 | Old churches, ministers and families of Virginia. |  |
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
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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.
| Old churches, ministers and families of Virginia. | |