sidered. At present, I shall only remark, that when we entered on this our third conversation, it was with the idea on my part, that from too great zeal for the sign in baptism, you would lay too little stress on the thing signified; but I perceive, that you insist strongly on the latter. I have heard as much from you in the pulpit: and although I was gratified by this, it seemed to me not to harmonize with your theory of reges neration. I now perceive, that there is more to be said than I had imagined, for combining the sign and the thing signified. I shall give the subject further consideration, and at present, shall take my leave.

Minister. I pray God, that the conversation may prove edifying to us both. But after having been occupied by your objections, I solicit another interview, for the purpose of stating what I conceive to be the consequences of your opinion; but which, perhaps, have escaped your notice.

Parishioner. I shall avail myself of the proposed interview.

(To be continued.)

Abstract of the Proceedings of the Bishops, Clergy, and Laity, of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, in a Special General Convention, held in St. Peter's Church, in the City of Philadelphia, from October 30th to November 3d, inclusive, A. D. 1821. (Continued from page 115, and concluded.) The presiding Bishop made the following report:

The House of Clerical and Lay Deputies of the last General Convention, having requested of the Honse of Bishops " to take measures for making known any errors or omissions in the octavo edition of the Book of Common Prayer, published by Hugh Gaine, in 1793, which was established by the 43d Canon as the standard book, so that they may be avoided or supplied in future editions; and that they be also respect fully requested to correct and supply any errors or omissions in the calendar and tables prefixed thereto, and to extend the table of the days on which Easter will fall for two cycles of the moon from the year of our Lord 1823; [erroneously in the printed journal 1813;"]

And the House of Bishops having requested the presiding Bishop, with such persons as he may think proper to associate with him, to take order on the said subject;

The presiding Bishop respectfully reports to the House of Bishops us follows:

1st. He has carefully prepared, and appends to this report, a table for finding Easter, extended through two cycles of the moon, from 1824 to 1861, inclusive.

2d. In the third paragraph of the first of the tables for finding the holidays to "1799," he has inserted 1899, omitting "and also the number 1." Consequently the fourth paragraph' has been omitted

3d. In "the table of fasts," he has changed "the season of Lent" to "the forty days of Lent." The corrected error was not begun in Gaine's book, but may be found in that pubrection of a Committee of the Convention of lished by Hall & Sellers, in 1790, under the di1789. In the proposed book, published by them, it was agreeable to the English editions. The error must have been an oversight of the Committee, and makes an inconsistency of the table of fasts with that of feasts; the latter com

prehending the Sundays in Lent, agreeably to the practice of the Christian Church in all

ages.

4th. It was stated to the reporter by a member of the late, and of the present Convention, Prayer Books, there was the omission of a (William Meredith, Esq.) that in all our

note found in the English books, underneatla the months of March and April, in the calendar, intended to show the use of the golden

numbers, in a column attached to the said months only. On investigating the subject, we found that the note was wanting in the Prayer Books, edited before the adop ion of the Gre

gorian style, in 1751, but was found in all the succeeding editions consulted. From these ciroumstances it seems probable, that in making out the calendar for the American Church, there was taken a book prior to the said date.

The column, with the golden numbers, may have been called for at the crisis of the change of style; but, as it is insufficient for the finding of Easter, from its not showing how the golden numbers are to be found; and as this, with the whole process for the finding of the said festival, is provided for by a table appropriated to that object, it was thought proper to omit the column, and the figures included in it.

5th. In ascertaining errors in Mr. Hugh Gaine's book of 1793, your reporter has been kindly assisted by Mr. William Hall, who printed the proposed book in 1785-6. He has furnished the list of errors appended to this report, besides noting various places, in which the sense may suffer from the want of stops, or from their being injudiciously placed.

6th. In addition to sundry errors in editions proposed to be made according to H. Gaine's book, some of the editions have framed the tables of contents, according to their respective judgments, and not according to the standard, which ends with "The Psaiter, or Psalms of David," not including the metre Psalms. It must be evident, that the comprehending of any document under the same cover with the Book of Common Prayer, does not constitute it a part thereof, although set forth under the same authority. As much misunderstanding and inconvenience may arise from the misnomers stated, the matter is noticed, with the hope of its being a caution against the like mistake in future.

7th. In consequence of information received of several editions now proceeding from presses, it has been thought proper to communicate to

the printers what the reporter has done, under the authority given to him to take order.

He concludes with submitting to the House the propriety of establishing a standard book, to supersede that of H. Gaine, of which the known copies are very few. In the event of such a measure, he proposes to the House, that an edition be taken from the stereotype plates belonging to the Common Prayer Book Society of Pennsylvania. A Committee to be appointed by both Houses, to act during the recess, for the accomplishing of this object. WILLIAM WHITE, Presiding Bishop.

On the subject of the above communication, the following joint resolution was adopted Resolved, by the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, the House of Bishops concurring, that a joint Committee, of one or more Bishops, to be appointed by the House of Bishops, and of three members of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, to be appointed by the House last mentioned, be authorized, during the recess of the General Convention, to superintend the printing of an edition of the Book of Common Prayer, correcting and supplying therein any errors and omissions in the edition heretofore established as the standard book, and introducing a table of the days on which Easter will fall for 38 years, being the time of two cycles of the moon, as reported by the presiding Bishop to this Convention; and that in the choice of an edition for this purpose, the said Committee, for the sake of greater accuracy, give a preference to one to be printed from stereotype plates, and authenticate the same by

their certificate.

The following joint Committee was accordingly appointed:

The Right Rev. William White, D. D. Wm. Meredith, Esq. the Rev. Frederick Beasley, D. D. and the Rev. Bird Wilson, D. D.

The following report was made to the House of Bishops by the presiding Bishop:

The presiding Bishop reports to the House of Bishops, in reference to the Society for Foreign and Domestic Missions, instituted at the last General Convention, that owing, as he supposes, to the state in which the business of that body was concluded, neither were the intended managers constitutionally chosen, nor had any Bishop a right to a seat or a vote at their board; although, doubtless, the contrary was supposed to have been provided for by the Convention generally.

The intended managers perceived these defects, and have not carried the design into efrect. They have reported their proceedings to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies; and the presiding Bishop judges it to be sufficient to refer this House to their report.

The following report of the Managers of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, was made:

To the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies of the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America,

The Managers of the Missionary Society Respectfully report,

That soon after the adjournment of the last General Convention, they proceeded to organ

ize themselves as a board for the transaction of business. At this time it was discovered, with regret, that although the constitution, intended for the government of the Missionary Society, provided, that the presiding Bishop of the Church should be its president, and the other Bishops vice-presidents, in the order of seni ority, yet no provision had been made by which the Bishops were authorized either to sit or vote with the board of managers. This circumstance could only be regarded as an oversight, unintended on the part of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, and overlooked by the House of Bishops, when the constitution was before them, and received their approbation. The embarrassment of the managers in relation to this subject was much relieved when it was ascertained, that the presiding Bishop viewed the subject in the same light, and that he was willing to sit with the board, and preside at its meetings.

Among the first acts of the managers, after they began to execute the highly responsible trust reposed in them, was to announce the formation of the Society to those institutions in England, belonging to our own Church, which are employed in different ways in promoting the interest of the Redeemer's kingdom. Letters were written to the secretaries of the three

following societies "The Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts;" "The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge;" and "The Church Missionary Society." Answers have been received from the Rev. Anthony Hamilton, secretary of the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts, and from the Rev. Josiah Pratt, secretary of the Church Missionary Society. Both of the reverend gentlemen, in behalf of the societies which they represent, express great satisfaction in the establishment of a Society for missionary purposes in the American branch of the Episcopal Church. Accompanying the letter of the Rev. Mr. Hamilton, the six last reports of the Society, of which he is the secretary, were re ceived. And at different times, several packages have come to hand from the Church Missionary Society, containing their reports, missionary registers, and other publications, calculated to give information upon the subject of missions. In one of these parcels were contained several complete sets of the reports of the Society, and of the Missionary Register, from the commencement of its publication, ins tended for the use of the Bishops of the United States-which have been forwarded to them accordingly. It will, no doubt, be gratifying to the Convention, as it was to the managers, to learn, that the last mentioned Society, as an evidence of its good wishes for our success, has voted an appropriation of two hundred pounds sterling, (supposing the Society here to be in operation) which awaits the order of those who may be authorized to receive it. As these letters may be interesting to the Convention, they are here with submitted.

At an early period, the managers appointed a Committee to devise a plan, by which the designs of the Convention might most effectually be attained. After due deliberation upon the subject, it was thought advisable to prepare an address to the members of the Church, informing them of the measures which had been adopted; urging, by suitable considerations, the importaut duty of sending the Gospel to

the destitute, and requesting their co-operation, by the formation of auxiliary societies and associations. Such an address was prepared, and printed in one or two periodical publica tions, when it was discovered that, by reason of an informality in the mode of our appointment, we had been acting without authority. The informality referred to will be perceived upon referring to the Journal of the last Convention.

When this circumstance was known, the managers were at a loss to determine whether they should continue to act under an informal appointment, or suspend all further proceed ings. To pursue the one course might subject them to censure; to adopt the other, seemed like abandoning an object in which, they believed, the members of the Church felt much interested. At this time letters were written to the Right Rev. the Bishops, requesting their opinion upon the subject. Answers were received from all except the Bishop of NewYork. Some of them were decidedly in fayour of our proceeding, while a majority thought it inexpedient; this decided the matter, and all thought of continuing to act as a board, under the authority of the Convention, was given up.

Under the circumstances above described, the managers would probably have stayed all further proceedings, had not an idea been suggested, which appeared to promise a happier result. It was thought, that if the members of the board would consent to form themselves into an association, and could obtain the sanetion of the Bishops, they might at least make some preparation for their more efficient action at a future day. Letters were accordingly written to the absent members of the board, all of whom, except Judge Washington, readily consented to the proposition, and he requested, that if the unanimous consent of the board of managers was deemed essential, that his might be considered as given. Nothing now seemed wanting but the approbation of the Right Rev. the Bishops to the proposed plan. They were written to with a view of obtaining it, but in this the managers were not successful. From this time the board have not met, until within a few days, when they were called together to prepare this their report, all of which is respectfully submitted to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, in Convention assembled.

JOHN READ, President. R. S. SMITH, Secretary. Philadelphia, October 30, 1821. To the Rev. George Boyd.

Dear Sir,

Church Missionary House,
London, Sept. 21, 1820.

I feel much satisfaction in acknowledging your letter of the 9th ultimo, and a copy of the Journal of the General Convention of the American Church.

"Our Committee cordially rejoice in the formation of the Protestant Episcopal Society in the United States for Domestic and Foreign Missions." They accept with pleasure your invitation to carry on a correspondence and interchange of publications with you. Feeling as we do the extent and arduousness of the work in which we are engaged, to extend the blessings of the Gospel to a world that lieth in error VOL. VI.

and in sin, we hail with gratitude every auxiliary which comes forward to take part in it. It is however, with peculiar feelings of satisfaction, that we witness the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States embodying itself into a Society, for the purpose of concentrating its strength and rendering its exertions more effi cient in this holy cause. Though we wish well to the labours of other bodies of Christians, to extend the Redeemer's kingdom, yet, as Episcopalians, we especially rejoice in the prospect of seeing the churches gathered from among the heathen, settled on those foundations which, we are persuaded, are at once more scriptural and better suited to promote the best interests of mankind.

In testimony of our disposition to impart to your Society all the missionary information in our power, we are preparing a package of our publications for your use. One parcel is addressed to each of the Bishops, which the committee request their acceptance of; and the remainder we place at the disposal of the managers of the Society, to be made use of in such manner as they deem most subservient to its interests.

Copics of a work containing a summary view of the Society for the Propagation of the Gos pel in Foreign Parts, are also sent; as it supplies most conclusive and eloquent arguments in behalf of missions, from authorities which members of an Episcopal Church will be likely to respect. It was compiled by me chiefly from documents in the library of our own Society; and we are glad of the opportunity of putting forth a work which might serve the Society in its collections throughout the kingdom, and at the same time to testify our respect and regard to the elder body among us.

We have received the Episcopal Magazine of the United States from January to April, inclusive, and shall be thankful for the numbers in continuation.

A single pamphlet forwarded through the post-office, so done up that the parcel is open at the ends, will not be subjected to the full postage. I mention this circumstance, as we have been subject to very heavy charges at the post-office, in consequence of our friends in America not being aware of it.

I remain, dear Sir, with much respect, ever faithfully yours, JOSIAH PRATT

ciety of the United States, copies of their six last reports, with an assurance of the satisfaction they have derived from your important communication. I am, Rev. Sir,

Your obedient servant, ANTHONY HAMILTON, Secretary of the Society, P. G. F. No. 42 Castle-street, Leicester Square. November 23d, 1820.

To the Rev. George Boyd.

Church Missionary House,
London, July 10th, 1821.

Dear Sir,
Bishop Griswold having suggested to me
in a letter, under date of the 16th November
last, but which did not reach me till the 12th
ultimo, that the Protestant Episcopal Mission-
ary Society in the United States for Foreign
and Domestic Missions, is desirous to avail it-
self of the offer, conveyed in a letter of mine
to the Bishop, under date of July 31st, 1817,
to afford pecuniary aid to such an institution on
its formation, the Bishop's letter was laid before
our Committee yesterday, and they came to a
ananimous resolution to grant two hundred
pounds sterling to the institution for its effective
establishment.

You will, therefore, have the kindness to inform the directors of the Society, that the sum awaits their appropriation, at such period and in such manner as they may deem expedient.

I have much pleasure in making this com munication, and in assuring you of the cordial satisfaction felt by our Committee in thus cooperating with their Episcopal brethren in the United States, in promoting the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom among the heathen.

We hope you receive our registers and other publications regularly. They are forwarded monthly to your address, through Messrs. Morrall and Watson, Liverpool.

We shall at all times be glad to hear of the plans and operations of your Society.

I remain, dear Sir, faithfully yours,
JOSIAH PRAÍT.

The following directors and secretaries of the Missionary Society were duly appointed

Pennsylvania, the Rev. Jackson Kemper, the Rev. James Montgomery, the Rev. Benjamin Allen, Messrs. Richard North, Richard Dale, Thomas Hale, John Claxton, Charles Wheeler, Israel Kinsman, Hugh de Haven, jun. James Nixon-Delaware, the Rev. Richard D. Hall. -Maryland, the Rev. William E.Wyatt, D. D. the Rev. John P. K. Henshaw-Virginia, the Rev. William H. Wilmer, D. D. the Rev. William Meade.-North-Carolina, the Rev. Gregory T. Bedell.-South-Carolina, the Rev. Christian Hanckell, Lewis L. Gibbes.-NewJersey, the Rev. Abiel Carter-New-York, the Rev. James Milnor, D.D. the Rev. Benjamin T. Onderdonk.-Rhode-Island, the Rev. Salmon Wheaton.-Massachusetts, the Rev. Thomas Carlile. Secretaries, the Rev. George Boyd, Samuel J. Robbins.

The following resolution was passed:Resolved, That the next Convention shall meet on the day, and at the place appointed, at the hour of 10 A. M. in order to attend the services usually performed at the opening of the Convention.

The Convention was closed with prayer, and

an address from the presiding Bishop, as detailed, page 382 of our last volume:

Opinion of the House of Bishops given at their meeting in the above Convention. Concerning the last Rubric in the Communion Service.

The House of Bishops being informed of what they consider as a great misunderstanding in various places of the rubric at the end of the communion service, think it their duty to declare their sense of the same, and to communicate it to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies.

In the Common Prayer Book of the Church of England, the words in the parenthesis are "if there be no communion." In the review of 1789, it was put-" if there be no sermon or communion"-and this has been interpreted to mean, that if there be a sermon, what has been called the ante-communion service is to be omitted. Against this construction the Bishops object as follows:

1st. The construction rests on inference, deduced in contrariety to the positive direction

"Then shall follow the sermon." Had an exception been intended, it would doubtless have been expressed positively, as in other rubrics. Further, the rubric in question preseribes, that "when there is a communion, the minister shall return to the Lord's Table? which presumes him to have been there before in the ante-communion service, unless in the permitted alternative of some other place,

2d. The argument on the other side proves too much, and therefore nothing. It is said of those who urge it, that they conceive themselves bound to use the whole service on a communion day; whereas it should be dispensed with on the same principle on which it is supposed to be superseded by the sermon. On the other hand, if there being either a sermon or the communion should be thought to warrant the omission, can it be, that the Convention designed to leave in the book the antecommunion service, with all the Collects, the Gospels, and the Epistles attached to them, to be little more than dead letter; never to be used, except on the few occasions, when the said service is unconnected with either of the said provisions? For, it is not required to be used, either with the morning or with the evening prayer.

3d. There is a rubric, prescribing the place in the service, at which notice shall be given of holidays, &c. Can it be supposed that a provision of this sort was intended to be done away, not professedly, but indirectly? and that even there should be no provision for notifying the communion?

4th. It is understood, that the morning prayer, and the administration of the communion, were designed to be distinct services, to be used at different times of the day. Probably, at the time of the Reformation, the practice was generally conformable to the provision; and it is said to prevail at present in some places in England. Now, although there is probably no Church in the United States of which the same can be affirmed, yet, why raise a bar against so reasonable and so godly a practice? an effort for which, would reduce the whole to the sermon, except when the communion were to be administered, and then there would be the latter part of the service only.