The principal subject of discussion related to the Theological Seminary, the location of which became transferred by this convention from New-York to New-Haven, in Connecticut, adopting sundry measures for the furtherance of the design. When the bishops concurred in the proposal, they unanimously declared, that they did not "mean by this concurrence to interfere with any plan now contemplated, or that may hereafter be contemplated in any diocese or diocesses, for the establishment of theological institutions or professorships; and further, they esteem it their duty to express the opinion, that the various sums subscribed, having been thus subscribed under an act of the convention establishing the seminary in New-York, the subscribers who have not paid are not now bound, except they think proper, to pay their subscriptions; the institution being removed to a different city." This declaration was received, and read, and not objected to, in the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies.

There was proposed by the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, and concurred in by the bishops, a constitution of a missionary society, for foreign and domestic missions, which became inefficient from an irregularity in the choice of the trustees. The society was located in the city of Philadelphia, and the members there resident, after frequent consultations, did not think themselves authorized to proceed. The error resulted from the press of business on the last day of the session.

When the convention adjourned, it was with the determination that the next General Convention should meet in Philadelphia.

The whole was concluded with prayer by the presiding bishop. T.

The next General Convention being special, was held in 1821, in St. Peter's Church, in the city of Philadelphia, from October 30th to November the 3d, inclusive. The bishops present, were Bishop White, of Pennsylvania, presiding bishop; Bishop Hobart, of New-York; Bishop Griswold, of the Eastern Diocese; Bishop Kemp, of Maryland; Bishop Croes, of New-Jersey; and Bishop Brownell, of Connecticut. In the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, the Rev. Dr. William Wilmer presided, the Rev. Ashbel Baldwin was secretary, and the Rev. John C. Rudd was assistant secretary. The Rev. William Augustus Muhlenburg was secretary of the House of Bishops.

This convention assembled on the call of the presiding

bishop, induced by the desire of the major number of the bishops; it being induced by the desire of the trustees of the Theological Seminary, to consider whether any or what measures should be adopted, for the obtaining of a legacy of about sixty thousand dollars, bequeathed by Jacob Sherred, of the city of New-York, to a seminary which should be instituted within the state, either by the General Convention or by that of the diocese in which the testator lived and died. It became a question, which of two seminaries was entitled to the legacy. On the one hand, the general seminary being the first named, was thought entitled to it, on the condition of removal to New-York: and several eminent gentlemen of the law had given their opinions in the affirmative. On the other hand, legal gentlemen of equal eminence were of opinion, that as the diocesan seminary was in a capacity to go into immediate operation, it had the preferable claim.

The convention was opened by a sermon from Bishop Kemp. U.

The two houses became immediately occupied by the business for which they had been called together. There was appointed a joint committee, who, after contemplating the subject in its various points of view; and after discussing various projects for the combining of the seminaries now existing in New-Haven and New-York; all in the spirit of conciliation and mutual concession; arrived at the result, which appears in the organization as it now stands. All the members of the committee concurred in giving praise to Judge Cameron, of North-Carolina, for the ability and good temper manifested by him in the progress of the business: and the same were again displayed by him, when it came before the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies.

However, it did not pass in the house without opposition; which was almost confined to the clerical and lay gentlemen from Virginia; with whom it is a favourite idea, to establish a theological professorship in the college of William and Mary, in Williamsburg.

The outlines of the newly organized institution are as follow. The school of New-Haven, and that of New-York, are to be combined, and to be seated in the latter state. All the bishops are to be trustees officially. The other trustees are to be chosen in the several states, and to be residents in them respectively. In each state there is to be a trustee chosen for every eight of its clergy, and for every two thousand dollars contributed; except, that when ten

thousand dollars shall have been contributed in any state, ten thousand dollars shall be required for every additional trusteeship. The seminary is empowered to establish branches; and it is understood, that a branch school is to be forthwith established at Geneva, in New-York. W.

Another business of similar importance was brought before the two houses-that of a missionary society, designed by the last convention, but so strangely instituted, that the gentlemen named as managers found themselves incompetent to the purpose of the appointment. There was now a new scheme proposed by the bishops, more complete, and in every respect more reasonable than the former. The scheme had the concurrence of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies. X.

The House of Bishops sent to the other house, an opinion explanatory of the last rubric in the communion service, which had been interpreted by some as dispensing with the reading of the ante-communion service, if a sermon were to follow. This was not to be acted on by the house to which it was sent, and accordingly they only noticed the communication. Y.

The presiding bishop laid before the House of Bishops a report on certain subjects committed to him by the last convention. They were, the calculating of a table of the days on which Easter will fall for two cycles of the moon, the making of necessary alterations in the calendar, and the ascertaining of errors in the book published by Hugh Gaine, in 1793, and made the standard Book of Common Prayer. It was proposed in the report to appoint a joint committee to establish another standard book in the recess. port was sent to the other house, and required nothing on their part except concurrence in appointing a joint committee, which took place. Z.

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When the convention adjourned, it was after prayers by the presiding bishop, and a short address by him, expressive of the feeling which possessed him, at so happy a conclusion, and so different from what had been apprehended. Then followed the singing of the 133d Psalm, and the Benediction.

The next General Convention was held in Philadelphia, from the 23d to the 26th day of May, 1823. The bishops present, were Bishop White, of Pennsylvania; Bishop Griswold, of the Eastern Diocese; Bishop Moore, of Virginia; Bishop Kemp, of Maryland; Bishop Croes, of New-Jersey; Bishop Bowen, of South-Carolina; Bishop

Chase, of Ohio; Bishop Brownell, of Connecticut; and, (after his consecration) Bishop Ravenscroft, of North-Carolina. Of the two absent, Bishop Hobart was detained by sickness.

The Rev. Dr. William Wilmer, of Virginia, was chosen president of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies. The Rev. Ashbel Baldwin was chosen their secretary, and the Rev. John C. Rudd, their assistant secretary. The Rev. William H. De Lancey was chosen secretary of the House of Bishops.

The Church of Georgia was received into the union.

The Rev. John S. Ravenscroft, elected bishop of the Church in North-Carolina, being duly recommended to the bishops by the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, was consecrated in St. Paul's Church, and took his seat in the House of Bishops.

Sundry communications from Bishop Chase, of Ohio, were received through the presiding bishop, by the House of Bishops, and it was referred to the presiding bishop to answer them. AA.

At the convention of 1820, a committee had been appointed, consisting of the presiding bishop, the Rev. George Boyd, and the Rev. Jackson Kemper, to make a collection of journals and other documents, connected with the history of the American Church. They made a report, which was accepted. BB.

A canon was passed, regulating the admission of candidates for holy orders, and repealing the first paragraph of the seventh canon of 1808. CC.

Another canon was passed, prescribing the mode of publishing authorized editions of the standard Bible of this Church.

The two houses concurred in approbation of a report made on the subject of the Theological Seminary.

On the subject of the Psalms and Hymns, a joint committee was appointed, consisting of the presiding Bishop, Bishop Hobart, and Bishop Croes, the Rev. William Meade, the Rev. Samuel F. Jarvis, D. D. the Rev. William A. Muhlenburg, the Rev. Jackson Kemper, the Rev. Samuel Turner, D. D. the Rev. Richard S. Mason, the Hon. Kensey Johns, the Hon. Robert H. Goldsborough, John Read, Esq. Edward J. Stiles, Esq. Tench Tilghman, Esq. Francis S. Key, Esq. and Peter Kean, Esq.

A report was made by a committee appointed at the last General Convention, on the subject of a standard edition

of the Holy Bible. The report was accepted; and a mode was appointed of publishing authorized editions. The approved edition was by Eyre and Strahan (London) in 1806 and 1812.

A report was made of the proceedings of the executive committee of the Missionary Society. During the session, there was a meeting held of the society in St. Paul's Church. The report of the executive committee was approved of by both houses, and the printing of it was ordered. DD.

A message was sent to the House of Bishops, concerning the American Colonization Society. The bishops, considering it rather of a political than of a religious nature, declined the proposal of sending a delegate to an intended meeting of that body, but expressed approbation of their object. The resolve of the bishops was sent to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, and was there read and returned. Nothing further was done in the business. EE.

A joint committee was appointed to report on the circumstances of different colleges in the United States, in reference to religious instruction given in them respectively, and on the practicability of establishing a seminary or seminaries for the education of youth, under the influence and authority of the Protestant Episcopal Church. The committee were the presiding Bishop, Bishops Bowen and Brownell, Rev. Dr. Wharton, Rev. Mr. Baldwin, Rev. Mr. Hooper, Mr. Kean, and Mr. Wilkins. FF.

The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies drew up a report on the state of the Church in the several diocesses, and sent it to the House of Bishops. That house returned it with their triennial pastoral letter, which was read.

There was a nomination of trustees of the General Theological Seminary, and a recommendation of further efforts for the increase of its funds.

During the session, a sermon was preached before the body by the presiding bishop, in St. Peter's Church, and a collection was made for the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society.

A plan was adopted for the defraying of the expenses of every General Convention.

The next meeting was appointed to be in the city of Philadelphia, on the first Tuesday in November, 1826.

As usual, the session was concluded with devotional exercises by the presiding bishop.

The next General Convention was held in St. Peter's Church, in the city of Philadelphia, from the 7th to the