pointed, to consist of the presiding Bishop, and the Bishops of this Church in New-York and New-Jersey, with three clergymen, and three laymen, to be appointed by the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies; which committee shall be empowered to receive and manage such funds as shall be collected-to devise a plan for establishing and carrying into operation such an institution; which plan shall be communicated to the several Bishops of this Church-and in the event of sufficient funds being obtained, if a majority of the Bishops shall have approved the plan, to carry it into immediate operation.

[These resolutions were concurred in by the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies.] Resolved, that the blank in the third resolution on the subject of a Theological Seminary, be filled with the word three.

This resolution was sent to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, and returned with their concurrence. Whereupon, Resolved, that this House proceed now to the appointments contemplated by the third resolution on the subject of a Theological Seminary.

Resolved, that the Rev. Daniel Burhans, of Newtown, in Connecticut, be appointed to visit the states of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode-Island, and Connecticut ; -that the Rev. Nathanael Bowen, D. D. of the city of New-York, be appointed to visit the states of NewYork, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware. and Maryland;-and that the Rev. William H. Wilmer, of Alexandria, in the District of Columbia, be appointed to visit the states of Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina, and Georgia; to solicit contributions for the founding and endowing of the Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America.

Resolved, that the above gentlemen be furnished by the presiding Bishop each with a certificate of his appointment, and a copy of the resolutions of the Convention on this subject; and further, that they be authorized to defray their expenses from the

monies which they may obtain for the promotion of the business committed to them, and that they render a detailed account of their receipts and expenditures to the committee who have care of this business.

Resolved, that in the event of either of the above gentlemen declining his appointment, or being removed from opportunity to discharge its duties, by death, his place may be filled by the above mentioned committee.

Resolved, that the gentlemen hereby appointed, or substitutes which may be chosen agreeably to the last resolution, shall be subject to any instruction or advice which the committee above mentioned may deem it expedient to give.

We are glad to find that measures are to be prosecuted without delay to obtain funds for the Theological School. The presiding Bishop, in pursuance of the resolutions of the General Convention, will immediately furnish the Clergy appointed to collect contributions with the necessary documents, which he accompanies with the following letter, explaining and enforcing the objects of a Theological Institution.

To the Rev.

PHILADELPHIA, July 13, 1817.

Rev. and dear Sir,

With this letter, there are sent to you certified copies of extracts from the Journal of the late General Convention, on the subject of a Theological School. And there is subjoined to them a certificate of your appointment to the labour of soliciting donations, in certain specified states, for the accomplishing of that object.

From the circumstance of your being designated to this work by the Bishops of our Church, it ought to be believed, that you are competent to the stating of the reasons, which have occasioned the contemplated solicitation. Of your sufficiency, no one is better satisfied than the writer of this letter. But, as for some years past, the founding of a Theological School has been a subject much discussed

preacher; and how shall they preach, except they be sent ?" And there is a disallowance of those sacraments, one of which is "the washing of regeneration ;" and the other is ordained to be "a showing forth of the Lord's death till he come." There are named but few of the errors, which strip Christianity of some of its most endearing properties. For the sustaining of them the stores of literature are ransacked and abused; and they must therefore be met by learning properly applied.

It would be an entire misunderstanding of what has been stated, if it were considered as holding up any measure of theological learning, as what may dispense with the religion of the heart. But it has been found, that where no just censure has lain for deficiency in this respect, persons have been seduced from our pale, through the want of pastoral ability to defend its doctrines and its institutions; while it has also had the effect, through the medium of the lessening of the ministerial character, to detach many from an attendance on divine ordinances, and from whatever constitutes a visible profession of religion. This is the result, not only with men of cultivated understandings, who are likely to be the first to disesteem a pastor far below them in the scale of theological acquirement; but descends to persons of the lowest grades in society; who insensibly receive their impressions of official ability from the higher.

The Bishops, in their anxiety for the encouragement of literature, do but endeavour to perpetuate the cha racter of the venerable Church from which their Episcopacy is derived; and of the institutions of which they are not ashamed to wish an imitation in this Church, as ability and other circumstances may permit. When, in the sixteenth century, the Church of England disengaged herself from the yoke of a foreign hierarchy; the good would have been evanescent, if, with the regaining of her integrity, she had not cultivated the literary means of defending it in the times to follow. In every succeeding age, and

in the present not less than in any other, learned divines of her communion have ranked among the foremost in the defence and in the eluci dation of divine truth; of which their works, translated into different languages of Europe, are imperishable evidence. One reason of the glory of the Church of England in this respect, are the endowments which she possesses, for divines who devote themselves to sacred literature, as a field of labour distinct from that of a parochial ministry. For while we consider the latter department, as too important to be superseded by any studies of the closet; yet, where the one may be pursued by a few of the clergy, for the better securing of the proficiency of the whole, it is an important gain to the Church of Christ; and, in part, the ground on which a Theological School is at this time an object of desire.

While we look up with filial reverence to the example of the Church of England; we do not withhold the tribute of praise from those religious communions in the United States, which have been before us in their exertions to secure the literary sufficiency of their future ministers. Wo honour their conduct in this matter: we propose the liberality of their re spective members, to the emulation of the members of our Church and we lament the lateness of similar industry and public spirit among ourselves. For this, the only apology must be the destitute condition in which our Churches were left by the war of the Revolution; the more immediate measures, necessary for the organizing of our communion; and the demands for the supply of a ministry, accommodated in some instances rather to the necessities of congregations, than to what it were wished to be considered as a standard of sufficiency. ever may be the weight of these considerations; it is to be hoped that the time is come, when there may be successfully attempted the long neglected provision; and when a claim may be made, on the ground of the excellency of the institutions of this Church, of its respectability in the eye of the

What

world, and of the wealth of a great proportion of its members.

The preceding sentiments have not been expressed without the being aware, that independently on the establishment of a Theological School, the learning called for by the ministry may be the acquirement of private study; especially when encouraged and aided by parochial clergymen of acknowledged talents and attainments. But, setting aside the danger of being misdirected in the choice of a guide; it must be obvious in this, as in every line of literary pursuit, first, in regard to the teacher, that consummate ability is best acquired by the devoting of all his tadents and all his time, to the specific

branch for which he has been selectod; and further, in regard to the learner, that proficiency is much promoted by an association of kindred minds, in the same honourable search of truth it being the best mean of excitement of ardour and of the se

curing of diligence. Although these are considerations which the reason of the thing suggests, and which experience confirms; they ought not to be carried to the extent of shutting the door to the ministry against a sufficiency of information, from whatever source it may have been obtained. Nothing of this sort, is contemplated, by the proposers of the present design: who, while they advocate what, in their opinion, and in that of the wisest men of various denominations, is the best expedient for the obtaining of a learned ministry, are desirous of resting resort to the school on the talents and the zeal which they expect to be conspicuous in its professors; and not on an exclusive privilege to be vested in them for ecclesiastical education.

You will consider me, Rev. and dear Sir, not as undertaking to display fully the advantages to be expected by our Church from a Theological Seminary; but only as suggesting hints, which may be enlarged on by you in conversation, as circumstances may require. Even of going thus far, I should doubt of there being any use; were it not, that I hereby express my

own anxious desire, and testify to that of my brethren the other Bishops, for the success of an enterprize, in which we fondly anticipate the supply of a learned and godly ministry to our Church, when there shall be an end of all our cares and labours in her behalf.

With my wishes and prayers for your personal safety and satisfaction in the good work before you, I remain, Rev. and dear Sir,

Your affectionate Friend and Brother,
WM. WHITE,

Bishop of the Protest. Epis. Church in the
State of Pennsylvania.

Proceedings of the late General Convention, extracted from the Journal of the House of Bishops.

Thursday, May 22.

The following report, with documents accompanying, was made by the presiding Bishop, upon the subjects therein mentioned, which had been submitted to him by the Convention.

REPORT.

The subscriber, the presiding Bishop of this House, submits to his brethren a report on two subjects. committed to him by the General Convention of 1811, and recognized by that of 1814; and on another subject, which originated in the Convention the last referred to.

One of the subjects was an application from the Church in the state of Vermont, to the Society (in England) for Propagating the Gospel. It was committed to the subscriber, to certify to that venerable body, certain facts in favour of the application. At the time of the last General Convention, he had not been furnished with the necessary documents; there having been an intended delay of the design, owing to the circumstances of the public concerns. The desire of the Convention has been since complied with; and the necessary communications were sent by the Honourable and Reverend Mr. Stewart, lately of the province of Quebec, on his return to England.

The next subject was the taking of preparatory measures for the organizing of the Church in the states, and parts of states, westward of the Alleghany mountains. The subscriber has had some correspondence on the subject; and has provided, so far as is in his power, for a comprehension of the counties of Pennsylvania westward of said mountains, under the projected organization: although on such terms as shall not destroy the unity of the Church in that state. Relatively to the contemplated measure, there have been sent to the subscriber sundry documents from the western states, herewith delivered. It is understood, that there is now in this city, a lay gentleman, commissioned to confer with the Convention on their contents.

The last subject referred to, is the republication of the Journals, with the Constitution, the Canons, and the Pastoral Letters, under the superintendence of the subscriber. This has been accomplished, in an octavo volume, by Mr. John Bioren, bookseller, of Philadelphia. A considerable number of the books is now for sale in this city, in the hands of Messrs. Swords, booksellers. It is to be hoped, that the members of this Convention either have taken, or will take such measures in the states to which they respectively belong, as may prevent Mr. Bioren from suffering loss, and even ensure to him a gain, from this his exertion to serve the Church.

WILLIAM WHITE.

Whereupon, Resolved, that the General Convention cherish a lively interest in the spiritual concerns of their brethren in the western country, and are exceedingly solicitous to extend among them the ministrations of our Church.

Resolved, that it is expedient to enact the following Canon: A Canon limiting the Operation of the 2d and 37th Canons.

In the event of there being a Bishop consecrated for any state or states westward of the Alleghany mountains, it shall be lawful for the Episcopal congregations in Pennsylvania and Virginia, westward of the said mountains, or for those of either of the said states, to place themselves, with the consent of the Bishops of these states respectively, under the provisionary superintendence of the Bishop the first referred to; the thirty-seventh Canon to the contrary notwithstanding. Further; it shall be lawful for such congregations in Pennsylvania, and for those in Virginia, the majority in each case concurring, to unite in Convention with the Church in any western state or states. These provisions are to cease whenever the consent for the continuance of them on the part of the Bishop of the Church in Pennsylvania or in Virginia, as the case may be, with the approbation of the General Convention, shall be withdrawn. In the case above referred to, the number of Clergymen specified in the second Canon shall not be requisite.

Resolved, that it be recommended to the Episcopal congregations in the states referred to in the above communications, where Conventions are not already organized, to organize Conventions, which may be received into union with this Convention, and, when expedient, may unite, according to the Canons, in the choice of a Bishop, having jurisdiction over those states; and that this Convention have received with much satisfaction information of the measures which have been already adopted in the state of Ohio, for the organization of the Church in that state.