Be pleased, to present my best respects to Bishop Price, and to accept ye tender of unfeigned regard and esteem from Right Revd. Sir, Your most obt. and very humble Servt. S. S. "One more hindrance," says the Bishop of Oxford, in his interesting History of the American Church, (1) "was interposed to the fulfilment of these wishes. When the Scotch bishops had resolved to consecrate, an earnest appeal was sent to them from an American clergyman, whose own views, as it afterwards appeared, would be in some measure thwarted by the consecration of Dr. Seabury; but who now assured them that he desired to divert a heavy stroke from Episcopacy, which was likely to suffer through the consecration;" which, he asserted, was "against the earnest and sound advice of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, to whom Dr. Seabury's design was communicated, they not thinking him a fit person, especially as he was actively and deeply engaged against Congress; that he would by this forward step. render Episcopacy suspected there, the people not having had time, after a total derangement of their civil affairs, to consider as yet of ecclesiastical; and if it were unexpectedly and rashly introduced among them at the instigation of a few clergy only that remain, without their being consulted, would occasion it to be entirely slighted, unless with the approbation of the state they belong to; which is what they are labouring after just now, having called several provincial meetings together this autumn to settle some preliminary articles of a Protestant Episcopal Church as near as may be to that. of England or Scotland. 'See,' he concludes, if you value your own peace and advantage as a Christian society, that your bishops meddle not in this consecration,' &c." It is not difficult to recognize as the author of this communication, a prominent clergyman, to whose efforts for the (1) Page 210, 211. Episcopate subsequent references will be made. It is sufficient here to mention, that this disingenuous course failed utterly of its object; and that the bishops of Scotland having decided to communicate the Episcopacy to America, were little disposed to favour individual ambition, or heed the insinuations of personal prejudice. We pass to the original record of the Consecration as contained in the "Minute-Book of the College of Bishops in Scotland."(1) These documents, narrating the history and terms of the intercommunion of the Churches of Scotland and Connecticut, are of the highest importance, and they reflect no little credit upon those venerable men by whom they were drawn up. SYNOD 1784. In the name of the holy and undivided Trinity. Amen. The American States having been by the Legislature of Great Britain declared independent, the Christians of the Episcopal persuasion in the State of Connecticut, who had long been anxiously desirous to have a valid and purely ecclesiastical Episcopacy established amongst them, thought they had now a favourable opportunity of getting this their desire, effected. With this view, the Rev. Dr. Samuel Seabury, one of the Episcopal clergy in that State, was sent over to England with ample certificates of his piety, abilities, and learning, and fitness for the Episcopal office, and recommendations by his brethren, both in Connecticut and New York, to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, requesting that he might be consecrated for the State of Connecticut. After a long stay in England, and fruitless application for consecration, Dr. Seabury wrote and made application to the Bishops of Scotland, who, after having seriously considered the matter, readily concurred to encouragand promote the proposal. In consequence of this, Dr. Seabury came to Scotland; and having notified his arrival, a day was fixed for his consecration, and the place appointed was Aberdeen. On Saturday, the 13th of November, in the year of our Lord 1784, the following Bishops, viz.: -The Right Rev. Mr. Robert Kilgour, Bishop of Aberdeen and Primus; the Right Rev. Mr. John Skinner, his coadjutor; and the Right Rev. Mr. Arthur Petrie, Bishop of Ross and Moray, (the Right Rev. Mr. Charles Rose, Bishop of Dunblane, having previously signified his assent, and becused his absence by reason of his state of health and great distance,) convened at Aberdeen, where Dr. Seabury met them, and laid before them the following letters and papers, viz.: (1.) An attested copy of a letter from the clergy of Connecticut to the Archbishop of York, recommending Dr. Seabury in very strong terms, and requesting he might be (1) An original copy of the "Concordat" which forms a part of these valuable papers, is in the hands of the Rev. Prof. W. J. Seabury, of New York. It is the one brought by Bp. Seabury to this country, and differs only in unimportant particulars from the Scottish Original which is here followed. In Dei Nomine. Amen. Omnibus ubique Catholicis per Preveriti patent, Nor Kobortion Kilgour this oratione Divina Roberties Kilgour Episcopus at Primis Arthurus Petrie Episcopus. Joannes Shinner Episcopus Samuel, by divine permision, Bishon of the Ipinional + thurch in Connechest, To all whom it may concern, Know Ye, That on the fixteenth day of September one thousand, foven hundred and eighty five, We the Bishop afore mentioned folemnly administuing Holy Orders under the protection of Almighty God initrinity Church in the City of New Haven in the State of Connechent did admit and promote our beloved in thoit Thomas Fritid Oliver A Me /concerning whose Moral, Learning, Rye and Tithes we were well fathi fid) cents the Holy Order of Priests and hom the faid Thomes Fritch Oliver & did then and there rightly and canonically, Ordain Priest: He having first in our prefence: made and ferbfiribed a declaration of his assent and Conformity to the articles and Liturgy of the Chouch of bongland, except in matter affected by the livil Constitution of the American Bates. In Testimony whereof We have caused our&pingral Seal to be hereunto affixed the day and year above written, and in the first year four Confenction ~~. Samue Connect. consecrated for Connecticut. (2.) Another copy of a letter from the clergy of New York to both the Archbishops, signifying their concurrence and highly approving of the measure. (3.) A full and ample testimonial from the clergy of Connecticut and New York, jointly certifying Dr. Seabury's learning, abilities, prudence, and zeal for religion, and that they believed him to be every way qualified for the sacred office of a Bishop. (4.) A letter from the Committee of the Clergy in Connecticut to Dr. Seabury, acquainting him that they had made application to the Assembly of the State of Connecticut as to what protection might be expected for a Bishop in that State, if they should be able to procure one. That their application met with a degree of candour and attention beyond their expectation; and that the opinion of the leading members of the Assembly appeared to coincide fully with theirs in respect of the need, propriety, and prudence of such a measure. That these members told them they had passed a law concerning the Episcopal Church, and invested her with all the legal powers and rights that is intended by their constitution to give to any denomination. That the protection asked for was necessarily included in the act; that let a Bishop come, when he is there he will stand upon the same ground that the rest of the clergy do, or the Church at large. That the legislature of the State would be so far from taking any umbrage, that in this transaction the Bishops would meet their generous wishes, and do a thing for which they would have their applause. (5.) A letter from the Committee of Convention in Connecticut to Dr. Seabury, amongst other things, signifying their reliance on his zeal and fortitude to prosecute the affair in such way as he can, and begging he will remember that, however glad they shall be to see him, and wish speed to the opportunity that may enable them to bid him a happy welcome, yet that his coming a Bishop will only prevent its being an unhappy meeting. (6.) A letter from Mr. Jarvis, Secretary of the Committee, to Dr. Seabury, accompanying the above letter, wherein Mr. Jarvis says, you may depend upon it you will be kindly treated in this State, let you ordination come from what quarter it will. (7.) An attested copy of the above-mentioned Act of the State of Connecticut for securing the rights of conscience in matters of religion to Christians of every denomination, passed in the January session 1783. The said Bishops thus convened, after reading and considering these papers, and conversing at full length with Dr. Seabury, were fully satisfied of his fitness to be promoted to the Episcopate, and of the reasonableness and propriety of the request of these papers; and therefore, the day fol lowing being Sunday, the 14th of the said month of November, after morning prayers, and a sermon suitable to the occasion, preached by Bishop Skinner, they proceeded to the consecration of the said Dr. Sam. uel Seabury, in the said Bishop Skinner's Chapel in Aberdeen, and he was then and there duly consecrated with all becoming solemnity by the said Right Rev. Mr. Robert Kilgour, Mr. Arthur Petrie, and Mr. John Skinner, in the presence of a considerable number of respectable clergymen and a great number of laity, on which occasion all testified great satisfaction. On Monday the 15th, a Concordate betwixt the Episcopal Church in Scotland and that in Connecticut was formed and agreed upon by the Bishops of Scotland and Bishop Seabury, to their mutual satisfaction; and two duplicates thereof, wrote upon vellum, were duly signed and sealed by all the four. One duplicate, together with the above-mentioned letters and papers respecting Dr. Seabury, was kept by the Bishops of Scotland, to be preserved among their records; and the other double, together with a |