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discipline, and increasing in usefulness. St. Peter's, Berkley, vacant, but visited by Mr. Ward who in addition to his appointments as missionary, preached there three times on Sundays, and once on a week day.

SALEM C. Two churches. St. John's, Salem, and St. George's, Penn's Neck. Both these churches are under the rectorship of the reverend Mr. Cadle. They continue much as they were at our last report, to which we refer our readers.

In 16 congregations, 613 families and contributors.

"5 congregations 970 Individuals.

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171 Funerals.

"16 The bishop has visited almost every church in the diocese, during the last year; has held four confirmations; the number confirmed being fifty-seven; has admitted one candidate for orders, and ordained one, as before stated.

"The several institutions in the diocese," the bishop observes, "connected with the church, continue, through the divine blessing, to prosper. The funds belonging to them gradually increase; and to the application of one of them--the missionary fund-is principally to be ascribed, under God, the improved state of some of our long vacant and almost ruined churches, and the establishment of ministers in others."

The bishop recommends to the patronage of the laity in his diocese, the General Theological Seminary, and the Church Missionary Society, instituted by the general convention of 1820. With regard to the latter, he observes: "The society is now in operation. Its objects are, to send missionaries into the states and territories in which our church is not yet organized; and collect together the scattered members of our communion, who have migrated to those remote parts; and are now wandering about as sheep without shepherds;-to afford temporary and occa. sional assistance to those dioceses, which are not able of themselves to support the requisite missionaries; and to send missionaries also to the heathen of our own country; and, when opportunity offers, and its means are sufficient, to the heathen on the eastern continent, for the purpose of endeavouring to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of satan unto God.'

"It is desirable, that every churchman, who can conveniently pay three dollars a year, should become a member of this very useful society. But, as many persons are unable to pay that sum, it is recommended

to the several dioceses, to establish auxiliary societies or associations, the members of which to pay a much smaller sum, or to adopt any mode to give aid to the parent society, which, in cases, in which diocesan institutions already exist, many not interfere with such institutions.

แ "I would, therefore, suggest to the convention, the expedieney of recommending to every congregation in the diocese, to form. a missionary association; the contributions of which to be transmitted every year-to the treasurer of the convention, in aid of the collections, which are annually made, in the several churches, for missionary purposes and that the board of directors of the missionary fund be authorized to transmit annually, so much of the avails of the fund, as they may think expedient, to the treasurer of the general missionary society, for the use of the society.

"The liberal support of this truly Christian institution is a duty, which we owe to ourselves, as members of the protestant Episcopal church; the reputation of which, in this period of unusual exertion, in the extension of the gospel, is deeply involved in its success; also as members of the Christian church, at large, which necessarily imply, that we use the means and powers, with which God has endowed us, in endeavouring to extend the blessed kingdom of his Son, and to promote the spiritual interests of our fellow creatures."

In consequence of this recommendation, committees were appointed by the convention to report respecting these two objects. That on the missionary fund, reported as follows.

"Resolved, first, That it be recommended to every congregation in the diocese to form a missionary association; the contributions of which, to be transmitted every year to the treasurer of the convention, in aid of the collections, which are annually made, in the several churches, for missionary purposes.

"Resolved, secondly, That the board of directors of the missionary fund, be authorized to transmit, annually, so much of the avails of the fund, as they may think expedient, to the treasurer of the domestick and foreign missionary society, for the use of the society."

That on the theological seminary, offered the following resolutions.

"Resolved, first, That early measures be taken for raising the sum of $2000, for the purpose of establishing a scholarship in the seminary, to be called the New Jersey scholarship.

"Resolved, secondly, That all sums sub

scribed, be paid into the hands of the treasurer of this convention; and that, in case a sufficient sum shall not be immediately raised, the sums, so paid, shall be placed by him at interest, with good security, until they shall amount to the sum necessary for founding such scholarship.

"Resolved, thirdly, That eight persons be appointed to solicit subscriptions to this object, in the several congregations of the church, in the diocese."

The reports of both the committees were accepted.

The reverend Mr. Rudd moved a very important resolution, viz. "that a committee be appointed to take into consideration, the subject of the bishop's powers in the convention of his diocese, and that said committee be authorized to report such measures relative to it, as they may deem proper to be adopted by the convention."

Hitherto, in most if not all of our dioceses, it has been simply provided that the bishop shall be ex-officio president of the convention. According to the rules of parliamentary usage, the president of a deliberative body does not deliver his sentiments upon any subject, and has merely a casting vote; but this is inconsistent with the patriarchal character of a bishop, and the spiritual authority with which he is invested by the divine Head of the church. As far as any analogy can exist between that kingdom which is not of this world, and the governments which are of this world, the bishop is like a governour of the state, presiding over his council; he has an inherent right to give his sentiments freely on subjects which concern the spiritual welfare of that portion of the flock of Christ intrusted to his pastoral care. And he ought moreover to have the power certainly of a limited and qualified vote on all canons passed by the convention, similar to that which the president of the United States enjoys with respect to the acts of congress. We are happy, therefore, to see that the following report was accepted by the convention.

"The committee, to whom was referred the subject of the powers of the bishop, in the convention of his diocese, report, that they have had the matter under consideration, and offer to the convention the following proposed addition to the constitution, to be entered on the journal for consideration at the next convention.

"All canons, and other acts of the convention, shall be signed by the bishop for the time being; and, in case of his declining to sign any canon or act, he shall give to the convention his reasons for it: such canon or act, shall nevertheless be considered valid,

if subsequently passed, by three fourths of the members present.

Standing Committee.

The reverend Dr. Wharton, J. C. Rudd, J. Chapman, J. Croes, jun of the clergy; Robert Boggs, Esq. William P. Deare, Esq. Peter Kean, Esq. Jacob Van Wickle, Esq. of the laity.

Deputies to general convention of 1823. The reverend Dr. Wharton, J. C. Rudd, J. Croes, jun. G. Y. Morehouse, of the clergy; Peter Kean, Esq. Joseph V. Clark, Esq. Dr. P. F. Glentworth, Wm. T. Anderson, Esq. of the laity.

Trustees nominated for the theological seminary, the reverend John Croes, jun. and Peter Kean, esquire.

To the proceedings of the convention are annexed four appendixes. 1. The proceedings of the standing committee. 2. Report of the board of directors of the missionary fund. 3. Accounts of the treasurer of the missionary and bishop's funds. 4. Extracts from the journal of the special general convention held in Philadelphia, October 1821.

The second appendix we think will be interesting, and we therefore present it to our readers.

"The board of directors, to whom is confined the appropriation of the missionary fund, beg leave to make the following report to the convention :

"That, as was mentioned in their last communication, the reverend Mr. Ward had been engaged to perform the duties of a missionary to the vacant churches. This engagement was for the half of his time, for one year, commencing on the first of October last, on the condition of his receiving $150, in aid of his support. The other half, he had consented to devote to St. Mary's church, Colestown, on a stipulation made between him and the vestry of that church. Mr. Ward has been enabled thus far, faithfully, and, as they trust, usefully, to fulfil his engagements.

"In his report to the bishop, ex-officio president of the board, it appears, that he has, since his appointment, performed divine service, and preached, on five Sundays in the congregation at Paterson, and baptized one infant; on three Sundays at Christ chapel, Belleville, and baptized two infants; on three Sundays, at St. Thomas's church, Alexandria; on one Sunday and two week days, at Mr. Robert Sharp's, Amwell; on seven Sundays, and one week day, at St. Peter's, Freehold; on seven Sundays and one week day at St. Peter's, Spotswood, and baptized two children; on four Sundays, and one week day, at St. James's,

Piscataway; and on four Sundays, and one week day, at Trinity church, Woodbridge.

"That he has, in addition to his per formances of the regular services of the sanctuary, distributed catechisms among the children, and examined their progress in the study of them, in several churches, in which the measure was practicable.

"He further states, that he has found the people of the congregations, in which he officiated, attend divine service, gene. rally, very well; and in many cases, unite in that holy exercise, with great propriety and solemnity.

"He reports, that the collections for the missionary fund, during the time he has officiated, amount to $74,37.

"The board also report, that they, through their president, continued to the reverend Mr. Dunn, the missionary to the churches in Sussex, the sum of $50, for the year lately passed, in consideration of his not, as yet, receiving the proceeds of all the church property, at Newton; a part of it being under a lease, the rent of which having been anticipated, in the erection of buildings.

"They also report, that the sum of $18, has been allowed to the reverend Mr. Douglass, rector of Trinity-church, Swedesborough, for performing missionary duties at the vacant church at Glassborough; that church being out of the course of Mr. Ward's mission, it was thought the best mode thus to supply it. Mr. Douglass reports, that he has officiated on six Sundays, and two week days, at that church, and administered the Lord's supper once.'

South Carolina.

On Friday, the first of November, the festival of all saints, the holy rite of confirmation was administered, by the right reve. rend bishop Bowen, in St. Michael's church, in the city of Charleston, to fifty persons. Morning prayer was read by the reverend Dr. Dalcho, and an appropriate sermon, from Proverbs iii. 17, delivered by the reverend Mr. Lance, of Georgetown. The services were impressive, and the whole scene was peculiarly interesting. It is the practice of the bishop to administer this rite about once a year, or thirteen months, in each of the city churches, in order that the persons presenting themselves, on each occasion, may not be more in number, than to admit of the most satisfactory pastoral preparation of them.

Ordination and Confirmation.

At an ordination held on Thursday, the 28th day of November last, in St. Mary's church, Newton, lower falls, the right reverend the bishop of the eastern diocese promoted the reverend Alfred L. Baury to the holy order of priests. Morning prayer was read by the reverend Isaac Boyle, rector of St. Paul's, Dedham, and a sermon preached by the right revered bishop, from Heb. v. 4. "No man taketh this honour unto himself but he that is called of God as was Aaron." Immediately after morning prayer, confirmation was administered to six persons. Mr. Baury has accepted the rectorship of the interesting church at Newton, and we understand shortly to be instituted. It was a pleasing circumstance that he was ordained in the church where he is appointed to serve. Situated as we are in this country, many of the members of our church having been educated dissenters; so little being thought by our dissenting brethren of the sacred nature of the ministerial office; and so little known in most places concerning the solemnity of our ritual on these occasional services; there seems to be a peculiar propriety in holding the ordination of a priest in the church where he is appointed to minister.

In the infancy of the church, the apostles Paul and Barnabas, as they passed through the churches of Asia, "ordained them elders in every church." (Acts xiv. 23.)

Portugal.

Late accounts from Lisbon state that on the 14th September the corner stone of a monument to liberty was laid at Lisbon, on the spot in Inquisition square, where the inquisition was held, amidst crowds of joyful spectators. It is to be built of the materials that composed the part of the buildings of the inquisition which has been taken down.

The cortes, at their present session, has passed a law to put down most of the convents and nunneries, of which only a very few are to remain; allowing no new ones for either sex to be created. Their tenants may go into the world; or into the establishments that are continued in being. In twenty or thirty years, perhaps, this race, now so numerous, may be extinct.

The celebrated Corle convent is to be put down, as is that upon the rock of Lisbon. And the old man who has for thirty. five years inhabited this pinnacle, will it is to be hoped, resort to loftier aspirations, when he descends to the footing of humanity.

TO CORRESPONDENTS. Several communications are omitted for want of room.

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