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CANON III. Enforcing the execution of Canon II.

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The Bishop may, in his discretion, admonish any presbyter whom he shall, upon examination, find to have unreasonably neglected the duties prescribed in the preceding canon, and for whose expenses, in the execution of such duties, a sufficient provision had been previously made; and, if he deems it necessary, may report the case to the next Convention.

CANON IV. Concerning altering or adding to the Canons of this Church.

No proposed alteration of, or addition to, the canons, shall hereafter be considered by the Convention, unless at least one day's previous notice be given in open Convention, nor until such alteration or addition shall have been referred to, and reported upon, by a committee of at least two presbyters and two laymen. Nor shall such alteration or addition be adopted, during the same Convention, if two-thirds of the members present shall not concur therein; but, in such case, the same (unless negatived by a majority of members present) shall lie over for consideration until the next annual meeting of the Convention.

Done in Convention of the diocess of New-York, in the city of NewYork, in the month of October,

A. D. 1820.

JOHN HENRY HOBART, D. D.
Bishop of the Protestant Épiscopal
Church in the state of New-York,
President.

Attested,
BENJAMIN T, ONDERDONK, Sec'ry.

A list of the clergy is attached to the printed Journal of the Convention, dated January, 1821; from which it appears there are in the diocess the Bishop and 77 clergymen; and that the number of congregations is 123.

Mr. Eleazar Williams, a young man of Indian extraction, a candidate for holy orders, is licensed by the Bishop as a lay reader and catechist, to officiate in the Mohawk language, in St. Peter's Church, Oneida Castle, Oneida county, the congregation of which is composed of Indians; and employed

by the Committee for Propagating the Gospel in the State of New-York in those capacities, and likewise as a schoolmaster among the Indians.

Abstract of the Proceedings of the Annual Convention of the Diocess of Maryland, held in St. Paul's Church, Baltimore, May 31st, and June 1st and 2d, 1820.

THE Convention was composed of the Right Rev. Bishop Kemp, 30 Presbyters, 7 Deacons, and Lay-Delegates from 36 parishes.

The Convention was opened with morning prayer by the Rev. Henry L. Davis, D. D. rector of St. Ann's, Annapolis; an appropriate sermon by the Rev. William Hawley, rector of St. John's Church, city of Washington; and the administration of the holy communion by the Bishop.

The Rev. Henry L. Davis, D. D. was appointed secretary, and the Rev. William E. Wyatt, D. D. assistant secretary.

Agreeably to the 45th canon of the General Convention, the Right Rev. Bishop Kemp delivered the following address.

My Rev. Brethren of the Clergy, and

Gentlemen of the Laity,

In obedience to the 45th canon of the General Convention, I beg leave to state to you, what I have done in execution of the duties of my office; and what occurrences have passed during the year, in which the character or interests of the Church are implicated.

In consequence of a letter addressed by the Rev. Mr. George D. S. Handy, to the standing committee, and transmitted to me, in which he declared that he had ceased to be a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and had united himself to the Evangelical E. Church of Maryland: agreeably to the provisions of the 2d canon of the General Convention of 1817, on the 12th day of June, 1819, I displaced Mr. Handy from his grade in the ministry in this Church, and recorded the same in the presence of the Rev. Dr. Davis, the Rev. Mr. Addison, and the Rev. Mr. Hawley. Notice of this was duly given to the Bishops in every diocess,

and to the standing committee in those diocesses in which there were no Bishops.

Immediately after the Convention, on the 13th day of June, I ordained the Rev. Mr. Westerman, and the Rev. Mr. Mann, priests; and also Mr. William Armstrong, and Mr. Charles Austin, deacons. On the next day I grant

ed a license to Mr. Richard Mitchell to act as a lay reader in All Faith's parish, St. Mary's county.

On the 19th of July, I licensed Mr. Spencer Wall, a candidate for orders, to act as a lay reader in St. Paul's, Prince George's county.

On the 5th of August I visited a chapel of St. Thomas's parish, on the Liberty Road. This is a small but neat place for public worship. The congregation that belongs to it have been long without divine service, and then were only occasionally visited by the Rev. Mr. Jackson.

November 14, I held a confirmation in the church at Hager's-town, which is under the care of the Rev. Mr. Clay, when forty-three persons were admitted to enjoy the benefits of this holy ordinance. On the day following I preached in Frederick-town, but as the minister of that place, the Rev. Mr. Johns, had not been long settled there, there were none prepared for confirmation. On the 16th I visited St. Mark's, in Frederick county, the rector of which is the Rev. Mr. Westerman. Their parish church I consecrated to the service of Almighty God, and also confirmed seventeen persons.

On the 8th day of December, I received from the standing committee, the testimonial required by the 7th canon of the General Convention, in favour of Mr. George B. Schaeffer, and accordingly placed him on the list of candidates for orders. He has since pursued his studies under my own di

rection.

In St. Paul's, in the city of Baltimore, on the 19th of December, I confirmed twenty-nine persons.

On the 20th of December, I granted a license to Mr. George B. Schaeffer, to act as a lay reader in the western part of this city.

On the 6th day of January, 1820, I

admitted Mr. George M'Elhiney to the holy order of deacons, in St. Paul's, in the city of Baltimore.

I visited St. Anne's, in the city of Annapolis, on the 9th day of January, and confirmed four persons. On the same day I ordained Mr. William Rafferty, a professor in St. John's College, a deacon.

I held a confirmation in St. Peter's, in the city of Baltimore, on the 29th of February, when twenty persons were confirmed.

On the 19th of March I visited the churches in the District of Columbia. In St. John's, in George-town, I confirmed eleven persons in the forenoon--In the afternoon of the same day, I confirmed fifteen in St. John's, Washington-and at night I also confirmed eighteen in Christ Church, George. town.

On the 24th of March I granted a license to Mr. James Pilmore, who had been admitted as a candidate for orders in the diocess of Pennsylvania, but who had lately removed into this diocess, to officiate as a lay reader in Sion Church, in Prince George's county.

On the 29th of this month I received a letter from the Rev. Mr. Gibson, renouncing his ministry and membership in our church; and, of course, in compliance with the requisitions of the 2d Canon of the General Convention of 1817, and in the presence of the Rev. Mr. Bartow, the Rev. Dr. Wyatt, the Rev. Mr. Weller, and the Rev. Mr. Bayne, I degraded him from the ministry. This step will appear to have been necessary, when the incidents of the life of that gentleman, too well known, are adverted to.

From these minutes it appears, that since the last convention, I have held seven confirmations, at which 157 persons have been admitted to that holy ordinance; I have consecrated one church, ordained four deacons and two priests; admitted two upon the list of candidates, and licensed three lay readers. I have also, with grief, pain, and sorrow, displaced two from the ministry.

During last year, the Rev. Mr. Stephens, the Rev. Mr. Hatch, and the Rev. Mr. Lansten have removed to the

diocess of Virginia; the Rev. Mr. Wheaton to the diocess of Connecticut, and the Rev. Mr. Bulckley to the diocess of New-York. The Rev. Mr. Johns, who was ordained in the diocess of Pennsylvania, has settled in Frederick-town, in this diocess. The Rev. Mr. Austin, who was ordained here, has settled at Addison Chapel, near Bladensburgh; and the Rev. Mr. Armstrong in St. Peter's, Montgomery county. The Rev. Mr. Jackson, formerly rector of St. Thomas's, Baltimore county, has gone on a missionary tour through the western states. The Rev. Mr. Pfieffer, from the diocess of Pennsylvania, is now living in this city, and officiates in a school-house on Federal Hill. The Rev. Mr. Judah, from the state of Delaware, has also removed into this diocess.

It may be proper to state, that during last year, less Episcopal duty has been performed than in any former year since my consecration. For this there are two reasons to be assigned-the first is, the affairs of the diocess are in such a situation that less duty is now required: the second is, our city, last autumn, was visited by an afflicting and mortal epidemic, so as to render it improper for me to leave my charge, while disease and death were triumphing among my people. The sick not only required the consolation of religion, but it became the imperious duty of a minister of Christ, to avail himself of the religious impressions made by so awful a visitation; and to exert all his powers, under the sanctifying influence of Divine grace, to render these impressions deep and lasting.

There is one part of my duty which has not been performed, and it becomes me to state to this body the reason:— By the 23d Canon of the General Convention, every Bishop is enjoined to deliver, at least once in three years, a charge to the clergy of his diocess, unless prevented by reasonable cause. And it is also deemed proper, that, from time to time, he shall address to the people of his diocess, pastoral letters, on some points of Christian doctrine, worship, and manners.

As to charges to the clergy, I have generally comprehended every thing

that occurred to me, in my addresses at the opening of the conventions. But as to pastoral letters, my circumstances would not admit of the expense of printing them, unless provision was made by the church for that purpose. There are some things that might be brought to the view of both clergy and laity in this way, to the advantage of the church. And if the means be supplied the thing shall be done.

The Prayer Book and Homily Society of Baltimore go on with energy and zeal, as far as their means will admit; and it cannot be questioned but much good has been done by their exertions.

The Female Episcopal Tract Society manage the concerns of their institution with great zeal and judgment. The general character of the tracts they have distributed, is such as not only to spread a knowledge of religion among the poor, but to create in them a thirst for that knowledge, and to excite them to procure Bibles and Prayer Books, where these inestimable treasures were never before possessed.

The Sunday Schools, too, attached to the Episcopal churches in this city, are conducted with great regularity and effect; nor can there be a doubt but they are among the most praise-worthy institutions of modern times. Through their instrumentality, by the blessing of God, we may now hope to see the children of the poor brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

When I entered upon the duties of my responsible and difficult office, it was with a sincere determination, with Divine assistance, never to overlook or neglect any thing that might either depress the character of the Church or become an obstacle in the way of advancing piety among its members. Under this impression, I beg leave to call the attention of this body to the Standing Committee. This is a most valuable and most important department in our government. The Standing Committee decide upon the character and credentials of all candidates for orders; they form the Ecclesiastical Court by which all offenders are tried-and the council of advice to the Bishop. From this it evidently results that they ought to be among the most experienced,

learned, and pious of the clergy. Nor is this all-they ought to be so conveniently situated as to render their meetings easy, and attended with little expense.

They are, however, an elective body, and to interfere with the freedom of an

election may be deemed not only indelicate but even immoral. I can sincerely say I have no such intention. And whatever may be the judgment of man, in regard to this part of my conduct, I feel satisfied that I shall stand justified in the sight of God. I barely mean to express a wish, and the expression of this wish has grown out of the experience of last year. It was exceedingly difficult to obtain a meeting of the Standing Committee, and, in one case, no meeting was effected, so that a young gentleman duly prepared for orders, who had resigned his situation with a view to enter upon the duties of his ministry, was disappointed; and all the arrangements made to ordain him were rendered ineffectual. In addition to the expense of such disappointments, the sacrifice of feeling, and even the hazard of character, are not to be overlooked. The wish I have to express then is this, that the majority of the Standing Committee may be taken from this city, so that I may be able to avail myself of their counsel on all difficult occasions, and that they may be convenient to transact business without expense, and without the hazard of disappointments.

In thus expressing my wish on this point, I am far from intending any reflection upon the character or upon the conduct of the former members of the Standing Committee. The inconveniences arose from their dispersed situation, which rendered it uncertain as to the time required to convey information to them, and also made it difficult, if not impossible, for them to attend.

The arrangement which I now have expressed a wish to see accomplished, prevails in the diocesses of New-York and Pennsylvania, and the object of it is to facilitate the business of the Church and promote her interest.

Be the fate of this suggestion what it may, I shall always acquiesce in the decision of this body, with due respect:

not fearing but the Great Divine Head of the Church will watch over her concerns with paternal kindness, and sanctify every well meant exertion to promote her prosperity.

And that we may all exercise every power that we possess, and apply every opportunity yielded us by the good providence of God, to advance the interest of our Redeemer's kingdom, and to suppress sin, and to destroy the dominion of Satan, may God of his infinite goodness grant.

The parochial reports made to the Bishop, and entered on the Journal, agreeably to the 45th Canon of the General Convention, furnish the following aggregate:

Baptisms, (Adults 16, Infants 215, not specified 1043) 1274:-Marriages, 269:-Funerals, 370:-Communicants, 2419.

From the report of the Treasurer, it appears that the Episcopal Fund amounts to $707 78, and the Deputies Fund to $652 22.

It was, on motion, resolved, that the thanks of the Convention be given to the Rev. Mr. Hawley, for his sermon delivered at the opening of the Conven

tion.

The committee appointed to collect the contributions from the several parishes for the Bishop's expenses, the Deputies' Fund, and the incidental expenses of the Convention, reported that they had received the following sums: For the Bishop's expenses, $ 430 00142 00 Deputies' Fund,

Incidental expenses, 71 10 On petition, the parishioners of St. John's Parish, Prince George's and Charles counties, living in the neighbourhood of Accakeek Chapel, were allowed to organize themselves into a separate congregation.

The following gentlemen were chosen the Standing Committee :—'

The Rev. Henry L. Davis, D.D. Rev. William Wickes, Rev. William Ninde, Rev. John P. K. Henshaw, Rev. Samuel C. Stratton, Rev. William Hawley, and Rev. William E. Wyatt, D.D. were elected.

The committee on the state of the

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church made the following report, which being amended, was accepted.

"The committee on the state of the church find themselves enabled to comprise their report in a few words. They perceive, with much gratitude to God, that the condition of our Zion still continues to improve-that the number of communicants in almost every parish is increasing, and that the prospect is generally encouraging. From an examination of the papers referred to this committee, there does not appear to arise any business to detain the Convention, except from the vestry reports concerning the pecuniary situation of several of the parishes; an abstract of which they now present.

Somerset Parish, in Somerset county, Rev. Mr. WICKES, rector. Two places of worship, the chapel in Princess Anne, in the repairing of which about $1200 have lately been expended, the other is the church about six miles distance.

About 50 families attend at the chapel. The number of families which attend the church about 26.

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The salary of the rector is $800, raised by the pew-rents-the vestry have also a fund of about $1500; principal is kept entire, and the interest laid out in repairing the houses.

William and Mary Parish, Charles county, has but one church, a new building, in good repair, which will hold 300 whites, and from 150 to 200 persons of colour. This parish has a glebe of about 150 acres, on which there is a comfortable house for the minister's family. The vestry have a fund of about $12,000, secured by mortgage, and the interest of which is punctually paid; and this, with a subscription of two or three hundred dollars, is received by the rector.

Coventry Parish, composed of parts of the two counties of Somerset and Worcester.

In this parish there are two chapels and a church-the latter a very large brick building. One of the chapels is not yet completed; the other, an old building, and greatly decayed-each of them about ten miles from the church, in opposite directions.

The congregation consists of about
VOL. V.

120 families. The funds, a glebe, which has never yielded above $50, and a subscription of about $500. Rev. Mr. Stratton the rector.

All Faith Parish, in Calvert county. In this parish there is a chapel, in a very decayed state-the church is a commodious brick building, and wants some repairs.

The parish has a glebe of 150 acres, which at present yields no profit.

St. Michael's Parish, in Talbot county, has a new commodious church, in perfect repair. The funds of the parish, a small amount of bank stock. The salary is from six to seven hundred dollars per annum.

Great Choptank Parish, Dorchester county, has four houses of worship; two of which, being without congregations, will probably be taken down in a short time. The parish church in Cambridge is in very good repair-the pews in this church rent for upwards of $600. The chapel at Vienna is a substantial brick building, but requires considerable repairs.

The parish has no funds, and no glebe. About 40 families attend the two latter places of worship.

St. Mark's Parish, in Frederick county, has one church, in tolerably good repair. A building is nearly finished for the rector and his family, on a lot of one and a half acres. The salary of the minister amounts to about $800.

Allhallows Parish, in Worcester county. From 80 to 100 families belong to this parish. There are in the parish three places of public worship, two of them in a state of dilapidation and ruin; the other, at Snow-Hill, is in tolerable repair.

A minister, Rev. Mr. Judah, is employed by this parish and Worcester parish-and this parish contributes to his support about $400.

St. Anne's, Anne-Arundel, has two houses of worship-the one is about 12 miles from the city of Annapolis, and not yet completed; it will contain about 150 persons-service is often performed there.

The church in Annapolis is at present in good condition-the number of the congregation about 250. Divine

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