Hampshire, Vermont and Rhode Island. The expectation was disappointed, by the want of the canonical number on the spot. But the testimonials of the bishops elect were signed; and the two bishops present repaired with them to the city of New York: where with the assistance of the right Rev. bishop Provoost, whose indisposition, although, with difficulty, permitted his attendance in the place of his residence, and with the assistance of bishop Jarvis, the consecration was performed by the presiding bishop on the 29th of May, in Trinity church, in the said city.

It was referred to the presiding bishop, "to address a letter, in behalf of this convention, to the venerable society in England for propagating the Gospel in foreign parts, informing them that the church in the state of Vermont is duly organized, and in union with the protestant episcopal churches in the United States, being placed under the jurisdiction of the bishop of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont; that a board of trustees of donations to the church has been incorporated in the state of Massachusetts; and that in the opinion of this convention, the society may safely confide the care of their lands in Vermont to such attorney or attornies, as may be recommended by the said board of trustees, and approved of by the ecclesiastical convention of Vermont."

When the convention rose, it was agreed to hold the next triennial convention in the city of Philadelphia. Q

E

The next triennial convention was held, agreeably to appointment of that of 1811, in the city of Philadelphia, from Tuesday the 17th of May, to Tuesday the 24th of the same month, in the year 1814. The bishops present at it were, bishop White, of the church in Pennsylvania, bishop Hobart, the assistant bishop of the church in New York, bishop Griswold, of the Eastern Diocess, bishop Dehon, of South Carolina,* and, the second day of the session, bishop Richard C. Moore, of Virginia.

In the last mentioned state, the church had been, for many years, more and more under a decline. On the decease of bishop Madison, there had ensued a difficulty in the choice of a successor, until a few gentlemen, some of the clerical and some of the lay order, suggested the choice of the gentleman mentioned above, who had acquired considerable popularity in the city of New York; wherein there was a large congregation under his ministry. The defect of episcopal maintenance was expected to be surmounted, by connecting the office of bishop with that of the rectory of a church recently erected in the city of Richmond, on the site of a theatre, destroyed a few years before by a fire, wherein a considerable proportion of the inhabitants had been consumed. The requisite testimonials having been furnished, Dr. Moore was consecrated in St. James's

* Bishop Dehon had been consecrated, October 15th, 1812, in Christ church, in the city of Philadelphia, by the presiding bishop, assisted by bishops Jarvis and Hobart.

church, Philadelphia, by the presiding bishop, assisted by bishops Hobart, Griswold, and Dehon. The sermon preached at the opening of the convention, serving for the consecration also, was by bishop Hobart of New York. He supplied the place of bishop Claggett of Maryland, who was kept away by indisposition.

There were three canons passed at this convention. One of them was concerning the alms and contributions at the holy communion. They are subjected to the distribution of the minister, or such person as they may be committed to by him. The provision was designed to limit munificence of this description to poor communicants, and to sustain a pastoral intercourse with them. The cause of interposition in this matter, was some proposals of appropriation said to have been made, for church purposes indeed, but wide of the original design of the oblations at the Lord's table.

The next canon was explanatory of the 29th, guarding against the effect of its excluding from diocesan conventions and votes in the choice of bishops, of uninstituted ministers and deacons, where these are not excluded by the respective diocesan constitutions; and further, against the extending of the office of Institution to gatherings of persons not bound together by a common interest in a place of worship.

The remaining canon was a repeal of so much of the 45th, as requires the reading in the general .convention, of the parochial reports entered on

the journals of the different state conventions. The design of this, was to devolve on the church in each state, the preparing of a report of its concerns. Accordingly, this was provided for by a separate resolve.

There was also entered on the journal an explanation of the 19th canon; which regulates the dress of candidates for orders, and other particulars relative to them. The explanation goes to the point, that such provisions are merely a guard against popular mistakes.

At the instance of the clerical members from the diocess of Connecticut, who acted under instructions from the convention of that state, the bishops gave their sense of some matters in the 9th canon, and in the 40th. Their sense, which was sanctioned by the house of clerical and lay deputies, is as follows:

The 9th canon having provided, that some literary qualifications, therein specified, may be dispensed with, in consideration of certain other qualifications of the candidate for the ministry, the bishops define the latter to be, a considerable extent of theological learning, a peculiar aptitude to teach, and a large share of prudence. The 40th canon having referred to persons, who join a congregation of this church from some other religious society, the bishops rested the evidence of the membership of such a congregation on the two circumstances, of their being baptized persons, and of their possessing an interest in its concerns, by express or implied permission. But there is a caution against its being supposed, that a

more definite mode for the same object may not hereafter be profitably adopted.

It was thought proper in this convention, to issue a declaration, that the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States, is the church formerly known among us, under the name of "the Church of England in America." Accordingly, an instrument to this effect was drawn up by the bishops, and received the approbation of the house of clerical and lay deputies.

At the suggestion of the bishops, the house of clerical and lay deputies joined them in an instrument, designed for the introduction of the posture of standing, during the singing of any portion of the psalms or hymns in metre. This comely practice had recently been introduced, in some of the congregations of this church: in all of which, it was heretofore the custom to sit, during that act of devotion.

In consideration of the scarcity of the homilies of the church of England, and of their being recognized by the articles of this church, although with due regard to the diversity of local circumstances, the two houses made a provision, which has occasioned an edition of them in this country. In the event of a failure of this, they were to be provided for the use of candidates for the ministry, by the bishops, or other ecclesiastical authorities in the respective states.

On the journal of the last triennial convention, the providing for an episcopacy in the western states