CHAPTER VI. His Episcopal Ministry. THE Consecration of Dr. Dehon, was at Philadelphia, on the 15th October, 1812, by the Right Rev. Bishop White, Bishops Hobart and Jarvis being present, and assisting. At the succeeding Convention, (for 1813) the following correspondence between the clergy and the bishop took place : To the Right Rev. Theodore Dehon, D. D., Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in South-Carolina. "Right Rev. Sir,-We, the clergy of your diocese, should not do justice to the tender and affectionate sentiments of our hearts towards you, if we were longer to delay the expressions of these emotions. "When we take a view of the declining state of the Church of South-Carolina, for some years past, for the want of a visible head, to whom we might with confidence look up for advice in our difficulties, consolation under our trials and sorrows, and to animate and quicken our zeal, this address to you, through which we desire to give utterance to our attachment to you, personally, seems naturally to become an act of humble, and, we hope, sincere gratitude to the bountiful giver of all goodness; that He has been pleased, in his wise and gracious providence, to direct us to select you, from among your clerical brethren, to preside over the concerns of our Church. We, therefore, dearest and Right Rev. Sir, congratulate youwe congratulate ourselves-we congratulate the flocks under our particular charge, and who are near and dear to our souls, that we have one appointed to the Episcopal office among us, whom they and we so highly esteem, respect, and love. We flatter ourselves with the pleasing expectation, that whatever you may propose for the extension of true and vital religion, amongst all those with whom we may individually have any concern, you will find us willing and cheerful to obey, and ardent and zealous to execute. We cannot take our leave of you, at this time, without offering up our fervent supplications to the allgracious and merciful Father of men, to grant you a full portion of his divine spirit, that you may be enabled faithfully, to discharge the great, the important duties, with which you are entrusted; and when you shall be called from your terrestrial labours, you may be admitted among the saints and priests of the Most High God, in the celestial world; amid the plaudits of angels, and the whole hosts of heaven, with 'well done thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.' "This is the sincere wish,, the ardent prayer of, Right Rev. Sir, your sons, your brothers, your fellow-labourers, in the vineyard of our most blessed Lord and Master. (Signed) "W. PERCY, D. D., Rector of the 3d Epis. Church, T. MILLS, D. D., Rector of St. Andrew's, Winyaw, ANDREW FOWLER, late Rector of St. Bar- JAS. DEWAR SIMONS, Rector of St. Philip's, J. CAMPBELL, Rector of St. Helena, Beau- Charleston, S. C., February 16, 1813.” "To the Clergy of the Pro. Epis. Church in the State of South-Carolina. "Reverend Brethren,-The address presented to me, by your committee, in your behalf, is received by me with sentiments tender and affectionate as those by which it was dictated. The feelings it has added to emotions which had already been excited in me, by the new circumstances under which we have, in this week, been assembled, I should in vain attempt to describe. "That the declining state of the Church in South-Carolina, for some years past, has been partly owing to its want of all the orders of the ministry, I do not doubt. So far as it respects the restoration to the Church of the Episcopal office, I can partake of your joy; and have only to regret, that he who has been called to that office, has not more of those qualities which should prepare men for it, to entitle him to the flattering expressions of your satisfaction and good will. I shall often need, brethren, your advice and co-operation. I shall always need your prayers. Among the grounds on which I congratulate myself, (for some such grounds there are) it is not the least that 1 behold around me a body of clergy, however small, among whom may be found piety and knowledge, regularity, brotherly kindness, and peace, of whom I indulge the hope, that it shall be said, as of the earlier disciples of our Master, see how they love, one another.' 6 "The declaration of your readiness to co-operate with me in any measure, that may be proposed for 'the extension of true and vital religion' among the people of your respective cures, is to me a source of pleasure and hope; and I pray you to be assured, that any information or suggestions concerning the interests of the Church, which in your individual or joint capacities, you may at any time be able to give me, will be received by me with thankfulness, and weighed with attention. "Nothing of this world should be more encouraging to the ministers of the Redeemer, than to know that they have the prayers of each other. For your affectionate supplica tions in my behalf, I render you my thanks. On the promised constancy of them I place a solicitous dependence. And while, brethren, beloved and reverend, 1 thank my God for all the good gifts of grace, or of nature, which he hath bestowed, or shall bestow on you, for the benefit of his Church, it is, and often will be my earnest prayer, that you may be happy and successful, each of you, in his ministry here and that when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, you also may appear with him in glory. "Charleston, Feb. 17, 1813. THEODORE DEHON." The benefits resulting from a strict adherence to the directions of the Church, as to public baptism, had been now experienced by two congregations, and it was natural to wish that they might be extended through the diocese. Among the clergy, there was scarcely any difference of opinion on this subject, and the best informed and most pious laymen highly approved of his course in relation to it. A venerable layman, whose influence was deservedly great, being asked his opinion, observed, that he perfectly recollected that the celebrated Commissary Garden always insisted on the administration of baptism in the Church, and that the relaxation of discipline which subsequently took place, was to be ascribed to the introduction into the province of several clergymen not remarkable for their zeal. It may be added, that the revolution interrupted the order of our churches, and when they were re-organized, a degree of accommodation to the world was deemed necessary. It can never be proper to oblige a man of influence, or even a friend, at the expense of regulation important to the prosperity of the Church. The minister ought to be condescending. He should take pains to explain the principles of the Church, and to remove the objections of its members. He should let them see, that he is willing, and even anxious, to oblige them, as far as he can, consistently with duty. But he must be firm as a rock, where principle is concerned. Such was Dr. Dehon. He would not have moved an inch from the a path of duty, although the loss of his living would have been the certain consequence of his inflexibility. A minister who acts with firmness, will command the respect even of those who dislike him; and, what is of far more consequence, he will have the divine approbation. God will take care of those who are faithful; and if, in his service, they lose houses, or lands, or friends, he will repay them a thousand fold. The condescension of Dr. Dehon, to opponents, was very remarkable. Even when they treated his expostulations with indifference, and cherished the most provoking obstinacy, he would continue to reason with them. To others, the moving of them appeared hopeless, and his attempts not unlike the throwing away of pearls: but he had, in an eminent degree, the charity which hopeth all things. To a solitary objector, he would give as much time, and argument, and eloquence, as if he were addressing a large congregation. This was judicious, as the success of politicians, wiser in their generation than the children of light, constantly exemplifies. The single enemy is most easily vanquished, and perhaps he may be made an advocate of the cause which he had opposed. He now considered himself as, in a sense, the minister of every Protestant Episcopalian in the diocese, and with his views of the ministerial relation, the duties to which he felt himself called were, indeed, numerous and arduous. Several of the services of the Episcopate were entirely new in this State. To prepare the public mind for the rite of confirmation, which had never been administered in this diocese, he explained and vindicated it in several discourses which form a learned and complete treatise on the subject, and are a happy specimen of original reflection.* It is believed that It is believed that many of his thoughts are new, and that there is no work on this subject of * An edition has been published by the "Society for the Advancement of Christianity in South-Carolina," to whom the copy-right was generously given by Mrs. Dehon. Another edition has been printed at New-York, in consequence of the demand there for the work. |