USA > Virginia > A digest of the proceedings of the conventions and councils in the diocese of Virginia > Part 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35
ment of the trustees (who shall report annually to the Convention a full state of the same), and be subject, in the disposition of the same, to the control and direction of that body.
II. The management of the Institution shall be vested in the Board of Trustees, who shall have power to choose a professor or professors, and to prescribe a course of study agreeably to the canons of the Church, and, in general, to make rules and regulations for the govern- ment and good management of the institution.
12. The Board of Trustees shall keep a regular record of their pro- ceedings, and report the same regularly to the annual meetings of the Convention.
13. This Constitution, or any article thereof, shall not be altered or amended, unless by a vote of two-thirds of the Convention.
On motion of Mr. Hugh Nelson, the words, "who shall continue in office during good behaviour," in the first arti- cle, were struck out, and the other articles, having been severally considered by the Convention, were adopted; where- upon,
Ordered, That the said Constitution as amended, be adopted as the Constitution of the Theological School of the Diocese of Virginia.
Revs. W. H. Wilmer, Ravenscroft, Meade and E. C. M'Guire, and Messrs Hugh Mercer, Edmund J. Lee, Wil- liam Mayo and Philip Nelson were elected to the General Convention.
The Widows' Fund was reported to be in all $4,783.67.
Revs. Wilmer, Ravenscroft and Meade, and Messrs. Hugh Mercer and Edmund J. Lee were chosen members of the Board of Trustees to the Theological Seminary.
Adjourned to meet in Leesburg, May, 1823.
93
CONVENTION OF 1823.
CONVENTION OF 1823.
Convention met in Leesburg May 13th. The Bishop was absent because of sickness in his family. The Rev. William H. Wilmer was elected President pro tempore.
Present eighteen clergy and twenty-three laymen.
The Widows' and Orphans' Fund reported in all $5,193.72.
Revs. W. H. Wilmer, William Meade, E. C. M'Guire and Oliver Norris, and Messrs. William Mayo, Hugh Mercer, John Nelson, Jr., and Robert Lewis were elected to the General Convention.
The Committee on the State of the Church proposed the following :
Resolved, That the Standing Committee be and they are hereby authorized to select some competent person to call on the different members of this Church to contribute to raising the fund for the sup- port of the Bishop, payable in one, two, three and four years. It was lost on a call of ayes and noes-ayes, 19; noes, 22.
The trustees of the Theological Seminary, in their report. said :
The Board would especially acknowledge the zeal and success of Mr. Robert P. Waring, the agent for Essex county, who has procured sub- scriptions exceeding $1,000, $600 of which he has generously given himself, with the expectation of securing yet additional contributions. In addition to the appointment of agents, in various counties, the Board at a recent meeting have appointed other special agents, who have engaged to make speedy and persevering efforts to accomplish the collection of the contemplated fund.
The Board also selected and appointed a Professor of Divinity, the Rev. Mr. Keith, who has been rendering partial services in the institu- tion during the past year.
The whole amount of funds now claimed by the society, including what is subscribed and paid in, is somewhere about $14,000, together
94
CONVENTION OF 1824.
with a valuable donation of theological books, made by a gentleman of the Northern Neck of Virginia, in addition to those given the institution by the late Rev. Mr. Andrus.
The Revs. John H. Wingfield and John Dunn were elected trustees of the Theological Seminary, in place of Rev. J. S. Ravenscroft, resigned, and Rev. E. M. Lowe, deceased.
Adjourned to meet in Staunton, May 1824.
CONVENTION OF 1824.
The Convention met in Staunton, Thursday, May 20. Present twelve clergy, sixteen laity.
Mr. John G. Williams was elected Secretary.
The Journal records the enactment of a canon on the trial of a clergyman. Its peculiarities were-a court of three Presbyters, two-thirds necessary to conviction. Sen- tence to be pronounced by the Standing Committee, in case there should be no Bishop, and the Standing Committee to have power to pronounce no sentence beyond suspension.
The following preamble and resolutions were offered by the Rev. William H. Wilmer:
Whereas, there are throughout the State, in the possession of families and individuals, many valuable books, the remnant of ancient libraries, that are of but little use to their owners, but which would be of great value to the Theological School of this Diocese, it is hereby
Resolved, That the friends of the Church, who are in possession of such books as they can conveniently spare, be, and they are hereby respectfully requested, to send them for the use of the school to the minister of the parish, or of the adjoining parish, or to Professor Keith, of Alexandria.
95
CONVENTION OF 1824.
Resolved, also, That the clergy and laity of this Diocese, who have in their possession journals of the Convention of this State, holden anterior to the year 1812, be requested to forward them to the Rev. William H. Wilmer, of Alexandria, for the purpose of enabling him to publish the whole of them in regular series, and in a compact form.
A report was presented from the Trustees of the Theo- logical Seminary. It announced that the Rev. Reuel Keith was elected Professor, with the request to hold himself in readiness to take charge of it whenever it should go into operation. It urged the payment of subscriptions, and the liberal cooperation of the friends of the Church. It said :
The trustees of the Theological School of Virginia now present, though not in a sufficient number to form a quorum, feel it their duty to submit to the Convention the following report:
The trustees take great pleasure in contemplating the present state and encouraging prospects of the school, and in bearing testimony, as far as they know and believe, to the zeal, fidelity and ability with which the professors have discharged the duties of their professorship. They feel it incumbent on them also to state, from satisfactory information, that the whole course of studies has been entirely conformed to the canons of the Church. * *
Under the present circumstances of the school, the trustees are of opinion that Alexandria is the best place for the present location, and they beg leave to recommend to the Convention the adoption of a reso- lution to that effect.
* * *
*
* *
Williamsburg is too remote and inaccessible to justify the hope that students can be obtained for a Theological Institution at that place. The experiment was tried there for one year without success, and no hope of success seemed to present itself in the time to come. No sooner was the trial made in Alexandria, than the number of students, and the means of supporting the indigent among them, increased be- yond our most sanguine expectations. All that is now wanting to com- plete success, under the blessing of God, is the liberal cooperation of the friends of the Church.
*
* * *
* *
We cannot hope for a full and permanent supply of pious and well- educated ministers from any other source than the institution we com- mend to the liberal patronage of our members.
96
CONVENTION OF 1825.
In accordance with the request made in the report, it was resolved to locate the Seminary, for the present, in the town of Alexandria.
The following preamble and resolution were offered by the Rev. William Meade, and adopted:
Whereas, the Bishop has signified to the Convention his desire and intention of employing an assistant, which is now rendered absolutely necessary to the discharge of his Episcopal duties in the Diocese, and that he is willing to pay one-half of the assistant's salary out of his own purse; therefore,
Resolved, That as soon as the Bishop shall have obtained an assis- tant, he communicate the same to the ministers and vestries, stating what would be needful on their part to the support of said assistant, and making such a representation of all the circumstances of the case as he may deem most effectual.
There is no address of the Bishop published with the proceedings. It would seem that one was made from the fact that the resolutions here offered with reference to a statement made by him as to the necessity of employing a parochial assistant, and that the Bishop had signified a readiness to pay half the salary out of his own purse. The resolution asked him, as soon as an assistant was obtained, to communicate fully with all the vestries of the Diocese upon the subject.
Mr. Nicholas H. Cobbs was invited to a seat in the Con- vention.
CONVENTION OF 1825.
Convention met in Richmond, May 19, 1825.
The Bishop, in his address, said :
" To remedy some of the difficulties, brethren, which have presented themselves to view, I conceive it a duty incumbent on me at this time
97
CONVENTION OF 1825.
to offer a few observations on the subject of an obedience to the ru- brics of the Church, and as the clergy cannot charge me with unkind- ness in my intercourse with them, I trust my remarks will be received with the same spirit of conciliation with which they will be offered, and not charged to a spirit of improper domination.
" The Church of which we are members has always felicitated her- self upon the possession of a liturgy combining with the soundest sense the purest and most sublimated devotion; a liturgy which has commanded the respect and admiration of some of the greatest and most enlightened men who have lived since the Reformation. To en- able the clergy to conduct the devotions of the people in perfect uni- formity, rubrics have been attached to all the offices of religion; a compliance with which is required of every minister prior to his ordi- nation.
"Although the services of the Church have been thus guarded, still it has sometimes happened that a departure from the liturgy has taken place, and the beauty of our incomparable form of worship been in some measure destroyed.
"When an individual, instructed in the peculiarities of our services, is engaged in the duties of the sanctuary, he can follow with inde- scribable pleasure the officiating clergyman, in the regular exercise of his office; he is always prepared to unite in the prayers and to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness without the least distraction of mind. But when it so happens that the clergyman is inattentive to the: rubrics, the devotional exercises of the worshipper are obstructed; his mind, instead of being preserved calm and serene, becomes perplexed, and his religious feelings changed into those of disappointment, if not displeasure. I indulge the hope, brethren, that in those instances in which the aberrations alluded to have been practiced, they have arisen more from inconsideration than design, and that it is only necessary to mention the evil to have it remedied.
"Another subject to which I must call your attention is the fund for the support of the Episcopate in the Diocese of Virginia. I do this with less reluctance than I otherwise should in consequence of my age and the impossibility of reaping from it any personal advantages what- ever.
"The Bishop of the Diocese has duties to perform which render it improper that he should be confined to the superintendence of a par- ticular parish. All the congregations in the State form the objects of his pastoral charge, and are equally entitled to his superintending care. Were the Bishop at perfect liberty he could visit at pleasure the desti- tute parts of his Diocese-convince the people of the interest he takes
7
98
CONVENTION OF 1825.
in their concerns-keep alive their attachment to the Church, and pre- vent them from a departure from the fold. When confined to the charge of a single congregation, the entreaties of those who are desti- tute of ministerial aid cannot be complied with. His children ask for the Bread of Life at his hands, and he is obliged to withhold the aid for which they implore-they plead their relation to him as to their Spirit- ual Father, and they plead in vain-they demand his fostering care in accents which touch his heart, but their demands, however reasonable and just, it is beyond his power to satisfy.
"Such, brethren, has been my situation since my residence in Vir- ginia, and such must be the situation of my successor, unless some pro- vision should be made to meet the evil. A clergyman of suitable talents, who would travel through the Diocese, and who might be em- ployed as a missionary at the same time, could, I am well convinced, in the space of two years, complete the plan you have already com- menced, and enable your Diocesan to perform the duties belonging to his office. What person, who considers himself a member of the Church, would refuse a few dollars for the completion of such an object? What Virginian, who recollects the attachment of his departed parents to the Church, and who remembers the period when he was led by them to worship in our courts, would shut his ears to our petitions, or send us empty away from his doors? My brethren, I have traveled too much through this Diocese to consider such an event possible. I know the Virginia character too well to believe that the old Church, dilapi- dated as she is in many places, would ask for bread and receive a stone. No, my brethren, it is impossible. The remains of their parents lie in- terred in many instances within the walls or around the walls of our ruined temples; and those revered relics would make such an appeal to their hearts as they would not be willing to resist. Make then, I beseech you, one vigorous and united effort in the case submitted to you-enter upon the concern with one heart and one mind, and the Lord will in mercy bless your efforts.
The Committee on the State of the Church reported the three following resolutions:
Resolved, That the Convention heartily concurs with the Bishop in re- commending to the ministers a punctual observance of the rubrics of the Church, warning them of the danger of yielding to prejudices supposed to exist against the liturgy, either in the breasts of the irreligious, or of those who may be present at our churches, who are accustomed to other services ; and particularly would they urge it upon the ministers and
99
CONVENTION OF 1825.
parents to train up the younger members in the Church in the use of the Prayer Book, as the best means of ensuring a regular and edifying use of the liturgy, and would also recommend it to the ministers occa- sionally to expatiate on the excellences and advantages of our incom- parable service. At the same time the Convention feels bound in duty to the Church of Virginia to state that but few instances of departure have occurred, and also that there is a growing attachment to the ser- vices of the Church throughout the Diocese.
Resolved, That the Bishop and Standing Committee be, and they are hereby authorized, to appoint some competent person or persons to call on the members of the Episcopal Church in this Diocese, in such places as may be thought expedient, to solicit contributions for the permanent fund for the support of the Bishop; and out of the contribu- tions it is recommended that as much be annually appropriated to- wards the payment of the assistant of the Bishop as may be necessary to supply any deficiency in that portion of his support which the dif- ferent vestries in the Diocese are required to provide.
Resolved, That the Bishop do address a circular letter to the mem- bers and vestries of the different parishes of the Diocese upon the sub- ject of raising a salary for the support of the assistant to the Bishop. The ministers are hereby required to lay the same before their respec- tive vestries, and to read the same from the pulpit to their respective congregations.
The Colonization Society, through its agent, Rev. R. R. Gurley, of Washington, D. C., addressed a letter to this Con- vention, asking the sanction of the Convention to their plans and proceedings. Hearty resolutions were adopted recommending the Society and its object; also recommend- ing, in accordance with their request, that "the different clergymen and vestries of the Protestant Episcopal Church within this Diocese have collections to be made in behalf of the Colonization Society on the 4th of July, or on the Sab- bath immediately preceding or succeeding that day."
The Trustees of the Theological Seminary report, "with the liveliest emotions of gratitude that * twenty-one young men have been pursuing their studies under the two professors appointed to this very important charge."
100
CONVENTION OF 1825.
They report the appointment of "Rev. Mr. Norris profes- sor of Pastoral Theology."
They appeal for further pecuniary aid and commend the object of auxiliary education societies. They urge Chris- tian friends, and ministers especially, to pray God to put it into the hearts of pious youths of the Church to devote themselves to the ministry.
The report said also-
From the present prospect of the school, the Board entertain the hope that it will be prepared to take a respectable rank among the similar institutions established by the Church. The General Seminary in New York has been for some time in successful progress. A Dioce- san school in Ohio is about to commence its operations also with encouraging prospects. Experience has proved that there is ample room and demand for the Theological School of Virginia. By its local convenience, and by its accommodation to the habits and manners of our Southern country, it attracts, without conflicting with the interests of the General Seminary, a patronage and support which otherwise would be lost to the cause of the Church. Many of the students now attached to it would have attended no seminary, and probably would have been alienated from the Church.
With the Bible chart before us, as delineated by our venerable Church, we hope that the course pursued by the seminary will be honorable and prosperous to itself and the Church, and that the students who may come forth from the institution will be sound ministers of the Church, combining the love of order and unity with that experimental acquaintance with the religion of the heart, and that zealous and faithful discharge of the ministerial functions, which, alone, can render them respectable and useful in the Lord's vineyard.
It published the rules and regulations concerning the Faculty, the students and the course of study.
The closing address of Bishop Moore, on Sunday evening, was peculiarly solemn.
101
CONVENTIONS OF 1826 AND 1827.
CONVENTION OF 1826.
Convention met in Lynchburg, Thursday, May 18th, at which time "the church in this place was consecrated by the Right Rev. Bishop Moore, D. D."
There was reported $3,900 invested toward a permanent Episcopal Fund.
The Contingent Fund amounted to $493.25. $145 was collected toward the payment of an assistant to the Bishop in his parochial work.
The Seminary trustees reported the loss of Rev. Mr. Nor- ris by death, and the appointment of Rev. Mr. Lippit as his successor.
They report the funded capital of the Seminary as less than $10,000.
The Treasurer was directed to pay to each delegate to the General Convention the sum of $50 to pay his expenses in attending the same.
Rev. William H. Wilmer, D. D., Rev. William Meade, Rev. Edward C. M'Guire, Dr. Carter Berkeley and Mr. Philip Nelson were nominated to the General Convention as trus- tees of the General Theological Seminary.
CONVENTION OF 1827.
Convention met in St. George's church, Fredericksburg, on Thursday, May 17.
A communication from the General Convention was re- ceived, containing the following resolutions :
102
CONVENTION OF 1827.
I. Resolved, That in "The order how the Psalter is appointed to be read," the following be added to the fourth paragraph-"or any other Psalm or Psalms, except on those days on which proper Psalms are appointed"-so that the whole paragraph will read as follows :- " The minister instead of reading from the Psalter, as divided for daily morn- ing and evening prayer, may read one of the selections set out by this Church, or any other Psalm or Psalms, except on those days on which "proper Psalms" are appointed.
2. Resolved, That in "The order how the rest of the Holy Scripture is appointed to be read," the following be inserted after the fifth para- graph :- "The minister may, at his discretion, instead of the entire lesson, read suitable portions thereof, not less than fifteen verses. And on other days than Sundays and holydays, in those places where morn- ing and evening prayer is not daily used, he may read other portions of the Old and New Testament instead of the prescribed lessons, it being recommended that unless circumstances render it inexpedient, on the stated prayer days of Wednesdays and Fridays, the lessons for those days, or for one of the intervening days, be read."
The Bishops, in the use of the office of confirmation, finding that the preface is frequently not well suited to the age and character of those who are presented for this holy ordinance, unanimously propose the following resolution :
3. Resolved, That after the present preface in the office of confirma- tion, the following be inserted, to be used instead of the former, at the discretion of the Bishop :- "It appears from Holy Scripture, that the apostles laid their hands on those who were baptized; and this ordi- nance, styled by the Apostle Paul the 'laying on of hands,' and ranked by him among the principles of the doctrine of Christ, has been re- tained in the Church under the name of confirmation; and is very convenient and proper to be observed, to the end that persons being sufficiently instructed in what they promised, or what was promised for them in their baptism, and being in other respects duly qualified, may themselves, with their own mouth and consent, openly, before the Church, ratify and confirm the same; and also promise that, by the grace of God, they will evermore endeavor themselves faithfully to observe such things as they by their own confession have assented unto."
And to correct the injurious misapprehension as to the meaning of certain terms in the first collect in the office of confirmation, the Bishops unanimously propose the following resolution :
4. Resolved, That after the first collect in the office of confirmation, the following be inserted, to be used at the discretion of the Bishop, instead of the first collect :- "Almighty and everliving God, who hast
103
CONVENTION OF 1827.
vouchsafed in baptism to regenerate these thy servants by water and the Holy Ghost, thus giving them a title to all the blessings of thy covenant of grace and mercy in thy Son Jesus Christ, and now does. graciously confirm unto them, ratifying the promises then made, all their holy privileges; grant unto them, we beseech thee, O Lord, the renewing of the Holy Ghost; strengthen them with the power of this Divine Comforter; and daily increase in them thy manifold gifts of grace, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and ghostly strength, the spirit of knowledge and true godliness; and fill them, O Lord, with the spirit of thy holy fear, now and forever .. Amen."
And whereas, in the opinion of the Bishops, there is no doubt as to the obligation of ministers to say, on all Sundays and other holydays, that part of the communion office which is commonly called the ante- communion, yet as the practice of some of the clergy is not conform- able to this construction of the Rubric on this point, the House of Bishops propose the following resolution :
5. Resolved, That the following be adopted as a substitute for the first sentence in the Rubric, immediately after the communion office :
"On all Sundays and all other holydays shall be said all that is appointed at the communion unto the end of the gospel, concluding Divine service, in all cases when there is a sermon or communion, and when there is not, with the blessing."
Resolved, That it be made known to the several State Conven- tions of this Church that it is proposed to consider of, and determine on, at the next General Convention the propriety of altering the second clause of the eighth article of the Constitution of the Church, by adding the words, "or the articles of religion," after the words, "other offices of the Church."
The communication was referred to a Special Committee, whose report was acted upon in the Convention of 1829.
The Contingent Fund reported $601.58.
For the Bishop's assistant, $130 for the year ending May, 1826, and $236 for the year ending May, 1827.
The Committee on Parochial Reports remonstrate against the length and irrelevancy of some of the parochial reports, and regret that they should have to strike out portions as not tending " to throw light on the state of the parishes."
104
CONVENTION OF 1827.
The reports, as condensed by the committee, were ordered to be printed in the Journal.
The fund for the relief of the widows and orphans of deceased clergymen, report assets to the amount of $6,022.51.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.