and to various features in the "Ecclesiastical Consti- tution," as it was then arranged. Renewed and dis- tinct assurances were expected from the American Church that there was no intention whatever on its part of departing from the Church of England in doc- trine, or in discipline and worship, except in so far as changed civil relations made it necessary, before the venerable prelates were willing to act as they were asked to do. There was also considerable unpleasant feeling excited by an expressed determination of sev- eral members of the convention (Provoost and K. Smith especially) to throw doubt upon the validity of bishop Seabury's orders, obtained from the line of the Scotch nonjuring bishops. The convention showed its good sense and discretion by refusing to take any action in- imical to the bishop of Connecticut or his position ; a resolution simply was passed advising the churches then represented in convention not to receive ministers ordained by any bishop in America, during the appli- cation pending to the English bishops for episcopal consecration. "A General Constitution of the Prot- estant Episcopal Church in the United States," freed from some serious former objections, was agreed upon, as also an answer to the letter from the archbishops and bishops of the Church of England. This latter, with the constitution, it was hoped and expected wotdd give entire satisfaction. At an adjourned meeting held in Wilmington, Del., in October, 1780, the letter just before received from the archbishops and bishops, with forms of testimonials and the act of parliament author- izing the consecration of bishops for foreign countries, were read, and appropriate action was taken. A de- claratory "Act of the General Convention of Clerical and Lay Deputies of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the States of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and South Carolina" was passed ; and it was determined, in accordance with the earnest recom- mendation of the archbishops and bishops, to restore the omitted article (descent into hell) in the Apostles' Creed, and to put back in its proper place in the Prayer-book the Nicene Creed. At the same time it was resolved that the Athanasian Creed be omitted altogether, only one clergyman voting in its favor. Testimonials were signed in behalf of Dr. White, Dr. Provoost, and Dr. Griffith, bishops elect respectively of Pennsylvania, New York, and Virginia. The convention refused to give a like testimonial in favor of Dr. W. Smith, bish- op elect of Maryland. On Nov. 2, 1786, Drs. White and Provoost embarked for England, and arrived on the 20th; Dr. Griffith, for personal reasons, was unable to accompany them. When they reached London, they were introduced to the archbishop by the American minister, John Adams, who, as bishop White says, in his Memoirs, "in this particular, and in every in- stance in which his personal attentions could be either of use or as an evidence of his respect and kindness, continued to manifest his concern for the interests of a Church of which he was not a member." After some little delay, owing to Parliament not being in session, the consecration took place, Sunday, Feb. 4, 1787, in Lambeth chapel. The two archbishops, and the bish- ops of Path and Wells and of Peterborough, united in the solemn act of giving the apostolic succession to the American Church.* The new bishops very soon left England for home, and, after a long voyage of some seven weeks, arrived in New York on the afternoon of Easter-day, April 7. Thus, at last, was secured for the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States the long and earnestly sought-for privilege of having its organization rendered complete; thus, too, from this date it took its place as a distinct national branch of the Church of Christ, with all the privileges and duties and responsibilities thereunto attached.
* This was certainly a connection by ordination witli the Established church of England, but whether it. waa truly i\n y apostolic succession," is a very different question, which we do not think this the proper place to discuss.— Ed.
The General Convention of 1789 assembled, July 28, in Philadelphia, bishop White presiding; bishop Pro- voost was absent. There were seventeen clergymen and sixteen laymen present from seven states, including South Carolina; but none came from New England. An application was made by the clergy of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, asking for the consecration of the Rev. Edward Bass as bishop. This application was placed on the ground that there were now three bish- ops (the proper canonical number) in America, and that, consequently they were fully able to act in the premises. A resolution was unanimously passed "that, in the opin- ion of this convention, the consecration of the Right Rev. Dr. Seabury to the episcopal office is valid." and the general sentiment was strongly in favor of compli- ance with the request of the Massachusetts clergy. There was, however, an obstacle which hindered this compliance at this time, viz., the obligation which bish- ops White and Provoost felt themselves to lie under to the English bishops, not to consecrate any to the epis- copal office until there were three in the English line in the United States. Dr. Griffith, in May, 1789, relin- quished his appointment as bishop elect of Virginia, and died in Philadelphia during the session. Hence, it was thought best not to act at present upon the ap- plication from Massachusetts. A body of canons, ten in number, was adopted; a General Constitution of the Church was agreed upon in substance; an appropriate address was prepared, thanking the archbishops of Can- terbury and York for their good offices in regard to the episcopate ; also, an address was sent to the President of the United States, which was courteously answered by Washington ; and the convention adjourned, August 8, to meet again in the same place, Sept. 29. An important part of the object of this adjourned session was to secure the union of the churches in New Eng- land with those already joined together. This was now happily accomplished. Bishop Seabury appeared, and took his place as a member of the convention, as did also deputies from Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. The third article of the constitution was modified so as to secure to the bishops the right to assemble and act as a separate house, in originating measures, etc.; they also were to have from this time a negative on the action of the lower bouse, unless ad- hered to by a four-fifths vote. The bishops then with- drew and organized as a house. Bishop Provoost being absent on account of illness, bishop Seabury took the chair. From this date there have been two houses, whose concurrent action is necessary to the adoption of any legislation, the bishops also (since 1808) having the full negative on the action of the other house. The convention now entered upon its most important work, which was to provide and place on a firm foun- dation the Book of Common Prayer for the American Church. The English liturgy was made the basis, and though entire independence of action was claimed by the House of Deputies, as if there were no book of any authority or obligation now in existence, yet there was, after all, a sense of the propriety and fitness of varying as little as possible from the Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England. Five committees were ap- pointed, to whom were assigned different portions of the work, and they discharged their duties witli as much expedition as was practicable. The result, as soon as agreed upon by the house, was sent to the bish- ops for their action. The alterations were principally verbal, and for the purpose of adapting the services to the needs and uses of a Church situate as the Protes- tant Episcopal Church in the United States was and is. An office of Visitation of Prisoners, a service for Thanksgiving Day, and an order of Family Prayer were added, as also Selections of Psalms to be used in- stead of those for the day, Tate and Brady's version of the Psalms, and some hymns in metre. One notice- able change was made in the Communion Office, i. e. putting in their proper place the oblation and the invo«