care and prudence of the vestry, which cannot be too much applauded, or too generally imitated, in insuring their church. This enabled them to proceed, without loss of time, to erect, on the same foundation, the present St. Philip's church, which was consecrated in December, 18.2. The idea, long anxiously entertained, of establishing a parish in that part of the city which includes the village of Greenwich, was carried into effect in the fall of 1820. The congregation met in a suitable apartment, until Ascension Day, 1822, when St. LUKE'S CHURCH, which they had erected with great enterprise, was consecrated. In December, 1823, the parish on whose concerns we are now assembled, was duly organized, and soon, on this spot, we hope to witness the consecration of a temple, to be styled, in honour of the mother of our blessed Lord, St. MARY'S CHURCH * We have reason, too, confidently to trust, that by the good providence of God, our anticipation of a speedy accession to the number of our churches, is not to be limited to the erection of that now just in its commencement. Soon after the organization of this parish, St. THOMAS'S CHURCH was incorporated; and we may hope to be soon called to witness the laying of the corner stone of its parish church, a building in which we may anticipate an ornament to one of the finest portions of our city, and a memorial, both of the pious enterprise and liberality of the very respectable members of our church who have embarked in the undertaking, and of the architectural taste and skill of the age. For a long course of years, the anxious thoughts and wishes of the members of our church have been directed towards the rapidly increasing, and, in spiritual matters, peculiarly destitute, eastern section of the city. A few weeks ago, we were gratified by the fact of the organization there of ALL SAINTS' CHURCH, under auspices which, notwithstanding peculiar difficulties, and especially the discouragement of a late abortive attempt, promise to add to our communion a large and respectable congregation, and soon to adorn our city with another temple of the Living God. To this detail respecting the churches in our city, it can be neither improper nor unacceptable to notice the recently commenced erection of a new one in the neighbouring village of Brooklyn, a village so nearly connected with New York, in interest, character, progressive improvement, and the intimate relationship, and incessant intercourse, of their respective inhabitants, that it may be considered as virtually a part of the city. The building formerly known as St. ANN'S CHURCH, in that village, was purchased by the Protestant Episcopal congregation in 1788, and The congregation now incorporated as St. Mary's church has, since March, 1821, been in the habit of regularly assembling for publick worship under the services of a young gentleman, preparing for holy orders, and now a member of the vestry, who has been licensed by the bishop as a lay-reader; and to whose faithful and persevering exertions, under God, the present fair prospects of St. Mary's church are principally to be attributed. was consecrated in 1789, being, it is believed, the first church that was consecrated in this diocese. Proving, however, too small, it was taken down after the erection of the present church, which was consecrated in May, 1805. Such has been the happy increase of the parish, that the corner stone of a still larger church, to be known by the same name, and to be a substitute for the present one, was laid in March last; and the building is now in progress. The review, my brethren, which we have now taken, should dictate the grateful and devout reflection, "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us. By his blessing, the members of our communion in this city have been enabled to erect (including those rebuilt after destruction by fire) seventeen churches and chapels, principally large and handsome edifices. And three, erected by other denominations, have been added to our number. The publick worship of Almighty God is now statedly celebrated in this city, according to the primitive and evangelical ritual of our church, and publick religious instruction is regularly imparted, according to her equally primitive and evangelical principles, in fifteen temples devoted to the honour of his name. The neat and commodious edifice designed to be erected on this spot, will, of course, be the sixteenth. God grant his blessing on the enterprise and zeal which are now prosecuting the pious design of its erection! This enterprise and zeal are the more commendable, because they were not excited, and are not encouraged, by the promise or hope of any assistance from those funds of the original parish in this city, which, when capable of it, imparted aid in every direction, but now are scarcely equal to the support of the establishment for which they were originally designed, and to which they were granted. It, surely, is high time that the spell of dependence on these funds, which has kept the most numerous and most wealthy denomination in the city behind others in pious enterprise and liberality, should be broken. Those of our members who are really acquainted with their church, know that in her doctrines, ministry, and worship, she comes nearer than any other to the primitive model, and offers facilities for advancing the pure and undefiled religion of the gospel, which none others possess. Looking, then, at the vast disproportion which exists in this great and increasing metropolis, between the population and the means of extending to them the publick ordinances and instructions of the gospel, let the love of Christ and of his church constrain them to use every effort within their power to increase those means, as afforded, with unrivalled excellence, in the institutions of their church. I should do injustice to my own feelings, and I am confident to those of my reverend brethren present at this solemnity, and to those, too, I am equally confident, which would be cherished by our beloved and right reverend Father in God, could he now be with us, were I to conclude this address without offering my sincere congratu * 1 Samuel vii. 12. care and prudence of the vestry, which cannot be too much applauded, or too generally imitated, in-insuring their church. This enabled them to proceed, without loss of time, to erect, on the same foundation, the present St. Philip's church, which was consecrated in December, 1822. The idea, long anxiously entertained, of establishing a parish in that part of the city which includes the village of Greenwich, was carried into effect in the fall of 1820. The congregation met in a suitable apartment, until Ascension Day, 1822, when St. LUKE'S CHURCH, which they had erected with great enterprise, was consecrated. In December, 1823, the parish on whose concerns we are now assembled, was duly organized, and soon, on this spot, we hope to witness the consecration of a temple, to be styled, in honour of the mother of our blessed Lord, St. MARY'S CHURCH * We have reason, too, confidently to trust, that by the good providence of God, our anticipation of a speedy accession to the number of our churches, is not to be limited to the erection of that now just in its commencement. Soon after the organization of this parish, St. THOMAS'S CHURCH Was incorporated; and we may hope to be soon called to witness the laying of the corner stone of its parish church, a building in which we may anticipate an ornament to one of the finest portions of our city, and a memorial, both of the pious enterprise and liberality of the very respectable members of our church who have embarked in the undertaking, and of the architectural taste and skill of the age. For a long course of years, the anxious thoughts and wishes of the members of our church have been directed towards the rapidly in creasing, and, in spiritual matters, peculiarly destitute, eastern section of the city. A few weeks ago, we were gratified by the fact of the organization there of ALL SAINTS' CHURCH, under auspices which, notwithstanding peculiar difficulties, and especially the discouragement of a late abortive attempt, promise to add to our communion a large and respectable congregation, and soon to adorn our city with another temple of the Living God. To this detail respecting the churches in our city, it can be neither improper nor unacceptable to notice the recently commenced erection of a new one in the neighbouring village of Brooklyn, a village so nearly connected with New York, in interest, character, progressive improvement, and the intimate relationship, and incessant intercourse, of their respective inhabitants, that it may be considered as virtually a part of the city. The building formerly known as St. ANN'S CHURCH, in that village, was purchased by the Protestant Episcopal congregation in 1788, and The congregation now incorporated as St. Mary's church has, since March, 1821, been in the habit of regularly assembling for publick worship under the services of a young gentleman, preparing for holy orders, and now a member of the vestry, who has been licensed by the bishop as a lay-reader; and to whose faithful and persevering exertions, under God, the present fair prospects of St. Mary's church are principally to be attributed. was consecrated in 1789, being, it is believed, the first church that was consecrated in this diocese. Proving, however, too small, it was taken down after the erection of the present church, which was consecrated in May, 1805. Such has been the happy increase of the parish, that the corner stone of a still larger church, to be known by the same name, and to be a substitute for the present one, was laid in March last; and the building is now in progress. The review, my brethren, which we have now taken, should dictate the grateful and devout reflection, "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us. By his blessing, the members of our communion in this city have been enabled to erect (including those rebuilt after destruction by fire) seventeen churches and chapels, principally large and handsome edifices. And three, erected by other denominations, have been added to our number. The publick worship of Almighty God is now statedly celebrated in this city, according to the primitive and evangelical ritual of our church, and publick religious instruction is regularly imparted, according to her equally primitive and evangelical principles, in fifteen temples devoted to the honour of his name. The neat and commodious edifice designed to be erected on this spot, will, of course, be the sixteenth. God grant his blessing on the enterprise and zeal which are now prosecuting the pious design of its erection! This enterprise and zeal are the more commendable, because they were not excited, and are not encouraged, by the promise or hope of any assistance from those funds of the original parish in this city, which, when capable of it, imparted aid in every direction, but now are scarcely equal to the support of the establishment for which they were originally designed, and to which they were granted. It, surely, is high time that the spell of dependence on these funds, which has kept the most numerous and most wealthy denomination in the city behind others in pious enterprise and liberality, should be broken. Those of our members who are really acquainted with their church, know that in her doctrines, ministry, and worship, she comes nearer than any other to the primitive model, and offers facilities for advancing the pure and undefiled religion of the gospel, which none others possess. Looking, then, at the vast disproportion which exists in this great and increasing metropolis, between the population and the means of extending to them the publick ordinances and instructions of the gospel, let the love of Christ and of his church constrain them to use every effort within their power to increase those means, as afforded, with unrivalled excellence, in the institutions of their church. I should do injustice to my own feelings, and I am confident to those of my reverend brethren present at this solemnity, and to those, too, I am equally confident, which would be cherished by our beloved and right reverend Father in God, could he now be with us, were I to conclude this address without offering my sincere congratu * 1 Samuel vii. 12. lations to my reverend brother, the rector of this parish, and to the very respectable gentlemen who are associated with him as its wardens and vestrymen, on the happy event which has now called us together. Long, in their respective functions, may they enjoy the blessing and the approbation of God! May their parish, provided with a neat and commodious church, in which to worship the God of their fathers, and be instructed in his holy will, be an ornament and a blessing to the communion to which they are attached; and in their connexion with the ecclesiastical body of the diocese, be ever ready to give their influence, and their best exertions to promoting the order, unity, and prosperity, of the church of Christ. The inhabitants of this village* I would congratulate on the prospect now opening clearly before them, of soon having their little hamlet adorned with a neat and modest spire, indicating to the passing traveller that God is worshipped in this place. And on this spot, presented by the pious liberality of a warden of the church,† and to be consecrated to this holy purpose, may God be long worshipped in sincerity and truth! May his word and ordinances be attended with saving efficacy to many souls in this, and in generations yet to come! May this sacred establishment, assuming, agreeably to ancient and pious usage, the name of her who foresaw that all generations should call her blessed,‡ be also so esteemed by multitudes who will experience that it has indeed been to them a blessing-a blessing in time, and a blessing through eternity! May it prove "the hand-maid of the Lord,"§ bringing, by his nurture and admonition, many sons unto glory! The Board of Directors of "the Massachusetts Episcopal Missionary Society and Trustees of the Massachusetts Episcopal Prayer Book and Tract Society," have the satisfaction to present to the Society their second annual Report. It was stated in the first report, that of 23 organized congregations in the state of Massachusetts, nine required the attention and care of the society, viz, the churches of Marshfield, Bridgewater, Quincy, South Boston, Marblehead, Cambridge, Hopkinton, Montague, and Ashfield. During the past year another has been formed at Leicester, which has received some, and may hereafter require further aid. Trinity church, Marshfield, has been supplied every fourth week, by the vigilant services of the Rev. Calvin Wolcott. Divine worship has been well attended, and the prospects of the church are more encouraging than they have been for the last three years. The members of this little flock have expressed, through Mr. Wolcott, their united thanks to the society for its kind regards, and their hopes that it will be able to continue its fostering care. The society agreed to pay * Manhattanville, in the ninth ward of the city of New York. St. Luke i. 48. St. Luke i. 38. |