into Parishes, on account of the smallness of their number, and their inability to obtain a Clergyman; but who might and would do so, if they were encour aged by the aid and countenance of their more favoured brethren. Of these ninety-two, only twenty-four have supported the entire services of a Clergyman without assistance; nine have been enabled to support entire services, with the aid of from $50 to $100 per annum each; twelve have been assisted to services a part of the time; forty-seven have been obliged to unite in pluralities in support of twenty-three clergymen. At the last annual Convention, the whole number of Clergy reported as belonging to the Diocese, the Bishop included, was seventy-five, and the whole number of Parishes ninety. The Bishop's office places him in constant rela tion with each of these Parishes; and he visits the greater part of them every year, that he may communicate to them some spiritual gift. Of the remaining seventy-four, of whom sixty-six were presbyters and eight deacons, there were at the close of 1836, seven engaged in colleges and schools, nine disa bled by old age or other infirmities, and two absent as Missionaries or from other causes; leaving only fifty-six parochial Clergymen. Of these, thirtynine had the cure each of one Parish, and resided therein; ten had the cure of two or more Parishes, and were resident in one of them; and seven had the charge of Parishes in which they did not reside. Of those engaged in colleges and schools, five did occasional duties in neighbouring Parishes, and perhaps the same might be said of the remaining two; making a total, in this imperfect manner, of sixty-three Clergymen for ninety Parishes. There are not more, then, than thirty-three of our Parishes which are provided for according to the will of our divine Master. The remainder are fainting and scattered abroad; a small portion of them with not more than half of that spiritual food which the good of their souls requires, and the rest with a pittance still more scanty. Our second object is, to provide a more adequate support for the Clergy. It will probably be conceded, that the smallest amount of salary for each Clergyman should not be less than $500. Even in the most remote Parish, and with the smallest occasions for expense, it is difficult to support a small family upon so narrow an income. It follows, then, that, as only twenty-four Parishes are able to provide a decent maintenance for their Clergyman, the remaining sixty-six or sixty-eight ought to receive more or less aid from the whole Diocese, that they may be enabled to enjoy the constant and stated services of a resident Pastor. A tabular view of these Parishes is herewith presented, divided into four classes, arranged according to a careful estimate of their ability, viz: Class I. Those which are able to pay from $400 to $450 per annum, and have therefore need of from $50 to $100 from the Society. Of these there are twenty-one. Class II. Those which are able to pay from $300 to $350 per annum, have therefore need of from $150 to $200 per annum. Class III. Those which can pay from $200 to $250 and and It will be seen from this estimate, that, on the most favourable supposition, if our Society had an annual income of $8,000, the whole might be profitably employed, in providing for the better maintenance of the Clergy. The evil of frequent changes of clerical residence, by which one of the most sacred ties in human society is broken, has increased of late years to an alarming extent, and no effectual check can be applied to it, till more attention is paid to the comforts of the Clergy and their families. For this purpose, Our third object is, to have the salary raised, paid punctually and promptly when it is due. On this point also there can be no difference of opinion. Punctuality and promptness in all the relations between a pastor and his flock, are as essential to the well-being of the Church, as they are to the well-being of social intercourse. And the Society may be made instrumental in effecting this great object, by requiring from every Parish, as a condition of enjoying its aid, that they shall be punctual and systematic in paying the amount at stated periods, which they covenant to raise for the support of their Rector. To accomplish all these objects, a vigorous and united effort should be made through the whole Diocese, to increase the funds placed at the disposal of the Bishop and Standing Committee. In the Bishop's Address to the Convention of 1835, it was suggested, that "a contribution of not less than one cent per month for every baptized child under fourteen years of age, and of not less than five cents per month for every baptized adult, would produce an aggregate amount of great efficiency in the dissemination of the Gospel." This was not intended to “preclude unbaptized persons from contributing to so good a work." "With them it would be a tribute of gratitude for the common blessings of the Gospel; while with those who are baptized, it is a duty arising out of their covenant relationship, and from their province as the keepers and promulgators of the Christian faith." In consequence of this suggestion, that Convention "recommended to each parochial Clergyman to provide a book, in which the name of every baptized person within his cure shall be enrolled, and to exhort all who are under fourteen years of age to contribute not less than one cent per month for missionary purposes; and all who are over that age, to contribute as God hath prospered them: the contributions being regarded as the offerings of the Church, for the diffusion of the Gospel. It is presumed that the age of fourteen was mentioned as being that in which young persons should be prepared for confirmation. All who have thus taken upon themselves the obligations of the baptismal covenant, are to consider it as a part of Christian duty to contribute for the maintenance of the Gospel, according as God hath prospered them; and parents may excite them to industry in their several employments, by rendering the amount of their Christian charity a reward proportionate to their exertions. The practice of monthly offerings has, it is believed, been generally adopted in our Church; but in the Diocese of Connecticut, it is customary to make these collections during the afternoon service. This has led to a departure from primitive practice, by omitting the act of oblation which properly belongs to the Communion service. The collections at the Communion service are now, by usage, confined to "alms for the poor;" while "the other devotions of the people," being separated, are no longer sanctified by prayer. To remedy this evil, it is proposed that the monthly collections should be solemnly offered on the two great festivals of Christmas and Easter, and that in every congregation of the Diocese, supplication be made to our Almighty and everliving God," that he will "most mercifully accept" not only our alms," but also our oblations." The proportion in which these oblations are to be distributed, may well be left to the discretion of each Parochial Clergyman, and to the conscientious charity of his congregation. It may not, however, be improper to mention, that in one Parish the offerings thus collected have been divided equally between the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge in this Diocese, and the Board of Missions, established under the authority of the General Convention. In another Parish, it is believed that the sums so collected have been divided into four equal parts: one to the Church Scholarship Society, another to the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, the third for Domestic, and the fourth for Foreign Missions. This subject must be left to regulate itself. The great design is to form in the breast of every individual Christian the habit of giving for conscience sake. If he should lay by him in store, on the Sunday of each week, according as God hath prospered him, and should once in every month cast in unto the offerings of God, according as he is disposed in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; and if this should be done without fail in every congregation in the State, however small, and however destitute, then the great principle of systematic charity will be fully carried out, and the result will show how much may be done by united effort, under the Divine blessing. A TABULAR VIEW OF THOSE PARISHES IN THE DIOCESE OF CONNECTICUT WHICH REQUIRE MORE OR LESS AID IN ORDER TO ENJOY THE CONSTANT SERVICES OF A RESIDENT PASTOR. NOTE.-The Parishes of the fourth class are so small, that at present the attempt would be hopeless to establish in all of them a resident Clergyman. It is proposed, therefore, to appoint a Missionary, who may visit them, and perhaps perform the duties of a General Agent in behalf of the Society. The Treasurer of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, acknowledges the receipt of the following sums during the present Convention, New Haven, June 14th, 1837, from the several Churches named: Christ Church, Hartford, by the Rev. George Burgess, $150.00 5.00 16.10 38.50 15.26 55.00 12.00 8.20 4.00 5.50 3.37 6.10 do. do. do. 3.25 Carried over, $322.28 From the Ladies' Benevolent Society, Northford, by John W. Woodward, delegate, St. Paul's Church, Wallingford, by Rev. Lemuel B. Hull, Union Church, Humphreysville, by Rev. John D. Smith, Brought over, $322.28 3.00 7.00 8.00 6.00 Christ Church, Quakers' Farms, Oxford, by Nath'i Wooster, delegate, 3.00 St. John's Church, Waterbury, by Rev. Jacob L. Clark, 25.00 St. Michael's Church, Naugatuck, by Rev. Oliver Hopson, 4.00 Christ Church, Stratford, by Rev. Asa Curtis, 9.00 Trinity Church, Fairfield, by Rev. N. E. Cornwall, 11.50 St. Paul's Church, Norwalk, by Rev. William Cooper Mead, D. D. 20.00 St. Stephen's, Ridgefield, by Mr. Henry Smith, delegate, 10.31 Trinity Church, Newtown, by Mr. Beach Camp, delegate, 20.00 St. Paul's Church, Brookfield, by Rev. Richard C. Shimeall, 8.50 St. Paul's Church, Huntington, by Mr. Thomas S. Shelton, delegate, 9.50 St. Peter's Church, Monroe, by Rev. Rodney Rossiter, 5.50 5.00 St. Mark's Church, N.Canaan, from Mr. H. R. Weed, by Rev.Dr.Mead, 10.12 7.07 10.00 Total received from 31 Parishes, containing 32 Churches, $504.78 Collection in St. Paul's Chapel, New Haven, on occasion of the Annual Sermon, June 13, 1837, 68.42 Total, $573.20 SAMUEL FARMAR JARVIS, Treasurer. Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, in account with S. Farmar Jarvis, 1836. Treasurer, Oct. 12, To cash paid Rev. A. B. Beach, for missionary services in DR. $25.00 To cash paid Rev. E. E. Beardsley, amount due at Michael- To cash paid Rev. Riverius Camp, amount due at Michael- To cash paid Rev. E. J. Darken, M. D., amount due at Mich- 62.50 Oct. 13, To cash paid Rev. J. Lyman Clark, amount due at Michael To cash paid Rev. Albert Spooner, amount due at Michael- To cash paid Rev. Thomas J. Davis, amount due at Michael- 25.00 To cash paid Rev. James Sunderland, amount due at Mich- Oct. 19, To cash paid Rev. Silas Totten, for travelling expenses in visiting the Parish of New Britain, being on account of the appropriation made Feb. 9, 1836, and placed at the disposal of the Bishop, Brought up, $422.50 Oct. 19, To cash paid Rev. Silas Totten, balance of travelling expenses as above authorized by the Board, October 13th, 1836, Nov. 9, To cash paid Rev. Peter G. Clark, amount due at Michaelmas, for missionary services in Wolcott, Nov. 18, To cash paid Rev. Stephen Beach, amount due at Michaelmas, for missionary services in East Haddam, To cash paid Rev. Stephen Beach, amount due at Easter, Dec. 7, To cash paid Rev. A. B. Beach, being the amount due at Eas- 1837. Mar. 29, To cash paid Rev. E. E. Beardsley, amount due at Easter, 1837, for missionary services in Cheshire, 50.00 To cash paid Rev. Riverius Camp, amount due at Easter, April 5, To cash paid Rev. Thomas J. Davis, amount due at Easter, 1837, for missionary services in Glastenbury, May 4, To cash paid Rev. Albert Spooner, amount due at Easter, May 18, To cash paid Rev. Joseph H. Nichols, for missionary services To cash paid Rev. L. H. Corson, amount due at Easter, for To cash paid Rev. Thomas Clark, amount due at Easter, for To cash paid Rev. E. J. Darken, M. D., amount due at Easter, June 9, To cash paid Belknap & Hammersly, for two blank books, Per Contra, $1,136.40 CR. 1836. Oct. 12, By cash received from the late Treasurer, the Rev. Smith Pyne, Oct. 13, By cash, amount received at the Annual Convention from 44 Oct. 21, By cash forwarded by order of the Rev. Smith Pyne, to cor- - $105.00 909.60 50.00 Carried up, $1,064.60 |