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 presbyters 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 formed 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. Fifteen 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

The corner stone of a small church, about a mile from Philadelphia, at Francisville was laid by the bishop, October 17, 1822. It is not 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 Philadelphia; 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 importance. 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