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studies. The handsome stone building which is erecting for the use of the academy, in which also accommodations are to be afforded for the theological school, is situated in the village of Geneva, immediately on the bank of the Seneca lake, commanding a view of this extensive and beautiful sheet of water, of the cultivated shores that confine it, and of the mountains that bound the distant prospect. It is considered by all who have viewed it as one of the most interesting situations which are any where to be found.

Its relative advantages are not less important. Geneva is situated in the midst of a very populous, fertile, and highly cultivated country, having a water communication of a few miles with the grand canal which passes through the state, and being thus of easy access from the extensive countries watered by the Western Lakes, and from those on the Atlantic border. And, indulging the reasonable expectation, that the academy there will, at some future period, be advanced to the privileges of a college, we must be forcibly struck with the immense advantages of the contiguity of our theological school to an institution of this description. The principal school in the city of NewYork, and the branch school at Geneva, both enjoying the advantages of colleges, in which there will be no influence unfriendly to the Church, will be placed under as commanding circumstances as could well be expected. Connecting with these views of the subject the great respectability and importance of the state of New-York, and the increasing number and resources of the Episcopalians in it, if I know myself, it is not the unworthy and selfish views of a partizan-it is not even the more excusable local zeal of a Diocesan Bishop which impel me to cherish, with augmented solicitude, the opinion, that a regard to the highest interests of our Church at large requires that we cherish and preserve in this diocess the unrivalled means and advantages of theological instruction, which, through the good Providence of God, we enjoy.

It is a cause of gratitude to him, that these means have been enlarged to an VOL. VI

extent that places the success of our schools beyond all hazard by the munificent bequest of the late Mr. Sherred. To benefactions of this description are the nations of Europe in a great measure indebted for those literary and religious institutions which constitute their just pride, and from which perennially flow the invaluable blessings of science and of religion. It is the obvious policy of our own country, in which institutions of this description are obstructed in their usefulness by their circumscribed resources-a policy, too, demanded by the freedom of her governments, which lay as few restraints as possible on individual rights

to cherish that generous and liberal zeal by which private property is made to minister to the public good, and to perpetuate its bounties to the latest generations. The memory, then, of our beneficent benefactor, should be gratefully cherished, not more by the friends of science and religion, than by the patriot, who regards the prosperity of his country as inseparably and vitally connected with these highest objects of human regard-and the prayers should be offered to him, with whom are the hearts of all men, that the spirit which dictated this liberal benefaction may animate others to corresponding acts of benevolence.

The legacy of Mr. Sherred has, however, given rise to measures which may possibly lead to a collision between our theological school and the general institution. A special meeting of the Ge neral Convention of our Church has been called for the purpose of taking into consideration the last will and testament of Mr. Sherred, and of determining whether any and what measures should be taken for obtaining the legacy bequeathed by him. What will be the result of the deliberations of this Convention, it is impossible to ascertain. It would seem, however, that they would resolve to relinquish the claim of the general seminary to the le gacy-or to assert it, and for this purpose to bring the general seminary into this diocess or that they would prefer what may be styled a compromise-a consolidation of the general theological seminary with our diocesan school, so as 6

to make one general institution in this state-or, finally, that they will relinquish the project of a general seminary. That little dependence can be placed on the validity of the claim of the general seminary to the legacy of Mr. Sherred, would appear from what is understood to be the fact, that no legal gentleman consulted on behalf of that seminary, has given a decided opinion in favour of it. The eminently respectable legal opinions which will be laid before you, will show the strength of the claim of the theological school of this diocess, and will serve to remove all apprehension that it can be wrested from us by the general institution. It would seem improbable, then, that the General Convention will resolve to assert their claim, and for this purpose establish in this diocess a general seminary on independent ground. They will, perhaps, conclude to relinquish the project of a general seminary, in consequence of the difficulty of uniting the disconnected exertions of Episcopalians through this extensive country in favour of a general institution, and of the evidence of a disposition which I always supposed would be manifested to establish diocesan institutions—one of this description having been organized by a society embracing the Episcopalians of Virginia and a proportion of those of Maryland. If, however, the sentiment in favour of a general institution should still prevail, it is then probable that a union of the general seminary with our diocesan one will be proposed. And this is a subject which may merit our serious con

sideration.

On the one hand, it cannot be supposed that this Convention will relinquish the arrangements so unanimously settled at the last Convention, and any essential provisions relative to our diocesan schools, so as to place our resources entirely beyond our own controul. On the other, the consideration must be admitted to have weight, that the dignity, order, and harmony of the Church, as well as the respectability of the general institution, may be advanced by the proposed union. One objection to applying the resources of the Church in this diocess has always

been the possibility of its removal. But to this the legacy of Mr. Sherred, which would be forfeited if the seminary were removed from the state, presents one barrier, and others might be provided. Another objection to the general institution seminary is, that as at present constituted, it might be entirely under the controul of a very small minority of the Church at large, and even of those who have not contributed, or in a very small proportion, to its funds. In ease, however, of a union, such an organization of the general seminary might be made as to secure to every part of the Church a just influence in its management. And the plan might be formed of such a nature as to remove all the reasonable objections to a ge neral institution in this diocess, and to secure all our important arrangements: with respect to our own institutions. Permit me to suggest whether it would not be well to be prepared for such an event. For this Convention, however, to settle the detail of this plan would on many accounts be inexpedient, inasmuch as subsequent consultation at the General Convention might render other details advisable, and definitive arrangements on our part, appearing to preclude consultation, might present a barrier to any conciliatory project. Still it would seem necessary that something definitive should now be done. The plan of compromise or of union would require an alteration of the constitution of our Theological Education Society. This must be the joint act of the Trustees of the Society and of the Convention. The alterations necessary in case of a union cannot be known until after the meeting of the General Convention. To call special meetings of the Trustees of the Society and of our State Convention, in order to determine on the propriety of the plan or the necessary alterations, would be, on many accounts, inexpedient, and, perhaps, in reference to our Convention, almost impracticable, since it can be hardly expected that the clergy and lay delegates would so soon assemble from every part of this large state. To delay definitive measures until the next Convention would be also highly inexpedient, inasmuch as this would still

further postpone active measures for the great objects of theological education, which, from various causes, have been too long delayed, and might oppose new obstacles to the settlement of a question which every friend to the peace, order, and dignity of the Church, must wish to see as speedily as possible put to rest.

Under these circumstances, it would appear advisable for this Convention to adopt such measures as may admit of a union between the two schools, on principles which will secure all the essential arrangements with regard to our theological schools, and the just influence of those parts of the Church who may contribute to the general institution in its concerns.

My Clerical and Lay Brethren,

In all the views which I have stated, I have acted under that deep sense of duty to the Church which I should always cherish, and with that frankness which becomes my station, and which is most agreeable, to my feelings, and which, I trust, is not contrary to your expectations. Should the General Convention choose to relinquish the project of a general seminary, and even persevere in it, and not locate the school in this diocess, we can go on with our diocesan institution. Should they contest our claim to the legacy in question, we shall, I presume, decorously, but firmly assert it. And should they propose the course of compromise on correct principles, I trust we shall be prepared to meet it in the spirit of conciliation and candour, and with our fervent prayers, that our Lord and Master would direct and overrule all our consultations and plans for the goud of his Church and Kingdom.

JOHN HENRY HOBART. New-York, October 17th, 1831.

(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 Phi

ladelphia, from October 30th to November 3d, inclusive, A. D. 1821.

THE Convention was composed of the following members:

House of Bishops.-The Right Rev. William White, D. D. of Pennsylvania, Presiding Bishop; the Right Rev. John Henry Hobart, D.D. of NewYork; the Right Rev. Alexander Viets Griswold, D.D. of the Eastern Diocess; the Right Rev. James Kemp, D. D. of Maryland; the Right Rev. John Croes, D. D. of New-Jersey; the Right Rev. Thomas Church Brownell, D. D. LL. D. of Connecticut.

House of Clerical and Lay Deputies.-Clerical Deputies-Massachusetts, the Rev. Samuel F. Jarvis, D.D. the Rev. Thomas Carlile; RhodeIsland, the Rev. Salmon Wheaton, the Rev. Nathan B. Crocker; Connecticut, the Rev. Daniel Burhans, the Rev. Ashbel Baldwin, the Rev. Birdsey G. Noble, the Rev. Harry Croswell; NewYork, the Rev. David Butler, the Rev. Thomas Lyell, the Rev. Benjamin T. Onderdonk, the Rev. Orin Clark; New-Jersey, the Rev. Charles H. Wharton, D.D. the Rev. John C. Rudd, the Rev. John Croes, jun. the Rev. Abiel Carter; Pennsylvania, the Rev. Frederic Beasley, D.D. the Rev. Bird Wilson, D.D. the Rev. Jackson Kemper, the Rev. George Boyd; 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, the Rev. Simon Wilmer; North Carolina, the Rev. Richard S. Mason, the Rev. Gre gory T. Bedell; South-Carolina, the Rev. Christopher E. Gadsden, D. D. the Rev. John J. Tschudy, the Rev. Christian Hanckell, the Rev. Maurice H. Lance.

Lay Deputies-Rhode-Island, Col. Alexander Jones, Stephen T. Northam, Esq. Jeremiah Lippitt, Esq.; Connecticut, the Honourable Samuel W. Johnson, Nathan Smith, Esq.; NewYork, Richard Harison, Esq. the Honourable Morris S. Miller, John Wells, Esq.; New-Jersey, Peter Kean, Esq. Joseph V. Clark, Esq. Daniel Garrit son, Esq.; Pennsylvania, William Me

redith, Esq. Thomas M'Euen, Esq. Walter Kerr, Esq. Levi Pauling, Esq.; Delaware, George Read, Esq. John Cummins, Esq.; Maryland, the Honourable John C. Herbert, Tench Tilghman, Esq.; Virginia, Col. William Mayo, Philip Nelson, Esq. Edmund J. Lee, Esq.; North-Carolina, Duncan Cameron, Esq. Josiah Collins, Esq.; South-Carolina, William Heyward, Esq. Lewis L. Gibbes, Esq. Col. Lewis Morris.

On the first day the Convention organized; the Right Rev. William White, D. D. as senior Bishop present, took the chair in the House of Bishops, agreeably to the rules of the House, and the Rev. William A. Muhlenberg was appointed Secretary of the same. In the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies, the Rev. William H. Wilmer, D. D. was chosen President, the Rev. Ashbel Baldwin,Secretary, and the Rev. John C. Rudd, Assistant Secretary.

On the second day, the business was opened with Morning Prayer by the Rev. William E. Wyatt, D. D. of Maryland; a Sermon by the Right Rev. James Kemp, D. D. of the same diocess; and the administration of the Holy Communion by the Presiding Bishop, assisted by other Bishops pre

sent.

The Presiding Bishop stated to the House of Bishops that in consequence of the request of the major number of the Bishops, grounded on an application made to them by the Trustees of the Theological Seminary, herewith presented, and agreeably to authority vested in him, he had called this special Convention. The Bishops who made the request were Bishops Griswold, Moore, Kemp, Bowen, and Brownell. The statement was communicated to the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies.

The following documents accompanied the above:

Circular to the Bishops requesting a call of a Special Meeting of the

General Convention.

New-Haven, May 25th, 1821. RIGHT REVEREnd Sir,

Mr. Jacob Sherred, late of the city of New-York, died in March, 1821,

leaving by his will, dated the 28th of January, 1820, to his executors, the Rev. John Cornelison, George Arcularius, and Jacob Lorillard, the residuum of his estate, after the payment of certain legacies, in trust for purposes which will appear from the following extract:

“Item-I give and bequeath unto my sister Elizabeth, the sum of ten thousand dollars of lawful money aforesaid, and in case my sister Elizabeth should not be living at my decease, then I give and bequeath the aforesaid legacy or sum of ten thousand dollars to the children or child of my said sister Elizabeth, living at my decease if any there shall be; to be equally divided among them, share and share alike, if more than one, and if but one child of my said sister Elizabeth shall be living at my decease, then the whole of the said legacy or sum of ten thousand dollars, to go to such child, to whom I give and bequeath the same accordingly. But inasmuch as I am ignorant whether my said sister Elizabeth is now living, and whether she hath, or hath not, left any children or child now living, not having heard from or of her in many years, and being ignorant of her place of residence, my will is, that unless the said legacy shall be claimed of my said executors, by the said legatee or legatees, within the period or space of five years from and next immediately after my decease, the said legacy shall lapse, and I do hereby absolutely revoke the same: and the said sum of ten thousand dollars, together with any accumulation thereof as hereinafter mentioned, shall be subject to the residuary bequest hereinafter by me made. And I do hereby order and direct my said executors, as soon as conveniently may be after my decease, to place at interest in their own name upon real security, or invest in the purchase of six per cent. or other public stocks of the United States, or of the state of New-York, or the stock or stocks of banking or other incorporated companies, at their discretion, the aforesaid sum of ten thousand dollars, if the same shall not then yet be claimed by the aforesaid legatee or legatees, and in like manner, from time to time, to

invest or place at interest in like stock or securities, the interest or dividends of such stock or securities, in or upon which the said capital sum shall be so invested, until the said legacy shall be claimed by the said legatee or legatees as aforesaid, or until the expiration of the said period of five years from and next immediately after my decease as aforesaid, whichever shall first happen, so as to produce as great an accumula tion of capital, as reasonably may be in the nature of compound interest; and if the said legacy shall be claimed by the said legatee or legatees within the said period of five years as aforesaid, then the same, together with such accumulation thereof, shall be paid or transferred to such legatee or legatees as aforesaid; and if the same shall not be claimed, by the said legatee or legatees, within such period as aforesaid, then the same, together with such accumulation thereof, shall sink into and become part of my residuary estate, and shall go and be applied, according to the disposition hereinafter by me made of the sam?. And as to all the rest, residue and remainder of my personal estate and effects, not otherwise disposed of by this my will, I give and bequeath the same, and every part thereof, unto my said executors, their executors, administrators, and assigns, upon the trusts, and for the intents and purposes hereinafter expressed and declared of and concerning the same; that is to say, upon trust that they do and shall place the same to interest upon real security, or invest the same in the purchase of six per cent. or other public stock of the United States, or of the state of New-York, or in the stock or stocks of banking or other incorporated companies, at their discretion, and that they do and shall, in like manner, from time to time, invest or place at interest in like stocks or securities, the interests or dividends arising thereon, so as to produce as great an accumulation of capital, as reasonably may be in the nature of compound in terest, until there shall be established, within the state of New-York, under the direction, or by the authority of the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, or of the Convention of the

Protestant Episcopal Church in the state of New-York, a college, academy, school, or seminary, for the education of young men designed for holy orders in the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America; and upon such college, academy, school, or seminary, being so established, then upon further trust, that they do and shall pay or transfer all such stock or securities to the trustees, directors, or managers, for the time being, of such college, academy, school, or seminary, or their treasurer, or other officer thereto authorized, for the use and purposes of such college, academy, school, or seminary, and for which the receipt of any three or more of such trustees, directors, or managers, as my said executors shall, in their discretion, deem it expedient to require, or of such treasurer or other officer thereto authorized, shall be a sufficient discharge to my executors. Provided always, and my will is, and I do hereby declare that it shall and may be lawful to and for my said executors, from time to time, at their discretion, to call in the amount of, and to sell and transfer all or any such stocks or securities wherein or upon which the before-mentioned legacies or bequests, any or either of them, shall be placed out or invested in pursuance of this my will, or any part thereof respectively, and again to place at interest or invest the same in other securities or stocks, as aforesaid, to vary, alter, or transpose all or any such stocks or securities when, where, and so often as it shall by them be deemed expedient so to do. And that they, or any of them, shall not be answerable or accountable for the insufficiency or deficiency of any such stocks or securities."

The amount of this residuary bequest, exclusive of the ten thousand dollars, which may, at the expiration of five years lapse and become a further endowment, is estimated at not less than seventy thousand dollars.

As soon as the conditions of this will were made known, the Trustees of the General Theological Seminary, resident in New-York, in connexion with the agents appointed in that city for the purpose of obtaining subscrip

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