Standing committee and council of advice-Rev. Mr. Boyd, Rev. Mr. Kemper, Rev. Mr. Bedell, Rev. Dr. Abercrombie, Rev. Mr. Allen, of the clergy, and Messrs. Dale, Read, Commigys, and Wheeler, of the laity.

The whole amount of the Episcopal fund, in six per cent stock, is $7733,09.

There has been an increase of three presbyters since the last report; the clergy now consisting of the bishop, twenty-nine pres byters and four deacons. Of these, twenty-six have the cure of souls. The number of congregations in Philadelphia county, are 13, and in Northumberland 1. There has been a new congregation form. ed at Greensburg, in Westmoreland connty, and this with St. Stephen's and St. Andrew's churches in Philadelphia, were admitted into union by the convention. In all the other counties, the number of churches is the same as in our last report in the August number for 1822, to which, with the corrections p. 360, of vol. ii. we refer our readers. The total number of congregations this year is 44 in 20 counties. Fif teen of the clergy were absent, and 22 congregations only were represented by 34 lay delegates. We observe that the Rev. Mr. Bausman is mentioned, p. 5, and p. 29, as officiating in the churches in Fayette county, and these are mentioned by the bishop, p. 10, as being at Brownsville and Connelsville. These churches are not, however, enumerated in the list of congregations which we have copied from pp. 26, 27. We know not how to account for this, and must request our attentive correspondent, who corrected our mistakes the last year, to furnish us with an explanation.

Episcopal Acts.

Confirmations, (the places and times of confirmation are not

specified,)

Ordinations, priest's orders only,

Candidates. One only admitted during the last year, William Levington, a coloured man, who is to take charge of St. Thomas's church, Philadelphia,

Churches consecrated,

210

2

1

2

It is not

The corner stone of a small church, about a mile from Philadelphia, at Francisville was laid by the bishop, October 17, 1822. yet completed, but is to be called after the name of St. Matthew.

We proceed to give some extracts from the bishop's address, as exhibiting his sentiments on the important subjects of bible societies, provision for the support of the episcopate and the further endowment of the general theological seminary.

"My confidence is still possessed by the bible society of Philadel phia; to which it will be continued, so long as they shall continue to

act on the ground of their original organization. It has been said, that in some societies, formed under the profession of the same object, of distributing the bible without note or comment, other objects have been associated; perhaps with a pious design, but inconsistent with promise pledged, and tending to aggravate, instead of diminishing the differences subsisting among Christian people.

"Every lapse of a year increases my solicitude to hold up, as a very important object, the creating of a fund for the support of a future bishop. I suppose it to be generally understood, that I have no personal interest in the subject; but it would be a gratification to me to foresee, that my successor, detached from parochial concerns, will have it in his power to bestow all his labours on the work of the episcopacy; and thus be more efficient in the latter line, than has been possible in my case, on account of my parochial engagements. Having passed my seventy-fifth year, it is what ought to remind me that although my health and strength, under a merciful Providence, are equal to what they have been at any period of my life, there must, ere long, be a decline of body, and perhaps of mind, even in the uncertain event of there being still a lengthening of my days.

"It has appeared to me, that the instituting of a theological seminary has been met by the general approbation of the members of our Church, and yet there does not seem to exist a due consideration of the expense necessary for the conducting of it on a plan adequate to its im portance. In addition to this, the liberal bequest of a publick-spirited member of our Church in the state of New York, seems to have been considered by some, as almost sufficient for satisfying of the call on the generosity of the publick. This is a mistake, as must be known by those who are conversant in the construction of institutions of the description stated. It is to be hoped, that further information will produce more correct habits of thinking on the subject; an issue which may be effected by statements of the clergy, and of influential gentlemen of the laity, as opportunities may offer."

On the subject of missionary labours, we are pleased to see the eminently catholick spirit of the venerable bishop, who, while he properly gives the precedence to the wants of his own diocese, in all appeals to the liberality of its members, is not unmindful of the wants of other parts of the union, or unsolicitous with regard to the general extension of the gospel." It is a matter," he observes, "known to those who are prominent in the concerns of our Church in this state, and doubtless the same is felt in other sections of the Union, that we receive most pressing entreaties for the extension of beneficence beyond our respective bounds; especially to the scattered Episcopalians, who have seated themselves in the states which have derived their existence from the federal union. There is also a sentiment considerably prevalent, that it has become a Christian duty, to add our efforts to the many recently put forth, as well in America as in Europe, for the evangelizing of heathen nations. In my last annual communication, there was stated the fact, of there having been organized a society by the publick wisdom of our Church, for domestick

and foreign missions. It has also been thought proper, to make the city of Philadelphia, in this state, the seat from which the combined energies are to be put forth. Your bishop is aware of the weight of the claims lying on us, from the many places within our own diocese, destitute of the means of grace. He, however, considers it as his duty to declare the opinion that the objects stated have also their claims on us not to be disregarded, consistently with the extensive requisitions of Christian charity. It will be seen on attention to the constitution of the society, that every contributor has his choice of pouring his bounty either into the channel of the domestick, or into that of the foreign object; and while the opinion is here expressed, that the former was designed to be the most prominent, it is with the expectation, that in the disposal of what the publick liberality may supply without the restraint of appropriation, the society will regard the latter object also, in proportion to the means with which they may be furnished."

The bishop having referred to the report of a committee appointed by the last convention, to confer with him in making provision for destitute congregations, we proceed to present the following extract from their report. 66 The committee appointed by the last convention to consult with the bishop upon some mode for supplying the vacant congregations in this state with occasional services, &c. beg leave to report that very soon after the adjournment of the convention, a plan was formed, by which each vacant congregation, and each vicinity where it was supposed a few Episcopalians could be found, might be visited from 3 to 4 times in the course of the year. This arrangement required that each clergyman in the state should devote two or three Sundays to missionary purposes. The plan received the approbation of the bishop, and was acted upon for some time with considerable effect. A correspondence was opened with most of the clergy of the diocese; several of them had made one or more journeys, and others were preparing to go, when the committee felt it their duty, though with great reluctance, to limit, as far as possible, their future operations. A communication from the treasurer of the convention arrested their attention. They applied to the bishop and his council for advice, and immediately determined that no new arrangements should be made. This step was taken on the 13th of last Dec. on the following account: The committee, in making their plan, found it necessary, in order to accomplish the wish of the convention, that several clergymen should travel a considerable distance. Some of the most interesting and promising of our new congregations are a great way off from the residence of any parochial minister. Visits to these members of our Church proved to be more expensive than was expected. The demands upon the treasury were increasing, and it was greatly feared that the accomplishment of the whole design would exhaust the funds before the meeting of the convention should arrive.

Although, therefore, all that the committee had anticipated has not been accomplished, they are gratified in stating that much good has been done."

The reports of the clergy who visited these vacant churches are in general very interesting; but we are compelled to postpone them till our next number.

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

THE Rev. Andrew Fowler, of Charleston, South Carolina, has lately published a small tract for the use of Sunday schools, entitled "The Thirty-nine Articles of Religion, in Question and Answer, confirmed by Proofs out of Holy Scripture." Mr. F. has been long known as a faithful labourer in the Christian vineyard, and has been peculiarly successful in the communication of catechetical instruction. He was the superintendent of the first Sunday school established in Charleston, in 1817, which was continued by him till the 1st of January, 1820, when, upon his resignation, the school was divided among the three Episcopal churches of that city. While he was engaged in this employment, he compiled the catechism which we now take pleasure in announcing to our readers. Each article is first given at full length; after which it is broken into short questions and answers; and the texts of scripture are quoted on which every expression of the article is founded. We propose hereafter to give some extracts for which we have at present no room. We content ourselves, therefore, with remarking, that we think the treatise especially seasonable at the present moment, that our youth may be furnished with a complete antidote to the sophistry so confidently and commonly uttered about human creeds and articles.

FAMILY PRAYER BOOK. The two first numbers of the Right Rev. Bishop Brownell's Family Prayer Book have been published; and most fully answer the high expectations which were formed of its value. At some future day, we propose to give a more extensive notice of this work than we can do at this time. Our limits, at present, only permit us to express the great satisfaction with which we have read that part which is already published; and to recommend it particu larly to the attention of all our readers who have not already subscribed for it. The history which this work gives of the origin of the customs and observances of our Church, and the explanation of their design; the elucidation of the arguments by which its doctrines are supported; and, above all, the spirit of piety which runs through it, the constant exhibition of the truths of the gospel, and the illustration of the tendency of the several parts of our liturgy to promote a devout spirit, and a pure and holy life, render it exceedingly valuable to all who would maintain our excellent" form of doctrine," and would make it the means of promoting the "power of godliness" in their own hearts.

The work will be completed in seven numbers of 100 pages each, in quarto. The price is one dollar a number.

OBITUARY.

THE Rev. Jordan Gray, of this diocese, lately deceased, was born in Arlington, Vermont. From his youth he was impressed with a deep sense of the importance of religion. He was a young man of unquestionable integrity, and could be charged with no vice.