worship, and unitedly offering up the prayers and praises of the Church with becoming fervour, spirit, and devotion. "In addition to the services already mentioned, Mr. Morse passed five Sundays at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in exchange with the Rev. Mr. Richmond; also one in Wheeling, Virginia; three in St. Clairsville; one in Morristown; one in Seneca parish; one in St. James's Church, Cross-Creek; and two at Chillicothe.

"In all these places the ministration of Episcopal clergymen is earnestly desired; and could it be obtained of tener, much good might result as the consequence of their labours. But in order to produce any durable impression, it is advisable that a minister reside constantly among them. The parishes in Wheeling, St. Clairsville, and Morristown, would form a cure, convenient in point of contiguity. They have the ability and the desire to support a clergyman of the Church who should reside among them, and officiate alternately in each, but hitherto none could be procured; it is hoped, however, they will not long remain desti

tute.

instance, and since then have been visited twice by Mr. Morse, as alluded to in the former part of this report. He spent between one and two weeks in those new settlements, held divine service daily in the cabins, or, when the assembly was large, in the woods, and baptized upwards of thirty children and adults. "When can you

come again?" is the anxious request heard from many lips on parting with that people. From the best informa tion which could be obtained, there are nearly 100 families of Episcopalians in that quarter who have no opportu nity of regularly attending the public worship of their own, or of any other denomination. It is a fact, worthy perhaps.to be recorded in this report, that an individual, resident there, repeatedly travelled to St. Clairsville, a distance of 30 miles, in order to attend the worship of the Church. They intend shortly to erect a church on Little Beaver Creek, and it is their earnest desire to obtain the services of a clergyman at least for a part of the time, that, by the blessing of God, the scattered members of Christ's flock may be gathered together into one fold, under one shepherd. The fields are already white unto the harvest, but the labourers are few: pray ye, therefore, the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers."

The Rev. Mr. Searle reports to the Bishop as follows:-" During my long and distressing sickness last summer and autumn, the parishes in which I officiate suffered in the absence of regular services. But from the early part of December last, by the good Providence of God, I have been able to perform divine services every Sunday until the 21st instant; have been constantly in the congregations; have held public and family lectures more or less every week; and have, with great pleasure, witnessed a remarkably growing attachment to the doctrines and duties of salvation by Jesus Christ, and to the inimitable Liturgy of our Church.

"The members of St. Paul's Church, Medina, are gradually increasing in their numbers, in their pious correctness, and attention to the offices of the

Church; also to the duties of public devotion. The same may be said of St. James's Church, Boardman, and of Christ Church, Windsor. Enlight ened zeal for the primitive usages of Christianity, as retained inviolate in our communion, is in St. Peter's Church, Ashtabula, very considerable. Its numbers also are increased.

"Most of the efficient members of Trinity Church, Cleaveland, being resident in the township and very flourish ing village of Brooklyn, on the west side of the Cuyahoga river, and directly opposite the village of Cleaveland; the parish was induced, at the last regular Easter meeting, to vote its permanent location and public services in Brooklyn. In consequence of this resolution, the word Cleaveland will, in future, be omitted in the records of that parish. Their number is small, but the members are respectable, and they now have the services of the Church regularly performed every Sunday. The parish of St. John's Church, Liverpool, is now in a more prosperous condition than at any period since its organization.

"In most of these parishes, Sunday Schools were commenced last summer, a little before I was taken sick, under the care of respectable persons of both sexes. These schools are to be continued this summer. Our congregations are generally increasing, and the sober attention given to the services of the Church, together with the constantly increasing number of Prayer Books used in the congregations, are deemed evidences of present candid investigation, and pledges of future good.

"Some deaths have occurred among the very pious and useful members of our communion the last year; but the -present aggregate number of communi, cants in these parishes is about 120, Since the last Convention I have bap tized, in these several congregations, 7 adults and 43 children.

"The present very extraordinary state of things respecting pecuniary concerns, has induced a partial suspension in the operations of the 'Female Tract' and the Bible and Prayer Book' Societies, some time since established. The important objects, however, which

these societies had in view, are by no means relinquished.

"Deprived, as I am, of the privilege of being at the Convention now assembled, I submit to the will of God. And if it please him to continue my life and labours, hope to meet you hereafter. My life and labours are devoted to the cause of our blessed Redeemer. If it is his pleasure to remove me, I hope for salvation through his all-meritorious blood."

The Trustees of the Bishop's Fund made the following report, which was read and accepted:--

That finding themselves without legal capacity to acquire and transmit property to answer the purposes of their appointment, and in pursuance of the instructions of the Convention at their last annual meeting, they applied, by petition, to the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, for an act of incorporation, for the sole purpose of acquiring to themselves and successors that capacity. The petition was acted upon, and a bill reported to the Senate responsive to its prayer, and the same was finally postponed to the next session of the General Assembly.

The Trustees have not thought it advisable, pending their legal incapacity aforesaid, to take other measures towards creating or perpetuating a Bishop's Fund in the Diocess of ŎhioWhich is respectfully submitted.

BENJAMIN GARDINER,
JOHN MATTHEWS,
JOHN C. WRIGHT,

Trustees.

The following gentlemen were elected the Standing Committee of the Dio

cess:

The Rev. Samuel Johnston, the Rev. Intrepid Morse, and the Rev. Thomas A. Osborne; Benjamin Gardiner, and Chester Griswold.

It was resolved, That it shall hereafter be the duty of the clergy and laity to report, from time to time, to the Bishop, any clergyman who may have removed, or shall remove, into this diocess. And also of any disorderly or improper conduct of such clergyman.

Resolved, That the mode and man, ner of proceeding prescribed in the 2d Canon of the Protestant Episcopal

Church in the diocess of New-York, for the trial of clergymen, passed in the year 1802, be the rule of proceeding in this diocess, until the next meeting of the Convention: Provided, that instead of the number of eight Presbyters, to be nominated by the Bishop, as in that Canon, the number to be nominated, shall be four; and, in like manner, the number to be chosen by the party accused, or appointed by the Bishop, shall be three, instead of five.

Abstract of the Proceedings of the 37th Annual Convention of the Dio cess of New-Jersey, held in Trinity Church, Newark, August 23d and 24th, 1820.

THE Convention was composed of the Right Rev. Bishop Croes, six Presbyters, one Deacon, and Lay-Delegates from eight parishes.

The Convention was opened with Morning Prayer, by the Rev. Abiel Carter, Rector of St. Michael's Church, Trenton; and a Sermon, by the Rev. George Y. Moorehouse, Rector of St. Andrew's Church, Mount-Holly. The Rev. John Croes, jun. was

elected Secretary.

The Right Rev. Bishop Croes de livered the following address:Brethren of the Clergy and

of the Laity,

In making the annual communica tion required by the Canons, I begin with stating to you, that the first Church I visited after the rise of the last Convention, was St. Peter's, Spotswood, in the county of Middlesex, at which I officiated. This took place on Sunday, the 19th of September, 1819.

On the 1st of October I visited the congregation of St. Andrew's Church, Amwell, in the county of Hunterdon; and, on Sunday, the 3d, I also visited St. Thomas's Church, at Alexandria, in the same county; in both of which I officiated. These churches are still vacant, though, from the kindness and zeal of the Rev. Mr. Woodruff, the latter has lately enjoyed very frequent opportunities of divine service, and of hearing the word.

On the succeeding Sunday (October 10th) I visited Christ Church, Shrews

bury, in the county of Monmouth, and officiated twice. The next day I preached at St. Peter's Church, Freehold; and, on Tuesday, the 12th, at Christ Church, Middletown, both in the county just mentioned.

In the month of November I visited the congregation of St. Michael's Church, at Trenton; and, on Wednes→ day, the 17th, consecrated the elegant edifice which they had just erected for the worship of God. On the following day I instituted the Rev. Abiel Carter into the Rectorship of said church. These events, considering the lately depressed condition of that church, cannot fail to afford great satisfaction to the friends of our communion, and to pious Christians generally.

month, I visited the congregation of On Tuesday, the 30th of the same Christ Chapel, at Belleville, in Essex county, and officiated.

On Thursday, December 2d, I performed the same duties in the vacant congregation at Paterson, in the same sited St. Matthew's Church, city of county; and, on Friday, the 3d, I vis Jersey, in the county of Bergen ; but was prevented arriving in time to officiate according to appointment.

On Sunday, the 6th of February, 1820, I again visited St. Peter's Church, Spotswood, and officiated twice; and, on Sunday, the 23d of April, I performed the same office in that vacant congregation.

On Tuesday, the 2d of May, I held an ordination in Christ Church, NewBrunswick, and admitted to the order of Deacons, Clarkson Dunn, of this diocess.

From the 16th to the 24th of the same month, I attended a session of the General Convention of our Church, in Philadelphia.

On the intervening Sunday, May 21st, I visited St. Mary's Church, at Colestown, in Gloucester county, and officiated. In the afternoon I preached in the Academy at Camden, in the same county, to the Episcopalians, and others, residing in that village.

On Sunday, the 28th of May, I visited St. George's Church, at Pennsneck, in Salem county, preached and administered the communion; and, in

the afternoon of the same day, I officiated at St. John's Church, Salem. On Monday I proceeded to Swedesborough, in Gloucester county, and preached in Trinity Church, in that village. On Tuesday, the 30th May, I repaired to St. Thomas's Church, Glassborough, and officiated in the morning; and, on my return, performed the same service in the afternoon at St. Stephen's Church, Mullica-Hill.— Both these churches are in Gloucester county, and still vacant. On Wednesday I visited St. Peter's Church, Berkeley, in the same county, and preached. This church also continues vacant.

On Thursday, the 1st of June, I visited St. Andrew's Church, MountHolly, and officiated in the evening.

On Sunday, the 4th of June, I again visited St. Michael's Church, Trenton, and officiated twice.

On the 13th of the same month I set out, accompanied by the Rev. Clarkson Dunn, lately ordained a Deacon, and whom, in virtue of the power vested in me by the Directors of the Missionary Fund, I had appointed a Missionary-to visit the almost expiring church at Newton, and the other declining churches in Sussex county. It is known to many present, that from causes beyond our control, these hapless churches have, for more than thirtyfive years, been destitute of a stated pastor. The time had, however, arrived, when it became necessary to prevent the total extinction, at least, of the first mentioned, that an extraordinary effort should be made to re-establish, and, in a considerable degree, reorganize them. This was especially the purpose of the visit at this time. On our arrival at Newton the next day, measures were taken to ascertain what families and individuals, or their descendants, remained, who formerly belonged to our communion, and still considered themselves as members of it. These, accompanied by Mr. Dunn, I visited, both in the village and surrounding country, and found them more numerous, and more friendly to the Church of their early attachment, than I had contemplated. In these visits we spent nearly four days, and finally had the satisfaction to see almost

all whom we had visited, assembled on the succeeding Lord's Day, in the court-room, at Newton-the place in which the Church in her prosperous days had been wont to worship GoD. Divine service was performed, and a sermon delivered, both morning and afternoon, to crowded congregations; and we parted at the time with the assurance given them, that Mr. Dunn would take up his residence among them as a Missionary, and officiate, in the usual place of worship, on every second Sunday, at least for one year: the Episcopalians to contribute as much in aid of his support as they conveniently could.

From Newton I proceeded to Hardwick township, in which the congregation that once existed is almost extinct, After some arrangements relative to an appointment of service at Johnsonburg, in that township, I visited the church at Knowlton, and made appointments to preach there the succeeding Satur day, and also on the Lord's Day following. This congregation possesses a convenient and substantial church, and, considering its long destitution of a stated minister, is in a more favourable state than could be expected.

In the interim, Mr. Dunn preached at Hope, a village in the vicinity; and went to Johnsonburg with the same view, but the notice sent had not been communicated. The services on Saturday were performed by Mr. Dunn. On Sunday I preached to a numerous congregation, and administered the communion to eighteen persons, besides baptizing two children. After the usual intermission, Mr. Dunn also preached; and notice was given, in conformity with a previous understanding, that he would officiate there every fourth Sunday during the space of a year, the same condition, relative to support, as was agreed on at Newton, On the same afternoon, at six o'clock, I officiated again in the congregation at Hardwick.

This effort, I hope, will not fail of success, especially as there is full ground to believe that Mr. Dunn, under the Divine blessing, will make every exertion to ensure it.

The remaining Sundays of the year

he is to devote to the other vacant churches in the diocess.

On my return from Sussex I visited, on Wednesday, the 28th of June, St. Peter's Church, Perth-Amboy, Middlesex county, and officiated.

The Sunday succeeding (July 2d) I visited St. John's Church, ElizabethTown, Essex county, administered confirmation to 29 persons, and preached twice.

On Sunday, the 23d of July, I visited Trinity Church, at Woodbridge, in Middlesex county, still vacant, and performed divine service, and preached.

I visited also, on Sunday, the 6th of August, the vacant church at Piscataway, in the same county, and preached to a large congregation.

On Sunday, the 20th of August, I visited Trinity Church, Newark, and officiated twice.

On the succeeding day I visited the Episcopalians at Williamsville, in the township of Orange, county of Essex, and preached; and, on Tuesday, the 22d, I again visited Christ Chapel, at Belleville, in the same county, and performed the same service.

Some improvements, and some changes, have occurred in the diocess since my last address.

The chapel at Belleville has been repaired, new-modelled internally, and beautified.

The Rev. F. H. Cuming, a Deacon of this diocess, and for some months an acceptable preacher to the Episcopalians at Morris-Town, has, by a letter dimissory to Bishop Hobart, been transferred to the diocess of New-York. The Rev. Richard F. Cadle, a Deacon in the diocess of New-York, has, by a letter dimissory from the Bishop of that diocess, become a member of this, and has been received as their minister, by the congregations of St. John's Church, Salem, and St. George's, Pennsneck. This is an event which affords much satisfaction, as those churches, with very little exception, had been vacant upwards of 30 years.

The Rev. Simon Wilmer, for many years the Rector of Trinity Church, Swedesborough, has resigned his charge of that church, and removed to the diocess of Virginia. VOL. V.

The Rev. Jacob M. Douglass, of the diocess of Pennsylvania, it is said, has engaged to become the successor of Mr. Wilmer, at Swedesborough.

It will give pleasure to the friends of the Church to learn, that the funds of the Episcopal Society, in this diocess, for Promoting Christian Knowledge and Piety, are gradually increasing; that the disposable fund enables the Society to distribute numerous copies of the Bible, Prayer Book, and of Religious Tracts; and that the time cannot be far distant, when the proceeds of its permanent fund will put it in their power to give some considerable assistance to pious, though indigent young men, of talents, who are desirous of preparing themselves for the ministry. It cannot, however, but occasion pain and regret, that the interests of the Society are left to the zeal and exertions of a few-thatan institution ultimately so important, should not enlist in its service the good wishes and the endeavours of all the clergymen, and of all the churches in the diocess.

The Sunday Schools heretofore esta→ blished in the churches, are progress ing, I understand, with vigour. Their utility cannot be doubted, either as conducing to the extension of knowledge, or of piety and morality, among the children of the poor. It would contribute to their increase and prosperity, should every clergyman of a congregation, and the wardens of every vacant church, in which a Sunday School exists, be required to make a report, annually, of its state, its advancement, or decline.

From these statements, and from the Parochial Reports which will be presented to you, no doubt can exist, that the Church in this diocess is gradually improving, both in its spiritual and temporal concerns.

It is with satisfaction I also commu nicate to you, that the Rev. Dr. Brow nell, whom I mentioned in my last address as elected Bishop of the diocess of Connecticut, has since been conse crated to that holy office.

It was my intention, having been invited to assist in the consecration, to go to New-Haven for the purpose, but severe indisposition prevented me.

In addition to the facts here commu

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