Minister. I believe you are not; but I have known many, who, like you, would plead for the fruits of the spirit in the heart and in the life; yet find it difficult to believe, that there is a distribution of the Christian character, in any who have occasionally returns of the sensibilities referred to. There have come under my observation, instances of those who have lived and died in sin, not without such returns, I have known them excited, by excess in the use of ardent spirits. These extremes out of the question, they have been seen by me in alliance with exterior morals and a visible profession, dishonoured by unsocial and even by malignant tempers; while the root of the matter has been thought to be not wanting, by persons of a higher grade of character; all owing to a leaning towards similarity in the complexion of devotion. The extravagancies referred to, are not the only errors considered by me as in alliance with the rejection of baptismal regeneration. There is a closer connexion of it with the Calvinistic sys

tem.

Parishioner. You are aware, that Calvinism is the favourite view of Christianity with many excellent and able persons; and that they affirm it to be the doctrine of our Church.

Minister. I acknowledge the worth and the talents of many of its profess ors; but as to its being the doctrine of our Church, its intrusion into our pale is conspicuous in various ways; and, among them, in its having been the cause of the decrease of the estimation of the scriptural and primitive view of the ordinance of baptism. The two doctrines may be compared to the struggling of Zarah and Phares in the womb of Tamar. In some minds, the younger has taken the place of the elder; which, however, it is to be hoped, will always claim its birth-right. After that St. Austin had laid what subsequently proved the foundation of Calvinism; and although his system was much cultivated by some orders of Monks; the two theories, however discordant, were professed together. Perhaps it would have so continued to the present time, had there not been per

ceived the inconsistency between the doctrine of baptismal regeneration, and that of the final perseverance of the saints. In my conscience, I think, that there is no foundation in Scripture for the latter, and for the points connected with it: and this is with me an additional argument, for sustaining what has been delivered to us under the former head, from the earliest ages of the Church, through the channel of the Church of England. But it is time to draw towards a conclusion: which shall be preceded by the consequence, that you have fallen into something like the error which you attributed to me in the beginning-the "Opus operatum." I told you, that I had not a clear idea of a physical quality stamped on the soul; which we consider as an immaterial substance; and not capable of a quality, which would seem from the name to belong to matter. You approximate to this, when you conceive of a moral change wrought on dying infants. In regard to the state they are to be taken from, and that to which they are to be transferred, they have neither intelligence nor volition; and, therefore, I do not perceive how the change can take place. I know not, whether the same notion may not have produced what I have been credibly informed of in some, who have hoped of deceased friends after their having led ill lives, that they may have been regenerated in the extremity of disease, and when there were no remains of reason or of consciousness. These are human imaginations, for which I have not heard of any pretence from Scripture.

Parishioner: As you intimate a speedy conclusion, I must first express to you the impression which has been on my mind all along, that your opinion is hostile to the scriptural doctrine of original sin.

Minister. I protest against being so understood. Its contrariety to the imputation of the sin of Adam, so as to lay all mankind under the sentence of damnation on that account, I confess. But the diseases, the weaknesses, and the wants of the body, and the other accompaniments of its destination to death, have produced a deterioration of

soul. We retain the original properties of our material and of our immaterial substance; which are virtuous or vicious, according to the direction given to them, and according to the degrees of their excitements. The proper direction and measure, can only be under the operation of Divine Grace. To begin with two of the appetites hunger and thirst: they have in them nothing of moral evil; but without due government, produce an immensity of it. Anger is an innocent and useful property-for St. Paul has said, "be ye angry and sin not"-but in its misdirection and excess, exceedingly sinful. Desire is the same property of our being, whether it be of those pleasures which are at God's right hand for ever, or grovel on the world, in pursuit of its unsatisfying enjoyments. And aversion is the same property, when it causes us to turn away with disgust either from the contemplation of the adorable perfections of the Creator, or from what is poured out in blasphemy against them. Love and hatred, joy and sorrow, and every other affection, might be a subject of the same remark. Under the direction of Divine Grace, they are "a renewing after the image of him who created us ;" and independently on that control, they take such a direction as likens us to beasts of prey, and, perhaps, to spirits of darkness.

It is time to finish. I think that all the necessary topics have passed under review. There has been no endeavour to draw from you either conviction of the truth of my doctrine, or rejection of it; because, in each case, it should be the result of mature consideration. That you have misunderstood it in some particulars, you have voluntarily declared; which gives me hopes as to the issue.

Parishioner. You are right, Sir, as to my more favourable estimate of your opinion, than when we begun; and I act on the maxim which you have suggested, of consideration requiring time. In whatever it may end, I shall retain a sense of your kind endeavours to instruct me; and with this I take my leave.

W. W.

Abstract of the Proceedings of the Thirtyfourth Annual Convention of the Dioces of South-Carolina, held in "St. Michael's Church, Charleston, from the 13th to the 16th of February, inclusive, 1822.

The Convention was composed of the Right Rev. Bishop Bowen, 11 Presbyters, 6 Deacons, and 39 Lay Delegates, representing 21 parishes.

It was opened with Morning Prayer, conducted by the Rev. Maurice H. Lance, Rector of Prince George's, Winyaw; a sermon by the Rev. Allston Gibbes, Assistant Minister of St.

Philip's Church, Charleston; and the administration of the holy communion by the Bishop, assisted by the Rev. Milward Pogson, Rector of St. James's, Goose Creek.

The Rev. Frederick Dalcho, M. D. was elected Secretary and Treasurer.

A letter was read from the vestry and wardens of St. Mark's Church, Manchester, Sumter district, stating the organization of their church, in conformity with the constitution and canons of the Protestant Episcopal Church, requesting to be recognized by the Bishop, and received by the Convention into union with

their body.

Whereupon it was, on motion, resolved, that the church of St. Mark's, Manchester, be received into this Convention.

On motion of the Rev. Mr. Hanckell, the thanks of the Convention were presented to the Rev. Mr. Gibbes, for his excellent and appro

priate discourse, delivered before them this day. Conformably to the 45th canon of the General Convention, "providing for an accurate view of the state of the Church," the Right Rev. Bishop Bowen delivered the following address:

My Brethren of the Clergy,

and of the Laity,

It has afforded great solace to the affliction, under which it has pleased God that I should labour, during so large a portion of the year which has elapsed, since we last met each other here, that I have, in no period of it, been rendered entirely unable to discharge the duties appertaining to the relation in which I am required at present to address you. Indeed, the Divine Goodness, which, in all periods of the infirmity with which I have been visited, still enabled me to attend to almost every demand of diocesan duty which occurred, claims my utmost gratitude.

Under circumstances which imperiously required it, I was absent during part of the summer from the diocess. A journey, however, in the prosecution of the main object of such absence, through the north-western extremity of the state, was made to me the happy occasion of fulfilling a duty, to which engagements of a stronger claim and more immediate urgency, had before put it out of my power to attend. I mean that of visiting congregations, which, by the means of the Society for the Advancement of Christianity in South-Carolina, had been formed in the districts of Pendleton and Greenville. I found there the Society's Missionary, the Rev. Mr. Dickinson, who by appointment of each of the congregations, has become the minister of both, faithfully performing the laborious duties of his station. At Pendleton, measures have been taken towards the erection of a church; a Sunday school has been instituted, and there is reason to hope,

that the seed sown in a seemingly unfriendly soil, will spring up and flourish to the divine glory, through that sound and wholesome edification of the people, which will manifest its influence in an ameliorated moral aspect of society.

Besides these places, I have visited officially, Trinity Church, Columbia; Claremont Church, Stateburg; St. Mark's, Clarendon; and St. Stephen's, Pineville. At these churches, with the exception of that at Claremont, I administered confirmation. This rite was administered also at Pendleton. In St. Mark's parish, Clarendon, the new building, provided by the liberality of a few individuals, in lieu of the parish church, which was destroyed in the Revolutionary War, and near its site, was consecrated to the worship of Almighty God, according to the form and usage of our Church; and the Rev. J. W. Chanler, under whose faithful and useful ministry, partly as a missionary of the society, the parish, within the last year and a half, had become reinstated in the enjoyment of divine worship, was admitted by me to the holy order of Priests; the Rev. Mr. Delevaux, of St. Matthew's parish, and the Rev. Mr. Folker, of Columbia, being present and assisting me in both solemnities. It is highly grateful to me, to have it in my power to state also, that exertions made by the Rev. Mr. Chanler, to form a congregation in the village of Manchester, distant about 14 miles from his parish church, have been so far successful, as that vestrymen and wardens have been elected at a meeting held for the purpose, who have reguJarly invited Mr. Chanler to hold service, as their minister, under suitable temporary ar rangements. It is hoped that a place of worship, proper to the congregation thus formed, will not long be wanting.

No other ordination has been held in this diocess within the year.

Mr. Thomas H. Taylor, who was reported last year as a candidate for orders, was, in November last, ordained a Deacon, in Philadelphia, by virtue of letters dimissory from this diocess.

Five persons have been received as candidates for holy orders, viz. Paul Trapier Keith, Francis Huger Rutledge, Mellish J. Motte, William P. Coffin, and Benjamin Huger Flemming. These, together with some reported at prior Conventions, make the whole number of candidates at present belonging to the diocess

to be seven.

Since the last Convention, the church at Claremont has unhappily become destitute of a minister; the Rev. Mr. Adams, who had so satisfactorily served it, having resigned the charge, and returned to the diocess of NewYork. Since the month of July last, divine service has been performed in that church by a candidate for orders, regularly licensed by me, to officiate for a season as a lay reader. It has been painful to me, in an extreme degree, to be called, since our last meeting, to record the removal from this diocess of the Rev. Mr. John B. Campbell. I have mourned with the church, which he had served, with much ability and faithfulness, the afflicting change of their condition; and am earnestly desirous of assisting, to some happy issue, exertions hitherto made by them, without success, to supply themselves with the offices of a stated mi. nistry. The only other church which has be

come vacant in the course of the year, is that of St. Mark's, Williamsburgh: the Rev. Mr. Chanler, who had served that, in conjunction with St. Mark's, Clarendon, having found himself unable to continue his services to congretiens so widely separated.

The Rev. Mr. Anthon, whose services were discontinued at St. Bartholomew's in May last, has been followed in the same field of labour by the Rev. Mr. Andrews, of Connecticut.

This

Under a resolution of the board of trustees of the Society for the Advancement of Christianity in South-Carolina, placing sundry sums at my discretionary disposal for missionary pur poses, the Rev. Mr. Mitchell, a Deacon of this diocess, was appointed by me, in the spring of the last year, to officiate for a few weeks in the vacant churches of St. James's parish, Santee. This has resulted in Mr. Mitchell's being invited by the vestry of that parish to become its minister. Under the same provision of the trustees of the same excellent society, the Rev. Mr. Vanpelt, of Pennsylvania, was, in Novem ber last, appointed to a very short mission in St. Luke's parish and places adjacent. mission has given place to an appointment of Mr. Vanpelt, by the vestry of St. Luke's, to officiate there until the summer. It is desir able that some more permanent engagements should be entered into between himself and the members of our Church in that part of the diocess. The Rev. Mr. Taylor, mentioned above, as recently admitted to Deacons' orders, having been appointed, in conformity with the 13th canon of the General Convention, to officiate at the chapel near North Santee Ferry, has been engaged by the proprietors of that chapel to serve them until the first Sunday in June.

The receiving of the new congregation of Manchester into the Convention, by their delegates, reminds me again to suggest for your consideration, the importance of instituting some regular uniform mode of receiving churches newly organized into our diocesan association. At the opening of the Convention of the last year, three congregations, as recently formed, claimed to be received by their delegates as members of this body. It was apprehended that one of them at least had an existence of a very frail and uncertain nature, and the apprehension then entertained has been justified by the subsequent dissolution of the little manufacturing community of the SouthCarolina Armory, of which it was composed, and the discontinuance of all public religious service there, since the month of June last. And yet, a delegation from this church, last year so called, being admitted to an equal par ticipation with that of every other church in all the business of the Convention, might have decided by its vote questions, in the estimation of some at least who had engaged in their discussion, deeply interesting to the Church.

I would take occasion also, at present, to sug gest for your consideration, whether it be not expedient to institute some rule, by which provision may be had, against receiving as members of this body, persons, not in any sense members of the particular congregations or corporations which they are appointed to represent. I am the less reluctant to make this suggestion, and am persuaded there will be less reluctance on your part, to act upon the subject to which it relates at present, in conse

quence of there being now no members of the Convention coming under the case in contemplation, who are not so eminently beyond the reach of question, as to their fitness to be so, that it is impossible it should be supposed to be founded in objection to any individual instances of the species of representation referred to. Indeed, I am not aware of any instance, in which the practice alluded to has hitherto been productive of evil, or led to the use of the pri vileges of membership of this Convention, in any degree injurious or offensive. Yet the er ror is so important of demanding the sense of any congregation at a distance, at the mouth of persons, not only totally unconnected with them, and unacquainted with their sentiments and character, but even, perhaps, already, under the influence of some local bias of association or vicinity, that it will perhaps appear to you proper to put it wholly away, while no circumstances exist, wbich can possibly involve any personal sensibilities, and before the evil, which it is calculated to produce, shall urgently require, whether personal feelings are affected by the measure or not, the institution of some effectual preventive of its increasing prevalence.

A special meeting of the General Convention having been held within the year, it may be proper to advert to the object of that meeting. By the last will and testament of the late Jacob Sherred, Esq. of New-York, it appeared that he had, in the fulness of his love for the Church, of which, until an advanced period of life, he had been a pious and exemplary member, bequeathed to it a large residuary estate, for the purposes of education for its ministry. A question of right having been raised on the seemingly dubious terms of the clause of the will, containing this bequest, between the general seminary placed by the General Convention at New-Haven, and the diocesan seminary of New-York, it appeared, to a majority of those to whom, according to the Canons, the power of calling special meetings of the General Convention is committed, expedient that a meeting should be called, for the purpose of adopting some measures which might tend to the harmonious adjustment of conflicting claims; and put away, as speedily as possible, the obstacle which their existence had created, in the way of the sufficiently active progress of the design of either of the institutions, to its completion. The result has been most happy and honourable for the Church. The Bishop and the delegation of the Church in New-York, both clerical and lay, met the question of the right of that diocess to the exclusive enjoyment of Mr. Sherred's bounty, with a spirit of kindness and conciliation which soon brought it to issue in a compromise, by which, on condition of the removal of the General Seminary from New-Haven to New-York, the property bequeathed becomes appropriated wholly to its objects; and the State Seminary of New-York, becoming merged in it, the funds of that institution, with all their promise of abundance, are thrown into the treasury of the General Convention's seminary. This happy arrangement being made, the General Seminary will immediately go into operation in the city of New-York, and a branch of it be settled at Geneva, in the same state, with well qualified professors devoted to the objects of their appointment, under circumstances admitting of a very inadequate compensation of their labours,

but with a zeal which, for the present, at least, throws this into the scale of minor considera tions. The friends of the Church, solicitous for her honour, must rejoice in the auspicious aspect which the great interest of education for its ministry has now assumed and no member of it will be indifferent to the claim which is preferred for his assistance in carrying the object into complete effect. The means already possessed, you must be aware, are but the foundation (the whole fund of the seminary not amounting as yet to as much as was given by one individual towards the endowment of the Independents' theological seminary at Andover) on which a superstructure remains to be reared, by means of contributions from the members of our Church in every part of the Union. Itis true, that the calls on their beneficence are numerous and frequent; but are they all of a character which gives them a reasonable claim to the compliance which they in general so indiscriminately meet with?

My Brethren, this interrogatory is suggested by that seemingly inconsiderate habit of giving, which, too little attentive to the nature of claims preferred, gives alike to all, and thus, too little, to that, which on consideration might be felt most consistently, to demand our concern. Let me earnestly entreat, that I may not be thought to imagine myself possessed of any authority here, to dictate or direct the disposal of your religious munificence. Let me, however, be permitted to speak at the same time, the deep sense 1 entertain of the duty which appertains to me in this place, to suggest and advise, whatever may seem to me needful for the welfare and honour of the Church, whose interests are made, by the peculiar nature of my ministry, my most anxious care. It is under this impression of duty that, in the spirit of affection and respect, I would beseech my Brethren to lay seriously to heart the necessities of their own Church; and, by a seasonable discrimination and reserve in favour of them, endeavour to place this Church on a footing of some comparative advantage with others, rendered by the constant liberality and persevering zeal of their members, eminently prosperous. It is the glory of the Lord, in the diffusion of sound Christianity, with all its salutary influences upon the spiritual, moral, and even temporal state and character of men, that we are mainly to consult, in our munificence, with respect to religious purposes and institutions; and it surely is incumbent on us to exercise it, under the control of some well digested persuasion of our own minds, as to what is useful, good, and

true.

Permit me to avail myself of this opportu nity of addressing myself generally to those to whom, in the diocesan capacity, I stand related, to recommend to their adoption, some means of having religious intelligence, and other matter proper to a religious periodical publication, conveyed to them in some work of this description, proceeding on the principles of their own persuasion, and conformable to their own religious views and feelings. There is always much, relating to the interests and operations of our own communion, which we eannot expect to find, except in works of this sort, conducted under the hands of members of our own household of faith. That some such publication locally adapted should be set on foot in this city is much to be desired. In the hope

that such a task, justly, in its right execution, considered an arduous one, will ere long be undertaken, I feel it to be consistent with my duty to mention, as, in the mean time, worthy of your encouragement and use, the Gospel Advocate, edited in a spirit of evangelical piety, and with great ability, at Boston, and the Christian Journal, edited at New-York. "This last must become more and more interesting and useful, in consequence of its being published amidst the faculty and students of our seminary.

My Brethren, in bringing this address to a close, I cannot but ask you to join me in the indulgence of grateful emotion towards him "who is Head over all things to his Church," in that, notwithstanding some discouragement from circumstances too obvious to require to be mentioned, the condition of the Protestant Episcopal Church in this portion of it, is evidently, on the whole, stili progressively improving. Although, as has been reported to you, some important stations of our ministry are at present unoccupied, and although we are in want of ministers for some scenes of missionary service, which the Society for the Advanceinent of Christianity is desirous to provide with it, yet the number of places now statedly supplied by us with the offices and ordinances of the Lord's house, in this state, is greater than at any period since it was originally settled by Christian people. It is a circumstance, too, well calculated to affect me as an elder brother, with emotions not easily expressed, that while in most instances our churches are supplied with ministers statedly serving them, there is no instance, within my knowledge, in which the duties of their ministry are not performed with faithfulness. I see, indeed, my Brethren of the Clergy, who I trust are by this time well enough secured by their acquaintance with me, against any suspicion of my using either to them, or concerning them, any words of flattery, occupied in many instances, amidst much danger, inseparable, in some seasons, from the pcculiar character of our climate; I see them in these circumstances, as well as often amidst much privation as to the comforts and accomsaodations of life, with cheerful patience and assiduity, endeavouring to fulfil their sacred obligations; anxious, mainly, that their people should "take no hurt or hindrance by reason of their negligence." Can I, then, forbear affectionately to urge upon my Brethren of the Laity, the claim which their ministers so reasonably, nay, which they religiously have (for it is in the Lord's word that it is founded) to be encouraged and strengthened in their work, by the confidence and kindness of those to whom they minister, their acquiescence in their pas toral counsel, and that due provision for the comfortable subsistence of themselves and their families, without which their case, temporally considered, is, almost of all men's, the nost miserable.

I will detain you from the business of the Convention no longer than until I have again expressed to my Brethren of the Clergy, my earnest desire, that, wherever it is not found, as the result of much endeavour, utterly impracticable, Sunday Schools should be instituted by them, having for their object chiefly, the Christian instruction of the poor, and the lowly in condition, (whatever be their colour) and their children. Schicols of this description,

under the conduct of able pious superintendents, assisted by many young members of the congregations, continue to flourish at St. Philip's, St. Paul's, and St. Michael's Churches, in this city. That at Columbia is in a condition which reflects great honour on the present rector of the Church there, as well as on his predecessor, who instituted it, and the pious and benevolent members of the congregation who have so zealously co-operated with them both. The rector of St. John's, Berkeley, cheerfully perseveres in the course of catechetical instruction on Sundays, of which report was made to you at the two last Conventions. Efforts, I am aware, have been made in other places, and are still progressive, of which I am not, at present, in possession of the particulars.

May the blessing of God rest upon your proceedings, making his glory in the honour and prosperity of his Church, both spiritually and temporally, the only actuating principle of them, bringing them to a close in that love, which is the " very bond of peace, and of all virtues, and without which all our doings are nothing worth. NATHANIEL BOWEN.

The following preamble and resolutions were adopted:

"The Convention, as representatives of the Church in South-Carolina, do render to their Bishop, their grateful and affectionate thanks for his address delivered at this time, and for his continued, unremitted, and expensive endeavours to extend the principles of the Gospel and to revive the zeal of its professors.

Resolved, that the clergy of the several churches in the diocess, do read the Bishop's address to their congregations, for general information.

Resolved, that so much of the Bishop's address as relates to the theological seminary be referred to a committee of three.

Resolved, that so much of the Bishop's address as relates to the admission of churches into the Convention, be referred to a committee of three.

Resolved, that so much of the Bishop's address as relates to the publication of a theolo-> gical paper, to be edited under the auspices of the Church, be referred to a committee of three.

The following gentlemen were appointed Delegates to the General Convention:

The Rev. Christopher E. Gadsden, D.D. the Rev. Christian Hanckell, the Rev. John Jacob Tschudy, the Rev. Maurice H. Lance, Colonel Lewis Morris, William Heyward, Robert J. Turnbull, the Honourable Benjamin Huger.

The following gentlemen were appointed the Standing Committee:

The Rev. Christopher E. Gadsden, D. D. the Rev. Paul T. Gervais, the Rev. Frederick Daicho, M. D. the Rev. Allston Gibbes, the Rev. Christian Hanckell, David Alexander, Joseph Johnson, M. D. Keating Simons, John Dawson, Major Samuel Wragg.

The following report of the Protestant Episcopal Society was read:

"The board of trustees of the "Protestant Episcopal Society for the Advancement of Christianity in South-Carolina," respectfully lay before the Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church, a general statement of the receipts and expenditures of the Bishop's permanent fund, since February 5, 1821, of which the following is a summary: