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rising up, who, if they should increase and gather strength in this kingdom, I am sorry to say what disturbance I foresee must follow from it. Your prudence is not ignorant, how much the Christian Religion suffered formerly, by the dissimulation and hypocrisie of the Monks. At present, in these men, I know not what new sort of Monks seems to revive, so much more pernicious than the former, as with more subtle artifices of deceiving, under pretence of perfection, like stage players, who only act apart, they conceal a more dangerous poison; who, while they require every thing to be formed according to the rules of their own strict discipline and consciences, will not desist, till they have brought all things into Jewish bondage." This document is a serious set-off for a great proportion of what the apologist has said in praise of his party, and to the discredit of their opponents.

In the above, the writer of it has given a few of the many errors sug gested to him by the first volume of

Gray against Neal." Similar selections might be made, from each of the other three volumes. If there be any merit in the present statement, it consists in the circumstance, of its not having been made, without consulting the authorities.

Let it not be inferred from any thing here written, that there is entertained the design of defending the more rigorous of the measures of the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Here is one of the questions, on which a middle course of judgment is the most likely to be correct. For the first nine or ten years of the reign of that Queen, her measures were more lenient both to the Roman Catholics and to the Puritans, than as is spoken of generally. There was no pressing of penalties on the former, until the papal excommunication, the absolving of her subjects from their allegiance, the consequent daily danger of assassination, and the prospect of a Spanish invasion, called not only for her stout heart against the devices of her enemies, but for her heavy hand on their persons. As for the other branch of

her dissatisfied subjects, there was much connivance at their non-conformity, during the aforesaid tract of time. But it is here thought, that if instead of connivance, there had been allowance (not approbation) in a few unessential particulars, it would have broken the party, and at last quashed their scruples. It is probable, that toleration such as now exists in England, would have produced the same effect; even when they had grown to such strength, as to be thought formidable to the government.

A student should be on his guard against the partialities of historians. As Daniel Neal is on one extreme, Collier, in his learned work, is on the opposite. Fuller among the early writers, and Dr. Ferdinando Warner among the modern, are perhaps as little under an undue bias, as any who have related the transactions of those times. The materials preserved by Strype, are very much to be depended on. W. W.

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ment, and were admitted accordingly, viz.

John Winslow and John A. Cameron, esquires, from St. John's Church, Fayetteville; Dr. Armand J. De Rosset, and Marsden Campbell, esquire, from St. James's Church, Wilmington; Josiah Collins, jun. esquire, from St. Paul's Church, Edenton; and John W. Guion, esquire, from Christ's Church, Newbern.

A Church having been organized in Orange County, by the name of St. Jude's Church, (at the Union Meeting-House, near Stony-Creek,) and application being made by the same to be received into union with our Convention-Resolved, unanimously, That the same be admitted. Whereupon, Robert Davis, presenting the certificate of his appointment as a lay Delegate from said Church, was admitted as such to a seat in the Convention.

On motion, Resolved, That the Rev. Messrs. Judd, Empie, Mason, and Avery, be a Committee to Report, during this Convention, upon the state of the Church.

In conformity with his last year's appointment, the Rev. Mr. Judd informed the Convention, that the Right Rev. R. C. Moore, of Virginia, had consented to perform Episcopal offices in this state; that indisposition prevented him from attending this Convention; and that he was ready to visit the congregations in this diocess, either in summer or in fall.

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The Committee appointed to Report upon the state of the Church, then laid the following before the house; which was approved, and ordered to be printed with the Journal.

The Committee on the state of the Church regret that their limited means of information compel them to make a very imperfect Report on the subject submitted to their consideration.

In November, 1816, the Rev. Bethel Judd, of the diocess of Connecticut, and the Rev. A. Empie, of the diocess of NewYork, being deprived of health, and advised to change their climate, met at Wilmington; and during the subsequent winter, officiated in the church in that place. Previously to their arrival, there was no Episcopal clergyman in this state, and but one congregation in which the worship of our Church was performed. By their joint endeavours, however, together with the aid of the pious and zealous members of the congregation at Wilmington, under the blessing of God, piety and devout attention to religious ordinances, rapidly increased. Since the first of the following May, the charge of the congregation has devolved entirely upon its present Rector, the Rev. A. Empie, whose minis trations have been greatly blessed to his

own comfort, to the satisfaction of his Christian friends, and, we trust, to the glory of God.

On the first of May, 1817, the Rev. B. Judd removed his station to the charge of a congregation, which, on the preceding Easter Monday, had by him been organized in Fayetteville. The zeal of that congregation, of which young men form a principal part, has beeu eminently evinced by their regular and devout attention to the worship of the Church; by their liberal contributions for the support of their minister; and by their donations and exertions for the erection of a Church, which will soon be completed; and which, when completed, will be equal perhaps, in point of elegance, to any in the state.

About the first of January, 1817, the Rev. Mr. Clay took charge of the Church at Newbern; and by his assiduity and talents gave great hopes of extensive usefulness; but circumstances inducing his removal to the diocess of Maryland, cast a gloom for a time over the prospects, and damped the zeal of the friends of Zion. A seasonable relief, however, is anticipated from the talents and zealous efforts of the Rev. Mr. Mason, who has recently commenced his labours in that congregation with every prospect of success.

The Rev. Mr. Avery, having for some time taught an academy, and performed the duties of lay reader, at Edenton, was ordained in October last, and now officiates as the minister of that congregation; which, though not numerous, gives good evidence of its desire to promote religion, particularly by a very generous contribution for the support of Missionaries in this state; an object in which all the friends of our Church should feel a deep interest, and to which we cherish the hope that they will be liberal to the utmost extent of their means.

It is cause of gratitude, that so much has already been raised for Missionary purposes; and that a clergyman of whose piety and zeal we have the best evidence, is soon to be employed to visit vacant congregations, and to give every possible aid to revive the drooping spirits of the friends of our Zion, who are dispersed over the whole state; who retain strong predilections for the Church of their fathers, and who hail with joy the present prospect of its revival.

But there is no circumstance more animating and cheering to the friends of religion, than to learn that five gentlemen, of whose qualifications we have no cause to doubt, have, on application, been admitted as candidates for Holy Orders.

It is now but little more than a year since there has been a hope of the revival of the Church in this state. Never was there a more gloomy season to its friends than that which preceded this period

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But the prospect has greatly brightened: and, by the blessing of Heaven, perseverance will crown their efforts with abundant success. God hath been gracious to us in hearing the prayers of his Church, and inspiring, with re-animated zeal and hope, those who love to tread her courts and worship at her sacred altars.

Much, however, remains still to be done. Prevailing lukewarmness is yet to be deplored and while the harvest is very great, the labourers are very few. Every pious soul should, therefore, fer vently pray that the Lord of the harvest would send forth labourers into his harvest.

Let, then, our supplications be fervent and unceasing, that our Heavenly Father would save us from all error, ignorance, pride, and prejudice; that the comforta ble gospel of Christ may be truly preached, truly received, and truly followed, in all places, to the breaking down of the Kingdom of Sin, Satan, and Death, until at length the whole of his dispersed sheep are gathered together into one fold, and be come partakers of everlasting life, through the merits and death of Jesus Christ our Saviour.

The Clergy were called upon to report their Missionary collections and the state of their Churches, which were as follows:

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$194 00

122 30

From the peculiar circumstances of the Churches, and from other causes acknowledged to be sufficient, no collections have been made at Fayetteville or Newbern; and from Newbern and Edenton also, there were no parochial reports, as those Churches have but very recently been supplied with pastors. The reports received from the two remaining Churches, are as follows:

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, FAYETTEVILLE.
Rev. Bethel Judd, Rector.

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First Annual Report of the Protestant Epis copal Sunday School Society of Fredericksburg, Virginia, submitted April 25, 1818.

IN presenting their First Annual Report to the friends and patrons of the Episcopal Sunday School, the Managers deem an apology necessary for thus long deferring an exhibition of the state and condition of the School. The delay has resulted from an opinion, entertained and expressed by some, that as this Society was the first of the kind established in Fredericksburg, or in this section of the state, the event from which so much good has flowed should be commemorated by holding the annual meeting of the Society on the anniversary of the commencement of its operations, an approved method of perpetuating the recollection of any event distinguished by important and beneficial consequences.

The female branch of this institution was organized by several pious female members of the Episcopal Church, on the 31st day of March, 1816; and the school went into operation on the second Sabbath of the next month (April.) The Society, in the commencement of its career, found many difficulties to contend with, arising partly from the inexperience of the teachers, and the want of a general and cordial support, which was only withheld, we believe, because of the novelty and seeming impracticability of the plan in the estima tion of many. But, upheld by the favour and approbation of God, through the untiring zeal of the teachers and managers, in due time its intrinsic excellence was developed. The influence of the institution on the morals and habits of the rising generation, by enticing them from the fields and streets where they witnessed nothing but vice and immorality, was so obvious that all doubts were soon banished on the subject of the utility of the plan, and a general and liberal patronage smiled upon its benevolent labours.

The Female School, after being in successful operation for nine months, was joined by a Male School, formed by several of the male members of the Church. The two schools progressed for a considerable time under separate laws and officers. But ultimately, from a sense of expediency, 4 they were consolidated, and unitedly adopted the system of teaching and government so successfully pursued by the Society at this time.

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In promoting the designs of the institution, a classification of the learners was made, which was regulated by their respective attainments. Those who were commencing the first rudiments of education, forming the first class; those who could spell, the second; those who were beginning to read, the third, and so onparticular care being taken to fulfil one im12 portant design of the institution, by inter

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May, 1818.] Report of the P. E. Sunday School Society of Fredericksburg. 143

weaving with all the exercises of the children, such religious instruction as was adapted to their respective capacities, age, and acquirements. The ordinary course of religious instruction now pursued, includes the Church Catechism, with "The Explanation by way of question and answer, and its Confirmation by Scriptual Proofs," with appropriate Hymns and Psalms, and the regular perusal of religious Tracts and the Holy Scriptures. The rapid and substantial progress made by many of our scholars in the most essential branches of education-the obvious elevation of their views and sentiments; together with the manifest improvement of their habits-furnish a rich repast to the minds of those who have spent their time and money in this glorious cause; whilst an imperishable monument is thus erected on an immortal base to the honour of this institution.

It may be proper here to remark, that the benefits of our Sunday School have not been exclusively limited to those children who were found destitute of the means of weekly instruction. Its religious advan tages, which constitute the glory and the highest praise of the institution, have been largely enjoyed by the children of the Male and Female Charity Schools attached to the Church. The spiritual interests of these children have been intrusted to attentive teachers, who, by their zeal and assiduity in the discharge of their sacred duties, have contributed much to swell the measure of good accruing, through a variety of channels, to these interesting objects of a general and concurring henevolence.

It affords us great pleasure to inform you of the success of your managers in their endeavours to extend the Sunday School system through the country contiguous to the town of Fredericksburg. Under the auspices of this institution, a school has been established a few miles from this place through the laudable activity of a valuable member of the Church. Assisted by some pious and benevolent neighbours, a farge number of destitute and unlettered children have been collected, amounting, by the last communication, to seventy-two in number. This flourishing school has been supplied by your managers with all the books, catechisms, tracts, &c. necessary to put it into speedy and successful operation.

The great interest excited by this benevolent establishment; the anxiety of the children to enjoy its benefits, testified by the fact that some of them walk six or seven miles to the school-house-excite and justify our fond expectations of witnessing the happiest results in favour of these our destitute fellow-beings. The following extract from a letter addressed to the President of the Society by the Superintendant

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of this school, will furnish a pleasing evidence of its very flourishing state:-"I' feel anxious, dear friend, to give you some information concerning the state of our Sunday School. It has succeeded beyond our most sanguine expectations—The gress of the children is inconceivable. On last Sabbath fifty-nine children attended the school, and seventy are engaged, who have voluntarily come forward to receive instruction. May a gracious God prosper his own work. As an evidence of the great interest excited among the children, I will mention that they unanimously requested me to teach on EasterMonday, and on the last Sabbath they begged that I would teach on WhitsunMonday."

Your managers have no hesitation in saying, that they consider Sunday Schools as one of the most powerful collateral methods of advancing the good of society and the cause of religion, which has ever been devised. By this means a large proportion of the rising generation are rescu ed from the baneful effects of street association and field diversions on the Sabbath, and allured into employments calculated to make them respectable and happy in this life, and instruct them in the things which concern their everlasting peace in the life to come. But this is not all-The influence of a Sunday School extends still further. The spiritual and temporal necessities of the poor are in this way successfully exposed to the view of the wealthy and philanthropic members of the community, who would otherwise have remained unacquainted with sufferings which they would wish to relieve. By the means of this institution, you also furnish a noble field for an exercise of the personal exertions of many pious and well disposed young persons, who have thus an opportunity of dispensing an important benefit to their fellow-creatures, whilst they enjoy an abundant compensation in the rewards of an approving conscience in the luxury of doing good. most important benefit resulting from the Sunday School system, is the happy influence which it acquires over the families of the scholars, especially the parents, from the intimacy with the wants and condition of these people arising from the visits which teachers and managers pay their pupils when any of them are sick or absent. What good may not be expected when the teacher is careful to improve the opportunity of doing good? But the interest which is usually excited among the children; their anxiety to improve in re ligious knowledge supply the most powerful engine with which to assail a parent's heart. The strongest passion of the buman bosom, parental affection, being thus enlisted on the side of religion, and every motive furnished, by a fear of being more

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ignorant than a child on religious subjects, to make some efforts towards the attainment of this important knowledge, large calculations may be reasonably made of the moral and religious benefits accruing in this way to the world at large.

We cannot conclude this report without paying the tribute of our thanks and praise to those worthy females who gave the first impulse to this important engine in this town. We deem the acknowledgment more especially due, and feel the offer of it more particularly a gratification, inasmuch as some of them have since been called to other and distant sections of the vineyard; and others, to the higher duties of the Temple above, where, we trust, they rest from their labours, and are followed by their works. The prosperous career of this society, its rapid rise from an humble brook to a large and majestic river, refreshing, fertilizing, and invigo rating the country through which it flows, must prove a source of the most refined and unadulterated pleasure to those who first stepped forward for the promotion of this blessed cause. Nor is it a small source of joy and pleasure to these, as it is to us all, to witness our brethren of other denominations following them with their usual zeal and alacrity into this field of honour, and coming in to share the triumphs of the holy campaign. May the Lord prosper them in every good work, and bring them and us, and the whole residue of his Church, to share the triumphs of his Son Jesus Christ, where the weary are at rest, and those that be wise shall shine as the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

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But seas of pearl, and mines of gold,
Were offer'd them in vain :
Their pearl of countless price is lost,
And where's the promised gain?

Lord, when thy day of dread account
For squander'd hours shall come,
Oh! let not this increase the amount,
And swell the former sum.

Teach me in health each good to prize
I dying shall esteem;
And every pleasure to despise
I then shall worthless deem.

For all thy wond'rous mercies past
My grateful voice I raise,
While thus I quit the bed of rest,
Creation's Lord I praise.

LATE PUBLICATIONS IN ENGLAND.

The Rev. Thomas Gisborne has in the press, the Testimony of Natural Theology to Christianity.

The Rev. E. W. Greenfield, of Bath, has in the press, the Connexion of Natural and Revealed Theology.

Sermons on the Commandments. By Robert Jones, D. D. late Senior Chaplain at the Cape of Good Hope.

The Church her own Apologist; proving her Moderation from her Constitution, Appointments, and Practice, and the Mean she preserves between the two Extremes of Popery and Enthusiasm. Altered from Fuller. By the Rev. Dr. Campbell, late of Trinity Hall, Cambridge.

Just published, and for sale by T. & J. Swords, The Beneficial Effects of Sunday Schools considered: in an Address, delivered at the Anniversary Meeting of the Sunday Schools in union with the Protestant Episcopal Sunday School Society, in St. Paul's Chapel, on Wednesday, the 31st Day of December, 1817. By JOHN HENRY HOBART, D. D. Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of NewYork, and Rector of Trinity Church. To which is annexed, the First Annual Report of the Board of Managers of the NewYork Protestant Episcopal Sunday School Society.

Printed and published by T. & J. Swords, No. 160 Pearl-street, New-York; where Subscriptions for this Work will be received at one dollar per annum, or 24 numbers. All Letters relative to this Journal must come free of Postage.

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