also for an order intermediate between the local clergy of the Methodist Church and the Deacons of the Presbyterian and Congregational Churches-a less educated and local, yet an ordained ministry, assistant to the regularly settled parochial clergy.

There are sundry other modifications of clerical influence provided for by the system of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Not to be tedious, we assert (what may be proved and what the reader may prove for himself) that there is hardly a single mode or form of the ministry existing in the many bodies of professing Christians among us, which either is not actually, or may not be easily, evolved out of the existing system of the Protestant Episcopal Church.

In the arrangements of this Church on the subject of the clergy, or rather of ministerial agencies, there is a scheme of unity provided, and respectfully and affectionately offered to the several denominations of Christians in our country, upon which all may be united without the sacrifice of any important principles.

SECTION VII.

RIGHTS OF THE BISHOPS AND CLERGY.

Each order has a separate right in legislation—a right to fulfil its duty without restraint-ordinary rights-those of the clergy well understood those of the Bishops misunderstood-proper to explain—their rights all defined by the laws of the Church-no arbitrary official power of Bishops-they cannot be oppressive-for several reasonsfrom the organization of the Church--they are subjects of discipline -under public opinion-depend on the clergy and laity-are elected by the Diocesan Conventions-subject to their control-the Bishops

are good and trustworthy men-elected for this reason-we appeal to their character-are thankful for them-the system of the Protestant Episcopal Church a medium between extremes-invites to unity.

EACH of these orders has a separate and an equal right, as has been illustrated, with the laity, in the legislation of the Church.

Each of these orders has the right to fulfil its canonical and lawful duties, as has been represented, without restraint.

In all matters not connected with their peculiar ministerial duties and official character, they have the various rights of laymen.

The rights of the clergy are generally well enough understood. But it will be well to consider more minutely the rights of the Bishops, as on this subject there is a great deal of misapprehension.

If any one will take the trouble to look over the Constitution and Canons of the General Conventions and the Ordinals of the Church, and observe also the actual relation of our Bishops to the Diocesan Conventions, he will be ready at once to inquire, in almost the very words of St. Jerome to Evagrius or Evangelus: "What does the Bishop do, ordinatione excepta, ordination excepted, which the Presbyter may not do?"

The Bishop has canonically a general right of supervision over the spiritual and other interests of his Diocese; and he has, moreover, a position of extraordinary moral influence.* But he has not a single right beyond, or above, or aside from the laws of the Church.

*The writer cannot soon forget the impression made on his mind, when once in his youth he heard the venerable Bishop Brownell, of Con

It is evident, from what has been shown, that the Bishops of the Protestant Episcopal Church have not now any too much power, nor indeed any power which ought to be restrained, or which may not be further restrained, if the whole Church think best, by law.

But as many minds are very apprehensive that the Bishops of this Church do have, or at least may have, an undue and arbitrary and oppressive power, we will state a few reasons to show that such an apprehension is altogether unwarrantable.

1. The organization of the Church, both general and diocesan, as it has been developed, is such that both the clergy and the laity have the most unrestricted means of self-protection.

2. The Bishops are as much the subjects of ecclesiastical discipline as the clergy or the laity; and the least assumption, on the part of any one of them, of unlawful or uncanonical power, being a violation of his "promise of conformity to the doctrine and discipline (i. e., laws) and worship of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States," would make him liable to presentment and trial. Furthermore, he would be so liable in his own Diocese, the very place where such assumption would be first felt and resisted.

3. The Bishops, be their own dispositions ever so severe, are, equally with all others, under the influence and control of public opinion-that highest of all tribunals in our republican country. Their self-love and selfrespect, if nothing more, should prevent Episcopal usur

necticut, in referring to the fact above alluded to, apply with the deepest emotion to himself that solemn and affecting maxim of our Lord: "To whom much is given, from him shall much be required."

pations, even if they were not, as they are, from other causes impossible.

4. The Bishops depend, ordinarily, for their support even, and for all their official prerogatives, upon the free action of the clergy and laity. They know very well that any attempt or effort to increase their prerogatives, without an occasion satisfactory to the whole Church, would be the very last way to accomplish such an object.

5. The Bishops are always elected (according to the laws of the Protestant Episcopal Church) by the Diocesan Conventions. The clergy and laity would not surely elect over themselves either monsters or tyrants. In this fact is the fullest security. If it should so happen that any Bishop elected and consecrated to a Diocese should be disposed to be arbitrary (yet by no overt breach of the law subjecting him to discipline), one would think that his Diocese would learn some carefulness and prudence for the election of his successor. But the supposition is improbable; for such a Bishop would find his hands tied continually, and his influence would be destroyed, and he would be compelled to one of the two alternatives-reformation or resignation. Or, in any event, the Church could soon make laws which should reach and control him.

6. Apart from these various considerations, in all of which it has been implied that the Bishops may be disposed to usurpation, there is another security which renders all these considerations actually unnecessary, and it is the character of the Bishops. Who are the Bishops? They are men from the ranks, elected by the free suffrages of their brethren, both clerical and lay

elected because of their worth, their fitness for the office -tried men, who would suffer the loss of all things rather than take one privilege unrighteously-faithful men, who have, in the laborious duties of the inferior ministry, proved themselves "worthy of a good degree -men who have the confidence and affection of their brethren, whom their brethren exalt to be the first because they are supposed to be the best in the Churchmen who will "be to the flock of Christ shepherds, not wolves, who will feed them and devour them not; who will hold up the weak, heal the sick, bind up the broken, bring again the outcast, seek the lost; who will be so merciful, that they be not too remiss-so minister discipline, that they forget not mercy; that when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, they may receive the never-fading crown of glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord."*

We are willing to appeal to the character of the living Bishops of the Protestant Episcopal Church as well as of the departed, as to one-most powerful-testimony to the well-working of our ecclesiastical institutions. Let the reader look through the list of the House of Bishops, from the meek and venerable senior, who, like "Paul the aged," even now fulfils laboriously and patiently his "care of all the Churches," down to its junior member, who, like Timothy of Ephesus, was devoted to the work of the Lord Christ "from a child;" and then let him say if there are in the country an equal number of other men, whom, in respect of the various qualifications for the Episcopal office, he would desire to see in their places. We love our Bishops; we thank God for such overseers; we thank Him that, whatever may be

*Service for the Consecration of Bishops, Common Prayer Book.