fathers of the Church in the selection of Dr. Kemper, has been abundantly proved. The few members of the Episcopal communion in the far west have been greatly encouraged, and their numbers have been increased. A fund of twenty thousand dollars has recently been contributed in New York towards the establishment of a college in Missouri, under the superintendence of the "Missionary Bishop." On the 5th September, 1838, the General Convention again met in the city of Philadelphia. The reports of the delegates from the dioceses respectively represented, exhibited the most gratifying evidence of the interesting growth and prosperity of the Church. Its extension in New York had required its division into two dioceses, and the new one was received into union with the General Convention under the name of Western New York, of which the Rev. Dr. De Lancey was subsequently elected Bishop. The Rev. Leonidas Polk, D.D., of Tennessee, was chosen the second Missionary Bishop, to exercise Episcopal functions in the state of Arkansas; and also, provisionally, in the States of Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi.

Our narrative of the American Church cannot be more appropriately closed than by recording an event still fresh in the memory of American Episcopalians. Bishop White, the good, the truly great prelate, whose character this portion of the holy Church universal will for ever regard with reverence, departed this life on Sunday, July 17, 1836, in the eighty-ninth year of his age, and the fiftieth of his episcopate. Little has been said in the preceding pages in reference to the deceased Bishop, because the narrative of his life is almost identical with the history of the Church during the last half century; and because no important step has been taken in ecclesiastical affairs during that long period, in which his paternal counsels have been unfelt,

Bishop White was raised up by Providence at a crisis when a man of his description was pre-eminently needed. Steady and sober from his youth, he was prepared to advise in times of peril and excitement. Conciliatory in his measures, he was adapted to promote a spirit of harmony at a time when imperious claims about the independence of dioceses threatened to rend the Church in pieces. Under his meek wisdom objections to the Articles and the Liturgy melted away; and many a root of bitterness was plucked up and allowed to die. The General Convention is the offspring of his prudence, his impartiality, and his brotherly love; and since the period of its first organization, he has ever been at hand with his pacific counsels, superior to restless ambition, paltry manœuvring, and selfish policy. His humility was unassumed, his piety evinced itself more in actions than in words, and he ever acted on the maxim, that for any man to arrogate to himself on the ground of ecclesiastical distinction, is in America most unwise, and in every country most unbecoming. Thus while he lived he was venerated as a patriarch, and beloved as a man, and when he died, the event was regarded by his countrymen as a national calamity.

And now, with the help of Providence, the Church in the United States must advance and prosper. Her dioceses are twenty-five in number, under the superintendence of twenty bishops. Her clergy will soon amount to eleven hundred, and are daily increasing, it is hoped, in devotion, in learning, and in zeal. Her missionaries are studying the language of China, exploring the vast regions of Syria, of Persia, and of benighted Africa; instructing the youth of Greece, civilizing the Indian of the western forests, and traversing the prairies of Missouri and Illinois. At

the last meeting of her Board of Missions, a resolution was offered, and is now under consideration, recommending that three Presbyters, fit and willing to be consecrated to the Episcopal office, be sent forth, under the blessing of God, and in faith in him, as founders of a Protestant Episcopal Church in the neighbouring republic of Texas. Her revenues for the propagation of religion are constantly increasing, and, through the operation of systematic benevolence, will soon enable her to enlarge her efforts and extend her privileges to thousands who now scarcely know her name. Her numerous periodical publications are circulating religious and ecclesiastical intelligence throughout her widely spread communion, and scattering the seeds of truth where the voice of the minister of God is seldom heard. Her four theological seminaries send forth more clergymen every three years, than the whole Church possessed thirty years ago. Let those clergymen be but faithful to their professed principles, faithful to the cause of evangelical religion, faithful to the souls of men. and to their Master, and who can estimate the future extent, prosperity, and usefulness of the Church at whose altars they minister! "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; they shall prosper that love thee. For my brethren and companions' sake, I will now say, peace be within thee."

i June, 1840.

i For a considerable part of this brief sketch, the editor acknowledges his obligations to the "History of the American Episcopal Church, by the Rev. Henry Caswall."

CHAPTER II.

ON GOVERNMENT.

IN proceeding now to speak of the Church as thus organized and established, it is necessary to distinguish between her government and her ministry. The government of the Church includes in it not only the three orders of the ministry, and thus far being of divine origin, but extends also to all those other offices which the Church may deem it expedient to organize; to the mode in which her ministers are elected and vested with jurisdiction; and to the particular organization by which her legislative, executive, and judiciary powers are exercised. Considered in reference to these latter objects, the government of the Church is of human origin. And in this sense we must understand the concessions of some of our greatest divines, who admit very properly, that no form of church government can be deduced from the Scriptures, while they at the same time maintain, strenuously, the divine prescription of the ministry."

b

With regard to the manner of admitting ministers, the church has enacted laws, which, if well observed, would be likely to secure a learned and pious ministry. That they should not be novices, she requires them to have attained the age of twenty-one years before they can be admitted to the order of Deacons, twenty-four before they can be made Priests, and thirty before they can be made

See Bishop Hobart's charge to his Clergy, 1815, p. 20. b 1 Tim. iii. 6.

Bishops. That hands may be laid suddenly on no man, she requires that every candidate for orders should give notice of his intention, at least one year previous to his ordination.

To ascertain whether he possesses a competent share of learning, he is required to undergo four distinct examinations, either by the Bishop, or some persons appointed by him, and finally by the Bishop himself, in presence of, and assisted by his Presbyters. He must understand the Latin and Greek languages, &c. &c., unless all the members of the standing committee agree to dispense with this branch of science, in consideration of certain other qualifications peculiarly fitting him for the gospel ministry. The candidate is also informed, that "the Church expects of him, what can never be brought to the test of any outward standard, an inward fear and worship of Almighty God: a love of religion, and sensibility to its holy influence; a habit of devout affection; and in short, a cultivation of all those graces, which are called in scripture, the fruits of the Spirit, and by which alone his sacred influences may be manifested." In order to guard against the instability which might attach to a hasty profession of a religious faith and practice, she requires that every candidate before ordination shall produce, from the minister and vestry of the parish where he resides, or from the vestry alone, if the parish be vacant, or if there be no vestry, from at least twelve respectable persons of the Protestant Episcopal Church, testimonials of his piety, good morals, and orderly conduct, for three years last past, and that he hath not written, taught, or held, any thing contrary to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of the

c VIII. Canon Gen. Convent.

• IV. Canon of 1838.

IV. Canon of 1838.

d 1 Tim. v. 22.

f XIV. Canon.

b IV. Canon of 1838.