USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of King's Chapel, in Boston : the first Episcopal church in New England : comprising notices of the introduction of Episcopacy into the northern colonies > Part 10
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GYLES DYER. SAMUEL MYLES.
SAMUEL CHECKLEY.
CHRISTOPHER BRIDGE.
ANTHONY BLUNT.
NICHOLAS ROBERTS. )
JOHN DEVIN. JOHN NELSON.
THOMAS CHILD. Church Wardens.
JOHN EASTWICK. JOHN ENDICOTT.
CYPRIAN SOUTHACK. EDWARD LYDE.
JOHN REDKNAP.
EASTE APTHORPE.
PETER HAWKSWORTH.
SAMUEL BAKER.
JOHN OULTON.
SAVILL SIMPSON.
RA. HARRISON.
HENRY FRANKLYN.
BENJAMIN MOUNTFORT.
Wee have avoyded troubling your Lordship with a number of Names, these being the Cheife of the Church.
To the Right Revd Father in God Henry, Lord Bishop of London, and one of Her Majesties most Honble Privy Councille.
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IV.
SOME PAPERS CONCERNING AMERICAN BISHOPS. [Sec Page 81.]
1. LETTER TO THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL.
At a meeting of the Vestry of her Majesties Chap- pell in Boston New Engd. Dec. 8th. 1713. -
To the Honble Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts.
The representation and request of the Ministers and Church Wardens, and Vestry of the Church of England, in Boston.
We are informed by the Honble Gen' Nicholson a most worthy member of yr Honble society, and a most generous benefactor to the Church in these parts, that yr honble Society have laid before her Majesty a particular scheme for Setling Bishops in these Ameri- can parts, and as nothing can contribute more to the flourishing state of Religion among us, we have made our humble Address to her most Sacred Majesty upon that head, and would humbly entreat some of the mem- bers of yr Honble Society to be our remembrances to her Majesty on that behalf, and that Almighty God would bless and prosper all yr pious endeavors for the good of his Church, and bless you for those endeav- ors, is the hearty prayer of yr most obedient and most devoted humble servts.
J. DUDLEY, Gov. WM. TAILER, ESQR. Lt. Gov. SAMUEL MYLES Ministers. ~ HENRY HARRIS n
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CHARLES HOBBY. Church Wardens. JOHN JEKYLL.
J. REDKNAP.
WENTWORTH PAXTON.
THO : BANNISTER. CYPRIAN SOUTHACK.
J. BRIDGES.
JNO. NELSON.
JNO. VALENTINE.
Jo : HEARNES.
THO. NEWTON.
Go. DYER.
JOHN OULTON. GEO. TURFREY.
2. ADDRESS TO THE QUEEN.
To the Queen's most Excellent. Majesty. - The humble Address of the Ministers, Church Wardens, and Vestry of the Church of England in Boston, New England.
May it please yr Majesty.
Your Royall goodness being extended to all, even the Remotest parts of yr Majesties Dominions, we take this opportunity of expressing our humble tho' Imperfect Thanks to yr Majesty for the many Blessings we have enjoyed in the Course of yr Glori- ous Reign: Such was yr Majestys care of us during the War, that our ease was in a measure Secured by the happy Reduction of the Important fortress of Port Royall under the Auspicious Conduct of General Nicholson, and now that Honble and Advantagious Peace which yr Majesty has concluded dose mightily Increase our Happiness, by delivering us from the vio- lence of Barbarous Savages who continually infested our country, and acted unheard of Cruelties : To com- pleat our Felicity, we humbly Entreat of yr Majesty to provide for our Spiritual concerns, and to Establish Bishops and Bishopricks within yr Majestys Planta- tions in America.
Wee are informed by Gen' Nicholson, whose Piety, Generosity and Zeal for the Church, we cannot suffi-
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APPENDIX.
ciently commend, that the Honble Society for Propa- gating the gospel in Foreign Parts ; have laid before yr Majesty the particular Manner of the Bishops Res- pective Settlements. Since nothing can tend more to make Religion Flourish amongst us, we promise our- selves that yr Majesty will take this Affair into yr Royal Consideration. And that it may please Al- mighty God to grant yr Majesty a long and happy Reign over us, and Advance you to Immortal Glory hereafter is the constant and fervent Prayer of - Yr Majestys most Loyall, most Dutifull and most obe- dient Subjects.
3. LETTER TO BISHOP ROBINSON.
May it please yr Lordship.
The Episcopal Congregation at Boston in New England haveing been favoured with many re- peated Instances of their late Diocesans love and kindness towards them, Humbly presume to lay before yr Lordship the State and Circumstances of our Church, not doubting of an Equal Regard from yr Lordships known Goodness, and Consummate Prudences, the In- fluences whereof we hope to Enjoy in these Remote Parts.
About Twenty years since, a handsome Chappell was built in this place, by the Subscriptions of Sir Edmund Andros, and other well disposed Gentlemen, particularly by the Benefactions of the Honble Francis Nicholson Esqr (whose Eminent services to his Queen and countrey, and Affectionate Concern for the Church of England, will render his name ever precious amongst us, and famous to Posterity) and has since been adorn'd by the Bounty of the late Queen Mary of Glori-
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ous Memory ; Our Ministers are supported in the same manner : One by the Voluntary Contributions of the People ; the other, by a Sallary. of One hundred pounds per Annum paid out of the Privey Purse ; and entered in her Majestys Books : Our Congregation is very much increased, and consists of about Eight Hundred persons ; and the Chappell has lately been enlarged into twice its former dimentions : This Additional Building has put us to a very considerable Expense, and therefore we humbly entreat yr Lordships good offices in our behalf, That the money from the privey purse may be Constantly and Regularly paid. Thus we shall be enabled to Finish the Work we have begun, and may reasonably expect to be in a flourishing Condition : We will not trespass any longer on yr Lordships Time but beg leave to Subscribe Ourselves &c -
Boston, Dec. 8th, 1713.
Signed by the Governor and Lieut. Governor, Min- isters, Wardens and Vestry.
To the Rt. Revd Father in God John Ld. Bishop of London.
V.
ADDRESS OF THE CHURCHES AT BOSTON, NEWBURY AND MARBLEHEAD TO GEORGE I. ON HIS ACCESSION. 1714.
To the King's most Excellent Majesty. - The humble Address of the Ministers, Vestry Gentlemen and others of your Majesty's Chappell in Boston in New England.
May it please your Majesty,
Wee your Majesty's most dutifull and loy- all subjects in this place of the Church of England as
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APPENDIX.
by law established, humbly approach your Majesty with the most sincere and hearty joy for your peacefull accession to the Crown, yours by superior right and merit ; a blessing so great as mitigates our sorrows for the demise of your Royall predecessor of happy Memory, who was always to us a gratious and bounti- full Sovereign.
It's our misfortune to be removed to so great a distance from your Majesty's Royall Person, whose comfortable influencys fall with directer Rays upon your more happy subjects in Great Britain. It behoves us therefore to be constant in our solicitations, as we doubt not to approve ourselves in our obedience, loyal- ty and zeal for your service. Though distance may make us late with our addresses, yet none of your Majesty's subjects shall appear more early and dili- gent with their Lives and Fortunes in defence of your sacred person and government.
Extend, therefore, most gratious Sovereigne, your princely care toward us, that whilst the hearts of those subjects, who more immediately share the blessings of your auspitious reign, overflow with joy, we may par- ticipate in your Royall Favours.
That your Majesty may long wear the Imperiall Crown of your great Ancestors, and the glorys of your reign increase with the number of your days, and every day accompanied with an affluence of all that can make a Monarch great and happy, is the hearty prayer of your Majesty's most dutyfull and most loyall subjects.
Signed by the Members of the Church at Boston, Newberry, and Marblehead.
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VI.
ADDRESS TO GEORGE II. ON HIS ACCESSION.
To the King's most Excellent Majesty the Humble Address of the Ministers and Congregations of the Episcopall Churches in Boston in the Massachusetts Bay in New England -
May it please your Majesty.
We your Majesty's Dutifull and Loyall Subjects humbly beg leave to condole with your Majesty on the Death of your Royall Father our late Gracious Sove- raign, a loss only to be repaired by your Majesty's hap- py and peaceable Accession to the throne of your An- cestors, to which you are entitled by your vertues as well as by your Birth, it being the united voice of all your Majesty's Loyall subjects that the Graces and Perfections which adorn your Royall Person reflect a greater Lustre upon the Crowne you wear than they receive from it, and the Gems in your Imperialle Dia- dem are not so resplendent as the shining accomplish- ments of our most Excellent Queen rendered still more Glorious by the beautifull Prospect of your Illus- trious Offspring. We are indeed far removed from the centre of your Majesty's Government, nevertheless we doubt not but your propitious influences like the Rays of the Sun will be extended to the utmost bounds of your large Dominions. Your Majesty's most Gra- cious Declaration has already filled our hearts with ex- traordinary Joy, Wee are thereby encouraged to hope for your Majesty's Protection and especialle favour to the Episcopall Churches in New England being in
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their infancy and strugling with many Difficulties, and tho' we are not so Capable of serving your Majesty as some of our fellow Subjects who are placed under your immediate Presence, yet in our inferiour Station We shall embrace all Opportunities of demonstrating our hearty Zeal and unfeigned affection for your Sa- cred Person and Government. We shall always esteem it our principall and most Comprehensive Duty to fear God and Honour the King our Rightfull and lawfull Soveraigne, King George. the Second, and pray with the most fervent Devotion that God would be graciously pleased to grant your majesty a long and happy Reign over us, that he would crowne you and your Royall Consort with everlasting felicity and make you glad with the joy of his countenance and grant that there never may be wanting Princes of your August Family and of your faith who may transmitt the Blessings of your Majesty's Reign to After Ages. -- Signed by two hundred and nine names.
Written by Dr Cutler, rector of Christ's Church, Aug. 1727.
VII.
BISHOP GIBSON'S LICENSE TO REV. MR PRICE. [See Page 90.]
EDMUNDUS permissione Divina LONDINEN- SIS Episcopus, Dilecto nobis in Christo Rogero Price Cler. Salutem et Gratiam. Ad peragendum Officium Ministrale in Provincia de Nova Anglia in America, in
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APPENDIX.
Precibus communibus aliisque Ministeriis Ecclesiasticis ad Officium Ministri pertinentibus juxta Formam de- scriptam in Libro publicarum Precum Authoritate Par- liamenti hujus inclyti Regni magnæ Brittanniæ in ca parte edit. et provis. et Canones et Constitutiones in ea parte legitime stabilitas et publicatas, et non aliter neque alio Modo : TIBI cujus Fidelitati, Morum Inte- gritati, Literarum Scientia, Sanæ Doctrinæ et Diligen- tiæ plurimum confidimus (Subscriptis prius et Juratis per Te coram Nobis omnibus et singulis Articulis et Juramentis in hac parte de jure subscribendis et juran- dis) LICENTIAM et Facultatem nostras concedimus et impartimus per Præsentes : ad nostrum bene placitum duntaxat duraturas. In cujus Rei Testimonium Sigillum nostrum (quo in hac parte utimur) Præsentibus apponi fecimus. Dat. apud Westmonast. quarto Die Mensis Martis, Anno Dui millesimo septingentesimo vices- simo nono. Nostræque Translationis Anno Sexto.
I do declare that I will conforme to the Liturgy of the Church of England as it is now by Law Establish- ed.
ROG. PRICE.
Seal.
EDM. LONDON.
This declaration was made and subscribed before me by the said Roger Price to be lycensed to per- forme the Ministerial Office in Boston in New England in Ameri- ca this fourth Day of March in the Year of our Lord 1728-9, and in the sixth year of our Transla- tion.
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APPENDIX.
VIII.
INVENTORY OF CHURCH FURNITURE.
An Inventory of Vestments and Ornaments belonging to the
Church Called King's Chappel in Boston in New Eng- land, taken by George Steuart and Mr George Stone, Church Wardens, and Mr George Craddock one of the Vestrymen of the said Church on the 19 April 1733 -
Six Surplices of fine Bagg Holland.
The Altarpiece, whereon is the Glory painted, the Ten Commandments, The Lords Prayer, The Creed, and some Texts of Scripture.
A Communion Cloath of the finest Crimson Genoa Damask.
An old Communion Cloath of silk Damask.
Five China Cushions, Given for the Communicants to kneel upon, without the rails of the Altar, by Cap- tain James Sterling when he was Church Warden.
The pulpit Cloath, Desk Cloath, and three Cushions of fine Genoa Damask.
Two old Cushions of Silk Damask.
An old pulpit Cloath of ditto and a cushion lent the Church at Braintree.
Three Table Cloaths of fine Damask Linnen.
Seventeen Napkins of Ditto.
Two pieces of fine Diaper ten yards in a piece.
The stand for the Hour Glass of Brass, given by Thomas Gold and Mr William Weaver.
One Bible and fifteen Common Prayer books all old.
One New Bible and fourteen Common Prayer Books.
.
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One large Common Prayer book given by Thomas Lechmere Esq.
Twelve Leather Buckettes given by the Gentlemen of the British Society.
A Clock given by the Same Gentlemen.
An Organ Given by Thomas Brattle Esq.
The King's Coat of arms.
The Arms of Sir Edmund Andros, Knight and Gov- ernour.
Of Francis Nicholson Esqr Lieutenant Governor.
Of Captain Hamilton of his Majesty's Ship.
Of Joseph Dudley Esqr Governor.
Of Samuel Shute Esqr Governor.
Of William Burnett do do.
Johnathan Belcher do 'do.
The Bell.
An inventory of the Silver Plate taken by the above per- sons, 19 April 1733.
Four large Flaggons.
Three Chalises and their covers.
One Bason.
One Receiver.
Two Servers.
IX.
LETTERS RELATING TO MR DAVENPORT'S SETTLEMENT AT TRINITY CHURCH.
[See page 100.]
1. Mr Commissary Price delivered a letter from the Revd Mr Davenport, and it being to vote whether the
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APPENDIX.
letter should be recorded in our church books or no, and it passed in the affirmative, the letter is as fol- lows -
REVD SIR - As I have determined to comply with the repeated desires of the Proprietors of Trinity Church in removing there, upon receiving an Equivalent for my present allowance, and our worthy Diocesan not forbidding it ; I therefore think it just and proper to ac- quaint you and your vestry herewith, that so what is best and most convenient may be done to supply the Lecturer's place, if it should be vacant.
I, am sir your most obedt humble Servant, ADDINGTON DAVENPORT. Boston, May 9, 1739.
2. Voted, That the letter from the Revd Mr Adding- ton Davenport to the Revd Mr Roger Price be record- ed - Done as follows. viz -
REVD SIR - I have at length accepted the care of Trinity Church, you will not therefore expect any furth- er assistance from me at the Chappel, and will be so good as to communicate this advice to the gentlemen of that Church as soon as conveniently may be.
I am, Revd Sir, your most obedt humble Servant, ADDINGTON DAVENPORT.
Boston, May 9, 1740.
3. Copy of a letter to the Bishop of London, from the Ministers, Wardens and Vestry of King's Chapel. NEW ENGD. BOSTON, MAY 24, 1740. May it please your Lordship.
The Revd Mr Davenport hath at length re- signed his place in the Kings Chappel for Trinity 12
1
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Church. A copy of his letter whereof is here inclosed. Wherefore we humbly pray your Lordship to supply his place in the Chappel with such a person as your Lord- ship shall judge most suitable, by his learning and piety, to honnour the Church in the Capital town of New Engd, and that as soon as conveniently may be, because in case of sickness we have no assistance from any casu- al lecturer, in these parts. And as wee are informed that the Revd Mr Stephen Rowe for want of his health cannot continue in Carolina, wee begg leave to insinu- ate, that wee once heard him reading Divine Service, and preaching among us, well approved his talent therein, and shall be generally gratified in his removal to this place, for what wee then saw and have other- wise heard of him. Yet finally wee rest ourselves in your Lordships wisdom and goodness, properly and seasonably to supply us, and wait,
Your Lordships most Dutiful and Obedt Servants.
X.
ADDRESS TO BISHOP SHERLOCK.
At a Vestry meeting, March 2d, 1748. It was pro- posed that a letter of Address should be sent to our Diocesian, Doct. Thos Sherlock, Lord Bishop of Lon- don, upon his translation to the See of London, and upon a draught of a letter being presented, it was read and agreed to be Signed by the Minister, Church Wardens and Vestry - as follows.
.
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BOSTON, FEB 29, 1748.
May it please your Lordship
To receive the Address and congratulation of the Minister, Wardens and Vestry of Kings Chapel, in Boston, upon your Lordships translation to the See of London.
Wee sincerely bless that good Providence of God who disposed his Majesty to appoint and your Lordship to accept a situation of so great importance to the Church ; the Importance of which may reasonably employ your Lordships great ability.
Remote as wee are from the Episcopal Throne wee have yet the honour of being esteemed a part of your Lordships Diocese, in consequence of which we doubt not of shareing your paternal care and Benediction.
King's Chapel is the first Church erected in New Engd ; it has laboured under a series of opposition, tho' now pretty well and firmly established ; all the Churches in New Engd have taken their Rise from its Countenance and support, and particularly two other large Churches in this town of Boston.
Its priority in point of time and the difficulties which have attended it from that circumstance, have entitled it to singular honours and priviledges. An as- sistant was procured for it by Bishop Compton, now paid out of the civil List, and a small Library, by the same Interest.
The Rector of it had the honour to be appointed Commissary by our Late Worthy Diocesian and en- joyed other marks of his Favour. And as wee hope by our Dutifull Behaviour to merrit your Lordships Notice in like manner, so wee begg leave in all humil- ity to expect it, and in particular your Lordships Episco-
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pal Benediction most highly valued by your Lordships most dutifull and most obedt Servants.
To the Right Revd Father in God Thos Lord Bishop of London.
XI.
LETTER TO BISHOP PROVOST, AND HIS ANSWER.
(See Page 140.]
At a meeting of the proprietors of King's Chapel held at the vestry room, Sunday, 29 July 1787.
The following letter to the Rev. Bishop Provost being reported by the Rev. Mr Freeman, was read and approved, whereupon, Voted that the said letter be signed by the Wardens, and sent to the Rev. Bishop Provost, with a copy of the Liturgy.
BOSTON, 29 JULY, 1787. To the Right Rev. Bishop Provost.
RIGHT REV. SIR, - We the Wardens and Vestry of the Chapel church in Boston take the liberty, in the name and by the special direction and unanimous vote of the church, to address you on a subject very inter- esting to us. Above four years ago we made choice of the Rev. Mr Freeman for our Minister, and we are so well satisfied with his services that we hope to con- tinue him with us so long as shall be agreeable to him. This gentleman has made several attempts to procure ordination, but he has not yet been so happy as to ob- tain it, for a declaration is required of him, which we know he cannot in conscience subscribe, and which we do not wish him to make. By our desire he has written
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to you on the subject, requesting that a relaxation may be made in the articles of subscription. You have been pleased to refer him to the general Convention. It appears from your last letter to him that that body will not probably sit very soon. From our attachment to the Episcopal Church, and from our desire to pro- mote its interest, we should be disposed to wait the determination of the Convention, could we be assured that it would probably meet our ideas. We therefore request that you would have the goodness to give us your opinion upon the subject. We have long been deprived of the benefit of the ordinances of religion, and we feel the inconvenience, but we would consent to forego the advantages of them untill the meeting of the Convention, if you could encourage us with any hope that the American church will acknowledge us as brethren, and agree to the ordination of our Minis- ter, upon terms to which we can submit. We flatter ourselves that to a gentleman of your well known lib- erality we shall not appear presumptuous when we say that those terms which are agreeable to us are rea- sonable, for it is our fullest determination sacredly to adhere to what we conceive to be the doctrines of Scripture, at the same time that we endeavour to pro- mote the honour and welfare of the Episcopal Church. From information which we have received, we have rea- son to fear that our church has been misrepresented by our enemies to the Episcopal Clergy of the Southern states. It has been suggested, we are told, that we are already dissatisfied with the new liturgy which we have adopted, that we do not wish that our Minister should obtain ordination, but are anxious to return to the book of common prayer of the church of England.
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We assure you with the utmost sincerity that there is no ground for these insinuations. We are extremely desirous to procure ordination for Mr Freeman ; but while we make use of all proper and decent methods to obtain it, we are religiously resolved to persevere in adhering to the spirit of a form of prayer which we are convinced is rational and scriptural.
By the terms of the ordination which Mr Montague, Minister of Christ's church in this town, has received of the Right Rev. Bishop White, we find he has only subscribed a declaration of faith in the holy scriptures, and a solemn engagement to conform to the doctrines and worship of the Protestant Episcopal church in the state of Massachusetts ; in this state no doctrines or form of worship are yet established. Has not our Church therefore as good a claim to style itself the Protestant Episcopal Church of Massachusetts as any other ? We beg leave humbly to enquire, whether it is not in your power to ordain Mr Freeman on the same conditions as Mr Montague ? We are willing that he should make the same subscription, provided that he might be allowed to declare that he conceives his own church to be one of the Protestant Episcopal churches of the state of Massachusetts, and might be allowed to use the Liturgy of this church, a copy of which we do ourselves the honour to present you. With anxiety we shall wait for an answer to this let- ter, and for your opinion upon the matters contained in it.
We have the honour to be with the most profound respect, Right Rev. Sir, your most obedient and most devoted Servants,
THOMAS BULFINCH. SHRIMPTON HUTCHINSON.
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APPENDIX
BISHOP'S PROVOST'S ANSWER.
NEW YORK, 13 AUG. 1787.
GENTLEMEN, since I was honoured with the receipt of your letter, I have collected the sentiments of the Council of advice, appointed by a late convention of the Protestant Episcopal church in this state, consist- ing of the Rev. Messrs Beach, Moore and Bloomer, the Hon. John Jay, Hon. James Duane and James Alsop, Esqrs, and find them to be unanimously of opinion that it would be improper for me to enter into a discussion of the business of your letter, as they think a subject of so much importance to the church at large ought to be reserved entirely for the consid- eration of the general Convention. It is in compli- ance with their advice that I now refer you to the first meeting of that Assembly.
Be pleased, gentlemen, to accept my thanks for the copy of your Liturgy, and believe me to be with great respect your most obedt and very humble servant,
SAMUEL PROVOST, Bp. of the Prot. Ep. Ch. New York.
XII.
PROTEST AGAINST MR FREEMAN'S ORDINATION, AND THE ANSWER OF THE WARDENS THERETO. [Sco Page 142.]
PROTEST, delivered to the Church wardens by Messrs Deblois, Ivers, and Williams, with a request that the same may be recorded in the Church books.
BOSTON, Nov. 16, 1787.
Whereas certain persons calling themselves proprie-
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tors of the Stone Chapel in Boston have of late de- clared that the pews of a number of the original proprietors are forfeit, on account of their absence, and have sold said pews to persons who never were of the Episcopal church, and who hold sentiments diame- trically opposite to said church; and said new pro- prietors have introduced a Liturgy, different from any now used in the Episcopal churches in the United States, and articles of faith which in our opinion are unscriptural and heretical ; and have thereby deprived many of the proprietors of said house of their proper- ty and the privilege of worshipping God therein according to the dictates of their consciences ; and whereas we are informed by a Committee from said proprietors, that they intend next Lord's day, to take upon themselves to authorize Mr James Freeman to administer the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper in said Church, and to receive him as a regu- lar ordained Minister, which step in our opinion is unprecedented, irregular and contrary to apostolic and primitive usage, and to the common sentiments of almost every sect and denomination of Christians, a step which may be attended with fatal consequences to the interests of religion in general and that of the Episcopal church in particular. We therefore the subscribers in behalf of ourselves and other original proprietors of this church, who have authorized us to act for them, do hereby enter our most solemn and se- rious protest and dissent against all such proceedings, and particularly against the settlement and pretended ordination of the said James Freeman, declaring our utter abhorrence of measures so contrary to the doc- trine, discipline and worship of an Episcopal church
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