articles of the Church of England were for the first time ratified, without even the change of their obsolete diction.

At the General Convention of 1808, the House of Bishops acquired the full power of a negative upon the acts of the lower house. Previous to this, four-fifths of the clerical and lay delegates could accomplish a measure without the concurrence of the superior body. On this occasion the version of the Psalter by Tate and Brady was sanctioned, and a number of hymns were added to the collection already in use. According to a canon of the last conven. tion, a pastoral letter from the House of Bishops, to the members of the Church was drawn up by them, and read to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies.

The period had now arrived when the Church was to rise from its depressed condition, and to occupy a lofty stand in the cause of pure and undefiled religion. The greater part of those clergymen who had entered its ministry sup ported by the laws or the beneficence of England, had now quitted the stage, and their places had been supplied by those who were not only sons of the soil, but who had been trained up under the influence of a Church relying solely upon its own resources. The infidelity and lukewarmness which had prevailed during the latter part of the preceding century, were now rapidly giving way throughout the continent; and many persons of powerful intellect and devoted spirit, were added to the ranks of the ministry. In 1811, the number of bishops was eight, two of whom were coadjutors to the aged diocesan of New York. The clergy were divided nearly in the following proportion. In the Eastern Diocese (composed of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, and New Hampshire) fifteen. In Connecticut thirty. In New York forty-four. In New Jersey seventeen. In Pennsylvania twenty. In Delaware five. In Maryland thirty-five. In Virginia fifty.

In South Carolina fifteen. In Georgia one.

About the

same period Dr. Bowden, of New York, distinguished himself as a controvertist in behalf of Episcopacy, and, like Dr. Johnson, in the preceding century, attracted much attention to that neglected and unpopular subject.

The region west of the Alleghany mountains was now rapidly increasing in population, and the necessity of supplying it with a valid ministry began to be apparent. Other denominations had already pre-occupied the ground to a considerable extent, and only two or three clergymen of the Church were to be found in the immense valley watered by the Mississippi and its tributary streams. In 1811, a letter was addressed to Bishop White, by the Rev. Joseph Doddridge, a clergyman settled near the Ohio river, urging the appointment of a missionary bishop for the new country in which he resided. The weakness of the Church, with other circumstances, prevented immediate action upon this important point; and the opportunity offered by the infant state of those vast regions was for ever lost. The injury formerly experienced through the want of an Episcopate in the East, was now more than realized in the West, and vast numbers of the inhabitants became the prey of wild fanaticism, and enthusiastic delusion.

About the same time the Church in Vermont was organized and admitted into union with the General Convention. Measures were also taken to regain to the Church, by a legal process, the lands formerly held by the Propagation Society in that state. These measures were subsequently delayed by the war with Great Britain; but eventually, after a protracted litigation, they proved successful, and a considerable portion of the property was recovered.

Hitherto all persons desirous of preparing for the minis

try of the Church, had laboured under great disadvantages. Few colleges were under Episcopal control, and even in them, theological education was neglected. The can

didates were therefore compelled to pursue their studies under the direction of clergymen encumbered with parochial duties, or to resort to the institutions of dissenting denominations. Accordingly, about the year 1814, Bishop Hobart, of New York, issued proposals for the establishment of a divinity-school under the superintendence of himself and his successors. The deputies to the General Convention from South Carolina, were also instructed to propose a similar scheme. The subject was for some time under consideration; and finally in 1817 it was resolved to establish a theological seminary at New York, for the benefit, and under the control of the entire Church. In the same year the diocese of North Carolina was admitted into union with the General Convention, and measures were adopted to organize the Church in the state of Ohio. The Rev. Philander Chase was consecrated to the Episcopate of the latter diocese in 1819, and the Rev. John Stark Ravenscroft to that of the former in 1823. New Jersey had been provided with a bishop, the Rev. Dr. Croes, as early as 1815; and from this period, the advancement of the Church proceeded with almost unexampled rapidity. In 1814, the number of clergy was little more than two hundred and forty, but in the course of twenty years, it more than trebled; and the increase of congregations was in an equal proportion.

The destitute state of the western country led to the formation of a missionary association in Pennsylvania about the year 1818. By this association, several missionaries were sustained in Pennsylvania and Ohio, and some churches were planted. In a few years this society assumed a more extended form, and, under the auspices of

the General Convention, became known as the " Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church." For many years its operations were extremely limited, and it was not until 1830 that it produced any considerable benefit. In the mean time, the General Theological Seminary received a constant accession of students, and a second institution of the same kind was established at Alexandria, designed especially to promote the interests of religion in Virginia, and other southern dioceses. Bishop Chase also proceeded, in 1824, to England, in the hope of obtaining assistance towards the foundation of a seminary of sacred learning in Ohio. His efforts were successful, and he returned with between twenty and thirty thousand dollars, the fruits of the benevolence of British Christians. He erected an extensive building at the centre of his diocese, and in 1831 he had the satisfaction of beholding nearly two hundred inmates of " Kenyon College and Theological Seminary." Unhappy difficulties having arisen, he determined on resigning his episcopal jurisdiction in Ohio, together with the presidency of the institution which he had founded. The General Convention of 1832, after a protracted debate, concluded on permitting his resignation, and the Rev. Dr. M'Ilvaine was consecrated to the vacant episcopate. At the present time the number of clergy in Ohio is between fifty and sixty. Kenyon College has recently received from England further donations, amounting to about twelve thousand dollars, besides many valuable books. In Kentucky and Tennessee, the increase of the Church has been nearly as rapid as in Ohio. In 1825 there was but one officiating clergyman in the first mentioned state. In 1832 it contained eight clergymen, and in the same year the Rev. B. B. Smith was consecrated bishop. In 1834 the "Theological Seminary of the Diocese of Kentucky" was incorporated; in the following year it re

ceived great pecuniary assistance from eastern Episcopalians, and at the present time the number of students in that institution is not far from twenty. The clergy in the diocese now amount to eighteen. So late as 1832, there were but three clergymen in Tennessee. 'There are now in that diocese about sixteen, with Bishop Otey at their head; and a theological seminary in connexion with a college is already in contemplation.

In the eastern states also the progress of the Church has been rapid and steady. The Church in Vermont had become, in 1832, sufficiently strong to separate from the Eastern Diocese, of which it had formed a part, and, accordingly, in the same year the Rev. Dr. Hopkins was elected and consecrated its bishop. It is highly probable that, in the course of a few years, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Maine, will also be provided with their respective prelates.

The General Convention of 1835 must be regarded as one of the most important events in the history of the Church. Bishop Chase was recognised as the head of the new diocese of Illinois. The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society, whose operations had now become extensive, ceased to exist as a separate body, and the Church assuming its responsibilities, stood forth as one grand missionary association. It was resolved that missionary bishops should be provided for the states and territories destitute of episcopal supervision, and also for the stations in heathen lands occupied by the American Church. The Rev. Dr. Hawks was accordingly appointed by the House of Bishops to the episcopate of Louisiana, Arkansas, and Florida, and the Rev. Dr. Kemper to that of Missouri and Indiana. The former gentleman declined his appointment. The latter was consecrated at Philadelphia, and immediately proceeded to his destination. The wisdom of the