Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

way to glory: It is a, brief recital of all that is past, and a certain prediction of all that is to come: It settles all matters in debate, resolves all doubts, and eases the mind and conscience of all their scruples: It reveals the only living and true God, and shows the way to him; and sets aside all other gods, and describes the vanity of them, and of all that trust in them: In short, it is a book of laws, to show right and wrong; a book of wisdom, that condemns all folly, and makes the foolish wise; a book of truth, that detects all lies, and confutes all errors; and a book of life, that shows the way from everlasting death: It is the most compendious book in all the world, the most authentic, and the most entertaining history that ever was published: It contains the most ancient antiquities, strange events, wonderful occurrences, heroic deeds, unparalleled wars: it describes the colestial, and terrestrial, and infernal worlds; and the origin of the angelic myriads, human tribes, and devilish legions: It will instruct the most accomplished mechanic, and the profoundest artist: It will teach the best rhetorician, and exercise every power of the most skilful arithmetician, (Rev. xiii, 18.) puzzle the wisest anatomist, and exercise the nicest critic: It corrects the vain philosopher, and confutes the wisest astronomer: It exposes the subtle sophist, and makes diviners mad: It is a complete code of laws, a perfect body of divinity, an unequalled narrative; a book of lives, a book of travels, and a book of voyages: It is the best covenant that ever was agreed on, the best deed that ever was sealed, the best evidence that ever was produced; the best will that ever was made, and the best testament that ever was signed. To understand it, is to be wise indeed; to be ignorant of it, is to be destitute of wisdom. It is the magistrate's best rule, the housewife's best guide, the servant's best directory, and the young man's best companion: It is the school-boy'sspelling-book, and the learned man's master-piece: It contains a choice grammar for a novice, and a profound mys

tery for a sage: It is the ignorant man's dictionary, and the wise man's directory: It encourages the wise, and promises an eternal reward to the excellent. And that which crowns all is, that the Author is without partiality, and without hypocrisy, " IN WHOM IS NO VARIABLENESS OR SHADOW OF TURNING."

The following Report has just come to hand, or the Publishers would have earlier presented it to their readers. They would now respectfully repeat the request they have often made, to be furnished with all similar documents as soon as they are published; it being their wish to make the Christian Journal the channel of early and accurate information to Episcopalians of the transactions of their Church in the different sections of the country.

Seventh Annual Report of the Trustees of the Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church for the Advancement of Christianity in Pennsylvania; read at the Annual Meeting of the Society, in St. James's Church, on the 6th of January, 1819, being the Festival of the Epiphany.

ANOTHER year has elapsed since the institution of this society, and the trustees are again enabled to congratulate the members upon the beneficial effects already produced, and the brilliant prospect that is daily opening before them for the advancement of the best interests of the Redeemer's kingdom in the diocess of Pennsylvania.

It is well known, that, at the establishment of this society there were several churches in the neighbourhood of Philadelphia in which the ordinances of our holy religion had not been regularly celebrated since the declaration of American Independence; and that there were some places, in the remote parts of the state, where a few individuals were to be found who still called themselves Episcopalians, but who had not for many years participated in the solemn services of the sanctuary. To these churches and these vicinities the trustees turned their earliest attention; and al

1

though their sanguine expectations have not as yet been fully realized, they have every reason to believe that they have been the instruments, through your beneficence, of arousing the indifferent, of recalling some who have wandered from our fold, and of gladdening many a heart.

We can point with much exultation to the churches at Chester, Concord, and Marcus Hook, now under the pastoral care of the Rev. Mr. Douglass. This gentlemen was in the first place located among them as a missionary. His zealous and pious labours were soon rewarded by the increase of the congregationsin numbers and in seriousness. The pecuniary aid which they received from the trus tees during the last year was very trifling; and, it is expected, from the solicitude they have exhibited upon the great concerns of religion, and their strong attachment to Mr. Doug. lass, that they will in a short time be able to offer a sufficient and comfortable support to their rector.

The ancient church at Whitemarsh has been pulled down and replaced by a neat edifice, which was consecrated by the Bishop last spring. A committee of the trustees united with some of the congregation, in soliciting the subscriptions of the members of our church in this city to defray the expenses of the building. This church is joined with that of St. John's, at Norristown, in the enjoyment of the ministerial labours of the Rev. Mr. May. There is just cause for believing that these parishes will soon be in a highly flourishing condition, and no longer need the slight patronage extended to wards them during the two last years. The trustees may be permitted to notice the prosperous state of the con. gregation at Germantown; for although the ability of its members has been such during some years past as not to require the assistance of the society, yet the time was when we did afford them some aid. We may, therefore, claim the privilege of rejoicing that, under the rectorship of the Rev. Mr. Dupuy, a small but beautiful edifice has been erected in this village, which was consecrated, in the month

of September, by our venerable president and diocesan, to the service of Almighty God, by the name of St. Luke's Church.

St. David's, at Radnor, and St. Peter's, in the valley, have of late excited much attention and interest among the trustees. The latter church is still visited, during the summer, by the Rev. Mr. Clay; but the age and delicate health of this respectable clergyman, and his distance from St. Peter's, prevent him from officiating to the congregation as often as they desire. It has been the earnest wish of some of the members of these two churches, that a minister might be settled among them. It is, therefore, with much pleasure the trustees are now enabled to announce that the Rev. Samuel C. Brinckle, who was ordained in May last, will in all probability become the rector of St. David's, and the assistant minister of St Peter's. Mr. Brinckle having offered his services as a missionary, has preached several times to these congregations, under the direction of the board, and has expressed a willingness to be located among them. The trustees will be highly gratified should Mr. Brinckle establish himself at these churches; for they cannot but confidently expect that his piety and talents will be greatly blessed to the edification of any flocks over which he may be the pastor.

While the trustees have thus endeavoured to promote the prosperity of the smaller congregations in the vicinity of Philadelphia, they have not been unmindful of those stations where new churches have been organized by their missionaries. To the Episcopalians of these places the pledge has been given, that faithful and zealous ministers shall be sent to them, and that the board will aid and cherish, to the utmost of their ability, the little flocks already collected.

The importance of having a church established at Wilkesbarre has been stated in a former report. To the exertions of the Rev. Mr. Boyd we are indebted for the organization not only of the church at Wilkesbarre, but also of those at Springville, New Milford, and Pike. To Wilkesbarre

much patronage has been extended. The congregation has enjoyed the regular services of the sanctuary during the greater part of the past year. The Rev. Richard S. Mason arrived there in the fall of 1817, and remained there three months. In his report to the board, he says, "I arrived at this place on the eleventh of November, where, with the exception of having thrice visited Hanover, a township a little below on the river, I have continued to preach every Sunday, almost always twice a day. On the fifteenth the Rev. Mr. Phinney administered the communion for the first time to six persons. The church here is by no means large; I hope, however, it is in a fair way to increase. There are, I trust, some of its members who are sincerely affected with the blessed truths of the gospel, and have a proper sense of their duty to God and man. The church have at present no building of their own, but they hold one in conjunction with the Presbyterians; this is the occasion of some inconvenience, and they contemplate making some exertions to raise a small edifice adapted to the size of the congregation. I can truly say, I left the place with a strong feeling of regret." Mr. Mason thinks it by no means improbable that a congregation might be raised at Stoddartsville, about seventeen miles from Wilkesbarre, on the road to Philadelphia. In the month of May, the Rev. Manning B. Roche was appointed by the board to this station, and it is but justice to Mr. Roche to declare that he entered upon the duties of his mission with a zeal and alacrity which did him infinite credit. He has laboured withgreat faithfulness among these people, and it is to be anxiously hoped that he will soon determine to take up his permanent residence among them. The following are extracts from his report: "In laying before the society a report of his labours since the commencement of his employment, your missionary would first call your attention to the situation of the place in which he has been stationed. This will plead an excuse, if his labours have not been so extensive and so useful as was VOL. III.

expected. It was to no scattered sheep of our holy fold that he was sent to proclaim the glad tidings, that the Lord was about to build up Jerusalem and gather together the outcasts of Israel; having laid help upon One mighty to save; even his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things. It was no decayed temples of our Sion, that he was to make resound again with the responses of our admirable liturgy. But it was to a congregation already organized by the exertions of former missionaries-it was to a people who already had enjoyed the regular ministrations of Jehovah's sanctuary. Although, from these circumstances, no addition hath been made to the number of those who outwardly profess to be members of our church, yet your missionary rejoices to have it in his power to say that some advancement hath been made in true christianity; that living faith which works by love and purifies the heart. Several have been convinced of sin, of righteousness, and of a judgment to come; have asked, What shall we do to be saved? have received Jesus, and him crucified, as the power and the wisdom of Godunto salvation, and are now endeavouring to walk as his followers, adorning his doctrine in all things. The attention to the observance of assembling themselves together hath much increased. Where few voices were heard lifted up in supplication to the throne of grace, " we beseech thee to hear us, good Lord," resounds from many tongues. Where none bowed the knee in conformity to the services of the church, now may be seen many humble worshippers. When our church was first established in this place, her doctrines, her discipline, the spirit of her institutions were almost unknown; many therefore said, what new thing is this that hath sprung up among us? The current of prejudice for a long time ran strong against our interests. But now it hath in some measure subsided; and we have a good report from them that are without. Not that there has, in any instance, been manifested an indifference to, or deviation from, the distinctive principles of 31

our Evangelical Church, to conciliate

any.

"Not among the least of the pros perous affairs of the church in thi place, is the increase in number of the children who attend upon the Sunday School. In May last the number did not exceed thirty; now upwards of one hundred and seventy are on our list, and the majority of these are of the poor and destitute, who have no other means of gaining instruction. Attached to the Sunday school society is an association of ladies, called the Dorcas society of Wyoming; who generously have aided the school in clothing the needy children. Upwards of one hundred garments have been distributed since fall."

The Rev. Thomas Breintnall, as a missionary from this society, resided in the county of Huntingdon during the months of July, August, September, and October. This gentleman appears to have preached with great success. In his letter to the corresponding secretary, he states, that on his journey he officiated at Harrisburg and Lewistown Speaking of the latter place, he says, "the want of an Episcopal clergyman in this town is very great and deplorable. The anxiety evinced for the promotion of the church, and the love manifested for its service loudly proclaim the necessity of paying immediate attention to this spot." On the twenty-eighth of July, Mr. Breintnall arrived at Huntingdon. He found the congregation waiting with much impatience the arrival of an Episcopal clergyman. "As the church," he continues, " was still in an unfinished state, I officiated on the following Sunday in the courthouse to a very large, attentive, and respectable audience. I was rejoiced to find that neglect had not cooled their attachment to the good old church, nor their love for its liturgy. Immediately after the service, I baptized several infants, and had the satisfaction of prevailing on the parents generally to have their children baptized in public, and I continued to perform this solemn rite almost every Lord's day that I officiated at Huntingdon. The publicity of this sacra

ment produced an effect which I had fondly anticipated. Many were thereby induced to present their children for baptism, who I I belie believe would otherwise have neglected this solemn duty. Influenced by example, and sensible of their guilt in neglecting this holy ordinance, parents pressed forward to be received into the covenant of Christ, and then presented their offspring. No longer ashamed of the gospel of Christ, they found it the power of God unto salvation. In this manner seventy-five adults and infants received the rite of baptism, and were enrolled under the banners of the cross. "On the first day of August I commenced divine worship in the new church, although in an unfinished state, and continued to officiate there during my stay at Huntingdon. This church is a neat brick building, about forty feet square, situated on a rising ground in the rear of the town. The lot on which it is erected was presented to the Lutherans, by Richard Smith, Esq. who commenced their building of the church in the year 1809, but have now ceded their right to us, and joined the communion of the Episcopal church. Every Wednesday afternoon, a large number of the congregation, having formed themselves into a prayer book class, met me in this building, and received such instructions as I was enabled to give them, in the nature and use of the liturgy, and the doctrine and principles of the church. On the seventh of August, under the blessing of God, I succeeded in organizing a Sunday school, and had the satisfaction of seeing this laudable undertaking commenced, in this remote corner of the state, with a spirit, and extended to a degree proportionate to its usefulness and importance. In a few weeks the number exceeded one hundred and ninety. This large body of children, many of whom had been suffered on Sunday to roam through the village without check or control, were now seen pressing round the walls of the church before its doors were opened for their admission, and exhibited a zeal to learn the ways of righteousness which angels must admire, and on

lars could be raised without much difficulty. Independent of my stated visits at this place, I occasionally visited and officiated at Alexandria, Raystown-branch, Barneforge, and Water Street. Finding the fatigue attendant on this charge too much for my constitution, I reluctantly left Hunting. don on the twenty-eighth day of October, and arrived at Lewistown the same day, on my return to Philadel. phia. I here found the desire of the people so great to hear the word, that under the hope of extending the kingdom of the blessed Redeemer, and of advancing the interests of the church, I was induced to remain. Through the blessing of God, I had the happi

which a holy God would smile with complacency. Our church, under the refreshing dews of Heaven, and fostering care of the society, will yet bloom in this deserted soil. My labours were not confined to Huntingdon. I officiated alternately at the Three Springs, Shirleysburg, and Cromwell's Furnace, each of which places is situated about twenty-three miles from Huntingdon. Finding, however, this arrangement attended with great inconvenience, and not calculated to promote the interests of the church, I thought it most expedient to conso. lidate the three congregations into one at Cromwell's Furnace, which was nearly central between the other two. The event answered my most san-ness to find my hopes realized. In a

guine expectation. Having their attention directed to one point, their minds were turned to the erection of a building sufficiently large for their reception. The liberality of Thomas Cromwell, Esq. (which deserves the thanks of the society) supplied the defect. He presented the congregation with a large farm house, which, in a few days, was converted into a church, with a neat pulpit, and seats for the accommodation of three hundred people. At this church, which they thought proper to call St. Peter's, I continued to officiate statedly, and had the satisfaction to see in the congregation thus united, an improvement in church discipline, which could not have been effected in its divided state. St. Peter's is situated about twenty-four miles from Huntingdon, seven from the Three Springs, and four miles from Shirley's, on the Chambersburg road. An ample field is here opened to raise a very large Episcopal congregation. There are multitudes in all directions destitute of any kind of religious worship whatever. Numbers applied to be received into the church by baptism; and during my stay at least two hundred persons, who had heretofore been strangers to the church and liturgy, professed to be members, and declared their intention to raise something for the support of an Episcopal clergyman. I have no doubt that between Huntingdon and St. Peter's from eight hundred to a thousand dol

few days I baptized thirteen persons, eight adults and five children, and found such an increasing attachment to the doctrines and principles of our venerable and apostolic church, that the attention of the society is only wanted to make this an important post. I have thus endeavoured to give a brief narration of my missionary tour of five months in the county of Huntingdon, and have now to request, nay, I entreat the society, as they value the interest of the church, and the prosperity of Sion, to turn their attention to this deserted spot."

The board has not as yet been able to locate a missionary in Fayette county. This interesting portion of the diocess demands the earliest attention. Inquiries have been made in vain for clergymen to settle in this and other counties. We have yet daily cause to lament that the labourers in the harvest are so few. An opportunity, however, which offered of assuring our brethren in the west of our anxiety to promote their spiritual welfare, was not suffered to be lost. It being understood that the Rev. Mr. Johnston was going to Ohio, and the Rev. Mr. Walker to visit his relations at Uniontown, these clergymen were requested to accept of a mission for a few weeks, and visit the destitute congregations in Fayette county and its neighbourhood. They kindly consented to the request, and at the close of their mission transmitted an account of their journey to

« AnteriorContinua »