tion, and having reported the following, the persons therein named were elected by the Convention, viz: The Rev. Mr. Burhans, the Rev. Mr. Croswell, the Rev. Mr. Marsh, the Rev. Mr. Judd, Mr. Nathan Smith, Mr. Samuel W. Johnson, Mr. Richard Adams, and Mr. Burrage Beach. The Report of the Committee on the Connection Church Scholarship Society was read and accepted. The following report was read and accepted, and on motion, the subjoined resolution passed: The committee to which was referred so much of the Bishop's Address as relates to the Episcopal Academy at Cheshire, have had the same under consideration, and respectfully beg leave to report-That from the view taken by your committee of past events, they are constrained to believe that any union between the church of Cheshire and the Academy, is to be deprecated as injurious to the best interests of the Church. Experience confirms the correctness of this view; nor is it difficult to assign causes for such a consequence. The services of a minister divided between the care of a school and that of a church, must of necessity, be in a great degree inefficient. The charge of such a parish as Cheshire is quite enough to occupy the undivided time of one man. If it should be said that the pecuniary circumstances of the parish are not such as will enable them to provide themselves with the continual services of a clergyman,-in reply to this objection which has occurred to your committee, they would answer, that they are unanimously of opinion, and they believe that facts justify this opinion, that the spiritual prosperity of any parish will be more advanced by the parochial services of a clergyman one half of the time, than by the regular Sunday services of a minister encumbered with the cares of a school. On an examination of the original constitution of the Academy as submitted to the Legislature of this State at the time of its incorporation, your committee have come to the conclusion that the suggestion made by our Diocesan in his address, cannot be adepted by the Convention, because it transcends its powers. The Convention has no control over the funds of the Academy. The management of those funds is confided to a Board of Trustees appointed by the Convention; and to the Convention belongs also the right of appointing the Principal of the Institution: here its power terminates. Under the conviction before expressed of the ill consequences resulting from the union of the Academy and Church; your committee respectfully and unanimously recommend the adoption of the following resolution: Resolved, That in the opinion of this Convention it is inexpedient that the same gentleman should fill the offices of Principal of the Episcopal Academy at Cheshire, and pastor of the Episcopal Congregation in that place. Respectfully submitted, FRANCIS L. HAWKS, Chairman. The Convention adjourned to meet at 2 o'clock this after noon. Christ Church, 2 o'clock, P. M. The Convention met pursuant to adjournment. The Constitution of the Church Scholarship Society, as amended by a committee appointed for that purpose, was reported by the president, and having been read article by article, the Constitution as amended was unanimously adopted by the society; and on motion, the Convention approved of the same, pursuant to the eighth article of the former Constitution, providing for alterations therein. Resolved by the Church Scholarship Society, That the former officers of the society be continued in office until the first annual meeting of the Society under the new Constitution, on the day immediately preceding the commencement of Washington College. The Rev. Mr. Wheaton resigned the office of Corresponding Secretary to the Church Scholarship Society, and the Rev. Mr. Barlow was elected by the Society to fill the vacancy. On motion, the thanks of the Society were returned to the Rev. Mr. Barlow for his services as Agent. The Rev. Mr. Judd from the committee on the state of the Church, made the following report, which was read and accepted: Your Committee on the State of the Church have to regret that the very limited time for making their report, precludes every thing like a minute detail of the circumstances relating to the subject presented to their consideration; but from information communicated, they have the pleasure of presenting to the consideration of the Convention, and through them to the Church in this Diocese, something that is encouraging to the friends of our Zion. Contemplating the field in which it hath pleased the Great Head of the Church to place us, and the difficulties that have been encountered; we have much cause of thankfulness for the blessings that have attended the efforts of the servants of God, in raising to the present condition of comparative prosperity, this part of his spiritual building. To say nothing of the prejudices that our Zion has encountered, the change from small beginnings to its present condition, is evidence of the power of that blessed spirit that rests upon them that worship and serve God in sincerity and truth. Comparing the situation and the prospects of the Church now with what they were when our forefathers laid the foundation, we have many reasons for grateful acknowledgments to the Giver of every good and perfect gift, and many incentives to fervent adoration and increased efforts to extend the borders, and to water the fields that holy men of God have planted. We have the pleasure of seeing new and improved Churches, a gradual increase of worshippers, an unusual number of faithful laborers, seminaries of learning to supply deficiencies, societies that have effected something and promise more towards the extension of religious knowledge, by means of the Bible, prayer book and missionaries, to which we may add the Scholarship Society, African School, Bible Classes, and Sunday Schools, all useful instruments in the hand of Providence for strengthening the weak, instructing the ignorant, reclaiming the wandering, and building up this holy temple to the Lord. Although we contemplate what has been done with thankfulness, yet when we look forward to what remains to be accom. plished, we may well say who is sufficient for these things? As long as sinners are to be found there is room for zealous exertions for their reformation; and success cannot be anticipated without fervent prayer and laborious efforts. In viewing the spiritual condition of our Zion we have the happiness to contemplate an increase of theological attainments, piety and zeal in her clergy, and of liberality and devotedness to her cause among the laity, with harmony of feeling and unity of exertion. With all these flattering prospects, much room remains for improvement, and the more we see doing and done the more we shall see to be accomplished. Lukewarmness and a reluctance to make suitable efforts in the cause of Christ is too evident in some sections of the Church, while in other places a too great devotedness to the world and its vanities paralyzes the efforts of both ministers and people. The souls of men are of too much value to be trifled away for the charms of the world, and when men who call on the name of the Lord and look for salvation to the merits of Christ, can be induced to lend their hearts to the pomps and vanities of the world, alarming dangers are to be apprehended. To secure the future prosperity of the Church, the harmonious efforts of both ministers and people must bring into action the feelings of the heart, the powers of the mind, and the devotedness of the soul to God. The externals of religion may be beautiful and splendid, and the form of godliness may spread far and wide; but what are these when its power is not deeply felt, or when the holy truths sealed by the blood of apostles and martyrs are rejected or coldly assented to? The sinfulness of the human heart must be felt, faith in the atoning blood of Christ must be consented to in the affections, and all the duties of Christianity practised, to render the spiritual building of God all glorious within. Sacrifices must be made, and the standard of the cross must be raised over the ruins of pride and selfishness and vanity, for the safety of our own souls, and the souls of our fellow men. Churchmen have reason to be thankful for the sacredness of their ministry and sacraments, for the purity of their formularies, and the hopeful stability of their doctrines and institutions; but to commend the Church to them that seek the truth, it becomes us to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. The Church built upon the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone, will never fail, nor can the gates of hell prevail against it; but they who will hasten the time when men shall see eye to eye, must be valiant for the truth to that end. Churchmen who love the Church, will not let present attainments satisfy their expectations; but forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things that are before, they will press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. The Convention separated for the purpose of electing delegates to the General Convention. In the house of clerical members of the Convention, the Rev. Mr. Croswell, the Rev. Mr. Wheaton, the Rev. Mr. Burhans, and the Rev. Mr. Sherwood, were elected. In the house of lay delegates, Mr. Richard Adams, Mr. Samuel Tudor, Mr. Phillip S. Galpin, and Mr. Samuel W. Johnson, were elected. On motion, Resolved, That in case of the invalidity or indisposition of any of the above named delegates to attend the General Convention, the ecclesiastical authority of the Diocese be authorised to appoint a substitute or substitutes. On motion, Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention be given to the Rev. Professor Humphreys, for his sermon preached at the opening of this Convention and to the Rev. Mr. Hawks for his sermon preached last evening in behalf of the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge. The following resolution was offered, and after an animated discussion, was unanimously adopted: Resolved, That this Convention views with gratification the enlarged operations of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society, and deeming it an institution highly deserving the support of the members of the Church in this Diocese, urges upon every parish which does not already extend aid to it in some other mode, to make an annual collection in aid of the society, after a sermon on the duty and need of missions, by the minister. Thanks were also voted to the Secretary and assistant Secretary of this Convention. Ön motion, Resolved, That this Convention adjourn, sine die, after the customary acts of devotion. The members united in singing the last four verses of the 122d Psalm; appropriate prayers from the Liturgy were read by the Bishop; who closed the exercises with the benediction; and the Convention adjourned. THOMAS C. BROWNELL, D. D., L. L. D., WM. JARVIS, Secretary. |