tains for a long time; some of them are as old as the days of primitive Christianity. We have been accustomed, as we all know, (and as we have long thought at the expense of a very important principle in our constitution,) to ask of our whole house of Bishops, in General Convention, to give us instructions, for the sake of uniformity, as to certain usages, customs, &c. in public worship. In most other cases the Canons make customs for us.

In Canon XV. it is provided that "the Bishop presides as Bishop" in the Convention," being expected to express his opinion from his seat on every subject, as freely as the judge upon the bench or the father in his family." This strikes us as an odd compound of paterno-judicial authority. A father and a judge must act on very different principles. The one, in the exercise of parental feeling, is guided by a sound discretion; and his law is that of a wise, but not weak affection. The other must put affection to sleep, and in most cases must know no rule but fixed and stern adherence to precedent and authority. It is difficult to act both as father and judge at one and the same time. We would not deny to the Bishop the right both to speak, when he thinks it necessary, and also to vote: but mark the effect of the mode here provided; first," on every subject" he is "expected" to make known his opinion. How can it have any but an unfair influence on the house? Does not every member know that to vote against the opinion is idle? for such a vote will be extinguished instanter by the veto. And this rule very conveniently reaches all questions that can arise, because on every subject the opinion of the diocesan is expected.

In Canon XVI. it is declared that the sessions of the Convention are not open to the public. This is in bad taste and worse policy; nor can we conceive why they should not ordinarily be open. We know not of another diocese in the Union which declares its Convention to be a secret body.

Finally, for our notice is growing beyond our bounds, we remark, that ample provision is made for the trial of a priest, a deacon, or a layman, but-none is made to try the Bishop himself! Now, as by the constitution of the general Church, the laws relative to trials, whether of Bishops or of others, are directed to be made by the several dioceses for themselves respectively, it follows that Vermont having made none, there is actually no mode existing by which a Bishop of that diocese, however much he might offend, could be brought to trial. That this thing ought not so to be, the recent unhappy troubles in one of our dioceses must make abundantly manifest.

With no interests in view, save those of the Church at large; contributing, with the uncalculating honesty of devoted affection, our humble aid in fixing principles which may promote the peace and happiness of the Church long after we are in our grave; knowing, and determining in our labours to know, no party, but the whole of the communion to which we belong; we have spoken with plain.

ness of the legislation of the diocese of Vermont. We are not afraid to say that she has given too much power to the Bishop. It is no part of our belief that the legitimate authority, the dignity, the honour of the Episcopate is to be trampled upon or treated with disrespect; still less would we touch one tittle of its appropriate, legi. timate spiritual functions, rights, and powers; but, we say it with all imaginable respect, Bishops were made for the Church; the Church was not made for Bishops. We cannot but speak, therefore, and utter our humble voice of warning, when we behold Standing Committees trimmed down to mere advisers of the Bishop'; when in the legislation of the Church, we see the Bishop "expected " to inform the Convention what his opinion is on "every" subject; and when they and he have voted on the question, and its decision does not please him, to find him empowered to exercise a right of veto, thereby virtually depriving both clergy and laity of their constitutional right to legislate. We will speak, and speak out, when we see all power-legislative, judicial, and executive-centred in one man in such ample plenitude that he may even dictate to the fashion of a surplice, or the shape of a gown, under the pretext of set. ting forth customs; and we will speak louder still when we find, that with all this power there is actually no responsibility, because there is no law for his trial.

MASSACHUSETTS.

This diocese has within its limits, according to the report of its Missionary Board, "nearly forty churches ;" and the journal of its Convention, held in June last, is preceded by a list of fifty-two cler. gymen. Of these, seven do not appear to be employed in the performance of parochial duty. In this diocese, the Standing Committee reports, for the year ending June, six persons admitted as candidates for orders; nine recommended for ordination as deacons ; and six recommended for ordination as priests. From the last pa rochial reports, amounting in number to more than thirty, the general condition of the diocese appears to be prosperous.

There are two subjects of particular interest which have occupied the attention of our Massachusetts brethren; the one having refer. ence to theological education, the other touching the diocesan missionary operations.

As to the first of them, it has from time to time been before the Convention of Massachusetts, and at the meeting of that body in 1836 a long and interesting report was presented of a most encou raging character. At that time Rhode Island had become responsible for $25,000, to found one professorship; and, in addition to this, $32,360 had been pledged, of which sum, St. Paul's Church, Boston, was responsible for $12,000. It was thought best to secure the sum of $100,000 before any steps were taken to open the seminary. We perceive, however, by the journal of 1837, that no fur

ther steps have yet been taken. The disastrous state of the times has doubtless made it impossible; and in the view of our Massachusetts brethren, it seems to be inexpedient to take any measures until a brighter day dawns upon the commercial and mercantile portion of our citizens.

Upon the general question of the propriety of establishing dioce. san seminaries when we have one general institution, the Church seems to have already decided. The right in any diocese to have its own theological school has never been questioned; the only point to be considered is one of expediency. The lessons of experience, furnished by the history of other religious denominations, may be valuable. The theological seminary of the Presbyterians at Princeton was designed originally to meet the entire wants of that communion throughout the land. It was soon found that it would not do it, and other seminaries sprang up. Local feelings and sectional peculiarities make them necessary. The objection that these schools, thus multiplied, may teach different lessons, would be a serious one, were no measures taken to prevent such a result. In our communion, however, we think there is a preventive of this evil. Our discipline of candidates is regulated by the General Convention; and the subjects of study, and in many cases the text books used, are in our seminaries the same, and this insures uniformity. No injury has yet resulted to the general institution from the establishment of diocesan seminaries, and we are free to confess that we think there is room for all. It is, however, necessary for those in authority to keep a vigilant eye upon all; for nothing is plainer than the proposition, that a school of theology, so called, may be. come, according as it disseminates truth or falsehood, a great blessing or a frightful curse to the Church. The waters must be kept pure at the fountain, or it were better they should cease to flow. We need hardly add that our Massachusetts brethren recognize, of course, the constitution and canons of the Church as regulating the education of candidates for orders. Such recognition forms the first article of their plan. In the name of their proposed school, “The Episcopal Theological Seminary," we would suggest the insertion of the word "Protestant" before "Episcopal."

As to the missionary operations of the diocese, our attention has been directed to the fact, that less money seems to have been received from the parishes under the new organization of the diocesan "Board of Missions" than was obtained in the old mode. At the Convention in 1836, a board of missions, consisting of three clergy. men and three laymen, with the Bishop at their head, was appointed, and all existing missionary bodies in the diocese were invited to become auxiliaries to this board. The board seems, by the report of 1837, fully to have done its duty; but the plan has not succeeded. Truth compels us to add, that the board has failed to accomplish its objects, simply because the parochial clergy have failed in this mat. ter to do what they could. The plan is a good one for producing

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concentrated effort; and that effort is made, as it may best be made, under the auspices of the Church in Massachusetts; but no plan, however wise, will succeed by simply devising it; hearts, and heads, and hands, must be employed to carry it into execution.

RHODE ISLAND.

The affairs of the Church are in a prosperous condition, but offer nothing for particular notice. We may remark, however, that from the report of a committee made at the last Convention, there appears to be a very lively interest in the subject of education for the ministry. There is an interesting report, too, on the missionary operations of the Church in the state, from which we learn that a few Churches associated for the purpose, have, in the course of six years, established thirteen missionary stations, and supported them, until now at most of them, churches (some of them large and expensive) have been built by the congregations, and their clergymen, in whole or in part, are sustained by themselves.

CONNECTICUT.

This diocese, honoured in our history as having possessed the first Bishop in the Church in these United States, presents several matters to us worthy of notice in a view of her present condition. When Bishop Brownell was elected, almost eighteen years ago, there were but seven parishes capable of supporting the entire services of a clergyman; twenty-four now do it. But yet very much remains to be done; for there are about ninety parishes in the diocese, and only thirty-nine enjoy the undivided services of a pastor. Of the remainder, some are united into pluralities of two or three in a cure, and some are, and long have been, without a regular supply. The whole number of clergy reported at the late Convention in July last, was seventy-eight; but, after deducting the superannuated, the sick, those engaged in colleges or schools, and those absent as missionaries, there are not more than fifty-six parochial clergymen; so that, as the Bishop states, to give to each parish its own pastor, more than forty additional clergymen are required; and this is one of the oldest dioceses of the Church. To meet this want, in part at least, twenty-five candidates for orders belong to Connecticut; but we fear, had she one hundred candidates, the demand would still not be met. Something else is needed besides men. The means of living must be afforded them.

The Society for the promotion of Christian knowledge in Connecticut, a child of the Convention, has done all, or nearly all, that has been done to build up new parishes, and assist in the support of the clergy in such of the old as were unable to bear the burden alone. With scanty means it has done much, and affords an encouraging example to similar institutions in the other dioceses. But it ought to be enabled to do a great deal more. Its objects indeed, like those of its venerable prototype in the Church of England,

pre

: are very numerous; but its narrow means oblige it to direct, at sent, all its resources to the support of the ministry; and on this point we beg leave to present the very sensible views set forth by the Rev. Dr. Jarvis, the Secretary, in his report. Three things are included in the plan of supporting the clergy-"1. To provide a settled clergyman for each parish. 2. To give the clergy, if not an adequate, at least a bare subsistence. 3. To have the salary raised, paid punctually and promptly when it becomes due."

Under the second of the above enumerated heads, assuming as the minimum salary which a clergyman should receive, $500, and that is surely little enough, the parishes are divided into four classes. 1. Those able to pay from $400 to $450 per annum of these there are twenty-one. 2. Those able to pay from $300 to $350. 3. Those that can pay from $200 to $250; and 4. Those unable to pay even that amount. The plan proposed is to assist these parishes in every case to make the salary $500; but to do this, the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge requires an annual income of at least $8,000. The accounts of the Treasurer for the past year show his receipts to have been less than $1,200.

To meet the wants of the Society, the Secretary recommends perseverance in the plan pointed out by the Bishop, as far back as 1835, of monthly offerings-one cent per month for every Christian child under the age of fourteen, and not less than five cents per month from every one in the Church over that age; and that these monthly collections, thus brought in, should be solemnly offered to God on the two great festivals of Easter and Christmas. There can be no doubt that a very large sum would be obtained by this mode, not only for the Church in Connecticut, but for other purposes of the Church at large. Its success, under God, we take the liberty of saying to our brethren engaged in parochial duty, depends almost exclusively upon them. We have been the more particular in dwelling upon the statistics of the Church in Connecticut, because, after all, they furnish the only basis of sound knowledge, and consequent rational action. We are persuaded, that in some of the dioceses a statistical society would do more toward arousing churchmen to action, than some institutions which bear a church name. Let men see what is to be done; make plain by figures the practicability of doing; and then let the clergy press home the Christian duty of doing for the cause of the Redeemer. There is no doubt of the ability of the Church in Connecticut to raise $8,000 for her own purposes, and no one would have cause to think the portion he contributed burdensome to him.

There is another subject on which we would say a word. We find the Bishop in his address suggesting that possibly more good would result from his visitations if they were not annual. Now we have no doubt the Bishop is quite right, provided the visitations made in any one year are of the proper kind. The Canon expects of each Bishop a visitation to each parish at least once in three