USA > Ohio > Journals of the annual conventions of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Ohio > Part 19
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I introduce my address to you, my Brethren, on the subject of our Seminary, by this remark, with the triple intention that we may be exeited to gratitude for past mercies ; be apprised that difficulties still exist, and animated with holy courage to overcome them .- Of these each a little in its place.
Of past mercies, I told you something when we last met. Since that time I have been certified through numerous and most respectable channels, that the cause of our Seminary sct forth in " The Appeal in behalf of the Diocese of Ohio," lias continued to gain ground in the best affections of our English friends. Con- siderable accessions to the fund have been made, and the spirit of good will and Christian fellowship, which it was our object always to promote, was daily increasing. Scarcely a post has past without bringing some good tidings of great joy to our infant Seminary. The most encouraging words and deeds have been recited to me in letters from persons most eminent for private virtue and public station. Would that their loved and respected names could be here recited ! But you know them, and will embalm their kindness in your memories.
Aware that the sum already raised is short of what it would have been but for some events which took place to stop the flow of British kindness, our friends in England, deeply sensible of the importance of our plan of founding a Christian College containing all the means of full instruction for the gospel ministry, have given me good assurance that while our funds are accumulating both from their own interest and additional contributions, we shall receive at least what would equal their annual interest in separate benefactions meant for current use.
As to the remaining difficulties, there are none greater, we trust, than such as may arise from honest differences of opinion, and which, being discussed with a Christian spirit, we hope soon will vanish.
To determine the great question where our Seminary is to be established, I al- ways considered as a right belonging to the Convention : for by that body I un- derstand an assembly of men acting in the fear of God for the Diocese in general; free from prejudice, partial views and local interests-in short, an assemblage of the wisdom of the whole Diocese-of the Bishop-of the Clergy-and of the Laity.
As an integral part, therefore, of this body, I have thought it my duty to give this subject all the investigation and deliberation in my power; the result of which the same sense of duty now compels me to lay before you.
Before we enter on the consideration of any particular place, the proposals for the Seminary divide themselves into two classes, viz : those for town, and those for country places. Having come to this question with an unbiassed mind, I have,
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it is believed, investigated without prejudice, both these classes of proposals, and am fully of opinion that the latter has the preference, and for the following reasons :
1. In the country we can have the choice of a site most eligible for health, which is not always the case of our towns, as experience abundantly proves.
2. Wherever in the country our Seminary is placed, the lands for many miles around will greatly increase in value; and if they should be in a state of nature, that inerease, in the opinion of good judges, would be more than doubled. Should therefore the Seminary, by gift or otherwise, (previously to the determi- nation to fix absolute on any place) be certain of being the possessor of some thousands of aeres of the surrounding country, how surely and how innocently, yea, how justly might it share in the gains of which itself would thus be the pa- rent. Count these gains, and on the most moderate scale contrast them with the highest offer which any town will make, and the preference of fixing our Semi- nary in the country will be apparent. I have done so, and am satisfied : do $0 yourselves, and I trust you will be of my opinion. Suppose four thousand acres were given us, and by purchase we became owners of four thousand acres more. If the Seminary were established on them, the former of these would now be worth $20,000, and the latter after deducting the price of their purchase, would amount to $15,000 ; and a few years would see these lands doubled even in this valuation. If this computation be doubted, let it be distinctly known that there are persons who (if these lands with the Seminary established thereon, were con- veyed to them for the right of leasing and selling the same under whatever rea- sonable restrictions to secure the morality of the inhabitants, the Trustees may require) would become obligated to pay the interest of that sum, viz: $1,800 an- nually for ever. This it should seem, stamps validity on our plans, and puts their practicability beyond a doubt.
3. By placing our Seminary on lands of which itself is the owner for some distance round, we might possess, and, if we chose, we might exercise a power as effectual as salutary-a power, by right of soil, to prevent the evils which other- wise often the best of collegiate laws cannot cure.
Such is the nature of our civil government, that it must be employed rather in punishing than in preventing vice. Thus, of necessity, the woe falls more on the seduced than on the seducer. The tempted is punished, while the tempter often, too often, escapes unhurt. In schools and colleges placed in cities, and receiving students from abroad, these evils are most alarmingly apparent. Young men are often disgraced by punishment, and sometimes ruined by expulsion; whilst, when compared with their seducers, they are innocent -- and those who enticed them from the paths of rectitude chiefly ought to suffer.
There is a time in youth when the body, not the mind, has attained maturity- a time, when amid the storms of passion, reason's feeble voice is scarcely heard -a time when inexperience blinds the eye, and pleasure like an opiate lulls the conscience fatally to sleep-a time when the paths of sin, though they end in deatlı, are by the arts of Satan strewed with flowers-a time when all restraint, though imposed by merey's self, seems hard and galling ;- there is in youth a time like this, and this is that which is commonly spent at college, when for the want of means to prevent temptation. they are most exposed to the seducements of wicked and designing persons. This is so true and so frequent, that through a life of half a century, and for the greater part of this spent in being taught or in teaching others, there has been no one subject on which my mind has dwelt with deeper and more melancholy regret than this, viz .- that there were not in our seminaries of learning some way invented, or some power reserved, by which the temptation might be suppressed ; and thus the crime prevented, or at least the tempter, for example's sake, more severely punished ;- some way, I say, by which onr youth, when removed from the guardian eye of their parents, might contend with vice on more equal terms-might be taught, at least, the use of weapons of self-defence, before they are brought, as in our City Colleges, to contend unarm- ed with the worst enemies of their happiness-those who find it their interest or malicious pleasure to seduce them from their studies into vice and dissipation. And here-may God be praised both for the suggestion and the way to accom- plish it-this much desired means of preventing evils which no collegiate laws can enre (till that cure eome too late, ) is now before you. PUT YOUR SEMINARY ON YOUR OWN DOMAIN ; BE OWNERS OF THE SOIL ON WHICH YOU DWELL, AND LET THIE TENURE OF EVERY LEASE AND DEED DEPEND ON THE EXPRESSED CONDITION, THAT NOTHING DETRIMENTAL TO THE MORALS AND STUDIES OF YOUTH BE ALLOWED ON THE PREMISES. This condition, while it seenres good men for the first settlers, will ensure them such for ever ; and in so doing, will close up the greatest, widest, and most fatal avenues to vice. This expedient is so beneficial that it finds a friend in every parent's bosom : and it is so practi cable, that the wonder is not at its intricate nature, but that, in a country like
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ours, it has not been before adopted. It is an expedient which embraces so effectually the vital interests of our Seminary, as singly and of itself to extinguish all objections. We, therefore, might spare ourselves the pains to state them ; foi were they ever so numerous, and with ever so much plausibility urged against us, this one feature of our plan would, like Aaron's rod, devour and destroy them.
But however convineing may be our reasons for fixing on a country place as the site of our Seminary, yet there are some objections which, though of minor considerations, seem to be urged with so much candor and simplicity, as to de- serve an answer.
It is said that there are manifold difficulties in opening a new country, and that these will retard the operation of our Seminary.
We answer, that however great the difficulties, the object we have in view is still greater ; and to minds bent upon doing the will of their Master, these diffi- culties will but add fuel to the flame of desire to accomplish it to the glory of God and the good of posterity. Besides, if those who will have to encounter these difficulties do not complain, others, it might reasonably be supposed, would be silent. As to retarding the operations of our Seminary, we believe our plan will have an effect immediately and directly contrary.
It is understood that our Seminary is to go into operation in the house and on the place of my present residence near Worthington, Franklin county, immedi- ately after the rising of the present Convention. If the buildings there should prove insufficient to accommodate the students, others of a temporary nature might be erected, or houses hired in the neighborhood. Here the Seminary in all its branches, from the grammar school through all the course of collegiate in- struction to those of theology, as required by our Canons, might procced; and while this is doing, and perhaps as prosperously doing as if our conveniences were still greater, will it be an appalling and disheartening circumstance that such a plan as this is in operation for the future benefit of the Church ? Will the consideration that we have an ample domain under the specified salutary regn- lations on which our lands are clearing and buildings erecting, and to which are drawing the best feelings and wishes of our country as to a centre of hope and promise-will this retard the present operations of our Seminary ? Will this dis- courage the young men whose names are first enrolled on the pages of its records ?
On the contrary, the prospect of the future utility, greatness and glory of our Institution founded under such auspices as these, will, it should seein, unite all hearts and animate all endeavors to build up its walls and adorn its palaces. By giving this firmness.though but in prospect, to its foundation, and by thus cx- hibiting its future strength to public view, more courage even for the present will be inspired-more strength will be exercised in removing even present diffi- culties. For who does not know that man's present endeavors are in proportion to his future hopes ?
If I were to judge in this matter from my present feelings, and if it were prop- er to express them here, I should be compelled to declare my great dislike to tlie confining of our views within the contracted sphere marked out by some for a city seminary ; and that both my judgment and my feelings accord with the ex- pressed opinion of benefactors in England, I myself am witness and here do testify.
If from general principles we now descend to particulars, and ask where are the places which hold out facilities to carry this our favorite plan into full effect, I answer, as is known to many, they are more than one; and may be found in still greater numbers. Let it be known that this Institution may be established on any eligible grounds within such or such circumference of the centre of the Diocese, and let that ground be specified by the proper authority, and there is no doubt of our receiving the most liberal offers. Among those of this nature which, since the meeting of our last Convention, have arrested my attention, is a munificent donation of 1000 acres of land on Alum creek, about 12 miles north of Columbus. This was made by Mrs. Betsey Reed, of Putnam, near Zanesville. The promise of a deed of the same being put at my disposal, either for the Bishop's fund or the Theological Seminary, and thus the church, in any event, being certain of the land, I caused it to be surveyed, and a site for our Seminary (should the Conven- tion think proper to establish it thereon) be selected-eleven acres to be cleared and fenced-seed to be sown, and a house, though of unhewn logs, to be erected and covered, (24 by 36 feet, including galleries) and the floors to be laid.
This site may not be superior to others which may be hereafter offered ; but it is such as lias pleased me and all who have examined it. Elevated on a gradual rise of 150 feet above the water of the creek, in the distance west, of about 80 per- ches, the grounds command a view three different ways of many miles, while the country is dry, undulating and fertile all around. These are the grounds which, through means purely providential, have been thrown upon your notice, and
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these their qualities courting your acceptance. But by no means would I urge you to receive them if they be not accompanied by other offers from neighboring landholders, which it is so much their interest to make. It would be a deed so manifestly unreasonable for our Seminary to enrich a neighboring landlord, by more than doubling the value of his estate, while he withholds all contributions to the same-that rather than submit to such imposition, my predilections in favor of the site selected would vanish, and my mind be open to similar offers from other places.
And lest my proceedings should be in any wise construed into a semblance of a pledge of myself or the Convention to fix our Seminary on the proposed ground, all that has been done has been at my own expense, and on my own responsi- bility. The labor which was given on a part of three days, was a gratuity by the neighbors, to bring the place and plan into notice ; and was performed under the repeated assurance that on their part it was a risk-a voluntary gift, under the contingency of the approbation of the Convention.
Thus, as was my duty, have I laid both my sentiments and actions touching our Seminary, before this Convention, If you, my brethren, interpret them as favorably as my endeavors have been done sincerely to secure the best interests of the church, I shall be most happy.
Having thus tried, by the grace of God, to do my duty in this important matter, am I not commanded by my station, in the name our Lord Jesus Christ, to tell you what is yours ? Act then solely for the good of the Seminary, and however you may wish it were consistent with that good, that the same were placed at your own doors respectively-yet remember that God willeth that, in delibera- ting on this subject, you lay aside all sectional, partial and self-interested views. The nature of the funds of which you are now to dispose-given in a foreign land, from the purest motives of Christian love, and confided to your disposal with a magnanimity worthy of apostolic days, seems to call on you as God once called on Moses, for more than ordinary consideration-"Pull off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whercon thou standest is holy ground"-yes, beyond dispute, too holy to entertain any sentiments other than those of zeal and unanimity in the pursuit of the one great design which gave birth to all our efforts, viz : that of founding and erecting a Seminary, not for the aggrandizement of any city, town or village, but for the general encouragement of religion and learning, in the education of pious young men for the Christian Ministry.
It behoves me now to speak of the employment of my own time, and the dis- charge of my official duties. Several causes have prevented me from making any distant visitations since November. The usual badness of the roads during the winter and spring months, would have made distant appointments quite uncer- tain. A long absence from my family had introduced derangements and neces- sities which required my presence for some months to regulate. The interests of our Institution also required that I should be at home to examine in the vicinity of the centre of the State, the proper sites for its establishment, and to collect and superintend a few students with whom to commence operations when our Seminary shall be regularly opened. These reasons, together with a great desire to promote the religious interests of a few parishes around me, in which I have constantly officiated as a parochial clergyman, have prevented any distant visitations.
It is one among the most pleasing incidents which I have to relate, that on the first day of May, I conducted the solemnities of laying the corner stone of St. Peter's Church, in Delaware. It will be a neat edifice entirely of stone, 40 feet in length, with a steeple of 16 fcet (breadth of both in proportion) built after a Gothic model, kindly presented to me by Mr. Wilson, of Iberry House, near Lon- don. Of the £100 sterling given me by the Right Hon. Countess Dowager of Rosse, for the express purpose of assisting in the erection of a few country chap- els. I have promised this parish $100, provided the church be finished this year, and on these terms I have no doubt of their gratefully receiving the money.
The Rev. Ezra B. Kellogg, wlio for his many virtucs and great usefulness in the church is much esteemed, and whose absence from this Convention I deeply deplore, has gone, on account of his licalth, with his family to the eastward. He told me when parting that he might return, but his extreme ill heaith rendered it somewhat uncertain. Under this most afflieting dispensation, I can only look up to God and say, Thy will be done.
At the special and very satisfactory recommendation of the Rev. Mr. Ward, and the Rev. Dr. Chapman, of Lexington, Kentucky, I have removed the suspen- sion from the Rev. Joab Cooper, and restored him to full standing in the Chris- tian Ministry.
Confirmations have been held in the following places : Chillicothe, Worthing- ton, Delaware and Zanesville.
17
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With regard to our affairs in England, it becomes my duty to state, that besides the permanent fund, now rising of 5000 guineas, there remained at the last advi- ces, a large collection of books still in London, given by different most bencvo- lent individuals ; also the stereotype plates for our prayer book, and a separate fund for a inost complete set of printing types to carry into effect an essential part of our plan. Of the books given in England, already arrived in America, some, together with 112 pairs of blankets, a large pair of globes, and a set of math- ematical instruments, are on their way from New-York hither.
The books from England, already come to hand and now embodied in the Li- brary, are 436. These, added to what we had before (about 700 vols.) and to what are still in London for us, will cause our hearts to sing for joy ; for a better se- lection, both for piety and sound learning, is scarcely to be found. Besides the books enumerated already in our Library, there were many duplicates to be dis- tributed among our clergy and infant parishes. A whole box of these, consisting of many hundreds, principally of publications hy that most estimable society for promoting Christian Knowledge, was the gift of one to whom we are already so much indebted, and whose name we shall never mention but with blessings, the Right Hon. Lady Countess Dowager of Rosse.
I have now, my brethren, after a very imperfeet manner, brought my address nearly to a close. During the course of this duty, my mind has undergone a painful restraint, from which I rejoice to be set free, though but for a moment.
I have been, through necessity, speaking solely of outward things ; let us now speak of those things which concern the heart and the spirit ; I mcan our prayers to God for his blessing on all we do. Pray ye then for the good of our beloved Zion. Till very latcly, a cloud dark and heavy hung over her infant head; and even now, the light which, by God's mercy, has broken in upon us from the east, serves but to discover how weak we are; and though on the bosom of the tem- pest which surrounds us, British benevolence has painted the rainbow of hope, yet that hope must be cherished with faith, and that faith must live by the breath of prayer. O pray we, then, to Him who ordereth the storm for our trial, and sendeth the rain for our comfort. Though in ruins, cast us not off forever, O God of mercy. Raise up thy power and come amongst us : Lift up the light of thy countenance upon us, and give us peace, both now and evermore. Amen.
PHILANDER CHASE.
Zanesville, June 1, 1825.
On motion,
Resolved, That Mr. William Sparrow be admitted to an honorary seat in this Convention.
The Rev. Samuel Johnston was, by ballot, elected Secretary of the Convention.
Adjourned till 4 o'clock.
[FOUR O'CLOCK, P.M.]
The Convention assembled pursuant to adjournment.
On motion,
Resolved, That the rules of order, observed by this house, in their last annual Convention, be now in foree :
ARTICLE 1. The business of every day shall be introduced with prayer.
ART. 2. The minutes of the Journal of the preceding day shall be read every morning after divine service.
ART. 3. When the president takes the chair, no member shall continue stand- ing, or shall afterwards stand up, unless to address the chair.
ART. 4. No member shall absent himself from the service of the house, unless he have leave, or be unable to attend.
ART. 5. When any member is about to speak in debate, or deliver any matter to the house, he shall rise from his seat, and without advancing, shall, with due respect, address himself to the president, confining himself strictly to the point in debate.
ART. 6. No member shall speak more than twice in the same debate, without leave of the house.
ART. 7. A question being once determined, shall stand as the judgment of the house, and shall not be again drawn into debate, unless it should be on motion
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for reconsideration : which motion can only be made by a member voting in the majority, on the question proposed to be reconsidercd.
ART. 8. When the President is putting any question, no one shall hold private discourse, stand up, walk into, out of, or across the house, or read any book.
ART. 9. Every member who shall be in the house, when any question is put, shall, on a division, be counted, when he is not particularly interested in the de- cision.
ART. 10. No motion shall be considered as before the house, unless it be sec- onded, and reduced to writing when required.
ART. 11. When any question is before the house, it shall be determined on before anything new is introduced, except the question for adjournment, post- ponement, or amendment.
ART. 12. The question, on a motion for adjournment, shall be taken before any other, and without debate.
ART. 13. When the house is to rise, every member shall keep his seat, until the president leave the chair.
Mr. John Bailhache, a lay delegate from St. Paul's Church, Chillicothe, and Mr. Israel Taylor, from St. Peter's Church, Mor- ristown, appeared and took their seats.
On motion of Col. Johnston, put by the Secretary,
Resolved, That this Convention do concur with their Bishop in the interest which he has expressed upon the subject of the Seminary, in his address deliver- ed before them this day, and that he be respectfully requested to furnish a copy for publication in the Journal.
Mr. David Prince presented a certificate of his appointment as lay delegate from Grace Church, Berkshire, and took his seat.
The Clergy were called on for their reports as 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.
The BISHOP, having done the duty of a parochial Minister sinee November last and, excepting one Sunday when prevented by siekncss, and two Sundays when officiating on Alum creek, officiated in the parishes of Trinity Church, Columbus, Grace Church, Berkshire, St. Peter's Church, Delaware, and St. John's Church, Worthington, states thus concerning them :
St. John's Church, Worthington .- Families, 35; communieants, 72. Exelusiv of this number, 10 communieants had moved away, and 4 had died.
Trinity Church, Columbus .- Families, 14; communieants, 12.
Grace Church, Berkshire .- Families, 10; communicants, 12.
St. Peter's Church, Delaware .- Families, 14; communicants, 20.
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