are unprovided for; and that it is not for the interest of religion to ordain new candidates while so many are unemployed. The mandamus was refused, on the ground that the bishop's power of ordination is altogether discretionary. There can be no doubt of the expediency as well as the legality of this decision. We have often shewn the evils of irresponsible power where the case will properly admit of a regular judicial process: we have urged the injustice of refusing or rescinding curates' licences without assigning the cause, and, if necessary, producing the evidence; but the case of ordination rests upon far other grounds. The candidate's nomination or title is not a mandate to the bishop; but chiefly for his protection, as he can be compelled to maintain a clergyman whom he ordains without a provision; and also as a reasonable presumption that another clergyman is wanted in the ranks of the church, since it is inferred the incumbent would not have given a title for orders if he could have supplied his wants without it: but it is not in any degree, and ought not to be, a command 2 K |