USA > Virginia > A digest of the proceedings of the conventions and councils in the diocese of Virginia > Part 4
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"In the fourth place, I must observe that psalmody has been too much neglected in our churches. Let us be careful to revive so exalted a part of our public worship, and to render it not only more perfect, but more general. Let us endeavor to encourage those schools wherein that manner which is most melodious, and at the same time properly adapted to public worship, may be taught. All the members of our religious assemblies will thus be enabled and induced to join in those solemn acts of praise and thanksgiving; or, in making a joyful noise to the God of their salvation, and in singing his praise with un- derstanding. * *
"But among the many duties which await us as ministers of the gospel, there can be none more important than that of earnestly press- ing upon the minds of our congregations the obligation and the bene- fits of receiving, at regular stated times, the sacrament. * * *
"Another important duty, incumbent upon the ministers of Christ, claims also our attention; which is, to exercise a godly discipline. Without such discipline, the Church of Christ, which should be holy and without blemish, cannot prosper. It is the duty of every pas- tor of the Church to check the progress of wickedness by all means. becoming the spirit of the gospel ; by exhortation and by reproof, both
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CONVENTION OF 1791.
private and public. If this part of the ministerial discipline be per- formed with meekness, with prudence, and Christian charity, it would certainly be attended with happy effects. * *
"There still remains, my, brethren, a subject of great importance at all times, to the Church, but which, at present, requires a particular attention. A minister of Christ is to teach his flock by his good exam- ple. He is to be the pattern of all good works. Ye are the salt of the earth. Ye are, by your example as well as your doctrine, to prevent that corruption of manners to which the nature of man continually tends. Example, you know, is the abridged method of persuasion. Men live, for the most part, by imitation. It is the source of almost all their vices and their virtues. What happiness for that parish or that congregation, when God raises up among them a minister whose ex- ample for piety and virtue serves as a spectacle both for men and angels! It is, if I may avail myself of the observations of one of the luminaries of the Christian Church, a continued gospel before their eyes. If his example should not recall men to their duties, at least it inspires them with respect for virtue; it forces them to acknowledge that there are still just men upon earth; repairs the injury which unworthy ministers do, in the opinion of the public, to the sanctity of the ministerial character; and corrects the censures and the derisions which libertines throw upon the ministry itself. Yes, my brethren, though a pious minister should confine all the good he can do the example of a regular and edifying life; though he should only show to the public, in the detail of his manners, an example of piety, of pru- dent conversation, of charity, of modesty, of innocence, and of sacer- dotal gravity, it would be still true that he would be set for the rising or the salvation of many.
." But, on the other hand, what reflections must attend that pastor who, through the defect of such an example, sees, that during the course of a long ministry, he has not withdrawn a single soul from the ways of destruction; that he has corrected no disorders, public or private, in his parish; that, instead of effecting a change for the better, his ministry has been attended with a rapid degeneracy of manners, and a contempt for religion ! What reflections must he make upon the long inutility of his ministerial labors! Ought he to search for the cause in his own conduct, in his relaxed piety, in his want of that zeal which should have animated a Christian pastor, in the defect of that example which should have adorned his life, or in the hardness and depravity
of his flock? * * * Doubt it not my brethren; if we would speak with dignity and success, we must stand, like the apostle, upon the holy eminence of a sublime virtue and an animated zeal. It is
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CONVENTION OF 1791.
from that eminence that we must speak terror into the souls of the violators of divine law, that we must draw tears of compunction from the eyes of the wicked, and oblige them, by the ardor of our zeal, to. burn or trample under foot the idols which they have hitherto wor- shipped.
* "We should always bear in mind, that what may be slightly censured in others, is often deemed criminal to ministers of the gospel. Even they who solicit a clergyman to enter into all the diver- sions of the day, and entice him to an imprudent levity, will afteward despise him as a minister, though they affect to esteem him as a friend. Let not the example or corrupted sentiments of the world, let not an. affectation of spirit and freedom, let not any inducement, prevail upon us to depart, in any instance, from the character we have undertaken to support. Beauty of character always reposes upon consistency. This is particularly expected from us, and must be maintained, if we would acquire respect and real esteem.
"I have considered it as my duty earnestly to recommend zeal. It is certainly an essential qualification of the ministerial character. But we should beware of intemperate zeal. This vice, as well as the slighter failings to which we stand exposed, may insinuate itself too easily unless we guard against it. Respect for Christians of every denomi- nation, a liberal and candid interpretation of their sentiments and designs, is a necessary consequence of that charity, that love, which is so often enjoined by the inspired writers. Instead of cherishing or encouraging animosities, be it ours to show an example worthy of the Christian character.
*
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"To you, my respected lay brethren, I beg now to address a few observations. It is with the sincerest pleasure that I congratulate the Church on the attachment which many excellent characters among the laity have uniformly manifested to the communion in which they were nurtured. I must applaud and admire their attachment, since I behold in them not only zealous Christians, but the best of patriots.
"Yes, my brethren; to minds free from prejudice, and uncorrupted by the sophisms of the age, nothing appears more amiable, nothing more essential to the happiness of man, either in his individual or social capacity, than that pure and truly divine religion which our Saviour delivered. The voice of reason, the language of experience, the records of all ages, evince that the happiness of individuals and the prosperity of nations spring from the principle of virtue. But from whence can this principle gain so firm a support as from religion ; from just and exalted ideas of that Being who delights in virtue? In vain
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CONVENTION OF 1791.
shall the legislator enact laws upon laws; in vain shall the moralist prescribe rules of duty ; in vain shall he harangue upon the beauty of virtue and the deformity of vice; respect for the laws will vanish; virtue will lose its elasticity ; corruption of manners, with all their con- sequent and dreadful attendants, must ensue, unless those principles be fortified by religion-by just ideas of our relation and dependence upon a God, all-wise, all-just, omnipotent and omnipresent-the avenger of iniquity, but the remunerator of virtue. * * Doubt it not, my brethren, 'every thing,' as an amiable and eloquent philosopher observes, 'is replaced and firmly established by religion ; it surrounds, I may say, the whole system of morality, resembling that universal and mysterious force in the physical world, which retains the planets in their orbits, and subjects them to a regular revolution; and which, in the midst of the general order it maintains, escapes the observation of men, and appears to their feeble sight unconscious of its own work.
* * **
" My brethren, our religion claims a divine descent; it is the work of God; but let it not be thought that it doth not therefore require the support of man. Far otherwise; it is the very reason, as well observed by a venerable prelate of our Church, which should urge us to exert the utmost care and diligence in its support. Good men will consider it as their indispensable duty to cooperate with the designs of Provi- dence. It is in religion, as in the works of nature. God supplies abundantly the means, the rest is left to human industry. He causes the earth to bring forth materials for food and raiment; but human industry must improve, prepare, and properly apply, both the one and the other. The same analogy extends itself to religion. The things which belong to our salvation, though originally the work of God, require the protection of human aid, the furtherance of all wise and good men.
"Since, then, God has graciously revealed his will, and supplied the means of rendering it known to all; to supply those means, and to make that use of them which his goodness demands, it is the duty of man. But how can this be effected but by a standing ministry ? by an order of men properly instructed and supported, whose whole business it shall be weekly and daily, to attend to the interests of religion, to preach the gospel, to make known its whole system, to convince men that they are accountable to God for their actions-in a word, to en- force those principles of piety and of virtue which lead both to present and future happiness.
* * * * * * *
"I would present to you, in all its force, not only the duty of encour-
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CONVENTION OF 1791.
aging and supporting the means which God hath appointed for the dissemination of Christianity, and thus of cooperating with the designs of Providence; but I entreat you to call to mind the calamities, both individual and social, which must flow from the neglect of those means. For a moment let us behold the pure religion of our forefathers, to- gether with a mode of worship which hath excited the admiration of men the most distinguished for piety, wisdom, and' patriotism, borne down by a torrent of ignorance and enthusiasm : behold her expiring through the cold neglect of her once warm and zealous friends : be- hold her temples tottering to ruin, her ministers slighted, her flocks scattered upon the hills as sheep that have not a shepherd. Should such a spectacle be presented to us, might we not soon expect also to behold virtue retiring, the bonds of society bursting asunder, corrup- tion advancing with rapid strides, liberty and happiness preparing to bid us a long adieu ! May such a spectacle, my friends, never be seen but in imagination. * * * * *
"They who preach the gospel, St. Paul declares, should live by the gospel. Let me, then, earnestly recommend, in order that you, and your children, and your children's children, may receive all the bless- ings of a learned, pious, zealous, standing ministry, that the worthy and influential members in each parish warmly interest themselves in the decent support of the clergy, and uniformly pursue those means for the attainment of so desirable an end which may be thought best.
*
" But, my, brethren, vain will be our endeavors for the prosperity of our Zion, unless they be attended with fervent prayers, that God would graciously enable us to perform our duty with zeal, fidelity and success. Our sufficiency is of God. To that infinitely great and glorious Being, let us, therefore, with humility, now offer up our united supplications.
"Almighty and everlasting God. Look down from heaven and be- hold and visit this vine, and the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted; shed the dew of thy blessing upon the labors of thy servants here assembled; may thy holy Spirit animate the ministers of the gospel of Christ with a sincere and fervent, but catholic zeal in the discharge of their duties; may it inspire them with true piety, with charity, with every godly and virtuous affection. Prosper, O Lord, our endeavors to revive among us a just sense of the inestimable ben- efits of true religion; dispose the hearts of the laity to receive thy word, and grant that the fruits of righteousness may abound more and more. Help us, for the glory of thy name, and mercifully grant that
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CONVENTION OF 1792.
every member of thy holy Church, in his vocation and ministry, may truly and godly serve thee, through our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen "
Resolutions were adopted looking :
To the better preparation and training of candidates for orders by the presbyteries, requiring the presbyteries to take necessary steps for their preparation, with a view to supply the want of divinity schools ;
To the formation of a society for the relief of distressed widows and orphans of clergymen ;
To set apart New Year's day for divine worship-also
Making it the duty of every member of the Episcopal Church to contribute toward the decent support of their bishops and other pastors; and of the vestries to raise a permanent fund for the general purposes of the Church, and to perform the other duties of his office.
Requiring the parishes to pay sixteen dollars each to enable the bishop to make his visitations.
CONVENTION OF 1792.
The Convention met in Richmond, May 3, 1792. Present twenty-three clergymen and twenty-four laymen.
Rev. Samuel Shield presented a plan of a society for relief of widows and orphans of deceased clergymen. It was adopted.
Rev. Samuel M'Croskey and Robert Andrews were ap- pointed deputies to the General Convention.
The Bishop reported as follows :
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CONVENTION OF 1793.
" Agreeably to the 35th canon, the bishop begs leave to report that he has visited the following parishes, viz .: York-Hampton, Elizabeth City, Abingdon, Ware, Christ Church (Middlesex), St. Anne, St. Paul (King George), Berkeley, Westover, Blisland, Bruton, James City, Hen- rico and Lunenburg, and is happy to assure the Convention that in most of the parishes, the conduct of the ministers appeared to be such as merited the highest commendation. The congregations where he attended were generally numerous, and attentive to the form of wor- ship established by the Church; and though he had too much reason to lament that sufficient regard was not paid to the decent support of the clergy in many of the parishes, yet the diligence with which most of the ministers continued to discharge their sacred functions, while it afforded the highest proof of their zeal and piety, yielded at the same time a pleasing hope that the Church would gradually revive. In the five parishes of Abingdon, Ware, Christ Church (Middlesex), Berkeley (Fredericksburg), and Bruton, upwards of six hundred persons have been confirmed."
The Convention adjourned after a session of two days.
CONVENTION OF 1793.
The Convention met in Richmond, May 2, 1793. Present eighteen clergymen and twenty-seven laymen.
The Bishop was allowed a salary of one hundred pounds and his traveling expenses.
The Convention unanimously instructed its deputies to the General Convention to vote against a proposition to be introduced, giving the House of Bishops a full negative upon the proceedings of the other House.
Rev. Samuel M'Croskey and Robert Andrews were elected deputies.
In his address the Bishop solemnly expressed himself upon the following subjects :
4
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CONVENTION OF 1793.
"I trust that the good effects of our late ministerial exertions are generally felt and acknowledged, and that our affairs, under the bless- ing of Providence, begin to assume somewhat a more pleasing aspect. Several valuable ministers have been sent forth, men from whose piety and labors we may anticipate the happiest effects; our congregations seem more attentive to their religious concerns, and I ardently hope, are gradually advancing to a greater degree of Christian perfection. * * *
* * * *
"Perhaps, however, the propositions which I think it my duty to lay before you, if they do not meet with the approbation of this assembly, may at least be the means of calling forth others, which may operate more effectually to the end we all have in view.
"The first that I shall submit to your consideration, as of great im- portance in my mind towards reviving a just sense of religion, and estab- lishing a due ministerial influence among our parishioners, is that the different pastors should consider it as a duty to visit their parishioners at their private dwellings as often in the year as may be convenient; that at these visits, children should be examined and instructed in their cate- chism; parents, when necessary, exhorted to lead Christian lives, and to be attentive to the religious instruction of their children.
* * *
* **
* *
"That the ministers should cause to be distributed among their congregations such books or pamphlets as would tend to check that spirit of proselytism which so strongly distinguishes most sects, by exposing whatever may appear erroneous, in a plain and candid man- ner, and at the same time showing the verity and constant superiority of the principles of our own Church. * * *
"A third proposition I have to make is, that we should endeavor to introduce family prayers among the members of our Church; nothing, we are persuaded, tends more to keep up a sense of religion in the minds of men, than a serious and constant performance of this neces- * * * * sary duty. * *
* "I have only one more proposition to make; which is, that we should all consider the interests of the Church as a common cause which we are bound to support by every consideration the most sacred. The ministers, in particular, should ever hold themselves related to each other by a truly fraternal connexion. A general cause unites them ; but this union should be cherished; it should be a principle of action ; it should animate the whole body, and render the concerns of * one the concerns of the whole.
"The promotion of true religion is our primary duty, but split as the Christian world is into parties, we have also the interests of a sect to promote, in order to perform that primary duty. For this purpose, we
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must have not only our external, but internal regulations; we must have a line of conduct delineated, which, though it will not admit of canonical injunction, still should be systematically pursued by every minister. * *
"Like the rebuilders of Jerusalem, after the captivity, we must, in the language of the Prophet, 'every one, with one of his hands, work in the building; with the other, hold a weapon.' With one hand we must build up our people in the doctrine of piety and the apostolic in- stitutions of our Church, while with the other, we must resist that spirit of proselytism which is so unworthy of the followers of Christ, but which will otherwise demolish as fast as we build. In short, be it our duty in all things 'to show ourselves approved unto God, as work- men that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth,' ' taking heed to the ministry, which we have received in the Lord, that we fulfil it.'
"Another proposition, which I confess I had much at heart, I should have laid before this Convention ; but its fate has, I fear, been already determined; I mean an invitation to all sincere Christians to unite with us in forming one church, and in abolishing those dissensions which are so contrary to our profession. There is no one here present but must cordially wish for such a union, provided it did not require a sac- rifice of those points which are deemed essentials by our Church; from them we have not the power to retreat. But in such matters as are subject to human alteration, if, by a candid discussion, they could be found capable of being so modified as to remove the objections of any sect of Christians who may be actuated by the same catholic spirit, and thereby effect a union, in that case we should surely have reason to rejoice, not only in the event, but also in being the first to set an exam- ple to Christians which it is the duty of all to follow; and in convincing them that there is infinitely more religion in not contending, than in those things about which they contend. There appear, however, so many difficulties, so many obstacles to this great work, in the opinion of those whose judgment I much respect, that I do not mean to take up your time by making a direct proposition upon it. But if any of the members here present should be acquainted with circumstances which may justify a conclusion that those apparent difficulties may be removed, or that the end mentioned can be effected by any means which have occurred to them, consistently with the fundamental princi- ples of our own Church, I doubt not but this Convention would gladly hear both the one and the other.
"You see, respected lay brethren, with what difficulty the pastoral office is surrounded. You see the weight of that burden we have to
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CONVENTION OF 1794.
support. But you see also that we are not dismayed, but anxious to encounter those difficulties, or support that burden, with a fortitude and a faithfulness proportionate to their magnitude. It must be re- membered, however, that our success, next to the divine blessing, depends upon the zealous assistance which the most respectable lay
* members of the Church in each parish shall afford. * *
"Let me exhort you, brethren, be emulous in setting such an exam- ple in your respective parishes. Your pastors tremble at their insuf- ficiency for their momentous undertaking. Be it yours to lessen the burden of the ministerial functions by offices of affection, of kindness and respect. Be it yours ever to say, 'If I forget thee, O Zion, let my right hand forget her cunning; if I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I prefer not Zion above my chief joy.'"
CONVENTION OF 1794.
The Convention met May 6, 1794. Present twelve cler- gymen and eighteen laymen.
The number in attendance was small, and the session was concluded on the next day, 7th, after the transaction of very little business.
A letter addressed to the President, by one of the clergy, was laid before the Convention, which thereupon adopted the following :
Resolved, That the mode of communicating, by letter, sentiments on subjects proper for the discussion of the Convention, is irregular in individual members of the Church.
Mr. Brown, from the committee appointed to examine the papers relative to Mr. Benjamin Brown and Mr. Isaac Fos- ter, reported, That the committee had, according to order, examined the same, and had come to a resolution thereon,
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CONVENTION OF 1795.
which was read, and agreed to by two-thirds of the Conven- tion, as follows :
Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee, that the dis- pensing with the knowledge of the Greek and Latin languages in the examination of the said Mr. Benjamin Brown and Mr. Isaac Foster for holy orders, may be of advantage to the Episcopal Church in this State.
Rev. Samuel M'Croskey and Mr. Robert Andrews were chosen deputies to the General Convention.
A resolution was adopted more earnestly protesting against allowing the House of Bishops an absolute veto upon the proceedings of the other House.
The deputies to the General Convention were instructed-
To use their endeavors to have the sixth additional canon, passed at the last General Convention, so amended as to vest the wardens, vestrymen, or trustees of any parish, with the power of granting per- mission to any clergyman of this Church to preach or read prayers in the churches under their care, whenever they shall be of opinion that the interests of religion will be thereby promoted.
The Standing Committee was directed to address the Protestant Episcopal Church in the different parishes of this State, through their ministers, or vestries where there are no ministers, on the situation of the Church and the necessity of complying with the requisitions of the Con- vention.
CONVENTION OF 1795.
No Journal of 1795 has been found.
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CONVENTIONS OF 1796 TO 1797.
CONVENTION OF 1796.
The Convention met May 3, 1796. Present twenty-six clergymen and thirty-four laymen. The session continued two days.
Resolutions were passed denying the right of the General Assembly of the State of Virginia to interfere with the property of the Church, and protesting that any interference by the Assembly, without the consent of the Church, would be a violation of the rights of private property and of one of the fundamental principles of the present government.
In case there should be a General Convention held before the next meeting of the Convention of the Diocese, the Rev. Samuel M'Croskey and Robert Andrews, Esq., were elected deputies.
A canon was adopted as follows:
No clergyman of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of Virginia shall be permitted to hold a military commission; nor shall a clergyman leaving one parish be inducted into another, unless he shall produce to the vestry of such parish testimonials of his good conduct from the vestry of the parish where he last resided. :
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