I have only further, in concluding, to express as usual to my brethren of the clergy, the solicitude I feel, that in the business which we in common have in hand, we may be found faithful. They will bear with me, even should I seem importunate with them on the subject, while I urge the importance of the utmost industry of service in our several places which circumstances will possibly permit. In some instances the portion of the year is less than the half of it, in which it seems to be regarded safe or necessary to remain in the scene of duty. In such cases, I need not say, there is not a day to spare from the most active and efficient occupation of which we are capable; and especially as to the duties of our ministry among those who must, during our absence from them, be without any pastoral instruction and attentions. I am ignorant of the character of no one who is in the exercise of the pastoral functions among us, and I am confident I do not err in entertaining the assurance, that there is no one to whom it is indifferent whether all be done that may, within the sphere of his bounden duty, to make his office useful in promoting the divine glory and human happiness. Yet there may be, on the part of some of my brethren yet comparatively inexperienced in the ministry, an unconscious oversight of claims on their pastoral attention, which, on consideration, they will, I am satisfied, in every instance, cordially recognize. People of the humbler descriptions of life may, in our country places, not prefer their claim on our notice by an attendance on the offices we statedly administer. They are not the less, for that reason, entitled to our solicitude and attention. Wherever, on inquiry, they are not found to profess themselves to be of other denominations, our duty plainly is to consider them as subjects of our pastoral care, and to endeavour to inake them partakers of the benefits of our ministry. They may be found reluctant to attend upon the offices of the Church, and they may be unable to contribute to their support. But these reasons will not excuse us from the manifest duty of interesting ourselves in their moral welfare, and with a view to this, endeavouring to interest them in the objects of our ministry. Let us earnestly deprecate the reproach from our Church, that the rich and the poor should not meet together in it before the Lord, their common Maker. My brethren of the laity will indulge me with the liberty to suggest, how much the clergy in the performance of their duties need their unwearied kindness and support. They are aware of the difficulties and inconveniences with which, in some instances, faithful ministers of Christ have to contend in the prosecution of their duties. I cannot but be painfully solicitous to see these as much as possible lessened, and am persuaded that no Christian mind can be indifferent that they should be. There is nothing which, either as Christians or citizens, we consistently can more earnestly desire, than that the moral efficacy of the ministry may pervade the whole system of society, and be seen upon the character and conduct of all classes of people. I need not detain you, to show that this cannot be, if the provision is withheld which is necessary to enable those intrusted with it to perform its duties. In many places of this diocese there is a liberality exercised in making such provision, which, taken in reference to numbers, will scarcely be found in any place in any other. May its honourable example diffuse its influence wherever circumstances make it necessary. N. BOWEN. On motion of the Rev. Dr. Gadsden, the thanks of the convention were presented to the bishop for his address; and the clergy of the several churches are requested to read it to their respective congregations for general information. The following gentlemen were appointed delegates to the General Convention:-The Rev. Christopher E. Gadsden, D.D., the Rev.Allston Gibbes, the Rev. Maurice H. Lance, the Rev. Milward Pogson, William Heyward, Gouverneur M. Wilkins, Hon. William Drayton, Elias Horry. The Rev. Allston Gibbes, secretary of the standing committee, read the fol lowing abstract of their proceedings for the last year— The standing committee, in compliance with a request of the convention held in 1823, respectfully submit the following abstract of their acts during the past year, for the information of the convention: In discharge of the duties assigned them by the Constitution and Canons of the Church, they have, since the last meeting of the convention, recommended to the bishop to be received as candidates for holy orders, Mr. Dexter Leland, late of Edisto Island, and Mr. Richard S. Green, late of Providence, Rhode-Island. They have granted the canonical testimonials to the following persons, previously recognized as candidates for orders, who have been accordingly admitted by the bishop to deacons' orders, viz. Mr. Charles P. Elliott, of this city; Mr. Edward Neufville, of Prince William's parish; Mr. George W. Hathaway, of Cheraw; Mr. Paul Trapier Keith, of Georgetown; Mr.Philip Gadsden, of this city; and Mr. Edward Thomas, of St. Stephen's parish. They have received the following sums, collected in behalf of the General Theological Seminary at New-York, viz. from St. Paul's Church, Pendleton, $24, and from St. Mark's parish, $17, amounting to the sum of $41, which has been duly placed to the credit of Mr. Isaac Lawrence, chairman of the finance committee of the General Theological Seminary, in the office of discount and deposit of the United States Bank in this city. In compliance with the desire of the fast convention, they have likewise addressed circular letters to the ministers and vestries of the several parishes in this diocese, respecting the collections recommended to be made in behalf of the General Theological Seminary, the result of which will, it is presumed, be reported in person by the ministers and delegates of the several parishes. The following gentlemen were appointed the standing committee for the ensuing year:-The Rev. Christopher E. Gadsden, D. D., the Rev. Paul T. Gervais, the Rev. Frederick Dalcho, M. D., the Rev. Allston Gibbes, the Rev. Christian Hanckell, David Alexander, Joseph Johnson, M. D., Robert J.Turnbull, Thomas Lowndes, Samuel Wragg. The parochial reports furnish the following aggregate:-Baptisms (adults 52, children 188, not specified 136) 376. Marriages 81. Funerals 189. Sunday scholars 563. Communicants 1803. Of the above the following are reported as of coloured persons : → Baptisms (adults 23, children 2, not specified 34) 59. Marriages 11. Sunday Scholars 210. Communicants 427. The Rev. Dr. Gadsden, from the committee on the General Theological Seminary, made the following report: The committee of the General Theological Seminary, believing that it must be interesting to all the friends of the Church to mark the progress of this valuable institution, and that it may be useful to encourage the reasonable solicitude which is entertained on this subject, would respectfully submit to the convention such particulars as they have been able to collect. We understand that there are at present 28 students at the seminary, two of them from this diocese. There are only three other candidates for orders here; one of them, it is expected, will soon avail himself of the great opportunities for improvement offered by that institution. In the last report of the faculty, after remarking "that the number of pupils is small, compared with the whole number of candidates," and expressing their "regret, that the want of pecuniary aid obliges so many to content themselves with a private education;" they say that "they hope it will not be considered indecorous if they suggest the great benefit which would accrue to the cause of religion and of our Church, if the larger and more wealthy of our congregations were to support one student annually at the seminary. They hope too, that experience will justify them in expressing the opinion, that to extend the term of candidateship from one year, as now required by the Canons, to three, would promote, in a very high degree, the interests of the seminary. For it is a fact, that but few young men can be induced to spend three years in the seminary, if there is a probability of their receiving orders after a shorter term of probation; and hence it is that our first classes and our second, at the close of the second session, are so small." The gentleman, Mr.G. C.Verplanck, who acted gratuitously as professor of moral science and the evidences of Christianity, has been elected a member of Congress; but we indulge the hope, that he will continue his relation to our seminary; and his late valuable publication must unavoidably increase our solicitude on this subject. Another of our professors has also favoured the theological student with a very learned work, entitled, "Notes on the Epistle to the Romans." At the annual meeting of the trus tees in July, it was resolved that a suitable building should be erected so soon as the sum of $10,000 could be col lected. We have reason to believe that the greater part of this sum has been obtained. The Rev.Robert B. Croes has evinced his gratitude to the institution at which he was educated, by devoting himself for a considerable term to the useful office of collector, agreeably to the request of the trustees. He has obtained subscriptions in North-Carolina to the amount of $2,300, in Maryland to the amount of $5,200, in South-Carolina to the amount of $2,782. The whole amount collected by him since October, 1823, has been about $10,000, besides $7,000 not yet paid. Of the subscription on his book, in our diocese, there has been paid $1,475, and there remains unpaid $1,307.* * Amount collected by the Rev. Robert B. Croes, April, 1824 : Charleston, St. Paul's, Stono, We have the great satisfaction to res port, that the Bishop Dehon scholarship, founded by the ladies of this diocese, in testimony at once of their attachment to a revered name to that Church which he loved, is now in a condition to be immediately useful. The amount invested for this fund is $3,025. Conformably to the resolution passed last year by the convention, the parishes in which sermons had never been preached in aid of the seminary, were addressed on that subject; reports from which have just been submitted to the convention, and are not in possession of the committee. As the object of the sermon is to excite an interest in favour of the seminary, as well as to precede a collection, we recommend that the sermons should be preached, to be followed by collections, as soon as convenient, in those parishes in which they have not yet been, with a view of diffusing information as to the intentions of the Church in relation to this object, and as to the present situation of the seminary; and that the standing committee be requested to address the ministers and vestries on the subject. We also would recommend, that the candidates for holy orders in this diocese should not, without great cause and necessity," pursue their studies at any other place than the seminary; and we would ask leave to express a wish, that those candidates who might be hindered by their circumstances, should be assisted with a loan by the pious liberality of their respective congregations. Lastly, we recommend that there be instituted, under the direction of this convention, a scholarship, to be called the "Bishop Bowen Scholarship," and that, for carrying this purpose into ef$1,023 60 $242 $781 60 fect, a person shall be appointed in Subscribed. Unpaid. Paid. St. Bartholomew's, 76.00 25 5.00 0 St. Helena Island, St. Luke's, 51 00 5.00 145 00 88,00 80 00 10 00 each parish, who shall act in the recess of the convention, and report to the next meeting. In favour of this measure we deem it necessary only to re260 00 mark, that the effect of the scholarships which may be instituted, will be to relieve our Society for the Advancement sisting indigent candidates for orders, of Christianity from the expense of as 55 00 $2,782 60 $1,507 $1,475 60 In these places, collection: had been previously made by Bishop Brownell. and thus enabling that society to apply its efforts to the other valuable purposes for which it was instituted, and in particular, that of sending forth missionaries, for whom there is an increasing demand in our diocese. On motion of the Rev. Mr. Lance, resolved, that the report be accepted; and that, in order to carry the recommendation of the committee into effect, the delegates present in convention do nominate to the president one person from each parish, and that the president do make the appointment for such parishes as are not represented in this convention. On motion of the Rev. Mr. Lance, resolved, that this convention highly approve of the Gospel Messenger, a religious magazine, published monthly by members of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Charleston, and recommend it to the patronage and support of Episcopalians in this diocese. The following resolution was moved by Mr. John Gadsden, and passed :Resolved, that a committee of three be appointed, who shall be empowered during the recess, in conjunction with a committee appointed on the part of the Society for the Advancement of Christianity in South Carolina, to inquire into the state of any property heretofore belonging to the Protestant Episcopal churches in this state, in any parishes where there are no vestries or trustees having charge thereof, and to adopt such measures as may be necessary to secure the possession of the same to the board of trustees of the said society, in trust for the use of the churches in the said parishes respectively, or, with the consent of the Epis copalians in the parish, to the assistance of some other parish in which a congregation is organized; and that they report to the next convention. The president then, on motion, appointed the following committee:John Gadsden, Col. John Porter, jun. and Robert Barnwell. The annual report of the Protestant Episcopal Society for the Advancement of Christianity in South-Carolina was read, and is as follows: The board of trustees of the Protestant Episcopal Society for the Advancement of Christianity in SouthCarolina, submit their treasurer's statements of the bishop's permanent and common funds for the past year. The receipts on account of the permanent fund, it will be seen, have been confined, with the exception of a subscription of $20, to the interest and dividends on its stock; three-fourths of the amount of which have been trans ferred to the credit of the common fund, in pursuance of the resolution of the convention of February, 1818. The balance in the treasurer's hands is $311 06. The stock of the fund is the same as at the date of the last report; no purchase having been made, in consequence of the doubts which existed respecting the style in which investments of moneys held by the society in trust ought to be made. The board have now the pleasure of stating, that, in conformity with the recommendation of the committees of the convention and of this board appointed to confer on the subject, an application was made to the legislature, at its late session, for an amendment to the charter of the society, enabling it to hold property, in its corporate name, in trust for objects consistent with its design; and that an act was passed conferring the authority desired. As soon as an authentic copy of this act is received, the balance in the treasurer's hands will be invested; and the stock now held by the trustees in trust, will be transferred to the corporate name of the society, in trust. The following contributions have been made to the bishop's common fund during the past year, viz.— By St. Philip's, $250; St. Michael's, 140; St. Paul's, Radcliffeborough, 11088; St. John's, Colleton, 50; Prince George, Winyaw, 75; St. Luke's, 40; St. Paul's, Stono, 20; St. Paul's, Pendleton, 30; St. Helena Island, 30; North Santee, 30; St. Thomas and St. Dennis, 30; St. James's, Goose Creek, 20; St. Andrew's, 10; Claremont, 20. Carried over Total, $855 88 Their contributions amounting to the sum of $825 88, which, with $293 44, the three-fourths of the income of the permanent fund transferred to the credit of the common fund, makes the total amount of the latter, for the past year, $1,119 32. In behalf of the board of trustees, NATHANIEL BOWEN, President. February 18, 1825. The book containing the accounts of the treasurer of the society for the trust funds, was laid upon the secretary's table, for the inspection of the conven tion. On motion of the Rev. Mr. Gervais, the report was accepted. The treasurer having laid his accounts before the convention, Mr. Bay and Mr. Ravenel were appointed a committee to examine them. The committee soon after reported that they had found the treasurer's accounts correct, and that there remains a balance in his hand of $150 90; which report was accepted. On motion of the Rev. Dr. Gadsden, resolved, that the convention of this * Since the adjournment of the convention, the following sums have been received on the same account, viz. From St. Helena, Beaufort 350, as re $50 10 210 commended by the last convention Besides which, the following churches have signified their assent to the recommendation of the last convention, but have not yet forwarded their contributions, viz.-Trinity Church, CoJumbia; St. Mark's, Clarendou; All Saints, Waccamaw. It is understood that St. Paul's Church, Radcliffeborough, will comply with the recommendation of the convention. Charleston, 1st March, 1825. diocese have witnessed with satisfaction the successful result which has attended the efforts of their brethren of the diocese of Connecticut, in the establishment of an Episcopal college in the city of Hartford; and do hereby recommend said college to Episcopalians, as affording an opportunity of educating their sons under the direction of members of their own Church, and under the happy influences of her institutions and liturgy. On motion of the Rev. Mr. Barlow, resolved, that the next meeting of the convention be held on the last Wednesday of January next. On motion, the thanks of the convention were presented to the president and secretary for their respective services. After prayers by the bishop, and the blessing, the convention adjourned. Canon passed in the above Convention, providing for an accurate View of the State of the Church. Every minister having a parochial charge in his diocese shall, at or before the meeting of every annual convention, deliver, or transmit to the bishop, or where there is no bishop, to the president of the convention, an accurate statement, in writing, of the number of baptisms, burials, and marriages in his parish or church, during the year ending on the 1st January preceding; specifying the number of places where, and how often in each, divine service is held; the number of families, communicants, adults, and children under 14 years, attending, or belonging to the same; the number catechized by him, and on how many Sundays; whether there be any Sunday school, and if any, the number of children and teachers, and the subjects of instruction in the same; and generally, all such other matters as may tend to throw light on the state of the church under his care: which reports shall be laid before the convention, and entered 45th general Canon. on the journals, conformably to the The Church in this diocese consists of the bishop, 28 presbyters, 11 deacons, and 39 organized congregations. |