JOURNAL OF THE HOUSE OF BISHOPS. PHILADELPHIA, Wednesday, 5th September, 1838, THIS being the day and place appointed, by a resolution of the last General Convention, for the meeting of the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, the Right Rev. Alexander Viets Griswold, D. D., of the Eastern Diocese, the Right Rev. Richard Channing Moore, D. D., of Virginia, the Right Rev. Nathaniel Bowen, D. D., of South Carolina, the Right Rev. Philander Chase, D. D., of Illinois, the Right Rev. Thomas Church Brownell, D. D., LL. D., of Connecticut, the Right Rev. Henry Ustick Onderdonk, D. D., of Pennsylvania, the Right Rev. William Meade, D. D., Assistant Bishop of Virginia, the Right Rev. Benjamin Tredwell Onderdonk, D. D., of New-York, the Right Rev. Levi Silliman Ives, D. D., LL. D., of North Carolina, the Right Rev. John Henry Hopkins, D. D., of Vermont, the Right Rev. Benjamin Bosworth Smith, D. D., of Kentucky, the Right Rev. Charles Pettit McIlvaine, D. D., of Ohio, the Right Rev. George Washington Doane, D. D., of New-Jersey, the Right Rev. James Hervey Otey, D. D., of Tennessee, and the Right Rev. Samuel Allen McCoskry, D. D., of Michigan, attended Divine service in St. Peter's Church. The morning service was read by the Rev. David Moore, of New-York, assisted by the Rev. Joseph Wilmer, of Virginia, and a sermon preached by the Right Rev. Bishop Meade; after which the communion was administered by the presiding Bishop, assisted by other Bishops. After Divine service, the said Bishops assembled in the vestryroom of St. Peter's Church. The Rev. Bird Wilson, D. D., was appointed Secretary. On motion, resolved, That information be given to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, that this House have appointed the Rev. Bird Wilson, D. D., their Secretary, and are now organized and ready to proceed to business; also, that this House have adjourned, to meet at St. Andrew's Church tomorrow morning, at 9 o'clock. Adjourned accordingly. Thursday, Sept. 6, 1838, 9 o'clock, A. M. The House met pursuant to adjournment, and attended Divine service in St. Andrew's Church, with the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies. Present as yesterday. The minutes of yesterday were read and approved. On motion of the Right Rev. Bishop Brownell, the following resolutions were adopted: Resolved, That in organizing the House of Bishops for the business of another Convention, we cannot refrain from the expression of the lively sensibility which we feel at the loss of our Venerable Brother, who has so long presided over our deliberations. Resolved, That we shall ever cherish an affectionate remembrance of the person and services of our deceased Brother, the Right Rev. William White, D. D.; grateful to Almighty God for his long continued usefulness to the Church, and mindful of the bright example he has left us, in the purity of his life, the integrity of his purposes, the wisdom and moderation of his counsels, and the benignity of his entire character. A message was received from the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, by the Rev. Dr. Lyell and Mr. Newton, a Committee, that they have organized, by appointing the Rev. Dr. Wyatt, President, and the Rev. Dr. Anthon, Secretary, and are ready to proceed to business; and have resolved to meet daily, from 9 o'clock, A. M., to 3 o'clock, P. M. The House of Bishops resolved that they would meet at the same time. The Right Rev. Bishop Onderdonk, of New-York, proposed the following resolution, which was adopted and sent to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies for concurrence: "The House of Bishops propose to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, that the two Houses unite in the morning prayer every day during the Session, at 9 o'clock; and that the President of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies be requested to appoint a Clergyman to officiate on each day." A memorial from the Primary Convention of Florida, requesting to be received into union with the General Convention, together with their printed Journal, and the Constitution and Canons adopted by them for the government of that Diocese, was presented to the House by the Right Rev. Bishop Otey; which was read, and referred to a Committee, consisting of the Right Rev. Bishops Otey, Hopkins and McIlvaine. The Right Rev. Bishop Onderdonk, of New-York, proposed a resolution as follows: "Resolved, (the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies concurring.) That this Convention does agree to, and ratify the alterations in the Constitution of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, proposed in the last General Convention." After some discussion, it was, on motion, laid on the table, to be taken up again for consideration to-morrow. A message was received from the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, that they concurred in the resolution that the two Houses unite in the morning prayers daily during the Session. The Committee on the Memorial from the Primary Convention of Florida, reported-That the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese of Florida are in agreement with the requirements of the Constitution and Canons of the General Convention. The Committee, therefore, recommend that the Diocese of Florida be received into union with the General Convention. Whereupon, resolved, That the Diocese of Florida be received into union with the General Convention, and that this resolution be transmitted, (together with the memorial and documents,) to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, for their concurrence. A resolution was proposed by the Right Rev. Bishop Ives, as follows: Resolved, The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies concurring, that a Joint Committee of both Houses be appointed to take into consideration whether any, and if any, what alterations are required in the Fourth Article of the Constitution of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States. Which was adopted. The Right Rev. Bishops Ives, Doane, and Otey, were appointed on the part of the House of Bishops, and the resolution sent to the other House for concurrence. The report of the Rev. Francis L. Hawks, D. D., Conservator of the Books, Manuscripts, &c., belonging to the Convention, was presented and read. Whereupon, on motion of the Right Rev. Bishop Onderdonk, of New-York, resolved, That the report of the Conservator be transmitted to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, and that, with the consent of said House, the report be referred to a Joint Committee of the two Houses, to report to the Convention during its present Session. On motion, resolved, That the Right Rev. the Presiding Bishop be requested to prepare, and lay before this House, a draft of a Pastoral Letter. The Triennial Report of the Trustees of the General Theolo gical Seminary, was presented by the Right Rev. Bishop On derdonk, of New-York, and was ordered to be laid on the table On motion of the Right Rev. Bishop Onderdonk, of NewYork, resolved, The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies concurring, that a Joint Committee of this House and the House of Deputies be appointed to consider the expediency of the adoption of measures by this Convention, to provide more effectually for education, in conformity with the principles of the Protestant Episcopal Church; the Committee to report during the Session of the present Convention. This resolution was directed to be sent to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, for concurrence. Adjourned until to-morrow morning, at 9 o'clock. Friday, 7th September, 1838, 9 o'clock, A. M. The House met pursuant to adjournment, and attended Divine service with the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies. Present, as on yesterday, together with the Right Rev. Jackson Kemper, D. D., Missionary Bishop in the states of Missouri and Indiana. The minutes of yesterday were read and approved. A Preamble and Resolutions, adopted by the Faculty of the General Theological Seminary, on the subject of a Standard Bible, were laid before the House by the Right Rev. Bishop Onderdonk, of New-York, and read, as follows: At a meeting of the Faculty of the General Theological Seminary, on Thursday, June 28th, 1838, The following preamble and resolution were adopted, viz : 6 "Whereas, it was resolved' by the General Convention, at their last meeting, that the Faculty of the General Theological Seminary be appointed a Committee to compare and collate the best accessible editions of the Holy Bible in the English language, and to have printed, by some printing establishment, which will undertake the expense of the work, a Bible to be set forth by them as the standard Bible of this Church; and that they appoint some suitable person to superintend the printing, and correct the proofs.' The Faculty of the Seminary having had the subject of this resolution under consideration, unanimously concur in the following resolution, to wit: That, inasmuch as there are many of the best editions of the Bible to which they have no access, and as they have no fund assigned on which they can draw to meet the necessary expenses of the undertaking, it has not been in their power to perform the service requested by the resolution of the Convention. Resolved, That the President of the Faculty be requested to communicate the above resolution to the General Convention, at their next regular meeting in September next. June 28, 1838. "Extract from the Minutes, CLEMENT C. MOORE, Secretary." Whereupon, on motion of the said Bishop, resolved, That the above report be communicated to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, and that with the concurrence of said House, the Committee be discharged. The House took up for consideration the resolution laid on the table yesterday, for ratifying the amendments of the Constitution, proposed at the last Convention; and after discussion, the farther consideration of it was, on motion, postponed until to-morrow morning. A message was received from the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, that they concurred in adopting the resolution for the appointment of a Joint Committee on the subject of measures to provide for education, in conformity with the principles of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and appointed on their part Rev. Mr. Hanckel, Rev. Dr. Lyell, Rev. Mr. Bull, Mr. Meredith, Mr. Codman, and Mr. Ogden. The House of Bishops then appointed on their part the Right Rev. Bishops Onderdonk, of New-York, Hopkins, and Bowen; notice of which was sent to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies. A message was also received from that House, that they concurred in the resolution for a Joint Committee to take into consideration the Fourth Article of the Constitution of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society, &c., and appointed as their Committee, Dr. De Lancey, Dr. Crocker, Rev. Mr. Freeman, Mr. Eccleston, Mr. Stuyvesant, and Mr. Winslow. A message was likewise received from the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, that they concurred in the reference of the report of the Rev. Dr. Hawks, as Conservator to a Joint Committee, and appointed on the part of that House the Rev. Dr. Milnor, the Rev. Dr. De Lancey, Rev. Dr. Johns, Mr. Binney, Mr. Newton, and Mr. Chambers. The House of Bishops then named on their part the Right Rev. Bishops Brownell, Ives, and McIlvaine; notice whereof was sent to the other House. The Right Rev. Bishop Ives proposed a Canon relative to Assistant Bishops, and the Right Rev. Bishop Hopkins one relative to Suffragan Bishops. When, on motion of the Right Rev. Bishop Brownell, it was resolved, That the proposed alterations of the Constitution, together with the said two Canons, be referred to a Committee, to report to-morrow morning. The Right Rev. Bishops Brownell, Onderdonk, of Pennsylvania, and Doane, were appointed the Committee. A message was received from the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, that they concurred with the House of Bishops, in the admission of Florida into union with the General Convention. The following message was also received from the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies: "The Committee on New Dioceses, |