WORKS USED AND REFERRED TO IN THE PREPARATION OF THE FOLLOWING SKETCH. Rev. J. M. S. Anderson, History of the Church of England in the Colonies (1856, 3 vols., 12mo). Rev. Dr. T. W. Coit, Puritanism; or, A Churchman's Defence against its Aspersions, by an Appeal to its own History (1845, 12mo). Rev. E. Hawkins, Historical Notices of the Missions of the Church of England in the North American Colonies (1845, Svo). Rev. Dr. F. L. Hawks, Contributions to the Ecclesiastical History of the United States (1836, Vol. I., 8vo, Virginia; 1839, Vol. II., Svo, Maryland); Commentary on the Constitution and Canons of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States (1841, 8vo). Rev. Drs. Hawks and Perry, Journals of General Convention, from 1785 to 1853 (1861, Vol. I., 8vo, with notes). Hon. Murray Hoffman, Treatise on the Law of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States (1850, Svo); Ecclesiastical Law in the State of New York (1868, Svo); The Ritual Law of the Church (1872, Svo). Rt. Rev. Bp. Perry, Handbook of the General Convention, 1785-1877 (1877, 12mo). Rt. Rev. Bp. Wilberforce, History of the Protestant Episcopal Church in America (1849, 12mo). Rev. Dr. Bird Wilson, Life of Bishop White (1839, Svo). HISTORY OF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH. THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH is the title assumed by that branch of the Church of Christ which has its local habitation in the United States of America. It is the legitimate successor of what was known, antecedently to the establishment of American independence, as "the Church of England in America," and it owes to the Mother Church, as is gratefully acknowledged in the Preface to the Book of Common Prayer, "a long continuance of nursing care and protection." The history of the Church in the United States therefore properly begins with the earliest efforts made by Englishmen in the work of colonisation in the Western World. It will be the writer's aim, in the present sketch, to give as full an account as his limits allow of the history and progress of this Church, and also to furnish some supplementary statements and remarks in regard to its peculiar claims and adaptedness for the great work of evangelising our country, and for helping to make the Gospel known throughout the dark places of the earth where heathenism prevails. A natural division suggests itself at once, viz. : 1. History of the period during colonial times to the close of the Revolutionary war. This period covers rather more than a century and a half, and during it Church people looked directly to England for a supply of clergy to minister among them, and for religious privileges in general. 2. The period after the Revolution, when efforts were successfully made to obtain the episcopal succession from England, the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States was duly organised; its liturgy, articles, constitution, etc., were adopted; and its bishops, clergy, and lay members in different parts of the country were brought into union and communion, having the General Convention as its central legislative power. This period covers the years 1783 to about 1808. 3. The later history of the Church, showing its growth and extension, its increase in wealth and numbers, its educational work, missionary labours, and the like, from the early part of the century to the present time. I. EARLY AND COLONIAL HISTORY. In the latter part of the sixteenth century, Sir Humphrey Gilbert left England to endeavour to form a settlement in America. Among the motives avowed as influencing him were "the honour of God, compassion of poore infidels captivated by the devil (it seeming probable that God hath reserved these Gentiles to be reduced into Christian civility by the English nation), advancement of his honest and well-disposed countrymen willing to accompany him in such honourable actions, and reliefe of sundry people within this realme distressed." Though Gilbert met with no success and was lost at sea, other efforts were made by his half-brother, Sir Walter Raleigh, in 1584, in Carolina and Virginia. These too, though in the main unsuccessful, were not wholly without fruit.' In 1606 the Virginia Company obtained its charter, and in 1607 the settlement at Jamestown was begun. Among the articles and order of the charter it was expressly required that "the presidents, councils, and ministers should provide that the true word and service of God be preached, planted, and used, according to the rites and doctrine of the Church of England, not only in the said colonies, but also as much as might be among the savages bordering upon them." A clergyman of the English Church, Rev. Robert Hunt, accompanied the expedition, and with unwearied zeal, and with piety and devotion worthy the highest praise, laboured in his vocation for the two or three years he was spared to the Colony.2 Other godly men (Bucke, Glover, etc.) followed; and of these special mention deserves to be made of Alexander Whitaker, who was one of "the apostles of Virginia." Through his agency the Indian maiden Pocahontas was converted and baptised, and proved herself of great service to the Colony. The first colonists of Virginia being exclusively members of the Church of England, as Hawkins states, the legislature of the Colony decreed a provision for the clergy, at the rate of fifteen hundred pounds of tobacco and sixteen barrels of flour annually for each clergyman. As each new borough was formed, it was ordered that a portion of glebe land should be set apart for the use of the incumbent. Tithes were afterwards instituted. Discipline 1 Anderson, i. 62. 2 Ib. i. 182. 3 lb. i. 238. |