USA > Virginia > Henrico County > Henrico County > History and reminiscences of the Monumental Church, Richmond, Va. : from 1814 to 1878 > Part 4
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" Church wardens are to be considered as the act- ing part of the vestry, who are to see their orders. and resolutions carried into execution ; and they are to report the state of the parish to the bishop and visitor at their visitations.
" Resolved, That a standing committee be ap- pointed, whose business it shall be to correspond with any society or societies of the Protestant Epis- copal Church, in the United States, on any matters. relating thereto : to call a meeting of the convention whensoever it shall seem necessary ; to receive com- plaints against the clergy, and to direct courts of examination, pursuant to the rules of the govern- ment of the church; to make such representations on behalf of the church as may from time to time be expedient ; to give advice on difficulties propounded to them concerning the church, during the recess of the convention, and to report their proceedings to-
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every succeeding convention, to be confirmed or re- scinded.
" Resolved, That the standing committee be in- structed to consider of the proper means of obtaining consecration for a bishop to officiate in this church ; of sending the person who may be hereafter appointed to be consecrated, and of supporting him during his continuance in office, and to make their report to the next convention."
The same convention adopted an address to the members of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Vir- ginia, from which the following is an extract :
" Of what is the church now possessed ! nothing but the glebes and your affections.
" Since the year 1776, she hath been even without regular government, and her ministers have received but little compensation for their services. Their numbers are diminished by death and other causes, and we have as yet no resource within ourselves for a succession of ministers.
" Churches stand in need of repair, and there is no fund equal to the smallest want. By the favor of Providence, indeed, the Protestant Episcopal "Church is incorporated by law, and under this sanc- tion we are now assembled. We have accepted the invitation of a convention lately held in New York to send deputies to another to be holden at Philadel- phia in the fall. We shall not enter into a revision ·of doctrine and worship until their return, and report of the sentiments of those of our communion with
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whom they may be associated. We have, however, organized the government of the church."
At another convention, begun and held at the- Public Buildings in the city of Richmond, on Wed- nesday, the 24th of May, 1786, the convention pro- ceeded, by ballot, on the 31st of May, to the appoint- ment of a person proper to be recommended for con- sideration as bishop of this State.
On the first ballot the vote was ascertained to be : For the Rev. David Griffith, Rector of Fairfax. Parish, 32; for Rev. John Bracken, Rector of Bru- ton Parish, 10; Rev. Samuel Shield, Rector of York Hampton Parish, 7. And it appearing that a ma- jority of the whole convention was in favor of Rev. Mr. Griffith,
" Resolved, therefore, that the Rev. David Griffith be recommended as a proper person to be consecrated, bishop of this State.
" Resolved, That this convention will, after conse- cration, receive the said David Griffith as bishop."
At the ensuing session of the General Assembly, the celebrated act was passed, entitled "An act for Establishing Religious Freedom," (see Statutes at Large, Vol. XII, chap. 34, page 84.) And at the next ensuing session, to wit: the assembly begun and held at the Public Buildings, in the city of Rich- mond, on Monday, the 16th day of October, in the year of our Lord 1786, and in the 11th year of the Commonwealth, Patrick Henry, Esquire, being Gov- ernor, an act was passed in these words :
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"I. Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that the act entitled an 'act for incorporating the Protes- tant Episcopal Church,' shall be, and the same is hereby repealed, saving to all religious societies the property to them respectively belonging, who are hereby authorised to appoint, from time to time, ac- cording to the rules of their sect, trustees, who shall be capable of managing and applying such property to the religious uses of such societies, and to guard against all doubts and misconstructions.
"II. Be it further enacted and declared, that so much of all laws now in force as prevents any re- ligious society from regulating its own discipline, shall be, and is hereby repealed."
Subsequent to the passage of this act the standing ·committee deemed it necessary to publish the follow- ing notice :
"To the members of the Protestant Episcopal Church :
"The standing committee of the Protestant Epis- copal Church, in consequence of the power vested in them, do hereby notify that Wednesday, the 16th of May next, is appointed as the time for holding a convention in the city of Richmond. It hath been thought advisable thus to anticipate the stated time of meeting, on account of the Whitsuntide festival.
"The committee, considering the effects of the re- peal of the incorporating act, take the liberty,-(the act as originally published, by request, in the Vir- ginia Gazette, contained these additional words :
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"The religious opinions of men not being the objects ·of civil government, or under its jurisdiction')-to re- commend to the ministers of parishes, or the church wardens when there are no ministers, to convene the members of the Protestant Episcopal Church in their respective parishes so soon as may be convenient, in order to make an election of lay deputies.
"The committee are also anxious to express their earnest desire that the convention may be full, as matters of the utmost importance to the above church will come under consideration.
J. MADISON, Chairman of the Committee." " Williamsburg, March 12, 1787.
In pursuance of which notice the convention as- sembled at the Public Building in the city of Rich- mond, and adopted an ordinance for regulating the appointment of vestries and trustees, and for other purposes, " and also adopted revised rules and canons for regulating the order, government and discipline of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Virginia." It further
"Resolved, That the standing committee, without delay, request of the Right Rev. Dr. White, Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of Pennsylvania, and the Right Rev. Dr. Provost, Bishop of the said church in the State of New York, that they, or either of them, admit to consecration the Rev. Dr. Griffith, nominated by the last conven- tion bishop of the church in this State."
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Bishop White and Bishop Provost, felt them- selves constrained to decline the request of the standing committee, in consequence of a promise- made by them to the consecrating bishops in Eng- land, that they would not admit any one to consecra- tion in America, until three bishops had been ob -- tained from England.
It had been originally contemplated that Dr. Griffith should cross the Atlantic with Dr. White and Dr. Provost, the two gentlemen who had been selected by the churches-New York and Pennsyl- vania-for consecration ; but poverty presented an obstacle which he was not able to surmount; he was not supplied with money by the church, although efforts were made to raise it by contributions from the parishes; and this circumstance, together with other considerations of an embarrassing nature, led him to communicate to the convention of 1789 his relinquishment of the appointment. He died in July of the same year, at the house of Bishop White, in Philadelphia, whither he had gone to attend the general convention, as one of the representatives from Virginia, having retained the confidence of the church in Virginia to the last, and receiving finally, from the general convention in Philadelphia, an attestation of the respect entertained for his character.
At the convention of 1790, held in the capitol in the city of Richmond, on Friday, May the 7th:
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"The convention, according to the order of the day, proceeded by ballot to the nomination of a bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in this State; and the Rev. James Craig and others . were appointed to examine the ballots, who, having withdrawn and examined the same, reported that they found the numbers for the persons balloted for. to be as followeth:
" For the Rev. James Madison, Rector of James. City Parish, and President of William and Mary College, 46 ;
" Rev. Samuel Shield, Rector York Hampton Parish, 9;
"And it appearing from the report that a majority- of the whole convention was in favor of the Rev. James Madison,
" Resolved, therefore, that the Rev. James Madi- son, D. D., be recommended as a proper person to be consecrated bishop of the Protestant Episcopal. Church in the State of Virginia."
Soon after the adjournment of the convention ;. Dr. Madison proceeded to England, and on the 19th of September, 1790, he was consecrated in the chapel of the Archepiscopal palace at Lambeth, by the Most Rev. John Moore, Archbishop of Canter- bury ; the Right Rev. Bishops Brilby, Porteus, of. London, and John Thomas, of Rochester, present: and assisting.
Thus was the Protestant Episcopal Church in this. country furnished with three bishops of English con --
4
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secration; and upon the return of Dr. Madison, the Episcopal Church of Virginia, after an existence of one hundred and eighty-four years, saw for the first time a bishop within her borders.
Bishop Madison met the assembled clergy of his diocese for the first time in the convention of May, 1791, in Richmond; on which occasion he delivered to them a most earnest charge, and affectionately exhorted both the clergy and laity to hearty co- operation with him in reviving the church.
To the convention of 1792 he made his first re- port of visitations as follows:
"Agreeably to the thirty-fifth canon, the bishop begs leave to report that he has visited the follow- ing parishes, viz: York Hampton, Elizabeth City, Abingdon, Ware, Christ Church, (Middlesex,) St. Anne, St. Paul's, (King George,) Berkeley, West- over, Blisland, Bruton, James City, Henrico, and Lunenburg; and is happy to assure the convention, that in most of the parishes the conduct of the min- isters appeared to be such as merited the highest commendation. The congregations where he at- tended were generally numerous and attentive to the form of worship established by the church; and though he had too much reason to lament that suf- ficent regard was not paid to the decent support of the clergy in many 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
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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."
Bishop Madison died in Williamsburg on the 6th of March, 1812, in the sixty-third year of his age, and his remains were deposited in the chapel of the college.
"The members of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Virginia are most solemnly and earnestly requested to elect and send, from their several re- spective parishes, clerical and lay deputies, to meet in convention at Richmond, the second Wednesday in May next.
"The present situation of the church imperiously calls for such a meeting; and it is therefore with confidence hoped, that if a spark of love and attach- ment to the church in which they were baptized and educated remain in the breasts of its professing members, they will feel it kindling into a warm and holy flame, animating their zeal and active exertions to rescue her and themselves from the imputation thrown out by the last general convention, held in the city of New Haven, and couched in the follow- ing mortifying words:
"They fear that the church in Virginia is, from various causes, so depressed, that there is danger of
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her total ruin, unless great exertions, favored by the blessing of Providence, are employed to raise her.
[Signed by]
JOHN BRACKEN,
JAMES HENDERSON.
Surviving members of the standing committee, Williamburg, April 14, 1812."
In response to the foregoing appeal, a special con- vention was held at the capitol in the city of Rich- mond, beginning on Wednesday, the 13th of May, 1812, which was attended by the following named deputies :
Of the clergy .- The Rev. Hugh Coran Boggs, John Bracken, D. D .; John Buchanan, D. D .; John Cameron, D. D .; Alexander Hay, Jacob Keeling, William King, Samuel Low, Wm. Meade, Geo. Stro- beck, Andrew Syme, Anthony Walke, William H. Wilmer, John Woodville .- 14.
Of the laity .- Messrs. Codrington Carrington, George Deneale, Raleigh W. Downman, Thomas Gaskins, Thomas H. P. Goodwyn, Edward McGuire, Alex. McRae, William Moore, Charles Page, David Patterson, Robert Slaughter, John M. Smith, Wm. S. Stone, George Turner .- 14.
On Thursday, the 14th,
" Resolved, That it is expedient that the conven- tion do now proceed to the choice of a bishop."
The Rev. Dr. Buchanan having nominated the Rev. Dr. Bracken, the members then proceeded to ballot; and the ballot being received, the Rev. Dr.
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Buchanan and Mr. McRae were appointed a com- mittee to count the same. . .
The said committee having performed that duty, reported that they found the ballot to be, for the Rev. Dr. Bracken, twenty-two, and for the Rev. Mr. Boggs, three, and thereupon the Rev. John Bracken, D. D., was declared to be duly elected bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in this State.
After the death of Bishop Madison, Dr. Bracken had been elected rector of Bruton Parish, and Presi- dent of the College of William and Mary ; he had been previously for many years rector of Bruton Parish. The Rev. Mr. Boggs had been for many years rector of Berkeley Parish.
"According to adjournment, the convention met at the Capitol in Richmond, on Tuesday, the 25th of May, 1813,-present, 9 clerical, and 9 lay depu- ties."
"On Wednesday, the 26th, the Rev. Dr. Bracken, who was elected bishop of the church in this State by the last convention, gave in his resignation thereof, which was accepted."
A special convention was held at the Capitol, on Wednesday, the 4th of May, 1814. Present of the clergy : the Rev. John Buchanan, D. D., John Cameron, D. D., John Dunn, Wm. Meade, Oliver Norris, Andrew Syme, Wm. H. Wilmer,-7.
Of the laity : Messrs. John Adams, Wm. Broadus, John Buford, Wm. Cameron, Daniel Carmichael,
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Cadwallader J. Dade, James Hunter, Baldwin M. Lee, Edmund J. Lee, Thos. Matthews, Wm. Mayo, Edward McGuire, Hugh Mercer, David Patterson, Richard Stuart, George Thornton-16. Afterwards increased, as before stated, by the admission of Jas. McClurg, D. D., and John Marshall.
On Thursday, the 5th of May-
" Resolved, That the appointment of a bishop for this diocese is highly expedient, and necessary for the maintenance and support of this church."
On motion, made and seconded-
" Resolved, That the convention proceed immedi- ately to the election of a person to fill the Episco- pate in this State."
Dr. James McClurg then presented a certified extract from the vestry-book of the Monumental Church in Richmond, showing the appointment of the Rev. Richard Channing Moore, D. D., of the city of New York, to the rectorship of that church.
" On motion, ordered that the secretary read sun- dry letters exhibited by members of the standing committee, from Dr. Moore and the Right Rev. Bishop Hubart, which was accordingly done.
"Dr. Moore was nominated to fill the office of bishop in this State. No other person being in nomination, the convention proceeded to ballot for a bishop.
" The Hon. John Marshall and Mr. Edmund J. Lee were appointed to count the ballots, who reported that there were twenty-three votes for the Rev.
RIGHT REV. RICHARD CHANNING MOORE, D. D. BISHOP OF VIRGINIA.
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Richard Channing Moore, D. D., and one vote for Dr. John Buchanan ; whereupon the Rev. Richard Channing Moore was declared to be duly elected to the Episcopate in the diocese of Virginia; and the members of the convention proceeded to subscribe the testimonial required by the constitution of the General Church of the United States.
" Resolved, That the President be requested to apprize Dr. Moore of his election to the Episcopate, and that the Secretary do furnish forthwith a certifi- cate of that appointment."
The General Convention of the Protestant Epis- copal Church in the United States of America, being assembled in St. James church, Philadelphia, on Monday, May 18th, 1814, a certified extract from the minutes of the convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of Virginia, stating the election by that body of the Rev. Richard Chan- ning Moore as bishop of that diocese, was presented and read ; whereupon,
"Resolved, That the members of this house do now proceed to sign the testimonials required by the canons in favor of the Rev. Richard Channing Moore, D. D., in order to his consecration as bishop of the Diocese of Virginia, which was accordingly done, and the certificate in proper form transmitted to the house of bishops.
"The house then rose for the purpose of attend- ing divine service, and sermon by the Right Rev. Bishop Hobart, on occasion of the meeting of the
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convention and the consecration of the Rev. Dr. Moore. After which the house resumed their ses- sion; and it was, on motion,
" Resolved, unanimously, that the thanks of this convention be communicated to Bishop Hobart for his appropriate and excellent sermon, and that he be requested to furnish a copy of the same for publica- tion.
"BISHOP'S CERTIFICATE.
" Know all men by these presents, that we, Wil- liam White, D. D., Bishop of the Protestant Episco- pal Church in the State of Pennsylvania, presiding Bishop; John Henry Hobart, D. D., Assistant 'Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of New York ; Alexander Victs Griswold, D. D., Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Eastern Diocese ; and Theodore Dehon, D. D., Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the State of South Carolina; under the protection of Almighty God, in St. James Church, in the city of Philadelphia, on Wednesday, the eighteenth day of "May, the year of our Lord one thousand eight hun- «dred and fourteen, did then and there, rightly and canonically, consecrate our beloved in Christ, Rich- ard Channing Moore, D. D., Rector of St. Stephen's Church, in the city of New York, of whose sufficiency in good learning, soundness in the faith and purity of manners, we were fully ascertained, into the office of Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of Virginia, to which he hath been elected by the convention of said State.
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" Given in the city of Philadelphia, this eighteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and fourteen.
WILLIAM WHITE, [Seal.]
JOHN HENRY HOBART, [Seal.] ALEX. V. GRISWOLD, [Seal.] THEODORE DEHON, [Seal.]
In the sermon preached upon the occasion of Bishop Moore's consecration by Bishop Hobart, the following passages, are found:
"The night of adversity has passed, and the morning, I would fain hope, of a long and splendid day is dawning on the church in Virginia. I think I see the pledge of this in the attachment to our church, and in the anxious desire to serve her, mani- fested by laymen of the highest influence and talents, and by a few zealous clergy. They have combined, and they have resolved, under God, that the church in Virginia shall not perish.
"From my soul I revere and love them for the holy resolve. My God ! in this remember them for good. The first fruits of their labors we witness to-day.
"To counsel, to lead, to strengthen them in their exertions; to revive, among a numerous and widely extended population, the spirit of piety ; to make known, valued and loved, the evangelical and primi- tive institutions of our church; to make these insti- tutions and services, under God, the instruments of bringing again the outcasts, and reclaiming the lost; of conviction and conversion to the sinner; of holi-
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ness and comfort to the saint, is the work of immi- nent difficulty and hazard; but I trust, by God's blessing, of success and honor, to which you, my reverend brother, will be called.
" I owe it to you to declare, that in relation to the Episcopate of Virginia, you were pressed with an urgency which would not admit of a refusal; and that your whole conduct in respect to it has been marked by a frankness and conciliation, and a zeal for the interests of religion and the church, which have removed every difficulty that might have im- peded your elevation to the episcopal office.
" We shall now follow you to your arduous station with our best wishes and our prayers. It must be: apparent that you make no inconsiderable sacrifice of personal ease. At a period of life when you must have begun to look forward to a degree of rest from the conflicts of active duty, you are called on to ex- change the comforts of your native city, and the at- tentions of a congregation warmly attached to you, for a land of strangers, and for the difficulties of a depressed and extensive diocese.
"Still, in the labors of the field on which you en- ter, you will meet, we trust, with zealous coadjutors in the clergy and laity, who, in a manner very honor- able to yourself, have chosen you for their diocesan; and who have, by this act, pledged themselves to support you in the fulfilment of your consecration vows, to extend and to maintain the doctrine, dis- cipline, and worship of our church.
"Among the laity whose talents and influence will
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be called to your aid, I perceive some most early and valued friends.
"From the people generally, among whom you will labor, you will, I am satisfied, receive every kind attention that can tend to lessen the burden of your cares.
"The state of society and manners among those with whom your future life is to be passed, (I speak from some degree of personal knowledge,) needs only the purifying and elevating influence of re- ligion to become in a high degree interesting, and a source of personal gratification. But you must look beyond all earthly aids and consolations, to those which your Lord and Master only can confer.
"Should the spirit of unfeigned and humble piety, regulated and cherished by the sound doctrines, the primitive order, and the truly evangelical services. and institutions of our church be revived in the scene of your future labors, with what delight shall we all look back to the service of this day! And how fervent will be our thanks to God, who hath made you the instrument of this great good ?"
The committee of the house of clerical and lay deputies, appointed to examine the journals of the different State conventions, Episcopal charges, ad- dresses and pastoral letters, and to draw up a view of the state of the church in their report, made the 21st May, 1814, thus speak of Virginia :
"From a variety of causes, not necessary and per- haps not proper to detail here, the church in this-
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State has fallen into a deplorable condition ; in many cases the ministers have thrown off their sacred pro- fession ; her liturgy is either contemned or unknown, and the sanctuaries are desolate.
" It would rend my feeling heart to see spacious temples, venerable even in their dilapidation and ruins, now the habitations of the wild beasts of the forests.
" But amid this gloomy scene a ray of light breaks in upon the prospect, cheering the hearts of the friends of the church. Her members in Virginia have been taught, by a dreadful experience, the 'value of their peculiar institutions. They look back with regret, and sigh when they talk of former days, when they were wont to go with joy into the courts of Zion; they are ready and desirous to return to that fold from which they have wandered so long, as sheep having no shepherd. They anxiously seek the restoration of their primitive and apostolical form of worship and sound doctrine, and pray that ministers of zeal and piety may come and help them.
" Perhaps no place in the United States presents a more extended field for the faithful laborer. Here are the best of materials, and here are the noblest inducements of duty, of honor and reward.
" The disposition of the people, and especially of some eminent laymen, who have come forward with interest and zeal, afford pleasing pledges of those good fruits which their active exertions will not fail to produce.
"A magnificent church has sprung up in Rich-
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mond from the ashes of the Theatre; it has the pa- tronage and support of men of the greatest talents,. and highest rank in Virginia. They have chosen as. their pastor the Rev. Richard Channing Moore, D. D., who is now the bishop of the diocese, and under- whose auspices there is reason to hope for the most favorable results.
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