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"5th. Because the adoption of such a preamble and resolution could be of no possible benefit, whilst it would seem to cast reproach upon the Bishops for doing that which they, through the commission, expressly disclaim any intention of doing, as will be seen in the Appendix of the Journal of 1856, from which I quote:

"It has been the purpose of the commission, however, so far as their present labors go, to leave the Prayer Book untouched: they have also doubted how far the consideration of such proposed alterations would fall within the duty assigned to them; and at all events, they felt that if any alterations of the Prayer Book were proposed, the House of Deputies would be entitled to take part in the preliminary discussions connected with them.'

"The authority for the Bishops to prepare and publish Forms of Prayer for occasions not provided, can be seen in

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"CANON XLVII.

"Of Forms of Prayer or Thanksgiving, for extraordinary occasions. [Former Canons on this subject were the ninth of 1795, and thirty-eighth of 1808.] "The Bishop of each diocese may compose forms of prayer or thanksgiving, as the case may require, for extraordinary occasions, and transmit them to each clergyman within his diocese, whose duty it shall be to use such forms in his church on such occasions. And the clergy in those States or dioceses, or other places within the bounds of this Church, in which there is no Bishop, may use the form of prayer or thanksgiving composed by the Bishop of any diocese. The Bishop in each diocese may also compose forms of prayer to be used before legislative and other public bodies.'

"I append the preamble and resolutions approved by the Bishops, as expressing their views of the interpretation of the Rubrics, and if they are examined carefully by unprejudiced minds, they will not be found to conflict with a fair interpretation of the Rubrics. Before the adoption of this interpretation by the Bishops each deacon, presbyter, and Bishop determined for himself what was public worship; what the special occasions requiring some variation from the Rubrics; hence there was great diversity in their construction. The Bishops having concurred in some general principles, greater rubrical conformity will result therefrom.

66 PREAMBLE AND RESOLUTIONS.

"Whereas, the use of the Book of Common Prayer, as regulated by custom, has special reference to established parish churches, and to a population already incorporated with the Church:

"And whereas, our actual work is, or should be, among many, not yet connected with our congregations, or where there are no established parishes, and where said parishes are yet in their infancy:

"And whereas, there are or may be in different dioceses, peculiar emergencies arising out of the character or condition of certain portions of the population which demand some special Services:

"And whereas, the Book of Common Prayer should be so used as most effectively to cherish true devotion, and set forth the Gospel and work of Christ, and contribute to the extension of His kingdom among men:

"And whereas, the House of Bishops have heretofore expressed opinions as to usages which may be allowed under existing Rubrics and Canons: therefore, Resolved, as the opinion of the Bishops,

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"1. That the order of Morning Prayer, the Litany, and the Communion Service, being separate offices, may, as in former times, be used separately, under the advice of the Bishop of the diocese.'

"The separation of the offices referred to in the first resolution, was usual in England until the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and is now allowed by their Bishops. This separation was practised in Bishop White's time, and has been ever since in many churches. This resolution declares that the advice of the Bishops should be asked.

"2. That on special occasions, or at extraordinary services, not otherwise provided for, ministers may, at their discretion, use such parts of the Book of Common Prayer, and such lesson or lessons from Holy Scripture, as shall, in their judgment, tend most to edification.'

"In the second resolution, the Bishops authorize the use of the Common Prayer Book, instead of themselves composing forms as authorized by Canon (47) XLVII.

"3. That the Bishops of the several dioceses may provide such special services as in their judgment shall be required by the peculiar spiritual necessities of any class or portion of the population within said diocese, provided that such services shall not take the place of the services or offices of the Book of Common Prayer in congregations capable of its use.'

"The third resolution was meant to provide for the case of persons too degraded to use the Book of Common Prayer.

"That the whole subject may be fully considered, I offer the following resolution:

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Resolved, That the preamble and resolution submitted to this Committee for consideration, together with Canons XLV. and XLVII. of 1832, be referred to a joint committee of the two Houses, to consider and report, at the next General Convention, what modifications, if any, are needed in the mode of conducting the Services of the Church, or in the use of the Book of Common Prayer, in established parish churches, and in the missionary field, foreign and domestic. "WM. WELSH,

"Minority of Committee."

The House acting upon these reports, finally adopted the following preamble and resolution:

Whereas, The preamble and resolutions adopted by the House of Bishops, on the 18th day of the last session of the General Convention, in relation to the use of the Book of Common Prayer, and published in the Journal of the said Convention, have disturbed the minds of many in our Church, creating doubts both as to the effect of said preamble and resolutions, and as to the constitutionality of the mode in which they were adopted and published; therefore,

"Resolved, That the House of Bishops is hereby respectfully requested to reconsider the said preamble and resolutions, and to throw the subject matter into such shape as will admit of the joint action of both Houses of the Convention.

The following message from the House of Bishops, was received in reply: "The House of Bishops inform this House that they have passed the following resolution, the subject of the resolution of this House, passed some days ago (on the subject of the separate action of the Bishops making certain changes in the use of the Prayer Book) being under consideration:

"Resolved, That the action of the Bishops at the Convention of 1856, on the subject indicated in the resolution of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, having been preceded by the deliberations of a commission appointed at the Convention of 1853, and also by much deliberation and discussion, the House of Bishops are not prepared, at this very late hour of the session, to take any action which may seem to involve a reconsideration of their former action."

Report on the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society.

"The Committee on the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society respectfully report:

"That they have had before them the several reports from the Missionary Bishops of this Church, and those holding special commissions to act as such, and report from the several foreign fields occupied by the Board of Missions of this Church. These have been considered in their order-their several statements and propositions have engaged as much of the time and deliberation of this Committee, as the peculiar circumstances of the Committee permitted.

"The Committee deem it unnecessary to prepare any argumentative paper on the importance and value of the Missionary work, or to spread upon the Journal an elaborate detail of the work done, or laid out to be done by the Board of Missions, and the several Missionaries. The reports of the various Bishops and Missionary Stations will be prepared with the Journal, as part of the documents of the Convention, and will thus be accessible to all members of the same.

"As the result of their earnest deliberations, and as embodying their unanimous opinions, the Committee beg leave to offer the following resolutions:

"1. Resolved, That the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies approves the establishment of the Mission in Japan, the establishment of a Mission to Brazil, and the expansion of the Missions to China and Africa.

"2. Resolved, That this House recommend to the Board of Missions the taking of such measures towards the establishment of a Mission or Missions to the Spanish Main of South-America, Central America, and Mexico, as may be deemed proper, in the judgment of the Foreign Committee.

"3. Resolved, That the expansion of Missions already established, Domestic and Foreign, and the establishment of new Stations in still unoccupied fields will require, as a minimum, farther support not far from $250,000, this House would urge upon each member of this Church the imperative duty of contributing something to the Missionary work of this Church.

“4. Resolved, The House of Bishops concurring, That the jurisdiction of the Missionary Bishop in China be understood to include provisionally the Missions which are or may be established in the empire of Japan.

"5. Resolved, That the House learns with pleasure the termination of the

long-pending difficulties connected with the jurisdictions respectively of the English Bishop of Victoria, confining his jurisdiction to the Province of Cheh Kiang, and the American Bishop of China, to the Province of Kiang See.

"6. Resolved, That it is a matter of sincere congratulation and thanksgiving, that the debt of the Domestic Committee has, through the exertions of the indefatigable Secretary and General Agent, been paid off, and that that Committee presents itself before the Convention free from debt.

"7. Resolved, That the Foreign and Domestic Committee be authorized and required to cause a more general diffusion of Missionary intelligence, and a more general collection of funds, either by paid Agents, or by the formation of Auxiliary District Societies, as they may judge expedient, under the direction of the Bishop of the Diocese.

"Whereas, The spirit of toleration in religious concernments is cherished by the American people, and is guarded by the American Constitution; and

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Whereas, In the island of Cuba, American citizens, professing the religion of Protestants, are not tolerated; their worship is not allowed; their dead are not buried with Christian burial; nor are the bodies of their deceased permitted by the law, without oppressive exactions, to be deported to their native land for sepulture; therefore

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"Resolved, The House of Bishops concurring, That a Joint Committee be appointed to address a memorial to the President of the United States, in the name and in behalf of the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, requesting His Excellency, as the Supreme Executive of the nation, to address the Court of Her Catholic Majesty in Spain on this subject; and to take measures, by treaty, to procure for American citizens in Cuba, the liberty to establish the Protestant worship, and the Protestant Ministry, with liberty to hold real estate sufficient for suitable churches and church-yards; and that all, except sanitary, restriction on the deportation of the dead be abolished in Cuba."

The above resolutions were adopted, with the exception of the last, which the Committee were instructed to omit, by the following resolution:

"Whilst the members of this House most anxiously desire to see the right of worship and sepulture to our countrymen in the island of Cuba; yet, as the action of this House, as an organized religious body, may, perhaps, become a dangerous precedent for hereafter interfering with the politics of the country, therefore,

"Resolved, That the report be re-committed to the Committee with instructions to omit the resolution."

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This Summary, it will be seen, includes only the organized Dioceses.

Net gain, 19.767

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