 | Old churches, ministers and families of Virginia. |  |
No. I.
A Copy of the Journal of the Proceedings of the Convention
held at the College of William and Mary, in the City of
Williamsburg, in April, 1719.
At a Convention of the Clergy of Virginia, begun on Wednesday, the
eighth day of April, 1719, in the College of William and Mary, in the
city of Williamsburg, Mr. Commissary Blair called over a list of the
clergymen of this Colony, and the following members answered to their
names:—
Mr. Selater, Mr. Guy Smith, Mr. Lewis Latane, Mr. Thomas Sharpe,
Mr. Hugh Jones, Mr. Andrew Thomson, Mr. Ralph Bowker, Mr. Cargill,
Mr. George Robinson, Mr. Monroe, Mr. Eml. Jones, Mr. Bar. Yates, Mr.
Wm. Finney, Mr. John Shaife, Mr. Alex. Scott, Mr. John Worden, Mr.
Benj. Pownal, Mr. Wm. Brodie, Mr. John Bagge, Mr. Fran. Mylne, Mr.
Brunskill, Mr. Fountaine, Mr. Geo. Seagood, Mr. James Robertson, Mr.
James Falconer.
Absent.
Mr. Alex. Forbes, Mr. John Bell, Mr. Giles Rainsford, Mr. James
Breghin, Mr. John Span, Mr. Owen Jones, Mr. John Prince, Mr. James
Tenant, (out of the country,) Mr. Daniel Taylor, (excused by letter,) Mr.
Saml. Bernard, (sick,) Mr. James Cleck, (sick,) Mr. Wm. Black.
Then Mr. Commissary Blair read two letters from the Lord-Bishop of
London, our Diocesan, one to himself, and another to Reverend the Clergy
of Virginia, and recommended the particulars of them, which letters are as
followeth,—viz.:
To the Rev. Mr. Blair, Commissary of Virginia.
You will find in the enclosed the reason I have for
writing it, and will, I doubt not, agree in opinion with me that it cannot
but be useful to put the clergy under you in mind of their duty, even if
there should be no failing, much more if there be any. I therefore desire
you to communicate this letter to them, and to use all proper means
to redress any deviations from our rules, considering that both you and I
are to be answerable if we neglect our duty in that part.
I have wrote to the Governor, and entreated him to give you all proper
countenance and assistance in these matters, and am persuaded he
will be ready so to do upon any application you may have occasion to
make him.
I should be glad to hear from you what vacant churches are in your
parts, to the end I may use my best endeavours to procure you a supply.
Your assured friend and brother,
To the Reverend the Clergy of Virginia.
It is always a joy to me to hear of the good
success of your ministerial labours, and no less a grief to hear of any defaults
and irregularities among you; to which disadvantageous reports I am not
forward to give credit, finding that wrong representations are frequently
made. Some occasions have been given to apprehend, there may have
been faults and miscarriages in the life and conversation of some among
you, which I trust are corrected; and that the grace of God, and a sense
of duty you owe to Him, his Church, and to yourselves, will so rule in your
hearts, as that I shall no more hear any thing to the disadvantage of any
of you upon that head. Nevertheless, I cannot but give you notice, that
I have information of some irregularities, which, if practised, will need
very much to be redressed; and I cannot but hope, if such things there
be, you will not be unwilling to do your part, as I think it a duty to do
mine by this advisement.
Whether any ministers be settled among you who have not a license from
my predecessor or myself, I must leave to the inquiry of your Governor,
who is instructed in that case, and will, I believe, upon notice given, be
ready to act accordingly, as also in reference to institutions and inductions.
At least I must hope, that, by this case and yours, none will be suffered
to officiate in the public worship of God, or perform any ministerial offices
of religion, but such only as are Episcopally ordained; and from all such
I cannot but expect a regular conformity to the established Liturgy,
from which none of us can depart without violating that solemn promise
we made at our ordination.
I have desired Mr. Commissary to communicate this to you, and, as I
hope he will use all fitting earnestness in pressing the observation of these
things, so I doubt not he will be able to procure a redress for those or any
other disorders in the worship of God, when the same shall come to his
knowledge.
Your affectionate brother and assured friend,
Then the Convention received a letter from the Honourable the Governor,
directed to the clergy, which was read, and with it a copy of a
letter from the Governor to the vestry of St. Anne, in Essex, which was
read also, which letters are as followeth, viz.:—
You are now come hither at your Commissary's
desire, that he might have the easier opportunity to communicate
to you a letter from your Right Reverend Diocesan. And seeing his Lordship
has been pleased to make mention of me in that letter, taking notice
that I have instructions to act in reference to institutions and inductions,
and that he must leave to my inquiry whether any ministers be settled
among you who have not license from him or his predecessor, and as his
Lordship seems to rely on my care as well as yours, that none may be
suffered to officiate in the public worship of God, or perform any ministerial
offices of religion, but such only as are Episcopally ordained, I ought not
to be silent on this occasion, and thereupon must remark to you, that the
very person whom his Lordship expects should use all fitting earnestness
in pressing the observations of these things is he whom I take to be the
least observer thereof himself. For none more eminently than Mr. Commissary
Blair sets at naught those instructions which your Diocesan leaves
you to be guided by, with respect to institutions and inductions; he denying
by his practice as well as discourses that the King's Government
has the right to collate ministers to ecclesiastical benefices within this
Colony; for, when the church which he now supplies became void by the
death of the former incumbent, his solicitation for the same was solely to
the vestry, without his ever making the least application to me for my collation,
notwithstanding it was my own parish church; and I cannot but
complain of his deserting the cause of the Church in general, and striving
to put it on such a foot as must deprive the clergy of that reasonable
security which, I think, they ought to have with regard to their livings.
As to the disorders in the worship of God, which are pointed at in the
said letter, it appears as if my Lord of London knew not that this Commissary
is more apt to countenance than redress the same; for I myself have
seen him present in the church while a layman (his clerk) has read the
divine service to the congregation, he himself vouchsafing to perform no
more of the ministerial office than to pronounce the absolution, preach,
and dismiss with the blessing. I have also seen him present in the churchyard
while the same clerk has performed the funeral-service at the grave.
And I remember when he was for having the churchwardens provide lay
readers, who should on Sundays read to their congregations some printed
sermons; and so far he declared in Council his approbation thereof, that
such practice had like to have had the sanction of the Government, had I
not withstood it as destructive to the Establishment of the Church.
Those and many other instances that might be given induce me to believe
that a reformation of what has chiefly (as I apprehend) given occasion
to your Diocesan's letter will not be pressed very heartily upon you
ordination as his Lordship reminds you all of: wherefore I judge it to be
the more incumbent upon the several members now in this Convention
diligently to inquire of the disorders which your Diocesan takes notice of,
and earnestly to apply yourselves to proper means for redressing them.
As to any faults and miscarriages in the life and conversation of some
among you, which your Diocesan likewise touches upon, I trust your Commissary
will use all fitting earnestness in pressing the reformation of such
manners as may give offence and bring scandal upon your holy profession;
and I have so good an opinion of the present body of the clergy, that I
do not in the least doubt of a very general concurrence to censure and
admonish any one of your fraternity here whom you shall know to have
erred in either his doctrine or manners. For my part, I hope, after so
many years' experience of my conduct in this Government, there is little
need to express in words my disposition toward the Church; and I cannot
suppose that any one of you doubts of my real inclination to support the
interest thereof, or that I am otherwise than, reverend gentlemen,
To the vestry of St. Anne, in Essex, September 3, 1718.
Though the hurry of public business, wherein I was
engaged, did not allow me time immediately to answer your letter of the
1st of August, yet I told Mr. Short on his going hence, on the 5th of that
month, that you might expect my answer in a few days; and if he has done
me justice he has informed you that I advised your forbearing, in the mean
time, to run too rashly into the measures I perceived you were inclining to;
assuring him my intentions are to make you easy, if possible, in relation to
your minister. But, whether that advice was imparted to you or not, it is
plain, by your proceedings of the 8th of the same month, that you resolved
not to accept of it, seeing you immediately discarded Mr. Bagge and sent
down Mr. Rainsford with a pretended presentation of induction. As soon
as that came into my hands, I observed it expressly contrary to a late
opinion of the Council, whereby it is declared that the right of supplying
vacant benefices is claimed by the King, and by his Majesty's commission
given to the Governor; and for that reason I let Mr. Rainsford know that
before I could admit of such a presentation it was necessary for me to
have likewise the advice of the Council thereon. But, not content to wait
their resolution, I understand you have taken upon you the power of induction,
as well as that of presentation, by giving Mr. Rainsford possession
of the pulpit, and excluding the person I appointed to officiate. I have,
according to my promise, taken the advice of my Council upon your pretended
presentation, and here send it enclosed, by which you will find that
the Board is clearly of opinion that I should not receive such presentation:
please bring a "quare impedit" to try your title; and then it will appear
whether the King's clerk or yours has the most rightful possession of this
church. In the mean time I think it necessary to forewarn you to be
cautious how you dispose of the profits of your parish, lest you pay it in
your own wrong.
Should I end my letter here, it might be imagined that I am as willing
as you to keep up contention; but, as I am rather desirous to prevail with
you by reason than to convince you at your own expense, I think it necessary
to exhort you to some just terms of accommodation: but I must
tell you, that this is not to be accomplished by the interposition of such
faithless deputies as Mr. Short, your late messenger hither; for if upon
his return he reported what I have seen attested under Mr. Winston's
hand, he ought to be excluded all human conversation; for I do assure
you that no such discourse happened between Short and me as he has
related, neither did Mr. Bagge ever solicit me to turn out any one of
your vestry, nor did I ever receive such a proposal from any man else,
except Mr. Rainsford, who in a letter last year did importune me to remove
one of your vestry, whom he terms a Judas among the number of the
twelve Bishops of St. Anne's, but, because I never pretended to intermeddle
in the choice or removal of vestries, I never answered his letter. By the
same hands it is like you received such another piece of news,—to wit: that
Mr. Commissary Blair advised your insisting on your right, for that you
had the law, and the major part of the Council is on your side. I have
taxed Mr. Commissary with this, and he has publicly denied it, and even
given it under his hand that he never did such a thing; but, if he did, the
enclosed proceedings of the Council (wherein he joined) will convince you
how much he was mistaken. Another thing, which perhaps may have
given you a fallacious assurance, is, that the vestry of James City were
taking the same measures with you to dispute the King's authority; but,
to undeceive you on that point, that vestry has thought fit to drop the
dispute, and the person they pretended to fix in their parish has been fain
to supplicate me to put him into some other benefice.
Having thus endeavoured to remove the impression which false rumors
and public insinuations may have made on you, I shall in the next place
remind you of some particulars which probably some of you have forgot
and others perhaps have never come to the knowledge of. In the year
1712, Mr. Bagge was so much in the esteem of your parish that, though
he had then the care of another, he was the only person you would think
of to supply yours, and you represented him to me as a sober man, a good
preacher, and of a life and conversation blameless; when I yielded to
supply your parish by collating Mr. Edwards, the only objection to Mr.
Bagge was his non-residence in your parish; when, upon Mr. Edwards's
decease, I was willing to prefer Mr. Bagge to that vacancy, you then only
objected against him his not being in Priests' Orders; and when, in order
to England, you gave him a very ample testimonial of his pious and laudable
life and doctrine, all which are yet extant, under the hands of those
who now so violently oppose him. It was on the testimony of your vestry
that your Diocesan,—the Bishop of London,—after having admitted Mr.
Bagge into Priests' Orders, recommended him to me that he might be
collated into that parish where he had gained so good a reputation; and
who could imagine he would not be acceptable to a people who had given
such encomiums of his life and doctrine, after he had taken such pains to
remove the only thing that could be objected to him? And what opinion
your Bishop will have of men who, without any new experience of Mr.
Bagge's behaviour, act so inconsistent with themselves, I leave you to
judge.
That I may the better prevail with you to reflect in time upon what you
are going about, I shall plainly lay before you the power by which I act,
leaving you to judge whether I ought to give up a right so well founded
both on law and reason: As the King is the sovereign of these plantations,
so he is vested with the right of patronage of all ecclesiastical benefices,
unless when it appears that he has by apt words granted the same away to
private subjects.
That his Majesty doth claim the right here in Virginia appears by the
commission under the broad seal, whereby his Majesty gives his Governor
full power and authority to collate any person or persons to any churches
or chapels, or any other ecclesiastical benefices, as often as any of them
shall become void, (which power is also expressly excepted out of the
Bishop of London's patent as Bishop of the Plantations;) and in his Majesty's
instructions the Governor is particularly directed as to the qualifications
of the persons so to be collated by him, and enjoined to cause all
persons not so qualified to be removed, and immediately to supply the
vacancies, without giving notice to the vestries, which is always done in
England (in the case of deprivation) where there is a patron. This shows
that the King acknowledges no other patron but himself. But, besides this
commission, there is a further and very early evidence of the King's not
looking on the law you hinge on to give the vestries any right of patronage:
it is a lease made by King Charles II., to the Lords Arlington and
Culpepper, of the whole Territory of Virginia for thirty-one years, wherein,
among other things, there is this remarkable grant,—viz: "And we do
further give and grant to the Lord Henry Earle of Arlington, and Thomas,
Lord Culpepper, that they shall, for and during the said term of thirty-one
years, be sole and absolute patrons of all the churches and chapels already
built, or shall hereafter be built, within the said Territory," &c. Now, this
grant being made in 1672, just ten years after the law for inducting of
ministers passed here, is it to be supposed that the King's Counsel-at-law,
who prepared the grant, and the Lord-Chancellor, who put the great seal
to it, would have suffered it to pass had they judged it incompatible with
memory, especially considering that the Lord-Chancellor was always one
of the Committee for Foreign Plantations? And the then Government,
Council, and House of Burgesses, though they sent home agents to remonstrate
against this law, did not plead that this grant of the patronage
of churches was repugnant to the right of the vestries; neither could the
agents prevail to get the grant set aside, though they were particularly
charged to endeavour it. If you consider Sir Edward Northey's opinion,
(which I find mentioned in your letter,) it is plain he never had the
King's right under consideration; nor doth he at all determine that the
vestries are the undoubted patrons; but, after he had cited the several
laws relating to the churches, he declared that the right of advowson must
be determined by the laws of England, (there being no law of this country
that gives any further direction therein,) and the whole scope of his arguments
thereafter is only to show what is the practice in England, where
there are such undoubted patrons; which is but supposing what the King
has not yet yielded in this country, seeing he still claims the right of
supplying the vacancies of all ecclesiastical benefices, as the Council hath
declared to be the true meaning of his Majesty's commission and instructions.
Lastly, I shall set forth to you the reasonableness of believing that the
King looks upon the right of disposing of the benefices here as still vested
in the Crown.
Every minister sent here is denominated one of the King's Chaplains,
employed in his Majesty's service abroad, and as such receives twenty
pounds out of his treasury to defray the charge of his passage. If any of
the King's ships are coming hither, those ministers have the passage and
provision gratis. The Bishop of London recommends them to the Government
to be preferred to some ecclesiastical living. But they bring no
recommendation to any vestry as patrons of the churches; nor doth either
the King or the Bishop direct or desire the Governor to intercede with the
patrons of the churches to bestow on such ministers the vacant livings in
their gift. Now, to what purpose is the King at so much expense to send
over clergymen to the Plantations, if they are to starve here till a lay patron
thinks fit to present them? To what purpose doth the Bishop recommend
them to the Government, if he has no preferment to bestow? To what
purpose do they bring the Bishop's testimonial and license to preach, if
their qualifications are to be again tried by a vestry here, and they to
depend on popular humour for their livings? Can it be supposed that the
Governor's instructions, prepared by the Board of Trade, (who are well
acquainted with all the laws of this country,) and afterward read and
approved of in Council, where the King's learned judges are present,
should enjoin the Governor, upon the removal of a minister, immediately to
supply the vacancy without waiting the six months' lapse, and should not
rather direct him to follow the practices of England by giving timely notice
that the law of Virginia gave the right of patronage to the vestries?
Whatever wild notions some people may entertain of his Majesty's ministers
intrusted with the inspection of the Plantations, I am confident they
would never advise his Majesty to enjoin any thing repugnant to law; and
therefore, till the King thinks fit to alter my commission and instructions,
I hope I cannot be blamed for not giving up a right which his Majesty
has intrusted me with, unless it be otherwise determined by due course
of law, to which I shall be as ready as any man to submit; and I doubt
not you will allow me to be a fair adversary in so fully informing you beforehand
of the merits of the cause I am to defend. However, you have it
in your power to bring this dispute between us to an accommodation; and
I do again assure you that I shall be ready on my part to show myself an
indulgent Governor, and, in order to make you easy, to yield what I can
without betraying my trust to my master.
The said letter being read, a motion was made that the Commissary be
desired to print his sermon preached this day before the members of the
Convention, at the parish church of Bruton, in the city of Williamsburg.
Mr. Commissary answered that he had never yet appeared in print; but,
if the members of the Convention wished it, he would transmit a true copy
of it to the Lord-Bishop of London; and it was desired accordingly.
Resolved unanimously that the Governor be addressed.
Then a committee of the seven members following was appointed to
prepare the address,—viz.: Mr. Emanuel Jones, Mr. Hugh Jones, Mr.
George Robertson, Mr. Skaife, Mr. Seagood, Mr. Brodie, and Mr. Yates,—
and return it to the House by to-morrow morning, nine o'clock.
Ordered, That the Convention be adjourned to that hour.
Thursday, April 9, 1719.
Mr. Brodie, one of the committee that was appointed to draw up an
address to the Governor, being absent by reason of sickness, the rest of
the said committee—viz.: Mr. Emanuel Jones, Mr. Hugh Jones, Mr.
George Robertson, Mr. Skaife, Mr. Seagood, and Mr. Yates—appeared,
and Mr. Emanuel Jones in their name delivered it in; which, being read
and examined paragraph by paragraph, passed without amendment, and is
as followeth, viz:—
To the Hon. Alexander Spottswood, his Majesty's Lieutenant-Governor
and Commander-in-Chief of this Colony.
May it please your Honour, should we, the clergy of his Majesty's Province
of Virginia assembled in Convention, (who have, with the utmost
indignation and resentment, heard your Honour affronted and abused by a
few prejudiced men,) be silent upon this occasion, we should appear
ungrateful in both capacities as ministers and subjects. Therefore, with
government,—a government that has raised this Colony to a flourishing
condition by exercising over it no other authority but that wherein its
happiness and liberty consist, and which nothing but the groundless suspicions
and unreasonable jealousies of the eager and violent can render
liable to exception. Your Honour is happy to us rather than to yourself,
in that you are perpetually toiling for the public, constantly doing good
to many, whilst you do injury to none.
We approach you, therefore, not only as our Governor, but as a common
good, and think we cannot better declare our love to this country than in
our hearty wishes and fervent prayers that you may long, very long,
preside over it, which we assure you are the sincere desires of your
Honour's very much obliged and most humble servants.
The Convention next took the Lord-Bishop of London's letter into consideration,
which being again read and considered paragraph by paragraph
the first question that was put by Mr. Commissary was, Whether any of
the members present knew of any person who officiated in this country as
a minister without license from our present Diocesan or his predecessor?
and the whole House declared they knew of none. The next question
upon it was, Whether any of the members present knew of any minister
that officiated in the Colony without Episcopal ordination? to which the
following members answered they knew of none,—viz.: Mr. Monroe, Mr.
Mylne, Mr. Smith, Mr. Fountaine, Mr. Brunskill, Mr. Sharpe, Mr. George
Robertson, Mr. Finney, Mr. James Robertson, Mr. Thomson, Mr. Cargill.
The following members were doubtful whether Commissary Blair had
Episcopal ordination or not,—viz.: Mr. Skaife, Mr. Latane, Mr. Yates, Mr.
Bagge, Mr. Emanuel Jones, Mr. Bowker, Mr. Seagood, Mr. Scott, Mr.
Hugh Jones, Mr. Falkoner, Mr. Downal, and Mr. Worden. Mr. Selater
suspended his judgment. The next question was, Whether any member
knew of any minister who did not conform punctually to the rules of the
Established Church?
It was owned that there were many rules which were not observed by
any of them, because of the circumstances of the country.
Ordered, That it be an instruction to the committee that shall be appointed
to answer the Lord-Bishop of London's letter, that they set forth
the particulars wherein at present they cannot help being deficient in the
discharge of their function, and that his Lordship's directions be requested
therein, and that they inform him that none of the members refuse to
conform to the rubrics and canons to the utmost of their power.
The next thing inquired into was the irregularity of the lives of the
clergy.
To which it was answered, that no member had any personal knowledge
of the irregularity of any clergyman's life in this Colony.
Whereupon it was ordered, that it be an instruction to said committee
modestly to vindicate the lives of the clergy from the aspersions (thrown
on them by former informations to his Lordship) of faults and miscarriages
in the lives of some among them.
Ordered, That it be an instruction to the committee to inform his
Lordship that visitations have been attempted by Mr. Commissary, but
have been found very difficult, and that his Lordship's directions be desired
in that matter.
The next things in his Lordship's letter taken into consideration were
institutions and inductions.
Upon which the question was put, Whether, in order to the redress of
the grievances we labour under with reference to them, the difficulties
which render our livings and circumstances precarious should not, in the
said answer, be represented to his Lordship?
It passed in the affirmative.
Ordered, That the said committee be instructed accordingly; and that
they let his Lordship know that, whenever the Governor has been applied
to, he has been always ready to redress us in this matter to the utmost of
his power.
Ordered, That the committee to be appointed to draw up the representation
and answer to his Lordship's letter consist of seven members. Then
the House named Mr. Commissary, Mr. Bagge, Mr. Hugh Jones, Mr. Cargill,
Mr. Mylne, Mr. Finney, and Mr. Pownal to be that committee.
Ordered, That the committee meet this evening at six o'clock.
Resolved, That the address be presented to the Governor.
Ordered, That the committee that prepared it attend him to know when
he will be pleased to be waited upon therewith. Then the Convention
adjourned to 9 o'clock to-morrow.
Mr. Selater and Mr. Smith being absent when the House was called
over, Mr. Bagge moved that no member should be allowed to be absent
from the Convention without leave, which was seconded and ordered.
Mr. Yates moved that when the committee was engaged in drawing the
answer to the Bishop of London's letter, a copy of the proceedings of the
Convention should be laid before the rest of the members to inspect them,
in order to reducing the same into a regular journal, which was seconded
and granted.
Mr. Emanuel Jones reported that the committee which prepared the
address had waited on the Governor to know when he would be pleased to
be waited on by the House to present the same, and, his Honour having
signified his pleasure that he would receive it at seven of the clock in the
evening, the members accordingly presented it him, who was pleased to
receive it very graciously, and to return an answer that he thanked us for
our kind address, and that we should always find him willing and ready to
us that we should not only have his protection but affection.
Mr. Bagge moved that the several letters, together with the address mentioned
in the minutes, be inserted in the fair transcript of them in their
proper places.
The committee desiring more time to finish the representation and
answer to the Bishop of London's letter, the Convention adjourned till six
of the clock in the evening.
Accordingly, the House meeting at that hour, the committee appointed
to prepare the said representation and answer delivered in the same, which
was read, and considered paragraph by paragraph.
The 1st paragraph being read, ordered that it pass.
And 2d paragraph being read, it passed unanimously.
And the 3d, it likewise passed unanimously.
And the 4th, ordered that it pass.
And the 5th, it passed unanimously.
And the 6th, ordered that it pass.
And the 7th, it passed unanimously.
And the 8th, it passed unanimously.
And the 9th, ordered that it pass.
And the 10th, ordered that it pass.
And the 11th, ordered that it pass.
And the 12th, ordered that it pass.
And the 13th, it passed unanimously.
Accordingly, the whole passed, which is as followeth,—viz.:
May it please your Lordship:—
We, your Lordship's dutiful sons and servants, the clergy of Virginia,
being, in obedience to your Lordship's monitory letter, in Convention duly
assembled, and having in the fear of God impartially considered the import
and contents thereof, beg leave to return your Lordship the following
answer and representation.
We are extremely sensible of your Lordship's tender care of us in reminding
us of our duty, and of the prudent manner of it, in that you have
not been forward to give credit to disadvantageous reports concerning the
clergy of this Colony, but have given us this opportunity of answering for
ourselves, which we humbly and gratefully accept, and make use of with all
sincerity.
We find, upon examination, that there is no minister among us who has
not license from your Lordship or your predecessor.
We are fully satisfied that we all of us are Episcopally ordained, except
Mr. Commissary, of whose ordination a major part doubt,—a true account
of which he has promised to transmit to your Lordship, together with the
journal of this Convention.
We must confess the circumstances of this Colony are such that, in many
respects, they will not permit us to perform that regular conformity to the
requires; particularly we beg leave to inform your Lordship, that the
parishes are so large, the inhabitants so dispersed, and so distant from the
church, (some twenty, thirty, forty miles and upward,) that throughout
this whole country we have divine service but once every Sunday, and but
one sermon; and, for the same reason, the people neglect and refuse to
bring their dead to be buried in the churchyards, and seldom send for the
minister to perform the office, but make use of a layman for that purpose,—
alleging for reasons the extremity of heat in summer, and the great distance
from the habitation of the minister. Also, that people observe no
holy days except those of Christmas-day and Good Friday,—being unwilling
to leave their daily labour; and you are well satisfied that we are
obliged to administer the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper to persons who
are not confirmed.
We must confess that we have some laws of the Colony which might
favour us in the discharge of our sacred function; but, should they be put
in execution, the defect or obscurity of others would expose us to the
greatest difficulties; for which cause we are obliged to baptize, and church
women, marry and bury, at private houses, administer the Lord's Supper
to a single sick person, perform in church the office of both Sacraments
without the decent habits and proper ornaments and vessels which our
established Liturgy requires.
We have inquired into the irregularities among us which were intimated
to your Lordship, and we have discovered none such to our personal knowledge,
but observe that the lives of the clergy and laity are much improved
of late years.
We deplore the unhappy precariousness of our circumstances, to which
many of the afore-mentioned deviations from the established Liturgy are
to be attributed, and beg to lay them in the most pressing manner before
your Lordship for your advice and direction.
The people in general are adverse to the induction of the clergy,—the
want of which exposes us to the great oppression of the vestries, who act
often arbitrarily, lessening and denying us our lawful salaries,—the opinion
of the Attorney-General being that we are incapable of taking the benefit
of the law to oblige them to do justice, without that necessary qualification,
or a compact.
Our Governor, who is, under God, our chief support here, has never been
wanting to us in redressing our grievances to the utmost of his power, and
would willingly act in our favour with respect to institutions and inductions,
according to the King's patent and instructions; but he imputes the opposition
he meets with in this affair to some of the Council, and particularly to
Mr. Commissary, whom he also accuses of some other irregularities, as your
Lordship, by his Honour's letter to us and by another to the vestry of the
parish of St. Anne, in Essex, may perceive, and which we most humbly
and earnestly pray your Lordship to interpose your advice and assistance.
Visitations have been attempted by Mr. Commissary; but he met with so
many difficulties, from the churchwardens refusing to take the oath of a
churchwarden or to make presentments, and from the general aversion of
the people to every thing that looks like a spiritual court, that little has
been done.
Could your Lordship procure any thing that might tend to the promotion
of religion and the knowledge of the clergy or laity of this dominion from
the Venerable Societies for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts, and
for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge, we assure your Lordship that
we will use our utmost endeavours in the right application of any such
charitable favours, and shall gratefully esteem it a signal instance of goodness
from you and them.
We return our most hearty thanks for your Lordship's admonitions and
advice, and, begging your Episcopal benediction, take leave to subscribe
ourselves,
Your Lordship's most dutiful sons
and most humble servants.
burg, Virginia, April 10, 1719.
The members of the Convention having desired Mr. Commissary to sign
the said letter and representation, he refused the same. Ordered it be
entered accordingly. Mr. Hugh Jones moved that the members of the
Convention sign the said letter and representation.
Ordered, That it be signed; and it was signed accordingly.
Ordered, That Mr. Commissary, Mr. Hugh Jones, Mr. Seagood, Mr.
Bagge, or any two of them, examine the journal of this Convention, and
transmit two copies, one to the Bishop of London, and one to the Governor,
attested by them.
Then Mr. Commissary asked whether the members had any thing more
to prepare, &c. It being answered in the negative, he dissolved the Convention.
(A true copy.)
Mr. Commissary's Speech to the Convention, April 8, 1719.
As in my letter for calling you together at
this time I acquainted you that it was in pursuance of the directions of
our Right Reverend Diocesan, my Lord-Bishop of London, I shall first
read to you his Lordship's letter about it to myself, and his letter to the
clergy of this country, which he has desired me to communicate to you;
and then I shall (as I find my Lord expects of me) endeavour to resume the
particulars and press the observation of them with all fitting earnestness.
Then, having read both these letters, he went on thus:—
Brethren, it is plain that the ground of this admonition is an information
my Lord-Bishop has received of some irregularities among us that need
very much to be redressed. I wish the informers, whoever they are, before
they had given our worthy Diocesan this trouble and uneasiness, had
first made known their complaint to me, who have the honour to be deputed
by his Lordship for that purpose; and then, by your concurrent
advice, matters might have been redressed among ourselves, without exposing
us to his Lordship's suspicions, or bringing us under the character
of a clergy guilty of several irregularities. As in secular affairs no man
carries a cause from this country to England till it has been first tried in
our Virginia courts, and, if any one is dissatisfied with their sentence, in
weighty causes there lies an appeal for England, it is most regular that
it should be so too in spiritual affairs. It would be too great a burden for
my Lord-Bishop of London to be troubled in "prima instantia" with all
the irregularities of the numerous clergy under him, especially in the remote
Plantations, where he can't have the parties before him, or be sufficiently
informed of the circumstances or the facts, the witnesses living at
so great distance. But this piece of justice, which was not designed us
by the informers, my Lord of London himself, out of his great prudence
and unbiassed justice, has done us. He tells us that he "is not forward
to give credit to disadvantageous reports, finding that wrong representations
are not unfrequently made," and perhaps never more frequently than
now. And therefore his Lordship has reduced this complaint into the
right method; that is, he has given you and me notice of it; and, like a
good Bishop, he stirs us up to do our parts toward redressing any irregularities
that may be among us.
And, seeing our Diocesan has been so just and kind as not to proceed to
censure upon this private information, but has left both the inquiry into
the truth of the information and the redressing the irregularities, in great
measure, to ourselves, let me with all earnestness exhort you to discharge
a good conscience in this matter, and to speak freely, if ye know any that
officiates as minister of any parish in this country, without license from
my Lord-Bishop of London or his predecessor; if you know any among
us who has not had Episcopal ordination; if you know any who does not
comply with the established Liturgy; and, lastly, if you know any that
are scandalous in their lives and conversation. These are the chief things
pointed at with relation to our duty in my Lord's monitory letter. There
is one word added concerning institutions and inductions, intimating that
the Governor will be ready, upon notice given, to act accordingly, if any
minister is settled among us who has not a license from the present Bishop
of London or his predecessor, as also in reference to institutions and inductions.
As to this of institutions and inductions, I say, I do not so well
apprehend what is required of us in them. They are in the Governor's
hands, who does not fail to institute and induct when presentations are
duly made. But for want of these the clergy of this country have been
procure a remedy for this evil, and, in the revival of the laws about sixteen
or seventeen years ago, particular care was taken of it; but it miscarried
in that Assembly which was in Governor Nott's time, when the great body
of the revisal passed.
The common remedy in England is for the ordinary to take the benefit
of the lapse, which is not so easy in this country, for want of men in Orders
who are unprovided. And, indeed, this makes it much harder, too, on
their side who are to present, if they are strictly limited to the six months,
as in England,—there being no vacant ministers here for our vacant
parishes. In the year 1703, Governor Nicholson had the opinion of Sir
Edward Northey—then Attorney-General—as to the business of presentations
and inductions. He gave his opinion that the right of presentation
by our laws was in the parishioners, and the right of the lapse in the
Governor; only, he added, that if the parishioners have never presented,
they may have a reasonable time to present a minister. But, if they will
not present,—being required so to do,—the Governor may, in their default,
collate a minister.
These are the subjects of my Lord of London's letter and of our consultations,
which, I think, we must go upon in the first place, and then, if
any one has any thing further to propose, it will be time to consider it
Our consultations will be much shortened if we proceed regularly and with
Christian temper, and speak on at once, without heat, or passion, or partiality,
and without breaking in one upon another.
There is one thing more I have to recommend,—namely, a unanimity
and brotherly love among ourselves, which will be a great ornament of our
profession and a great mutual support to our interest.
I need not put you in mind that there are now many censorious eyes
upon us, and therefore we must be very circumspect in our behaviour:
prudence, gravity, sobriety and modesty, and moderation, are great ornaments
of our profession at all times. I hope we shall leave a good character
behind us in this place, that the very adversaries may have nothing to
reprehend in our example or conduct, and so God, of his infinite mercy,
accompany all our consultations with his blessing, and direct them to his
glory and the welfare of that part of the Church in which we are more
particularly concerned.
Historical Remarks for the Better Understanding of the Proceedings
of the Convention of the Clergy at Williamsburg,
in April, 1719
Before the Convention was called, great pains were taken to prepossess
the clergy in favour of the Governor by getting them to sign addresses of
encomiums upon him, in which there was usually some reflection against
the House of Burgesses that sent home a complaint against him to his
Majesty, so that, without condemning themselves, it could not be expected
To make way for these addresses, it was confidently given out, and
most industriously spread all over the country, that Mr. Commissary and
three more were turned out of the Council, and that the address of the
House of Burgesses was refused to be received, because it came not through
the hands of the Governor; both which proved otherwise.
On the day of the Convention, the Commissary and clergy waited on the
Governor at his house; and, the Commissary asking if he had any commands
for the Convention, he said he would signify what he had to say in
a letter.
While Mr. Commissary was yet giving his charge, and was come to that
part of it which gives an account of Sir Edward Northey's opinion,—viz.:
"In the year 1703, Governor Nicholson had the opinion of Sir Edward
Northey, then Attorney-General, as to the business of presentations and
inductions. He gave his opinion that "the right of presentation by our laws
was in the parishioners, and the right of the lapse was with the Governor."
Here Mr. Emanuel Jones interrupted him, crying out that it was a mistake;
it was not the parishioners, but the vestry. "I have right to know it,"
said he, "for I brought in that opinion." Mr. Commissary answered, "Sir,
you ought not to interrupt me: I have Sir Edward Northey's opinion here,
and I'll show you presently that it is right quoted;" and accordingly produced
it, and satisfied the whole Convention that he had right quoted it.
Immediately after the Commissary's charge, and before any other business
was entered upon, Mr. William Robinson, Clerk of the Council, being sent
by the Governor, desired admittance, and presented a letter from the Governor,
directed to the reverend the clergy of Virginia in Convention at Williamsburg,
and then withdrew. This letter, being all an invective against
Mr. Commissary, contributed very much to the ill-temper of the Convention.
There was such a confused noise upon it, that for a considerable space no
one could be heard. When that confusion was a little over, so that he
could be heard, Mr. Commissary said he was very unhappy to be under
the frowns of the Governor, but was so conscious of his innocency, that, if
they would have patience to hear him, he would ask no time, but would
immediately answer all the accusations of that letter. And, beginning, as
the letter does, with the business of collations, while he was showing the
law and practice of the country and the opinion of the late Bishop of London
and of Sir Edward Northey, by which he had always governed himself,
another confused clamour arose, that they were not proper judges of these
things, and therefore desired him to desist, and send his answer to the
Governor's letter in writing to my Lord-Bishop of London; to which he
acquiesced.
Then Mr. Hugh Jones and some others, faulting the doctrine of Mr.
Commissary's sermon preached before them that day, desired Mr. Commissary
to print it. He, excusing himself as never having appeared in
print, said if they had any objections against it he was ready to answer
Lord-Bishop of London; and accordingly they insisted upon this last, and
he promised to do it.
Then it was moved that an address be made to the Governor. Mr.
Commissary and some others put them in mind that it was more proper, and
would look better upon the minutes, to begin with the principal business
they were called upon,—viz.: The answer to my Lord of London's letter.
But, this being overruled, a committee was appointed to draw the said
address. Some moved that Mr. Commissary might be one of this committee
to help prepare the said address; but this was opposed by the greater
part.
Then Mr. Commissary and some others moved that it might be considered
whether it was not proper to give directions to the committee concerning
the manner of the said address, particularly that they should
abstain from intermeddling with those unhappy differences of State that
were between the Governor and the House of Burgesses; and that they
should confine themselves to what was more proper for the clergy,—namely,
the thanking the Governor for his protection of the Church. If they drew
a handsome address to this purpose, it was said, we should all unanimously
join in it, which would do him more service than if they drew any thing
which we could not all unanimously sign. But this motion was overruled
and the committee left to themselves without any limitation.
Mr. Emanuel Jones delivered in the address to the Governor, which,
being read and examined paragraph by paragraph, passed without amendment.
Though it was carried by a majority of the Convention that this address
should pass without amendment, there was a very great debate on the
subject-matter of it. They were put in mind that those prejudiced men
by whom they said his Honour was affronted and abused were the body
of the representatives of the country,—the House of Burgesses; that they
had made a public complaint of the Governor, which now lies before the
King; that it did not belong to our province either to prejudice his Majesty
or to decide the points in difference between the Governor and the House
of Burgesses; that, if we were ever so desirous to justify the Governor, we
were not in a capacity to do it, the matters in difference being entirely out
of our cognizance. The House of Burgesses complain that their privileges
are encroached upon: is that a fit subject for us to determine? They
complain of a great sum of money taken without order and spent about the
Governor's house and gardens: they had the account before them, whereas
if we say any thing upon that subject we must speak without book. And
so of the forfeiture of lands and the Burgesses' salaries and some other
things complained of, of which we are very incapable judges. They were
likewise told that the duty of mediation of peace did much better become
displeasure of a great many gentlemen of our own parishes; that we should
create to ourselves lasting uneasiness; and that a time might come when
the House of Burgesses might think fit to call those to account that put
such public affronts on them, as we heard the House of Commons in
Ireland did those that counter-addressed in the case of Sir Constantine
Phips.
When none of all this prevailed, but the address was carried by vote, the
Commissary, and seven more that were against addressing in that form,
desired that they might enter the reasons of their dissent. But this was
wholly refused.
While this business was in debating, Mr. Robertson brought a letter from
the Governor to the Commissary, requiring the perusal of his sermon
preached yesterday before the Convention. The style of it is so particular
that Mr. Commissary thought fit to set it down verbatim, which follows:—
Sir:—In your sermon preached yesterday before me, upon occasion of
the Convention of the clergy, you thought fitting to advance such principles
with respect to Government that I judge I should not discharge the duty
I owe to my Prince if I failed to take notice thereof; and lest I might,
upon one cursory hearing, misapprehend some positions you then laid down,
I desire you will favour me now with a more deliberate perusal of the
sermon in writing; and your immediate compliance with this request will
be the only means to satisfy, sir, your most humble servant,
Upon this, he immediately sent the sermon, hoping the Governor would
either rest satisfied, or, by the help of his friends of the clergy, form his
objections and give him an opportunity of answering them. He heard no
more of it, only understands he took a copy.
Upon the question of Mr. Commissary's Episcopal ordination, of twenty-four
that were present besides Mr. Commissary himself, twelve voted that
they were doubtful of his Episcopal ordination, eleven that they had no
doubt about it, and one that he suspended his judgment. The reasons of
those who were doubtful were, first, that they knew not the hand in which
the certificate was written subscribed Jo. Edenburgen. To which it was
answered, that they could not have a better proof, that fell within their
knowledge, than the late Bishop of London's license under his hand and
seal. Second, it was objected that the certificate was not in the usual
English form, nor any seal annexed to it. To which it was answered that
a certificate from a Scotch Bishop of any one being a minister in his
diocese, in the Order of Presbyter, is a sufficient proof of the matter of fact,
though it is not in the English form; and that, being taken for such thirty-four
years ago by the late Bishop of London, (and the late Lord Effingham,
Governor of Virginia,) to whom both his ministry in Scotland and the test
called in question. Third, Mr. Hugh Jones objected to the word Presbyter
in that certificate,—that it should have been Priest. But this objection
was ridiculed by most of themselves, since in the English certificates [OMITTED]
Priests' Orders they are said to be promoted "Ad Sacrum Presbyteratus
Ordinem."
In answer to the question whether they knew of any minister in this
Colony that did not punctually conform to the rules of the Established
Church, there is no more set down in the minutes but that it was owned
there were several rules which were not observed by any of them because
of the circumstances of the country. But upon this Mr. Commissary urged
that my Lord-Bishop of London had been certainly informed of great deviations
from the Liturgy, and therefore that if any of the informers were
then present they would acquaint us with what they had observed of this
kind, that it might be certified, and told them they must expect he would
acquaint my Lord with it if they had nothing to say. Upon this Mr. Hugh
Jones said something to this purpose:—That he was desired by my Lord of
London to give his Lordship some account of the state of this Church, and
that accordingly he had given an account of some things in which Mr.
Commissary did not observe the rubric. He instanced in the clerk's
publishing the banns and some other things in church. For by the laws
of this country all proclamations and many laws are published in Church,
and, the clerks commonly keeping the register, the usual way is for them
to publish the banns and give a certificate of it to the minister. He complained
too of Mr. Ingles, his taking upon him in his school to make exhortations
to his schoolboys, alleging that he should only teach them the
Church Catechism. The whole Convention, judging these things frivolous,
commended Mr. Ingles (who is a sober, good man, and master of arts) for
giving good instructions to his boys concerning their morals; and as for
some other things of small variation from the rubric, they found none but
such as the different circumstances of the country from those of England
necessarily engaged us in, which are more particularly mentioned in the
clergy's answer to my Lord of London's letter.
In the evening of this day, after the Convention was adjourned, eight
ministers, who, for the reasons above mentioned, did not join in the address
which the major part prepared for the Governor, agreed upon one of their
own, both to show their duty to him and their moderation with relation to
the public differences in the country. It was as follows:—
To the Hon. Alexander Spottswood, his Majesty's Lieutenant-Governor
and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony
May it please your Honour, it is with no small concern we humbly
represent to your Honour that we could not join with the rest of our
brethren in one uniform address, being unwilling to determine between
persons and things which, as we apprehend, were not properly under our
to return our most hearty thanks for the continuance of your Honour's
protection to the Church and clergy of this country. We have no doubt
of your Honour's ready concurrence in any present methods that can be
offered for our support and encouragement. And seeing your Honour is
well apprized of all our circumstances, without any further information
from us, we desire to leave it with yourself to consider of the best ways
and means to remedy what wants redress in the precariousness of our circumstances,
whether by execution of the laws in being, or the contrivance
of new ones, to answer better the circumstances of the Church and clergy
and people of this country as in your wisdom you shall think fit.
It is far from our thoughts to add any thing to the uneasiness of your
circumstances from other hands, being extremely concerned at the unhappy
differences in the country. As we heartily wish a better understanding,
we shall not fail by our prayers and endeavours in our station to procure
it as far as in us lies. And in the mean time, committing you to God's
conduct and direction, we take leave to subscribe ourselves, sir, your
Honour's most obedient and most humble servants,
And then they went to his house to present it. But he, having first
perused it by himself, at last refused to receive it, called it a libel, and
gave it back to Mr. Commissary.
There is nothing to be remarked upon this day's proceedings but that
some objections were made to a few things in the clergy's answer to my
Lord of London's letter, upon the amendment of which all the clergy
declared their readiness to sign it. These objections were,—1st. The slur
it casts upon Mr. Commissary's ordination. 2d The unfair representation,
or insinuation, at least, as if some of the Council, and particularly Mr.
Commissary, obstructed the Governor's acting in favour of the clergy in
the point of institutions and inductions. It is true they do not take it
upon themselves to say this, but lay it upon the Governor, and say that he
imputes the opposition "he meets with in this affair to some of the Council,
and particularly to Mr. Commissary, whom he also accuses of some other
irregularities, as your Lordship, by his Honour's letter to us and another
to the vestry of the parish of St. Anne's, may perceive, both which, together
and in which we most humbly and earnestly pray your Lordship to interpose
your Lordship's advice and assistance." Though this was the least
they could do without directly incurring the Governor's displeasure, there
were several who said they knew the Council and the Commissary had
been such constant friends to the clergy that they would have no hand in
putting this slight upon them, as if they opposed their institutions and
inductions. 3d. That it lays the blame upon our laws that we are obliged
to baptize, church women, marry, and bury, at private houses, &c., whereas
it is not by our laws these things are occasioned, but partly by our precariousness,
(the Governor never making use of the lapse,) and partly by
the exceeding largeness of the parishes and other inconvenient circumstances
of the country.
Immediately before dissolving the Convention, Mr. Hugh Jones moved
something to this effect,—that, in regard a major part doubted of Mr.
Commissary's Orders, the Governor should be required to suspend him
from officiating as a minister of this country, and the Bishop desired to
send another Commissary. This proposal was with a general voice exploded
and cried out upon, and they asked him if he was not ashamed to
offer any such thing. When nobody backed his motion, he desired it might
be entered on the minutes. But the whole Convention rejected it with
great indignation.
The above account, consisting of ten pages, is a true narrative, to the
best of our remembrance
An Answer to the Accusation contained in the Governor's Letter to the
Convention, which Letter is to be seen in Journal of the Proceedings of
the said Convention.
ACCUSATION.
For none more eminently than Commissary Blair sets at naught those
instructions which your Diocesan leaves you to be guided by, with respect
to institutions and inductions,—he denying by his practices, as well as discourses,
that the King's Governor has the right to collate ministers to
ecclesiastical benefices within this Colony; for when the church he now supplies
became void by the death of the former incumbent, his solicitation
to the same was solely to the vestry, without his ever making the least
application to me for my collation, notwithstanding it was my own parish
church.
ANSWER.
As this accusation is here worded, the design of it is plainly to induce
your Lordship to believe that I oppose the King's instructions and deny
parish without him. But none of all these do in the least touch and explain
the true state of the difference betwixt his opinion and mine in this
matter, which I must therefore beg leave more clearly to unfold to your
Lordship.
The sole question as to this affair is, What is to be meant by collation
as in the Governor's instructions?—whether such a power as the King has
to bestow livings of which he himself is the patron? or such a power as
the Bishop has to collate to livings that fall into his hands by lapse? He
claims it in the first sense; I have always understood it in the second, for
the following reasons. It has been the constant practice in this country
that whatever ministers we have had inducted have had first a presentation
from the vestries, who, by law here, act in the name of the parishioners.
And before this gentleman's time, it was never known that ever
a Governor refused to induct upon any such presentations, or gave collation
and institution without it. 2d. By a law of this country, entitled Ministers
to be Inducted, after it has spoken of a minister's producing a testimonial
of his ordination, and his subscribing to be conformable to the orders
and constitutions of the Church of England and the laws there established,
follow immediately these words:—"Upon which the Governor is hereby
requested to induct the said minister into any parish that shall make presentation
[OMITTED] him." And from these words it has been always understood
here that the parish had the presentation and the Governor the induction.
For, as to the word requested, they think, and he grants, it doth not alter
the case when applied to the Governor,—that being the usual form in
which our laws express his duty, and not by the more authoritative words
of enacting, commanding, or requiring, as they do other people's. 3d.
The parishes here are at the charge of founding the churches, the glebes,
and the salaries. 4th. Governor Nicholson consulted Sir Edward Northey,
the late Attorney-General, as to all this affair,—being desirous (as I thought)
to remedy the precariousness of the clergy, who, except a very few, have
no inductions. And Sir Edward was altogether of this opinion, as your
Lordship will see by a copy of it, which I herewith transmit. Governor
Nicholson sent copies of that opinion to the several vestries of this country,
and threatened if they did not present that he would take the benefit
of the lapse: the very threatening procured presentations, and consequently
inductions, for some ministers. And had the Governor collated and inducted
upon the lapse,—nay, had he made but one or two examples of it,—
all this grievance might have been redressed long ago. But he only
threatened, and never once collated upon lapse; so that the precariousness
is as much fixed as ever. 5th. Having often discoursed with your Lordship's
predecessor and written to him on this subject, I never found he
had any other notion of collation by the Governor but that it was to be
upon lapse. And the great difficulty started in those days to that scheme
was that the country complained six months was too short a time for them
were not already provided. For remedy of which, in the last revisal of
our laws, a law was provided in which two years (if I remember right)
were allowed the parishes to supply their vacancies. This law, about fifteen
years ago, was under consideration of the Council of Trade. My Lord-Bishop
of London was that day present at the Board, and I, being then in
London, was desired to attend. After full debate upon it, the law was
approved of, and my Lord of London was very well satisfied. But after
all it miscarried here in this country. Our Assembly could not agree
about it, and so it fell. Sure, if either the Bishop or the Council of Trade
had had any notion of this right of patronage which the Governor claims,
(and his commission and instructions are the same now they were then,)
having so ready a remedy for the precariousness of the clergy, they needed
not to have made these extraordinary concessions. 6th The Governor's
new method would destroy all benefit of lapse; whereas, if the presentation
is in the parish and the lapse in the Governor, we have the ordinary
check upon the patron, as in England and other Christian Churches, which
is a very valuable security. 7th Collations for benefices, together with
licenses for marriage and probates of wills,—being three things pertaining
to the ecclesiastical jurisdiction, but expressly excepted out of it and by
the King's instructions given to the Governor,—seems to be a good argument
that, in the point of collations, the Governor acts only as ordinary,
and consequently either institutes upon presentation or collates by lapse,
but not as original patron.
These are the reasons which have induced me to think collations are to
be interpreted in another sense than the Governor has lately fixed on
them. I say lately; for I do not remember that he fell upon this notion
above three or four years ago, which makes me astonished at the censure
he gives of me for not applying to him for his collation. There are two
wrong things here insinuated. One is, as if the Governor at that time
had claimed (as he now does) the right of collating to the living as patron
before it lapsed; whereas this pretension was, by four or five years, of a
later date,—my coming to this parish being at Christmas, 1710,—and nobody
at that time having ever questioned the vestry's right of choosing a
minister when the parish was fairly void,—as it was here, by the death
of my predecessor, Mr. Solomon Wheatly. As soon as I was elected by
the vestry, I immediately acquainted the Governor, and he said he was very
glad of it. And I do assure your Lordship he nor no one else at that time
faulted this as being then, and long afterward, the common practice of the
country. If a Governor ever interposed in such cases in those days, it was
only by recommendation to the vestries, but never by way of collation, which
he now begins to claim. The other thing which I take to be here insinuated
is as if, upon the vestry's presentation of me, I had, in contempt of his
authority and right to give collation, never applied to him for it. This, I
confess, would have been a great contempt, and such one as never any
from the vestry, we never fail to apply to the Governor for induction,
as readily as any clerk in England applies to the Bishop with his
presentation. But this is the unhappiness of our precarious circumstances
in this country,—that the vestries are such enemies to induction that they
will give no presentations, and our Governors have been so unwilling to
disoblige the parishes that they have never taken the benefit of the lapse; so
that the ministers generally officiate upon the election of the vestry, without
presentation or induction. As this is the case of about nine or ten of
our ministers, (for some four or five are inducted,) your Lordship will
easily perceive that, as matters then stood, without a presentation it was
in vain for me to apply to the Governor for collation or induction. But I
thought it became me, in good manner, to wait on the Governor and to acquaint
him with what was done: he signified his great satisfaction, and did
not in the least fault any thing in the conduct of the matter. We were
then, and for many years afterward, in perfect friendship; though now all
things that are capable of any ill aspect are mustered up to make a crime
where never any before was so much as pretended.
ACCUSATION.
And I cannot but complain of his deserting the cause of the Church in
general, and striving to put it on such a foot as must deprive the clergy of
that reasonable security which I think they ought to have with regard to
their livings.
ANSWER.
It passes my skill to find out the defects of this method. If the Governor
would give the parishes warning to present in a reasonable time, and, in
case of failure, to make use of the lapse, it would remedy the precariousness
of the clergy as well as the other, and would have this advantage,—
that it would be much more easily applied, and a minister would have more
of the love of his parishioners; whereas, the other way will involve him
in a lawsuit to defend his title; and if we should at any time have a
Governor that has little regard to the Church or religion, he may keep the
parish void as long as he pleases,—there being no lapse ever incurred by
that scheme.
ACCUSATION.
As to the disorders in the worship of God which are pointed at in the
said letter, it appears as if my Lord of London knew not that his Commissary
is more apt to countenance than redress the same; for I myself
have seen him present in church while a layman—his clerk—has read
the divine service in the congregation,—he himself vouchsafing to perform
no more of his ministerial office than to pronounce the absolution, preach,
and dismiss the congregation.
ANSWER.
It is well known that I do constantly, while I enjoy my health, read the
whole divine service myself. And if the Governor has at any time seen
it otherwise, it has been when I have been so weakened with sickness that
I was not able to go through the whole service and preach too. If it be
thought an irregularity that on such a case I made use of a laic, it is to
be considered that this is a country where there is not one clergyman to be
had on such an occasion,—they being all employed at the same time in their
own far-distant parishes,—and that the country is so used to this practice,
that long before I knew it, by the fifth law in the printed book, entitled
Ministers to Provide Readers, it is enacted. "That where there is not a
minister to officiate every Sunday, the parish shall make choice of a grave
and sober person of good life and conversation to read divine service every
intervening Sunday at the parish church, when the minister preacheth at
any other place." But I constantly read prayers myself, unless disabled
or weakened by sickness.
ACCUSATION.
I have often seen him present at the churchyard, while the said clerk
has performed the funeral-service at the grave.
ANSWER.
Here it is insinuated as if I had been at the funeral when the clerk
performed the funeral-service at the grave. I can aver that my constant
practice is otherwise. What might occasion it that one time—whether
that I had not been spoken to, or that I was hoarse, or that I passed through
the churchyard accidentally while the clerk was in the funeral-service, and
I did not think fit to interrupt him—I can't tell, except the circumstances
of the fact were explained. But it is a common thing all over the country—
what through want of ministers, what by their great distance and the
heat of the weather and the smelling of the corpse—both to bury at
other places than churchyards and to employ laics to read the funeral-service,—which,
till our circumstances and laws are altered, we know not
how to redress.
ACCUSATION.
And I remember when he was for having the churchwardens provide
lay readers, who should on Sundays read to their congregations some printed
sermons; and so far he declared in Council his approbation thereof, that
such practice had like to have had the sanction of the Government, had I
not withstood it as destructive to the establishment of the Church.
ANSWER.
The Governor's memory must in this matter have exceedingly failed
him, when he represents this of lay readers either as a new project—for
when there is no minister to officiate—or as a project of mine. The thing
I would have rectified in it was, that I understood that readers took upon
them to read what sermons they thought fit, and I was for their reading only
the homilies. This meeting with some opposition, (for it was alleged, if
nothing but the homilies were read, the people would not come to Church,)
it was, with the Governor's consent, accommodated thus:—that where there
was a minister in the parish, the minister should direct what sermons the
reader should read at the distant church or chapel, and where there was
no minister the Commissary should do it. But for the horrid innuendo
this part of my accusation is capable of—as if ministers were hereby intended
to be laid aside and lay readers set up in their places, and so the
establishment of the Church destroyed—there was never any such thing
thought of, far less argued, in Council. I have upon all occasions acquainted
your Lordship and your predecessor when vacancies fell by the death of
the minister, and pressed for a speedy supply; and whenever they came
in they were immediately provided with parishes, if the Governor himself
did not delay them.
ACCUSATION.
These and many other instances that might be given, which induce me
to believe that a reformation of what has chiefly (as I apprehend) given
occasion to your Diocesan's letter, will not be pressed very heartily by your
Commissary, especially if he made no such solemn promise at his ordination
as his Bishop reminds you all of. Wherefore I judge it to be more
incumbent upon the several members now in Convention diligently to inquire
of the disorders which your Diocesan takes notice of, and earnestly to
apply yourselves to proper means for redressing them.
ANSWER.
Whether I did heartily press reformation in pursuance of your Lordship's
letter, your Lordship will more readily apprehend from the copy of my speech
to the Convention, than from these hard prognostications of it. And though,
by means of this letter of the Governor's and other more clandestine prepossessions,
they were sufficiently inflamed, your Lordship will observe
that, instead of accusing me of any irregularities, when I put the question,
Whether any of them knew of any that did not punctually conform to the
established Liturgy, they answered only that there were several things
that were not observed by any, by reason of the circumstances of the country,
which particulars were ordered to be mentioned by the committee
appointed to answer your Lordship's letter, and that your Lordship's directions
be requested therein. But the worst innuendo of all is a doubt here
suggested, and more industriously circulated in his private insinuations,—
at least in the insinuations of his emissaries,—as if I never had Episcopal
ordination. The Governor, indeed words it somewhat doubtfully. "Espe
reminds you all of". He was satisfied before that I was ordained with
Episcopal ordination in Scotland. The doubt he here suggests is concerning
the form of that ordination,—whether it had any such stipulation as the
English form has. I had told him that I was ordained by the very same
English book of ordination,—as indeed I was. But, if he could not believe
that,—having it only from my own testimony,—he might have remembered
that I showed him my license under the hand and seal of your Lordship's
predecessor, in which, among other things, is certified that I promised to
conform to the Liturgy of the Church of England as by law established;
so that there was no occasion for throwing out this reflection.
These are the accusations I am charged with in that letter: the sum of
which is,—1st. A difference of opinion about presentation, which I own,
and have given your Lordship my reasons for it; which yet I humbly
submit to your more mature judgment. 2d. Some few irregularities as to
the Liturgy, which were owing partly to sickness and weakness disabling
me at that time to perform the whole service, and partly to the circumstances
of the country, which will not admit of exact conformity as in
England. This will be more fully explained in the clergy's answer to your
Lordship's letter.
But that all this heat and anger should break out now, when the pretended
causes were the same all along,—both during his nine years' government
and all his predecessors', from the first seating of the country,—
everybody here observes is owing to his late resentments because I could
not go along with him in several late innovations, which have given such
distaste to the country that our House of Burgesses have complained of
them to his Majesty. Had he taken the advice of the Council, he might
have made himself and the country easy. But he is so wedded to his own
notions that there is no quarter for them that go not into them. He is
now endeavouring to remove several gentleman of the Council of the most
unblemished characters. But, his resentment having more ways to reach
me than any of the rest, he has exerted himself to the utmost of his endeavours
both to ruin me with the College and my parish and your Lordship.
But your Lordship's backwardness to discard an old servant without
some crime proved against him, and the clearness of my title to be president
of the College by the charter, and the love of my parishioners, give him great
uneasiness,—though my interest is a very unequal match for his. The
fair, candid way with which your Lordship has used me, notwithstanding
the vast pains he has taken to supplant me with your Lordship, has laid me
under great obligations of gratitude, and the highest esteem of your Lordship's
candour and justice.
I doubt not there are many other things laid to my charge which I have
never heard of, and therefore cannot answer at this distance. But, if your
Lordship will give me leave to come home, I hope I shall be able to clear
myself of all imputations to your Lordship, as I had the good fortune
all those matters to the bottom.
I hope your Lordship will pardon all this trouble. God forgive them
who have occasioned it. I am only on the defensive. The equity of my
judge gives me great boldness,—knowing that I have endeavoured to keep
a good conscience, and that whereinsoever I have erred I am ready to
submit to your Lordship's judgment, and to correct whatever you think
amiss in my conduct.
Your Lordship's most
Obliged and humble servant,
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