tions and laws, that the relation between a rector and his church was designed to be permanent and sacred-never to be dissolved but in a case of necessity, or of peculiar expediency. And it must be evident to every enlightened observer, that the stability and growth of our church depend greatly, under God, on the zealous and devoted labours of a settled, as well as intelligent and pious ministry. But the melancholy fact is, that the condition of our country clergymen in general more nearly resembles that of missionaries or itinerants, than that of permanent parochial ministers In many instances they have scarcely resided long enough in their respective parishes to have become acquainted with the character and wants of the people, before they remove to another sphere of labour. These removals have been and are so common, that it is believed that not more than four or five names can be found on the list of the clergy of the diocese, which are of more than twelve years' standing. The committee cannot believe that the evil of which they speak can be justly attributed to motives of avarice or ambition, or to the love of novelty and change, on the part of the clergy. On the contrary, it is believed that in many instances, constrained by the love of Christ and of souls, they have submitted to self-denial and privations till endurance was no longer possible, and necessity compelled them to seek for other scenes of labour, where the prospect of usefulness is not less, and that of temporal support and comfort far more encouraging. The committee are satisfied that no cause can be assigned for the evil alluded to, but the neglect of the parishes to make ample and regular provision for the support of their ministers; and that unless a change is speedily effected in this particular, much of the talent and piety now employed in promot ing the interests of religion and the church in this diocese, will be transferred to other sections of the country, and the number of vacant parishes, which is now great, will be swelled to a yet larger amount.

"The following parishes are now vacant: -All Faith, St. Mary's county; Trinity, Charles county; St. John's, Addison chapel, Zion, Prince George's county; Christ Church, All Saints', Calvert county; St. Margaret's Westminster, Queen Caroline, Anne Arundel county; Emmanuel, Alleghany county; St. James, Baltimore county; St. Augustin, St. Stephen's, St. Mary Ann's, Cecil county; St.John's, St. Luke's, Queen Anne's county; St. Mary White Chapel, Caroline county. And there are four places of worship in Dorchester county, which have no supply of ministerial services.

"When we consider that the peace and virtue of men in this world, as well as

their safety and happiness in the world to come,' are in so great a measure dependent on the ministration of the ordinances of the Gospel, it must be a melancholy subject of reflection to every friend of the church and his fellow-men, that so many sections of our state, which were once favoured with the moralizing and sanctifying influence of the public devotions and instructions of the sanctuary, are now suffering a famine of the word of God. How powerfully does the bare statement of the fact enforce the precept of the great Head of the church, Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest?

"As one important means of procuring a supply of ministers for the vacant parishes, the committee beg leave to call the attention of the convention to the Missionary Society, which was formed with such perfect unanimity in 1822, and the constitution of which was revised and altered at the last session of this body. Should that society be supported with a liberality in any measure proportioned to the magnitude of its objects, it would, in the course of a few years, not only furnish an adequate supply of the means of grace for the destitute portions of this diocese, but also enable the members of our communion to bear a part with their fellow Christians in the great and interesting work of sending the Gospel to 'every

creature.'

"But while the committee, in taking this hasty view of the state of the church, perceive much to lament in the neglected and destitute state of many parishes, and the consequent profanation of the Lord's day, and increase of error in religion and viciousness of life;' they think that they also perceive other circumstances to encourage the cheering hope, that this section of Zion is still favoured with a portion of the divine presence and blessing, and in the labours of her ministers and the hearts of her members experiences a fulfilment of the promise of the ascending Saviour, Lo! I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.'

"We might point to many a parish, once spiritually desolate and almost extinct, where there has been a strengthening of the things which remained and were ready to die-to many a neat and commodious edifice, consecrated to the service of God according to the pure, simple, and affecting ritual of our apostolic church, erected on sites where once stood churches established by the zeal of former generations, but which, by the apathy of succeeding ones, had been permitted to sink into disuse and ruins-and to others, erected in places which were unoccupied, and in the midst of a popu. lation whose spiritual wants were not pro

The kind providence of God having preserved and protected us, we have been once more permitted to meet together in annual convention. We have united in our supplications at the throne of grace, we have professed our common discipleship and our brotherly affection at the table of our Lord, and we are now proceeding to deliberate for the welfare of that portion of the church which has been committed to our more especial care. May the divine blessing rest upon us, and prosper our labours. May the Holy Spirit direct our minds and rule our hearts. May its salutary influences preserve us from all error, ignorance, pride, and prejudice; and so unite us together in unity of spirit and in the bond of peace, that with one heart we may seek the prosperity of our holy apostolic church, and set forth that faith once delivered to the saints.

Brethren, in laying before you a statement of the affairs of the diocese since the last meeting of the convention, I have no events of special moment to communicate. My visitations through the parishes of the diocese have been more extensive than in any former year. If I have witnessed but few circumstances peculiarly propitious to the interests of the church, I have nothing to record of an adverse nature. In gene. ral, I have found the clergy faithful to their duties; labouring with a steady but unostentatious zeal in their respective spheres-submitting to many privations -surmounting many discouragementsand carefully leading their flocks in those "old paths" consecrated by the footsteps of the primitive saints. In this course of duty and of usefulness we heartily bid them "God speed," and earnestly pray that the divine Spirit may quicken their zeal, and prosper and reward their labours.

In the course of my visitations I have officiated in several parishes where no duties peculiarly of an episcopal nature were required to be performed. The holy rite of confirmation has been administered in the following parishes, viz. In Middle Haddam to 5 persons, Norwich 5, Paque tanuck 9, New-London 2, Saybrook (Essex) 10, North-Killingworth 10, EastHaddam 12, New-Haven 14, East-Haven 3, West-Haven 4, Derby 19, Oxford 9, Newtown 54, North-Haven 8, Northford 5, Woodbridge 8, Simsbury 16, Granby 19, Watertown 33, Roxbury 5, Woodbury 11, Meriden 23, Fairfield 10, Trumbull 8, Monroe 15, Humphreysville 19, Stratford 6, Bridgeport 6, Norwalk 27, Stamford 6, New-Canaan 5, Wilton 10, Ridgefield 6,

Danbury 8, Brookfield 19, Newtown 3. In all to 436 persons.

The following ordinations have been held since the last convention, viz. On the 27th of June, in St. James's church at Pauquetanuck, I admitted the Rev. Ashbel Steele to the holy order of priests; and on the 20th of November, in St. Andrew's church, Meriden, I admitted the Rev. Ed. ward J. Ives to the same grade in the ministry. Mr. Joseph T. Clark and Mr. John W. Cloud have been admitted to the holy order of deacons the former in St. James's church, Derby, on the 7th day of Septem. ber-and the latter in Christ church, Hartford, on the 4th day of January. On Wed. nesday, the 17th day of May, being one of the regular days appointed for ordinations, I admitted the Rev. William Shelton to the holy order of priests, in Trinity church, Fairfield; and this day, in your presence, I have admitted Mr. Eleazer M. P. Wells and Mr. Thomas W. Coit to the holy order of deacons.

These youthful labourers who are thus sent forth to the harvest, have been duly called, we trust, and sent forth by the "Lord of the harvest." Let us all devoutly pray that they may be found faithful in the great day of account-that the work of the Lord may prosper in their hands-and that they may be honoured instruments in extending and building up the Redeemer's kingdom.

The following persons are now candidates for holy orders in this diocese, viz. George Shelton, William Peet, William H. Lewis, and Harry Finch, (who are pur. suing their studies at the General Theological Seminary of our church,) and Norman Pinney, Nathan Kingsbury, George C. Shepard, and William H. Judd.

In adverting to the changes which have taken place in the diocese since the last meeting of the convention, we have reason to be grateful to the great Head of the church, that he still continues to smile upon this portion of his heritage, and that none of the clergy have been removed by death.

The parish of Stamford has been endowed by a munificent bequest of the late Moses Rogers, Esq., amounting to about 500 dollars a year, for a period of 21 years. One half of this sum is to be paid annu. ally to the rector; and the other moiety, with the interest on the annual instalments till the 21 years are expired, is judiciously appropriated to the creation of a perma nent fund. In visiting the several parishes of the diocese, I often hear it remarked as a subject of regret, that so many of their most enterprising and useful members emigrate to other states. But it is a gratifying reflection, that wherever they go, they are always found among the foremost in building up and supporting our apostolic church; and that their affections

still cling to the land of their nativity and the church of their fathers. The names of our Rogerses and our Warrens will long be cherished in remembrancetheir praise is in the churches: but no one has erected a more lasting memorial to his name than the distinguished bene factor of the church of Stamford.

The parish of Roxbury is in a very depressed state, owing chiefly to the embar. rassment of debts. The Rev. Mr. Gilbert has relinquished his charge of this parish, and has accepted that of Oxford. If we look to other decayed parishes in our diocese, we shall find that their decline may generally be ascribed to the neglect of their pecuniary affairs and the accumulation of debts. Nothing is more sure to prove fatal to the prosperity of a parish; and it is an aggravation of the evil, if the debts are due to their clergyman, or if they are to be extinguished while their house of worship is closed. I cannot, therefore, too strongly urge upon all the parishes of this diocese, the necessity of a full settlement of their accounts at least once a-year, and a prompt payment of all demands against them.

The Rev. William Shelton has exhibited to me letters dimissory from the diocese of New-York, and has been called to the charge of the parish of Fairfield. Few circumstances of my life have affected me with a stronger interest than his recent ordination in the church of this parish, and at the altar beneath which the bones of his late venerable father rest in peace. He now cultivates the field where the same pious father so often bore the heat and burden of the day, and where, for more than forty years, he faithfully la boured in the service of his divine Master.

The Rev. Edward Rutledge, who has been for some time established in the parish of Stratford, has recently presented to me his letters dimissory from the diocese of South-Carolina.

The Rev. Joseph T. Clark, who was admitted to holy orders in September last, was immediately settled in the parish of Woodbridge, which appears to prosper under his ministrations.

The Rev. John W. Cloud, ordained in January last, has removed to the state of Mississippi. The Rev. Ezra B. Kellogg, with letters dimissory from the diocese of Ohio, has officiated since November last in the parish of New-Preston and its vicinity, as assistant to the Rev. Mr. Andrews. The Rev. William T. Potter, a graduate of the General Theological Seminary, and last from the eastern diocese, having exhibited to me letters dimissory from that diocese, has taken charge of the parish of Hamden, and acts as occasional assistant to the Rev. Mr. Croswell, of New-Haven. The Rev. Orson V. Howell, from the diocese of New-York, is officiat.

ing as a professor in "the Literary, Scientific, and Military Academy" at Middletown, and has also the charge of the pa rish in Middle-Haddam.

The Rev. Isaac Jones has resigned his office as assistant minister of the church in Litchfield, where he has been faithfully employed for the last fifteen years, and that situation is now vacant.

Brethren, having thus stated to you the official acts which I have performed since the last meeting of convention, and adverted to the principal changes which have taken place in the diocese, the occasion on which we have met seems to require that we turn our attention to a consideration of the best means of promoting the welfare of that portion of the church which Providence has committed to our care.

Among the institutions conducive to the prosperity of our church, I regard the establishment of Sunday schools with peculiar satisfaction. These are now organized in nearly all the parishes of the diocese. The clergy could not direct their zeal to a more useful object. And the young people in the several parishes, who so kindly lend their assistance in the business of instruction, may be assured that their services are duly appreciated, and that their labours are not in vain in the Lord. The benefits they confer on others will be repaid to their own bosoms in reflected blessings; for the instructions which they impart to the youth commit. ted to their care, can hardly fail to make them wiser and better themselves. I look to these young instructors, and to their more youthful pupils, with indescribable interest, as the future supporters of the church. They are in the best possible way to imbibe her doctrines, to acquire an attachment to her worship, and to catch the true spirit of her devotions.

The objects contemplated by "the Society for the Promotion of Christian Know. ledge" have also a strong claim to our attention, as embracing the most efficient means of promoting the welfare of our church. This institution has already rendered important services, by the dissemination of Bibles, Prayer Books, and tracts, and in the promotion of missionary efforts. Within the last three years its limited resources have been applied almost exclusively to the latter object. It is deeply to be regretted that the society should not be furnished with more ample means of doing good, when the opportunities are so abundant, and when the calls for their assistance are so numerous and pressing. I earnestly hope that some measures may be taken by this convention for increasing the resources of this society. The friends of the church require to be aroused to a sense of the importance of the objects which it embraces. and of the great good which may be effected through its instru

mentality. The recommendation of these objects from the pulpit when the annual collections are made, the extension of the collections to all the parishes in the diocese, and the formation of auxiliary societies, are among the best measures which I can suggest for promoting and extending the usefulness of the society.

The Rev. Stephen Beach and the Rev. Ashbel Steele have been continued as missionaries during the past year. The former has confined his services chiefly to the parish of Salisbury, which has now become so well established, that it is trusted little further assistance will be required there. The Rev. Mr. Steele has been employed in the eastern part of the diocese, in sustaining the parishes of Pau quetanuck and Brooklyn, and in officiating among scattered families of Episcopalians in that vicinity. The reports of both these missionaries will be laid before you. The Rev. George B. Andrews was also appointed to perform missionary labours in his vicinity, during such portion of his time as he might be able to withdraw from his regular parishes; but no appropriation has yet been made to compensate him for his services.

There are now several weak parishes that urgently require assistance. It is also very desirable to continue the mission in the eastern part of the state, and to support another in the county of Litchfield. I cannot but hope that the resources of the society, for the coming year, will be more commensurate with its wants than they have been during the year past.

Among the general objects of our church, there is none more calculated to promote her prosperity, or in which we have a greater interest, than the Theological Seminary established in the diocese of NewYork. The chief obstacle to its more extensive usefulness, is the want of adequate funds. It is highly important that its trustees should be enabled so to diminish the expense of education in it, as to render it accessible to all our students of theology. I do trust that renewed exertions for its more complete endowment will be made in this diocese at no distant period, or at least that provision will be made for enabling our own candidates for holy orders to avail themselves of the distinguished advantages which it af fords.

The General Missionary Society of our church is another object of great consequence to her interests and advancement; and I hope its claims upon us for support will always be met with a liberality pro-, portioned to our ability, and to the im. portance of the objects for which it was instituted. I well know that the church in this diocese is far from being rich, yet, by a judicious charity, much good may

be done without impoverishing her members. The wants of our own diocese are of course best known to us, and prefer the first claim upon our liberality. This sentiment is doubtless felt in every diocese, but it should not absorb every other consideration. Though composed of separate dioceses, we are one church, and have a common interest. I cannot but hope that we shall yet see a more united and vigorous effort put forth for the advancement of sacred learning and the encouragement of evangelical piety, in the liberal support of "the General Theological Seminary,' as well as a more general zeal evinced for disseminating the religion of the Gospel, with its divinely constituted ministry, through the instrumentality of "the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society" of our church.

Brethren, I will not detain you longer from the special business of the convention; let us proceed to it with a due sense of our responsibility to our divine Master, and may he graciously inspire our counsels with wisdom, and direct all our deliberations to the promotion of his own glory and the welfare of his church.

THOMAS C. BROWNELL.

Newtown, June 7th, 1826.

A letter was received from the Rev. Tillotson Bronson, stating, that he had been in the ministry for about forty years, the one half of which time he had been a member of the standing committee, a further continuance in which station he begged to decline, in consequence of increasing years and a bodily infirmity.

The following report was made by the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge:

The expenditures of the society have been limited, during the past year, to the partial support of two missions, the one in the eastern, and the other in the western part of the diocese. Though there are many feeble and decayed parishes, which, it is to be feared, cannot long exist without aid from this or some other source, it has never been in the power of the board, from the small income of the society, to afford such aid to any considerable extent. From the annual report of the treasurer it will be perceived, that, with very few exceptions, the contributions to the society consist of nothing more than the collections taken up in a portion of the churches in the diocese; that these collections are generally small; and that, in the aggregate, they do not amount to a sufficient sum to compensate a single missionary for the employment of his whole