bishop Parker departed this life, a few months after his consecration. O.

The next meeting of the general convention was in the city of Baltimore, from May 17th, 1808, to the 26th of the same month. Two bishops only (bishops White and Claggett) were present at this convention; and the church in seven states only was represented.

There was now ratified the long proposed amendment of the constitution; annulling the provision, by which four fifths of the house of clerical and lay deputies could accomplish a measure, without the concurrence of the house of bishops.

There was also proposed another amendment of the constitution, for the preventing of alterations in the liturgy, unless the same should have been proposed at a previous convention.

The whole body of the canons was reviewed, and underwent considerable alterations.

A committee was appointed, to address the church in the different states. The objects in view, were to procure a more full attendance on future conventions, and to extend the episcopacy to the western states.

"The office of Induction," established by the last convention, was changed in name to "The of fice of Institution," and rested on recommendation, not on requisition, as before.

The sense of the two houses was given on two points, which had created diversity of opinion and of practice-Whether a minister ought to officiate at the funeral of any person killed in a duel; and— Whether a minister should unite in marriage any

person who has been divorced; unless it be on account of the other party's having been guilty of adultery. Both these questions were decided in the negative.

There was also introduced into the house of clerical and lay deputies, on recommendation of the church in Maryland, the subject of marriage, as connected with the degrees of consanguinity and affinity. But on communication of the matter to the house of bishops, it was, on their recommendation, referred to a future convention.

Thirty hymns, were added to the Book of Psalms and Hymns.

As ordained by a canon of the last convention, a pastoral letter from the house of bishops to the members of this church was drawn up by them, communicated to the house of clerical and lay deputies, and there read.

On the rising of the convention, Newhaven, in the state of Connecticut, was appointed as the next place of meeting. The session was ended, by an attendance on the morning service of the day, which was the festival of the Ascension. P.

Agreeably to the aforesaid appointment; the next general convention was held in the city of Newhaven, on Tuesday the 21st of May, 1811. It continued in session, until Friday the 24th. Only bishops White and Jarvis, of the house of bishops, were present. The church in nine states was represented.

They ratified the amendment to the constitution proposed at the last convention, restraining from alterations of the Liturgy, except such as may be proposed at one convention and determined on at another.

On the subject of the canons, nothing was done, except the repealing of the last or 46th of the canons, as passed at the last convention, entitled, " Providing for making known the Constitution and Canons of the Church."

The rule prohibiting the officiating at the funerals of persons killed in duels, was so far moderated, as to allow of the same, if, on any occasion, the party in question had manifested repentance.

There were some communications made in regard to the western churches, and the extending of the episcopacy to them; but a plan to that effect was not yet matured. Further attention to the subject was committed to the bishops of this church, in Pennsylvania and Virginia.

The attendance of so few of the bishops; three of the four absent bishops being prevented by bodily indisposition, and the remaining bishop being absent by indispensable engagements; it was agreed not to take up, at present, the important subject of marriages, within certain degrees of consanguinity and affinity.

A pastoral address was sent by the bishops to the other house, to be printed with the journal agreeably to a requisition of the 45th canon.

It had been expected, that on the occasion of this convention, there would have been a consecration of two bishops: of the Rev. Dr. John Henry Hobart, chosen assistant bishop for the state of New York; and of the Rev. Alexander Viets Griswold, chosen bishop for the four states of Massachusetts, New

Hampshire, Vermont and Rhode Island. The expectation was disappointed, by the want of the canonical number on the spot. But the testimonials of the bishops elect were signed; and the two bishops present repaired with them to the city of New York: where with the assistance of the right Rev. bishop Provoost, whose indisposition, although, with difficulty, permitted his attendance in the place of his residence, and with the assistance of bishop Jarvis, the consecration was performed by the presiding bishop on the 29th of May, in Trinity church, in the said city.

It was referred to the presiding bishop, “to address a letter, in behalf of this convention, to the venerable society in England for propagating the Gospel in foreign parts, informing them that the church in the state of Vermont is duly organized, and in union with the protestant episcopal churches in the United States, being placed under the jurisdiction of the bishop of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont; that a board of trustees of donations to the church has been incorporated in the state of Massachusetts; and that in the opinion of this convention, the society may safely confide the care of their lands in Vermont to such attorney or attornies, as may be recommended by the said board of trustees, and approved of by the ecclesiastical convention of Vermont."

When the convention rose, it was agreed to hold the next triennial convention in the city of Philadelphia. Q

E

The next triennial convention was held, agreeably to appointment of that of 1811, in the city of Philadelphia, from Tuesday the 17th of May, to Tuesday the 24th of the same month, in the year 1814. The bishops present at it were, bishop White, of the church in Pennsylvania, bishop Hobart, the assistant bishop of the church in New York, bishop Griswold, of the Eastern Diocess, bishop Dehon, of South Carolina,* and, the second day of the session, bishop Richard C. Moore, of Virginia.

In the last mentioned state, the church had been, for many years, more and more under a decline. On the decease of bishop Madison, there had ensued a difficulty in the choice of a successor, until a few gentlemen, some of the clerical and some of the lay order, suggested the choice of the gentleman mentioned above, who had acquired considerable popularity in the city of New York; wherein there was a large congregation under his ministry. The defect of episcopal maintenance was expected to be surmounted, by connecting the office of bishop with that of the rectory of a church recently erected in the city of Richmond, on the site of a theatre, destroyed a few years before by a fire, wherein a considerable proportion of the inhabitants had been consumed. The requisite testimonials having been furnished, Dr. Moore was consecrated in St. James's

* Bishop Dehon had been consecrated, October 15th, 1812, in Christ church, in the city of Philadelphia, by the presiding bishop, assisted by bishops Jarvis and Hobart.