USA > Ohio > Journals of the annual conventions of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Ohio > Part 7
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Before coneluding this report, he would beg leave to call the attention of the members of this Convention to the destitute situation of the Episcopalians in Monroe county.
Scattered abroad, as shecp having no shepherd, their situation, in regard to religious privileges, is destitute almost beyond example. They were sought out and visited by the Bishop, and by the Rev. Doct. Doddridge, in the first instance; and since then, have been visitcd twice by Mr. Morse, as alluded to in the former part of this report. He spent between one and two weeks in those new settle- ments, held divine service daily, in the cabins, or, when the assembly was large, in the woods; and baptized upwards of thirty children and adults. " When can you come again ?" is the anxious request, heard from many lips, on parting with that people. From the best information which could be obtained, there are nearly one hundred families of Episcopalians in that quarter, who have no opportunity of regularly attending the public worship of their own or of any other denomi- nation. It is a fact, worthy perhaps to be recorded in this report, that an individual, resident there, repeatedly traveled to St. Clairsville, a distance of thirty miles, in order to attend the worship of the Church. They intend shortly to erect a Church on Little Beaver creek, and it is their earnest desire to obtain the services of a clergyman, at least for a part of the time; that by the blessing of God, the scattered members of Christ's floek may be gathered together into one Fold, under one Shepherd. The fields are already white unto the harvest, but
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1820.]
the laborers are few : pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers.
Rev. Mr. Searle reports to the Bishop as follows :-
During my long and distressing sickness last summer and autumn, the parishes in which I officiated suffered in the absence of regular services. But from the early part of December last, by the good Providence of God, I have been able to perform divine services every Sunday, until the 21st instant ; have been constantly in the congregations; have held publie and family leetures more or less every wcek; and have with great pleasure witnessed a remarkably growing attachment to the doctrines and duties of salvation by Jesus Christ, and to the inimitable Liturgy of our Church.
The members of St. Paul's Church, Medina, are gradually increasing in their numbers, in their pious correctness and attention to the offices of the Churchi; also, to the duties of public devotion. The same may be said of St. James' Church, Boardman, and of Christ Church, Windsor. Enlightened zcal for the primitive usages of Christianity, as retained inviolate in our communion, is in St. Peter's Church, Ashtabula, very considerable. Its numbers also are increased.
Most of the efficient members of Trinity Church, Cleveland, being residents in the township and very flourishing village of Brooklyn, on the west side of the Cuyahoga River, and directly opposite the village of Cleveland; the parish was induced, at the last regular Easter meeting, to vote its permanent location and publie serviees in Brooklyn. In consequence of this resolution, the word Cleve- land. will in future, be omitted in the records of that parish. Their number is small; but the members are respectable, and they now have the services of the Church regularly performed every Sunday. The parish of St. John's Church, Liverpool, is now in a more prosperous condition than at any period since its organization.
In most of these parishcs, Sunday sehools were commeneed last summer, a little before I was taken sick, under the care of respectable persons, of both sexes. These schools are to be continucd this summer. Our congregations are generally increasing, and the sober attention given to the services of the Church, together with the constantly increasing number of Prayer Books used in the congrega- tions, are decmed evidenees of present eandid investigation, and pledges of future good.
Some deaths have occurred among the very pious and useful members of our communion, the last year, but the present aggregate number of communicants in these parishes is about one hundred and twenty. Since the last Convention, I have baptized in these several congregations, seven adults, and forty-three children.
The present very extraordinary state of things respecting peeuniary concerns, have induced a partial suspension in the operations of the "Female Tract " and the " Bible and Prayer Book " Societies, some time since established. The im- portant objects, however, which these societies had in view, are by no means relinquished.
Deprived as I am of the privilege of being at the Convention now assembled, I submit to the will of God. And if it please him to continue my life and labors, hope to meet you hereafter. My life and labors are devoted to the cause of our blessed Redeemer. If it is his pleasure to remove me, I hope for salvation through his all meritorious blood.
Resolved, That the Rev. Intrepid Morse, Col. Gardiner, and Bezalecl Wells, Esq., be a committee to wait on the Right Rev. Philander Chase, and express the thanks of this house for the sermon delivered this day, and request a copy of the same for publication with the Journals.
Resolved, That as the Right Rev. Bishop of the Diocese, during the reeess of the Convention, has appointed the Rev. Joseph Doddridge as a missionary in this State, the said appointment meets the approbation of this Convention, and that he is entitled to a seat in the same.
Resolved, That Mr. Philander Chase, Jr., Professor in the Worthington College, and a candidate for Holy Orders, be admitted to an honorary seat in this Conven- tion, during its present session.
The Trustees of the Bishop's Fund made the following Report, which was read and accepted :-
That finding themselves without legal capacity to acquire and transmit prop-
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Third Annual Convention
[JUNE,
erty to answer the purposes of their appointment; and in pursuanee of the instructions of the Convention, at their last annual meeting, they applied by petition to the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, for an aet of incorporation, for the sole purpose of acquiring to themselves and successors that capacity. The petition was aeted upon, and a bill reported to the Senate, responsive to its prayer; and the same was finally postponed to the next session of the General Assembly.
The Trustees have not thought it adyisable, pending their legal ineapacity aforesaid, to take other measures towards creating or perpetuating a Bishop's fund in the Diocese of Ohio; which is respectfully submitted.
BENJAMIN GARDINER, JOHN MATTHEWS, Trustees.
JOHN C. WRIGHT,
Adjourned for divine service. Prayers were read by the Rev. Samuel Johnston, and a sermon delivered by the Rev. Joseph Doddridge.
THURSDAY MORNING, 9 O'CLOCK.
The Convention assembled. The Rev. Thomas A. Osborne performed divine service.
Mr. Ebenezer A. Warner, from St. Paul's Church, Medina, and Walter Thrall, from St. Philip's Church, Circleville, presented certificates of their election as Lay Delegates, and took their seats.
Resolved, That Mr. Carlos V. J. Hickeox, from Trinity Church, Cleveland, be admitted to an honorary seat in this Convention.
Resolved, That the Convention now proceed to elect three Clergymen and two Laymen, as the Standing Committee for the ensuing year.
Whereupon, the following persons were elected :
Clergy-The Rev's Samuel Johnston, Intrepid Morse, and Thomas A. Osborne.
Laity -Benjamin Gardiner and Chester Griswold.
Adjourned till four o'clock, p. m.
[THURSDAY, 4 O'CLOCK, P. M.]
The Convention assembled, agreeably to adjournment.
Mr. Joseph Prince, a Lay Delegate from Grace Church, Berk- shire, presented a certificate of his election to represent said Church in this Convention, which was read, approved, and he took his seat.
Resolved, By a majority of two-thirds of the Convention present: That the following artiele be proposed as a substitute for the 6th article of the present Constitution :
" The Standing Committee of this Diocese shall be chosen in Convention an- nually; and shall consist of sueh equal number of Presbyters and Laymen, as the Convention in session shall deem sufficient, and hold their offices until their successors are elected. Any three of said committee, one of whom at least shall be a Presbyter, shall be a quorum for transaeting business, when convened at the request of the Bishop; at all other meetings of the committee, a majority of the whole members shall be a quorum to transact business."
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1820.]
Resolved, That it shall hereafter be the duty of the Clergy and Laity to report from time to time to the Bishop, any Clergyman, who may have removed, or who shall remove into this Diocese. And also of any disorderly or improper conduct of such Clergyman.
The following Lay Delegates obtained leave of absence during the remainder of the session, viz: Messrs. J. Matthews, Munger, and Jamison.
Adjourned for divine service. When the Rev. Intrepid Morse read prayers, and the Rev. Thomas A. Osborne delivered a sermon.
FRIDAY MORNING, 9 O'CLOCK.
The Convention assembled.
The Rev. Joseph Doddridge performed divine service.
Resolved, That it be recommended to the Standing Committee to digest, and report to the next Convention, the form and mode of proceeding, in the trial of Clergymen in this Diocese
Resolved, That the mode and manner of proceeding, prescribed in the 2d Canon of tlie Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of New York, for the trial of Clergymen, passed in the year 1802, be the rule of proceeding in this Diocese, until the next meeting of the Convention; Provided, That instead of the number of eight Presbyters, to be nominated by the Bishop, as in that Canon, the num- ber to be nominated shall be four, and in like manner the number to be chosen by the party accused or appointed by the Bishop, shall be three, instead of five.
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.
Note by the Editor.
On Sunday, the 11th inst. at Worthington, Mr. PHILANDER CHASE, Jr., Pro- fessor in the Worthington College, was admitted to the Holy Order of Deacons, by the Right Rev. Bishop Chase. The Rev. Samuel Johnston performed divine service, and the Rev. Intrepid Morse delivered an appropriate discourse, from Luke x. 2.
The holy rite of Confirmation, was also administered to eight persons.
The next Annual Convention will be holden at Worthington, on the first Wednesday in June, 1821.
1821.
JOURNAL
OF THE
FOURTH ANNUAL CONVENTION,
HELD AT WORTHINGTON, JUNE 6TH AND 7TH, A.D. 1821 .*
LIST of the Clergy and Lay Delegates who attended the Convention. CLERGY.
The Right Rev. PHILANDER CHASE, D.D., Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal
Church in the State of Ohio, and Rector of St. John's Church, Worthington. The Rev. ROGER SEARLE, Minister of St. Paul's Church, Medina; St. John's Church, Liverpool; and Trinity Church, Brooklyn.
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. PHILANDER CHASE, Jr., Deacon, Professor in the College at Worth- ington.
LAY DELEGATES. St. John's Church, Worthington-Chester Griswold, Ezra Griswold, Chauncey Barker.
Trinity Church, Columbus-Benjamin Gardiner.
Grace Church, Berkshire-Aaron Strong.
St. Paul's Church, Chillicothe-Henry Brush.
St. Philip's Church, Circleville-Seth Crocker.
All Saints' Church, Portsmouth-Samuel Gunn.
St. John's Church, Liverpool-Rufus Murray.
St. Peter's Church, Ashtabula-John Hall.
St. James' Church, Zanesville-Moses Morehead.
St. Peter's Church, Morristown-Christopher Ripley.
St. Thomas' Church, St. Clairsville-Charles Hammond.
St. James' Church, Cross Creek-Ozias Burr.
St. Paul's Church, Steubenville-Bezaleel Wells, Daniel L. Collier.
WORTHINGTON, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6TH, 1821. 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 Chronicle. 1821."
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Fourth Annual Convention.
1821.]
meeting of the Annual Convention of the same, several of the Clergy and Lay Delegates attended at half-past 10 o'clock, A. M., in the hall of the College edifice.
Morning prayer was celebrated by the Rev. Roger Searle ; and after the administration of the Holy Communion, by the Bishop, the following Clergy took their seats :
Right Reverend Philander Chase, D.D.,
Rev. Roger Searle,
Rev. Samuel Johnston,
Rev. Intrepid Morse,
Rev. Thomas A. Osborne.
Rev. Philander Chase, jr.,
The following Lay Delegates presented certificates of their respective appointments, which were read and approved ; and they accordingly took their seats in the Convention :
Cliester Griswold. Ezra Griswold,
Chauncey Barker,
Benjamin Gardiner,
Aaron Strong,
Samuel Gunn,
Jolın Hall,
Rufus Murray,
Moses Morehead,
Christopher Ripley,
Charles Hammond,
Ozias Burr.
Bezaleel Wells,
Daniel L. Collier,
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 :
BRETHREN, AND GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION : It is made my duty, by the 45th Canon of our Church, to deliver you an address, stating the affairs of the Diocese in general, as well as my own official acts in particular, since the last meeting of the Convention.
This is required with a view not only to enable you to act more understand- ingly on the subjects which may come before you, but inasmuch as this address, being inserted on the journals, must be transmitted to the General Convention, it is done to enable the last mentioned body, and, through them, the whole Church throughout the Union, rightly to understand our affairs. In this light, our sub- ject gathers interest. For, if our affairs were duly represented and made known to our opulent sister Churches in the Atlantic States, the Divine Spirit, it is hum- bly hoped, would dispose their hearts, and animate their zeal, to enable us more effectually to carry on the good work of building up the primitive Church, planted in this western country. They would send us pious, well instructed, and laborious Missionaries, by whom our infant parishes, formed in the wilderness with the fondest expectations, would not so soon languish.
On the 11th of June, the Sunday immediately succeeding the meeting of the Convention last year, in this place, Worthington, I administered the apostolic rite of Confirmation to eight persons.
The parislies and members of our communion on the Scioto river and vicinity, from Columbus to its moutli, were the first visited during the last summer. I commenced my journey on Friday, the 14th of July, 1820, as usual, on horseback; being the only mode convenient for visiting our infant settlements. Instead of going directly to Circleville, I passed from Columbus over to a neighborhood on Darby Creek, which I had been frequently solicited to visit. Here I spent Sunday, the 16th, performed divinc service morning and evening, and delivered two ser- mons; the congregation being large and attentive. The same evening I rode twelve miles, to Circleville, and officiated in the court-house, by candle-light. Could a worthy minister of Christ be stationed in the vicinity of these two places for a few years, there is little doubt that, through divine blessing, the result would be highly beneficial.
On Monday, I passed to Chillicothe. During the week, I made a particular visit
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Fourth Annual Convention
[JUNE,
to all the families composing the small but very interesting parish of St. Paul's church, in this place. On Wednesday and Friday, divinc service was performed, and a sermon preached. On Tuesday, 23d of July, the apostolic rite of Confirm- ation was administered to eleven persons. Ten were baptized, and seventeen received the blessed sacrament of the body and blood of our Lord. The morn- ing and evening services were performed, and two sermons delivered. That a stated clergyman is not yet procured for this parish, is most decply to be lament- ed. How few, indeed, the laborers in the vineyard of Christ, when a place, promising so much benefit to his cause as this, cannot procure one!
On Monday I rode to Portsmouth, forty-five miles. Here, from a very few, scarcely more than two or three families at first, the congregation has become comparatively large; and an unusual spirit of inquiry after truth, and fervor of devotion, seem to prevail among them. The evangelical doctrine and duties of Christianity, as set forth by our primitive Church, were the subject of conversa- tions. On Wednesday, 2 o'clock, P. M., divine service was hield, and a sermon delivered, at the court-house; the same duty was also performed at carly candle- lighting. The congregations were large and attentive.
Wednesday, July 27th, morning service was performed, and Confirmation was administered to seven, and the holy sacrament of the Lord's supper to nine. Three adults and nine children were baptized.
The next day, Thursday, 28th July, I rode back to Piketon, and in the evening performed divine service. A large congregation, though unacquainted with the order of the service, were attentive and devout in their beliavior. On the morn- ing of the 29th, in this village, I baptized, in the presence of a small congrega- tion, six children, receiving as sponsor a venerable and pious lady, the only member of our communion in the place. After which, I rode ninetcen miles, to Chillicothe ; this being the best route to the plaecs I wished to visit on the Musk- ingum. I spent Sunday, the 30th of July, in Chillicothe. Divine service morn- ing and evening; two sermons; one adult was baptized, and several children.
At Zanesville, on Sunday the 6th of August, I had the pleasure of being assisted in my labors by the Rev. Mr. Morsc, by whom prayers were read. By myself, two sermons were delivercd, and the holy rite of Confirmation administered to cleven persons. The holy communion was administered to twenty-five persons.
On Monday, after visiting and confirming a person on a sick bed, (since de- ccased,) I set off, in company with the Rev. Mr. Morse, towards the south and cast. Wc rode together about twelve or fifteen miles, and then separated; he going into Monroe county, to prepare the people for next Sunday's ministrations; and myself towards Marietta, a place which I had never before visited.
In speaking of the affairs of the Church in this place, I feel a difficulty lest the shortness of the time spent in it, and the want of any previous acquaintance, should cause me to err in judgment. The facts arc, my visit seemed well received, and myself treated with kindness and hospitality. A considerable number of persons in town and vicinity, of great respectability and worth, expressed them- selves sincerely attached to the Church ; also their wislies, that they could have the ministrations of a pious clergyman, devoted to his profession. A gentleman, professing himself a clergyman of the Church, Mr. Joseph Willard, residcs in this town; but as he had not conformed to the Canons, in making himself known as in regular standing, and had evidently no intention of pursuing the design of his ordination, I signified to the friends of the Church in the place, that his occa- sional services in the neighborhood would be irregular. I had it not in my power, consistently with my engagements, to spend a Sunday in Marictta. I, however, hield divine service, and prcached three times on Wednesday, the 8th of August: twice in the meeting-house in Marietta, and once on Point Harmar, opposite tlie town. On Thursday morning, I administered the apostolic rite of Confirmation to seven persons; and the incipient steps were taken towards forming a parish, by the name of St. Luke's Church. Nothing under the divine blessing seemed wanting to complete the fondest expectations of the progress of primitive Cliris- tianity in this place, but the labors of a pious, learned, and active missionary, for a few years. To such an one, the friends of the Church in the town and vicinity, it is presumed, would afford a part of his support; and, if otherwise aided for a short time, the minister would soon find himself agreeably settled in the bosom of an amiable pcople, able and willing to afford him every assistance in building up the kingdom of the blessed Redeemer. These were my impressions, formed dur- ing my very short stay at Marietta. Same day, I rode some distance on my way up the river Ohio, toward Monroc county. Friday, 11th, I arrived, after a solitary ride across the almost entire wilderness, at Woodfield. Here, again, I met the Rev. Mr. Morse, and, with him, held divine service, he reading prayers, and my- self delivering the sermon. As in the natural creation, since the carth was cursed for man's transgression, weeds, briars, and other noxious plants first spring up, and infest the soil, before salutary fruits can be cultivated; so, in the settlement
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1821.]
of new countries, few instances are found, especially where men are thrown sud- denly together, as in the settlement of new county seats, in which licentiousness, immorality, and irreligion, do not prevail. The friends of virtue should not be discouraged, but rather animated to greater exertions, by this. Every endeavor should be made, that the means of moral and religious cultivation should go as fast and as far as the field of usefulness extends. Of his ministers our Lord requires this, in particular. Would they could be assisted in this by the means whichi God has committed to the Christian community, to that end! Then would the law of God and the gospel ministry go wherever man goes. Then would the weeds of sin be eradicated, ere they had taken such deep root as to defy cultiva- tion.
On the 12th of August, we rode through a new-formed settlement, called Mal- aga. Here they are endeavoring to erect a building for some public worship; and although it is to be built after the manner of cabins, with logs or hewn tim- ber, yet it will afford a convenient place for worship, and for Sunday schools, to instruct the ignorant, of which there is great need in this part of the State. Many of the heads of families, in this vicinity, were baptized in the Church, and are desirous to bring their children up in the same; but they have no means of instruction, no stated services, to train them in her doctrines and discipline. Could even a lay reader or a pious catechist be placed, and maintained for a few years, among them, the effects would, to all human view, be very salutary. Malaga is eight miles from Woodfield. We dined at a Mr. Fogle's, in the neigli- borhood; were kindly treated; and passed on to Mr. Dement's, on Seneca Fork of Will's Creek, where, the last year, I held divine service. The evening was spent in exhortation and prayer. On the morning of the 13th of August, Sunday, according to the appointment previously made by the Rev. Mr. Morse, divine service was held in the woods, the congregation being too large to be otherwise accommodated. Here, my voice having failed me to a considerable degrce, Mr. Morse read prayers and preached. I had, however, the ability to deliver a short address. In the intermission, I did the same. The afternoon was spent in the same way; the sermon being delivered, though with much difficulty, by myself. Thus ended our labors at this place. Need I repeat here, what it is my duty so often to repeat, my deep impressions of the great need of missionaries? When will you come again ?- what hopes have we for public instruction ?- when will our children, and the rising generation, be rescued from the ignorance which pervades our infant settlements ?- when will gospel ordinances be administered among us ?- These were the questions which met us everywhere. What answer could be returned? Pray constantly and fervently to the great, the heavenly Ilusbandman, that he would send forth laborers into the harvest.
We rode the same evening to Mr. Bryan's, and next day to Mr. Wendal's, on Little Beaver. Here, Monday, 14th, divine service was performed. Mr. Morse read prayers, and the sermon was delivered by myself. Measures are taking in this neighborhood, by the pious zeal of Mr. Wendal's family and neiglibors, to erect a church strictly devoted to the services of our primitive communion; and I have since heard they have made considerable progress in the good work. May the Lord's blessing attend their endeavors, and crown them withi complete success !
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