USA > Ohio > Journals of the annual conventions of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Ohio > Part 14
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The Rev. JOHN HALL, Minister of St. Peter's Church, Ashtabula.
LAY DELEGATES.
Christ Church, Cincinnati-Jamcs A. Fox.
St. Matthew's Church, Hamilton-Robert Jones.
St. Paul's Church, Medina-John Clark and Noah M. Bronson.
St. Peter's Church, Delaware-Robert L. Webb and Robert Jamison.
Trinity Church, Columbus-W. K. Lampson.
St. Paul's Church, Steubenville-Joseph Beatty.
St. Peter's Church, Morristown-Dr. Charles Wetmore.
St. James' Church, Zanesville-Ozias Burr.
St. Paul's Church, Chillicothe-Robert Kerchival and P. F. Kellogg.
Christ Church, Beaver, Guernsey Co .- John M. Jones.
St. John's Church, Worthington-Arory Buttles and Christopher Ripley. St. Philip's Church, Circleville-Walter Thrall and Daniel G. Noble.
WORTHINGTON, JUNE 4TH, 1823.
THIS being the time and place appointed for the meeting of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of Ohio, several of the clerical and lay delegates attended, at half-past 10 o'clock, in the hall of the College edifice.
* " T. Wilson, Printer, Cincinnati."
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Divine service was conducted by the Rev. Roger Searle ; and after an address, and the administration of the Holy Communion by the Bishop, the following Clergy took their seats :
The Right Reverend Philander Chase, D.D.,
Rev. Roger Searle, Rev. Samuel Johnston,
Rev. Intrepid Morse,
Rev. Philander Chase, Jr.,
Rev. Ezra B. Kellogg,
Rev. John Hall.
The following Lay Delegates presented certificates of their respective appointments, and took their seats :
Joseph Beatty, James A. Fox,
Robert Jones,
Joseph L. Webb, Robert Jamison,
William K. Lampson,
Charles Curtis, Esq., Dr. Chas. W. Wetmore, Ozias Burr,
Noah M. Bronson, Esq., John Clark,
Robert Kerchival,
P. F. Kellogg,
John M. Jones.
Agreeably to the 45th Canon of the General Convention of 1808, providing for an accurate view of the state of the Church, from time to time, the Rt. Rev. Bishop Chase delivered the fol- lowing Address :
DEAR BRETHREN IN THE LORD : Most sincerely do I thank God, the author of all goodness, that he hath been pleased to permit me once more to meet you in Convention.
The gracious direction of God's Holy Spirit having been implored on our pres- ent work, in the preceding service, it is now my duty to address you on the subject of your duties, and of the state and exigencies of the Diocese in general.
As this Convention, by the Constitution of the American Church, is made to consist of "Clergy and Laity," I shall avail myself of this distinction to address each order; laying before them, separately, the subjects deemed most worthy of consideration : and closing all with a statement of my official duties, accompa- nied with some appropriate remarks.
First, then, I address you, my brethren of the Clergy.
If I were asked to name the most compendious method of bringing home to my heart, and stirring up my affections to a due sense of my duties, as a Chris- tian Bishop, I should not hesitate in declaring that method to be a clear and un- reserved statement of the solemn service which took place at my consecration. May I not suppose that the like mind is in you, in relation to the degree of the Christian ministry committed to your charge ? Of all the means left us to stir up the grace of God, given unto us by the imposition of hands, perhaps there is none greater than that of recurring to the first principles of the clerical character, to see what duties God laid upon us, and what solemn promises we made before Him and His Church, when we were ordained. Accordingly, we find that the clergy have been often most earnestly exhorted, not only statedly to read over their ordination vows, but to do it with fasting and prayer ; especially on the anniver- sary of their ordination. The good Bishop Wilson, that pattern of godly living, more perfect, perhaps, than any other of his day, held himself bound to this duty, and earnestly enjoined it on his clergy. And it is believed by many, that it was his conscientious regard unto this means of grace, and his strict perform- ance of this duty, which made his life so pious, and that of his clergy so signally blessed to the salvation of many souls.
Prompted by these considerations, I have determined to call up, and consider, (what I hope you never forget), that most solemn service wherein, by the grace of God, you were admitted to Holy Orders. And here I would apprise you, that, though the most of you have attained to the dignity of presbyters in the Church of Christ, and it is to that degree I mean to direct your chief attention; yet, as some of you are deacons, and some lere present are only candidates for that office, I shall take into view, first of all, the question on the presentation of a candidate for the Holy Order of Deacons. It was then demanded of you by the embassador of Christ, in his name: " Do you trust that you are inwardly moved by the Holy Ghost, to take upon you this office and ministration, to serve God
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for the promotion of His glory, and the edifying of his people ?" To this you answered in the affirmative. Here we would observe, that, though it be granted that these words, do you trust, do not imply that you felt such miraculous impres- sions of the Holy Spirit on your minds, as were distinguishable from all other sensations of duty; yet, the least that can be made of them is, that you felt fully persuaded this was your duty ; and that for this persuasion you had good evidence, not of your own opinion only, but such as the word of God (which alone can distinguish between false and true persuasions) could and doth justify, viz: that your life exemplify a heart of sincerity and piety-of faith towards God, and obedienec to his commands. Without this evidence, no man has any reason to believe himself moved by the Holy Spirit of God to assume the ministry. And if he do so assume it, to the sin of usurpation he addeth the dreadful crime of perjury. This, as I observed, is saying the least of the nature of that profession demanded of every candidate on the very threshold of the ministry. If the min- isters of Christ are not good men, they contradict the very nature of their calling, and prove, in a sense too awful to name, that they lied, and continue to lie, to the Holy Ghost. For, how can they be said to be moved by the Holy Ghost to take upon them the office and ministration to serve God, promote his glory, and edify his people, whose main employment is to serve the world, to promote their temporal welfare, and, by their loose and ungodly example, to pull down and destroy the Church of God? Awful must be the account which such must give to that Holy Saviour into whose service they have, thus unbidden, obtruded, whose name they have so often taken in vain, and whose cause they have so essentially injured.
But, we trust, dear brethren, that it is otherwise with you. In examining your hearts and lives, we have good hope that you find the evidence of sincerity and piety. of faith and good works, which the gospel so evidently requires, as the only ground to give ease to your conscience on this important head.
But to be good men is not sufficient evidence that the design of the institution of the Christian ministry has been fulfilled in you. The office, especially that of Presbyter, is of great dignity, and the duties which it imposes are important and numerous. These are set forth in the preparatory exhortation preceding the promises in "the ordaining of Priests ;" and this exhortation is so important and heart-piercing in its nature, and so essential to the right understanding of the extent of the ministerial duties, that it would be unpardonable in my present work not to recite it. And in reciting it, I beg you, my brethren, to consider it as now once more brought to your minds and hearts, as if newly dictated by the Divine Providence for your benefit. Now, again, "we exhort you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye have in remembrance into how high a dignity, and to how weighty an office and charge, ye are called. That is to say, to be Messengers, Watchmen and Stewards of the Lord : to teach and premonish, to feed and to provide for the Lord's family ; to seek for Christ's sheep that are dis- persed abroad, and for his children who are in the midst of this naughty world, that they may be saved through Christ forever. Have always, therefore, printed in your remembrance how great a treasure is committed to your charge. For they are the sheep of Christ, which he bought with his death, and for whom he shed his blood. The Church and congregation whom ye must serve, is his spouse and his body. And if it shall happen that the same Church, or any member thereof, do take any hurt or hindranec, by reason of your negligence, ye know the greatness of the fault, and also the horrible punishment that will ensue. Wherefore, consider with yourselves the end of the ministry towards the children of God, towards the spouse and body of Christ; and see that ye never cease your labor, your care and diligence, until ye have done all that lieth in you, according to your bounden duty, to bring all such as are, or shall be, committed to your charge, unto that agreement in the faitli and knowledge of God, and to that ripc- ness and perfectness of age in Christ, that there be no place left among you either for error in religion, or for viciousness in life.
"Forasmuch, then, as your office is both of so great excellency, and of so great difficulty, ye see with how great care and study ye ought to apply yourselves, as well to shew yourselves dutiful and thankful unto that Lord who hath placed yon in so high a dignity; as also to beware that neither yon yourselves offend, nor be occasion that others offend. Howbeit, ye cannot have a mind and will thereto of yourselves ; for that will and ability is given of God alone: therefore ye onght, and have need, to pray earnestly for his Holy Spirit. And seeing that ye cannot by any other incans compass the doing of so weiglity a work, pertaining to the salvation of man, but with doctrine and exhortation taken out of the Holy Scrip- tures, and with a life agreeable to the same; consider how studious ye ought to be in reading and learning the Scriptures, and in framing the manner both of yourselves, and of them specially pertaining to you, according to the rule of the same Scriptures : and for this self-same cause, how ye ought to forsake and set aside, as much as ye may, all worldly cares and studies.
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" We have good hope that ye have well weighed these things with yourselves long before this time, and that ye have clearly determined, by God's grace, to give yourselves wholly to this office, whereunto it hath pleased God to call you; so that, as much as lieth in you, ye will apply yourselves wholly to this one thing, and draw all your cares and studies this way; and that ye will continually pray to God the Father, by the mediation of our only Saviour, Jesus Christ, for the heavenly assistance of the Holy Ghost; that, by daily reading and weighing the Scriptures, ye may wax riper and stronger in your ministry ; and that ye may so endeavor yourselves, from time to time, to sanctify the lives of you and yours, and to fashion them after the rule and doctrine of Christ, that ye may be whole- some and godly examples and patterns for the people to follow."
This, my dear brethren, was a fair explication of the duty and office which you were about to take on you, when, standing before God, you were made Presbyters of the Church of Christ. To this you assented, not only by a silent conformity, but by vows the most awful and explicit, taken as in the presence of God and his whole Church, in what immediately followed.
For the express purpose that "your promises might the more move you to do these your duties," you did "answer plainly" to your Bishop, calling upon you, "in the name of God and his Church," that " you did think in your heart that you were truly called, according to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the canons of this Church, to the order and ministry of the Priesthood."
Under these solemnities you did declare, "you were persuaded that the Holy Scriptures contain all doctrine required as necessary for eternal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ; and that you were determined, out of the said Scriptures, to instruct the people committed to your charge, and to teach nothing as neces- sary to cternal salvation but that which you should be persuaded may be con- cluded and proved by the Scriptures."
Before God and liis Church, you did then promise and vow, that, by the grace of God, you "would give your faithful diligence always so to minister the doc- trinc, and sacraments, and discipline of Christ, as the Lord liath commanded, and as this Church hath received the same, according to the commandments of God, so that you might teach the people, committed to your care and charge, with all diligence to keep and observe the same."
You did then, in the presence of God and his Church, solemnly vow that, by the help of the Lord, "you would be ready, with all faithful diligence, to banish and drive away from the Church, all erroncous and strange doctrines contrary to God's word; and to use both public and private monitions and exhortations, as well to the sick as the whole, within your cures, as need should require and occa- sion should be given."
You did then vow, that, by the grace of God, "you would be diligent in prayers and in reading the Holy Scriptures, and in such studies as help to the knowledge of the same; laying aside the study of the world and the fleslı."
You did then vow, that, the Lord being your helper, "you would be diligent to frame and fashion your ownselves and families according to the doctrine of Christ ; and to make both yourselves and them, as much as in you lieth, wholesome ex- amples and patterns to the flock of Christ."
You did then promise and vow, that, the Lord being your helper, "you would maintain and set forward, as much as lieth in you, quietness, peace, and love among all Christian people, and especially among them that are or shall be com- mitted to your charge."
Finally, you did then, under the same solemnities, promise that, by the grace of God, "you would reverently obey your Bishop and other chief ministers, who, according to the canons of the Church, may have the charge and government over you ; following, with a glad mind and will, their godly admonitions, and submitting yourselves to their godly judgments."
All this you did promise and vow; and that each and every part of this most solemn transaction was on your part done in sincerity and truth, without any reservation, prevarication, or self-evasion of mind whatsoever, the divine blessing was invoked upon you in these most solemn and pious words by the Bishop:
" Almighty God, who hath given you this will to do all these things, grant also unto you strength and power to perform the same; that he may accomplish liis work which he hath begun in you, through Jesus Christ our Lord."
These, brethren, are your ministerial duties, and this a faithful recital of the obligations which you took upon you, when admitted to the dignity of the priest- hood. They are too plain to need a comment-too solemn to need enforcing.
The only thing to be feared is, that amidst the cares and vexations of this mor- tal life, we suffer them, at any time, to escape our memory, and thus sin against God and violate our oaths, as effectually by negligence, as by willful transgres- sion. Precious and important as is the treasure of the Christian ministry, yet we must ever remember that we bear about with us this treasure in earthen vessels, of
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whose frailty, especially that of negligence, if we be not constantly mindful, we may lose our own souls and those of many who are committed to our charge.
Suffer, then, the word of exhortation, I beseech you. Let no suspicion of even a remote personality deprive that exhortation of its due effeet. Keep ever printed on your conseious minds, the full nature and extent of your ordination vows. To which end, often peruse them ; and as in the presence of the heart-searching God, often ask your own hearts, without partiality or reservation, for the sincerity with which you are bound to fulfill them. Above all, as the year rolls round and brings to your enjoyment another anniversary of the day of your ordination, resolve to dedieate it in serious meditation on the past, and holy resolutions for the time to come. Wherein you have been remiss, or, at the expense of duty, consulted personal ease, worldly interest or passion, there implore, in humble prayer and unostentatious fasting, the divine forgiveness, through Jesus Christ; and never cease your supplications to this effeet, till you feel your prayer answer- ed in the grace of God, giving you holy and steadfast purposes of amendment for the future. In short, keep your vows, as Christian ministers, always on your minds and hearts, and God will give you grace to fulfill them, to the edifying of his Church, and the saving of your own souls.
DEAR BRETHREN OF THE LAITY: In addressing you of this Convention, it is understood that I am addressing the members and friends of our communion throughout the Diocese.
Appointed by the Providenee of God to preside over you in the character of a Father to the family of Christ, there would be reason deeply to lament my great insensibility, if the relation which I bear to you did not eall forth the tenderest solicitude for your welfare ; especially that which relates to the salvation of your souls. Redeemed by the blood of Christ, you constitute a eharge, of all things the most precious, of which, if I am not in some degree sensible, words would be wanting to show my crime. You will therefore believe the assurance which I now most solemnly give you, that to be instrumental in seeuring the end of your redemption in the final salvation of your souls, is my best and highest wish : a wish which by day often rises into prayer, and by night, in anxious visions, visits my pillow. But how to be this instrument, and how to accomplish this wish, forms my greatest anxiety. The means of grace are before you, 'tis true; but how to persuade you to use them aright, is the difficulty. The Holy Bible is in your hands, but who ean ineline your hearts to read it with attention ? Sermons are preached in your ears, but who shall give them that saving efficacy by which your hearts may be convineed of sin and converted unto holiness? The saera- ments are often administered to many, and before the most of you; but who shall so bless them, as, on the one hand, to exeite you to their constant use, and on tlie other, to shield them from abuse and profanity? God's providenee is always before you, in governing the world, in giving you fruitful seasons, in filling your hearts with food and gladness, in warning you by the death of others to be mind- ful of your own; but who shall awaken-oh! who shall subdue your eallous hearts rightly to improve that providence to the salvation of your souls ? As God alone ean do this, to Him only ean I look for aid, for power and direction, to make my labors, and those of my dear brethren of the ministry, of any use to you.
Fruitless, however, will be the prayers as well as the endeavors of the ministers of Christ, unless you also ean be exeited to pray for yourselves. Prayer is to the soul what eulture is to the soil : it fits and prepares it both to receive the seed of God's word, and to render the dews and showers of heavenly graee availing. To this one point of duty, therefore, I would eall your attention; for, without it, as you perceive, all the means of grace which you enjoy will be as if they never were. Pray, then, for yourselves, or the prayers of others will be lost upon you. In seeret, beg God to give you a sense of your sins, and shew you your undone condition by nature; or the offers of pardon made to you in the gospel, will have no power to excite your love. Commenee and continue the worship of God in your families, or God will not eommenee nor continue his work of grace to tlie salvation of yourselves and households.
On the morning and evening lesson, read with solemnity, according to the ap- pointment of the Church, never cease to implore the heavenly blessing, that God, ' who hath caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning, would be pleased to direet and sanctify your hearts, that you may so read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of his holy word, you may embrace and ever hold fast tlie blessed hope of everlasting life." When prayers are offered up to God, and his praises celebrated in public, never cease, I beseech you, to join, with your hearts and voiees, in the solemn duty. Be not among those wlio, when appearing before God, refuse to perform the pious part assign- ed them; or those that think a eold, outward conformity is all that is required.
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Remember that elose attention and unfeigned devotion are the indispensable requisites to make the beauty of our worship "the beauty of holiness."
If you complain of lukewarmness in your devotions, let the danger which these complaints suggest, prompt you to pray God to give you a heart to pray. If your sins present themselves in array against you, and attempt to stifle the voice of prayer, fly as those who are perishing, to the bosom of your Saviour, who once bore your sins on the cross, and now, if you put your trust in him, is ever ready to relieve you from your burthen. Ten thousand times better is the case of him who feels his sins weighing him down to the earth, if they cause him to smite upon his breast and cry, " God be merciful to mc a sinner," than that of him who, however he may "thank God that he is not as other men are," yet by his life and conversation shows that faith and piety are not his ruling principles. Beg God, then, to make you feel your sins; and his mercy will hear your prayers, when crying for forgiveness. In hearing sermons, never content yourselves with barely hearing. As you go along with the preacher, and approve of what is said, sin- ccrely, though silently, offer unto God the fervent wish, the devout ejaculation, that the God of grace would bless his word and impress its truth upon your hearts. The sermon, otherwise, however true and excellent in itself, will do you little good. All that is said will be meant for others, and not for you : your taste may critieise, but your hearts will be none the better.
Hear, then, the sum of all I'd say to you. Sincerely say your prayers to God through Jesus our Lord. Begin to pray, and you will cease to sin. Continue instant-faint not in this holy duty-and God will own you for his children, his family and his Church here on earth; and in the world to come, he will crown you with eternal glory.
DEAR BRETHREN OF THE CLERGY AND LAITY: Having spoken thus frecly and sincerely, though very briefly, of your dutics, it remains to speak of those which God has enabled me to perform since our last meeting. In an address of this nature, to mention my own embarrassments might want deeorum, were it not necessary to state the cause of neglecting so great a portion of my Diocese.
Painful as it has been to my feelings to leave the north part of the State for two summers without an Episcopal visitation, yet my health, and the want of pecu- niary means of traveling, not permitting it, I am sure of your forbearance from censure; and I hope, also, the Great Head of the Church will not record the omis- sion as a sin against me.
On June 9th, the Sunday next succeeding the last Convention at Worthington, I admitted Messrs. John Hall and Rufus Murray to the Holy Order of Deacons; and on the same day, at the same place, I administered the apostolic rite of con- firmation to 12 persons. On the Wednesday following, viz., the 12th of June, 1822, I admitted the Rev. Ezra B. Kellogg to the Holy Order of Priests, in St. Paul's Church, Chillicothe.
On the 15th, Saturday, I was at Portsmouth, and performed divine service and preached in the evening. Next day, Sunday, read morning and evening prayers, preached two sermons, and confirmed six persons. The sacraments of the Lord's supper and baptism also were administered.
On the 19th of June, I was at Chillicothe, and performed divine service and preached in the evening. Sunday, the 23d, at Worthington, and performed the ordinary duties. The 28th, on Alum creek, and performed the burial service. Sunday, the 30th, I was too much indisposed in bodily health to leave my dwelling.
July the 1st, though in ill health, I set off for the south.
July 2d, I preached and performed divine service in Springfield; and, on the 3d, did the same at Dayton. Sunday, the 7th, I preached in Cincinnati three times.
Previously to my visiting the last mentioned place, I had received letters from the Trustees of Cincinnati College, signifying my election to the presidency; and now, finding that this appointment had not only been unanimous, but that it was urged on my acceptance with assurances of its being consistent with the perform- ance of my Episcopal duties, as far, and perhaps farther, than for the want of the means of traveling would otherwise be permitted, I thought proper to accept it. The kind treatment I have hitherto experienced, and the field opened to me by these means of being constantly useful to the rising generation, are circum- stances which, though attended with some sacrifices, are calculated to afford agreeable prospects. The measure is at the disposal of a merciful Providence: I pray that it may be for good.
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