Trinity church, in this city, with great fidelity, in the capacity of vestryman; and until the infirmities of old age prevented, was a most exemplary attendant on the services and ordinances of the sanctuary. Ox Thursday the 15th September, at the advanced age of 90 years, our highly respected fellow-citizen, and distinguished member of the church, Mr. THOMAS BAR. now, left this transitory scene, for another and a better world;-alike venerable in years and all Christian graces. Endeared to his family by the most unbounded affection, exemplary life and conversation, and cheerfulness of disposition, the loss to them is severe indeed. Through a long and useful life, a man of unshaken integrity, with a mind wellinformed, in manners a gentleman, in piety sincere and unaffected, with benevolence as diffusive as the light of the sun, the widow and the orphan can indeed testify to his worth; for he verily for many, many years, had been literally the father of the fatherless. From his long and great intercourse with the world, his acquaintance became most extensive; and it is certain no man could die with more friends who truly loved and respected him-and none with less enemies, for one cannot be found! Mr. BARROW was a rare instance of extreme old age, with constant cheerfulness of disposition, and relish for intellectual improvement. He retained his faculties, but little impaired, to the hour of his last illness: his vigour of body and mind astonished his relatives and friends; this was doubtless to be attributed to a uniform temperature of disposition in all things through the whole course of his life. A few days more, and the winters of 90 years would have passed calmly by him; but he has gone! gone where there is no more death, no more sorrow, no more pain. His constant advice to his children and family was, practise whatsoever things are honest, are just, are pure, are lovely, are of good report, and the God of peace shall be with you. With equal cheerfulness we insert the following communication: Died, August 16th, 1825, in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, of a long and distressing illness, Miss LYDIA ALICE SPRAGUE, in the 21st year of her age. In her health she exhibited so many amiable qualities and Christian virtues, as rendered her be loved by all her acquaintance, and dear to her family and connexions. In her last distressing sickness, she was a rare example of meekness, patience, and Christian resignation. Composed and tranquil when she perceived the awful moment of her dissolution approaching, she took an affectionate leave of her friends, and commended them to the consolations of that religion which through life had proved her comfort, and in the hour of death sustained her, and with a calm serenity and holy complacency, cheerfully and willingly resigned her gentle spirit into the hands of God who gave it. "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like hers." The Separation. Farewell-'tis done-the solemn knell Breaks on the soul-her pealing sound, Convulsive throes of anguish tell How deep and painful is the wound. The vital current throbs no more, The mist of death pervades the eye; That sainted voice which charm'd before, Is sunk in speechless agony. The spirit drops this load of clay, And seeks on wings of faith to rise: Her guardian angel points the way, And seraphs tend her to the skies. For the Christian Journal. Be strong, ye weak; ye faint, rejoice; Y. N. M. Calendar for November, 1825. 1. All Saints. 3. [Or such other day as may be appointed by the civil authority] Thanks. giving day. 6. Twenty-third Sunday after Trinity. 13. Twenty-fourth Sunday after Trinity 20. Twenty-fifth Sunday after Trinity. 27. Advent Sunday. 30. St. Andrew the Apostle. To Correspondents.-The account of St. Luke's church, Rochester, is unavoidably laid over until our next number; in which also we shall give place to Dr.J. Onderdonk's inaugural address. As this sheet was printing off, a friend put into our hands the Universal Review for November, 1824, containing an interesting review of the Sermons of Bishop Hobart, which, notwithstanding the article from the Quarterly Theological Review, inserted in our number for June last, is, in our estimation of sufficient importance to claim a place in our Journal for November. For the Christian Journal. Abstract of the Proceedings of the Annual Convention of the Diocese of Connecticut, held in Christ church, Hartford, June 1st and 2d, 1825. THE convention was composed of the Right Rev. Bishop Brownell; thirtyfive presbyters; and fifty-five lay-delegates, representing thirty-nine parishes; and was opened with morning prayer, read by the Rev. Frederick Holcomb, rector of the churches in Wilton and Ridgefield; a sermon preached by the Rev. Sturges Gilbert, rector of the churches in Woodbury, Roxbury, and Bethlehem; and the administration of the holy communion by the bishop, assisted by the Right Rev. Bishop Griswold, of the eastern diocese. The Rev. Birdsey G. Noble was elected secretary, and Burrage Beach, Esq. assistant secretary. Agreeably to the 45th canon of the General Convention, the Right Rev. Bishop Brownell delivered the follow. ing address. My Brethren of the Clergy, and of the Laity, We have again been permitted to assemble in convention, to devise measures for the welfare of that portion of the church of Christ, which has been committed to our more especial care. May we all be duly sensible of the responsibility which rests upon us: may the great Master of assemblies vouchsafe to us his gracious presence: may he preside over our liberations, and direct all our counsels and endeavours to the welfare of his church, and the promotion of his own glory. Since our last annual convention, I have made a more general visitation through the diocese than in any preceding year. It has enabled me to bear testimony to the zeal and fidelity of the VOL. IX. [VOL. IX. clergy, and to the gradually advancing state of most of the parishes. There are indeed many adverse circumstances, which must prevent the rapid growth of our church. A great portion of our parishes are small, and weak, when with which they are surrounded. Many compared with other religious societies of them are, consequently, but partially supplied with ministerial services, and the burthen of support falls heavily on individuals. In addition to these considerations, it need not excite our won der that some should be unwilling to hazard their popularity, by connecting themselves with a body, which is regarded by many of those around them as but a minor sect of Christians. But religious prejudices still constitute the most formidable obstacle to the growth country, where these prejudices might of our church. There is no part of our be expected to exist in greater force than in Connecticut. Settled originally by Puritans, who abandoned their na tive country, in abhorrence of Episcopacy, and at a time when the principles of religious liberty were but little understood, they naturally regarded the introduction of any opinions different from their own, as an intrusion upon the asylum they had chosen. Their early institutions were calculated to foster these sentiments, and it is no way extraordinary that some traces of them should have been perpetuated to the present generation. In short, the preponderance of public sentiment has been hostile to our church, and the tendency of the civil and religious institutions of the state has naturally been adverse to its interests. Under these circumstances, we have less cause to wonder that it advances so tardily, as that its growth should have been so rapid; and we have less reason to complain of the prejudices, and other ob 41 9, in Norwalk, to 14 "11, in N. Canaan, to 1 -, in Ridgefield, to 11 5 10 16 65 "15, 16. 15, in Salisbury, to 16 stacles which have impeded its growth, July 7 In all, to 258 persons. During my visit to the parish of Salisbury, on the 15th of September last, I consecrated the new church in that place, by the name of St. John's church. This edifice is constructed of brick, in the gothic style of architecture. It is neatly finished, and its accommodations are judiciously arranged. The expense of its erection, though pressing heavily on individuals, has been borne with cheerfulness; and it is trusted that no one feels impoverished by his exertions. The zeal and liberality which this parish has evinced, affords an encouraging promise of its future prosperity. On the 16th of September last, at St. Paul's church in Sharon, I admitted the Rev. Alonzo Potter to the holy. order of priests; and on the 5th of December following, at Christ church, Hartford, I admitted the Rev. John Sellon to the same grade in the ministry. Both these ordinations were performed by request, on behalf of the Right Rev. Bishop Hobart: the Rev. Mr. Potter being a professor of Union college, in the diocese of New-York; and the Rev. Mr. Sellon being rector of Christ church, Ann-street, in the city of New-York. On Sunday the 6th day of March, at St. Luke's church, Glastenbury, 1 also admitted the Rev. Hector Humphrey, of Washington college, to the holy order of priests. t The following persons are at present candidates for holy orders in this diocese: viz. George Shelton, William Peet, William H. Lewis, (who are pursuing their studies at the General Seminary of our church,) and Harry Finch, Norman Pinney, Joseph D. Clark, Nathan Kingsbury, John W. Cloud, George F. Shepherd, and Thomas W. Coit. Since the last convention, letters dimissory have been granted to the Rev. Enoch Huntington, who had previously removed to the diocese of Pennsylvania, and to the Rev. Beardsley Northrup, who has recently been called The to the diocese of New-York. Rev. George W. Doane, from the diocese of New-York, and the Rev. Edward Rutledge, from that of SouthCarolina, have become established in this diocese; the former as a professor in Washington college, and the latter as minister of the church in Stratford. Several changes have taken place in the location of the clergy of the diocese, since our last convention; but as some of these are understood to be of a temporary nature, and as most of them have not been officially notified to me, I am unable to state them with precision. In adverting to this subject, I cannot forbear to express my regret that the connexion between ministers and their parishes should, in many instances, be so slight and transient. Much of the benefit that would result from the pastor's intimate knowledge of the spiritual wants of his flock, and of the increased usefulness that would arise from a long intercourse and mutual attachment, is thus foregone and lost. Doubtless the evil results, in most cases, from the inability of the parishes to make more permanent arrangements. Yet I cannot but hope that such parishes will take the earliest opportunities to connect themselves into convenient cures; that they will make the most permanent arrangements for stated ministrations, which their circumstances will admit; and that a mere love of novelty will never induce them to abandon the important benefits which result from a settled ministry. There can be no doubt but the clergy would be ready to make great sacrifi ces, to secure such advantages to the church. The missionary services for the past year have been performed by the Rev. Stephen Beach, in the north-west part of Litchfield county, and by the Rev. Ashbel Steele, in the county of NewLondon. The reports of these missionaries will be laid before the convention. There is good reason to believe that their labours have been highly useful to the church. For the ensuing year, I should think it expedient to devote the most considerable portion of the funds of the "Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge" towards the support of such weak parishes in the diocese as seem most likely to be benefitted by such assistance. I have never addressed the convention of this diocese, without pressing upon its notice the important objects of the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge. If I forbear to urge them at this time, and to make fresh claims upon your liberality, it is not that my sense of the importance of these objects is diminished, but that I would not seem to be importunate. For the same reason I omit any new observations upon the importance of Sunday schools, as well as upon the necessity of supporting the more general objects of our church, the "Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society," and the "General Theological Seminary." I have previously had occasion to take notice of the incorporation of a college, to be under the principal patronage and direction of members of our church, and to state that the requisite endowments had been obtained to render the charter available. Since our last meeting, the institution has been organized, and it is now in successful operation. It has indeed had to encounter much of that prejudice and obloquy, which has so frequently been experienced by our church; but this unmerited reproach seems only to have had the effect of creating for it additional sympathy in the minds of liberal men, and we have every reason to look for its future prosperity and usefulness. Before closing my address, it becomes my painful duty to record the death of the Rev. Joseph D. Welton, of Waterbury, who departed this life in the month of January last, and of the Rev. Philo Shelton, of Fairfield, who expired on the 27th of February. The former, having been for several years incapacitated from ministerial labour, by painful and protracted disease, has been cut off in the meridian of life. The latter, after a long service of forty years in the vineyard of his Master, has been gathered to the company of the faithful in a good old age, “as a shock of corn fully ripe." The Rev. Mr. Shelton was admitted to holy orders in Christ church, Middletown, on the 3d of August, 1785, by the venerable Bishop Seabury; it being the first Episcopal ordination ever held in this country. He has faithfully and successfully laboured for almost forty years, in the parish from which his divine Master has now called him to his rest. He has taken an important part in the ecclesiastical concerns of the diocese, from the period of its first organization; and the moderation and prudence of his counsels have contributed, in no small degree, to the welfare of the church. For simplicity of character, amiable manners, unaffected piety, and a faithful devotion to the duties of the ministerial office, he has left an example by which all his surviving brethren may profit, and which few of them can hope to surpass. Brethren, in proceeding to the further business of the convention, let us again commend ourselves to the protection and blessing of God; beseeching him that as, by the Holy Spirit, he did preside in the councils of the blessed apostles, so he would graciously be present in the council of his church here assembled in his name and presence; that he would save us from all error, ignorance, pride, and prejudice: and that of his great mercy he would vouchsafe so to direct, sanctify, and govern us in our present work, by the mighty power of the Holy Ghost, that the comfortable Gospel of Christ may be truly preached, truly received, and truly followed, in all places, through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. THOMAS C. BRownell. The committee on the constitution made the following report: The committee appointed at the last convention, to ascertain the number of parishes in the diocese, and how many had adopted the constitution framed and submitted to their consideration in 1821, beg leave to report, That, having attended to the duties assigned them, they find there are in the diocese 74 parishes, 48 of which had made their returns, all in the affirmative. A circu lar letter was addressed to all the delinquent parishes; a copy of which is herewith presented, marked A. Since this, 11 returns have been made, also in the affirmative; making,in the whole, 59; more than three-fourths, The committee have consequently the pleasure to report, that the constitution is adopted. TILLOTSON BRONSON, RURRAGE BEACH. On motion by the Rev. Ashbel Bald. win, the report of the committee was accepted; and thereupon the following preamble and resolution, presented by Burrage Beach, Esq. were adopted : Whereas it appears by the report of said committee, that more than threefourths of the parishes in the diocese, in their annual meeting, have adopted said constitution, the evidence of which appears by the certificates under the hands of the clerks of the several parishes: Thereupon, resolved, That the constitution, framed and submitted to the consideration of the several parishes of this diocese, by the convention held at Waterbury, in June, A. D. 1821, be, and the same is hereby declared to be the constitution of this diocese. The following is a copy of the |