Page images
PDF
EPUB

vine Head, her purity and her soundness, and her prosperity to the latest generations"They shall prosper that love her."

A Churchman.

For the Christian Journal.

Communication.

THE triennial General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States, met in Philadelphia, on Tuesday, the 20th May, 1823, and adjourned on Monday the 26th. In the house of bishops there were seven attending members; the Bishop of NewYork being absent from indisposition, the Bishop of Virginia, from sickness in his family, and the Bishop of Ohio, from the impracticability of his at present undertaking the journey. The house of clerical and lay deputies consisted of about forty clergymen, and about half that number of laymen. A large number of visiting clergy was also present. The introductory discourse was by the Right Rev. Bishop Croes, of New-Jersey. Interesting reports were received on the state of the church, and from the General Theological Seminary, and the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society. The proposed alteration of the constitution of the church, which leaves to every Convention the fixing of the particular time in the third year following, for the meeting of the next, was effected. A committee was appointed to report to the next Convention, if any, and if any, what, alterations it is proper to make in, or additions to, the psalms and hymns in metre.

As the Christian Journal will, doubtless, give the usual abstract of the proceedings of this Convention, any farther notice of them at present is unnecessary. The writer, however, having been a witness of the proceedings, cannot forbear noticing two or three circumstances which contributed much to the general gratification he experienced.

The first is the harmony, and mutual respect and good will, with which the whole business was conducted. As was naturally to have been expected, sub

jects were introduced on which there was difference of opinion honestly entertained, and on which different sides were earnestly supported. But there: were evident, throughout, the kind and: conciliatory feelings of the disciples of Christ, engaged in their Master's cause. This is as it should be ; and that it may: always be so, every true friend of religion and the church should earnestly pray to that Holy Spirit, from whom alone come love, peace, and longsuffering.

It was also evident, from the tenor of the remarks to which one or two of the topics led, that the venerable and evangelical services of our church. have a strong hold in the affections of her ministers and members, which promises security against all efforts at innovation. It is true, indeed, steps were taken with the view of improvement in the metre singing of our church. It is obvious, however, that this is a department of public wor ship which has received less attention, both in our mother-church and our own, than any other. In the former, indeed, there has never been positive legislation on the subject. Metrical worship is, comparatively, of modern date. It was allowed by act of parlia ment, without any particular provision for its performance; and upon this general allowance has been grafted, from time to time, the permission of cer tain particular versions of psalms and hymns, to such congregations as chose to receive the same.

This is all that has been done on the subject in the church of England. It is to be accounted for by the fact, that metre singing was never considered as a stated part of the worship of that church, but only admitted, out of compliance with puritanical prejudices, as an occasional exercise. Time and circumstances, however, have changed its character, and it now ranks high as both an interesting and important branch of divine service; the only one, in fact, in many churches, which is set to music. It has, therefore, been, very properly, made a subject of legislation in our church. Considering, however, that this never was the case in the church of England; that, consequent

ly, the American church had not the advantage of any order on the subject set forth by the authority of the mother-church; and that this was submitted to no farther consideration than those services which possessed the formal sanction and appointment of that church; it is obvious that less careful provision has been made for this department of public worship, than for any other. It was, therefore, thought that a distinction might be drawn between this and the other offices in our book of Common Prayer; and that it might be subjected to a review in perfect consistency with a reluctance to any effort at change in them.

It is gratifying, however, to see the caution with which even this has been done. The committee consists of the three orders of bishops, clergy, and laity. Each order must be represented at every meeting. And a concurrence of the three is necessary to a decision. With these guards, the church has every security that the important business intrusted to that committee will be prosecuted with proper deliberation, and be brought to an issue both acceptable and creditable to the church.

Another gratifying circumstance in the proceedings of the late convention, is the evidence they afforded of a determination on the part of that body to exclude all objects but those which necessarily arise out of its character as the legislature of our church, and the constituted mean of collecting and disseminating intelligence on its concerns. This is a most wholesome principle, It shuts out sources of perpetual discussion, and is one of the best securities for the continuance of the unity and harmony which, through the blessing of God, have thus far characterized our ecclesiastical councils.

During the session of the convention, the triennial meeting of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society, and the annual meeting of its directors, were held. Among other business, arrangements were made for aiding the diocesses of Delaware, Georgia, and Ohio, in the support of missionaries, and for establishing missions at St. Augustine and Pensacola, Florida, and, as means may be obtained, in other

parts of the states and territories in which the church is not organized.

The triennial sermon for the benefit of the society was preached in St. Pe ter's church, Philadelphia, Friday, May 23d, 1823. Morning prayer by the Rev. Ashbel Baldwin, of Connecticut.

Consecration of Bishop Ravenscroft.

ON Thursday, May 22d, 1823, dur ing the session of the late General Convention, in St. Paul's church, Philadelphia, the Rev. John Stark Ravenscroft, elected to the episcopate of North-Carolina, was consecrated a bishop by the Right Rev. Bishop White, of Pennsylvania, presiding bishop; the Right Rev. Bishop Griswold, of the eastern diocess, the Right Rev. Bishop Kemp, of Maryland, the Right Rev. Bishop Croes, of New-Jersey, the Right Rev. Bishop Bowen, of South-Carolina, and the Right Rev. Bishop Brownell, of Connecticut, being present and assisting. Morning prayer was read by the Rev. William M. Green, of North-Carolina, and the sermon preached by the Right Rev. Bishop Griswold.

Ordinations.

On Wednesday, May 14th, 1823, in St. Paul's chapel, in this city, Mr. Augustus L. Converse, late a student in the General Theological Seminary, was admitted by the Right Rev. Bishop Hobart, to the holy order of deacons. Morning prayer was read, and the exhortation delivered, by the Rev. Benjamin T. Onderdonk, an assistant minister of Trinity church, New-York.

On the first Sunday after Trinity, June 1st, 1823, in St. Luke's church, in this city, Mr. Orsimus H. Smith, late a student in the Branch Theological School, at Geneva, was admitted, by the Right Rev. Bishop Hobart, to the holy order of deacons. Morning prayer the Rev. George Upfold, M. D. rector was read, and the sermon preached, by of St. Luke's.

Confirmation.

ON Sunday, the 13th of April, 1823, the holy rite of confirmation was administered in Christ church, Savannah,

Georgia, by the Right Rev. Bishop Homily Society of St. Paul's Church, Bowen, who has been invited, agreeaPhiladelphia. bly to the provisions of the 20th canon, to perform episcopal offices in the diocess of Georgia. On this occasion, morning prayer was conducted by the Rev. Mr. Hanckell, of South-Carolina, and an appropriate sermon delivered by the bishop.-After the service of confirmation, the bishop also delivered a solemn and impressive address to those who had just received that holy rite at his hands.-The number confirmed was eighty-four.

A SOCIETY was last year instituted among the members of St. Paul's church, Philadelphia, under the denomination of the "Homily Society of St. Paul's church," the object of which is the publication and distribution of religious tracts, and more particularly of the homilies of the church. The first annual report of the society has been received, and we shall endeavour to find room for it hereafter.

For the Christian Journal.

For the Christian Journal.
Lines written at Sunset.

Alterations in the Statutes of the Ge- Until the day dawn, and the day-ster arise in

[ocr errors]

neral Seminary.

Ar the late meeting of the trustees of the General Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal Church, two alterations were made in the statutes:

Sect. 1, of Chap. I. will now read as follows:-"The board of trustees shall meet statedly in the city of New-York, on the fourth Tuesday in July in every year; except in the year of the stated meeting of the General Convention, when they shall meet on the Wednesday of the week preceding the said meeting. Special meetings may be convened agreeably to the provisions of the fourth article of the constitution."

your hearts.-2 Pet. i. 19.

A beautiful cloud came over the west,
All bright and fair as the sun sunk to rest;
And a golden ray beamed out from the sky,
Like the wild-fire's light that glimmer'd nigh.
'Twas the sign of peace: on the heart it fell
Like the mystic touch of the faëry spell;
And I said to myself" When hearts are at
rest,

"Tis this pure flame that renders them blest."
But that cloud, that was lit by the orb of day,
Was soon scatter'd afar, and had faded away.
And the sun, that shone brightly, his task had
done,

And the ray, that beamed out in its splendour,

was gone.

[blocks in formation]

They are fair, but as false as the wild Indian's token.

Though they glow for a moment, their light is soon o'er,

And the heart, that was warmed, gropes in darkness once more."

But the ray, that descends from the regions above.

Comes to light up the soul with the brightness of love.

Tis from Bethlehem's Star, through the clouds

Sect. 8, of Chap. VIII. will now read thus: At the close of the second session in each year, the students shall undergo an examination on their studies, by the professors, in the presence of the board of trustees. But in the year of the meeting of the General Convention, this annual examination shall take place at the time of the stated meeting of the board of trustees. On the day after the examination is closed, there shall be a public commencement, at which such exercises shall be performed by the students as the faculty A

shall direct."

of our sin,

That ray shines so bright on the darkness

within.

Then shine there, thou Star of the Holiest!
shine,
Till
And may this prove the brightness, by Provi-
foretaste alone of the splendour of heaven.
dence given,

the heart be illumed by thy splendour

divine.

JULIAN.

To Correspondents.-M. N. on the abuse of the term Christian-R. U. on Ecclesiastes v. 1.-and W.'s Letter on the organizing of a Church at Mayville, will appear in the number for July.

No. 7.]

THE

CHRISTIAN JOURNAL,

AND

LITERARY REGISTER.

For the Christian Journal.

JULY, 1823.

Ir the following hasty remarks should be thought to the point, you will oblige a well-wisher by their insertion.

Remarks on the abuse of the term

Christian.

It was with great gratification that I perused the remarks of Miles, in the Journal for May, being much pleased with the accuracy of his expression, the soundness of his principles, and the force of his reasoning. The remarks on the abuse of the term Christian struck me as peculiarly excellent; yet some observations, which have been made by several in my hearing, have induced me to attempt some additional explanation of the ground of dispute. This case of controversy between our church, and those who incorrectly style themselves "Liberal," originates in a misconstruction placed by those persons themselves upon a term, with the misapplication of which we are consequently charged. To remove this charge it will only be necessary to refer (whither we are always willing and able to refer for the establishment of our tenets) to the Bible itself. The word Christian is there used but thrice, and then can be understood in no other manner, than as a name applied generally to all those who professed to believe in Christ, whether they did so believe in reality, or only in profession. When it is stated, (Acts xi. 26,) “ that the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch," what can be intended but that this name was imposed on all those who professed to believe in Jesus, as a mark of distinction from Jews and Gentiles? When Agrippa, moved by the reasoning of Paul, is forced to exclaim, (Acts xxvi. 28,) "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian," what can he mean but that he is nearly VOL. VII.

66

[VOL. VII.

compelled to believe in the doctrine of Christ, and to embrace the Christian faith? When St. Peter says, (1 Pet. iv. 16,)" If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed;" the term can only imply an adherence to the Christian tenets, as is evident from the context, where suffering a merited punishment on account of crimes committed, is contrasted with suffering on account of adherence to the Christian faith. How utterly frigid would be the sense should the term Christian in any of these texts be supplied by the word regenerate or converted? On all these passages the remarks of Parkhurst, (chiefly taken from Wetstein and Daubuz) are ingenious and applicable. After rendering the Greek χριστιανος, Christian, follower of Christ, he goes

on,

"this word is framed not after the Greek, but the Latin manner, Pompeiam, Hpwdavo, &c. these respectively denominated from being attached to Pompey, Herod, &c. See Wetst. Matt. xxii. 16. And it should seem that the name xptivos (like those of Nagapno and Taha) was given to the disciples of our Lord in reproach or contempt, as foolishly adhering to one Christ, whom they themselves acknowledged to have suffered an ignominious death. What confirms this opinion is the place where they were first called Xpoti, namely, at Antioch in Syria, (Acts xi. 26,) the inhabitants of which city are observed by Zosimus,Procopius, and Zonarus, (cited by Wetstein) to have been remarkable for their scurrilous jesting. It is found but in two more passages in the New Testament; in one of which (Acts xxvi. 28, a Jew is the speaker; in the other, 1 Pet. iv. 16,) the apostle mentions be lievers as suffering under this appellation. The words of Tacitus, Ann. xv. c. 44, where he is speaking of the Christians persecuted by Nero, are remark

25

able: "Vulgus Christianos appellabat," &c. &c. The VULGAR (N. B.) called them Christians. The author (or origin) of this denomination, Christus, had, in the reign of Tiberius, been executed by the Procurator, Pontius Pilate." Thus far Parkhurst, who, if he does not prove the contemptuous signification of the term, at any rate manifests its general application. With this biblical acceptation of the term, its use in the primitive church was exactly conformable, as is that which is here contended for. By this, all are included under the general name of Christians, who make any profession of faith in Christ, however ill their conduct may agree with such profession. All (to use the forcible and energetic expression of one of our divines) "who would refuse solemnly to deny their LORD," (and how few are so `far abandoned) must be counted Christians, in the strict and proper "acceptation of the term." It has been suggested to me, and the remark appears worthy of notice, that as no one will deny Judas to have been an apostle, however unworthy of that honourable appellation, so should none refuse to apply the term Christian to all who profess a regard for the Christian faith, however unworthy their lives of such profession. Among sectarians, it has become a general practice to use the term Christian almost exclusively as signifying a regenerate person, a true follower of Christ, originating perhaps in a mistaken reverence for the name and character of our Saviour; thinking that the distinguished appellation of Christian should only be conferred on such as are really and truly his disciples. Thence, occasion has been taken to stigmatize our church as an enemy of true religion, because, say they, she considers all who outwardly conform to the Christian profession, as truly renovated. How ungrounded and mistaken this assertion is, will be immediately perceived upon a consideration of what has been already stated. A Christian, in its true and biblical sense, can only mean one who professes the Christian faith as opposed to Judaism, Mahomedanism, Paganism, and Infidelity. beyond this is merely an acceptation assumed by the parties themselves, tend

All

ing to confusion, originating in a selfsufficient judgment of the piety of others. Whether a man is a Christian, is a matter which any one can immediately determine; whether he is a converted Christian, is what none but the Searcher of hearts should presume to decide. M. N.

For the Christian Journal.

Hints on the observance of the reverence made at the name of Jesus in the Creed.

66

"AT the name of Jesus," says St. Paul in his Epistle to the Philippians, every knee shall bow." In accordance with this passage the English church, in her 18th canon, has expressly enjoined, that " when in time of divine service the Lord Jesus shall be mentioned, due and lowly reverence shall be done, by persons present, as it hath been accustomed."-And although not commanded by the American Episcopal Church, yet, until lately, it has been the universal practice, in reciting the Apostles' Creed, reverently to bow at the name of Jesus-and it is a subject of regret that it should be discontinued by any.

When we consider the immensity of the blessings which as Christians we owe to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ-that when we were alienated from God, we were reconciled by his precious blood shed upon the crossand that we are now indebted to his merits and intercession for all the spiritual aid and comfort we receive, and for the hope of a glorious immortality -no one that professes and calls himself a member of his church, will deny that he is justly entitled to the most humble reverence and unfeigned gratitude that our fallen natures are capable of paying. This, it is true, cannot alone consist in any outward form or ceremony; it must be the humility of the heart, not the mere bending of the knee. But when we further reflect that such is the infirmity of human nature, that worship cannot be altogether spiritualized-that some visible ceremonies must blend themselves with all our public devotions-nothing would ap

« PreviousContinue »