USA > Ohio > Journals of the annual conventions of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Ohio > Part 11
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26
The exertions of the Rev. Mr. Searle, on the Connectieut Reserve lands, and in Huron county, have met with my most cordial approbation, and, I humbly hope, will be rewarded by Him in whose service he so faithfully labors. The formation of a parish at Norwalk exeites feelings of great desire to see them, and to join in prayers with them, to the Great Head of the Church, for heavenly blessings on our infant Zion.
I cannot suppress my grateful feelings to our Heavenly Father, that he eontin- ues to bless the people at Morristown, in Belmont and in Monroe counties, with the spirit [of ] patience and perseverance in the cause of religion, though under circum- stances of great deprivation. At the former place they have constant lay read- ing, and by these means have kept together. and have commeneed the building of a small but deeent ehureh. In Monroe, the lambs are not entirely seattered, though they have had but one visitation of a person in holy orders since the summer of 1820. O, God of mercy! pity our destitute condition, and send forth laborers into thy harvest. Good accounts have been received from Cincinnati. The labors of a pious minister seem mueh blessed, and the number of the faithful is gradually inereasing.
On the whole, considering our infant state, the great difficulties we have to en- eounter, in being so seattered and so poor, we have, in the events of last year, in the patient sufferings of our elergy, and in the perseverance of our people, re- ceived such evident tokens of the divine goodness and merey, that we liave great reason to bless God and take courage. "Whom the Lord lovetli lie ehasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth."
That amidst all our sufferings and melancholy forebodings the good God hatlı remembered mercy, I would inform the members of this Convention that tlie resolutions entered on the journals of last year, requesting me to prepare and transmit to the Bisliops of the respective Dioceses in the United States an address,
68
Fifth Annual Convention
[JUNE,
setting forth the great necessitics of the Church within the Diocese of Ohio, and soliciting aid and assistance in procuring missionarics to reside among them, and also to communicate the existence of our Missionary Society to the same, and request their aid in furthering and promoting the objects thercof, werc, according to my ability, complicd with. A copy of the said address is now submitted to the Convention for their inspection. The result of these measures has been such as to call forth feelings of unfeigned gratitude. Most devoutly should we pray God to reward, with his choicest blessings, those who have thus been mindful of our wants and of our desolate condition. May this instance of bounty to us, in this our greatest need, incite us to double our diligence and exertions to provide for and feed the lambs of Christ scattered through our wild world, and now per- ishing for lack of spiritual food ; and to this end may God bless all our endeav- ors, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Rev. Intrepid Morse was elected Secretary of the Con- vention.
The rules of order observed in the last Annual Convention, were adopted, and the House adjourned till four o'clock, p. m.
[THURSDAY, 4 O'CLOCK, P. M.]
The Convention assembled, pursuant to adjournment.
The Clergy were called upon for their Parochial Reports, re- quired by the 45th Canon of the General Convention, which were presented, read, and as required by the said Canon, are inserted on the Journals :
The Rt. Rev. Philander Chase, D. D. Rector :-
St. John's Church, Worthington .- Communicants, (died 4, suspended 1, removed 16, 80 ; in Trinity Church, Columbus, (died 1, suspended 1,) 10; in Grace Church, Berkshire, 15; in St. Peter's Church, Delaware, 20; total, 125. Baptisms in these and other places, upwards of 150, of whom 20 were adults. Marriages, 7.
Rev. Roger Searle, Rector elect :-
St. John's Church, Liverpool ; Trinity Church, Brooklyn ; and St. Paul's Church, Medina .- Aggregate number of families, 58; aggregate number of communi- cants, (died 6,) 70; baptisms, (infants 31, adults 4,) 35; marriage, 1; funerals, 9.
Rev. Roger Searle, officiating minister :-
St. Peter's Church, Ashtabula; Christ Church, Windsor ; St. James' Church, Boardman ; and St. Paul's Church, Norwalk .- Aggregate number of families, 103; communicants, (died 1,) 111; baptisms, (infants 34, adults 4,) 38; marriages, 4; funerals, 2.
Rev. Ezra B. Kellogg, minister :-
St. Paul's Church, Chillicothe; All Saints' Church, Portsmouth; and St. Philip's Church, Circleville .- Aggregate number of families, 54; communicants, 38; bap- tisms, (infants 11, adults 7,) 18; funerals, 4.
In all these parishes, an increasing attachment for the Church and her devout services is manifested; they deserve much for their pious exertions; and it is fondly hoped they may be built up in "the unity of the spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life."
The Rev. Samuel Johnston reports to the Bishop as follows :-
Since my last report nothing material has occurred in the parish in which I officiate. Arrangements have been made to organize a Bible class, which is to attend recitations once in the week; and from the good effects which such asso- ciations generally produce, in exciting a more serious and devout perusal of the scriptures, we hope our efforts may not be unsuccessful.
I must here bear my testimony to the advantages of a conformity, as far as circumstances will permit, to the festivals and fasts of the Church. Such is their beautiful order and pious tendency, that they are seldom celebrated without
69
of the Diocese of Ohio.
1822.]
producing the most favorable results. I have. therefore, in compliance with my duty, observed them as they occurred, and have also held services on Fridays, during Lent, and attended Church each day in Passion week.
The Sunday school is flourishing. The youth of both sexes have regularly assembled on the Lord's day, and are called on to join in prayers and praises to their heavenly Father. They appear to appreciate the privileges and blessings of moral and religious instruction. The teachers have been unremitted in their exertions, that the school might flourish, as also the females in procuring gar- ments for the indigent.
Since the last Convention, I have visited and preached in the following places, viz : Springfield, Dayton, Hamilton, Carthage, Reading, Xenia, and at the funeral of Maj. Smith of Kentucky. In holding services in the Miami country, I am more and more confirmed in the opinion, in consequence of its numerous flour- ishing villages, containing in them many families favorably inclined towards our Church, that could two Missionaries be directed to travel among them, it would result most favorably to the cause we have at heart. And I have uniformly felt authorized to encourage the expectation of missionary aid, during this summer. The more readily to effect this object, in accordance with the recommendation of the Convention, our parish have formed a society auxiliary to the "Protestant Episcopal Missionary Society, within and for the Diocese of Ohio." We are solicitous that the parent society should be supported by numerous auxiliaries, thus enabling it to perpetuate the blessings of our holy faith.
The following is from the parish records :
Christ Church, Cincinnati .- Families, 76; communicants, (added 4, died 2,) 45; baptisms, 12; marriages, 6; funcrals, 17; Sunday school scholars, 130; catechu- mens, 31.
Rev. Mr. Morse reports to the Bishop as follows :-
That he continued to attend alternately, the parish of St. James' Church, Zanesville, and St. Paul's, Steubenville, until January last, when he relinquishcd the pastoral care of the former, and confined his services chiefly to the latter. Since Easter he has taken charge of St. James' Church, Cross Creek, (vacant by the resignation of the Rev. Doct. Doddridge,) under an engagement to officiate therc one-fourth of the time during the present year, the remainder to be devoted to Steubenville; in which place, the upper part of the Academy has been fitted up for public worship.
St. Paul's Church, Steubenville .- Families, 30; communicants, (added 12, re- moved 2,) 50.
St. James' Church, Zanesville .- Communicants, (added 4, removed 4,) 30; bap- tisms, (33 children, 1 adult,) 34; marriage, 1; funerals, 3.
By reason of illness during a part of last season, the services of Mr. M. were somewhat circumscribed; by the divine blessing, however, he was enabled to organize two parishes in Coshocton county, the one by name of St. Matthew's Church, in Perry township, and the other St. Mark's Church, in Millcreek town- ship, each consisting of about twenty families.
Mr. M. has also officiated on Sundays, in Worthington, Pittsburgh, Circleville, and Union township; and on other days, in Chillicothe, Lancaster, Morristown, Springfield, Smithfield, together with some intermediate places.
The prospects of religion are generally encouraging; yet there is still great want of laborers in this part of the Lord's vineyard, for the prosperity, if not the very existence of the Church,-the ark of God's covenant.
Rev. Spencer Wall, Deacon, officiating at St. Thomas' Church, Dayton, and in Springfield, and Piqua, in addition to his former report observes :-
That he has baptized five persons, and celebrated three marriages ; and that the services of another clergyman are much needed in the Miami district.
The Rev. P. Chase, Jr., Deacon, reports to the Bishop as follows :-
That immediately after the last Convention, during the vacation of the institu- tion, then under his charge, he made a tour in the southern part of the State; preaching once at Circleville, once at Chillicothe, and thirice at Portsmouth; of which places he declined saying any thing, as they are now under the charge of the Rev. Mr. Kellogg. Mr. C. adds that he continued to supply the desk in Worthington, during the absence of the Rector, throughout the summer till the fall vacation in September; on the 21st of which month he left the State, to
70
Fifth Annual Convention
[JUNE,
prosecute his journey to the Eastward, and fulfill engagements with the Mission- ary Society of this Diocese; being absent till the 12th of March, 1822. On the subjects of this journey, he will report to the Missionary Society.
Shortly after his return, he visited the vacant parishes of Berkshire and Dela- ware, in each of which places, he officiated on Sunday. On the 19th April, he left this, on a tour to the southeastern part of the State-and on the 21st. held divine service, and preached in Newark; 22d, in Zanesville; 26th and 29th, in Marictta; 27th, in Union township; May 4th, in Malaga, Monroe county ; 5th, at Mr. Dement's, on Seneca creek; 6th, at Mr. Wendell's, on Little Beaver; 7th, at Morristown; 12th, at Steubenville, during the absence of the Rev. Mr. Morse; 15th, ncar Smithfield, at Mr. Finley's ; 19th, at Zanesville ; and on the 22d, rcached Worthington.
Mr. C. further reports that since his return from the Eastward, he has agrecd to take charge of the parish of St. James' Church, Zanesville, vacant by the removal of the Rev. Mr. Morse, as well as to open there a school for a small number of children.
Baptisms, (adults 4, infants 14,) 18; marriage, 1; funerals, 3.
The following report from the Trustees of the Bishop's Fund, forwarded to the Convention, was presented and read :
The undersigned, two of the Trustecs of the Bishop's Fund of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Ohio, report :
That since their appointment, in 1819, they have not thought it advisable, in consequence of the pecuniary pressure under which the country has been labor- ing, to address the circular letter to the Wardens and Vestrymen of the respective parishes in this Diocese, as required by the third resolution on that subject, of the Convention of 1819.
In discharging the duty assigned the Trustees by the fourth resolution of the same Convention, they petitioned the Legislature for an act of incorporation, in the winter of 1819-20; at which time a Bill was reported, and postponed to the next session of the Legislature. At the next session of the same body, the application was renewed and a law passed, incorporating "the Trustees of the Bishop's Fund of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the Dioccsc of Ohio;" a copy of which law, is hereunto annexed, for the information of the Convention.
The Trustees have held themselves in readiness to perform the duties required of them, by the second and fifth resolutions of the Convention of 1819; but as no donations, or conveyances of money or other property have been made to them by the parishes, or individuals, for the use of their trust, they have had no drafts upon their judgment or discretion, for its management or distribution, for the benefit of the Episcopal Fund. All which is respectfully submitted.
(Signed) JOHN C. WRIGHT, ! Trustees. JOHN MATTHEWS,
June 3, 1822.
" Copy of An Act to incorporate the Trustees of the Bishop's Fund of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Ohio.
"SEC. 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, That Benja- min Gardiner, John Matthews, and John C. Wright, and their successors in office, be and they are hereby created a corporation and body politic, by the name and style of the Trustees of the Bishop's Fund of the Protestant Episcopal Churchi of the Diocese of Ohio; by which name they shall be and are hereby made ca- pable of receiving, holding, and disposing of any estate, rcal or personal, which may be in them invested, for the support and maintenance of the Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church within the Diocese of Ohio; and by which name they may sue and be sued; and in relation to the property in them invested, do and perform every act necessary for the receiving, safe keeping, using, and dis- posing of the same to the best advantage: Provided, That the actual value of the property invested as aforesaid shall not exceed ten thousand dollars, nor the annual income thereof fifteen hundred dollars.
"SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, That the trustees of the Bishop's Fund of the Diocese of Ohio shall be elected triennially, by the Convention of the Diocese of Ohio, and shall continue in office until their successors are duly appointed. And this corporation shall, at all times, be subject to be altered, new modelcd, or re- pealed, as the General Assembly may decm useful : Provided, That no alteration, modification, or repeal, shall divert the use of said fund from its original desti- nation; which is hereby declared to be, making provision for the support of the Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church for the Diocese of Ohio. (Signed) JOSEPH RICHARDSON, Speaker of the House of Representatives. January 24, 1821. ALLEN TRIMBLE, Speaker of the Senate."
71
of the Diocese of Ohio.
1822.]
On motion,
Resolved, That this Convention do accept and adopt the act of the Legislature of the State of Ohio, passed in General Assembly the 24th day of January, 1821, entitled " An act to incorporate the Trustees of the Bishop's Fund of the Protes- tant Episcopal Church of the Diocese of Ohio."
The Convention adjourned till 8 o'clock to-morrow morning.
THURSDAY, JUNE 6TH, 8 O'CLOCK, A. M.
The Convention assembled pursuant to adjournment. Present as yesterday. Divine service was performed by the Rt. Rev. the Bishop.
On motion,
Resolved, That trustees of the Bishop's Fund, for three years next ensuing, be now elected.
Upon which, Mr. John Matthews, Putnam; Mr. Noah M. Bronson, Medina ; and Mr. Zaccheus Biggs, Cincinnati, were, by ballot, duly elected to the said office.
On motion,
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to take into consideration the act incorporating the trustees of the Bishop's Fund, and to report to this Convention such measures of instruction for the trustees as they may dcem most proper.
Whereupon, Messrs. R. Douglas, G. W. Doan, and A. Nye, were appointed.
Resolved, That the Convention now proceed to clect four clergymen and four laymen as the Standing Committee for the ensuing year.
The following persons were accordingly elected : The Revs. Roger Searle, Medina; Samuel Johnston, Cincinnati ; Intrepid Morse, Steubenville ; and Thomas Osborne, Cincinnati. Mr. William Little, Delaware ; Bezaleel Wells, Steubenville ; Noah M. Bronson, Medina ; and Arory Buttles, Worthington.
Voted, That there be a recess of the Convention, in order to attend the first anniversary meeting of the Missionary Society of the Diocese of Ohio. (Sce Appendix.)
[THURSDAY, 4 O'CLOCK, P. M.
The Convention met, 4 o'clock, p. m.
Resolved, That the eleventh article of the Constitution of the Missionary Society, as amended at the anniversary meeting, be approved of, and adopted by the Convention.
The committee appointed "to take into consideration the act incorporating the Trustees of the Bishop's Fund, and to report such measures of instruction for the trustees as they may deem most proper," report : That there appears to your
72
Fifth Annual Convention
[JUNE,
committee to be some imperfection in the act for the incorporation of the Trus- tees of the Bisoop's Fund, in this-that no provision is made in said act for filling vacancies, which may occur by death, resignation, or otherwise, in said board, within the triennial period; they therefore recommend that the Convention adopt the following resolution : .
Resolved, That the trustees of said fund be requested to apply to the Legislature so to amend said act, as that all vacancies, occurring in said board during the recess of the Convention, may be filled by the Bishop; and that the trustees, so appointed by him, shall hold their places until the next annual Convention there- after, when the Convention shall proceed to fill such, or any, vacancies which shall have occurred.
(Signed)
GUY W. DOAN, ARIUS NYE, RICHARD DOUGLAS.
The above report was read and adopted by the Convention.
Resolved, That this Convention acknowledge, with the warmest gratitude, the liberal donations of their brethren in the Atlantic States, to the Missionary Society of this Diocese, under [the] patronage of the Convention, for the support of mis- sionaries therein; and they trust, by the blessing of the Great Head of the Church, this liberality will redound to the lasting benefit of our infant Zion, and to the welfare of immortal souls.
The Convention adjourned till 8 o'clock to-morrow morning.
FRIDAY, JUNE 7, 8 O'CLOCK, A. M.
The Convention assembled pursuant to adjournment. Divine service was performed by the Bishop.
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed, to take measures for the publication of the Journals of the present Convention, the proceedings of the Missionary Society at their late anniversary, and the Pastoral Letter of Bishop Chase, delivered at the opening of the Convention.
Whereupon, the Rt. Rev. Philander Chase, Ezra Griswold, Esq., and Dr. Noah Spalding, were appointed.
Resolved, That the parishes which have not yet forwarded the sums assessed by the Convention of 1821, for defraying the expenses of stationery and printing, be, and they hereby are, earnestly requested to forward the same to Ezra Gris- wold, Worthington, or to Noah Spalding, Delaware.
The Convention adjourned without day.
PHILANDER CHASE,
Bishop of the P. E. Church in the Diocese of Ohio.
Attest :
INTREPID MORSE, Secretary.
* The next annual Convention will be held at Worthington, on the first Wednesday in June, 1823.
73
of the Diocese of Ohio.
1822.]
APPENDIX.
A PASTORAL LETTER, OF
JUNE THE 5TH, 1822.
A PASTORAL LETTER, to the members of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Ohio, will be predicated on the words of St. Paul to the Ephesian Christians, then under his spiritual care. These may be seen in his Epistle to them, at the 6th chapter and 13th verse :
" Take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day."
This Epistle was written in times of great trial and spiritual danger ; when the world frowned on the infant Gentile Church; when all the passions of our cor- rupted nature openly opposed its progress ; and the apostate spirits were exerting their utmost efforts to strangle Christianity in its cradic.
Did any then begin to lend a listening ear to the small still voice of divine truth, preached by the humble ministers of a crucified Lord ? The majority were in arms against them, because they followed not the multitude to do evil. Honor and power were at their command ; and should such be sharers in these, as taught mankind, that neither honor nor power could be enjoyed but in subserviency to the laws of the true God of heaven and earth ? The world had owned nature for their God ; and could they be countenanced, who taught that nature was despe- rately corrupted by sin, and must be regenerated by the Holy Spirit, and trained up to heavenly-mindedness ? The unrestrained indulgence of their passions had been deified, and, in every shape, had received their religious adoration ; and could Christians be suffered to live whose doctrines would demolish the altars of corruption, and persuade men to submit unto a religion of abstinence and self- denial, of purity and lioliness ?
Satan had betrayed them into endless error, by his pretended oracles of divina- tion ; and should they escape the most direful vengeance, who, on the very threshold of their religion, in their baptismal engagements, renounced the devil and all his works ; who abjured all mystic enchantments,-all appeals to Delphic Oracles,-all regard to false miracles and false propliecies ? Should men, whose religion in its first principles abjured all these, (the sweet means of governing the ignorant and of subjecting the world to the artful and thic cunning,) be ex- empted from the keenest sword of persecution ? Would not Satan guard his prey like a vulture, and indiscriminately destroy all who disputed his empire ?
And what had the disciples of the meek and humble Jesus, to defend thiem- selves against such cnemies as tlicse ? Even that, and that only, which is men- tioned by the Apostle-the whole "armor of God," the pure religion of their Lord; a religion of divine truth ; a religion of love and good will towards men- of faith in the promises of God, and of obedience to all his commands ; a religion of true hope and true fear-hope of a blessed immortality after this painful life is ended, and of fear lest this hope should be lost, throughi defection and sin ; a religion of prayer to the true God and of trust in his divine aid, that amidst all the changes and chances of this mortal life, they might serve him with an undi- vided affection, and, under his almighty protection and through his infinite mercy, be received into eternal joy. This is the sum of that religion which Christ Jesus bequeathed to his faithful disciples ; this that divine armor which lic left to liis Church, and with which the Holy Apostle exhorts the Eplesian Christians ever to keep themselves clothed, in all the exigencies of their spiritnal warfare. 10
74
Fifth Annual Convention
[JUNE,
That the like exhortation is necessary in the Christian church at the present day, is but too apparent. What though the Enemy has been foiled in his open attempts to destroy the Church of God, yet has he not other means equally suited to his purpose ? The sword of persecution has been sheathed; the wood of the cross, on which so many thousands of Christians expired in agony, has crumbled to dust ; the flame which wrapt the bodies and received the last sigh of expiring martyrs, has been long since extinguished ; yet the danger is not over ; the con- flict still subsists between the Church and her enemies. Her destruction, and the ruin of her children, are still sought, though the means are changed. Instead of an open foe, we have now an insidious traitor ; instead of the roaring lion, devour- ing in open day, we have now the serpent, with all his wiles, beguiling the unwary, flattering the vain, feeding the avaricious, inflating the proud, instiga- ting the malicious, and offering indulgence to the voluptuous. Against such a foe, must the Church of Christ now contend-a foe which surrounds the camp of God, like " the mixed multitude " which attended Israel from Egypt to Canaan -a foe which serves the Church but to destroy her children. Against a foe like this, it behooves the ministers of God to warn you to be most constantly on your guard; and, that your vigilance may be effectual, it is also their duty to expose the various expedients used from time to time by the enemy, to deceive and to destroy. To this end they must warn you, ever to bear in mind the grand dis- tinctions between the world and the Church-of that world which you renounced at your baptism, and of the Holy Community into which you were then admitted, to train you for future happiness.
The world, as such, is full of wickedness, as the waters cover the sea. Its every sentiment is formed on principles directly opposed to those which should govern the Christian. All its opinions and practices are the reverse of the Church of God; and whatever shape they come in, whether in the array of an open enemy to persecute us for our principles, or in the garb of a friend to seduce us from our duty, they must be resisted.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.