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Romish Churches, from whence he concludes that "Reformed Christians are Catholics in all that is primitive, but Protestants in all that has been changed." Though the conclusion is general, the language, as well as the nature of the subject, necessarily limits the inference to such as profess to belong to the "Catholic Church.”

After a careful perusal of the book, we unhesitatingly say we have been pleased, and cheerfully recommend it to such as desire to be informed in regard to these matters.

15. Hora Catechetica: an Exposition of the Duty and Advantages of Public Catechising in the Church. By W. S. GILLY, M. A. Prebendary of Durham. Edited with additional matter, by G. W. DOANE, D. D. Bishop of New Jersey. Philadelphia: William Marshall & Co. 1836. 12mo. pp. 176.

THE Bishop of New Jersey has given to the American public the useful work of Gilly, enriched with much excellent matter of his own. His Introduction, and his second Charge entitled "The Church's Care of little Children," are beautifully written, and conceived in the choicest spirit of the best days of the Church. The importance of the ancient and excellent institution of public catechising is set forth in a way calculated to excite a lively interest in this hitherto much-neglected duty; and many excellent hints and aids will be found in the volume for the use of pastors in performing this work. We rejoice exceedingly in the increasing attention which this subject is beginning to awaken. We hope this book will add new strength to the impulse. Let it not be forgotten that Sunday schools should never be substituted for faithful instruction on the part of the pastor in the Catechism of the Church.

16. Christian Unity necessary for the Conversion of the World. A Sermon preached in St. Thomas's Church, New York, &c. By SAMUEL FARMAR JARVIS, D. D., Professor of Oriental Languages and Literature in Washington College, Hartford, Ct. New-York. 1837.

THIS sermon, preached before the Board of Missions of the Protestant Episcopal Church, must not be classed with the bulk of occasional discourses. Its object is to show: "First, that

the ill success of missions is owing to the want of unity;" "secondly, that those professing Christians have most reason to hope for success, who are least guilty of violating that unity;" and thirdly, to suggest considerations to encourage us in the great work of missions. The largest part of the discourse is taken up with the discussion of the first topic. It embraces a rapid, but exceedingly elaborate and thorough historical sketch of the progress and authors of schism in the Church from the earliest times, and of its influence upon the spread of the Gospel. The views of the author are justified and illustrated in a body of valuable notes, evincing rich, extensive, and accurate learning. We should be glad if our limits would allow us to refer more particularly to some admirable passages; but we have room only to commend it to careful perusal as a performance of great and permanent value, for which the learned and excellent author deserves the hearty thanks of all enlightened churchmen.

17. A Compendium of Christian Antiquities: being a brief View of the Orders, Rites, Customs, and Laws of the Christian Church in the Early Ages. By the REV. C. S. HENRY, M. A., Philadelphia; Joseph Whetham. 8vo. 1837. THIS work is designed to supply a want that has long been felt. Its object is to give to clergymen, theological students, and general readers, who have not access to the ancient writers, to the special learned treatises, or to the more voluminous works on these subjects, a competent view of the constitution of the Primitive Church, its services, customs, and laws. In the compass of a moderate volume it presents an accurate digest of the information contained in the original sources and in the more extensive modern works; so that the general reader may obtain a clear and satisfactory view of almost every interesting subject pertaining to the practice of the Church in the three first ages; while the student will find it a useful book of reference, and a guide to any more extended and minute investigations he may wish to make.

18. Memoirs, Correspondence, and Manuscripts of General Lafayette, published by his Family. Vol. I. New-York: Saunders and Otley. 1837.

In every point of view these Memoirs must be considered as a highly valuable legacy from their illustrious subject.

VOL. I. NO. II.

61

They are issued from the American press in a handsome octavo, which, we regret to say, is disfigured by an execrable lithograph of General Lafayette, totally dissimilar to any portraits, old or young, which have ever previously fallen under our notice, and with neither features or expression like those of "the Nation's Guest" as we remember to have seen him in 1825. We defer any review of this work until the appearance of another of the volumes. We trust then to bestow that extended attention upon it which the high importance of the events it commemorates demands. At present, we have space only for a few words descriptive of its design, which, however, will sufficiently recommend it to the American people.

It is edited, and the copyright entered in this country, by President Duer of Columbia College. The task could not have been entrusted to more efficient hands. In his Advertisement, he states that "it was the desire of the late General Lafayette that this edition of his Memoirs and Correspondence should be considered as a legacy to the American people." He indicates, also, why the present edition is more valuable to us than that published in Paris or London; for in this are inserted some letters, containing details of the American Revolution, which will not appear in the others. They were written originally in English by Lafayette, and are given exactly as they came from his pen. These letters are placed in an Appendix at the close of the volume, and are thus distinguished from those in the regular correspondence, most of which is translated from the French.

George Washington Lafayette, the son, whom our readers will recollect as having accompanied his father on his last triumphal tour through his adopted country, introduces the work with these words:"Respectfully to collect and scrupulously to arrange the manuscripts of which an irreparable misfortune has rendered them depositories, have been for the family of General Lafayette the accomplishment of a sacred duty. To publish those manuscripts without any commentary, and place them, unaltered, in the hands of the friends of Liberty, is a pious and solemn homage which his children now offer with confidence to his meniory." The present volume is accompanied by an account of Lafayette's First Voyage and First Campaign in America, in Memoirs written by himself until the year 1780-Fragments, extracted from various manuscripts, describing his Departure for America, First Interview with General Washington, and similarly interesting eventsand his Correspondence.

ART. XII.-CHURCH AFFAIRS.

I-VIEW OF THE DIOCESES.

In the present number we carry into effect a part of the original design in the establishment of this journal, by placing before our readers a brief and comprehensive view of the condition of the Church in the several dioceses. Our object is not so much to present particular details, as it is to gather for ourselves, from an examination of all the facts which may reach us, a general result, and to place that upon our pages.

Where questions of interest to the whole Church, involving the correct intrepretation of principles of constitutional or canon law, arise in any diocese, we shall freely discuss them, endeavouring to aid in fixing principles, without regard to their application to per. sons. The action of a diocese on any subject important either to itself alone or to the whole Church, will be considered with reference to its policy and bearing upon the common interests of our communion.

MAINE.

We are not aware of any matters of particular interest in this diocese at present.

NEW-HAMPSHIRE.

This diocese contains six clergymen, over as many parishes. Its last convention was held in June of the present year, when important changes were made in the "Episcopal Missionary Society," and in the "Protestant Episcopal Sunday School Union" of the diocese..

As to the first, it was determined "that the Convention is the most proper Missionary Society or board," and, as such, "ought to take the special supervision and control of the concerns

sionary Society.

of the Mis

A board of five members is appointed by the Convention an executive committee to attend to the subject of missions.

The Convention was also declared to be the proper body for the encouragement and support of Sunday Schools within the diocese. A committee of three was appointed to watch over the interests of the schools; and the system of instruction recommended by the General Union, from time to time, is that which is to be pursued.

VERMONT.

Under its very active and industrious bishop, this diocese is, we believe, in a condition as good as it has ever heretofore enjoyed. The great cause of education is one in which its diocesan is warmly engaged, and when time shall have further carried him on in his progress, we shall call attention to his plans and some of his views.

For the present, it is enough to say that we rejoice to find any of our bishops alive to the great importance of educating as Episcopalians the young men of our communion.

Another subject, however, of much general interest, must furnish at this time the theme of our remarks on this diocese, though the action of the Convention upon it took place more than a year ago. We allude to the new constitution and canons adopted in May 1836. The preamble to the constitution sets forth the necessity of fully exhibiting "those important constitutional principles which distinguish the Protestant Episcopal Church;" it is therefore with some regret we find ourselves constrained to notice what we deem at variance with some of our principles.

The third article on the subject of the ministry, recognizing the three orders of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, proceeds to state that priests or presbyters are bound to counsel and advise the Bishop; and that he "does not act in any important matter without consulting with a portion of them, elected for that purpose by the rest, and called the Standing Committee or Council of Advice." The doctrine here advanced is, that Standing Committees, which are peculiar to our Church, had their origin in nothing more than an intention to furnish, as a substitute for the presbyters who in ancient times were invited by the Bishop to advise him, a smaller body of the same order, selected for that purpose only. This, we know, was an opinion expressed by the present Bishop of Vermont before he attained to the mitre. Now, we have no hesitation in saying that Standing Committees originated in no such intention, and that to consider them as a mere "council of advice," is to leave the Bishop in all cases perfectly free to follow their counsel or not as he pleases; in other words, is to make them a mere cypher in our ecclesiastical economy.

It is certainly true, that in early times bishops were in the habit of consulting their presbyters, but it does not thence follow that the present Standing Committees furnish a substitute for those presby. ters. In some of the dioceses, nay, in most of them, a part of the Standing Committee have always been laymen; and this fact seems scarcely to be consistent with a theory which makes the body a substitute for presbyters. But the history of our legislation on the sub. ject of Standing Committees is conclusive on the point.

The first mention made in the legislation of the Church of a body to be called the Standing Committee, is incidental, and occurs in Canon VI, of July 1789. It has reference to the subject of testimonials to be produced by candidates for orders; and the necessity of subjecting candidates to the ordeal of some certain body of men to pass upon their competency, was the origin of Standing Committees. Every candidate for holy orders shall be recommended to the Bishop by a Standing Committee of the Convention of the State where he resides," &c. This canon made another necessary, for in some of the States there was no Standing Committee. Where they

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