CLERICAL ASSOCIATIONS.
Next in the order of time, and agreeably to a recommendation
in one of the Conventions in Bishop Madison's time, comes the
establishment of Clerical Associations. The first of these was in
the Valley of Virginia, consisting of the ministers of Berkeley,
Jefferson, and Frederick—Dr. Balmaine, the Rev. Benjamin Allen,
Enoch Lowe, Mr. Brian, and myself,—Benjamin Smith, now
Bishop Smith, coming among us soon after. We assembled quarterly
in each other's parishes; preaching for several days and
nights; having meetings among ourselves, and at private houses,
for special prayer; taking up collections for missionaries to the
western part of Virginia. The two first who went to Virginia
beyond the Alleghanies—the Rev. Charles Page and William Lee
—were sent out by our Society. These Associations were
attended by much good and no evil, so far as I know and believe.
I have ever encouraged them since entering the Episcopate, and
Bishop Moore did the same before and after that time, as being
most important auxiliaries to the Bishops, especially in large
dioceses. I regard it as an evil omen, when ministers, favourably
situated, are averse to such means of their own and their
people's improvement, though I do not mean to say that there
are not some good and pious men who regard them in a different
light.
