the sake of the refreshing shade afforded by the trees. Seats are prepared in rows before a temporary pulpit made of boards, and there, from a temple made by God himself, prayer and praise ascend unto Him "who dwelleth not in temples made with hands," and who is ever present where contrite and believing hearts are engaged in worshipping Him.

In such scenes, too, it is now common, in almost all parts of the United States, for Sabbath-schools to assemble on the Fourth of July, if the weather be good; for the purpose of hearing appropriate addresses, far more religious than political; of uniting in prayer for the blessing of God upon the country, and the country's hope, the rising generation; and of praising Him from whom all our privileges, civil and religious, have been received. Temperance meetings on the same occasion are now held in our beautiful forests, and something better is heard than the boastful and unchristian self-adulation, to say nothing of the profaneness and ribaldry which too often characterized such scenes in the "olden time," when Temperance societies and Sunday-schools were unknown.

f CHAPTER X.

order reigns to a degree not surpassed in any other country. There is no confusion of the respective rights of the ministry and people. The duties of both are well understood everywhere. Most of the churches, such as the Presbyterian and the Episcopalian in all their branches, possess and maintain a strong ecclesiastical government, and even the Congregational, however democratic in theory, have a government that exercises a hardly less powerful control. How seldom do we hear of disorder occurring at the little meetings of Christians held for prayer and the reading of the Word of God-meetings so numerous, and almost always conducted by pious laymen! How seldom do private church members encroach by word or deed, at meetings of any kind, on the proper sphere of those who hold office in the churches! Indeed, on no one point are our churches more perfectly united in opinion than with respect to the necessity of maintaining due order and subordination. The ministry enjoys its full share of influence.. No one ever hears of unauthorized, unlicensed persons being allowed to speak in our meetings for public worship. Those levelling doctrines, now spreading in other countries-doctrines which would reduce the ministry to nothing, and encourage lay brethren to take it upon them to preach or

CONCLUDING REMARKS ON THE CHURCH AND THE teach in the churches-I dare affirm, will

PULPIT IN AMERICA.

not make much progress among us. AtA STRANGER, upon visiting extensively tempts to introduce something of this sort our evangelical churches of all denomina- have often been made, but in vain. We tions, would be struck, I am sure, with the have, indeed, our meetings in which debate order that prevails in them; and this ap- is allowed, and there the laity may even plies equally to the smaller prayer-meet-take the lead, but these meetings are about ings to be found in every parish and con- the temporal affairs of the church, or the gregation that has any life in it, and to the calling of a pastor, not for the public worgreater assemblies that meet for public ship of God." worship. Foreigners seem impressed with the idea, if I may judge from what I have often heard hinted rather than expressed, that there is a great deal of disorder and lawlessness in the United States, and they infer that there must be no less insubordination in the religious commonwealth than they ascribe to the civil. But both opinions are totally unfounded. It does not follow, because of a few disturbances, arising from the disgraceful opposition made in some places to abolitionists, and the resentment of an exasperated populace against gangs of gamblers in others, that the whole country is a scene of continual commotion. In no part of the world have there been so few dreadful riots, attended with loss of life, as in the United States, during these last sixty years. There are bad men among us, and there are crimes, but, after all, life is quite as safe among us as in any country I have ever visited, and I have been in most of those that are considered civilized.

As for the Church, a regard for law and

Experience has also taught us the necessity of maintaining order at meetings held during revivals-occasions on which, in consequence of the strong excitement of the most powerful feelings of the human heart, there is a special call for watchfulness in this respect. It is a sad mistake to multiply meetings unnecessarily during revivals, or to prolong them to unseasonable hours at night, to the exhaustion of strength, the loss of needed repose, and the unnatural and dangerous irritation of the nervous system. Yet these are the points in which the inexperienced are most liable to err. They begin a meeting, say at seven o'clock in the evening. The preacher feels deeply, and the people are much interested. Instead of preaching for an hour, he is tempted, by the manifest attention of his hearers, to go on for an hour and a half or two hours, and instead of sending them home at half past eight o'clock, or at nine at the farthest, so that they may have time for meditation and secret prayer, in which, after all, the sinner is most like

ly to give his heart unto God, he dismisses | clearly bound to see that the candidate them at ten or eleven o'clock, fatigued, for membership gives such evidences of yet excited, and altogether unfit for the exercises of the closet. This is sometimes done under the idea that the people would lose their serious impressions were the service to be short. But here there is often a temptation of the Adversary. No revival ever suffered by evening meetings being confined to a moderate length. Let the people be almost compelled to leave the house rather than unduly protract such meetings.

BOOK V I.

THE EVANGELICAL CHURCHES IN AMERICA.

Numerous as are the evangelical denominations in the United States, yet when grouped in reference to doctrine on the one We begin with the five most numerous hand, or church government on the other, evangelical denominations in the United it is surprising into how small a number States. These, in the order of their rise, they may be reduced. In doctrine we have are the Episcopalians, the Congregational- but two great divisions-the Calvinistic ists, the Baptists, the Presbyterians, and and the Arminian schools; the former,

CHAPTER II.

THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

with its various peculiarities, comprehend- | before which they come for a decision of ing the Presbyterians, usually so called, their claims, is compelled to look to the evangelical Baptists, the Episcopalians points of doctrine and discipline in order (though they generally consider them- to settle this question as to property. selves as intermediate between the two), Thus it was in the great Quaker case the Congregationalists, the German Re- formerly referred to. formed, the Dutch Reformed, the Covenanters, the Associate, and the Associate Reformed Churches; the latter, with its variations, comprehending the Methodists of all branches, the Lutherans, the Cumberland Presbyterians, the United Brethren or Moravians, and some other small bodies. THE Protestant Episcopal Church in the Considered in reference to their forms United States derives its origin from the of church government, they all range them- Church of England, of which it is not only selves in three great families. The Epis- an offshoot, but to which it is "indebted, copal, comprehending the Protestant Epis- under God, for a long continuance of nurcopal Church, the Methodist Episcopal, sing care and protection."* It agrees with and the Moravians; the Presbyterian, in- that Church in doctrine; and its ritual and cluding the Presbyterians usually so called, formularies, with some variations introthe Dutch Reformed, the German Re-duced after the Revolution by which the formed, the Lutherans, the Cumberland Colonies became independent States, are Presbyterians, the Protestant Methodists, the same. Unlike the mother-church, the Covenanters, the Associate, and the however, it is in no way connected with Associate Reformed; the Congregational the State, nor do its bishops, in virtue of (or Independent, as it is more commonly their office, enjoy any civil powers, imcalled in England), embracing the Congre- munities, or emoluments. gationalists and the Baptists.

The chief particulars in which the SerBut when viewed in relation to the great vice Book differs from that of the Church doctrines which are universally conceded of England are as follows: 1. A shorter by Protestants to be fundamental and ne- form of absolution is allowed to be used cessary to salvation, then they all form but instead of the English, which is, however, one body, recognising Christ as their com- retained, and frequently used in the public mon Head. They then resemble the differ-service. 2. The Athanasian creed is omitent parts of a great temple, all constituting ted. 3. In the administration of baptism, but one whole; or the various corps of an army, which, though ranged in various divisions, and each division having an organization perfect in itself, yet form but one great host, and are under the command of one chief.

Apostles' Creed, into "He descended into the world of departed spirits," or words equivalent. The other modifications, being of less importance and chiefly verbal, need not be specified.

the sign of the cross may be dispensed with, if requested. 4. The marriage service has been considerably abridged. 5. In the funeral service, some expressions, considered as liable to misconstruction, have been altered or omitted. 6. There has This suggests the observation that on no been a change, of course, in the prayers one point are all these churches more for rulers. 7. It is allowed to omit in completely united, or more firmly estab- communion service the prayer called the lished, than on the doctrine of the suprem-" Oblation," and the Invocation. 8. It is acy of Christ in his Church, and the unlaw-permitted to change the words "He defulness of any interference with its doc- scended into hell," which occur in the trine, discipline, and government, on the part of the civil magistrate. There is not a single evangelical church in the United States that does not assert and maintain the glorious doctrine of the Headship of Christ in his Church, and that from Him alone comes all just and lawful authority in the same. On this point they hold unanimously the great doctrine which the Church of Scotland has been sò nobly contending for. If the civil power has ever referred for a moment to the doctrine and discipline of the Church, it has only been in courts of justice, and that solely for the purpose of determining which of two parties has a legal title to be considered as the church in question. For example: A church divides; the parties into which it is divided contend for the property that belonged to it when entire; and the court

As in the parent church in England, there are three ranks or orders in the ministry, and these are believed, by its friends, to be of apostolical institution, viz., bishops, priests, and deacons. Ordination is peformed solely by the bishops. The churches choose their own pastors, but their installation, or induction, requires the consent of the bishop of the diocess.† The * Preface to the American Book of Common Prayer.

+ When the bishop is unable to preside at the installation or institution of a minister as rector or bouring presbyters to act as institutors on the occapastor of a church, he appoints a committee of neighsion. So, also, in diocesses that have no bishops, if

regulation of the temporal affairs of each declaration: "I do believe the Holy Scripchurch is confided to a board of church-tures of the Old and New Testaments to wardens, and vestry, the former of which be the word of God, and to contain all are chosen by the communicants, the lat-things necessary to salvation; and I do ter by the members of the parish general- solemnly engage to conform to the docly. The spiritual rule rests mainly with the pastor, or rector, as he is more commonly called.

The increase and wide diffusion of the Episcopal Church in the United States has led, I understand, to the determination that each state shall constitute a diocess, except when its extent, and the number of churches in it, may require its being divided, like that of New-York, into two diocesses. In some instances, however, as in Virginia, where the state is extensive, and the churches not very numerous, and especially where the principal or senior bishop does not enjoy robust health, an assistant bishop has been appointed.

trines and worship of the Protestant Episcopal Church in these United States." These doctrines are understood to be contained in the articles of religion printed with the Book of Common Prayer, and implied in the liturgy of the Church. The fall of man, the Trinity of divine persons in the Godhead, the proper Deity and humanity of the Saviour, the atonement through his sufferings and death, the regenerating and sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit, the general judgment, the everlasting reward of the righteous and punishment of the wicked-or, in other words, what are called the doctrines of the Reformation-are fully taught in these formularies, and are in reality professed by those who subscribe the above decla

Each diocess has its affairs directed by an Annual Convention, composed of the diocesan clergy and one or more lay dele-ration. gates from each parish, elected by the people, or appointed by the wardens and vestry; the clergy and laity forming one body, but voting separately whenever this is demanded, the clergy forming one house and the laity another. The bishop presides, should there be one; if not, a president is chosen in his place. A concurrent vote of both orders, when voting separately, is necessary before any measure or law can pass.

Every three years a General Convention is held; the last always appointing the place of meeting for the next after. This body is composed of clerical and lay delegates from each state or diocesan convention, who form the house of delegates, and of the bishops, who form the house of bishops. When any proposed act has passed one house, it is sent to the other for its concurrence, the consent of both houses being requisite to its having the force of law. The Episcopal Church, throughout the country, is governed by the canons of the General Convention. These canons regulate the election of bishops, declare the qualifications necessary for obtaining the orders of deacon and priest, the studies to be previously pursued, the examinations to be undergone, and the age which candidates must have attained before they can be admitted to the three grades of the ministry. The age of twenty-one is required for deacon's orders, twenty-four for those of priest, and before a man can be ordained a bishop he must have completed his thirtieth year.

The Episcopal was the first Protestant Church planted on the American Continent, and the reader has seen how it was the favoured Church in Virginia from the earliest settlement of that state until the Revolution; also, how it came to be established in the colonies of Maryland, NewYork, and the Carolinas. But, notwithstanding all the aid which it received from the civil government, its prosperity was far from commensurate with its external advantages. When the Revolution commenced it had not more than eighty ministers in the colonies north and east of Maryland, and even these, with the exception of such as were settled in Philadelphia, New-York, Newport, Boston, and a few other of the most important cities and towns, were supported by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts; while in the colonies south of Virginia, viz., the Carolinas and Georgia, all the clergy taken together were but few. The number in Virginia and Maryland, amounting to about 150, greatly exceeded that of all the other colonies.

The causes of this ill success during the colonial era lay, as we have stated, in the Church being dependant upon England altogether for Episcopal supervision, and, in a great degree, for its ministers; in the unfitness, for the colonies, of many that were sent over by the Bishop of London, to whose diocess the Episcopal churches in America were then attached; and the great difficulties attending the raising up of a native clergy, and sending them to England Candidates for ordination do not, as in for consecration, though this had been the Church of England, subscribe the Thir-done to a very great extent in the colony ty-nine Articles, but simply the following of Connecticut, and it was in that colony the services of a neighbouring prelate cannot be ob- that the Episcopal Church had made by tained, a self-constituted committee of neighbouring far the greatest advance. We have also presbyters may give institution. I seen how disastrous were the Revolution

and the changes it effected on the Episco- | effects. Its subsequent history has been pal Church in all the colonies, and particu- marked by an ever-increasing prosperity. larly in Virginia, and that it was many I have not the means of knowing what years before it could rise from the pros- was the precise number of its clergy in tration in which the return of peace in 1783 1792, but I am sure that it could not have found it. exceeded 200, and its bishops were four. Just forty years later, in 1832, according to the Journal of the General Convention

the number of the bishops had increased to fifteen, and that of the clergy to 583. Twelve years later still, in 1844, we find the number of bishops augmented to twenty-three, the clergy to 1176,* while the churches probably exceed 1200.

One of the first measures attempted after that event was the formation of an ecclesiastical constitution, by a special conven-held in New-York in October of that year, tion of the clergy from several of the states, held in Philadelphia in 1785, for the purpose of uniting all the Episcopal churches in one body. Another important measure was the ordination of American bishops. For this purpose, the above convention, which was the first that was held, Nor has the spiritual prosperity of this opened a correspondence with the Arch- church been less remarkable than its exbishops of Canterbury and York. This ternal. It possesses a degree of life and was followed by the British Parliament energy throughout all its extent, and an passing an act authorizing the English prel- amount of vital piety in its ministers and ates to consecrate bishops for America. members, such as it never had in its coloThe Rev. Drs. White and Provoost, the nial days. It is blessed with precious reformer of Philadelphia, and the latter of vivals, and flourishes like a tree planted New-York, were thereupon sent over to by the rivers of water. And in no porEngland, and received ordination to the tions of the country does it possess more Episcopal office from the hands of the Arch-spiritual health than in the States of Virbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop ginia and Maryland, where, in the anteof York, the Bishops of Bath and Wells revolutionary era, it was in a deplorable and of Peterborough assisting. Upon their state as regards piety, both in its ministry return to America, Bishops White and Pro- and its laity. Happier days have dawned voost entered upon the discharge of their upon it in those states, and, indeed, everyEpiscopal duties in their respective dio- where else. Even while writing this chapter, I have received a letter from an excellent young Episcopal minister settled in a country parish in the centre of Virginia, who informs me that the last winter and spring were seasons of remarkable blessing to the Episcopal Church in that state. He states that about 100 persons have been added to the church at Norfolk; nearly as many to that of Petersburg; while at Richmond,† so interesting was the state of things, that the rectors of the churches there (three or four in number) did not feel it to be their duty to leave their flocks. in order to attend the Convention of the Diocess which had just taken place.

cesses.

cut.

A short time before the consecration of Bishops White and Provoost, the Rev. Samuel Seabury, D.D., had gone over to England for consecration to the Episcopal office. But having abandoned all hope of success from that quarter, he went to Scotland, and was consecrated by three of the non-juring bishops of that kingdom. Upon his return he became Bishop of ConnectiIn the Convention of 1789, it being proposed to ordain another bishop, that body requested Bishops White and Provoost to unite with Bishop Seabury in performing that act, the presence of three bishops being necessary. But Bishop White having some doubts whether it was consistent with the faith understood to have been pledged to the English bishops, not to proceed to an act of consecration without having first obtained from them the number held in their church to be canonically necessary to such an act, the dif I have also taken some notice of the ficulty was terminated by sending the Rev. theological schools or seminaries connectJames Madison, D.D., of Virginia, to Eng-ed with it, viz., one at New-York, another land, and his consecration there. At the in Fairfax county, Virginia, a few miles next triennial convention, held in the city from Alexandria, in the District of Columof New-York in 1792, the four bishops, bia, and a third at Gambier, Ohio, in conDrs. White, Provoost, Madison, and Sea-nexion with Kenyon College. These instibury, ordained the Rev. Dr. Thomas John tutions have already sent forth a large Clagget to the Episcopal office in the diocess of Maryland.

About that epoch the Church may be said to have passed its apogee of depression, occasioned by the Revolution and its

I have already spoken of the societies. which have sprung up in the Episcopal Church for the promotion of domestic missions, Sunday-schools, the education of poor and pious young men for the ministry, and the publication of religious tracts and books.

* Swords's Pocket Almanac for 1844. The pres

ent number of bishops in the Protestant Episcopal Church in America is twenty-three, including the bishop elect of New-Hampshire.

These three are the largest cities in the state.