AN ESSAY ON THE EPISCOPATE OF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BY HUGH DAVEY EVANS, LL. D., LECTURER ON HISTORY AND CIVIL AND ECCLESIASTICAL LAW IN THE COLLEGE OF HERMAN HOOKER, CORNER OF CHESTNUT AND EIGHTH STREETS. 1855. 110.a.50 ENTERED according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1855, by HERMAN HOOKER, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. WM. S. YOUNG, PRINTER, PHILA. PREFATORY NOTICE. SEVENTY years ago, our ancestors put them selves to much trouble, in order to obtain the Episcopate. They acted wisely. Many and great are the blessings, for which they and their posterity have been indebted to that Divine institution. Still, it may be doubted whether either they duly considered, or we, their posterity, duly consider the full meaning of the institution. It is owing to this, that there have been, at various periods, controversies among us, as to the extent of the authority which belongs to Bishops. It seems to the writer, that an historical examination of the subject would be the best means of settling such controversies, and perhaps of preventing similar questions arising in future. That which our fathers desired was not a mere name, but a real thing, an office having certain functions. An historical inquiry into the nature of the office, would seem to be the true mode of ascer |