USA > Ohio > Journals of the annual conventions of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Ohio > Part 4
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" The Parishes of St. Luke's, Ravenna, of St. Mark's in Columbia, and St. John's church, Liverpool, are small in numbers. The two last mentioned are regularly attentive to divine service on Sundays, as well when I am absent, as when pres- ent. A growing attachment to the duties of religion is visible and this being accompanied by the fruits of true piety to God, is encouraging to my labors.
" The number of communicants has increased to about one hundred. Baptisms since last Convention, forty-seven. The Bible and Prayer Book Society, formed here last year, is augmenting in numbers and commendable zeal. They have gratefully received, and judiciously distributed from similar societies in Phila- delphia a number of Bibles and Prayer Books. The Episcopal Female Tract Society within these congregations has increased greatly in its numbers and zcal, in the course of the last year. About 2000 very valuable tracts have been for- warded to them, during the last year from the tract societies in Philadelphia and Albany. The salutary and highly beneficial effects, resulting already from the praiseworthy exertions of this society are pceuliarly gratifying."
Resolved, That the Convention adjourn till 10 o'clock to-morrow morning.
THURSDAY, 10 O'CLOCK, A. M.
The Convention assembled.
The following Lay Delegates presented certificates and took their seats, viz : from
Trinity Church, Columbus-Benjamin Gardiner.
Grace Church, Berkshire-David Prince.
St. Peter's Church, Delaware-James Wolcott.
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Resolved, That Mr. Ware, from Windsor, Ashtabula county, be admitted to an honorary seat in this Convention.
Resolved, That the Convention now proceed to elect four members of the Standing Committee, for the ensuing year.
Whereupon, the following persons were elected : the Rev. Sam- uel Johnston, the Rev. Roger Searle, Messrs. Benjamin Gardiner and Calvin Conant.
Adjourned for divine service.
[Prayers were read and sermon delivered by the Rev. S. Johnston. The Right Rev. the Bishop admitted the Rev. Intrepid Morse (Deacon) to the Holy Order of Priests.]
THURSDAY, 3 O'CLOCK, P. M.
Convention assembled.
Resolved, That the Convention procced to elect another clerical member for the Standing Committee.
The Rev. Mr. Morse was then chosen.
Resolved, That it be recommended to the wardens and vestry of every parish within this Diocese, to procure as soon as practicable, for their use, a copy of a late publication in the castern States, entitled, "The Journals of the proceedings of the General Conventions of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States of America," containing also the Constitutions and Canons of said Church.
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to form Canons for the use of this Diocese.
The Rev. Intrepid Morse, the Rev. Samuel Johnston and Benjamin Gardiner, were appointed the said committee.
Divine service was then performed by the Bishop, and a sermon delivered by the Rev. Mr. Morse.
Adjourned till 8 o'clock on Friday morning.
FRIDAY MORNING, 8 O'CLOCK.
The Convention assembled.
Divine service was performed by the Rev. Mr. Morse. The committee appointed to propose Canons, for the use of the Church in this Diocese, reported the following, which were read, approved and adopted :
CANON I. Each officiating, settled minister in this State, shall keep a book or register, in which he shall enter every baptism, marriage and funeral within his cure; he shall also keep a register of the communicants of his Church, and the number of families, within his cure; and his notitia parochiales embracing these subjects shall be presented to the Bishop, at the annual State Convention.
CANON II. It shall be the duty of every elergyman to attend all Conventions of the Diocese; and it shall be the duty of every parish to send one or more Lay Delegates.
CANON III. Disorderly and immoral conduct, neglect of duty, disregard to the Constitutions and Canons of the Church, or disseminating, or countenanceing
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opinions which are contrary to its doctrines, are offences for which a clergyman may be brought to trial.
CANON IV. If a minister offend in any of the respects specified in the third Canon, application in writing, signed by his aecuser, shall be sent in the first instance to the Standing Committee ; and if it appcar to them that there is ground for the charge, they shall report thereupon to the Bishop; who shall eall a Con- vention of liis Clergy, (not less than three,) and after a full and fair trial and examination, the Bishop, with the advice of his clergy, shall pronounce sentence against him, if found guilty.
CANON V. The clergy shall pay striet regard to the rubrics of the Church, and shall neither alter nor mutilate the service, otherwise than they are by the rubrics permitted.
CANON VI. All candidates for Holy Orders shall be examined on such subjects as are prescribed by the Canon of the Gencral Convention.
CANON VII. No clergyman shall remove from one parish to another in this Diocese without the Bishop's consent. But if the Bishop should refuse, and the clergyman should thereby think himself aggrieved, an appcal may be made to the Convention.
CANON VIII. All annual mectings for the choice of wardens and vestrymen, shall be opened by prayer ; and if there be a rector or elergyman, he shall pre- side, agreeably to ancient usage. In case of a vacancy, or necessary absence of the rector or clergyman, the senior officer present shall preside.
CANON IX. Whereas, the alms and other devotions of the people at the Holy Communion, are committed to the minister at the altar for presentation, and remain at his disposal :- it shall therefore be his duty to dispense the same accor- ding to the true intent and common usage of the Church ; it being understood that the reetor will be assisted in this part of his duty by the wardens of the parish. And in case any minister present alms and other devotions at the altar, in any vaeant parish, he shall commit them to the wardens of said parish, for their disposal ; and the minister, or in case of a vacancy, the wardens, shall ren- der an account of the disposal at the annual parish meeting.
The committee appointed to suggest measures for the support of the Episcopate, reported the following preamble and resolu- tions, which were read and adopted :
The committee appointed to devise ways and means for the support of the Episcopate of the Diocese of Ohio, beg leave to report, that on entering upon the duties of their appointment, two important considerations, have presented them- selves, viz : present and permanent Episcopal support.
As permanent support is the grand object, agreeably to their views of the sub- ject, they have devoted most of their attention thereto. It appears to your committee that a fund ean be raised in no other way, but by voluntary eontribu- tions or donations in money or lands or other property from those friendly to the Episcopal Church within this Diocese; and that a principal part of all such donations and contributions ought to be appropriated to the purehasing of lands or other property, promising a sure profit.
The better to carry into effect this design, your committee recommend the adoption of the following resolutions :
1. Resolved, That it be the duty of the wardens and vestry of eael parish within this Diocese, on or about the first day of January, 1820, and annually thereafter, to solicit from the friends of the Church, donations by subscription or otherwise, for the Episcopal fund, to be applied as hereafter provided.
2. Resolved, That three trustees be triennially elected by the Episcopal Con- vention of this Diocese, wlio may be required to give bonds to the Standing Committee, for the faithful discharge of their trust; and whose duty shall be to receive all moneys or other property, which may be realized pursuant to the pre- ceding article; and pay over to the Bishop or his successor in office, such sum as the Convention, at their respective annual meetings, shall direct; provided, that all donations in land and personal property, limited by the donors, to the use of the permanent fund, shall be applied to that fund.
3. Resolved, That the trustees annually address a circular letter to the wardens and vestry of the respective parishes in this Diocesc, setting forth the important object to be effeetcd to the Church gencrally, by a commendable liberality; and making it their duty to solicit from friendly land owners, donations in land or other property.
4. Resolved, That the trustces be requested to petition the Legislature of this State, at their next session, for an act to incorporate them and their successors in office, by the name and style of "the trustees of the Bishop's fund of the Diocese of Ohio."
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1819.]
5. Resolved, That the trustees shall have the power according to their own good judgment and discretion to manage and dispose of all moneys and property, to the best use and benefit of the Episcopal fund; reserving one-half of the last annual cash receipts to be applied by the next Convention, which shall not have been disposed of agreeably to the appropriation aforementioned, and that they annually report at the Convention their proceedings, together with an account of all contributions and donations, by whom made during the last year.
Resolved, That the trustees of the Episcopal fund be now elected.
Whereupon, the following persons were chosen: Benjamin Gardiner, Columbus ; John Matthews, Putnam ; John C. Wright, Steubenville.
Guy W. Doan, Esq., submitted the following preamble and res- olutions, which were read and adopted:
WHEREAS, a charter has been lately obtained for the establishment of a College at Worthington; and whereas, adequate endowment of said College, and public patronage are its main dependence. Therefore,
Resolved, That this Convention, deeply impressed with the truth, drawn from the experience of all ages, that learning and piety are intimately connected, do recommend, through the medium of this Journal, to public patronage, the afore- said institution. The site on which the College is built is in a village remarkable for the beauty of its situation, the salubrity of its air, and the purity of its waters. The country round about is healthy, and peopled with peaceful and orderly in- habitants. But its funds are small and need the fostering hand of a generous public, and this, it is devoutly hoped, will not be withholden.
The house proceeded to the election of their Delegates to the General Convention, to be holden in Philadelphia, May, 1820 :
Clergy -The Rev's Roger Searle, Samuel Johnston and In- trepid Morse.
Laity- Benjamin Gardiner, Dr. Horace Reed, William Wor- thington, Esq., Ephraim Root, Esq.
Voted, That the Bishop receive the thanks of this Convention for his excellent address; and that he allow it to be published in the Journals of the same.
Voted, That the President and Secretary receive the thanks of the house for their services during the sitting of the Convention.
It was moved and carried that this Convention rise.
PHILANDER CHASE,
Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of Ohio, and President of the Convention.
Attest :
SAMUEL JOHNSTON, Secretary.
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APPENDIX No. I.
EXTRACT from a resolution passed the House of Bishops at the General Convention in New York, May, 1817.
The House of Bishops, solicitous for the preservation of the purity of the Church, and the piety of its members, are induced to impress upon the elergy the important duty of warning, with a disereet but earnest zeal, the people of their respective cures, of the danger of an indulgence in those worldly pleasures which may tend to withdraw the affections from spiritual things. And especially on the subject of gaming, of amusements involving cruelty to the brute ereation, and of theatrical representations, to which some peculiar circumstances have called their attention,-they do not hesitate to express their unanimous opinion, that these amusements, as well from their licentious tendency, as from the strong temptations to viec which they afford, ought not to be frequented.
APPENDIX No. II.
Address to the Bishop.
RIGHT REV. AND DEAR SIR :- We the undersigned Clergymen of the Episcopal Church, would do injustice to our feelings were we to omit our congratulation on the establishment of the Episcopate in Ohio. We welcome your safe return to this Diocesc after consecration to the Holy Office which you now sustain; we felicitate ourselves on the successful issue of an event so important to the inter- ests of our infant Zion, as was this conseeration ; we rejoice in the opportunity now afforded by a merciful Providence, to assemble in the first Convention west of the Alleganies, holden under its Episcopal Head.
With [no | ordinary feelings, Right Rev. and dear sir, do we advert to the pres- ent situation of the Church in the West. It is a rose planted in the wilderness : may it be watered with the dews of heaven; may it be nourished by the continual blessing of Him who is the fountain of goodness, until it flourish in beauty and perfection.
There is indeed great reason to be thankful for the past, and to take courage for the time to come. Much has been done; but much yct remains to be execu- ted. Under the blessing of God, a few more laborers in the vineyard would be instrumental to introduce a spirit of primitive piety and order, where once they were little known and still less regarded. Are there no means by which they may be procured ?
We feel it a duty to state, that in your exertions for the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom you will have our prayers for suecess, and our hearty coop- eration in the work. The importance of giving strength and stability to the foundation of the Church in this Diocese, by a strict attention to its doctrines and discipline, must be obvious; in these, and in all other respects, (as in duty bound,) we promise our true and canonical obedience.
Relying upon your piety and zeal to direct the work; trusting to the promises of God to crown it with success; with prayers that your health and usefulness may long be continued a blessing to the fold of Christ, we are, Right Rev. and dear sir, your friends and servants in the Lord,
SAMUEL JOHNSTON, INTREPID MORSE.
WORTHINGTON, June 2d, 1819.
Reply-To the Clergy of the Diocese of Ohio.
BELOVED BRETHREN IN THE LORD :- Your address to me on the subject of commencing the duties of the Episcopate, and of opening the Convention of Ohio, is now before me. My feelings, in reading it, are those of gratitude to God, and great friendship and love to you : I wish I could express them in a becoming manner-acceptably to Him, and satisfactorily to myself and you.
The Divine Head of the Church has indeed been gracious unto us. Let us im- prove his mercy, by devoting ourselves more and more ardently to his service. Let us be instruments in his hands, of watering this "rose in the wilderness,"
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planted by his gracious providenee. Let us, with the strength and wisdom which his Word and Holy Spirit alone can give, shield and nourish it. To the blessings of the dews of heaven, let us pray God that he would add, on the one hand, that of keeping far from it the chilling frosts of indifference and impiety; and on the other, that of protecting it from the tempests of fanaticism. By day, let it . receive our constant earc; and in the night season, let it not depart from our pious thoughts.
Your tender solieitude for more laborers in the spiritual field before us, is by me most sineerely reciprocated. I feel the subject most deeply; and with you will pray the Lord, that he will dispose the hearts of many, to go forth into his vineyard; but the means are as yet mostly withholden from our view.
Your characters in life, and your friendship to me in particular, are a sufficient pledge of the sincerity with which you promise canonical obedience. While I live, this great honor which God has bestowed on me shall, with his help, never be abused. His glory and the good of his Church shall be the sole motives in prompting me to every act of spiritual advice and discipline. That I fail not herein, a sense of my own weakness makes me entreat your fervent prayers.
To God's holy keeping and protection, you are now commended, by your faithful friend and Pastor, PHILANDER CHASE.
WORTHINGTON, June 2, 1819.
Note by the Editor.
On Sunday, the 6th inst. at Worthington, Mr. Benjamin Birge, of Lexington, Kentucky, was admitted to the holy order of Deacons; and the same day, seventy-nine persons were confirmed by the Right Rev. Bishop Chase.
Form of the Testimonial to be given to Lay Deputies.
[Name of the Church, the Place, and Date.]
This certifies that, at a meeting of the congregation of this Church, for the purpose of electing Church officers, and deputies to the Convention, (or, for the purpose of eleeting Deputies to the Convention, if the meeting be for that object alone,) A. B., C. D. and E. F. were duly chosen to represent the congregation in that body for the year ensuing. In testimony of which, I have hereunto set my hand, (or if two vestrymen subscribe, we have set our hands,) the day and year above written.
This certificate shall be signed by the Rector, if present; otherwise, by one warden, or two vestrymen.
* The next Annual Convention will be held at Worthington, on the 1st Wednesday in June, 1820.
1820.
JOURNAL
OF THE
THIRD ANNUAL CONVENTION,
HELD AT WORTHINGTON, JUNE 7TH-9TH, A.D. 1820 .*
LIST of the Clergy and Lay Delegates who attended the Convention.
CLERGY.
The Right Rev. PHILANDER CHASE, Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of Ohio.
The Rev. JOSEPH DODDRIDGE, Missionary and Minister of St. James' Church, Cross Creek.
The Rev. SAMUEL JOHNSTON, Minister of Christ Church, Cincinnati.
The Rev. INTREPID MORSE, Minister of St. James' Church, Zanesville, and St. Paul's, Steubenville.
The Rev. THOMAS A. OSBORNE, Professor of Languages in the Cincinnati College.
The Rev. JAMES KILBOURN, Deacon, residing at Worthington.
LAY DELEGATES.
St. Thomas' Church, St. Clairsville-Ozias Burr.
St. James' Church, Zanesville-John Matthews.
St. James' Church, Cross Creek-Bezaleel Wells.
St. Peter's Church, Morristown-Noble Taylor.
St. Thomas' Church, Dayton-Warren Munger.
St. Peter's Church, Delaware-Robert Jamison.
Trinity Church, Columbus-Benjamin Gardiner.
St John's Church, Worthington-Chester Griswold, Abner P. Pinney and Mat- thew Matthews.
St. Paul's Church, Steubenville-Bezaleel Wells and John C. Wright.
St. Paul's Church, Medina-Ebenezer Warner.
St. Philip's Church, Circleville-Walter Thrall.
Trinity Church, Cleveland-Carlos V. J. Hickcox.
Grace Church, Berkshire-Joseph Prince.
WORTHINGTON, JUNE 7TH, 1820.
THIS being the time and place appointed by the Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of Ohio, for the
* " Worthington : Printed by Griswold & Spencer, at the office of the Franklin Chronicle. 1820."
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meeting of the annual Convention of the same, several of the Clerical and Lay Delegates attended in the Hall of the College edifice.
Divine service was performed by the Rev. Joseph Doddridge, and a sermon, suitable to the occasion, delivered by the Rt. Rev. Philander Chase. After the administration of the Holy Com- munion, the following Clergy took their seats:
Right Reverend Philander Chase,
Rev. Samuel Johnston,
Rev. Thomas A. Osborne,
Rev. Intrepid Morse,
Rev. James Kilbourn.
The Lay Delegates exhibited certificates of their appointment, which were read and severally approved, and the following took their seats :
John Matthews, Ozias Burr, Bezaleel Wells,
Noble Taylor, Warren Munger, Robert Jamison,
Benjamin Gardiner, Chester Griswold,
Abner P. Pinney.
Matthew Matthews, John C. Wright,
Agreeably to the 45th Canon of the General Convention, pro- viding for an accurate view of the state of the Church from time to time, the Right Rev. Bishop Chase delivered the following Address :
MY BRETHREN : This being the day appointed for the meeting of the Conven- tion of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of Ohio, we have assembled here for that purpose; and have, thus far, proceeded in supplicating the Divine aid and direction in the important work before us. May our prayers be heard ; may God be with us in all things, and at all times; now especially. In discharg- ing my duty on this occasion, I need not speak to you of my pleasures or pains : of my pleasure in meeting you, whom I so well know, and so sincerely respect ; for of this you must already be assured : nor of my pains, in reflecting on my poor abilities ; for this would not make them any better. I shall therefore pro- cecd directly to the work assigned me by the Canons ; and that is to address the Clergy and the Laity ; subjoining such an account of my own proceedings, since our last meeting, as may give a just idea of the Diocese.
My dear Brethren of the Clergy : we spend much of our time in preaching to others-will it not be becoming, on an occasion like the present, to preach a few words to ourselves ? For that purpose, I have selected a text, whichi, while it implies a deep knowledge of our own deficiencies, seems to press on us the neces- sity of doing all we can to supply them.
It is written in
2 COR. ii. 16: Who is sufficient for these things?
When I shall have done with my sermon from these words to the Clergy, I hope a proper door will be opened, to say something appropriate to my brethren of thic Laity. If all men, in their natural state, are corrupt, and so insufficient to do the will of God, that they can do no good thing, without "God's special grace preventing;" how much more conspicuous is this deficiency in the Clergy, when doing the great work of the gospel ministry ?
. The Apostle was speaking of the discharge of liis duty, in preaching the gospel, in general; and especially in censuring the wicked, and encouraging thic good. In these, and all other official duties, he maintains that the ministers of Christ, in their proper characters, arc accepted of God, through Jesus Christ. " We are unto God a sweet savour of Christ; in thiem that are saved and in them that perish. To the one we are a savour of death unto death, and to the other a sa- vour of life unto life." Then the Apostle asks, in the words of the text, " and who is sufficient for these things ?" You sec, then, my brethren of the Clergy, that
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the Holy Apostle, in all the duties of the ministry, would dircct us to the knowl- edge of our deficiencies and dangers; and through this, he would prompt us to a constant dependence on divine grace, and to an unremitting use of the means of attaining it.
" Who is sufficient for these things ?" For the discharge of the manifold duties involving the fate of immortal souls, alas ! who is sufficient ? None ;- none are sufficient of themselves to think anything as of themselves, much less to do what is acceptable ; " but (as he a little further on adds) our sufficiency is of God."
Let us, then, pursue the method pointed out by the Apostle, showing how dif- ficult and dangerous the priestly office is ; and, from this difficulty and danger, argue the bounden duty, in every Clergyman, to seek aid from God, in all the means of grace. What, then, does God require in his ministers ? That sufficiency which is of God. What is that ? The sufficiency which every minister is bound to attain, by the manifold means of gracc, which to that end God has bestowed on him, viz : extensive knowledge, great prudence, and an undeviating holiness of life.
My first item is extensive knowledge-Why ? Because the Holy Scriptures have declared, that "The Priest's lips should keep, (or preserve) knowledge." He is to be, as it were a Treasurer, to liave always in possession, not only what will serve his own personal use, but that of all under his care. His repository of divine knowledge must be such-so ample, so well preserved, and so well arranged -that the people, when obeying the injunction which immediately follows, may never be disappointed. "The Priest's lips should keep knowledge; and THEY (i. e. the people committed to his charge) SHOULD SEEK THE LAW AT HIS MOUTH." (Mal. ii : 7.)
Can this be consistent with that scantiness of learning, that sterility of mind, that ignorance of divine things, too often observable in those who have thrust themselves into the priestly office ? Can this treasury of divine knowledge be compared with those empty heads, and vacant shelves, whose possessors, when they have preached a few sermons, have nothing further to supply the exigencies of immortal souls ? We think not: for our blessed Saviour says, that "every scribe, that is instructed in the kingdom of Heaven, is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringcth forth, out of his treasure, things new and old."
The Kingdom of Heaven is the characteristic name, which our Saviour gave to his church; and by the scribe, he means the ministers of that church : by being instructed, he must mean the attainment of that degrec of learning, of which we are speaking; and the learning itself is called thesauros, a treasure. This is de- nominated his treasure ; to denote that the learning must be his own, and in plenty.
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