George Shelton, and Palmer Dyer. Of these, William Jarvis has been received, with letters demissory, from the Bishop of New-York, and Martin Snell, under the like circumstances, from the diocess of South-Carolina.

Brethren, I have now visited nearly all the parishes in this diocess. Every where I have been received with a kindness and an interest highly gratifying to my feelings. Concerning the general prosperity of the Church, it may be difficult to decide with confidence; but, from the best observations and inquiries which I have been able to make, her friends have no reason to despond. She seems to be gradually enlarging her borders, and "strengthening her stakes," while, at the same time, there appears to be an increasing degree of piety and zeal among her members. Her Clergy are every where zealous and faithful. I make this observation with the more satisfaction, as I have formerly heard them charged from abroad with coldness and indifference. Nothing but ignorance or gross prejudice could have suggested the imputation. It is my full conviction, that if there exists, in any part of our country, a body of Clergy who, by their labours and privations, their industry and fidelity, approach to the model of the primitive ages of the Church, such men are to be found among the Episcopal Clergy of Connecticut. To ensure the continued prosperity and advancement of the Church, nothing is wanting, with the blessing of heaven, but the continued zeal and perseverance of her friends. There is nothing in the circumstances of the times which can warrant a relaxation of either. On the contrary, the excitement with regard to religion, which seems to prevail through the greater parts of the State, furnishes ground to the friends of the Church for the exercise of a more especial degree of vigilance. From the Clergy, in a particular manner, it calls for increased watchfulness and zeal. The present is certainly a period when people in general are more disposed than usual to attend to the concerns of religion. Not that we have reason to believe there is any special effusion of the Spirit of God in any particular region; but the

excitement which has been raised in the community, has led people to give more heed to those ordinary influences of the Holy Spirit, and to those ordinary means of grace, which are at all times dispensed in such measure as to enable all who will co-operate with them, to work out their salvation, through the merits of the Redeemer. But if the people are disposed to hear, and to inquire, whatever may be the cause, it is the especial duty of the Clergy to warn and to instruct. More especially is this their duty, at the sent period, that they may guard their flocks from the delusions and errors of ignorant teachers; and lead the inquiring mind to just and rational views of that way of salvation revealed in the Gospel.

pre

I cannot omit, on this occasion, to reiterate to the Convention the recommendations, contained in my last address, for the establishment of Sunday schools in every parish throughout the diocess. In these schools are to be trained the future members of our Church. It is of incalculable importance, as a safeguard from the errors with which they will be surrounded, that they should be early made acquainted with her doctrines, and the import of her services. I hope there will not fail to be found in every parish a sufficient number of pious individuals who will be willing to devote themselves to this "labour of love." To withdraw the youth from profane amusements on the Lord's day, to animate and direct their devotions, and to lead their ductile minds into the paths of true religion, is a work which may well engage the attention, and call forth the charity of the pious members of our Church. I know of no object which, from such small beginnings, is calcu lated, in its remote results, to produce so extensive an influence on the happiness of individuals, the welfare of society, and the great interests of religion.

I must also again urge upon the Convention, and the Church throughout the diocess, an increased patronage of the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge. The great objects of this Society are to distribute the Bible gratuitously to the poor, to disseminate the

Book of Common Prayer and religious tracts, and to support Missionaries: all of them objects of primary importance to the cause of religion.

The Bible is the richest gift of heaven to a benighted world. It teaches us all that we are to believe, and all that we are to do, in order to inherit everlasting life. It is our pillar of a cloud by day, and our pillar of fire by night, to conduct us on our pilgrimage through the world to the promised inheritance in heaven.

The Book of Common Prayer contains an excellent selection of the most useful parts of the Bible, and an admirable summary of its doctrines; and, as a manual of devotion, it is equally calculated for the house of God, and the retirement of the closet. In disseminating it we extend the knowledge of the way of salvation, and afford to our fellow men one of the most salutary guides and helps in offering up their prayers and thanksgivings to God. And even in sending forth the little tract, we send forth a messenger of good one that is calculated to penetrate to the obscurest dwelling, to unfold to the humble inhabitant the mystery of redemption, to instruct him in his duty, and to incite him to the faithful performance of it.

The Missionary carries with him the Gospel and its ordinances, and all the blessings which follow in their train. He carries them, with all their comforts and consolations, to the dispersed members of the flock of Christ. These scattered members he seeks to collect into the Christian fold. He alarms the careless, and arouses the secure from their lethargy. He repairs the waste places of our Zion, and builds up the Church of the Redeemer in the most holy faith.

port more than one Missionary, and that its disposable funds are now entirely exhausted, while the labours of two or three Missionaries seem absolutely necessary to the well-being of the Church.

The Theological Seminary, established by the General Convention within this diocess, has gone into active and successful operation. There are, at present, twenty-one students belonging to the institution. Of these, however, one is absent on account of sickness, and two others by permission. I trust the measures which have been taken for the endowment of a Connecticut Professorship will be ultimately successful. Certain circumstances have occasioned a temporary suspension of these measures, but the liberality with which the subject has been met whereever it has been brought forward, affords a pledge of its final success.

My Brethren of the Convention, Í will not detain you longer from the business on which you have assembled. Let us now proceed to it, in the fear of God, "in the unity of the Spirit, and in the bond of peace." And may the great Head of the Church grant us his blessing: may he guide us by his Spirit, and so order all our deliberations and our doings, that they may promote his own glory and the welfare of his Church.

The Rev. Ashbel Baldwin was elected Secretary, and Burrage Beach, Esq. Assistant Secretary.

The Rev. Dr. Bronson, the Rev. Mr. Burhans, and the Honourable Samuel W. Johnson, were appointed a committee to wait on the Right Rev. Bishop Brownell, to present him the thanks of the Convention, for his Charge, delivered at the opening of the same,

ledge. In the short time that has elapsed since the formation of the Society, I trust that, under the blessing of God, it has done much good. But the annual collections are utterly inadequate to the various and important objects it embraces. Of this you will be readily convinced when I inform you, that it has at no time been able to sup

cation.

The following resolutions were adopted :

Resolved, That this Convention is fully persuaded of the great importance and utility of the objects embraced by the "Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge ;" and that the Society be recommended to a more liberal patronage throughout the diocess.

Resolved, That the Directors of the said Society be requested to prepare a plan for the organization of auxiliary societies; and that it be recommended to the Clergy and Laity to use their exertions for the establishment of such societies in the respective parishes.

Resolved, That the Treasurer of the Society be requested to prepare a list of the contributions of the several parishes, and that the same be published in the Journals of the Convention, with the General Report of the Society.

The Rev. Mr. Croswell, on behalf of the Board of Direction of the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge, made the following report, which was read and accepted, and ordered to be inserted on the Journals:

Third Annual Report of the Board of Direction of the Connecticut Protestant Episcopal Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge. In presenting their Third Annual Report to the Convention, the Board can only again express their regret, that the funds of the Society, for the year past, have been altogether inadequate to the vigorous prosecution of the great objects of the institution. While the calls for Bibles, Prayer Books, Tracts, and Missionary labours, have been uncommonly pressing, the Board have been able only partially to supply the demand; and unless a more general and united effort be made to increase the funds of the Society, they can say nothing to encourage future expectations without the fear of disappointing them. Under these circumstances, the Board beg leave to suggest to the Convention, and to the diocess at large, a few considerations in favour of a more extensive and liberal patronage of the Society.

As ignorance of God, and his attributes, is the prolific source of all religious error and all moral evil, it is a matter of the first importance, that every member of the Christian family be well instructed in the truths of divine revelation. It should be the primary object with those who would do good to their fellow men, to extend to them the means of acquiring a true knowledge of the Gospel. By awakening a spirit of

inquiry-by informing and enlightening the understanding and by drawing the attention to the things which concern the soul the way is opened for improving the condition and promoting the best interests of society. For these benign purposes, the Bible is undoubtedly the first, the best, and the surest instrument: and it cannot be necessary, at this day, to advance arguments to show the propriety of adopting such measures as may afford to all men the opportunity of consulting and searching its sacred pages. But, while the Bible stands pre-eminent among the means for propagating the knowledge of God, we have no reason to doubt, that other and inferior instruments may be employed as useful auxiliaries in the plain and lucid expositions of the sagreat work. Short and simple tracts——— cred text-familiar explanations of the general system of divinity, and of the nature of the Christian Church, with its sacraments and ministry and such solemn admonitions and earnest appeals to the heart and understanding, as these various topics may suggest are all highly serviceable: and, by being thrown into general circulation, and put into the hands of the young, and those who have neither the time nor the disposition required to digest volumes, may eventually produce effects of the most salutary nature. And, while the welfare of our fellow men is thus promoted by religious instruction, an additional mean may be found for effecting the same benevolent object, in a more general diffusion of such a system of devotion, as may unite the hearts and voices of all Christian people in the worship of God. When the reason is convinced, and the understanding well informed when the heart is warmed, and the affections are turned to the bountiful Author of every good and perfect gift-how great are the advantages to be derived from a form of sound words, in which the Deity is addressed in suitable and becoming terms, in which all the wants and desires of man are expressed, and in which all the devout feelings of the soul are drawn out and fully displayed! What a help is afforded to the timid-what a guide to the illiterate-what a check upon rash

and misguided lips-what a restraint upon the wild flights of imaginationby a system, which preserves outward decency and order, while it fans the flame of devotion, and kindles the affections of the heart into rapture! But with every other blessing in his possession, the Christian is deprived of the highest enjoyment of his religion, if he is unhappily so situated, that opportunities for partaking of the sacraments of the Church, seldom or never occur to him. Baptism, by which his tender offspring are engrafted into the body of Christ's Church, and the Lord's Supper, by which he is united in holy communion with the Divine Head and all the members of the household of faith, are ordinances essential to the preservation of his spiritual life. How important, then, is the work of carrying to the dispersed members of the Christian family, through the agency of duly qualified Missionaries, the benefits of these ordinances! What a sure mean of promoting, not only their individual welfare, but the general good of the whole household!

Such are among the means by which the great end proposed may be promoted; and such are the leading objects of the Society for which patronage is so much wanted, and so earnestly solicited. May we not, then, on such an occasion as this, address our brethren of the Church in the affectionate language of the Apostle-" As we have opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." Whether we consider the term opportunity as relating either to the circumstances under which we are placed, or to the means which we possess, or to the time which is allowed for discharging our duty, this injunction is well worthy of our attention.

With regard to local circumstances, we are, indeed, placed in a community where, we would hope, no man can be totally ignorant of God and his attributes. In no part of the world do the people more generally possess the Bible and other means of religious instruction. But even here, it must be acknowledged, that some traces of this ignorance are discoverable in the parVOL. VI

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tial prevalence of error and moral evil. It is a melancholy fact, that some families, and many individuals, are destitute of the knowledge which divine revelation affords. They are, undoubt edly, in most cases, blind, through their own shameful stupidity; and ignorant, because they will not seek information. But this furnishes no argument against exerting ourselves to do them good. The gift of a Bible, or a religious tract, especially if accompanied by a little seasonable and solemn admonition, may be a happy mean, under God, of arousing them to a sense of their danger, and of laying the foundation for their recovery from a state, of all others the most wretched and deplorable. these are not the only cases in which gifts of this description may be highly serviceable. Families and individuals, who are neither stupidly blind nor wilfully negligent, may not have the ability to furnish themselves with sufficient means of religious instruction. In the household of faith, we must always expect to find, according to the declaration of our Saviour, many of the poor and needy. And in what way can we extend our beneficence to these our brethren so acceptably as in furnishing them with that knowledge which will make them wise unto salvation? While it is admitted, however, that few of the people of this community are destitute of religious instruction, it is but too true, that of books of devotion there is a lamentable deficiency. Even in the largest and most opulent parishes, the number of Prayer Books will fall far short of the number of worshippers; and, in many cases, and more especially in parishes of recent organization, this deficiency is so great, that a small portion only of each congregation can enjoy the distinguishing excellencies of the public service of our Church. Here, then, is abundant room for the exercise of our benevolence, and of the mani festation of our love towards the bre thren. But we shall probably find our sensibility more strongly excited, when we reflect on the number of the dis persed members of the Christian family, even within this diocess, who are deprived of the regular ministrations of the Church, and of the benefit of the

Christian sacraments. Many parishes, being too small to procure the regular administration of the ordinances, and others, being too remote from a settled clergyman to enjoy occasional visitations, cannot, without the aid of Missionary labours, participate of those comforts which belong exclusively to the household of faith. Hence, we perceive, that with regard to the circumstances under which we are placed, the opportunity for contributing to the welfare of the Christian family is too favourable to be neglected.

And, next, as to the means which may be devoted to the service of the household of faith-it is not the rich alone who possess these means. On the contrary, there are very few who may not spare something for an object so important to their brethren. From those to whom much has been given, much of course will be expected: but the case of the poor widow, who cast her two mites into the treasury, is recorded in the Gospel, to teach us, that even out of very small incomes, some portion may be appropriated to works of charity and benevolence. With regard to means, therefore, God, in his good Providence, has given us the opportunity of doing good: and, with this opportunity, we cannot neglect the necessities of any member of his household, without evincing a great want of gratitude for the blessings which we possess.

And, lastly, as to the time which is allowed us for doing good-let us reflect, that the opportunity may be soon lost, and lost for ever. By every thing around us we are admonished of the danger of delaying a known and obvious duty. Every incident serves to teach us the brevity and uncertainty of life, and the transitory nature of all earthly things. We know that the concerns of time must soon close, and that the present opportunity for promoting the welfare of the Christian family may soon pass away. Let us be persuaded, then, even now, while we have this opportunity, to do good unto all men, and especially unto them who are of the household of faith. Let us, by an active and zealous co-operation, strengthen the hands of this Society.

Let us contribute to its funds, according to the measure of our ability. Let us lend our aid, by every means within our power, in extending the benefits of religious instruction, and of the worship and sacraments of our Church, to the scattered and destitute members of the Christian family. Let us not flatter ourselves that all our brethren are amply provided for, and that our contributions are unnecessary. This idea is contradicted by facts which fall under our daily observation. And shall it be said, that, in a community generally distinguished for piety, and for correct moral habits, a single individual shall be deprived of the glorious privileges of the Gospel? Shall it be said, that here, a human being shall be seen sinking in moral ruin, and that no hand is stretched out to help him? Are we willing that such a stigma should rest upon this fair portion of God's heritage? Neither let us excuse ourselves from this duty by pleading a want of ability. By severally deducting a trifle from some of our needless expenses, we may soon save a sum which, in the aggregate, will be sufficient to carry the word and ordinances of God to every family in the diocess. Let us, then, cheerfully make the sacrifice required. Let us abate a little of our luxury for so beneficent a purpose. It will eventually afford us more comfort than the enjoyment of all the luxuries of the world. Nor let us so far deceive ourselves as to postpone to a future opportunity a duty which we may promptly discharge. Other opportunities may never occur; and delay, at this important juncture, may prove almost as fatal to the bene volent designs of the Society as total defeat. Now that we have time, therefore, let us improve it as we have means, let us apply them—and, in the opportunity that is now afforded us for doing good, let us rejoice, trusting that the Lord will bless our honest exertions, and sanctify them to the salvation of souls, and to the promotion of his own glory. Let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

With these considerations, the Board submit the whole subject, in the earnest hope, that another year will enable