Meeting at New Brunswick, May 11, 1784.

(1) At a voluntary meeting of sundry members of the Corporation for the "Relief of Widows, &c.," held at New Brunswick, on Tuesday, 11th May, 1784, the following gentlemen being present,

The Rev. Dr. White, Rev. Dr. Magaw, Rev. Mr. Beach, Rev. Mr. Bloomer, Rev. Mr. Blackwell, and James Parker, Esq.,

They were unanimously of opinion, that the next meeting of the said Corporation, agreeable to the directions of the Charter, is to be held in the City of New York, on the Tuesday after the Feast of St. Michael next ensuing.

They accordingly request the Revd. Dr. Smith, the Revd. Dr. White, Revd. Mr. Beech, and Revd. Mr. Bloomer, to notify the meeting of the said Corporation; there being, at present, no Secretary regularly to perform the same.

The same gentlemen are also requested to remind the Rev. Mr. Thompson that it will be his turn to preach on the abovementioned occasion; and that Mr. Cutting and Dr. Magaw, who are the next in rotation, be prepared to preach in case of any failure on the part of Mr. Thompson.

At New Brunswick, Tuesday, 11th May, 1784, several members of the Episcopal Church, both of the Clergy and Laity, from the States of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, were assembled together.

Present: The Revd. Dr. White, Revd. Dr. Magaw, Revd. Mr. Beech, Revd. Mr. Bloomer, Revd. Mr. Frazer, Revd. Mr. Ogden, Revd. Mr. Blackwell, Revd. Mr. Boden, Revd. Mr. Benjamin Moore, Revd. Mr. Thomas Moore, James Parker, John Stevens, Richard Stevens, John Dennis, Esquires, Col. Hoyt, and Col. Furman.

It was agreed, that the Revd. Messrs. Beach, Bloomer, and B. Moore, be requested to wait upon the Clergy of Connecticut, who are to be convened on the Wednesday in Trinity week next ensuing, for the Purpose of soliciting their Concurrence with us in such Measures as may be deemed conducive to the Union and Prosperity of the Episcopal Churches in the States of America.

(1) Endorsed by Bishop White as follows: "The original of ye Minutes of ye Meeting in N. Brunswick, in May, 1784, in ye Hand-writing of ye revd. Benjamin (since Bp.) Moore of N. York."

Also agreed by the gentlemen present, that the undermentioned Persons be requested to correspond with each other, and with any other Persons, for the Purpose of forming a Continental Representation of the Episcopal Church, and for the better management of the concerns of the said Church.

Revd. Messrs. Bloomer, Provoost, and B. Moore, for New York; Revd. Messrs. Beach, Ogden, and Ayres, for New Jersey; Revd. Dr. White, Dr. Magaw, and Mr. Blackwell, for Pennsylvania.

Any one of which Persons of each State respectively, to correspond with the others, without consulting his colleagues of the same State, whenever it may be deemed expedient.

It is time that the Church should know to whom the idea of this preliminary meeting was due. The following letters from the Rev. Abraham Beach, of New Brunswick, printed from the original among the Bishop White MSS., contain the first suggestion of this gathering for conference. They are also valuable as furnishing information as to the state of feeling in the Church at that time, with reference to these measures for organization and union.

Reverend Sir:

NEW BRUNSWICK, 26th January, 1784.

I always expected that as soon as the Return of Peace should put it in their Power, that the Members of the Episcopal Church in this Country would interest themselves in its Behalf-would endeavour to introduce Order and Uniformity into it, and provide for a Succession in the Ministry. The Silence on this Subject which hath universally prevailed, and still prevails, is a Matter of real Concern to me, as it seems to portend an utter extinction of that Church which I so highly venerate.

As I flatter myself your Sentiments correspond with my own, I cannot deny myself the Satisfaction of writing you on the Subject.

Every Person I have conversed with is fully sensible that something should be done, and the sooner the better. For my own Part, I think the fisrt step that should be taken, in the present unsettled State of the Church, is to get a Meeting of as many of the Clergy as can be couveniently collected. Such a Meeting appears to be peculiarly necessary in order to look into the condition of the Widows Fund, which may at present be an object worth attending to, but will unavoidably dwindle to nothing, if much longer neglected. Would it not therefore be proper to

advertise a Meeting of the Corporation in the Spring at Brunswick, or any other place that may be thought more convenient; and endeavour to get together as many as possible of the Clergy who are not members, at the same time and place.

A sincere Regard to the Interests of the Church, induces me to make these Proposals, wishing to be favoured with your sentiments upon this subject. If any Thing should occur to you as necessary to be done, in order to put us upon an equal Footing with other Denominations of Christians, and cement us together in the Bonds of Love, I should be happy in an opportunity of assisting in it.

I am, Reverend Sir,

Your affectionate Brother,

And very humble Servant,

ABRAHAM BEACH.

The Reverend Dr. WHITE,

Rector of Christ Church and St. Peter's, Philadelphia.

These proposals secured at once the approbation of Dr. White; and the communication of his approval of Mr. Beach's plan, was shortly after followed by the following reply.

Reverend Sir:

NEW BRUNSWICK,

22d March, 1784.

As soon as I was made acquainted by your Favr. of the 7th Feby. of your concurrence in the Proposed Meeting of the Clergy, I wrote to Mr. Provost and Mr. Moore of New York, on the subject. They both approve of the Measure, and not only APPROVE of it, but think it absolutely NE

CESSARY.

In a Letter I received from Mr. Blackwell, sometime ago, he proposed Tuesday, 11th May, as a proper TIME for the Meeting, and acquiesced with my proposal of Brunswick for the PLACE. I remarked this in my Letter to Mr. Provost; in answer to which he acquainted me that on con sulting Mr. Duane, and other Members of the Corporation in New York, they discovered a desire that the Meeting should be held in New York on Wednesday, the 12th May.

For my own Part, I have no manner of Objection to the Alteration, any further than its depriving me of the Company of some of my Brethren at my House. Even this Pleasure, however, I am ready to forego; if our Meeting in N. York may have any tendency to promote PEACE and HARMONY in the Church there. This expectation and belief is the prin

cipal Reason for their wishing for the Alteration with regard to TIME and

PLACE.

Should this proposal of meeting in New York on Wednesday the 12th May, meet with your approbation, will you be so good as to acquaint the members of the Corporation in Pennsylvania, and desire their attendance? Would not advertising in the public papers be proper?

Some of the Lay Members, may perhaps, scarcely think it worth their while to take so much Trouble without a prospect of immediate Profit to themselves. I cannot but flatter myself, however, that there are SOME still, who would wish to promote the Interests of Religion in general-to save the Church of which we are Members from utter Decay-and consequently to promote the real HAPPINESS AND PROSPERITY OF THE COUxTRY. Persons of this character will not, surely, withhold their assistance at this very CRITICAL JUNCTURE.

surer.

You desire to know the State of the Fund in N. York and in N. Jersey. With regard to the former, Mr. Provost writes me, that it has very much suffered by the Fire which consumed Mr. Laroy's House, the TreaThis Circumstance, by the way, is an additional inducement for the proposed Meeting; for undoubtedly the property consumed was in Bonds and Mortgages. Mr. Laroy may possibly recollect from whom they were taken; and the Corporation may put Matters in such a train as to receive some Part of it at least. As to the Jersey Part, I have found a Bond of £150 or £200, which is safe and in good hands. I spoke to Mr. Cox, the late Treasurer, on the subject, just before he sailed. for Europe. He informed me that had some Accts. and other Papers belongg. to the Corporn., which he promised to leave with Mrs. Cox, to be delivered to the Order of that Body—not thinking himself safe in delivering them to any particular Member.

I should be exceedingly happy to hear from you, as soon as your Conveniency will permit; and am,

Revd. Sir,

Your affectionate Brothr.,

And very Huml. Servt.,

ABRAHAM BEACH.

Revd. Dr. WHITE.

A few weeks later we have the following letter, making further arrangements for the Clerical Meeting, and containing an allusion to Dr. White's celebrated pamphlet, "The Case of the Episcopal Churches in the United States Considered."

NEW BRUNSWICK,

Reverend Sir

13th April, 1784.

I have just received a letter from Mr. Provost, signifying his concurrence with the FIRST APPOINTMENT. It is at length agreed UPON ALL HANDS, that our Meeting be held at Brunswick, on Tuesday, the 11th May; and as the day is near at hand, I think no Time ought to be lost in giving the proper Notice.

I wish you would be so good as to advertise it in one of your News Papers, with an invitation to all Clergymen of the Episcopal Church, and perhaps you may think it proper to invite respectable characters of the LAITY, as matters of general concern to the Church may probably be discussed. As soon as I find the Advertisement in a Philadelphia paper, I will cause it to be inserted in one in N. York, and will WRITE likewise to all concerned in Jersey.

You will undoubtedly agree with me in the propriety of having a Sermon on the occasion. Will you be so good as to preach it?

I am much obliged to you for the Pamphlet (1) you was so kind to send me. I had the Pleasure of reading it on its first Publication, and am happy to agree with you in every particular, excepting the NECESSITY of receding from ancient usages. If this necessity existed in time of WAR, I cannot think that it does at PRESENT; and as you convey the same idea in yr. letter, I flatter myself our sentiments on Church Government entirely agree.

You will please make my best Respects to Dr. Magaw and Mr. Blackwell, and believe me to be,

Reverend Sir,

Your affectionate Brother
And very Humble Servt.,

ABRAHAM BEACH.

Reverend Dr. WHITE,

Rector of Christ Church and St. Peter's, Philadelphia.

Notwithstanding the results of this primary Convention appeared at the time to be but trifling, the plan and purpose of union, so ardently desired by Mr. Beach, was not lost

(1) "The Case of the Episcopal Churches in the United States Considered. To make new articles of faith and doctrine, no man thinketh it lawful: new laws of government, what Commonwealth or Church is there which maketh not at one time or another.'-HOOKER. Philadelphia: Printed by David C. Claypole, 1783." Reprinted by William Stavely Philadelphia, 1827. Reprinted in the Prot. Epis. Quarterly Review, Vol. vi. 1859, and subsequently issued in a separate form, the same year, in New York.