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LIBRARY -OF THE-
iocese of Indiana.
Bequeathed by . Mas An E Holly Gift of
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16TH
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1833 02918 3479
Gc 977.1 Ep46j Episcopal Church. Diocese of Ohio. Journals of the annual conventions of the ..
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/journalsofannual00epis
THE
FIRST TEN YEARS
OF THE
Protestant Episcopal Church
IN THE
DIOCESE OF OHIO.
1818 --- 1827.
MGE2.2 P339 J
JOURNALS
OF THE
ANNUAL CONVENTIONS
OF
The Protestant Episcopal Church,
IN THE
DIOCESE OF OHIO.
DIOCESE ORGANIZED, A. D. 1818.
COLUMBUS: REPRINTED BY SCOTT & BASCOM, 1853.
Allen County Public Library 900 Webster Street PO Box 2270 Fort Wayne, IN 46301-2270
THE early Journals of the Annual Conventions of this Diocese have long been out of print - there probably being not half a dozen com- plete sets now in existence. The present Secretary having some facil- ities for such a work not possessed by others, has been frequently urged to undertake their republication. In complying with this request, he has aimed at nothing more than giving a faithful transcript of the exact language of the original record, with such typographical arrangements of the various matters introduced, as would make the whole clear and attractive to the eye. May the spirit of the Pioneers who planted our Zion in this then Western wilderness, and whose ' day of small things' is here recorded, encourage their successors on the field, in like manner to ' sow beside all waters,' and wait in faith and patience for the in- crease.
WILLIAM C. FRENCH,
Secretary of Convention.
COLUMBUS, April, 1853.
PRELIMINARY CONVENTION, 1818.
HELD IN COLUMBUS, JANUARY 5TH-7TH, A.D. 1818 .*
JOURNAL.
COLUMBUS, OHIO, January 5th, A. D. 1818. S
THIS being the day and place for the meeting of the Conven- tion of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of Ohio, the Convention, pursuant to notice duly given in the public prints, and otherwise, met at the house of Dr. GOODALE .ยก
After Divine Service, prayers being read by the Rev. Roger Searle, the Rev. PHILANDER CHASE was elected President, and DAVID PRINCE, Secretary.
The following gentlemen, as Lay Delegates, were duly recog- nized, and took their seats, viz: from
Trinity Church, Columbus-Benjamin Gardiner and Joel Buttles.
St. John's Church, Worthington-Ezra Griswold and Chester Griswold.
St. James' Church, Boardman-Joseph Platt.
Christ Church, Windsor-Solomon Griswold.
Grace Church, Berkshire-David Prince.
On motion,
Resolved, That Edward King, Esq., from St. Paul's Church, Chillicothe, be ad- mitted as a member of this Convention.
He appeared and took his seat.
On motion,
Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inquire into the state of the Prot- estant Episcopal Church in the State of Ohio, and report to this Convention.
The Rev. Roger Searle, the Rev. Philander Chase, and Joseph Platt, Esq. were appointed.
* This Journal bears the imprint :- " Columbus : Printed by Ezra Griswold, jun., 1818."
t The room occupied by this Convention is the same now used as the Reception Room of the Capitol House, on High street .- [ED.
4
Preliminary Convention
[JAN.
On motion,
Resolved, That a committee be appointed to draft rules for the regulation of this Convention.
The Rev. Mr. Searle, Messrs. Buttles, and Chester Griswold, were appointed.
Resolved unanimously, That we, the members of this Convention, are in com- munion with the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America ; and also, that we do unanimously adopt the General Constitution and Canons of said Church.
Whereupon, the following gentlemen were appointed a com- mittee to draft a Constitution for the Diocese of Ohio, viz : Messrs. Searle, Chase, King, S. Griswold and Gardiner.
On motion,
Resolved, That a committee be appointed to suggest some measures for the support of a Bishop in the State of Ohio, and for this purpose Benjamin Gardi- ner be added to the Committee on the State of the Church ; and that they and he be requested to attend to the subject of this resolution.
Resolved, That this Convention adjourn until 2 o'clock to-morrow.
JANUARY 6th.
The Convention met pursuant to adjournment.
The Rev. Mr. Searle, from the committee to form Rules of Order for this Convention, made report of the same; which were unanimously adopted.
The Rev. Mr. Chase, from the committee appointed to draft a Constitution for the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of Ohio, reported. The draft was read and ordered to lie on the table.
On motion, this Convention adjourned till six o'clock this eve- ning.
[SIX O'CLOCK, P. M.]
The Convention met agreeable to adjournment.
Mr. John Matthews, from St. James' Church, Zanesville, appeared and took his seat.
Resolved, That Alfred Mack, Esq., from Christ Church, Cincinnati, be admitted as a member of this Convention.
On motion, the draft of a Constitution for the Protestant Epis- copal Church in the State of Ohio, was read a second time.
5
of the Diocese of Ohio.
1818.]
The several Articles having been duly considered, the whole was read a third time, and adopted unanimously. [See the Consti- tution at the end of the minutes. ]
On motion,
Resolved, That this Convention now proceed to the appointment of a Standing Committee.
In pursuance of which, the following persons were duly ap- pointed, viz : the Rev. P. Chase, the Rev. R. Searle, B. Gardiner, and Chester Griswold.
Messrs. Searle and Chase, from the committee to report on the state of the Church in the State of Ohio, made report, which being read, was accepted and ordered to be inserted on the min- utes of the Convention.
REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE CHURCH.
The Committee appointed by the Convention, to give a view of the state of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Ohio, beg leave respectfully to report :
That there being present but two Clergymen residing in this State, and offi- ciating therein, the most satisfactory way of bringing the state of the Church fully to view, will be by recounting what they have, during the short time of their ministrations, done towards the establishment and prosperity of our infant Zion.
The Rev. Mr. SEARLE observes, that he came into this State in the month of February, 1817 ; in which month, and in March and April following, several parishes were formed in the State of Ohio, as members of the Protestant Epis- copal Church. A parish in Ashtabula, county of Ashtabula, by the name of St. Peter's Church, was formed in February last, with considerable promisc. Trinity Church, in Cleveland, was formed soon after. St. Mark's Church, in Columbia ; St. John's Church, in Liverpool; St. Paul's Church, in Medina; St. Luke's Church, in Ravenna ; and St. James' Church, in Boardman; were duly organized in March and April. Grace Church, in Berkshire, and St. Paul's Church, in Chil- licothe, took form also in April last. A general spirit of suitable zeal scemed every where to prevail, and an ardent wish was expressed for the ordinances of our holy religion.
During the very laborious services rendered by the subscriber last spring, two hundred and eighty-four persons and children were baptized, and eighty-three persons admitted to the holy communion.
On his return to the State of Ohio, in November last, the subscriber had visi- ted many parts of the State. Some of the parishes formed last spring are found to be prospering, increasing in numbers and proper zeal for the interests of religion generally, and for the primitive doctrines and usages of the Church. In Steubenville, in St. Clairsville, in Morristown, and in Cambridge, there are par- ishes formed which are under the care of the Rev. Dr. Doddridge, of Virginia ; all of which arc understood to be prospering.
The subscriber has now devoted nearly one year, in unremitting serviecs and labors for the promotion of those interests justly deemed sacred by the members of the Church and the friends of religion generally. And while he views with great pleasure every opening prospect pointing to the future pros- perity of primitive picty, he earnestly prays the great Head of the Church, to direct the measures leading us to our contemplated organization.
R. SEARLE.
Tlc Rev. Mr. CHASE observes that he came into this State in the month of March last ; that he organized a parisli of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in
6
Preliminary Convention [JAN.
the town of Windsor, county of Ashtabula, by the name of Christ Church; that he baptized rising of sixty persons therein and administered the Holy Commun- ion to twenty-four persons ; that the members of this infant parish appear to be pious and ardently attached to our primitive communion.
Besides officiating in various intermediate places where Prayer Books and Tracts were earnestly wished for, the Rev. Mr. Chase held divine service, and regularly incorporated a parish of our communion, at the Iron Works in the township of Talmage and vicinity, by the name of St. Stephen's Church. This parish is but small, but of considerable promise; the baptisms were a few.
Mr. Chase held service and preached in several places on his way to Zanesville. In Coshocton he partially organized a parish. There being several persons in that place and neighborhood belonging to our communion, much is hopcd, from the exertions of some future laborer in the vineyard.
In Zanesville, he found a very respectable congregation of Episcopalians, duly organized under the pious and praiseworthy exertions of the Rev. Mr. Doddridge of Virginia. Mr. Chase baptized several persons, both adults and infants, in this parish, and thinks they bid fair soon to become a distinguished part of the Church in this State.
In Lancaster Mr. Chase officiated. The members of our communion in that place, though not numerous yet, expressed their hopes that a parish might soon be organized, so as to require the services of a Clergyman, at least a part of the time. The same observations may be applied to the people of our Church in Circleville.
In Chillicothe Mr. Chase officiated several times. As the respectable parish in this town was duly organized by the Rev. Mr. Searle, and as he has mentioned its state and prospects in the part of this report assigned to him, Mr. Chasc passes it over. He understands, however, that they intend soon to erect a Church for public worship. Mr. Chase officiated in Springfield and Dayton ; in both of which places, the attempts to organize parishes in our communion have not been totally without success.
In Cincinnati Mr. Chase was peculiarly blessed, in the formation of a numer- ous and wealthy parish, by the name of Christ Church. The persons belonging to this parish, have, since their recent establishment, manifested a zeal and ardor in the cause of Zion, worthy of better days. They regularly meet and hold divine service on Sunday ; notwithstanding their exertions to procure a Clergyman, they have, hitherto, been unsuccessful.
Mr. Chase succeeded in organizing a parish in Columbus by the name of Trin- ity Church ; and another in Delaware by the name of St. Peter's Church ; these, together with a small parish at Norton and Radnor, formed last summer by Col. James Kilbourn; a very respectable parish in Berkshire, formed by the Rev. Mr. Searle, and the parish of St. John's Church, Worthington ; constitute the present cure of Mr. Chase. In his cure, comprehending these last named parishes, he has baptized rising of a hundred persons, and at stated times, administers the Holy Communion to about sixty-five.
Notwithstanding the many difficulties incident to infant parishes, in new set- tled countries, there is, under the smiles of a benignant Providence, much to cause the heart of a Christian to rejoice for the present, and to take courage for the future. A Bible and Prayer Book Society has been formed in Worth- ington and vicinity of much promise; and a Female Tract Society, under the direction of the Rector of St. John's Church, is recently organized, and bids fair to be very useful.
The constant accession to the number of communicants at the altar, as well as the awakened attention of the congregations in general, to the necessity of Holy Baptism and other ordinances of the Gospel, afford great cause for grati- tude to the Divine Head of the Church for the operations of his grace; and prompt the ardent prayer for future blessings. P. CHASE.
The Committee appointed to suggest measures for the support of the Episcopate, made report: on which,
Resolved, That this Convention do appoint a committee consisting of gentle- men from different parts of the State, who shall be earnestly requested, jointly or severally, to digest a plan or plans for the support of the Episcopate of this State, and to report at the next Convention.
Whereupon, the following persons were appointed, viz : the Rev. P. Chase, the Rev. R. Searle, Ethan Stone, and Arthur
7
of the Diocese of Ohio.
1818.]
St. Clair, Esqs., Cincinnati ; Benjamin Gardiner, Esq., Colum- bus ; James Kilbourn and Chester Griswold, Esqs., Worthington ; John Mathews, Esq., and Dr. Conant, Zanesville ; Solomon Gris- wold, Esq., Windsor; Turhand Kirkland, Esq., Poland, Trumbull county.
On motion, this Convention adjourned till to-morrow, 9 o'clock.
JANUARY 7TH, 1818.
The Convention met pursuant to adjournment. After prayers being read by the Rev. P. Chase, the minutes of the Convention were read.
Resolved, That this Convention view with lively emotions of pleasure the flourishing though infant state of our Church in Ohio; and that they earnestly recommend to the several parishes in the State, that each send at least one dele- gate to the next Convention to meet at Worthington on the first Monday of June next.
Resolved, That the minutes of this Convention be referred to a committee of three for correction and engrossing; and the same committee shall then take steps for the printing and distribution of the same. 1
The following gentlemen were appointed : the Rev. P. Chase, the Rev. R. Searle, and E. King.
On motion, this Convention adjourned without day.
(Signed)
PHILANDER CHASE, President of the Convention.
DAVID PRINCE, Secretary.
EDWARD KING, Assistant Secretary.
8
Preliminary Convention.
JAN.
CONSTITUTION
Of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of Ohio, unanimously adopted by the Convention of the same, in Columbus, on the fifth day of January, A.D. 1818.
ARTICLE I. This Convention shall consist of the Bishop, Presbyters, and Deacons, and Lay Delegates of the Diocese of Ohio, in communion with the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. If there be no Bishop for the time being, the oldest Presbyter present shall cause the conven- tion to be opened with prayers; and preside himself at the same.
ART. II. The Presbyters and Deacons of this Church in order to be qualified for a seat in this convention, must show that they have been regularly admitted or settled, as officiating ministers, in some parish or congregation in this Diocese or State, in communion with this convention; or, that they are employed as missionaries under the direction of this convention; or that they are the stated professors or teachers in some College, or incorporated Academy of learning, in this State. The Lay Delegates must show that they have been duly chosen or appointed by the congregation or vestry of the church which they represent.
ART. III. The Bishop has power to call special conventions, when, in his opinion, it is necessary for the good of the church; or when applied to for that purpose, by the standing committee ; and, in case of a vacancy of the Episco- pate, the standing committee, on urgent reasons, may call a special convention.
ART. IV. There shall be an annual convention of the Church in this Diocese, or State, on the first Wednesday of June, of every year, in the town of Worth- ington ; the time, and place, however, subject to be altered by the convention; provided such alteration be on the minutes of the convention, and due notice thereof given to the several parishes.
ART. V. At every annual convention a Secretary shall be appointed, to record all proceedings of the convention; to preserve their Journals, and hand them to his successor; and give notice to the Clergy and Parishes, of the meetings of the convention.
ART. VI. The standing committee of this Diocese, or State, shall be chosen by the annual convention; they shall consist of two or more Presbyters and two Laymen.
ART. VII. All officers of this convention or Diocese shall be elected by ballot; and a majority of the whole shall decide. In the choice of a Bishop, the Clergy and Laity shall vote separately ; the Clergy individually, and the Laity by con- gregations ; and a concurrence of a majority of each order, shall be necessary to constitute a decision.
ART. VIII. A proposition to alter this constitution shall be inadmissible, unless made in writing and approved by two-thirds of the convention. If so made, and so approved, it shall lie over to the next convention; and if again approved by the next convention, by a majority of the two orders, of Clergy and Laity, voting separately, the amendments shall take place, be valid and obligatory.
1
1818.
JOURNAL
OF THE
FIRST ANNUAL CONVENTION,
HELD AT WORTHINGTON, JUNE 3D-5TH, A.D. 1818 .*
WORTHINGTON, JUNE 3, 1818.
THIS being the day appointed by the Constitution of the Prot- estant Episcopal Church in the State of Ohio, for the meeting of the Annual Convention of the same at Worthington, the several Clergy and Lay Delegates attended ; when, after the performance of divine service by the Rev. Roger Searle, and a sermon by the Rev. Samuel Johnston, the Convention assembled, and the follow- ing Clergy appeared :
Rev. PHILANDER CHASE, Minister of St. John's Church, Worthington.
Rev. ROGER SEARLE, Minister of St. James' Church, Boardman.
Rev. SAMUEL JOHNSTON, Minister of Christ Church, Cincinnati.
Rev. JAMES KILBOURN, Deacon, officiating in St. John's Church, Worthington.
There being no Bishop, the Rev. PHILANDER CHASE, the eldest Presbyter, took the chair as President.
Certificates of the appointment of Lay Delegates were read and approved; and the following took their seats : from
St. James' Church, Zanesville, Muskingum county-John Matthews.
St. Thomas' Church, St. Clairsville, Belmont county-John Carter.
St. Paul's Church, Chillicothe, Ross county-Richard Douglas.
St. James' Church, Jefferson county-Charles Hammond.
Grace Church, Berkshire, Delaware county-Ichabod Plumb.
St. John's Church, Worthington, Franklin county-Ezra Griswold and Chester Griswold.
St. Peter's Church, Delaware county-William Little.
Trinity Church, Columbus, Franklin county-Cyrus Fay.
* "Columbus : P. H. Olmsted, Printer. 1818."
2
10
First Annual Convention
[JUNE,
The Convention proceeded to ballot for a Secretary ; when CHARLES HAMMOND, the Lay Delegate from St. James' Church, Jefferson county, was duly elected.
On motion,
Resolved, That this Convention adopt for the rules of their proceedings, the rules adopted by the annual Convention of the State of New York, which met in October, 1817.
The following resolution, moved by Mr. Matthews, was con- sidered and agreed to :
The Rev. Doctor DODDRIDGE, duly admitted minister of St. James' Church, Jef- ferson county, St. Thomas' and St. Peter's Churches, Belmont county, within the State of Ohio, but resident in Virginia, being now present, and claiming to be a member of this Convention, by virtue of the First Canon of the General Convention of 1817, and the vote of his congregation in Virginia :
Resolved, That a committee of five members be appointed to examine and report, whether Doctor Doddridge, according to the true interpretation of the Canons, can be admitted a member of this Convention
Whereupon, the Rev. Roger Searle, the Rev. James Kilbourn, the Rev. Samuel Johnston, John Matthews and Charles Ham- mond, were appointed said committee.
The Rev. James Kilbourn moved two resolutions, upon the subject of electing a Bishop for the Diocese of Ohio, which were read and ordered to lie on the table for consideration.
Ordered, That the Convention adjourn, to open again after divine service to- morrow morning.
THURSDAY, June 4th.
After divine service and a sermon by the Rev. Doctor Dod- dridge, and the administration of the Holy Sacrament, the Convention met pursuant to adjournment.
Certificates of the election of sundry Lay Delegates were read and approved ; and the following delegates took their seats in addition to the delegates who appeared yesterday : from
St. Michael's Church, Norton, Delaware county-John Minturn, junr. St. Peter's Church, Morristown, Belmont county-Walter Thrall. St. John's Church, Worthington, (an additional delegate,)-Thomas Smith Webb. Trinity Church, Columbus, (an additional delegate,)-Benjamin Gardiner.
The committee to whom was referred the resolution respecting
11
of the Diocese of Ohio.
1818.]
the right of Doctor Doddridge to sit as a member of this Conven- tion, made report, as follows :
It is the opinion of the committee, that, aeeording to the existing eanons, and the resolutions of the last General Convention, Doctor Doddridge, in his present relative situation, eannot be admitted to a seat as a member of this Convention.
The committee highly appreciate the useful labors of the Reverend gentleman, rendered to the Church, both in this State and the adjoining States, and hope, that at no distant day, he may be placed in such eireumstanees that they may recognize him as a eanonieal member of this dioeese. They recommend that the Convention adopt the following resolutions :
Resolved, That the Rev. Doetor Doddridge eannot now be received as a member of this Convention.
Resolved, That this Convention entertain a high sense of the useful and impor- tant labors of Doetor Doddridge, in the eause of the Church in the western eoun- try, and partieularly within this dioeese; and trust that he will lose no time in taking sueh measures as, under the existing eanons of the Cliureh, are essential to constitute him a member of this Convention, so that the dioeese may more fully profit by his labors.
Which report and resolutions, being read, were upon motion agreed to by the Convention.
On motion of the Rev. James Kilbourn,
Resolved, That the Rev. Doetor Doddridge be requested to take a seat in this Convention, as an honorary member, during the remainder of the session; and that the Rev. Mr. Searle, Mr. Webb and Mr. Douglas, wait upon Doetor Dod- dridge, and communieate this resolution.
The service under the above resolution having been performed, Doctor Doddridge appeared in Convention, and took his seat with the Clergy.
A communication from the Female Tract Society of Worthing- ton, was received, accompanied by their circular letter, their constitution, and two tracts, which they have already caused to be published, to wit : " A sermon preached at the commencement of the year 1814, to the young people of Christ's Church, Hart- ford, (Conn.) by the Rev. Philander Chase, published by the society," and " The Christian Scholar, or rules and directions for children and youth," by Bishop Kennet, and the same being read ;
On motion,
Resolved, That the communication aforesaid, be referred to a committee of four members, to report sueh order and resolution as they may deem proper to be taken thereon.
Whereupon, the Rev. Mr. Searle, Mr. Gardiner, Mr. Webb and Mr. Hammond were appointed the committee.
12
First Annual Convention
[JUNE,
On motion,
Resolved, That the Convention now procced to the appointment of the Stand- ing Committee for the year ensuing; and that the same consist of three Presby- ters and two Laymen.
Whereupon, the Convention proceeded to ballot for the Standing Committee : when the Rev. P. Chase, the Rev. R. Searle, the Rev. Samuel Johnston, of the Clergy, and Benjamin Gardiner and Chester Griswold, Laymen, were duly appointed.
The resolutions upon the subject of electing a Bishop, were taken up and read, and upon motion adopted, as follows :
Resolved, That it is expedient to elect a Bishop for the Diocese of Ohio, and to take measures that the person elected may be duly consecrated and set apart to the Episcopal office in said Diocese.
Resolved, That this Convention will now proceed to such election.
Whereupon, the Convention balloted for a Bishop, conformably to the seventh article of the Constitution of this Diocese -
When the Clergy reported that four votes were given by them, three of which were given for the Rev. Philander Chase, and one for the Rev. Joseph Doddridge.
And the Lay Delegates reported, that all the ten congregations represented in Convention, had voted for a Bishop, and their vote was unanimous for the Rev. Philander Chase.
Thereupon, it was
Resolved, By the Convention, that the Rev. PHILANDER CHASE was duly elect- ed Bishop of the Diocese of Ohio.
The Rev. Doctor Doddridge not being entitled to vote, but sit- ting as an honorary member in Convention, expressed his entire satisfaction and hearty concurrence in the appointment of the Bishop; which, at his request, is ordered to be entered on the journals of this Convention.
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