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Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bot'om, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre film^s d des taux de reduction diffdrents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour §tre reproduit en un seul cliche, il est filmd d partir de Tangle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n^cessaire. Les diagrammes si'ivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 L *■ ( F 1 / '■■ — ^1 I THOUGHTS M..-t.w^ ^ ^J, -ON — THE PRESENT STATE AND FUTURE PROSPECTS — OF THE- ( / ^ C^r^ of ^nglatttr in Caitaba, ^ -WITH — i^tnts for some Smprouemcnts in l)er (gcdesittstical Arrangements. — HUMBLY ADDRESSED TO THE- RT. REV. THE LORD BISHOP AND THE REV. CLERCiY. BY A PRESBYTER OF THE DIOCESE OF QUEBEC. HAMILTON : Er'NIS AND STIRTON, PRINTERS, I9 KING STREET EAST. 1877- I Jk -^ PREFACE. It is not often so small a pamphlet needs any preface, but, in the judgment of the undersigned, this requires one. I. It was written 41 years ago, and for the last 40 years has been seen by a very few only. 2. It was published anonymously, whilst it is now considered desirable to give the author's name. It is conr.idered desirable also, to show its connection with the establishment of the Diocesan Synods, which, since it was published, have extended tiiemselves over all the different colonies of the British Empire, and have Vjeen adopted by the disestablished and disendowed Church of Ireland. I. The difference in the condition of the Church now and its condition 41 years ago, must be very apparent to any one who reads this unpretending pamphlet, and who >yKG into the annual reports of the eight organinized Dioceses of the ecclesiastical Province of Canada, replete with accounts of church work done, and the contributions of our people to carry on that work. II. The authorship of the pamphlet is clearly proved by the very full and definite letter of the Rev. C. P. Reid, now Rector of Sherbrooke, Diocese of Quebec, who had been a class-mate of mine in the Divinity School of Chambly, Lower Canada, and has been an intimate friend of mine ever since. III. The pamphlet was sent in June 1836, to the Lord Bishop of Quebec, my Diocesan, and to ever clergyman of the Diocese, then comprising Upper aed Lower Canada. In October of the same year, the clergy of Upper Canada were summoned to meet in St. James' Church, Toronto, by the second Bishop Mountain, then admin- istering the Diocese, (under the title of Bishop of Montreal,) to consider the affairs of the Church generally. But the moving spirit in the Conference was Dr. Strachan, then Archdeacon of Toronto. After divine service he ascended the pulpit and delivered a discourse, in which he pourtrayed in his vigorous style the condition of the Church in this country, what it would be in a few yerrs, and the only measures that he could suggest for their remedy. He followed so closely the little pamphlet that he had received in the previous June, that a life-long friend of mine sitting in the same pew with me remarked at the close of the discourse, "The Archdeacon has taken his ideas from your pamphlet." That old friend is the Rev. Saltern Givins, of Toronto, who has kindly written me a letter on the subject, which, though it does not show so accurate a recollection of the words used by him on the occasion alluded to above, as my more interested memory does, still corroborates my distinct recollection of the very words. The indefatigable Archdeacon having taken up the idea, never rested until he presided as Lord Bishop ol Toronto, in 1853, over the first Synod in the Church of England, at. least, in modern times. T. B. NIAGARA. BlSHOI'-HURST, I Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, 17th Dec, 1877. ) \ I Sherbrooke, 5th December, 1877. My Dear Sir and Old Friend, — When we were both young in the ministry and frequent companions, you wrote, over the signature of "A I'resi.yter of tlie Diocese of Quebec," a little pamphlet entitled *^Thoughts on the Present State and Future Prospects 0/ the Church of England in Canada." IJefore you ventured to print it, you read to me your manuscript, ard it was the subject of much earnest and frecjuent discussion between us. We both felt strongly that a crisis in the history of the Church could not be distant, and that it was absolutely necessary to its well-being that provision should be made in time to meet the threatened crisis, if the most serious disasters were to be averted, and we were of one mind as to what the nature of that provision should be. I remember well that I not only agreed with you in the views set forth in the manuscript you read me, but also that I urged you to print it, and I have still a copy of it bound up in a vol. with other pamphlets on various subjects. As this little pamphlet of yours, written under such circumstances, is now out of print, and probably only a very few copies anywhere remaining, would it not be well for you to reprint it, if for no other reason, because it supplies an item in the history of movements that have since taken place in our Church, that is too valuable to be allowed to pass ou*^ of memory. So far as I am aware, such views had never before found utterance in any portion of our Church. Your little pamphlet, therefore, may fairly be regarded as the root out of which our present system of Synods, in which the laity are an important and even fundamental element, has been since developed ; and for this reaaon I hope you will agree with me that it is very desirable thai it should be reprinted, being, as it unquestionably is, a valuable contribution to the history of our Canadian Church. I am, my dear Yours truly, C. P. REID. My Dear Bishop, Newmarket, 14th Dec'r, 1877. I am pleased to learn from a mutual friend, that you have been moved by the late discussion on The origin of Synodical action in our Colonial Church, to reprint the valuable pamphlet on the suliject which you published shortly after your admission to Priest's orders — now upwards of forty years ago. I feel it due to you, as one of your earliest and most intimate friends, to testify, that whatever credit may be claiip.ed for others (your seniors, and at that time your superiors in position) in carrying it out, you are fairly entitled to the honor of having first suggested it. I well remember your earnest advocacy of the measure in our conversations, and have still your letters evincing your views on this and kindred subjects, bearing on the interests of the Church of our Fathers and of our native country. Great must have been your satisfaction in witnessing its adoption, and the benefits it has conferred on the Colonial Chnrch.* It is one among other proofs of your legislative and administrative talent, and your fitness for the high position in the Church of God to which Providence has raised you. That you may long be spared to fill it with advantage to the Church and honor to yourself, IS the desire of your ancient friend and humble fellow-laborer, SALTERN GIVINS. * In the autumn of 1836, the late Bishop Mountain, acting for the Bishop of Quebec, convened a meeting of the clergy of the Diocese in Toronto, at which the late Bishop of Toronto, then Archdeacon, preached, and in his sermon propounded a scheme so similar to that set forth in the pamphlet, that it was a matter of general remark. The scheme was adopted first in the Diocese of Toronto, and after- wards in other Colonial Dioceses, and is now the law of the Church. *> THOUGHTS . — ON- THE PRESENT STATE AND FUTURE PROSPECTS — OK TH!-: — Church of England in Canada. » ♦•♦ < In presiiiniiig to address my venerable and beloved diocesan and my reverend brethren, on a subject of such importance as that to which 1 here call their attention, I lay claim to no high oliicial station ; to no extensive influence, which, of itself, would give weight to any opinions or suggestions I may ofter, for none such do I possess. I only claim their forbearance, as one that has facts to state, and arguments to offer, till they have considered those facts, and weighed well those arguments. I wish to call their attention to things, v/hich must depend entirely upon themselves for weight, and not to opinions, which miglit derive influence chiefly from the rank or character of him who holds them ; and therefore do I regret the less, that 1 possess not that influence, so desirable under other circumstances, assured as I am that my statements and suggestions will, on that very account, not be received, unless they And their own way to every man's judgment, and speak for themselves to every man's heart. In looking at the state of our church, at the present time, and comparing it with wluit it was ten years ago, I would do violence to my own feelings, as well as to those of many others, were I to withhold that acknowledgment of devout gratitude, so justly due to her gi-eat Head, who has showered down uj)on her of his blessings, both temporal and spiritual. A certain, though limited provision has been made for her permanency in many parislies ; and, almost everywhere throughout the length and breadth of her borders, have her members come up more closely to the purity and holiness so striking in all her services. These mercies I would make the ground for calling the attention of those who love our Zion, to the wants and difficulties which still surround her. I would call the attention of those who have received these mercies, to the conditi'in of those who have received them not. I would crave the attention of all, to the 7iecessity which lies upon us to adopt "W [6] measures, which, under God, may be tlic means of at once extending to others, and confirming to all tliose blessings, which some so happily enjoy. There are, tliaiiks be to God, many jilaces supplied with able and devoted clergymen, which wanted them ten years ago ; but there are far more who want them tioiv ; and to supply which, we cannot look to the same quarter whence we have hitherto been so kindly assisted. Scattered tln-oughout this extensive diocese, there are thousands of church peo})le, who not only no longer "liear the sound of the church going bell," but who never see the face of a nnnister of their church, at whose mouth they may learn wisdom, at whose hands their children may receive baptism, and themselves partake of the blessed sacrament of the Lord's supper ! That such is- the case, no one, at all ac(iuainted with the destitute condition of the newly settled and back townships, can deny. That such is indeed the case, any who may take the trouble to read the liev. Adam Elliot's journals, will soon learn. They will there perceive that the numbers of church people far exceeded any ideas that he had formed on the subject ; that his fixed conviction is, "that the church in this country has not merely been misrepre- "sented by persons of ditlerent parties and persuasions, respecting "her influence and extent, but also that the number of her members "and adherents has been greatly underrated by Episcopalians them- "selves." They will there })erceive, too, the extreme readiness with which they ever embraced those opportunities which his invaluable labors afforded them, of attending upon the services, and joining in the beautiful liturgy of the church they love, and in the bosom of which they wish to die. They will also perceive with })ain, that these devoted children of the church cannot help expressing their regret, that though her children, they are the most neglected and destitute denomination of christians in this fiouHshing country ! But we are not confined to these statements, strong as they are, to learn the destitute condition of our fellow churchmen in this diocese. The very printed returns of the number of emigrants, who have made this country their home, will give us a startling idea of the numbers of those who would cry to our excellent bishop for help, were they not assured that their cry would be in vain. The case of one district may serve to give us some view of their destitution. In 1832, about eight thousand English settled in the Newcastle district alone.''"'' Now suppose we give three thousand of these as not belonging to our church (far more than a fair proportion), there will still remain five thousand immortal beings, who had a right to look to our church for spiritual assistance. To this body of people one solitary clergyman has been sent ; and settled, as he is, in a (a.) Comprising the present Counties of Northumberland, Durham, Peterborough and Victoria • [7] town/'''^ confinefl to it by tlie ciills upon his timo, which aro immofiiato and ])ivssii),L,' his servict'S must chiclly lu; coiitiiicd to tliose around and near him, whilst those more distiint and .si-atterod over a wide extent of country, must either be unattended to, or else V)e served by others than derj^^menof our eliurch. Exertions liave inth^ed been made to scicure foi' tliis district the services of a travelling missionary, hut none has yet been ai)])ointed : and (fven should one enter u])()n tliis field forthwith, he will tintl that of the five thousand church i^eople there /b?(r yccii's ngi), many have gone to their graves without the prayers and consolations of a christian minister, and that their boilies have been laid in the ground as are those of the horse and the ox ; that others, desjiairing of ever seeing the ministrations of our church, liave joined the dissenters, whose ministers have been from the first amongst them ; that some have even worshi])ped at the altar of the mystical liabylon, whilst not a few have fallen into a state of utter indiil'erence to the things of eternity, living, as does the savage Indian, without religion, without God in the world. But this is not a solitary instance. The picture here given will suit other districts, and most of the newly settled i)arts of the country. Here and there, in some of the districts, tlui neat churches look like green spots in the desert, few, and, indeed, scattered ; but, ou that very account, affording to the soul of the pious beholder the greater enjoyment. The society in Toronto "for converting and civilizing the Indians and ])ropagating the gos])el among destitute settlors in Upper Canada," has done faithfully what its means have enabled it to do. It has, indeed, tried its utmost to further the great work in which it has engaged. Its missionaries are unwearied ; their fields are far too large ; their visits to each section of the country far too unfrequent ; yet still whole districts abounding with church peo])le have in no way benefitted by their exertions. If it be asked, why this is the case, the answer is plainly, though reluctantly, given : tlieir resources are too scanty ; they can engage no more missionaries than they now have, and these cannot be omnipresent. But it may again be inquired, why are their resources so small ? This is a question to be answered by those who have it in their power to increase them, and yet have failed to do so. At present her field is Ufper Canada, reaching from the waters of the Ottawa to those of lakes Huron aud St. Clair. If three missionaries are adequate for this labor, they must exceed even the greatest of missionaries, the blessed apmstle Paul. The Be v. A. Elliot, whose fame is justly in all the churches, who bids fair to equal his celebrated namesake, and who has had the best opportunities for forming a fair, dispassionate {b.) The town of Peterborough, 30 miles c istaiit from many of those people. F T judgiiKJiit on tho 8iil)juct, states that tlie Home, didvict alone vequh es tenmis.oionarw.s. The Kev, W. F. S. llaiper, whose labors are iiiost abundant, says that /e.s.s' than nink cannot supply the ivants of the destitute settlers in the Midland district. Taking the wants of these (h'striets as our guide, we come to the conclusion, tiuit not fexsthaii one hvndred are required for Upper Canada, while Lower (Janada 're([uires jio'Iiops fort// ! Thi.'i may appear a large number, but not at all too large for the actual wants of our peo})le ; not too large to perform that service which our destitute i)oj)ulatioJi have a christian right to look for from their more highly favctrcd brethren. But "how are these missionaries to be obtainiid, and in what way do you think it ])os,sil)le to raise funds for thcii" supjjort i" are (questions which I will endeavor to answer by and by. That they are wanted; that they might be usefully enijdoyed in instructing our thousands of destitute brethren ; that not mora than three can now he supported, are the i)oints to which 1 wish, at present, to call the attention of those to whom these jjages arc addressed. The next sul)ject that attracts our attention, is the state of the older parishes. Here things are encouraging, if we look only at the present. But is it not the part of a wise man, to provide in time against a storm ? xVnd do not we see, that this is an age abounding with storms, and that, in a storm, the government would be to ns no place of refuge ? Do not all see that, though the faith ■>f the government be pledged, yet that government may be obliged to yield to the increasing })ower of the radical faction ; that it may itself be overturned, or that this country may be separated from the mother country V'-' In case any one of these calamities should occur, (none of which are so improbable in an age like this, that a wise man would thiid^ it being over prudent to gu.ard against its occurrence,) could the cl',;rgy support themselves and fannlies on nothing ? Would the parishes yield a sulHcient sup})ort for them, if they were thus throwui upon them, wdien their shoulders were unused to the burden, having ever before been entirely unaccustomed to bear even the smallest weight ? I think not ; or else human nature is very different from what I imagine ic to l)e ; very ditlerent from what it showed itself to be, when, at the American revolution, the Protestant Episcopal Church met with a calamity similar to that which I have supposed it possible may ha]»pen to our church. She then found that the foreign and government assistance, Mhich she had ever considered of great service to her, as it doubtless was, could avail her nothing in such an evil hour. She found that her people, ei rvated by foreign aid, were not fitted for bearing the burden thus suddenly thrown upon them ; that she iiad scarcely any (r.) The pamphlet was published the ye .r before tlie rebellion of 1837 HF t [9] strongtli vitliin licrsclf, niid tliiit, it would luivc boon far l)otter liad she j)i<>vidod for tlioovil hour wiion it was yot at ji(Ustanco. Jiutthe error was porcoivod wliou too lati^ For nioro tliau twenty years she was unable to rise fi-oni tlio blows her inijirovidcinoe had uiititted her for sustaining', and to sii])]»ly with ujinistors those (ilnircln-.s that had, by it, been d(']>rived of their ministers. If f)ur ehurclK's are sinnlarly .situated ; if there is any probability of our sujiport fi'oni tlie government being out oil', l)y any of the sudden changes of the times ; if thei'o is any probal)ility of our endowments being wrested from the church, in case of a separation from the mother country, which all must ackno\tle(lge to be things by no means impossible, when we hK)k to the state of alfairs either here or at home ; if, in tlie cas(! of any such event, our parishes are unprej)ared for su]t])orting the mini.strations of religion, is it M'i.se in us to fold our arms in indiiiereuce, lio])ing that "to-morrow will be as this day and much more abundant ?" The next subject that craves our attention is the means of sup- 'porting our Diocesan, when tJie Lord, in the inscrutable ways of his providence, shall be ])lc'a:5ed to take from us him (which daj'^may it be yet distant) who has so faithfully and so successfully labored amongst us for such a length (jf time. Some means of supi)ort must be devised other than that hitberto enjoyed, for that is to be discon- tinued when our beloved father shall be called to enter into that "rest which remaineth for the ])eoi)le of God."^'''^ If no means of support are prov'-led, either no Bisho]) can be obtained, or the office must be conferred u]ion one of the Kectors, who would be obliged to hold it in connection with his rectory, in which case its duties could be but inadequately performed, t)r it must go a-begging, tiP \ clergyman of independent fortune can be found, willing to take upon himself its responsibilities and its labors. But it may be objected, that one of the arch-deacons might be consecrated to the office. This I deny not ; but 1 would remind the objector ^lat the allowance hitherto made by the government to the arch-deacons, will also be withdrawn on the dem a of the present incumbent. That under our present ecclesiastical aii'angements, no permanent fund for the support of our Bishop could he raised, must be manifest to all who have attempted to raise any sum by the usual means adopted throughout our congregations. Hitherto there have been societies organized in the princijml towns of the diocese for circulating the scrij)tures, prayer-books, and other religious works and tracts ; but there has been great cause to regret, that so few embarked with any zeal in the cause ; that the means at the disposal of the societies were so small ; and (rf.) This occurred in the year 1837. I T [10] that the nuniLer of books circulaUd bore no proj)ortion to the uimib;is of church people in the neighbor] loods of the several depositories. Tlie iDiposslhility of furnishing, uncler present arrangements, O'lv church with saitablij educated clerf/ipi hen, natives of the Province, ii the next sul)juct tiiut calls for our attention. Without depreciating in the least the valuable services of tlie clergy from England and Ireland, to whom the church owes much of its improvement, within the last Um years, I think that all will acknowledge, that youug men, educated in the country, habituated to the manners and customs of the peoi)le, enured* to the fatigues and privations attendant upon a missionary's life in new countries, a?id accuston.cd to the climate, from which many strangers suffei severely, are, cwteris paribus, better suited for supplying our wanis than those educated in Europe. To such an extent is this carried in the United States, that all denom- inations agree in tliis, if in nothing else, viz : tlu^t young men edu- cated in the east are not well suited for labtjring in the west, and that those educated in the north are not suited for the south, and vice versa, so tliat each division has its seminaries for the educa- tion of candidates for the ministry, brought up in that section of country where they are to labor. That we should never depend upon a supply froin Europe, evun tliough such a su])ply were the best, must be clear to every one who considers, that the certainty of such a supply depends, not on the demands for clergymei) here, but on the want of such demand there, or on some other equally uncertain and continually thictuating cause. That our young men can never be properly educated for the ministry, by pursuing their studies with some of the country clergy, is evident, when we consider, on the one hand, the calls the clergy already have on their time, and on the other, the opposition which they must expect in the discharge of their future duties, from the infidels on the one side, who are no longer the ignorant grovellings tl'cy were in foruier ages, and from the various bodies of dissenters on the other, wli(3se ministerG are year f fter year becoming more and more thoroughly educated.^ That we possess at present no means of giving such an education to our young men, must strike any one who looks in vain throughout the length and breadth of this vast diocese for a regularly established and well patronized "school of the Prophets." The church has already felt severely this ; for parishes have been leftunsuppliedfrom the inipossibilitycf obtaining clergymen tosupply them, although the salaries were certain^ and the fields most inviting. The very fact that at the present time, there are in this vast diocese, to supply all vacancies occasioned by death and iniirmity, and to supply new missions, only three candidates for holy orders, one of v.-lR)m has received almost the nliole of his education iii Europe, \ t- [11] speaks volumes on the subject. But we may be told that King'a College, Toronto, and McGill College, Montreal, are to be schools of of the prophets. Tiiis, liowever, has been the story for many yeai's ; and it seems a very slender thread on which to risk the future supply for our churches."^ Such 1 conceive to be a true, though atliictive picture of our wants and of our M'eakness. And, as a sense of what they want is absolutely necessary before those unaccustomed to exertion can be induced to make the ex^^rtion necessary for obtaining what is wanted, I have considered it my duty, (since no one more able has undertaken the ottice,) thus plainly to set before you, my lit. Kev. Father, and you, my lie v. Brethren, what none can deny to l)e our wants ; what none can doubt to be the weak points in tlie walls of our Zion ; and humbly, though earnestly, would ask, "are things to continue in this state ?" If so, we are only laboring that others may reap the fruits of our labors. We are, perhajis, building temides, in which the Virgin Mary and the holy calendar of saints may one day be invoked. To su})ply our wants, and to relieve us from our dilticulties, we Tnud no longer dep-vud upon the favor (jf government, or trust much to the pr(,«perty we now hold'-^-' or probably we will find them both but as broken reeds in the day of need. No ! for the opening of new missions — for the sujiport of old established parishes — for the maintetiance of our Diocesan — for the establishment andsu})port of Societies for circulating tlie scriptures, &c., and for endowing and supporting colleges for the education of our candidates for the ministry, we must de])end, chiejiy, under God, upon our ^x^ople, and our own exertions. When we have done our utniost, we may look for assistance to the land \\ hence we ciime, and 1 feel assured that we shall not look in vain. But let us not look there, burdened as our friends are, till we have adopted every means and used every exertion within our power. Tlien we' can go, if necessary, with the sweet consciousness of having exerted ourselves to the utniost, and witiiout the dread of Ijeing reminded of the waggoner, praying to Herc'des, before he had put his shoulder to the wheel. The next ])oint to which I would humbly beg tl:e attention of my lit. liev. Fatlier and my liev. Bi'ethren, is one delicate, indeed, and needing a more skilful hand than mine ; but, as none other ha3 yet been })ut forward, and as 1 conceive that no time should be lost in calling to it the most seiious attention, 1 ap])roach it, though I do so with reluctance. This is an age proverbial for irregularity and disregard for all constituted authority ; an era, when old-established (c.) Until those colleges were under the control of the c'.arch in 1836; but that control has been entirely lust .since. (/.) "'I'he Clergy Reserves," to which especially we looked for the support and increase of our clergy, were sculari/.ed in 1854. T / m [12] principles are yielded up upon the impulse of a moment, without regret, without the slightest consideration, and when mankind appear willing to throw away all reason and submit themselves to the blind guidance of their feelings. In such an age, restraints upon all classes of men are evidently more necessary, though more irksome, than in an age remarkable for its order and regard for authority. But what is the condition of our church in this age, abounding with confusion and every evil work ? Where is her discipline ? Where can we find laws binding upon all her officers ? Where are the rules, by the observance of which she may appear "semper et uhique ea-dem V* If there are any such, I know them not. If it be answered, that there are the canons of the church, which all admitted to minister at her altars are bound to observe, I reply that they are not observed ; that in a country like this they cannot be observed. The evil that might and in some cases actually does arise, from this want of canons suitable for the state of tilings in this country, must be manifest to all. So great is the difference that is to be found in different churches, in the order observed in the services, in the doctrines preached, in the different standards of holiness held up to the people, arising from this circumstance, and the want of regular schools of the Prophets, that a person removing from one parish to another feels himself as no longer a member of the same church, but as a stranger in a strange house. Under a kind and lenient Bishop, every man is, from this want of suitable canons, almost at liberty to do what is right in the sight of his own eyes. If his conduct be not grossly scandalous ; if he be tolerably diligent in preaching, and his other parochial duties, and, if so inclined, he may, in a measure, set the Bishop at defiance, although he break through the customs and regulations of the church, as contained in her canons ; for his plea may be, if your Lordship will shew me any code of laws, binding upon me, I will be happy to observe them. If he is answered, by having his attention called to the canons of the church, he may reply, J cannot observe them in a country like this ; your Lordship does not observe them all yourself, and if your Lordship chooses which to observe, and which to omit, surely I may be allowed the same privilege. A knowled;:,e of this fact must make an indulgent Bishop pass over many things which appear trifling, but which, like the first letting out of water, bring with them troublesome consequences. Again, should the diocese come under the charge of a tyrannical Bishop, he could make the situation of his clergy extremely unpleasant, remov- able from place to place, as many of them are solely at his nod ; in some instances, placed entirely under his absolute authority; at a time, too, when they know that he has no precise laws, by which to be guided in his decisions ; when there would be no probability of obtaining redress, and, when from his situation, in this distant country, a [13] 4 tyrannical Bishop, (for a Bishop is still human,) would be relieved from the restraint which the proximity of his brother Bishops might exercise over one of a like spirit in England. This evil must appear still greater, if we consider that we are liable to have placed over us some favorite of the Prime Minister in England, himself possibly an Unitarian, an Infidel, or a semi-Papist. The case of Dr. Hampden and the University of Oxford should be a warning to us. To meet all these wants, and to avoid all these difficulties, I see no other mode, than a thorough change in ourecclessiadical arrange- ments. To changes, in general, I am decidedly averse ; but when a change is absolutely necessary to the well being, or rather to the very existence of our church, let us not object to it. Whilst things remained as they were ten years ago, there was less cause for any change. But since our situation itself has been materially changed ; since, from being a mere body of missionaries, and of course under the control of the missionary society that sent us out and supported us by its bounty, having had that bond severed, we have been constituted a different body, some change in our arrangements is necessary to meet this change in our situation. What was perhaps good unc" r former circumstances, is not so under present. The situation of our church at the present moment, and its probable siiuation a few years hence, (for I contend that we are bound to look to the future,) is very different from that of the church in England. There she makes part of the constitution. The support of her clergy, of her bishops, and of schools for preparing her youth for the ministry, are amply provided for by law. To deprive her of these provisions would require nothing less than a revolution. But are equally good provi- sions made for our church in this country ? and are even the partial provisions v/e now have equally well secured to us ? I think the facts already adduced will answer the former, and the signs of the instability of all our church property, so frequently seen in our political horizon, may answer the latter of these questions. But are the clergy of the church in England satisfied with their present condition ? Do they not feel, tiiat if they had their right, they would have, as they once had, their hoJises of convocation V^^ If tliese things are indeed so, and this no one can deny, are we called upon to rest contented with our present depressed condition ? I think not. We require some change ; a change \/hich, under God, will meet our wants, and remove our difficulties. No change will effect this, less than one by ivhich we may he enabled, together with lay delegates from our jjarishes, frequently to meet in general council ; notldng less than the adoption of a code of laws, emhi^aced (§■■) Covocations have been revived in England ; but tney were not in operation in 1836. T [ 14 ] in a new constitution, can bring order and regzdarity to our church ; nothing short of the admission of the laity into our councils will give us strength and energy. The laity alone have in their hands wliat can supply our wants. Before we can avail ourselves of it, we must allow them to have some voice in its disbursement. This is human nature. No free nation will allow itself to be taxed, directly or indirectly, unless it has a voice in the disbursement of the moneys raised by those taxes. That this change will, under God, effect the desired purpose, is no mere vain imagination. Experience is acknowledged on all sides to outweigh the most subtle arguments ; and experience will tell us, that the very measures here proposed have effected the very end desired, under similar, or even much worse circumstances. No one can deny this, who is acquainted with the historj'- of the church in the United States. Her situation at the time of the revolution was far worse than ours now is. In the words of one of her historians : "a few years nearly overthrew the work, which had been slowly carried forward by the exertions of a century and a half, and had not omnipotence interposed, the ruin would have been complete. The fostering hand, to which the American church owed a long continuance of care and protection, was withdrawn ; and the "society for propagating the gospel" no longer rendered its accustomed aid. Many of the clergy were thus left entirely destitute, and some were obliged to betake themselves to secular employments for support. By an unjust decision, the lands held by the society for propagating the gospel, and situated in Vermont, were confiscated and applied to the purposes of education. An equally unconstitu- tional sentence, obtained through the united efforts of sectarians and infidels, despoiled the church in Virginia of its glebes and even of its houses of prayer ! While, in addition to all these calamities, Episcopeilians in general became subject to unmerited and cruel political prejudices. Most of their churches were destitute of wor- shippers ; their clergy had departed, or were left almost entirely without maintenance ; no centre of unity remained, and no ecclesias- tical government existed." Such was her condition then. For years she struggled to rise from this blow, and to live down those deep rooted prejudices which her former coiniection with England and the.loyalty of many of her members had raised against her. So late as 1811, she could only number eight Bishops and about two hundred clergy. Since tliat period, and especially within the last few years, she has risen like a Phcenix from her ashes. In the language of the historian before quoted, "Her dioceses are twenty-two in number, under the superintendence of seventeen Bishops, with the venerable Bishop White still at their head. Her clergy amount to eight hundred, and are daily increasing in devotion, in learning and in zeal. Her missionaries are studying the language of China, bending i [15] ivn their steps to Syria and Persia, instructing the youth of Greece, civilizing the Indian of the western forests, and traversing the prairies of Missouri and Illinois. Her revenues for the propagation of religion are constantly increasing; and- through the operation of systematic benevolence, will soon enable her to enlarge her effort^s and extend her privileges to thousands, who now scarcely know her name. Her numerous periodicals are circulating religious and eclesiastical intell- igence throughout her widely spread communion, and scattering the seeds of truth where the minister of God is seldom heard. Her four Theological Seminaries send forth more clergymen every three years than the whole church possessed thirty years ago. If it be asked how has all this been effected, the answer is, by the blessing of the great Head of the Church uj)on the wise councils and strenuous exertions of her child'en. If it be inquired what were the chief means used, I reply, the faithful preaching of God's word ; unity of purpose and action ; the adoption of canons suitable for the state of the country, and binding upon all ; and the active assistan?e of their laity. The conventions provided for by their constitution have been the instruments, under God, by which this wonderful change has been effected. The conventions are of two kinds — the general, representing the whole church in the Union ; the diocesan, only the church in each diocese. In the former, such matters as regard the whole church are settled, as the ordering of public worship, the laws for the trial of delinquents amongst the Bishops and inferior clergy, &c., &c.; in the latter, such measures are adopted as concern each diocese in particular. The general convention is composed of two houses, the first styled the House of Bishops, where all the Bishops in the Union have a seat ; ths second, the House of Clerical and Lay Delegates, elected thereto at the previous diocesan conventions in each diocese, which conventions are composed of the Bishop as its president, and clerical and lay delegates from each parish in con- nection with the convention. By the power lodged within them and by the iutiuence they exert over all the members of the church, these conventions give her at once order, unity and strength. In them the laity, as is acknowledged on all hands, have proved most useful, especially in matters partaking rather of a secular nature, for which they are evidently better fitted than the clergy can be. Taking part in her councils, they have given to the church that energy and ability which we so greatly need. Interested in her wel- fare, they have been led to study i.er distinctive principles, and thus have learned to love her more and more, and at the same time obtained such knowledge as enables them, when asked, to give a reason of the hope that is in them, so different from many of our people, who, if asked why they are churchmen, could only answer that their parents happened to be church people, and that therefore y. , [16] they are so too, a reason which would equally have made them Jews or Mahomedans, if their parentage had been such. On no occasion have they given any trouble in the conventions ; indeed, so far from such being the case, on some occasions,^ where bodies of the clergy have displayed an anxiety for change, and a disregard of their con- stituted authorities, they have invariably taken the side of order and good government. To prevent the possibility of their power becom- ing greater in the conventions than that of the clergy, a canon has been adopted, by which, on demand for its operation, the clergy and laity are called to vote by orders, the clergy first, and the laity after- wards ; and, then, without a majority of each order, no measure can be adopted.''''^ And why, I woidd humbly ask, are not we, my Rt. Rev. Father and my Rev. Brethren ; why are not we to adopt the same measures, which have, with God's blessing, raised our sister church from her low estate, and rendered her the most flourishing body of christians in the Union ? Will our superiors in England say "nay" to us ? Their wish must be, the prosperity of our Zion, and if w^e can convince them that by the adoption of the means here recommended, that prosperity will be greatly promoted, I feel assured that they will wish us "God-speed" in the name of the Lord. I trust that it will not be objected, that the church of England knows nothing of lay delegation, and that, as a branch of that church, we must thilik of nothing of the kind. Should, however, such an objection be made, I reply, that it is asking too much of us, to leave us here without the decided advantages derived by the church in England from her connection with the state, and, at the same time, to debar us from availing ourselves of those advantages which she would embrace, were it not for that very connection. Is it to be supposed that the church in England would refuse to avail herself of the assistance whica the laity only can afford, and to admit them into her councils in 3rder to obtain it, if she should be suddenly deprived of her right to tithes and the other property she possesses. But I suspect that the laity have Tnore control over the church in England than many imagine. I ask, by whose authority was the present order of common j)rayer confirmed and allowed to be used in churches, but by that of the Parliament, composed of the three estates of the realm, in on? only of which have the clergy any voice, and that but a slight one ? By whose authority are some sees being abolished and others estab- lished, but by the same ? By what authority can tithes be comiauted ? In short, who has the regulation of her revenues, but the same king, Icrds and commons ? But further, by whose authority only could the slightest alteration be made in the order of her services, as prescribed (A.) Our Synods, adopted in 1853 i^nd subsequently, are modelled on the conventions of the church in the tJnited States. \ [17] ""'■Si^rf' ill the Book of Common Prayer, except it be, by that of the same three estates of the reahn ? Indeed, the very authority we wish for our conventions, comj)osed entii-ely of churchmen, a' ^ the acquisition of which is objected to by some, because lay dt gates are to be admitted thereto, is considered as well vested in a boci/ of :xien, many of whom are papists, dissenters, unitarians and unbelievers, and who, altho' they number about a thousand in all, have amongst them less than thirty Bishops. It may again be objected that the admission of the laity into the councils of the church is contrary to the practice of the apostolic and primitive church. To this I reply, that is not quite so clear as may be imagined. If we look at Acts 1 : 15, 16, 23 and 26 ; at 15 : 22, 23 and 25, we will find that tht councils were not confined to the apostles. Ecclesiastical historians tell us, that the exclusion of the laity, and, soon after, of the inferior clergy from the councils thence composed of the Bishops, was the beginning of that spirit which afterwards placed all the other Bishops under the feet of him of Eome. Another objection may possibly be urged : such admission is unnecessary ; many other denominations do very well without it, and so may we. To this I answer, that where the laity are not admitted to the councils of the church, such measures are taken to gi\in their influence as we can never take. For this purpose the Eomanists use the carnal weapons of a dark and gloomy superstition, and the Methodists, the careful distribution of certain spiritual offices amongst her laity. And surely it is less objectionable to admit a layman to the councils of the church, where many matters of a purely secular nature must necessarily be discussed, than to the spiritual offices of preaching and exhorting. It is said by some, tliat the Elders in the Presbyterian church, who have seats and voices in their councils, (^o not belong to the laity. I, however, cannot consider them in any other light. I know that the form by which they are set apart for their office is never considered by their church as placing them in the ranks of the ministry, that they are esteemed by her as still belonging to, and representing in her councils, the laity. As such, they have been found useful in all ages of their church ; as such, they are found useful in this cotintry. Indeed, among the Methodists the want of the laity in their councils has ever been a cause of complaint, and has occasioned the most extensive separations from that body of christians. But still it may be objected that our people are too poor to follow the example set them by their fellow churchmen in the United States. In reply, I would ask the objecter to reflect, that nearly all the wealthy in Upper Canada, that alinost all the wealthy emigrants that make this country their home, and that the majority of the wealthy in Lower Canada, are members of the church. Let him [18] look at the little diocese of Connecticut, with her eighty well educated and well supported clergy, and her flourishing college at Hartford, belonging to the church, and let him remember that the same litlte state was the chief seat of the Puritans, that the first Episcopal church erected therein was at New London, no longer ago than 1728, that almost all the accessions to her ranks have been from the descendants of the Puritans, and that she has gained her present high and flourishing condition by the adoption of the very means upon which we must rely. Let him look at Pennsylvania, by no means so large or so fertile as Upper Canada, settled, too, chiefly by the Quakers and the Dutch, and in the journal of her last convention he will learn tliat her parishes are ninety-one ; her clergy, including two Bishops, eighty-six ; her candidates for orders, twenty-iive ; that she supports twenty missionaries ; has an episcopal fund of several thousand dollars ; a fund for the support of widows and orphans of deceased clergymen, amounting to fifty thousand dollars ; and a society which has circulated in the last two years eight thousand prayer books, and all this, without moneys arising from lands held by the church, and without any assistance from without. In short, he will find that of eight hundred clergymen now in her service, nearly half were born and educated in other denominations ; but, after mature delibe' ation, and at the sacrifice of much private feeling, have cast their lots with that once despised r^id persecuted but now flourishing and eminently useful church. Haviii., thus stated, in a brief manner, the wants and difficulties of our church, and having taken the liberty to point out the means by which, I conceive, we may be rescued, through God's blessing, from our present feeble condition, I would humbly beg, my Kt. Eev. Father and my Eev. Brethren, to give to what I have advanced that consideration which the importance of the subject might justly claim ; and, if they feel that the church requires their special prayers, their councils, their exertions, their united action, I would earnestly implore them to withhold them from her no longer. Our past opportunities, suffered to glide by unimproved, should warn us to defer not till to-morrow what to-morrow it may be too late to do. The time has been when we might have made mu*h better arrangements than we can make now. But it is probable that wej3an make much better arrangements now, than we will be able to make a year or two hence. Moreover, as year succeeds year, the numbers of our destitute church people are increased by emigration, whilst they are continually thinned by the accessions made from them to the ranks of dissenters, papists, and infidels. The number of our candidates for orders are each year becoming less and less, whilst our clergy are earned off by that merciless destroyer death, or are rendered unfit for active service by the infirmities of old age ; and [19] last, though by no means least, each month of delay brings us nearer to that hour, when, having finished his course, onr beloved father shall be called hence to receive "that crown which the righteous Judge will give him at the last day." If, then, each year increases our wants and our difficulties, surely we are called no longer to delay our exertions. Surely to us the language of Solomon is addressed, "whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might." Let us, then, come together at the Bishop's several invitations, fully prepared to do something effectual for the good of our Zion. Let each pray, study, devise ; let each come prepared to act, as if every thing depended upon him alone, and, when met together, let each approach the business with the feeling that he has talents committed to his care ; but, at the same time, in the spirit of meekness, "each esteeming other better /aan mself ;" and may the Lord give this his blessing : Amen. \. '\