THE "RECORD" NEWSPAPER.

MR. EDITOR,It is painful to find persons, who are apparently members of our venerable Church, employed in the service of its worst enemies, and constantly engaged in vilifying its respected and dignified members, and the institutions connected with it. I have been led to this remark by observing in a newspaper, bearing the name of "The Record" (April 10th), a most virulent attack on the Bishop of Gloucester for a sermon preached by him at the last anniversary of the charity children at St. Paul's; but I probably should not have been induced to take the slightest notice of such an attack, in such a publication, if the writer had not aimed his shafts beyond the Bishop, whose character will defend itself, and assailed the venerable Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, as sanctioning heretical doctrine in giving circulation to this sermon.

It will scarcely be deemed credible by reasonable men, that any person in his senses should have brought a serious charge on the ground he has taken. The Bishop, at the opening of his sermon, expresses his satisfaction at the sight of so many innocent children assembled on such an occasion; on which the writer bursts out into exclamations, as if, by calling them innocent, he disbelieved or denied. the scriptural doctrine of original sin. Has this writer ever read his Bible? Did he ever there observe that Noah is called a man perfect in his generation; and that we are commanded "to keep innocency, and take heed to the thing that is right?" How is this? (this writer should exclaim,) Can any man be perfect, or keep innocency, when we know that all are sinful beings, fallen from innocency? If he has the sense to understand that these expressions are used in Scripture, with reference to human beings, as fallen beings, and that they imply only such qualified perfection and innocence as human beings can now attain, why will he not allow to the Right Reverend Prelate the use of expressions in a similar sense, sanctioned as it is by Scripture, by our Liturgy, by all divines in every age? Again, the Bishop says of the assembled children, "We are certain that, rescued from vice and ignorance, they are (in these schools) brought to the knowledge of our Lord's religion, and treading in the path which leads to heaven." Can any one doubt the meaning to be, that we are morally certain that we are taking the best means which are placed within our power of bringing these children to the knowledge of the saving truths of the Gospel, and thereby drawing them towards heaven? And yet this writer actually endeavours to fasten on the Bishop the heresy of maintaining that all the children there assembled, whatever be their subsequent conduct, whatever be their subsequent measure of grace and scriptural faith, are certain of going to heaven!! I shall trouble you no further. Your obedient Servant,

X. Y.

CHURCH SOCIETIES.

MR. EDITOR,-With respect to our Church Societies, I perfectly agree with "Your Constant Reader," (vide Christian Remembrancer, January, p. 52.) "that the attention of Christians must be roused,

information must be imparted, and cooperation insisted upon," and that "this must be done through the medium of the Clergy.'

Such being the case, the question seems brought to a very narrow issue; and it therefore rests entirely with the Clergy, whether these venerable institutions be supported in a manner worthy of the Church of England, or not?

I beg a little space, Mr. Editor, for the purpose of reiterating the oft-repeated recommendation to the Clergy, to preach annual sermons in their churches and chapels in behalf of the Societies. The plan thus proposed is one which may be adopted universally, and is, moreover, of so easy a character, that there is no excuse for not adopting ít. It has also so great a promise of being permanently beneficial, that the Clergy cannot serve the Societies in a more effectual way. There is likewise another great advantage attending it, which is this, that the Societies are most likely to be supported from proper motives, when their cause is advocated in the house of God.

I am glad to see a request to this effect circulated by the Newcastle committee, and I trust that the recommendation will be generally acted upon, not throughout that district only, but throughout the kingdom. As Christians, there lies upon us the most imperative obligation to propagate that Gospel, by which alone the best of us are what we "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature:"-" Freely ye have received, freely give:"-" Do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith;"-are the authoritative injunctions of our Lord and his Apostles; and it is the part of every Christian minister, and every Christian layman, to give effect to them, according as they have means and opportunities of so doing.

are.

And, surrounded on all sides, as unhappily the Church of England is, by those who would thwart her good designs,-by the Romanist, by the sectarian, and by the infidel,-it becomes her ministers to be at their post, and with the sword of the Spirit, the word of God, in their hands, to be ready to put to silence every gainsayer, and to proclaim the truth as it is in Jesus, and as maintained by her, to all the world.

I again urge the Clergy to come forward in the cause of their Church, and to assert, again and again, the claims of the Societies in connexion with her, that so all occasion for the reproach of the disaffected may be removed, and, by God's blessing, the word spoken by her ministers may have "free course, run, and be glorified." I am, Mr. Editor,

March 10, 1831.

A SINCERE CHURCHMAN.

NOTICES OF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH, IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.-No. I.

We have occasionally noticed in our Miscellany, the views of Providence in the progress of American improvement, that there will be a greater diffusion of the Gospel, with all its invaluable benefits. We cannot but expect, that, with a growing population, there will be a progressive enlargement of the sphere of the revelation which "has brought life and immortality to light." The advancement of our holy religion will probably continue, as it has been heretofore,

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Notices of the Protestant Episcopal Church in America. gradual, but sure. Ages may roll away, and empires may rise and fall, before there shall come the promised era, when "all the kingdoms of the world shall be the kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ." But, as we rest our expectations of that event on the rock of his never-failing promise, we have reason to rejoice in whatever promotes the accomplishment of it, by extending the profession of Christianity over the immeasurable wilds of this immense continent.

We gather abundant proof, that the Church is "lengthening her cords, and strengthening her stakes," in the increase of her ministry, in the number of her congregations, and in that of her professing members. Whether there be a proportionate increase in genuine devotion, and in a walking worthy of the vocation, is a question which exacts a more extensive knowledge of the population of the different districts of the country; and, in some respects, a nearer insight of the hearts of men, than we feel a competency to in our selves. But here we find sufficient ground on which to build the intimation, that only in proportion to such increase, the prosperity of the Church is a fit subject either of desire or of congratulation.

It is with pleasure we contemplate the organizing of the Church in two of the Western States, those of Kentucky and Tennessee, and the consequent admission of their churches within the Ecclesiastical Union. In the tide of emigration to the West, there is of course a proportion of the settlers who had inherited from their ancestors a predilection for the principles and for the services of the Episcopal Church. They are generally so thinly scattered over extensive countries, only of late brought under cultivation, that for the congregating of them under ecclesiastical ties, there are required, in every case, the energies of at least a few men of information and of influence, to take the lead in incipient measures. Such men have been found in each of the States referred to; and we indulge the hope, that their example will be fol. lowed, even in the more recently settled States and territories.

Some extracts from a report on the state of the Church in the different dioceses, as submitted by a Committee to the last General Convention, held in the city of Philadelphia, in the month of August, 1829, in compliance with the Forty-fifth Canon of 1808, may be acceptable to our readers:

MAINE.

It is with great pleasure we are enabled to state, that, through the blessing of Almighty God, the Church, in this portion of the eastern diocese, is in a more flourishing condition than at any former period. Since the last meeting of the General Convention, in 1826, another Church has been organized, and admitted to a seat in the State Convention, who have erected a commodious edifice for public worship, and who, there is good reason for believing, will continue to persevere as zealously as they have begun. The Rubrics and Canons of the Church are, in general, uniformly complied with. Great attention has been bestowed on the subject of the religious education of children; and in no part of the United States are the Sunday Schools better ordered, better conducted, or better attended.

In behalf of Missions, considerable interest is excited, though the amount contributed for that purpose does not admit of any assistance

being afforded to Societies beyond the limits of the diocese. Indeed, were the amount contributed tenfold what at present it is, there would be ample employment for the whole of it, in extending the bounds of the Church in this State. No part of the Union affords a more extensive field for missionary exertion, and none, certainly, more needs assistance. With a population of 300,000 souls, which is daily increasing, there are, as yet, but three organized Episcopal congregations; whereas, were the necessary means afforded, before a twelvemonth, double that number could be added to our communion. This consideration, it is hoped, will induce some, to whom a gracious Providence has given wealth and abundance, to bestow some portion of it, in promoting the cause of their Redeemer and Benefactor in this distant region.

NEW HAMPSHIRE.

There are eight episcopal churches in this State. Since the last Convention, a beautiful and commodious church has been built at Hopkinton. In consequence of the omission of returns from some of the parishes, a correct account of parochial reports cannot be furnished. Strict attention is paid in the State to the regulations and Rubrics of the Church, and on the whole appears to be in a course of moderate prosperity.

MASSACHUSETTS.

We are happy to record the blessing of God on this portion of his vineyard, manifested in the continuance and gradual increase of that prosperity with which this Church has been favoured for several years past. The present number of Clergy is thirty-one. The number of congregations has increased since the last General Convention, and is now twenty-eight. The number of baptisms reported is 823; confirmations, 229; communicants, 1415. By a comparison of parochial reports from year to year, we observe, with devout gratitude to Almighty God, a very gradual but regular increase and advancement of the Church in this State. Since the last General Convention, the number of congregations, ministers, baptisms, confirmations, and communicants, has increased, if not with so much rapidity as could have been wished, yet with such constant growth as to indicate to the mind of the grateful believer the continual dew of the Divine blessing. It is believed that the Church, by suitable endeavours, might be revived in many places. We cannot but observe, however, the great want of Clergymen. The harvest is great. The field is extensive and hopeful. But the want of labourers is painfully felt. There are not less than seven feeble parishes, where missionaries might be advantageously employed; besides other places in the State where the services of an Episcopal Clergyman would be well received, if they could be obtained. While the field is widely extending itself before us, it is truly painful to observe that the supply of labourers is diminishing.

VERMONT.

The situation of the Church in this State has not materially varied within the last three years. The number of Clergy is nine. Some of the parishes have been much weakened by removals, as well as by the common dispensations of Providence; but yet, the number of communicants remains about the same, somewhat more than 800. Libraries have recently been formed in some of the parishes, in conformity with

a recommendation of the State Convention; and Sunday Schools are in operation wherever the churches are supplied with Clergymen; some of them connected with the general Union, and some of them furnished with considerable libraries. Baptisms reported in three years, adults 63; children 163. Marriages 127. Funerals 160.