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body could have formed the least objection against his excellent prayers. Upon which, Mr. Bull, hoping to recover him from his ill grounded prejudices, showed him the office of baptism in the liturgy, wherein was contained every prayer which he had offered up to God, on that occasion; which, with farther arguments that he then urged, so effectually wrought upon the good man and his whole family, that they always after that time frequented the parish church, and never more absented themselves from Mr. Bull's communion. From whence we may reasonably conclude that as a mistaken zeal may throw contempt upon what justly deserves to be admired, so also that gravity, seriousness, and devotion, in reading the prayers, are necessary to secure that respect to the liturgy which its own excellency requireth from us.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

EASTERN DIOCESE.

THE annual Convention of the Eastern Diocese, was held in Windsor, Vermont, on Wednesday, the 24th September, 1823.

Present,

Right Rev. Alexander V. Griswold, D. D. Bishop.

Clergy.

Rev. Samuel F. Jarvis, D. D, James Morss, Asa Eaton, Aaron Humphrey, Titus Strong, Benj. C. Cutler, Deacon, Lot Jones, Deacon,-Massachusetts.

Rev. George Leonard, Abraham Bronson, Joel Clap, Carlton Chase, Benj. B. Smith, Elijah Brainard, Deacon, Samuel B. Shaw, Deacon,Vermont.

Rev. James B. Howe,-New Hampshire..

Laymen.

Mr. Dana Miller, Bellows Falls, Mr. Guy Bridgman, Guilford, Mr. Danforth Billings, Arlington, Hon. Dudley Chase, Bethel, Hon. Jona. H. Hubbard, Windsor, Hon. Dudley A. Tyng, Newburyport, Mr. John Sowdon, Boston, Mr. Christopher Seaton, Cornish, Major Ezra Jones, Claremont, Mr. C. C. Brainard, Walpole.

Divine service performed by Rev. Dr. Jarvis, Sermon by Rev. Mr. Strong. The holy communion was administered by the Bishop, assisted by Rev. Dr. Jarvis.

Rev. Titus Strong was chosen secretary, the former secretary having declined a reappointment.

Voted, That such clergymen, candidates for orders, and lay members of the Episcopal church as may be present, who are not members of the convention, be admitted to honorary seats. The Rev. Mr. Marshall and the Rev. Mr. Robertson from the diocese of Virginia, and the Rev. Mr. Dyer, from the diocese of New York, took their seats accordingly.

Voted, That the rules of order be observed which were adopted at the last meeting of this convention.

Voted, That the thanks of the convention be given to the Rev. Mr. Strong, for his sermon this day delivered, and that a copy be requested for publication in the Gospel Advocate.

Voted, That the thanks of the convention be given to the Rev. Mr. Eaton, for his faithful services as secretary, from the organization of the diocese in 1810, to the present time.

Rev. Messrs. Morss and Howe were appointed a committee to communicate the two foregoing resolutions.

The following persons were appointed the standing committee, for the ensuing year, viz :—

Rev. Asa Eaton, Rev. Samuel F. Jarvis, Rev. James Morss, Rev. Nathan B. Crocker, Rev. Carlton Chase, Rev. Petrus S. Ten Broeck, Rev. Charles Burroughs, Hon. Dudley A. Tyng, George Brinley, Esq.

Voted, That the alteration in the second article of the constitution, that the words "in each of the states by rotation" be struck out, and the words "such place as shall be agreed upon at the preceding convention" be inserted, which alteration was proposed at the last meeting of this convention, be, and the same is hereby adopted.

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Voted, That the alteration proposed at the last meeting of this convention in the same article, that after the words "lay delegate" the words" or delegates not exceeding three," be inserted, be, and the same is hereby adopted.

Voted, That the alteration in the 10th article of the constitution, proposed at the last meeting of this convention, that the word "biennial" be struck out, and the word "annual" inserted, be and the same is hereby adopted.

Voted, That the next meeting of this convention be held in Portland, Maine.

Rev. Messrs. Morss, Howe, and Chase, were appointed a committee to report a regular and correct list, of the clergy and churches in this diocese.

The report includes, in Maine, 2 Churches and 2 Presbyters. In Massachusetts, 18 Presbyters, 5 Deacons and 21* Churches. In Vermont, 5 Presbyters, 2 Deacons and 19 Churches. In New Hampshire, 5 Presbyters and 6 Churches. In Rhode Island, 6 Presbyters, 2

Deacons and 7 Churches.

Total 36 Presbyters, 9 Deacons, 55 Churches.
Adjourned to Thursday.

Thursday, Sept. 25.-The Bishop delivered his address, agreeably to the provisions of the 45th canon.

Resolved, That the thanks of this convention be, and they hereby are returned to the Right Rev. the Bishop of the diocese, for his excellent address, and that a copy of the same be requested for publication in the Gospel Advocate.

Resolved, That for the better circulation of this address, through

* There are 23 churches in Massachusetts, in the sense of incorporated societies, though there are but 21 buildings for publick worship.

44

GOSPEL ADVOCATE, VOL. III.

the diocese, it be made the duty of every clergyman to read the same to his congregation, or congregations, on some occasion of publick worship.

Rev. Mr. Leonard and Rev. Dr. Jarvis were appointed a committee to present the foregoing resolutions to the Bishop, who reported, that he would comply with the request of the convention.

Resolved, That the committees reported at the last diocesan convention, to solicit subscriptions and donations to the Episcopal fund, be requested to attend to the business referred to them, the ensuing year, and that the secretary furnish each member of the said committees with a copy of this resolution.

Resolved, That the committee appointed at the last convention of this diocese, upon the subject of providing a uniform system of catechetical instruction, be requested to prosecute the object contemplated in their appointment, and report to the next convention.

Resolved, That the standing committees of the several states, in this diocese, be requested to make inquiry into the character and situation of such clergymen, as have been reported within this diocese, who are neglecting the duties of the ministerial office, and to take such measures respecting them, as the canons of the Church may authorize and require.

The Rev. Dr. Jarvis, Rev. Mr. Morss, and Hon. Mr. Tyng, were appointed a committee, to ascertain whether any, and what clergymen, are in the diocese, whose names ought to be added to the list as reported.

Divine service was performed by Rev. Mr. Humphrey, Sermon by the Bishop; and the holy communion was administered. Rev. Lot Jones was admitted to the priesthood, and the convention adjourned, sine die.

Attest, T. STRONG, Secretały.

The Constitution of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the Eastern Diocese of the United States of America.

Article 1. The States of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine, shall constitute one Episcopal diocese, in subordination to the general convention, and shall be entitled, "The Eastern Diocese of the United States."

Art. 2. There shall be annually held, a convention of the Church in this diocese, on the last Wednesday in September, in such place as shall be agreed upon at the preceding convention, composed of the clergy belonging to the diocese, and a lay delegate, or delegates not exceeding three, from each of the churches, which may have been recognised by the bishop, or standing committee of the diocese.

Art. 3. The convention shall deliberate and act in one body, but shall vote in distinct orders, when any member shall call for such a division on any question, and in such case, a concurrence of a majority of both orders, shall be necessary to give validity to any meas

ure.

Art. 4. The bishop, or if no bishop be present, a clergyman, chosen by ballot, shall be president of the convention.

Art. 5. At each meeting of the convention, a secretary shall be chosen by ballot, who shall keep a true and fair record of the proceedings of the convention, and at the close of each session, shall furnish the bishop with a copy of the same, or, if there be no bishop. the standing committee.

Art. 6. There shall be a standing committee, elected at each stated meeting of the convention, consisting of nine persons, one of whom shall be from each state in the diocese.

Art. 7. Whenever, hereafter, the episcopate of this diocese shall be vacant, the standing committee shall give information thereof, to the secretary of each state convention in the diocese, and also of the time and place of a special convention for the purpose of filling up such vacancy, which special convention shall consist of the clergy belonging to the diocese, and a lay delegate from each of the churches, which may have been recognised by the bishop or standing committee, and shall be held, at least, three months after such information is given. And in every election of a bishop, the clergy shall make a nomination by ballot, which nomination shall be approved by a majority of the lay delegates present, before the choice shall be considered valid.

Art. 8. Standing rules, for the orderly conducting of business, shall be devised from time to time, in biennial convention.

Art. 9. No state shall withdraw from this diocese, without the approbation of the house of bishops.

Art. 10. No alteration shall be made in this constitution, but in annual convention, nor unless it has been proposed in a previous convention, nor without the concurrence of a majority of the delegation from at least three of the states in the diocese.

Adopted, May 31, 1810. Amended, Sept. 1822, and Sept. 1823.

VERMONT.

THE annual convention of Vermont was held June 25, 1823, in the church at Middlebury. The bishop being absent, the Rev. Abraham Bronson was elected president. The Rev. Joel Clap was elected secretary. Of the clergy there were present 5 presbyters and 1 deacon, and of the laity 17 delegates the representatives of 15 parishes. There are 19 parishes in Vermont the most of which are very small. The following table gives as accurate a view as we can present from the journal of the convention.

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In 8 congregations 45 baptisms, in 5 do. 8 marriages, in 8 do. 34 funerals, in 15 do. 551 communicants.

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