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Worthy the presence of his God to view.
Then hasten'd soon, from forth the holy One,
A spirit, whom earth's Lord his chosen calls,
And whom, Eloa, name the hosts of heaven.
Commissioned was that spirit to proceed
With Gabriel towards God's throne. The
first of all,

And mightiest next eternity, was he.
O bless'd, one thought of great Eloa's mind,
As the whole soul of God-created man,
When, worthy of his Lord, he meditates
"Midst stillness and repose. His look of

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Eloa look'd, and, as he knew his God,
He seem'd entranc'd at the stupendous sight;
And sank incapable. At last his thoughts
Burst forth, and show'd the heavens his soul
sublime.

Whole worlds shall cease, and rise again from dust,

And centuries pass into eternity;

E'er holiest Christian may expect to feel Such thoughts of elevation rise within him (To be continued.)

For the Gospel Advocate.

IN MEMORY OF A FRIEND.

Before that orb, whose orient splendour glows, Shall shed its parting lustre in the west, Thousands, on whom its morning beams arose, Shall close their eyes, in everlasting rest!

What countless tears and sighs shall pay The last, sad tribute of a single day!

Long shall the tide of time, with fatal sway,
Its victims daily to the deep consign,
Ere its impetuous course shall bear away
Such virtue, wit, and piety as thine;

Whose hope could cheer, whose flash illume Life's tearful passage to the silent tomb.

While sculptur'd marbles teach the curious

eye,

Where worldly greatness moulders in the sod;
Unhonour'd and unknown, while myriads lie,
Whose modest virtues stand before their God;
Whose shroud the hand of pity gave,
But rais'd no stone to mark the pilgrim's
grave;

Thy tablet fair, by mem'ry's pencil drawn,
Shall rest, secure, in friendship's holy shrine;
Till those, to meet thy sainted shade have
gone,

Who smil'd with thee, or mix'd their tears with thine.

Such tribute shall on earth be given; Thy brightest record is enroll'd in heaven.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

Extracts from the journal of the thirtyeighth annual convention of the diocese of New Jersey, concluded from page 40, of our last number.

THE churches at Piscataway and Woodbridge, the former founded in 1721, the latter a little before that period, are the only ones of which the bishop speaks in terms of some despondency. "The church at Piscataway, always small, and for many years vacant, gives but faint promise of its ever rising to

distinction, among its sister churches." The church at Woodbridge, “small, and necessarily vacant, though risen from a state that threatened its total extinction, and though possessed of a building neatly and substantially repaired; yet promises but little as to any such increase of its numbers, for many years, as shall enable it to support a minister."

During the last year a new congregation has been collected at Patterson, which, though

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5 do. 470 Sunday scholars. Collections have been made, in twenty parishes for the missionary and bishop's funds. The present amount of these funds is as follows: missionary fund, $3074,24: bishop's fund, 1418,59. "It is pleasing to me to state," says the bishop," and I trust it will be received with becoming gratitude to God, the Author of every good gift, that the progress of the several institutions, connected with the church in this diocese, continues uninterrupted, and, though slow, is perhaps as great, under all circumstances, as ought to be expected. The fund of the corporation for the relief of the widows and children of clergymen, the missionary fund, the permanent fund of the protestant episcopal society for promoting Christian knowledge and piety, and the fund for giving additional support to the bishop, are all in a state of gradual augmentation; and promise to be, in addition to their usefulness at present, important means in the promotion of the welfare and progress of the church hereafter. Their beneficial influence, especially the missionary and episcopal society funds, we have already experienced, in a very considerable degree. The continuance, however, of their progress, greatly depends on the attention and faithfulness of the clergy of the diocese, in having the required collections punctually made; and otherwise promoting the interest and advancement of institutions so valuable. The laity will always be ready, I am convinced, to second their endeavours in the good work." We notice with pleasure the judicious practice, adopted in New-Jersey, of appointing, at each convention, the parochial clergy to perform missionary duties in the vacant parishes. These duties are not so likely to be neglected, when to each clergyman is assigned his proper sphere of action, and he is required to report his proceedings at the stated annual meetings.

The important subject of Sunday schools appears to be viewed with increasing re

gard. We have already mentioned the flourishing condition of that at Trenton, and the establishment of them is becoming general in the diocese. "It is another source of gratification," says the bishop, "that the Sunday schools, in the diocese, so capable of being made nurseries of religion and of the church, when properly instituted and conducted, are both increasing and flourishing. It is to be hoped that the resolution of the last convention, requiring clergymen, and, in cases of vacancy, the wardens, to report the state of the schools, in their respective churches, will be duly attended to, in this sitting."

The standing committee, appointed for the ensuing year, were the reverend Dr. Wharton, the reverend J. C. Rudd, the reverend J. Croes, jun. and the reverend A. Carter, of the clergy; Robert Boggs, Esq. Wm. P. Deare, Esq. Dr. P. F. Glentworth, and Peter Kean, Esq. of the laity.

Deputies to the general convention: the reverend Dr. Wharton, the reverend J. C. Rudd, the reverend J. Croes, jun. and the reverend A. Carter, of the clergy; James Parker, Esq. Peter Kean, Esq. Joseph V. Clark, Esq. and Daniel Garrison, Esq. of the laity.

[The following is the constitution (which was omitted in our last for want of room) agreed upon at the late special meeting of the general convention of the protestant episcopal church in the United States.]

The constitution of the domestick and foreign missionary society of the protestant episcopal church in the United States of America.

1. This institution shall be denominated the domestick and foreign missionary soci-ety of the protestant episcopal church in the United States of America.

II. It shall be composed of the bishops of the protestant episcopal church, and of the members of the house of clerical and lay deputies of the general convention of said church, for the time being; and of such other persons, as shall contribute, by subscription, three dollars, or more, annually to the objects of the institution, during the continuance of such contributions; and of such as shall contribute at once thirty dollars, which contribution shall constitute them members for life.

Members who pay fifty dollars, on subscribing, shall be denominated patrons of the society.

It shall be the privilege of the subscribers, to designate, on their subscriptions, to which of the objects, domestick, or foreign, they desire their contributions to be applied. If no specification be made, the board of direc

tors, may apply them to either, or both, at their discretion.

III. The society shall meet triennially, at the place in which the general convention shall hold its session. The time of meeting shall be on the first day of the session, at five o'clock, P. M.

A sermon shall be preached, and a collection made, in aid of the funds of the society, at such time, during the session of the convention, as may be determined at the annual meeting the preacher to be appointed by the house of bishops.

IV. The presiding bishop of this church shall be president of the society; the other bishops, according to seniority, vice presidents. There shall be two secretaries, and twenty-four directors, who shall be chosen, by ballot, at each meeting.

v. The directors, together with the president, vice presidents, and patrons of the society-who shall, ex officio, be directors shall compose a body to be denominated the board of directors of the domestick and foreign missionary society of the protestant episcopal church in the United States of America. They shall meet annually in the city of Philadelphia, except in the year of the meeting of the general convention, when they shall assemble at the place of the meeting thereof. Nine members of the board of directors shall be necessary to constitute a quorum to do business.

The meetings of the board of directors shall always be opened with using a form of prayer to be set forth by the house of bishops for that purpose, or one or more suitable prayers selected from the liturgy.

VI. At the annual meetings, all missionary stations, appointments of missionaries, and appropriations of money, and all by-laws necessary for their own government, and for conducting the affairs of the missions, shall be made; provided, that all appointments of missionaries shall be with the approbation of the bishops present. Special meetings may be called by the president, or by one of the vice presidents, as often as may be necessary to carry into effect the resolutions adopted at the annual meetings of the board; at which special meetings, seven members, including the president or one of the vice presidents, shall be a quorum to transact busi

ness.

The board of directors, whether at their annual or special meetings, may appoint such committees as may be necessary or useful.

VII. There shall be annually appointed a treasurer and two members of the society, who together shall be termed trustees of the permanent fund.

The treasurer shall receive all contributions which shall be made to the society, and enter

them in detail, distinguishing between what may be contributed for domestick, and what for foreign purposes, if any such distinction should be made; and present a statement of his accounts annually, or oftener, if required, to the board of directors. He shall not pay moneys unless on an order from the board, signed by the president, or, in his absence, by the senior vice president who may attend the meeting when such order is given.

Twenty per cent of all moneys, which shall be contributed to carry into effect the objects of the institution, shall be vested by the trustees, in their own name, as officers of the society, in some safe and productive stock, to constitute a permanent fund. The residue of the contributions, with the interest arising from the permanent fund, shall be appropriated to the objects for which the society was formed

VIII. The board of directors, at their annual meetings, shall take such measures as they may deem proper, to establish auxiliary societies in any diocese, with the advice and consent of the bishop of the same; to secure patronage, and to enlarge the funds of the institution. The bishop of every diocese shall be president of the auxiliary societies organized within it.

IX. In any diocese or district, where there is a bishop or an ecclesiastical body duly constituted under the authority of the convention of the same for missionary purposes, aid may be given in money; but the appointmeat of the missionary shall rest with the bishop or ecclesiastical body aforesaid. shall act under their direction, and shall render to them a report of his proceedings, copies of which shall be forwarded to this society.

He

x. The board of directors shall, at every meeting of the society, present a detailed report of their proceedings, which, if approved and adopted by the society, shall, on the next day, be presented, by their president, to the general convention, as the report of the society.

XI. The present convention shall elect, by ballot, the twenty-four directors and the two secretaries, provided for by the fourth article, to act till the first stated meeting of the society; and the first meeting of the board of directors shall take place at Philadelphia, on the third Wednesday in November instant.

XII. It is recommended to every member of this society, to pray to almighty God, for his blessing upon its designs, under the full conviction, that unless he direct us in all our doings, with his most gracious favour, and further us with his continual help, we cannot reasonably hope, either to procure suitable persons to act as missionaries, or expect that their endeavours will be successful.

THE

GOSPEL ADVOCATE.
ADVOCATE.

"Knowing that I am set for the defence of the Gospel." Phil. i. 17.

No. 15.]

MARCH, 1822.

[No. S. Vol. II.

THEOLOGICAL.

THE IMPORTANCE OF A GENERAL VIEW
OF THE STATE OF THE CHURCH.

OUR readers will recollect, that, under
the head of Religious Intelligence, in
our number for September, 1821, we
expressed our intention of giving, at
the close of the year, a general view
of the state of the church throughout
the union. We regret that we were
prevented from doing so, by not having
received all the journals of the several
state conventions, and by the imperfect
statements which most of those journals
exhibit of the parochial reports. We
beg leave, most respectfully, to request
the right reverend the bishops, and the
several secretaries of the state conven-
tions, to furnish us, as speedily as pos-
sible, with all the information which
they may consider ás important, con-
cerning the condition of their respective
churches.

It appears to us, that the existing organization of our church might, with a little pains, be made the instrument of furnishing a very exact account of her actual state and progress every year. Let each clergyman keep a record of all the important transactions within his cure, inserting in it the name of every family, and of every individual in that family, and stating whether they are baptized, or confirmed, or are communicants. If this were generally

10

ADVOCATE, VOL. II.

At

done, and, in the case of a vacant congregation, if the wardens for the time being should do the same, the parochial reports, made annually to the convention, might be so accurate as to ascer tain exactly the number and resources of the members of each diocese. present, the parochial reports are so defective, that they render abortive any attempt at a general statistick ac count. Some contain a record of baptisms only, or of baptisms and deaths, or, at most, of baptisms, deaths, and communicants. We are left wholly in the dark, whether the omissions be the result of carelessness or of design. If no deaths or marriages occur, it is better to say, explicitly, that there have been none, than by mere omission to leave the fact doubtful. Some clergymen, instead of stating the whole number of their communicants, mention only the numbers added during the past year. To know the whole number, the reader is obliged to turn to the journals of preceding years. This cannot always be done, and, of course, the great object of parochial reports is at once frustrated.

It seems to be a very prevailing sentiment, if we may judge from the prevailing practice, that the number of the communicants in any church is all that is important to be known. But why should this be the case? Why is

N H. Mass

it not equally important to ascertain the number of families, the number of Maine persons in each family, the number of youths capable of receiving instruction, or, in other words, the catechumens of the parish?

II. Table of Diocesan Reports.

Vermont R. I. Conn.

N. York N Jersey

Penn.

Del.

Maryl.

Ohio

Ken.

Lou. Missouri Florida

Total

It is one of the great advantages of the organization of the church, that the bishop of the diocese being the centre of unity, to whom it is the duty of every parochial clergyman to report Virg. his proceedings, and the condition of N.C. the souls under his charge, the spiritual S. C wants of the humblest and the most Georgia obscure may be made known to him, and, in some measure at least, be relieved by his pastoral care. We shall proceed, therefore, to state what it was our intention to have done, in the hope that, as far as our work circulates, the attention of our readers may be called to the subject; and that an increasing Maine perception of its importance, through- N H. out the union, may hereafter increase Mass our ability to accomplish our design. Vermont It was our intention to have given three tables, at the close of the year, as a summary of the state of the church in 1821. I. Parochial reports. II. Diocesan reports. III. Conventional reports, as follows:

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5. Number of candidates for holy orders
6. Number of lay readers.

3. Number of deacons ordained.
2. Number of confirmations.

1. Number of bishops.

4. Number of priests ordained.

8. Number of churches consecrated.

10. Number of new congregations formed. 9. Number of churches building.

7. Number of missionaries.

11. Number of institutions,

III. Table of Conventional Reports.

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An inspection of these tables will,

we think, do more than any observa. tions we can offer, to convince our readers of the importance of forming them. Our church has been hitherto in a depressed state. We have laboured under the disadvantages arising from the prejudices of those, who are not members of our communion, and from that relaxation of energy among our

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