Memoirs of the Protestant Episcopal church in the United States of America, from its organization up to the present day: containing, I. A narrative of the early measures of the church; II. Additional statements and remarks; III. An appendix of original papers. By William White

Front matter

CORNELL

UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

ITHACA HERITAGE BOOKS

Dedication

TO THE BISHOPS OF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

,My much esteemed Brethren,

The motive to the prefixing of a dedication to these Memoirs, is the opportunity thus afforded of testifying to the Chufch at large, the harmony which has subsisted among us in our joint counsels for the conducting of our ecclesiastical concerns. If, at any time there has been a shade of difference of opinion, it has been overbalanced by the pleasure of mutual concession, and by the profit of amicable discussion.

Preface

THE FIRST EDITION.

Many years ago, the author of the following work began to commit to writing the most material facts which had occurted, relative to the Church of which he is a minister: intending, in the event of the continuance of life and health, to carry on the recital. This was not with a view to early publicatioHj because of the small extent of the sphere, in Avhich the detail of very recent events was likely to interest curiosity. Accordingly, what was thus prepared laid unnoticed, until an application was made, about twelve years ago, by the editor of the American edition of Dr. Rees's Cyclopedia, requesting attention to certain parts of that work, with a view to other objects. On this occasion it occurred, that there might be propriety and use in inserting, in a work of that kind, a brief account of what had been transacted during some years preceding, within the Episcopal Church. For this reason, there was made a draft from the notes before taken, for the purpose stated. As what remained comprehended sundry matters, not of sufficiently general concern for insertion in the Cyclopedia, it was afterwards reviewed under the impression that the time might come, when the former labour would not be unacceptable, within the communion for which it had been designed. In the present publication, the narrative has been continued to the present time. With it, there arc vi PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.

given the matters kept back from the publication in the Cyclopedia; and a conjinuation of similar statements and remarks.

It has been occasionally suggested, from a knowledge of the materials in the hands of the author, and in consideration of the opportunities which he has possessed of personal observation of characters and of facts, that it would be better to embody the narrative with the remarks, and to make a history of the whole. The mere melting of them into one mass, after the separation of them as related above, did not seem likely to be fruitful of any considerable advantage ; and as to the name of " a history," it would not only be disproportioned to the work, but perhaps pledge to an attempt, beyond what there are materials to accomplish. Of materials concerning the aggregate Church, the author possesses all that are necessary, and more than will be here given; the view being confined to the more important: but his collections in regard to the Church in, the different dioceses, are perhaps incomplete, although he is furnished with almost all their journals, and thinks himself well informed as to all the material events which have occurred for half a century backward. Besides, there are a few points on which he wished to retain a liberty that would be inconsistent with the fulness, and, considering what is to he expected in such a work, the fidelity of a history. One of these points is, that he chooses to be silent in regard to a few transactions, which, although sufficiently known and discoursed of when they happened, are not of so much importance to the future concerns of the Church, as to induce a wish to perpetuate the remembrance of them ; and thereby the personal irritation by which they were accompanied.

Besides these reasons, there is one arising from the desire of avoiding such a development of the characters of agents, as might induce the relating and the unintentional misstating of what may have passed in unguarded conversation. It is an unfair advantage taken of a deceased

Preface To The First Edition. Tu

character, for an author to represent him as his own i)rejudices or his passions dictate; when, perhaps, the other party wouhl have had the precaution to make his own story known, had he foreseen such a result of the freedom of social intercourse.

Another license which has grown out of the adopted plan, is the anticipating of some circumstances which took place in England, during the intercourse with his grace the archbishop of Canterbury; when such anticipation might illustrate any matter previously under review. The motive, was the desire to record the said intercourse in the form in which it now appears, that is, in letters to the committee of the Church in Pennsylvania; which, having been written when the matters related were fresh on the mind of the narrator, is the more likely to be a faithful exhibition of them. To have enlarged the letters would have been incorrect ; and yet, in what passed in the intercourse, there was such connexion with some points in an earlier part of the work, as was too material to be disregarded. Although there has not been an enlargement of the letters, nor an alteration of them in any instance, there have been attached to them a few notes, containing matters of less moment.

The motive of the author in the statements, is principally to record facts, which may otherwise be swept into oblivion by the lapse of time. For the mixing of his opinions with the facts, a reason may be thought due. It is, that the habits of his life having exercised him much, on subjects which have bearings on the concerns of the Church in doctrine, in discipline, and in worship; and his principles having been formed with deliberation, and acted on with perseverance, not without prayer to the Father of Lights for his holy guidance; there seems to him nothing unreasonable in the wish, to give the weight of long observation, lo what are truth and order in his esteem. He has not the presumption to aspire to, nor the vanity to expect tashare in the direction of the concerns of the Church, after the very riii. PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.

lew years, in which there will be a possibility of his being present in her councils : but he commits his opinions, to the issue of what may be thought in reason due to them.

On the author's review of his statements and remarks, he had often a painful sensation of the frequent prominence in them of himself. In the way of apology, let it be remarked — first, that the apparent fault is in a great degree inseparable from the delivery of the results of personal observation ; and, secondly, that he has had more agency than any other person, in the transactions recorded ; owing to the circumstances in which he was placed ; to a cau«e for which he cannot be sufficiently thankful, the continuance of his health and strength ; and to his having attended every General Convention, from the beginning to the present time. Under the weight of these considerations, he commits himself to the candour of the reader.

Of the papers in the Appendix, a great proportion are what may be read in the printed journals ; but they were thought necessary to the series of the events presented- Those papers which were in the private possession of the author, and were designed to have an inflluence on the concerns of the Church, he has thought it due to the object of this work, to perpetuate. The printing of any document which took the shape of a canon, has been judged unnecessary.

In regard to letters, let it be noticed, that there are none besides those, which, like the papers above referred to, were designed to have public influence. In private letters, there is much to confirm the statements made, and to enlarge them, if that were the design.

PREFACE

THE SECOND EDITION.

The Memoirs of the Episcopal Church, edited some yeari ago by the present author, being out of print ; and there being none on hand so far as is known to him, except a few copies in his possession ; he lays by the following sheets, under the idea, that in the event of a future repi'int, they may be thought a desirable addition to the volume. It will then contain whatever relates rnaterially to the concerns of the Episcopal Church for the space of fifty-two years; of which the former publication was devoted to the first thirty ; and the present is limited to the remaining twenty-two.

The author cannot expect, at his time of life, that he will much longer live to be present at the counsels of the Church ; or that, if living, his mind will be competent to the continuation of the present work. Accordingly, in these considerations, he perceives a call on him, to say, in accordance with a sentiment of the Mantuan poet — " Clauditejam Rivos." To whatever period the days of his earthly pilgrimage may be extended; and whatever may be the dispensations of Providence in the course of them ; whether, as hitherto, the uninterrupted enjoyment of health, and a considerable

X PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.

measure of worldly comforts j or such visitations, as he has witnessed in the persons of many, whose merits and whoseusefulness, had they been the rule of divine procedure, iir this life of uncertainty of change, as they are not, are far beyond what can be supposed his own ; it will be his endeavour and his prayer, that he may live in daily dependence on the gracious Providence which has conducted him to an advance in years beyond that of the usua:l lot of man ; and under the assurance, that if there should be for him, in reserve, any portion of bodily suffering or of sorrow, it will be sent in mercy, and will be no more than is necessary for the correction of his frailties.

Whether prosperity or adversity be his appointed lot, he is sure, that if his reason should be continued to him, his life will not end, without prayer for the Church, in the concerns of which he has been so long engaged; and especially for the divine blessing on her ministry and her institutions ; to be manifested in the conversion of sinners, in the edification of the godly, and in the end of both — tlie glory of God, and the enlargement of the kingdom of his Son, the adorable Redeemer.

Contents

NARRATIVE OF THE ORGANIZATION AND OF THE EARLY MEASURES OF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

Pago

■State of the Church before the Revolutionary War, and at the