USA > Ohio > Journals of the annual conventions of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Ohio > Part 17
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Our Missionary Society, which convened upon the adjournment of the Conven- tion, was originally constituted for the purpose of supplying, in some measure, the ealls of our congregations for ministers. Upon opening the meeting of this Society, our prayers were offered to God for a blessing on our humble efforts; and we may well hope he heard us in heaven, his dwelling place, and mercifully forgave our manifold sins ; for he directed our hearts and minds to the only source from whence relief could be obtained.
An apparently trivial incident had suggested to us that when the fountains in our own country were dried up, or insufficient; when a famine of the means to sustain our Church threatened us with desolation; there was a blessed land to which a man of God might fly,-a land in which, though continually munificent to all, the barrel of meal and the cruise of oil had never failed.
To this land were we directed ; and to this land our Missionary Society resolved to send a messenger, and make known our wants. The circumstances which prevented the person appointed from proceeding on the mission, and my own determination to supply his place, are well known to you all; as also the unex-
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pected objections urged against the measure by many of our eastern brethren, and the obstructions and difficultics thrown in our way. But of these I will not spcak further : they are passed; they have been happily surmounted; the errors in which they were founded have been dissipated ; and I trust we shall no longer remember them, except as chastening afflictions permitted only for our spiritual good.
When a resolution is once formed, evidently in accordance with the word of God, and sustained by a consciousness of divine direction, it is no subject of regret that the efforts to carry it into execution are surrounded with apparent difficulties. It makes us feel our dependence to be on God alone; and, when crowned with suecess, it makes the glory more conspicuously His. We have many examples of this in [the] Holy Scriptures. David went not forth to fight Goliah clad in the armor of Saul, nor bearing his sword or his spcar. The armor of faith, the shepherd's sling. and a stonc from the brook, were abundantly suffi- cient, when directed by the God of Israel, to destroy his enemy and work salva- tion to his people. Gideon, with a few, discomfited an host more surely than he would have done with many. Jonathan and his armor bearer, confiding in the power of God, put to flight an army of aliens. And a few loaves and small fishes were enough, in the hands of the Lord, to fecd five thousand.
With this simple and undisguised dependence on God, was the mission to Old England undertaken; and most signally has our trust in Him been crowned with success. That great and generous people, from whom the most of us derive our origin, and who are spreading the Gospel throughout the world, received your messenger with kindness, heard the story of your wants with compassion, inves- tigated your plans with candor, examined carefully the objections urged against you, and finally determined in your favor and munificently contributed to your relief.
My powers are not equal to an enumeration of all the instances of kindness which were showered upon me; far less is it within the reach of my abilities to give a full estimate of that Fellowship which, in the bonds of our common Church, accompanied the rich gifts to our infant western Zion. Very pleasant, however, is the recollection thereof; their memory is embalmed in my heart; and it is a delight, more than a duty, thus officially to acknowledge them. Never was be- nevolence more disinterested; never was Christian zeal more active. Delicacy as well as generosity was the characteristic of our bencfaetors. The task of solicitation being assumed by the most respectable characters, the rich feasts of intellectual intercourse and Christian courteousness were everywhere spread before me. I deny to myself the pleasure of pronouncing, and to you that of hcaring, the names of our benefactors in this address, because I cannot, without offending their delicacy, speak of them as my heart prompts and they deserve.
Wherever I went, onc continued succession of hospitality, beneficence, and Christian communion, cheered my heart and elevated my opinion of my fellow men. God is merciful unto me, thought I, in giving me grace in the eyes of this people, whose God is the Lord, and whose kindness to me is the fruit of the Gos- pcl of pcace.
The hand of Divine Providence seemed visible in disposing and directing all things to promote our objcet, and to bless our efforts. Before our own thoughts had been directed to England for assistance, our existence as a Diocese, our labors and our necessities were known to some, and had excited towards us feelings of kindness and sympathy. I brought with mc from England a rich and well wrought set of Communion Plate for the chapel of our intended seminary, on the chief piece of which is the following inscription :
"A FLAGON, TWO CHALICES, TWO PATENS, AND COLLECTING PLATE. THIS COMMUNION PLATE WAS PURCHASED WITH A SUM OF MONEY WHICH THE LATE JOHN BOWDLER, EsQ., OF ELTHAM IN KENT, ENGLAND, APPROPRIATED TO THE USE OF THE
RIGHT REV. PHILANDER CHASE, D.D., BISHOP OF OHIO; AND WAS, BY THE BISHOP'S DESIRE, DEDICATED FOREVER TO THE SERVICE OF THIS CHAPEL. A. D. 1824."
John Bowdler, Esq., whose name is thus connected with our infant Seminary, and whose memory we shall ever cherish with gratitude. dicd some months before my arrival in England. Previously to this event, the Rev. Dr. Jarvis, of Boston, 15
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had communicated to the Scotish Bishops an account of our newly-formed Dio- cese, and of its interesting condition.
This information Mr. Bowdler received through the Scottish Bishops, while on his death-bed; and was thus moved to leave behind him a memorial of his regard for the Church in the wilderness. I am induced to mention this one of many instances of providential interposition in our favor, because the liberal donor, having departed to receive his full reward, can be named without offence.
The amount of donations, I had reason to believe, before I left England, nearly equaled $20,000. This may not be exclusive of expenses and specific liberalities. Among the latter are the set of plate for the Holy Communion already alluded to; and another set, of smaller size, for the use of the Bishop and his successors, presented to him by a select number of his most affectionate friends.
The stereotype plates for the Common Prayer Book were nearly finished before I left London. The value of the books contributed is not exactly known; their number, before I returned, was about five hundred.
That interesting part of our plan, through which so much good is anticipated, the design of having a printing press attached to our Seminary, met with such general and cordial approbation in England, that separate funds for it also were set on foot. And though the amount of each subscription was limited to a guinea, yet a generous anxiety to subscribe made the sum, in a few weeks, nearly equal to our wants.
I had determined to follow the advice of some of my most sincere and judicious friends in England, to remain there until our object should have been fully ac- complished, but mature reflection convinced us that the good to be obtained by remaining abroad was evidently less than the evil to our Diocese at home. My thoughts were upon you, my dear brethren, and the scattered and languishing congregations which you represent. Many assurances, however, were most kindly afforded me before I left that country, that our cause should not suffer by my departure. "Though," said they, "you are obliged to leave us thus early. to assemble your Convention and to obtain your incorporating act, yet your friends, who are many, will not suffer your attention to the immediate and pressing wants of your Diocese to operate to the detriment of the Ohio fund. You shall have our prayers always, and to these we will add our exertions in your favor. Let your own people do but their duty, and our endeavors will not be wanting." These most animating assurances were given before I left England. Since my return they have been renewed to the same effect, in the most obliging manner, and by the best of persons.
The avails of the subscriptions in England are deposited in the hands of trus- tees-the Right Honorable Lords Kenyon and Gambier, the Rev. Dr. Gaskin, and Henry Hoare, Esq .- and not to be drawn for but upon certain conditions, and by the proper authorities. What these are, you will perceive by attending to the deed of donation, dated London, 27th November, 1823, which I shall lay before the Convention.
By that instrument it may be seen how foreign from my mind it has ever been to create any division in our Church, by making our Institution in any way in- dependent of the constitutional and canonical authorities. To the superintending control of the General Convention and House of Bishops, all our institutions of this nature ought to be subject. In case there is a departure from our landmarks, the Articles and Liturgy of our primitive Zion, a controlling power must be acknowledged in those to whom God in his providence hath committed it.
Thus have we brought the history of our affairs, in relation to the contempla- ted Seminary, to the present time. Our prospects and duties will next be con- sidered.
Our Seminary is to be incorporated by law, and the Trustees named in the act of incorporation. When and how to settle the question where to fix permanently this our favorite Institution, you, my Brethren, are better judges than myself. But one thing it is my duty to observe, that this question is too vast in its con- sequences, it is too holy in its nature, it involves the interests of too many thou- sand souls, to be determined hastily, without due consideration, or to admit, in the least, of local prejudices or sectional interest. Considering what has been done, the difficulties surmounted, and above all, the visibly interposing hand of Divine Providence in its favor, I presume there is not a person present but feels an awe when approaching a question involving its welfare, sufficient at once to annihilate every selfish consideration.
Wherever the real interests of the Church require, there, doubtless, it is your wish the Seminary should be fixed. To ascertain this, you will use the most proper means, and exercise your best judgment. And may the Almighty God, by the influences and directions of his Holy Spirit, make us unanimous, both in our measures and their result; and may these be for His glory and the good of His Church.
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BRETHREN :- It is my duty to state, in some part of this Address, my Episco- pal acts, and give a general view of the state of the Diocese sinee we last met.
At Worthington, on the fifth day of June, 1823, I admitted John M. Jones, now deceased, to the Holy Order of Deacons.
At Chillicothe, on the 8th day of June, 1823, I admitted the Rev. Philander Chase, Jr., now deceased, to the Holy Order of Priests.
At Cincinnati, on the 29th day of June, 1823, I admitted James A. Fox to the Holy Order of Deaeons
At Ashtabula, on the 31st day of August, 1823, I admitted the Rev. John Hall to the Holy Order of Priests.
The distressing sickness of the last mentioned person, which, as I have learned from others, has continued from last spring to the present time, deprives the Church, in that quarter, of his very valuable and greatly needed serviees. This, joined to our other afflictions, in the infant state of our Church, calls for a pecu- liar exercise of faith in God's wisdom, and resignation to His Sovereign will: Most earnestly do I beg the prayers of this Convention, and through them the prayers of all our brethren in the Diocese not present, in behalf of this our worthy brother and faithful servant in the vineyard of our common Lord.
The confirmations which I have administered are as follow :
In Christ Church, Cincinnati, on the 3d of August, 1823, I confirmed eight persons.
St. James' Church, Cross Creek, August 18th, seventeen.
St. Paul's Church, Steubenville, August 24th, eight.
St. James' Church, Boardman, August 27th, sixteen.
Christ Church, Windsor, August 29th, seventeen.
St. Peter's Church, Ashtabula, August 31st, twenty.
Since my return to Ohio, I have performed no act peculiarly Episcopal ; nor have I had time to collect sufficient information to afford a general view of the state of the Diocese.
The organization of a large and interesting Parish, in the month of January last, at Piqua, Miami county, excites our most grateful feelings, and prompts the fervent prayer that God would not, for our sins, suffer this light to go out ere he prepare and appoint faithful ministers to trim and cherish it; but that he would graciously cause it to send forth thie rays of his heavenly glory throughout our benighted land. With great pleasure, also, I have heard of many instances of zealous exertions, in some measure worthy of the goodness of the cause, and the distresses of our condition. In the parishes of St. Peter's Church, Morristown, Christ Church, Beaver, St. Luke's, Perry, and St. Matthew's, Mill Creek, churches are building. These, though of the humblest form, are an honor to the found- ers, and in regard to futurity, of the brightest promise. These little buildings in our woods are sure tokens of a blessing to the people in their present and future generations. They are as the Ark of the Covenant in the house of Obed-edom; and we trust experience will permit it to be said of them as of him, "The Lord hath blessed Obed-edom, and all his household, and all that pertaineth to him, because of the Ark of God."
There are at present two candidates for Holy Orders in this Diocese-Mr. Wil- liam Sparrow, admitted last year, and Mr. George Roe, admitted at the present Convention. Several others, cheered with the prospects before us, are prepared to enter our Seminary when established. Very lately I have received a letter from the Rev. James A. Fox, whom I ordained in the summer of 1823. It seems, that soon after his ordination, he returned to his family at Pinekneyville, Mississippi, where, and at Woodville, he has spent his time, occupied in the very laudable duties of teaching youth and preaching the word of God. The congregation formed through Mr. Fox's instrumentality in Woodville, have, in a praiseworthy manner, exerted themselves in erecting a Church, in dimensions forty-two by thirty-seven feet, built with a convenient vestry. At this place it is expected he will continue his very useful labors, till admited to Priest's orders. He gives me the information, which I have great pleasure in reiterating, that the parish be- longing to our communion at Natehez is in a flourishing state, under the eare of the Rev. Mr. Pilmore.
I have but one subjeet more to lay before you, and then I shall elose this address. The great utility to Christianity in general, and to this Dioeese in par- ticular, of a well condueted periodieal publication under the patronage of the Convention, has long oceupied my mind. The time to eommenee such a work, and with vigor, in a united effort, seems now to have come. Every great work wants a Book of Reeord in which to inscribe its proceedings; and of this, our Seminary should not, must not, be deprived.
It is my earnest desire, therefore, that a committee be appointed to consider the expedieney and utility of setting forth a prospeetus of such a publication at
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the present time, in order that, at the next Convention, all things may be in readiness for its immediate commencement.
That God may have our Church, especially the council of it now here assem- bled, in His holy keeping; that He may graciously forgive us our sins, and direct us in all our ways, and further us with his continual help, so that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in Him, we may glorify his holy name, and finally by his mercy, through Jesus Christ, obtain everlasting life, is the prayer of your affectionate Pastor,
PHILANDER CHASE.
CHILLICOTHE, November 3, 1824.
Convention adjourned till half past two o'clock, p. m.
[2] o'CLOCK, P. M.]
The Convention assembled pursuant to adjournment.
The Rev. Samuel Johnston was elected Secretary of the Con- vention.
Resolved, That the rules of order observed by this house in their last annual Convention, be now in force.
The Clergy were called on for their Reports, required by the 45th Canon of the General Convention, which were presented and read, and, as required by the said Canon, inserted on the Journals :
Rev. Mr. HALL, stationed in Ashtabula county, being prevented by severe ill- ness from attending the Convention, forwarded the following report, viz :
" Since the last Convention, I have performed forty-eight weeks' clerical labor. The whole amount of service for which I have received and expect to receive compensation from the people, is thirty-four weeks.
" I have performed fourteen weeks' Missionary labor, all within the county of Ashtabula, excepting one week on my return from Convention, and during my stay after the Convention at Worthington. The Missionary service performed in this county, I have divided between Ashtabula, Rome, and Sheffield. My time has been occupied in preaching and performing Divine Service, and administer- ing the sacraments, as occasion required, on Sundays. I have also preached occasional sermons on other days; but my principal business on week days, has been to visit families, catechise the children, and give familiar religious instruc- tion. My labors have, apparently, been well received, and I hope some good will, with the blessing of God, result therefrom."
Abstract of the Parochial and Missionary Report of the Rev. SAMUEL JOHN- STON, of Christ Church, Cincinnati :
The minister of this parish, although he has not the gratification to report to the Bishop much increase, either as it respects the congregation or communi- cants, is encouraged by the Divine promise, that the good seed already sown shall, in God's good time, bring forth abundantly.
The Sunday School continues its salutary effects in ameliorating the condition of the ignorant, poor, and destitute. Two classes have made considerable progress in giving a faithful account of the Pentateuch, and other historical por- tions of the Scriptures.
The children of the parishioners have recited the Church Catechism with great exactness, and the larger one by Bishop Mann ; and have been required to give an account of the sermons heard, the lessons, epistles and gospels for the day, and to memorize the selections of psalms, collects, and various prayers.
The last spring it was deemed judicious to form a parish library, from the consideration that many of the parishioners had on hand a number of books, which might be of service if generally circulated.
Christ Church, Cincinnati .- Families. 75: souls, 270; marriages, 6. Baptisms- infants and children, 36; adults, 3. Communicants-last year, 53; removals, 10; suspended, 1; withdrawn, 2; deaths, 3; additions, 13; present number, 50. Funerals, 22; Catechumens, 54; Sunday school scholars enrolled, 120.
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Since our last Convention, I have visited Lawrenceburg (Ind.) twice, and held services there three times.
At Little Step Stone, Ky., I preached a funeral discourse, and also held service in the evening.
In the Miami Country, I have made four tours, and preached in the following places, viz: Mill Creek once; Springfield four times, and baptized one child; Hamilton four times, and baptized two children; Troy four times; Lebanon twice ; Franklin once; Centerville once ; Dayton four times, and performed the funeral service ; Lower Piqua, preached seven times, baptized one child, and buried another; Upper Piqua, preached twice, married one couple, baptized nine children, and administered the Lord's Supper to about fifteen persons. The latter place is a peculiarly interesting parish. The people are kind, attentive, and desirous to have the services of our Church, to which they are remarkably attached. They have a large and neat edifice, three miles north of the town of Piqua, given by the liberality of a generous individual .* It is in contemplation to build a Church next summer in the town, it being more convenient to a ma- jority of the parishioners. A clergyman in a short time there, with diligent attention to his duties, might soon collect a large congregation, and liberal con- tributions might be calculated on in aid of his support.
Abstract of the Parochial and Missionary Report of the Rev. EZRA B. KEL- LOGG, of St. Paul's, Chillicothe :
Since the last Convention, Mr. K. made arrangements to officiate one-third of his time at All Saints' parish, Portsmouth, and two-thirds of his time at Chilli- cothe.
St. Paul's Church, Chillicothe .- Baptisms, 7. Communicants-removed, 7; added, 5; present number, 23. Marriages, 4. Funerals-infants, 4; adults, 8-12. All Saints' Church, Portsmouth .- Baptisms, (infants) 4. Communicants-re- moved, 1; added, 3; present number, 23. Funeral, 1.
Mr. K. performed a Missionary tour, both east and west from Chillicothe. He held divine service and preached one Sunday at each of the following places : Steubenville, Zanesville, Lexington, Cincinnati, Piqua, Delaware, and Worthing- ton. At the latter place he administered the communion. He preached besides, upon week days, at Wheeling, St. Clairsville, Hamilton, Dayton, Columbus and Circleville.
Abstract of the Parochial and Missionary Report of the Rev. INTREPID MORSE:
St. Paul's Church, Steubenville .- Number of families, 32; communicants, (re- moved 4, died 1, added 12) 55; baptisms, (infants) 12; funerals, 3; catechu- mens, 36.
St. James' Church, Cross Creek .- Number of families, 45; communicants (re- moved 5, died 2, added 30), 95; baptisms (infants 38, adults 3), 41 ; funerals, 2; catechumens, 25.
St. James' Church, Cross Creek, has been enlarged, and is now finished and ready for consecration. This congregation, one of the earliest organized in the Statc, is now numerous and flourishing ; through the Divine blessing considerable addition has been received to the number of communicants; and it is hoped, also, some increase of that Christian piety which is much better than numbers.
Mr. M. reports the following account of services by him performed beyond the limits of his parochial care, during the very destitute condition of the Churches since the last Convention, viz :
At Zanesville, performed divine service and preached nine Sundays and one evening, administered the Communion three times, and baptized eight children.
Marietta and vicinity, one Sunday, once on a week day, and baptized one infant. Worthington, on Christmas, three Sundays, and six evenings; administered the holy Communion once, and baptized three children and one adult.
Berkshire and Delaware, two Sundays, three evenings, and baptized two chil- dren.
Circleville, three evenings, and baptized two children.
Chillicothe, three Sundays, (one of which the Rev. Mr. Kellogg was absent,) and once on a week day.
Portsmouth, one Sunday, onc evening, and administered the communion.
Monroe and Guernsey counties, one Sunday, eight times on weck days, and baptized six children and one adult.
Coshocton county, two Sundays, cight times on weck days, and baptized eleven children.
Western Reserve, six Sundays, eiglitcen weck days, administered the com- munion twice, baptized three children, and attended two funerals.
* Col. John Johnston.
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Miami country, three Sundays, six evenings, baptized two children, and organ- ized the parish of St. James' Church, Piqua.
New Lisbon, Worcester and Mount Vernon, several times, (evenings,) and baptized four children.
Besides several other places, in some of which the services of the church had never before been performed.
Recapitulation .- Sundays, 34; other days or evenings, 73 ; baptisms. [infants, 42, adults, 2] 44; administered the communion in public 7, to the sick 3 times ; attended two funerals, and celebrated one marriage.
Abstract from the Parochial and Missionary Report made to the Bishop by the Rev. Mr. SEARLE :
There has been no material change in this part of the Diocese since the last Convention. The absence of the Rev. Mr. Murray, and the afflicting illness of the Rev. Mr. Hall, left the parishes very destitute.
STATE OF THE CHURCHES.
St. Paul's Church, Medina .- Families, 22; communicants, 21; baptisms, 11; marriages, 2 : funerals, 8.
St. John's Church, Liverpool .- Families, 11; communicants, 16; baptisms, 2; marriage, 1.
Trinity Church, Brooklyn .- Families, 13; communicants, 14; baptisms, 11.
Christ's Church, Windsor .- Families, 27; communicants, 35; baptisins, 7.
St. Paul's Church, Norwalk .- Families, 15; communicants, 10; baptisms, 5; marriage, 1.
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