I,- CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY FROM Patterson CORNELL UNIVERSfTV UBRARY 3 1924 104 036 227 Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924104036227 BISHOFS BONUS, SEIBUET COLLEGE, DIVINE RIGHT OF PRESBYTERIANISM, AND DIVINE RIGHT OF EPISCOPACY J^" A SERIES OF ESSAYS, QrigmalTy published in the Connecticut Herald, from November 2lst, 1815, to January gth, I81&, inclusive. TOGETHER WITH A CONCLUDING NUMBER, FKOM THE WRITER UNDER THE SIGNATURE Or "TOLERATION," fFhich hat never before appeared in print. (S^e^ -C-CLpC^a-gdy, KEW-HAVEN ; PRINTED BY OLIVER STEELE. 1816. TO THE REAUEK, THE Editor has taken the responsibility of omitting, iir this pamphlet, the notes to the pieces written by "Hamilton,"" and those passages of " A Churchman," and the fable of "^sop," which contain only personal invective, or matter not bearing on the subject ; under the impression that ihef are irrelevant to the argument,, and offensive to. the serious of all denominations. . . BISHOP'S BONUS, :SEJlBUEr COLLEGE, &c. -,f No. I. Phoenix Premium q/" 50,000 Dollars. •rr\ 1 HIS money came into the Treasury of the State, in ■consequence of the petitioners for the Phoenix Bank of- fering S60,000 to the Assembly for a charter of a Bank of one ancfa lialf miUion dollars capital stock. After the argument was heard before both Houses on the pe- tition, the directors of the Hartford Bank presented a memorial to the Lower House, with an offer to increase their capital stock one million dollars, and to pay the State a premium or bonus of five per cent, on that sum, or fifty thousand dollars, provided the Assembly thought it expedient to enlarge the banking capital in the State. The capital stock of the Phoenix Bank was then fixed at one million dollars; and a premium of five per cent, was charged upon the stockholders of said Bank, and ordered to be paid into the treasury. At the same session, twenty thousand dollars of this money was granted to the trustees of the Medical Insti- tution of Yale College .; and the remaining thirty thou- sand dollars, which has since been the subject .of much discussion, tlie Honourable Council originated a bill disposing of twenty thousand dollars to Yale College, and ten thousand dollars to the trustees of the Bishop's Fund, in conformity to the ofier of the petitioners for the Phoenix Bank. But it may be doubted by some, whether the peti- tioners for the Phoenix Bank did offer to pay any part of the premium for the privilege of banking, to the trus- tees of the fund for the support of a Bishop ;* and to remove all doubt and mistake on this point, the words of the petition relating to the subject are given at length : — " And they [the petitioners for the Phcenix Bank] of- fer, moreover, in conformity to the precedents in other States, to pay for the privilege oi" the. ipcorporation herein prayed for, the sum of sixty thousand dollars to be collected (being a Premium to be advanced by the stockholders) as fast as the successive instalments of the capital stoc\ shah be paid in j and to be appropriated, if in the opinion of your Honours it shall be deemed expedient, in such proportions as by your Honours may be thought proper, to the use of the Corporation of Yale CoUegfe, of the Medical Institution established in the City of New-Haven, and to the Corporation of the Trustees of the Fund of the Bjshop of the Episcopal Church in this State, or to be otherwise disposed of for the use of the State, or for any purpose whatever, which to your Honours may seem best. And yovir petitioners^ as in duty bound, will 6ver pray." Hence it follows, that individuals, for the sake of a certain privilege to be granted them by the Assembly, favoured with office, and the Episcopalians are excluded from holding offices in Yale College and in the Medical Institution of said College ; the officers of the Medica! Institution being compelled, we believe, to subscribe to the same established creed with the President, Profess- ors and Tutors of Yale College. Should we, however, be inaccurate in these particulars, we will, without de- lay, publish the creeds or statutes now in use. At all events, let the creed be perfectly liberal and sound, it is well known that the whole influence of the establishment is with the Mother College. In the pamphlet contain- ing the laws of this institution, on the 6th page, are the two following articles : — '•'■ Art. 1. The government of the institution shall be vested in the President and Aca- demical and Medical Professors, who shall be styled The Faculty of the Medical College." " 2. The Presi- dent shall cali the meetings of the Faculty : no vote shall be valid without his consent : and. when the mem- bers present shall be equally divided, the President shall have a casting vote." And on the 1st page, where is the Act establishing said institution, respecting the nom- ination and appointment of officers, are these words : " And there shall be a joint committee of an equal num- ber of persons, appointed by the Convention of the Med- ical Society and Corporation of Yale College, who shall make a nomination ; from which nomination ^he afore- said Professors shall be chosen by the Corporation." And have we not now proved, that the Legislature of Connecticut, having granted the privilege of banking to the petitioners of the Phoenix Bank, for S50,000 ; hav- ing ordered the whole sum into the treasury of the State, and having drawn from thence S20,000 out of the 850,000, for the support of the Medical Institution, •wWich favours anot/ter denomination of Clu-istians ; hav- ing refpsed to grant a dollar of this money to the trus- tees of the Bishop's Fund ; and having heretofore grant- ed banking privileges to individuals, without a premium or consideration in money ; we ask then, that from these facts brought together, is not the case fairly made out, that the Legislature has not dealt out the same measure of beneficence to the E,piscopalians and to the Presbyte- 8' rians-; that the lattel- have been preferred, and the Epis- copaUans have been rejected ? We will take another view of this important clainj, in very few words ; which is, that, although the Assembly rejected the petition, yet, by granting the Baijk to the petitioners, and piitting tiie premium into the treasury, and granting from thence ix part of said premium to one of the corppratiops, suggested in the petition, they have ■ eoTr.mitted.ihemselves in good faith to make the grants to the other corporations connected with it in the same pe- tition. , It is not the common practice of the Assembly to grant bank charters upQn petitions. Bills are introdu- ced into one of the Houses, and grants made in nearly the same form and manner, which were adopted with respect to the Phoenix Bank charter. Not acting di- rectly upon petitions, postponing or negativing them, but in a few hours afterwards granting the substance of what they pray for, are believed to bejbrnis of proceed- ing not material. It is mere subterfuge to say that the petition was hot granted, But should we admit, that in consequence of the rejection, the subsequent grant to the Medical Institution does not bind the Legislature in good conscience to make the grant to the Episcopalians,, (vfhich admission, however, we do not make.) still the question would occur, why did the Assembly so exer- qise their discretion as to reject the petition? The Couu' eil, which was the only House that voted against this pe- tition, certainly did not consider their vote as precluding th^m from the discretion of making the appropriation we ^low claim ; for they did vote, in a day or two after, to grant S 10,000 to the Bishop's Fund. And should there be an unwise exercise of discretion, or should a right or pledge be witliheld, or should there be an offer rejected, which ought to be accepted on the great principles either of toleration, of liberality, of im- partiality, of justice, of law, or of equity, let the steps of the Assembly with cheerfulness be retraced. These are principles worthy the practice and enforcement of legislators. They are the primary and fundamental prin- ciples of government. They cement the affections of the great body of the people. They exalt and adorn a nation. They dignify its rulers* 9 But it may be inquired, Do the Episcopalians complain that the Medical Institution has had g20,000 granted by the State, which was a part of the Phoenix premium ? that Yale College has had frequent grants of money from the treasury ? that a test of religious faith is Required of the officers of that seminary ? and that this creed is taught the students ? No such complaints will be made, or ought to exist, provided the Legislature will grant them, what they have often prayed for in vain, their part of the Phoenix premium ; and provided they will also grant a charter for a College, where the Episcopalians can educate their children in their own faith and mode of worship. Until these grants are made, it appears to the writer, that their complaints are founded on a deep and thorough consciousness that justice is on their side. It is a misfortune, that the Episcopalians do not be- lieve that the ordinations of the Presbyterian Clergy are not conformable to Scripture ; and it is a misfortune, that they do not believe in the creed established in Yale College. It is so great a misfortune, that when individ- uals are willing-^ to advance money, as in the case be- fore us, for the support of Episcopacy, the State has ta- ken it for their own purposes, and then paid out a.part-\ of it to the support of Presbyterianism. It is so great a misfortune, that, without abjuring his faith, an Epis- copalian cannot become an officer in Yale College, cither tutor, professor, or president. Yet he has the good for- tune to be allowed to send his sons to be educated and indoctrinated in Vincent's Catechism and the Saybrook Platform in said college. Yet he has the good fortune to pay taxes for the support of the government of this State, and for that of the college. But he has the seri- * Mr. Gould, of Litchfield, in the closing argument for the Bank, stated, before both liousses, that it was the tnish of the petitioners to apply one third of the premium to Yale Colltge, one third to the Medical Insiitution, and one third to the Bishop's Fund. t The Medical Institution has had g20,000 out of 850,000 al- ready granted by the State, more than one third; and its officers have presented a petition to the Assembly, which is postponed to the next session; by means of which, the remaining g30,000 is expected to be granted to it and to Yale College, under the speciou* name of a " Lunatic Hospital and State Poor-House." B 10 ous unhappiness of being sensible that he does npt en- joy equal rights, in regard to religion, with other denoni- inations of Christians. Yet let him, however, with full conviction of its high importance, (notwithstanding this hard condition in a land of freedbtaj) as the Catechism enjoins,. '■'■ honour tin4 obey the civil authoriiy ;^'' and let hini, with steady mind and meek spirit^ '■'■ learn and la- bour truly to ^et his own thing, and to do his duty in that state of life unto which it shall please God to call him /'' always remembering, that "in every nation, he that feareth God, and worketh righteousness, -will be accepted and even many of those whose religious feelings inter- ested them in its favour, were candid enough to acknow- ledge that their claim was entirely groundless, and any further perseverance in it worse tliaq hopeless. This appropriatipli, then, which the writer I am an- swering so raixch covets, has been most peremptorily • negatived, on five different occasions, and in as manydif-t fefjgnt shapes, and is finally forsi^ken by some who were originally it§ friends, and even by many of those who are most concerned in its support. Did " Toleration" ever know a measure, which had the least foundation in reason or cqmmon sense^ meet with such overwhelming, and every time increasing, majorities ? The truth is, (we hope,) that the age of intrigue and management has got th? g@-by in our Legislature, and that hereafter the doctrine of expediency, (always the ple3 of faction, acnd always false,) will be made to give way to the doctrine ©f right. In endeavouring to give a condensed^nd connected view of this part of the subject, I know I l*ave not ani- madverted upon all that is erroneous and- censurable, in the disjointed piece of "Toleration;" but with respect 15 to what is omitted, and particularly as to his unwairant- able attack on Yale College and the Medical Institution^ if some other writer does not do himjustice, he may expect to hear from me again. No. III. Mr. Steele, Sir — Before we exercise our privilege of closing \h& argument in favour of the Episcopalians to their part of the '■'■detestable Bonus," it may not be a work of super- erogation to give due notice of the unstable ground on which our opponents stand. It seems, then, that the management between the Houj ses, as detailed by your correspondent in the last Herald^ was not to avoid receiving the avails of taxes from the pockets of the people, into the treasury, by means of the sale of bank charters : it was not to reject the offer of iS 50,000 from the two ^Meojfta/ petitioners of the. Phoe- nix Bank ; and it was not to refuse the offer of taxes to carry on the war in which, we were then engaged : but this said tnanagement had for its object the endowment of that " foundling of a sect," the Medical Institution,, and its nurseling, the Lunatic Hospital and State Poor- House, (the boundaries o£ which, we understand, have been marked out on the land of the gentleman, who sold the house for the Medical College, and who is the trea- surer of Yale College ;) and that, in fact, it had for its object the building up of one sect, and the keeping cfowrt of Episcopalians. S20,000 have been appropriated, not for the relief of the burdens of the people in waging war against Great-Britain, but for the growth of the Medi- cal Institution : And now the remaining 830,000 is pe- titioned for, to establish the Lunatic Hospital and State Poor-House, with the same test ef religious /aith, we pre- sume ; and this, too, with the consent of the President of Yale College, and with the ijifluence of the principal members of the Assembly, who have opposed the claim of the Trustees of the Bishop's Fund. Your paper. Sir, will not be occupied by us next week, with the expectation that the vote of the Corpo- 16 ration of Yale College will be produced, a^ltering men- tially the creed and vote we published from President; Clap's history of that institution ; and that proof will be furnished, that Doctor Smith, a principal Professor of the Medical College, did not read in public, a creed, as his own, agreeing in the important points with the one we extracted and published from the said records of Yale College. TOLERATION. No. IV. To Connecticut Episcopalians. IT will be nothing new to inform you, that the peti- tion of the Trustees to your Bishop's Fund, for a part of the 50,000 dollars paid into the treasury by the Phoe- nix Bank, received its finishing stroke at the late session of the Legislature. A force quite overwhelming, (as the yeas and nays, which have just passed the rounds of the newspapers, inform us,) prostrated the petition on the floor of the House of Representatives. And, as if this were not sufficient — as if it were not enough to strangle our claim in the popular branch of the Legis- lature ; the Hon. Council, to ' make assurance doubly sure,' (as a writer in the last Herald triumphantly tells us,) advanced in a body, and very valiantly belaboured the fallen foe with an almost unanimous vote. ' " How if he should prove counterfeit too, and rise ? I am afraid "he would prove the belter counterfeit: therefore I'll make him " sure ; yea, and I'll swear / kiil'd him." Yes, strange as it may seem, the same members of the same Council, who have apparently', heretofore, been the sworn advocates of your claim — the same men who, on former occasions, voted in favour, of what they were then not afraid to term the " equity" of the petition ; have, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, bolted from their object, and at once discovered that all their old opinions were erroneous, their former theories falla- cious. Sudden conversions, we are told, generally pro- duce the most zealous proselytes. Never was the adage more faithfully fulfilled, than in the case before us. The IT mild, the firm, the upright Council of ■Connecticut, we are to believe, were metamorphosed in a moment— their ideas turned quite around, and, after a short struggle of conflicting feelings, have at last gone home to their con- stituents, filled with new zeal, and overflowing with fresh fervour, And here the matter should in all con- science have rested. A sight of the legislative drill should not have disturbed our nerves — the marchings and countermarchings, the windings and doublings, of the honourable phalanx, might have passed in silent review before us. But when these manceuvres are puff- ed off in print, as cause of exultation — when you are told, by way of triumph, that only " one" of the Hon- ourable Council was bold enough tore-assert his former opinion— rand, above all, when you arc tauntingly told, that because the petitioners for the Bank; (many of whom were Episcopaliaiis,) respectfully propose^ to give a part of the Bonus for^the support of a Bishop ; .that therefore their petition was "insidious" — that it disclosed a " cloven foot" — when the venerable Head of our Church is thus impiously cqmpared to the heel of Satan, our adversaries must presume much, very much, upon your forbearance^-they must indeed suppose that ■your nerves are leaden, and your hearts cold and callous as a tomb -stone. Think you that I am cplouring this account too high- ly ? Look for yourselves, at the . production of a writer in the last Herald, in answer to an unvarnished state- ment of facts, which, had previously appeared under the signature of" Toleratiow :" and then tell me, if what I. have only put here as supposition, is not reality ? And for what is all this ? Why, you_ haye dared ; yes, you, Episcopalians, have had the unparalleled impudence to say, that yod have an equitable claim to a part of this Bonus ; when, in truth, you have no claim in conscience, no equity in your favour : at least, so say the leaders of the Lower House ; and so, at last, echo the Honora- ble Council. Such an answer to your petition, notwithstanding only " One" refused his assent to it in the Upper House, comes from the honourable body, at least, in rather ii C 18 questionable and aukward shape. Crooked and eluHisf as it is, however, I regret, (yes, in the siMcrity of my soal I regret,) that the HoriOurablte Council had not uni- formly held out the same language towards us : we might then, at least,, carry with us the consolation, that the Honourable Council-, whotn Most of us have hereto- fore supported with our iniS'uence and our votes, had VQUsistently difFered with us in opinion. But how stands this question of right, about which so much has been said ? The petitionfers fot the Phee- nix Bank j the men whose money has since been paid into the treasury ; proposed to pay for their charter, §60,000 y one jjortion of which to be paid to Yale, Col- lege ; a second cut to the PedicalEstablisbfiaent conneic- ted with the College^ and a third portion to the Bishep^ Fund. Our adversaries herfe tell us, of rather, the adver- sary of " Toleration'* tellsthe public, that in the winter of 1814j there wcj a petition for a Bank circulated throughout the Stafe^ which said hot one word about the Bishop's Fund — a case slmost in point ; but it un- fortunately turns out, that this petition, so silent on the Subject of the Bishop''s Fund, was never _^brought be«- fore the Legislature— a sort of Irish j^ayevy never made. Will the gentleman's logic carry him so far, as to say that this circumstance weakens the equity of ®ur case ; when he himself, in the same breath, is forced to admib that the enlt/ petition ever known to the Assembly on this subject, contained a fffoposition to give the Bish- op's Fund the proportion above alluded to ? As well might he draw in the fact, that the Yazoo claimants had handed the draft of a petition through the State for subscribers. And as little can the gentleman's sly in- sinuation avail him, that the three respectable men se- lected by the applicants to sign the petition, dish&nestly^ drafted a petition to answer their individual views* You, I know, will require sometlung more to convince you of the roguery of these men, than an anonymous insin- uation, however cunningly it may slant towards you. But we are told that the petition does not " bind the Legislature at all, in their appropriation ci the monfey," because there is a sentence in it which authorizes them, if they choose, to grant the money to any other State 19 jHirpose, ■*' which to their Honours may seem best ;" and this clause is to ojierate as a sort of detergent, which cleanses the conscience from any claim that can possibly grow out of the fact of passing the petition. — And is it seriously attempted to gull you by this ^se- cies of " special pleading ?" Ask any man conversant with legislative proceedings, how all petitions are draft- ed which are broiaght b^ore 'the Legislature ; and he will tell you, that, as a matter of respect, the prayer of &. petition invariably winds up by leaving it at the dis- cretion of the Legislature, " to grant such other relifef as to their Honours may seem best ;" " or in some oth- •er way to grant relief," &c. And this follows as regu- larly, as a man subscribes himself a " humble servant," in his letters. And yet it would be thought rather a strange sort of legislation, after granting tiie petition of a man, for instance, who prays to have his body freed from arrest, " or for such other relief as to their Hon- ours may seem best," if the same Legislature should sentence him to be shot, bj way of granting suck ,^' other relief as to their Honours seemed best" I feel safe, then, in again asserting, liiat the fair and lionest construction of the petition of the Bank Appli- cants, (the men whose money the Treasury has re- ceived,) was, that the Bishop's Fund should receive a portion of the Bonijs, as well as Yale College, or the Medical Institution connected with the College. This petition, notwithstanding the " exceptionable clause," as anti-" Toleration" calls the proposal for distributing the Bonus, passed the Lower House at that time by a large majority. And although the Upper House voted against liie j&eri«zort, yet they at the same session grant- ,ed a Bank charter to the Petitioners, and received from the Bank 50,000 dollars of the identical Bonus, which had been offered in the petition. But we are told again, and again, that the petition was defunct — that it was squeezed to death between the two Houses — and that the money which the Petitioners paid for their charter, went into the treasury, the same as other State funds. How is the fact ? 1 he Act incoiporatihg the Bank, as it finally passed, and as it now stands, was the offspring of the Upper House ; it originated there, and 20 there received its finish. Let us then look atthe pro- ceedings of the Council,, and see in what light they looked at the charter, and the Bonus required by it. Turn to the records of the Council, and you find, that immediately after the Bank was incorporated, and, as it were, on the back of this very charter, a Resolution is drawn up, and passed, (as in good faith it ought to have been,) granting 20,000 dollars to the Medical Establish- ment of Yale College, and 10,000 dollars to the Bishop's Fund — Not a grant of money in the Treasury, or of '' State Funds"-^^No, they did not at that time act as if they considered the State entitled to the Bonus, except as the trustees of the institutions mentioned in the origi- nal petition. The language of the resolution was, that *' out of the first monies which shall be paid into the treasury of this State, z'ra pursuance of the Act incorpo- rating the Phcenix Bank, the treasurer shall be and he is hereby authorized and required to pay," &c. 'I'his resolution, in part, took with the Lower House — they acquiesced in the grant of 20,000 dbllars of the money to the Medical Institution.; and this sum, as I suppose-, has since been paid. Not, so, however, with the propo- sition which was to favour Episcopacy ; the 10,000 dol- lars destined for the Bishop's Fund was (for reasons best known to the gentlemen who opposed it) arrested in its progress by the LoWer.; House— by the same Lower House .which had but just; befpre, bya full mgjority^ granted the petition with' all its provisions. Here ended the business for the spring session of 1814. In the fall of the same year, the Trustees to your Bishop's Fund appeared before the Legislature, and ask- ed for a portion of , the 50,000 dollars. Their claim was at that time answered various ways. They were told, among, other things, that the country was then at war ; that the Treasury w»s in want of the money ; and that, however just the claim might be, it pould not at any rate be listened to at that time. , After the peace, at the spring session of 1815, when the State was relieved from its embarrassments, the claim was again present- ed. The Honourable Council still .remained firm in our favour ; and, by a majority of eleven to two, stamp- .cd this charter with another declaration, that we were 21 fairly entitled to 10,000 dollars of the Bonus which it yielded. Indeed, an influential member of the Council at that time, a Presbyterian himself, and now an hon- ourable judge, as I am told, declared, that although we could not maintain an action at law, for the recove- ry of the money, yet that our claim was as clear in con- science, as any that- he could imagine : And, unless I am much misinformed, his Excellency the Governor, who presided at the board at the time the Bank was in- corporated, and who was perfectly well acquainted with all the attendant circumstances, has repeatedly express- ed himself in terms, nearly as strong as those above re- cited, in favour of our claim. The Lower House, however, still refused us the money ; and, for the honour of our State, I wish the case ended here ; but truth compels me to carry you one step further in the his- tory. At the last October session of the Assembly, the Trustees once more spread their case before the con- sciences of the Legislature ; and, unaccountable as it may seem, the Upper House, with onl)' " one" excep- iion, completely wheeled about in their opinions, and, by a majority " overwhelming" indeed, fell in with the Lower 'House, and voted down the claim, which they had ever before, by a majority quite as " overwhelm- ing," been so instrumental in creating and defending. ' A petition is now pending before the Legislature, from the Medical establishment of the College, for the remaining thirty of the fifty thousand dollars ; and from the reception it met with, at the last session of the Le- gislature, we may very safely calculate that the petition- ers will receive the balance of the Bonus, at the next session. And you. Episcopalians, in the face of these facts, are told that you have been guilty of an unpardon- able sin, for having suggested to a Presbyterian Assem- bly that you have any just claim, even for a fifth part of the 50,000 dollars. You must be faught to believe that Yale College, with its professions of faith and test creeds, is as much the institution of one sect as another ; and that therefore the College, or its branches, ought to have the whole of the Bonus. 22 Suffer Hie, however, to ask, DM the vote dF:te^ Low, er House, on the original petition for the Bank, whicl| paid the money, mean nothing I Do the repeated votes of the Council (with all the facts before them) mean no- thing ? Ox must you believe, that the Hon. Council only meant to amuse you by bobbing the bait, till you Jaad dangled long enough in their train ; and at last to leave you, after flattering you one moment, and flogging. you the next? Whatever your rights may be, you have at least aright to ask these questions, and a right to.de- mand an answer. If a satisfactory answer can be given, no one will more cheerfully listen to it, than the person who addresses you. A CHURCHMAN. No. V. ,^ THE a«thor of the late attack upon the LegislatuFS. and literary institutions of this State wOuld make th« public believe, that the sect of Christians, of which he appears to be a zealoois^ member, are treated with great intolerance in Connecticut. Does he believe this him- self? I fear he does not even know the import of the word " Toleration," which he has taken as his signa- ture. In England, ^' where bishops wear their mitred fronts in courts and parliament," Episcopacy is estab- lished by law; and every officer of the army and navyj and every civil officer, from the k-iag down to a consta- ble, must belong to the established church ; and is com- pelledy even under the severest penalties, to partake of the sacrament according to the rites of that church-; and every teacher in endowed schools and colleges, -is com- pelled reverently to frequent the worship (5 the estab- lished church, and declare his conformity to the Episco- pial Liturgy ; and every -man in the kingdom, of what- ever denomination, is forced to pay for the support of the Episcopal ministry. And yet, very wise men have thought all this not at all inconsistent with "toleration" to other sects ; and I dare say, the writer in question could hardly make up his motith -to pronouiiee the Church of England intolerant. Not that he would es- tablkh the Engfish code here, if he had it in his power : but I do believe,^ that his prejudices are so strong on this subject, as to blind him against the faults of his own sect^ and make him im^ne they are objects of perse- cution, when they are really in possession of every priv- ilege which they can rationaiUy desire, and which theif Fellow- Christians (he must pardon the expression) a- round them enjoy. The truth is, td^ration has never been known any where but in the United States, and no- where can it be found more universal and more free than m the State of Connecticut. Here we all enjoy an equality of privileges : no sect is excluded from offices : our religious sentiments are left free as air ; and every man is permitted to take his own conscience and the Scriptures as his only rule of faith. Why then does this writer attempt to excite jealbusies and quarrelling among the different sects of Christians, and labour to liiake one party believe they dre the subjects of perse- cutions and opipressionsj of which the other party never dreamed ? arid, in the midst of the clamour which he makes, ask for the Episcopaliansj what no man would ever presume to ask for any other sect? He takes it for granted, that Yale College is the coU lege of a sect , and undertakes to show, that Episcopa- lians are not admitted to an equal share of privileges in this institution J and he eveh involves the Medical In- stitution in the same condemnation. It cannot be, thai the writer speaks the sentiments of the great body of in- telligent Episcopalians,' on this subject ; at least, if there was any sincerity (as there undoubtiedly was) in the dec- laration of their respectable counsel before the Legisla- ture, that they wished the State could and would do still more than they had ever done for these useful institu- tions. Perhaps this writer thinks these gentlemen were not sufficiently judicious in the management' of their case, and that they ought to have exhibited in terrible array, to (lie Legislature, the learned languages, the tnathematics, philosophy, the- belles-lettres, and«chemis- try, the whole materia medica, and more especially the tools for anatomical dissection, as powerful engines in the hands of Presbyterian Tutors and Professors, for t^e destruction of Episcopacy ; and, after working up their 24 feelings by this frigtitful picture of blood-thirsty per^- cution and intolerance, to have addressed them on the utter invalidity of Presbyterian ordination, and the enor- mous danger to the State of admitting men to the pas- toral oiEce, who had not been consecrated thereto by some learned Bishop of the Episcopal church. What a strong case this writer has made iot the "Bishop's Fund-," by just touching the public feeling on the sub- ject of toleration ! . Does he know that the Episcopal students in Yale College are not obliged to hear the system of theplogy which is preached there from the desk, unless it is the wish of theimselves or their parents that they should ? i Or does he think that there is any thing taught in the catechetical lectures, delivered by the venerable Presi- dent ,to the Senior Class, once a week, from Vincent as a text-book, that any Christian parent, of any sect, would object tQrtheir children's hearing ? Or does he think it practicable or expedient, that there should be in that college a distinct Divinity Professor for every distinct sect,— one for the Presbyterians, another for the Epis- copalians, another for the Baptists, another for the Sev- enth-day Baptists, the Methodists, &c. ? Or would he have a distinct college for every distinct sect ? . But, it seems, there is " a creed' or test of religious faith" prescribed for the officers of this college ; and the writer quotes the old formula from President Clap's History, which he understands is substantially in use at this time, and some of the words of which he unfairly quotes in italics, by way of emphasis, and as if he would wish his readers to understand that it is precisely in use at this time. Does he say that, in point of fact, men of any denomination, and possessed of common liberality, are excluded from office in that college ? Why does he not quote from Dr. Clap the occasion and the reasons of adopting this formula, and tell his readers that it was in- tended to guard against " Arminian and Prelatic princi- ples?"*, as appears, by a vote on the same page, (85,) * "J3y Pjelatical principles, (says President. Clap, p, 34,) I un- derstand the principle, that Prelacy or Episcopacy is of Dirms Right in such an exclusi\'e sense as to iKVAUDAfE all Presbvte- 25 from which he quotes : " It is especially declared, that if any person shall deny the validity of the ordination of the ministers of this colony, commenly called Presbyttrian or Congregational, or shall hold that it is necessary or convenient that such minis- ters should be re-ordained; in order to render their administra- tions valid, it shall be deemed an essential departure from our ecclesiastical constitution, and inconsistent with the intentions of the founders of this college, that such a person should be chosen an officer in it." — Is this to be eoipplained of as too in- tolerant ? Would " Toleration" himself wish to see the Episco- pal officers of that college permitted to teach the jrouth there, that the religion of their fathers was heresy? that the pastors by whom they had been baptized and taught, were usurpers of their sacred office ? that nine tenths of the people of this State are out of the pale of the only true Apostolic Church, and do not enjoy the privileges of a valid administration of the Gospel ordinances ; because, forsooth, these can be lawfully and scrip- turally administered only by men approved and ordained by an Episcopal Bishop ?f Did the Presbyterians hold such intole- rant and illiberal sentiments as these towards their Episcopal brethren, there would then be some ground of complaint; but they do not. They acknowledge the Episcopal to be a Chris- tian church, and one under whose organization true religion has flourished and may flourish ; and only beg to be excused from believing that their Bishops are any more of divine right than our Clergy, or that their system of government is any more war- ranted or enjoined by Scripture than our own. The Government of Yale College and the Medical Institution is not confined by its charter and laws to the Presbyterian de- nomination. Episcopalians have been, and still are, whenever superior or equal merit entitles them, admitted to the offices, as well as the other honours of those institutions. Did this writer mean to insult his friends who have been officers in that college, by telling them, as he does, that they could not have been offi- cers there, wi jorities every tinie approaching nearer and nearer to unanimity, decided that the elaim of the Trustees of the Bishop's Fund is not made oiit against the State. Knowing these faot», as they do, suppose they were to grant the application, what ac- count of their conduct could they give to their eonstitjjents, on their return home ? Suppose they were asked. Why have you selected the Episcopal Bishop as an «ibject of legislative boun- ty,f when you have never gmnted:any thing from the treasury for the support of the ministry of any pther sect .'' Think you their consciences would be satisfied with giving such an answer, or that the good people of this State would be satisfied wiUi such an answer, as might be soughtj.or culled out, from the writings whiohhave appeared under the signatures of " Tolera- tion" and " A iGhurchman ?" Even you, yourselves, if you have faithfully investigated the facts in dispute between us, would not, I think, deeip suchan answer very satisfactory, or * See the word " morality," on the first line of the 5th page ; and the words "dctestabje bonus". in the fourth line of the same page.— Pub. t Episcopalians aak of the Assembly to ajrpropriait a fifth part of the Phcenix premium to the Bishop's fund ; two fifths of the samePhcenix pre- piiuro.being already appropriated (not^aJJterf) "out of the first monies which shall 'be paid into thts Treasury of this State in pursuance of the act incorporating the Phcenix Bank.", See 6th page. They ask not for B grant as a bounty, but for two fifths of an unappropriated sum of money -^one third of which was ofered to the Bishop's fund by the petitioners of * J.tijE Ph^nix Bank.— Pdb. 43 very creditable to the man who would giVe if as the reason fof his vote. Look at the facts yoarselves, as det^iied in my first number, none of which have yet been Contradicted : and only read the statute incdrporatingtbe Phoenix Bank j and I am sure you will require somethiag more than has yet been produced^ to shake your confidence in your Lei^slature. You Will be sat- isfied, that the real grotfnd of all this clamour against the Legis- lature, is, that instead of accepting the Bonus on terms that were meant as a bribe to the members, they, like good and trusty servants of the public, preferred to turrt it into- treasury " for the benefit of the State." Some of your number, who have been members of the Legislature, have given the sanc- tion of their votes to this disposition of the bonus, and their negative to the application for the Bishop^s Fund ; and others, who were in the gallaries, listening to the debates, have ac- knowledged that justice has been done to the Church. J have always thought that Episcopacy, from its very constitu- tion, was friendly to good government, and opposed to faction of every kind : and never expected to see any of its professed advocates clamorously appealii^ from the Legislature to the Peo- ple, from the " powers that be" to the many-headed multitude. It has also been the boast of this relfgiori, in England at least, that it was friendly to learning : but now We see some of its pro- fessors, unauthorized as we hope, attacking, and vilifying the Legislature for having done ' their duty ; and then, with hostiler kepi invading the peaceful fntfeTests of learning. With respect to the coneg;es, however, they argue in the face of (inive'rsal ex- perience^ and in the teeth of facta which are known to every one, and which ought for ever to silence their complaints, and make them blush at their own impotence. EpiBCopalisins of Connecticut 1 Scrutinize,* as elosely as you: * Here th« EtKtor ef tfje flerald' sappressed some remarks on the ,)acobinica\ tendencyf of the pieces on bnhalf of the Fund, and the im-> propriety of printing them in a Federal Newspaper. In Hamilton's first number, (je pnbjished also, " unwarrantaWs" for " jaeobimeal" attack on Yale College. This be.had a right to do. < Compiler (^ liamillorVs- pamphlet, page 42. f Jacobinical tendency, fndeed ? What was the tendency of seven pieces which appeared in the Herald soon after the " detestable bonus" was accepted by the* /Assembly, attacking the PhoenixCommissioners by name, and tlie Legislature ? And, of two pieces, which ted the way in the Journal, comparing our Assembly to that of Georgia, in the Yaioo' affair ? This was not "' appealing from the powers that be ! ! !" Oh, no. An Episcopalian was one pf the Commissioners. Then, (his was a?iee^ conducted upon honourable prin- ciples, and, done tnuch good to the agricultural and mercaolile interests i Yes, if we should assert any of these to be facts, a nomination to office by the Judge would be'our reward ! ! The President of the Eagle Bank witi reecoUect his nomination for CounQilloT of the author ,of the said seven pieces, who abused the Der- by and almost all the Banks in the State, and who said that should he die in a foreigtr land and be hurried in the same monument with a Prince, he desired no other epitaph for his services rendered in composing these pieces, than that of a " Freeman of Connecticut." AYhat honours will be bestov^red upon Hamilton for his attack, noli Jacohinical, upon Episco- pacy'and the Legislature, for taking the Bonus, by the Judge of the Su- perior Court, aire as yet in embryo. Hamilton has introduced the subject of the detestable bonus ; it may seem hardy at this late hour to appear in behalf of the Legislature in es- tablishing a )>recedent in levying a tax upon the grant of Bank charters for the benefitof public Institutions ; which was dotie by them when they incorporated the Phceoix Bjink. Pennsylvania has two millions of Bankmg capital which was obtained for the grant of Bank charters : New- York has been able in this mode to relieve the people in a great degree from every other kind of taxation ; and Massachusetts receives angu^lly 1,200,000 dollars, from Vae first grant ■ ing, the renewal, and from an annual tax upon Banks. They are moni- ed institutions, and can moie readily pay taxes than faimers and mechan- ics. Banks have been considered as fair objects of taxation for the support of government, we beneve, in all the other States in the Union. And what good reason can be produced to satisfy the mind thatprtDiJ^- ed bodies of men ought npt tp be taxed, when, they are invested with privileges ? — Pub. 45 In my preceding numbers, I have attempted to lay the arga- ment respecting the apprapriatton of the Phoeni* Bonus fairly before you and the public : and until the writers who pretend to attack that argunient, can dress themselves into some sort of decency, or some other writer, with more judgment and ability, shall take 'up the subject in opposition to me, I think I faiay cheerfully submit the question, with these remaiiES, to your candid decision. HAMILTON. No.X. Mr., Steele, ' A VERY angry and virulent attack on Yale College has been made in several late numbers of the Herald, on account of the test imposed upon the officers of that seminary, at their inaugur- ation. Controversy is, perhaps, alwaysto be dreaded as un- favourable to truth : yet, when subjects of general interest are greatly misrepresented, and wrong impressions are studiously attefnpted to be made on the 'pubuc mind, even controversey should be hazarded as a less evil than might result from the unrestrained prevalence of falsehood, Wliat, then, is the charge so furiously urged against our College f or, what is there in its constitution and practice^ which ca^ subject it to the hpavy imputation of intolerance f According to one communication, signed ' Toleration,' every instructor, on his induction into office in that institution, declares his belief, that the Westminster Catechism^ and the Sayhreok Confession of Faith, arp just summarieg of Christian doctrines } and likewise declares bis assent to the mode of church govern- ment adopted by the Congregational churches in this State.-^ This test, it is asserted, operates to exclude Episcopalians fronr all collegiate . offices ; as no one of that denomination can make these declarations, without " abjuring" his faith. This, as I understand it, is the objection in its full extent. As such it shall be considered. My object will be to show, that if an evil exists, it is of far less magnitude than has been represented. The Saybrook Confession of Faith will- not, I suppose, be denied to be, in every material point, the same a» that of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster ; and the Wes- minster Catechism is a mere abstract of the Westminster Con- fession. To avoid circumlocutioB, therefore, these will all be considered as one. What, then, is there in the Westminster Confession of Faith, which is so opposed to the general doc- trines of the Protestant churches, that it can form no union with the doctrinal articles of the Church of England .'' — What is there, in an assent to the former, which amounts to an abjura- 16 tioii of the latter f — Tiiis seiUiment is certainly opposed to tbe general language of the Protestant world : it js^ opposed to the direct declarations of dimes the most distinguished for, their learning and their piety in the Church of England ilpelf. Let the appeal be to facts. " Blessed be God," says Bishop Hall, Ihan whom there is no man of whom the Church of England may be more justly proud, " there is no difference, in any^ fs-^ sential ^owi,- between the Church of England and her sistej; Reformed Churches.'' " We unite in every article of Christian doctrine, without the least variation, as the full and absolute a- greement between their public confessions and ours testifies." What says Bishop Horsely .?— " I know not what hinders," says he, " but that the highest supralapsarian Calvinist may be as good a Churchman as an Arminian." — Surely Bishop Horsley did not suppose, that an assent to the Westminster Confessio^I was "abjuring" the thirty-nine articles. ' ;^ But there is no necessity of quoting the declaisations of indi- Tiduals, which might be produced to almost any extent. Look at the head of the Episcopal Church in England. In an, act respecting the Church of Scotland, in the reign of William and Mary, it is said : " Our sovereign lord and lady," &c. &;c. "con- ceive it to be their bounden duty to settle and secure therein (Scotland) the true Protestant Religion, according to the truth of God's word, as it hath for a long time been professed within this land ; and also the gCKernmeiit of Christ's Church (Presby- , terianism) within this nation, agreeable to the word of God, and . most conducive to the advancement of true piety and Godliness," Sfc. fyc. And afterwards, " They (the king and queen) ratify and establish the ,Co?i/e«iion of .FajiA (the Westminster Con- fession) now read in their presence, containing the sum and substance of the doctrine of the Reformed Churchis," fyc. ^c. By an act of the British parliament, (5th of Anne) commonly called the Act of Union, the above act i^ distinctly recognizad and confirmed ; and every sovereign since, on ascending the throne, has taken an oath " inviolably to maintain and preserve the settlement of the true Pr&test&nt Religion,'* ^c. according to these acts. How, then, could " Toleration," with these facts staring him in tbe face, summon imjjudence sufficient, publicly to complain, and, as he would undoubtedly ' be thought, from pure zeal for the Church of England, that the Westminster Con- fession is made a test in Yale College f And more than this, how could this champion of the ikirty-nine articles, find in it his heart to insult the mother Church with the implied declaration, that these very articles are " abjured" by;her head ? There are, how- ever, in every religious community, certain' meddling and offi- cious characters, pretending to superior illumination ; but who discover very fully, by their whims and their vagaries, that their zeal has out-run their knowledge. 47 Biit, assent is likewvise required to the mode of chiircli sot- ernment' adopted by the Congregationalists in tjiis State. This rule, as appears from another communication, according to President Clap, was introduced to exclude those who believe that " Episcopacy is of divine right in such an exclusive sense SiS to ihvaiiddte all Presbyterian ordinations ;" but not'those who belieye that " Episcopal govemriient is only most convenient, or" may be complied with as a cm7 establishment." - Is it true, thenj that Episcopalians of the United States are of the former class ? That there is one Episcopalian, who be- lieves, if he may give credit to "Toleration," that all, out of the pale of his own sect, are aliens and Outcasts from the church, is a lamentable fact. But that an immense majority of that conimimion wholly reject such extravagancies ; and, es- pecially, that many of the ablest divines, who, by their writings and lives, have been the glory of the English Church, and of our common Christianity, have been of the latter class, is ca-' pable of the most satisfactory proof. Here it would be very easy to qupte the opinions and decla- ratiotjs of many 'of the highest dignitaries of the Episcopal Church, which are ejtpress to this point. The venerable names ' of Jewel, of Hall,, of Usher, of Burnet, of Tiljotson, and of ma- ny others, are at hand ; men, who, while they maintained the su- periority of the Episcopal forfti of cliurch government as most expedient, especially where already established, as in Enrfand ; gave no cotmtenance to the doctrine of exdnsive scriptutat war- rant. Let us hear Archbishop Wake, as a representative of the whole body. After expressing himself strongly in favour of Episfcopacy as an institution, in his opinion, from the Apostolic age, he proceeds. " In the mean time, I am far from being so uncharitable as to believe, that any of those (Presbyterian) churches, on account of this defect, (want of bishops,) ought to be cut off from our communion; nor can I, by any iiiearis, join with certain warf writers among us, in denying the validity of their sacraments, and in calling in question their rightto the name of jChrifltian Churche?." Yet "Toleration" can talk about the in- validity of Presbyiirian ordinations ; and thus, as it should seem, put himself, off as a better Churchman than the Archbisliop of Canterbury? "There are some men," says Sancho, 'Svho want better bread than can be made of wheat." But we will come nearer home. Bishop White, of Pennsyl- vania, remarking* on the opinion that Episcopacy is not of divine right, observes : "This he believes to be the sentiment of , which w&s offered to themty the petitioners for the Phoenix Bank. And now, reader, is it not a truth, that, since Episcopalians have borne their propor- tion of the burdens of taxation for the maintenance of Yale College, (and, according to the view of Hamilton, of the Med- ical Institution also,) w^ then, again ask, is it not a truth, that Episcopalians, are treated with, injustice,, partiality und intole- rance? In the Medical Institution, no vote is valid without the. core- sent ofthe President of Yale College. A"o physician can prac- tice in our State, without ^studying in this institution, or in one out of this State. This looks something like a religious establishment. And should the Law Students, he corapeiled, by a Law of this State, to attend, the .instruction of oflicers of the Saybrook Platform creed, the prospect of an establishment wou.ld be still more flat- tering. Would not this he an accumulation of temporal power in the breast of one man, however excellent and honourable, which must be alarming to the best interests of the State .? Di- vinity Students, (since the Legislature has rejected an Episco- pal College,) are to be deprived of a liberal education, or to seek it in neiglihoUring States, or- to pass through the operatioH ©f the Test law, imposed upon the officers of Yale College. 5^ Among the amendments to the constitution of the United States, vvhich v/ere ratified by the requisite number of the le- gislators of our Union, this is the first article : — "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohib- iting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of-griev- ances." And each member of our Assembly, when he takes his seat, has administered to him, by -an authorised oificer, the following oath : — " You, A, B. do solemnly swear to support the constitution of the United States.'' And thus m-uch for the toleration exhibited in the creeds and statutes and practice of the Corporation of Yale College,; of the Legislature of this State, and of the Constitution of the United States. But we are told, that considerations of impartiality, of jus- tice, of law, or of equity, will have no influence with our Le- gislature, when their will* impels them to act. They will, say these persons, regard no human power. Episcopalians shall not have a College, nor their part of the Phoenix preanium. They shall be kept down, at the expense of toleration. Ah ! is this the language ofi Christians in the 19th century.'' A modern ex- ample of power without principle, has been given to the world by the'FreiJch nation and its Ruler. A series of tfiumphs was on their side. France is groaning mnder oppression, in retaliation for enor- mities. Bonaparte has been at Elba. Bonaparte, after a second over- throw, in possession of enemies whom he defied and execrated, is gnawing his vitals at St. Hekna ! ' iSmcA friends to religion and the. literary institutions of our Slate, thus representing the conduct of the Assembly, and man- ifesting the disposition to tyrannize, should be careful not pro- voke the vengeance of the Almighty! — There is no truth in suggestions of this kind. Principle is the polar star which will guide our councils. We are a Christian people. The day of intimidation is past. TOLERATION. *This WII.L wa« urged fo the Churchmen in this City, as a reason why they should giv* up all hopes respi-cting the Premium, and join the Med- io;il Professors in procuring the Lunatic Hospital and State Poor-House. No. XIII. To Conric'cticut EpiscdpuUans. THE writer who now signs himself " Hamilton," it seems, has atlast discQveredj that scurrility i« not the weapon of a 60 Christian, and that niis-statements must in the end involve their authors in defeat and disgrace. Indeed, the tenor of his last number, especially when contrasted with the temper of his first, gives us reason to hope, that, at least as far as you are concerned, this writer has profited much, xerj much fiom hiss discovery.* You are now no longer insulted with the assertion, that your claims on the Legislature rests on the ricketty props of " insidious petitions" " intrigue," " management," and " clo~ venfeet." The respectable gentlemen selected from your num- ber, as Trustees to your Bishop's Fund, are no longer pointed' at as men who urged to the Legislature the " pleas of faction," as an apology for their petition. And, what is more astonish- ing than all, you, even you, Episcopalians, are really addressed, and caressed, as a respectable body of Christians. Little was it it to have been expected, that an attack commenced with sneers and insult, would so soon have wound up with the sugary sayings of flattery. This trick, however, comes too late, to have its desired effect. The veil af deception is too frail and flimsy, to pass without being detected- And you. Episcopa- lians, I dare say, will feel but poor consolation in the choice of evils, whether you are to be prostated by open enemies,, or hugged to death by pretended friends. As " Hamilton" has, however, in a fit of friendship, devoted his.last labours to you; suppose you, in your turn, should claim the privilege of a reply ; and in the heart-felt language of sin- cerity, lay your case before him, for his friendly counsel and advice. If I mistake not, you would address him somewhat in substance as follows : " You have boldly presented yourself to our notice, because (as you say) you give us facts which are unanswerable, and reasons which you think are incontrovertible. Although not Presbyterians ourselves, yet we hope that we have too much liberality to stop our ears against the arguments of others, or to brace our bosoms against conviction, from whatever quarter it may come. We are members of a church, which (whatever others may say or think) has even wrung from your lips an ac- knowledgment of its talents and its piety : a church, permit us to add, which has alike withstood the assaults of Popery, anJ the seductions of modern Infidelity — a church, which is uniting its exertions with those of the great and good of other countries, in carrying the comforts of Christianity to the misled millions of the East ; and flashing Gospel light amid the gloom of Pagan- * The gentleman need not flatter himself that I feel any " uncommon rancour" towards him — Far otherwise — I have ever considered him as quite apassife instrument in the controversy — a sort of go-between ; fiona behiod which, oiUers are flinging their froth' and fi>Ilj pn the publie. 61 ism. As members of this church, you are awai* e, we hold to tha necessity of a learned and well regulated clergy. And surely the candour, which you claim, must confess, that the first step towards having our pastoral teachers respectable, (laying the divine authority of bishops out of the question,) is to provide an able and efficient ecclesiastical Head, to whom they are answera- ble for their acts. To eifect this desirable object, we are unfortu- nately in want of funds. Our necessities, however, might be much relieved, if the State authorities would but loosen their hold on the sum of ^10,000, which an association of gentlemen once asked the privilege to giv^ us ; but which, in passing from the hands of the donors to our Bishop's Fund, has somehow settled itself in the strong boxes of the treasury. A donation double in amount, destined at the same time, from the same associa- tion of gentlemen, to the Medical Department of Yale College, more fortunate than ours, passed through the treasury untouch- ed, and has since reached the institution it was designed to ben- efit. What makes our case still more cutting, some officious friends of the college, not contented with the sum, which they have so lucidly received, are making themselves unreasona- bly busy (as it strikes us) to acquire even the humble ^i 0,000, which was originally intended as a present to us. This is render- ed still more surprising, because it is always coupled with the reflection, that the most important individual donations, which the college has ever received, came from the generosity of Episcopalians ; and even the public grants, which the Legisla- ture has occasionally made to the college, have been taken from the pockets of Episcopalians, as well as from Presbyterians. " It has indeed been said by grave legislators, and (if we mistake not) you have seconded the assertion, that a grant to the college is in truth a grant to Episcopahans ; inasmuch as the college favours no particular denomination of Christians ; but, on the contrary, stretches its motherly wings over all sects, and almost over all religions. Suffer us, however, to appeal from the unsupported assertions of individuals, to the history and records of the college itself. These records, as we read them, (and records youknow, cannot lie,) say, that all persons are there excluded from office, whose creeds happen to vary from ihefonnuln of the university ; and, as the occasion of introduc- ing that formula, was the conversion of the President from Presbyterianism to Episcopacy, and as it followed immediately his removal, we cannot but beheve, till some contradictory record is shown us, that it is levelled directly at those prelatic principles, which we in our consciences believe to be correct. And we may further add, our uniform experience wilf bear us out in the belief, that this is the first time the coffers of the col- lege were ever mistaken for the fund of a bishop. : " Do not believe that we have arrayed ourselves against legis- 62 hi\ve grants to literary institutions ;-far from it. I^iteratare and relidon, doubtless, form tvro of the grandest objects, either for legislative or individual munificence : and as the Phrenix bonus as offered, embraced both those grand objects, we have ever looked upon the bonus as no< staining the records of the Assembly, (as has been done in other States,) with either a bribe to the public, or to individuals. And we humbly hope, that legislators (who emanate from people of different creeds) will not mistake generosity to one institution (or justice to anoth- er. Startle not at the recollection that our trustees urged our claim to the Legislature as a matter of right. Episcopalia.ris, who can remember that period of our State history,* wMeh puritanical prejudices .(we need not tell you whosis) darkened the destinies oT the church— when the sneer of contempt fol- lowed an Episcopalian to the very threshold of his sanctuary— when the finger of scorn was pointed even as he kneeled at the altar, — would be the last persons to think of urging or expect- ing any thing from the public authorities, as a matter oi favour. Believe us then, when we assure you, it has never entered into our imaginations, to draw mojney from the public, unless the circumstances attending its receipt by the treasurer, (at least in our view,) gave a fair title in our favour. You have indeed in- formed us, that the trustees did not make out this title; and for proof, refer us to your first number, and the act incorporating the Phcenix Bank, as it stands in the statute book. We have accordingly, with all due care, perused both those documents ; but must nevertheless acknowledge that our first opinion remains unshaken. " In the essay-to ivhich you haVe referred us, for the facts relative to the Phasnix bonus, you have said, that- the Council instantly rejected the petition, (which had passed the Lower House,) on the ground of the exceptionable clause controlling the distribution of the bonus; and that the act incorporating the Phoenix Bank was passed independent of any petition whatever. The truth or falsehood of this position, as it strikes us, must con- • stitute the hingfe on which bolji your arguments, and our claim, must turn. Pardon us, therefore, if we here appeal from your declaration to the declaration of the Hon. Council themselves. We allude to the solemn declarations of that honourable body, relative to this business, contained in a copious preamble \m i. grant, which passed the Council in the spring of 1815; in which preamble we are informed, they declared in substance as fol- lows : — Whereas a petition was preferred to the General Assem- bly, May session, 1814, praying for the incorporation of a bank, * .\nfl yet Churchmen, in those days, " believed in the same Bible, and the §ame atonement, and looked for the same heaven," as tfafV BOW do 63 with one and a half milHon of dollars capital ; in which the pe- titioners offered to pay into the treasury of the State therefor, the sum of ^1^60,000, to be distributed in such sums as to the General Assembly should seem fit, to Yale College, the Medical Institution, and the Fund for the support of the Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut : — And whereas an act was thereon passed, incorporating the Phoenix Bank, and the sum of ^50,000 paid therefor into the treasury : — And whereas the Gen- eral Assembly, by an act passed May session, 1S14, granted to the Medical Institution' of the College the sum of $'20,000, the same being a part of saidi^um of $50,000, in conformity to the prayer of said petition : — Now, therefore, in further pursuance of said petition, and said act of incorporation. Be it enacted, &c. We have not Tiere given you' the precise language of this preamble, because the oi'iginal document has been, by some busy-body, purloined from the office of the Secretary of State, and cannot now be had. But we are warranted in averring, that the terms of the instrument were at least as strong, if not strong- er, than those above recited. Now,, we find it impossible for us to believe, that the Hon. Council (whom you inform us rejected the petition) ever could, or ever would, have drawn up a decla- ration of this kind, thus counting on the petition, if they, at the same time, (as you seem to suppose,) considered the same pe- tition as a mere nullity, and as, indeed, rejected, " on the ground of the exceptionable clause relating to the distribution of the bonus;" unless, in truth, they had a secret will, in opposition to their repealed will ; which is a doctrine, that we, as Churchmen, cannot bring ourselves to recognize. " But further; we find, upon comparing the act incorporating the PhceniK Bank, with the original petition for the same, that the act yields every thing asked for in the petition, except the amount of capital, which is' fixed at one third less than was pray- ed for. As, then, the Legislature have given the petitioners a bank, corresponding precisely wjth the prayer of the petition, except in amount of capital ; we humbly conceive that the Le- gislature, by so doing, have as completely and effectually passed the petition, (except so far as amount of capital is concerned,) as ■if the magical words, "passed in the Upper House," had been indorsed on the petition by the pen of the Secretary. We feel ourselves further fortified in this opinion, by the fact, that the act incorporating the Phosnix Bank is drawn up in language the same, in all essentials, as the acts incorporating the Derby Bai)k and the Eagle Bank; both of which institutions were incorpora- ted on pititions. V. " It is indeed insisted by some, that the petition for the Phos- nix JJank left it to the wisdom of the Legislature to appropri- ate the bonus to the institutions mentioned, or to keep it in the treasury, as to their Honours seemed best. Place then, if you 64 please, the case on tlie most favourable grounds, and let the ex- pression of form (as we have heretofore considered it to be) be in fact a direct authority to the Legislature to appropriate the bonus either to the three institutions, mentioned m the petition, or to dispose of it in such other way as to their Honours may seem best. Still, however, as their Honours have made chMce of one of the alternatives, and, instead of keeping the money in the treasury, or investing the same in stock, have proceeded to appropriate a part of the sum to one of the institutions men- tioned in the petition ; they are bound, in good faith, to go for- ward and fulfil the remainder of their trust, even if a fifth part of .the money should be appropriated for the benefit of Connec- ticut Episcopalians." After you had thus laid your case before your new friend, suppose he should tell you, (by way of triumphantly refuting your .slender reasoning,) that, although no believer himself "in legislative infallibility," yet, as your case has been decided by the legislative powers, you must be crazy to think of questioning the decision. And if you dare to appeal from the "powers that be" to the many-headed monster, the public, you shall be marched oif in a body to a mad -house ! — ■ Such, Episcopal- ians, are the poor and puny shifts, to which your adversaries are driven, in order to stifle inquiry. They cannot, they dare not, meet you in the field of argument. — They may, for a while, at- tempt to brow-beat you with ribaldry and rant ; but when that is finished, they are willing to quit the controversy on any terms. A CHURCHMAN. No. XIV. Mr. Editor., > ALTHOUGH you refused, (improperly as I think, because T was only respondent in a question which others had started,) to insert my IVth number in your last week's paper, you will at least suffer me to repel an incorrect insinuation, contained in one of the notes of "A Churchman" in the same paper. This in- sinuation, entirely foreign from the question, improperly impli- cates third persons, who have had no share in this controyersy ; and is as mean and ill-natured towards them, as it is unjust to- wards "Hamilton." Let me inform "A Churchman" then, (and your, readers generally,) that whatever relation or concert may have existed between him and "Toleration" — "Hamilton" ac- knowledges no leader in a contest witlf such opponents ; nor Ijas he once stooped to ask any assistance. He stands alone; and not- withstanding the various and blundering guesses of "Toleration" and "A Churchman," he alone is responsible Ibr the pieces sign- 65 ed by him, or in any way purporting to be his, which have yet been suffered to appear in the Herald. Will they guess again ? or, can they now feel that this is an ungentlemanly practice ? This is the second time, that out of mere justice to third per- sons, he' has been obliged to contradict the unfounded sutmises of these writers. HAMILTON. No. XV. COJK-CLUDIJVG NUMBER. Mr. Steele, . WE have thought that " guessing" was allowable in our land of " steady habits;" and that no person, even "Hamilton," would consider it "ill-natured and mean towards third persons, or un- just towa-rds himself," to " guess" at the author of the " trium- phant refuter" of his opponents' " arguments and propositions." We haVe suggested that this author was probably a Medical Professor, who had formerly been Tutor in Yale College ; and this suggestion we retracted in our next piece, because the Pro- fessor of Chemistry and Professor of Anatomy in the Medical Institution waited upon you, Mr. Steele, and demanded the au- thor of " Toleration ;" whose name you gave up to these gen- tlemen : and because one of the Professors called upon the wri- ter of this article, and denied that he wrote the pieces signed Hamilton. These gentlemen were not content with "guessing;" they have ascertained the name and seen the person of the writer of " Toleration ;" and you, Mr. Steele, are bound to give to us Hamilton's name, provided we should make a demand similar to that of the Professors of the Medical Institution. . But, Mr. Steele, you, need not suspect our intention of taking this course with the person who calls so many hard names ; since we have commenced with suggesting a probability, or, if Hamilton will have it, so, since we have .once mistakenly "guessed," we shall leave the public, if they wish, to find out the name of this gen- ,tleman in their own way. Without descending to personal dis- putation, perhaps we may be indulged in relating a story, which has-been brought to mind in consequence of this writer's soli- citude respecting himself. A Frenchman was introduced fo one , of the petty Chiefs in Africa ; and after the customary saluta- tion, the Chief asked with earnestness — What, Sir, does' the French Nation say about me ? Am / not talked much of in Paris .'' What " A Churchman" probably meant by insinuating that Hamilton had received assistance, was owing to the circurastancs 66 of his first piece being little more than a repetition- of the talk- ing*m the Lower House on the subject; To Eusebius* we will say, that the public are interested with facts, arid not with pe'rsonal altercation. Eusebius directs us to look'at the "head of- the Episcopal Church in England." If he means to insinuate that the King of England is head of the Episcopal Church in England, or that he is fiead of the Presby- terian Church in Scotland,- in any other sense, than as a tempo- ral or civil head, his insinuation is as well founded as if he had said that the Assembly, in 1 708, when they established the Say- brook Platform, Confession of Faith, and form of Church gov- ernment, was the' spiritual head of the Congregational Church in Connecticut. Neither of these Churches, nor the Episcopal. Church in the Unhed States, acknowledge any other spiritual head, than the Mediator between God and man, Jesus Christ ; from whom flows all spiritual authority in the church. Churchmen feel no gratitude for the charity displayed by Yale College towards the ordination by Bishops, (in the Epis- copal sense,) which charity represents Episcopacy as " most convenient, or expedient, or as proper to be complied with as a civil establishttient, or, as founded in human policy, invention, or imagination. They feel the same gratitude for such charity, as when Yale College denounces ordination by Bishops as " Pre- latical and Arn)inian corruptions, dangerous to the purity and peace" of Presbyterian or Congregational Churches. And they feel the same thankfulness for the charity which turns out of of- fice every Tutor, Professor or President, who is" suspected of an inclination'''' to Episcopacy, Is this charity, or is it bigotted intolerance .'' Since you, Mr.. Steele, have allowed " Hamilton" in his piece in your paper, to give the subject we introduced to the public, a compieaiomjvhich we never designed it should receive, viz. that it is a contest between iiidimduals, we think, sir, that every impartial man will justify you in the admission of the following facts, which will og-aiw pre- *This miter has collected his mattorfrom Dr. Miller, who has written -two volumes to prove that Episcopacy is a human contrivance to aid Prelates in usurping the powers of the Presbytery. He was answered by .poctors Bovvden and Howe, whom he attacked with spleen and bit- terness, and retired from the controversy with statelinitss and noisy ohit- ity. Eusebius' fi'equeut use of " bigot," renders him liable to the suspicion of saying, "Stand off, fur 1 am holier than thou." ^nft-seclarian charity resembles French philusophism. It professes so much, and feels so little, that either infidelity or persecution comes withia its embrace. Since. Doctor Miller, in his life of Doctor Rogers, has returned to the combat. Doctor Huwe has in the press a well written volume in answer to this champion. 67 sent to your readers the true subject-matter for their considera- tion. Prejudice aside, our right to conclude this controversy is beyond question. . Having first brought these facts before the public, it is. certainly fair that we should not only be permitted to recapitulate them ; but also to free them from,. what, we con- ceive to be, improper management. Not admitting personal ■ invective, we considered the subject important to the general in- terests of our State ; and this was the motive which impelled the writer to take the responsibility of introducing it into the col- umns of the Herald. We have stated that a test of religious faith is requirerfof the officers of Yale College and of the Medical Institution ; that this test has operated to exclude from office all Episcopalians (wheth- er they believed in the validity or invalidity of Presbyterian or^ dinations) except two persons, from the foundation of the col- lege in 1701, to this time: that the Medical Students, before they can practise physic, are forced by law, either out of the State, or are forced to study one term at the Medical Institution, un- der these test officers : that the Legislature has twice deniedEpis- copalians a charter without funds for Seabury College ; that the petitioners for the Phoenix Bank offered to the Bishop's Fund one third part of ^'50,000 ; which sum the Assembly would not suffer them to pay to the trustees of that fund : that the same petitioners offered at the same time to endow the Medical In- stitution with one third of -the same $50,000; and that the As- sembly, at the same session, appropriated ^20,000 to said Insti- tution, a greater sum than the petitioners o^eret?. In the Fall session of 1810, Churchmen applied for a charter for Seabury College — which was rejected ; but before the ses- sion closed, Yale College petitioned for the Medical Institution, and it was annexed to the Mother College. In the fall of ISll, Churchmen made another application for a College, which was a.gs.m refused ; but Yale College has not only heen favoured with the Medical Institution, but has also had $20,000 appro- priated for the mutual benefit of both establishments. At the last session, Yale College petitioned for $30,000 to erect a Lunatic Hospital amd State Poor-Housc ; which petition, because the Assembly wanted to adjourn, was laid over to the next session in May. The Litchfield Law Seminary is to be joined to Yale College, provided sufficient funds will be given for its endowment, by the State. ^ The Medical institution and |20,000, do not satisfy Yale Col- lege ; but a Law Institution, and the whole of the |50,000 premi- um must be yielded to her ambition. Not one of these have been denied to be fads by Hamilton, or Eusebius. LeJ common sense, then, decide whether Episcopalians have 68 a fair daJm to their jpa,rt of t^e Phcenix premium ; and to a charter for Seabury College; and whether, if the Assembly per- sist in rejecting these claims, Episcopalians are treated with lib- erality, or impartiality, or equity, or justice; or with a free, full and real, or with a narrow, specious and false ' ^ TOLERATION. [jffere the controversy ended in the Connecticut Herald. The TVth Number 0/ Hamilton, addressed to Lokman, and to which the following essay is a reply, may be found (page 63,^ in the Com- pilation issued by Hamilton. As itis already before thepublic in a pamphlet, and was not one of the original numbers as published in the Herald, it has been here omitted.^ Pcb. No. XVI. "Long in the field of words we may contend ; " Reproach is infinite, and knows no end ; " Arm'd or with truth or falsehood, right or wrong, • " So voluble a weapon is the tongue, " Wounded, we wound ; and neither side can fail, " For every man has equal strength to rail. " Women, alone, vvhen in the streets they jar, "Perhaps excel us in this wordy war ; " Like us they stand, encompass'd with the crowd, "And vent" their anger, impotent and loud. " Cease then." Pope's Iliad, lib. xx. v. 294— 304. TO be engaged in an interminable succession of answers and rejoinders upon a subject which originally occupied a vei^ sm^l compass, and which has been already completely exhausted, is both a fruitless waste of time, and a criminal abuse of reasoning. The attachment of a writer to the cause he has espoused, is al- most indissoluble ; and, with a kind of feline tenacity of life, he resolutely clings to his principles till he has been the ninth time knocked on the head. The inflexible pride of self-consistency will not permit either of the antagonists to yield the privilege of giving the last blow; and the controversy, which was commenced from a mutual persuasion that each had the right side of the question, is continued through the single . motive of seeing who shall keep the field. Never, perhaps, were these observations more signally exemplified, than in the dispute which has grown out of the refusal of the Legislature to appropriate a part of the Phoenix Bonus to the uses of the Bishop's Fund. Restricted to the legitimate topics of discussion, this dispute might hare been easily settled in the compass of a few paragraphs ; and, while 69 it was confined to the columns of a newspaper, no person dream- ed of the " infinite«deal of nothing"' which was weekly accumu- lating on the subject. But, since the controversy has been transferred to a more extensive field of argumentation, and all the little streams of the newspaper have been collected in the .vast reservoir of a pamphlet, — what an ocean of words do we see, with here and there a solitary argument floating upon the discussion, — rari nantes in gurgite vasto ! It would be unaccountable how such a volume of discussion should have been elicited from so confined a subject as that which relates to the Bishop's Bonus, had it not been for the in- troduction of extraneous questions, — or, more properly speak- ing, had not the narrow controversy about a single act of the Legislature been converted into the illimitable cavillings of a religious dispute. This strange aberrance from the original track of discussion, has hardly a parallel; except it be an in- stance mentioned by CicerO; in which .a controversy, which be- gan about music, was consumed in a disputation concerning the rationality of wisdom and the utility of virtue. The advice which he gives on the occasion, ought to be treasured up in the memories of all those who are prone to fly off from the subject in hand : — " Verendum est, ne de alia re dicatur, cum alia de re controversia sit, Jnque hujusmodi vitio considerandutn est, ne aut ad rem addatur quid, aut quippiam de re detrahatur ; aut tola causa mutata in aliam causam derivetur : uti apud Pecuvium Zethus cum Amphione, quorum controversia cum de niusica in- ducta sit, disputatio in sapientiae rationem et virtutis utilitatem consumitur."* Cib. Ad. Keren, lib. ii. sec. 26. The danger of protracting the dispute concerning the Bish- op's Bonus into an endless series of alternate accusations and recriminations, at first determined me to pass over in silence any reply which Hamilton should be pleased to make to my essay of the 26th of December. The candour with which he is in- clined to treat me, and the temperate style into which his com- positien seems to have subsided,f are, however, sufiicient in- * In controversies of every description, vvlien you are discoursing on, one subject, it is a great fault to introduce another, — either to add that which is extraneous, or to take away that which is essential. Above all, you should be upon your guard, lest you change the whole drift and to- pic of controversy : as was the case with Zethus and Amphion, who, when they had began a discussion upon the subject of music, occupied the whole of the dispute upon the rationality of wisdom and the utility of virtue. ■]• How different is the spirit with which he penned the IVth Number, from that which he breathed in the Illd ! Who could suppose that a person, apparently so inimical to all fustian, would publish a sentence like the following ?— " They (the Presbyterians) have seen issuing from your Church, in Great-Britain, Martyrs in Religion, Giants in Learning, Apostles in Pioty, and Heroes in Christian Courage, mingling in the great 70 "Sucements to- make me relinquish this -resolntion, and write a Brief rejoinder to his IVth Number. Had Jjib stated with accu- racy the positions which I endeavoured to establish, there would hs no occasion to reiterate my arguments ; for the dispute would then be fairly before the reader, and he might himself appre^ eiate the merits of our exertions. As it is, however, I feel con- strained to make my appearance once more on the arena, and to rectify some strange misrepresentations which are contained in Hamilton's address to me. Im my first essay, it was attempted to be proved that the pre- Hiittra, of the Phoenix Bank was not considered in the light of an twdinary receipt into the treasury of the State ; — or, in other words, that it was only deposited in the coffers of the common- wealth for the purpose of appropriating it to the specific usea designated in the petition for a Bank. 1 endeavoured to show that the legislators did not conceive themselves at liberty to da with that money exactly as they pleased. In order to this,J,! •undertook to establish the absurdity of the contrary supposition, fey putting a very natural construction upon the subsequent acts of th«^ Legislature, If the members of the Assembly had con- sidered the Bonus as composing a part of the monies devoted to the general expenditure of the State, they certainly would have employed it to relieve the commonwealth in those points where the pressure of exigency was the heaviest. Such conductwould have bieen not only the dictate of common sense, but the result flf cogent necessity. What, then, at the time of receiving the Bonus, was the item of expenditure, which required the. speedy and' united revenues of the State ? '.To repeat a question con- tained in m.y former number,-- rWas not every sinew of the State andi every penny of the treasury in requisition for the defence ' of OUT maritime frontier .'' But at this very necessitous con- juncture, we find the Legislature appropriating no less than 4^20,000 to the Medical Department of Yale College. Was this *he most efifeetuai mode of defending the sojl .^ Was this the way in which the revenues of the State were converted, to the protection of its inhabitants ? Would our grave legislators he purchasing scalpella fo.r dissecting the bodies of Uaeir fellow-cit- iaens, while they ought to be procuring instruments for the de- and' terrible conflict with Anlicbrist and his followers, gnd Ijoldhy encoun- reiing the embattled hosts of Infidelity and Illumi'nism, until the banner of the Ci'oss waved in triumph bver their prostrate foeV."— "rherefc're, Episcopalians, you have no business with the Bishop's Bonus. There is certjiinly more real verbiage, in, this Number, than in all the others put • together. He seems here to have eiFectually acquired the qualification which Mentor ascribes to Calypso,— 17 a trouvi le moytn de parler long- tems sdns rien dire,— that of being able to talk a long time without say- ing any thing. " His reasons art* as two grains of wheat hiU in two bushels of chaff; you- shall seek all day ere you find them ; and, when you have found them, they are not'worth the search."— shak. 71 fence of their lives ? Every tongue will be ready to pronounce a' prompt and categorical negative to all these interrogations. — The conduct of our legislators was therefore explicable only^ upon the supposition that they considered the Phoenix premium as set apart for specific purposes^ — as money which they couM not conscientiously appropriate to th« defence of the common- wealth. Had I been as full on this point in my jirst essay as I have been here, the bandbur of Hamilton would not perhaps have permitted him so unaccountably to misrepresent the real import of my reasoning. He has contrived, however, so to distort my argument, as to make it a complete tissue of absurdity ;. and with the privilege of the conqueror in such cases, has tri- umphantly brought up the rear of his periods with a formidable file of exclamation-points. — The above reasoning is thus ex- hibited by a writer upon whom the mantle of Aliexander Ham- ilton seems to have dropped : — " The conduct of the Legisla- ture, in so often refusing to grant 1 0,000 dollars to the Bishop's Fund, which to me appears such conclusive evidence, that when they received the Bonus, they never meant to appropri- ate any part of it in this way, (for their conduct is the only possible evidence of their intentions.) you attempt to explain, by supposing that as every sinew of the State was then in requisition to support the war, they wished to keep this money, to which they knew they had no right, for a few yiears : of in other words, they resolved to have a compulsory loan out of the Bishop's Fund, without even asking the trustees,, of the enormous sum of 10,000 dollars, to carry on the war I" The transcription of this sentence has been an effectual trial of my patience ; for there never was, perhaps, a more illiberal at- tempt at wit by an artful rhisrepresentation of another's mean- ing. Such doublings to escape the force of an argument, are very sinistrous omens to the cause which they are intended tO' serve. The writer set oUt with the benevolent intention of rec- tifying my mistakes; but 1 must be permitted to say, he has committed twenty errors where he has corrected one. In the mind of every impartial reader, my reasoning was, I am sure, liable to no perversion ; — and I defy Hamilton to point, out a single passage which can give any countenance to the con- clusion he has deduced from it. In that part of my essay, which he has thus misrepresented, there is not the remotest al- lusion to the 10,000 dollars of the Bishop's Fund. I was then combatting this writer upon his own ground,— and endeavouring to prove, that if, as he pretended, the sum giv£n to the College in our. city was not an appropriation of the Phoenix Bonus, but a donation from th* treasury of the Stat«, it was unaccountable how our legislators should, all at once, relax their gripe upon the 'public revenues, and begin to endow seminaries of learning, 72 (sinee they had heretofore treated them with such niggardly pe- nuriousness,) — and more especially at a time when the exigen- cies of a belligerent state required every dollar of our scanty funds. The only way, then, in which the conduct of the Gen- eral Assembly could be reconciled with the dictates of common sense, was to suppose that they considered the Phoenix Bonus, not as a part of the legitimate revenues of the State, but as a sum of money deposited in the vaults of the treasury for spe- cific purposes, and, as such, incapable of being conscientiously applied to any part of th§ governmental expenditure which they might please to designate. ft seems to be admitted on all hands, that at the very time of the appropriation to the Medical Institution, the belligerent state of the commonwealth had occasioned a pressing necessity of money; and, indeed, Hamilton himself has told us, (page 11,) " that the treasury was groaning under the expenses of the war." If then pur Legislators considered the 20,000 dollars given to the Medical College as a part of the funds of the State, did they pay a very humane attention to the pecuniary " groans" of the treasury, in thus converting this sum t© a purpose which, so far from affording relief, only aggravated the evil .'' The solita- ry evidence of a single individual cannot, I am persuaded, give much valid support to my reasonings on this point ; but it is a fact, that one of the leading members of the Assembly expres- sed a wish, at the last session of the Legislature, that the re- mainder of the Phoenix Bonus might be disposed of in some way or other ; — a wish, permit me to add, which would never escape the lips of a Yankee Legislator, in regard to the legit- imate monies of the public revenue. Our coffers have never been in the predicament of the Treasury of the United States at the commencement of the Monticellian dynasty ; when Mr. Jefferson was really at a loss to know whatsAowW he done with the inconvenient superflux of national revenue. The whole paragraph of Hamilton's IVth number, from which I have made an extract, and indeed . almost all the subsequent part of his essay, is built upon the fundamental misrepresenta- tion which I have been endeavouring to expose. It is amusing to see what an accumulation of falsities may be raised, by pi- ling one mistake upon another — "Hills over liills^.and Alps on Alps they rise." Hamilton had undoubtedly very substantial motives for the expedient he has adopted in attempting to ward off my argu- ments on the subject we have been considering ; inasmuch as an admission of their cogency, would completely deprive him of the great topic upon which the resources of his- eloquence have been heretofore expended. The chief, and in fact, we may say, the only objection which has hitherto been urge* 73 against the claim of the Episcopalians to the #10,0QP of the Phoenix Bonus, is, that an admission of the claim, and conse- quent payment of the money, would involve the awful legislative sin of converting a part of the public revenues to the exclusive benefit of one sect of Christians ! This is the Alpha and the Omega of Hamilton's papers. At one time it struts in capi- tals, — and at another, shrinks into italics, — is now hedged in with exclamation points, — and now lurks under a parenthesis. Upon whatever topic he may be discoursing, he is sure to terminate in this ; — distantly imitating the elder Cato, (si parva licet com- poncre magnis,) who, let what might be the subject before his fellow-citizens, was always certain to finish his peroration by say- ing, " 1 am also of opinion, that Carthage should be destroyed/' Hut if the foregoing observations be correct, — if the Legisla- ture did not consider the Phoenix Bonus as a legitimate portion of public revenue, but as a sum destined for specific purposes, and therefore with a label of "Noli me tangere" upon it, — the inference is unavoidable, that an appropriation of 10,000 dollars to the Fund of the Bishop, could not be " unlocking the public treasury for the exclusive benefit of one sect of Christians." It would not be unlocking the treasury at all. It would only be the disposal of a sum deposited in the coffers of the state for express and specific destination — an appropriation, in plain lan- guage, of the Phoenix Premium. Yet a cry of religious favour- itism — of making bare the legislative arm, to uphold a "secta- rian faction" — "of exalting one ecclesiastical order above all the rest, in point of privilege" — has been set up and continued on this subject, from the beginning to the end of the controver- sy. We must, therefore, give Hamilton the praise of self-con- sistency. He has uniformly wielded the same weapon, and has al- ways struck in the same place. If my arguments be well found- ed, however, they must wrest this weapon out of his hand ; and what topic of pulpit eloquence he will then resort to, can hardly be determined. For the remainder of the subject will, in his hands, be very awkward and unwieldy. To me it does appear, that in relation to the Bishop's Fund, the members of the Gen- eral Assembly considered themselves rather as the arbitrators for an association of individuals, than as the Legislators of the State of Connecticut. But although we must allow Hamilton to be self-consistent in constantly repeating the same topic of discourse ; yet his own good sense might lead him to conclude, a priori, that the multi- tude of remarks which he has brought to the subject, cannot all be reconciled with each other. For every substantial purpose of religion, all sects of Christians may be said to be upon the same looting. With a little variation, we may adopt the lan- guage of the political heresiarcli of Monticello — We are all Presbyterians, and all Episcopalians : or, in the more applica- K 74 ble phr J|l)logy of HaniiUon himself—*' Have we not all, sub- stantially, the same faith ? Have we not one Bible, one Atone- ment, and one Saviour? And do we not look for one and the same Htavni ?" Our interests are, therefore, identically con- centrated to the same point : And will it be pretended, that the assistance afTorded' to a part, is not conducive to the advan- tage of the whole ? If we are all fellow-travellers in the same path, will you refuse to help in removing the difficulties in tha way of a part, lest they should thus be able to reach the place of destination before you ? On this topic, however, I shall not much insist. I advocate the claim of the petitioners for the Bishop's Bonus, not as Episcopalians, but as men. I come now to the second point in which my reasoning has been misrepresented. It seems as if my whole essay came out in a distorted and questionable shape, after passing through the medium of Hamilton's mind. In my first article, I endeavoured to show, by a variety of considerations, that the original peti- tion for the Phcenix Bank, was not rejected upon the ground of its being exceptionable in the clause relating to the, Bishop's Bonus. If the reader will take the pains to look at what I have said on this -subject, (see pamph. p. 35-6,) and then compare it wit^ the representation in Hamilton's IVth number, (p. 67 — 6S,) he may see how an ingenious writer can contrive to slip out from under the weight of an opponent's argument — or how a dexterous fencer can parry a pass which is aimed at his vitals. Oil this subject, spmething like the following train of thought might be supposed to have passed through the mind of each of .our Representatives :— Here is a petition fOr a new banking es- tablishment, offering, as a condition to the grant, to distribute $50,000 to the Medical and Academical Institutions of Yal^ College, and to the Fund of the Bishop of Connecticut.— -Now, for myself, I am not willing to vote for the petition in this form. To grant, it in this shape, would, in my view, be giving to the petitioners, not only a lucraitive institution for themselves, but a power materially to assist other institutions ; a kind of patron- age which ought not, I think, to be vested ih the hands of a pri- vate association ; but to belong exclusively to the Government of the State. What confirms me in this opinion,' is, that the petition, in its present form, has not the signatures of but three individuals ; and to such a small number, I will especially op- pose the transference of a prerogative which is a part of our own appropriate functions. I shall not vote, therefore, for the petition in this form. Not that I have any objections to the ap- propriations as specified in it — for what is it to me, bow the pe- titioners choose that their money shall be disposed of .f" — but be- cause I am jealous of my own rights, and tenacious of the pre- rogatives of the Legislature. A variety of other consideratioas on the same point, the rea!d- 75 er will find in my first essay. I have selected this, b^use it is the part most materially misrepresented. Listen, then, to the construction -which Hamilton gives of reasoning similar to the above. -r-" The same carelessness and inattention to the facts' of the case, is thie foundation of your hypothesis, that the Legis- lature refused to pass the petition in its exceptionable form, merely because it would be derogatory to their dignity to suffer " individuals under no authoritative association," to make the ap- propriations suggested. In plainer language, here was a sort of amicable contest, and the Legislature and the petitioners were by the cat's, to know which should have the credit of distribut- ing this 50,000 dollars, in the mode specified ; a mode which, according to your idea, they b'oth agreed was the most judicious and eligible ; and finally, the petitioners, as being the most niag- nahirnous and courteous, yielded, as in duty bound, the point of etiquette to their superiors j and then, their superiors, like a pack of rogues, as they were, having got so large a sum into their clutches, very coolly and honestly determined to cheat th6 true owners, and keep it all to themselves." ' Here he watVes his goose-quill " in triumph over his prostrate foe," arid assails me, as usual,, with a rank off exclamation points. The reader will not find in my article, the remotest countenance for the conclusion respecting the " amicable contest here men- tioned, nor any thing which warrants the inference, that our Le- gislators are " swindlers"' and " rogues." And are you ready to contend, Hamilton, that every censure upon the proceedings of the Legislature, amounts to an imputation of roguery.? Have you' relinquished your disbelief " in Legislative infallibility r" — Have you forgot that men "may be wheedled into measures.''" Have you changed your opinion «?» one little month, and are not willing that they should now avail themselves of the palliatives which you formerly gave them on account of their natural fallibif- ify.'' Do you remeiBper to have ever said, "you- did not believe that a Connecticut Legislature was ever knowingly and icilfuUy guilty of corruption or oppression ?" And will you now deny me the privilege of adopting the same language .'' Having finished this division of the subject, I will, proceed next to examine an argument upon which much stress has been laid by Hamilton, and which, therefore, cannot be suffered to re- main unnoticed. According to him, the repeated refusal of the Legislature to deliver the 10,000 dollars to the trustees of the Bishop's Fund, " is ccndiisire evidence that when they received the Bonus, they never intended to appropriate any part ,of it in this way." P. 60. In order to settle this question, I beg leave to introduce here an analogous case, which came before the late Superior Court. It seems that a gentleman in this State married a lady who lost a first husband in Maryland; and,, after her decease, promised to her only suiviviBg child, the personal 76 propertjfef her' former husbancj, Subsequently, however, he was wrofet upon to believe that the performance af his prom- ise might involve him in some difficulty ; and he accordingly re- pelled the importunities of his son-in-law, by a resolute refusal to deliver up the property. As the young man's patience was not absolutely inexhaustible, he brought a suit against his father- in-law, and compelled him into the performance of his pronaise, But, according to Hamilton's interpretation, the court and jury were verv egregiously mistaken in their decision on this point — the refusal of the defendant to give up the property, was " such conclusive evidence," that when he made the promise, he never intended to perform it ! And are we then to believe, that men never change their minds ? That what were their intentions in time past, are conclusively inferrable from their subsequent beha- viour f The conduct of the Legislature is precisely analogous to the case of the father-in-law above mentioned. When they first receiv- ed the Phoenix Bonus, there was not, perhaps, a doubt on the mind of any person, that they would withhold the portion des- tined for the Bishop's Fund. By subsequent management, how- ever, they were wheedled out of their previous intentions, and determined to refuse the Episcopalians their portion of the Bo- nus. There is no occasion to suppose, here, that our Legisla- tors are swindlers, or rogues; but if they have been unwittingly led to adopt an unjust course of measures, are we to be called clamorous factionists and sectarian fanatics, because we have at- tempted to bring them back to their, former rectitude .'' Are we to be considered as accusing them of downright villainy, because we have endeavoured to expose a slight declination from duty?* According to the legerdemain by which Hamilton has man- aged my " letters of the alphabet," they do not, I confess, throw much light on the argument. With precisely the spirit * It seems as if Hamilton had misteuk tlie whole aim and object of my first paper. In a note (p. 70.) he has contrived to make me the ot'i°;inal as- (serter of a proposition which I formerly drew ex absurdo from his mode of interpreting the acts of the Legislature. "I think (says he) that tha Legislature did imprudently in receiving the Bonus at all; bui not with Lokmah, that Ihey very nearly approximaled to corruption." Nothing can be at a greater distance from the construction I put upon the conduct of the General Assembly. If the reader recollects any thing of my first number, he need not certainly be told, that I was there endeavouring tu disprove the suppositions of Hamilton, by showing the absurdities which they invobfed ; and, among other tilings, I drew the inference from his reasomng'^ that the Legislature had been guilty of something which /ooiteii like corruption. For this conclusion, he is clearly responsible. This im- putation, which his argument necessarily brought upon our Legislators, was made the very ground upon which I was induced to reject his repre- sentation of the matter. So far from thinking the Legislators had actual- ly " approximated to corruption," I scouted the idea of their having cum- icnitted so aggravated a misdemeanour. See p. S4. 7T of a sinking man who catches at a straw, he has taken ad\T(n- tage of an immaterial difference between the actual state of the facts, and the fictitious case of my invention, to bring rididule upon the whole device. Had that writer attended more than he seems to have done, to the liberal rule which is laid down'by Tully, in regard to legitimate analogies, he would not have rambled over two pages of wild conclusions which have very little relevancy to the-question. " JVon res tota toti rei necesss est similia sit, (says Cicero, Ad Heren. lib. iv.j scd ad ipsum, ad quod conferetur, similitudinem kabeat oportet," — It is not ne- cessary that the two cases should coincide in every particular, but that they should be similar in those points for which they were expressly introduced. Now, according to my disposition of the letters, the petitioner for the bank, and not E, the Trus- tee of the Bishop's Fund, was made to expostulate with his Majesty on account of his refusal to complete the appropriation as he had begun it. Can it make any difference who is the complainant, provided the person complained of be guilty .' All the meftibers of the community, — not E only, but every letter in the Alphabet, — might with equal propriety cry out a- gainst the injustice of his Royal Highness. I was myself a- ware, at the time of writing that article, of the dissimilarity pointed out by Hamilton ; but I did not think he would have made it a ground of discarding and ridiculing the whole con- trivance. If a part of the Bonus was claimable at all from his Majesty, could it make any alteration, in point of right, wheth- er the demand was pre/erred by E, or by the original petioner for the Bank ? Much has been said by Hamilton of the contrast between the conduct of the Corporation of Yale College^ and that of the Trustees of the Bishop's Fund. He asks the Episcopalians very triumphantly, why they do not imitate the meek spirit of uncomplaining patience which has always been exhibited by the President and Fellows of our College ? If the Corpora- tion supposed that their claim to f 20,000 was well founded, think you they would be so long silent on the subject .-' Accord- ing to this writer, they have not yet learnt the method^ of " in- sulting the Legislature" by impudently ^urging a claim which they know to be unfounded, — You, Hamilton, who seem to have been privy to the occurrences behind the scene, ought to tread very lightly on this ground. There is a very satisfactory reason for the silence of the College Corporation On this sub- ject. When the Phuenix Bonus shall have mingled and co- alesced with the legitimate funds of the State, — when the Epis- copalians shall have ceased to utter a just complaint, because they see no prospect of its being listened to, — when, in short, the whole transaction respecting the Phoenix Bank shall have sunk into forgetfuhiess, and tlie very name of BONUS be heard no 78 more -at all,— I shall be egregiously disappointed, if a Jo m- tiori'Hrom the State does not remunerate the stillness which has been preserved within the walls of Yale College. _ It will be then impossible for the Episcopalians to claim a similar treat- ment at the hands of their Representatives. They cannot then " insult the Legislature" by daring.to demand their dues ;— and when they have once shut their mouths upon the subject, the Bonus may be disposed of as will best suit the pleasures of our Representatives, or most conduce to the advantage of the good -old cause. The Corporation of Yale College have not ahoai/t been so peaceful as they are now. Why did they once unite with the Episcopalians in a prayer for the appropriation of the Bonus .'' and, after thus asserting their claim, what Legisla- tive magic has spell-bound them in the arms of unresisting si- lence .'' I have now finished what little I had to say at this ti«i« on the long-agitated subject of the, PhcBnix Boniis • and, as mj^ scanty stock of thought is now exhaustied, I hope the future misrepre-' sentations of my antagonists will not compel me again to en- gage in the field of dispute, I did not enter the lists to cover the Legislature with obloquy, or " to shake my censorial rod over their heads." I entertain no ill will, either against them, or a- gainst the writer who has made such awkward work in endeav- oring to rectify my mistakes. He has generally treated rae witlf candour, — and I hope I have reciprocated bis civility. LOKMiVN. ERRATA. , THERE are some very material typographical mistakes in the re- jjublicatioo of my first articlq. In the prayer which I put into the mouth of the fictitious petitioner, the latter clause stood in the news-paper : — ^' Bis Majesty would be graciously pleased to distribute the bonus ac- cording to the original understanding of his Royal Highness and his humble petitioner ;" that is, according to the mutual agreement between •the tivo. In the republication, however, this meaning is entirely- des- troyed by placing a simi-c^Jondireptly after the word "his Royal High-, ness," thus : — " according to the original understanding of his Royal Highness; and your humble petitioner," ke. ; that is, "and your peti- tioner will ever pray," &,c.— It will be seen at once to make cemplete nonsense of the passage. Again : iln the last sentence of my first number^ by substituting the word "formally" (oT th,e word "formalitif," a like perversion of mean- ing has been occasioned. As it now stands, the passage would seem to refer to the petition of the Trustees of the Bishop's Fund ; whereas, in. the original, it had reference to the motives of the Legislature in refus- ing to grHiit thie prayer of ttie petitioners for a Bank. By comparing the, sentence thus reprinted with the one in the news-paper, the accuracy of tMs remark will fully appear. LOKMAN. 79 No. XVII. Medical Institution of Yale College. A PROFOUND writer on the Wealth of Nations, Adam? Smith, in his article on the " expense of institutions for the eda- eation of youth," says, that " Whatever fgrces a certain number of students to any College or Univeriity, independent of the merit or reputation of the Teachers, tends more or less to diminish the necessity of that merit or reputation." Merit in the instructors, on which durable reputation is found- ed, should be the great object of Legislative measures to pro- mote the utility of a .literary institution. When the officers are meritorious, the students will be more diligent, more inclined to study, more happy in their employment, and they will be more thoroughly and successfully taught- When the State compels students to study at the Meijicat Institution, before they can practise Physic, or compels them to incur greater expense by attending lectures E^t Institutions in other States; such a law di- minishes the necessity of equal merit in, our Medical Professors ; and less m-erit in the officers would be necessary, if the scholars were forced to study at this institution ; and not allowed the privilege, at greater expense, to study at some public institution in a neighbouring State. If no liberal education can be acquir- ed, which liberal education should be made by law or custom, necessary to preaching in the pulpit, or pleading at the bar, or 'practising physic, except at Yale College, or at some literary in- stitution, in another State, where the expenses would be increas- ed ; it is evident'that a less degree of merit in the officers of Yale College would be sufficient to draw the same number of students to that seminary, than would be requisite without the operation of such a law and such a custom ; and that the merit of these officers would diminish in proportion to the force'of that law or custom. " Every medical student, (says the law establishing the Med- ical Institution,) who shall commence the study of Physic or Surgery, after the foregoing articles shall be complied with, and lectures commence upon the several branches above men- tioned, shall attend one course of each of the above systems of lectures, undkk the Paorr.ssoRS of the Medical Institu- tion OF Yale College, or some other public Medical Institution, previous to an examination for a license." There being no other public Medical Institution in this State, except the Medical Insti- tution of Yale College, students by the operation of this law are not at liberty, however well qualified, to be examined for a li- cense to practice physic, unless they have studied one term un- der these test professors, or are driven out of the State with much greater expense. 80 These medical professors of the Saybrook Platform creed, have then no competition with individual practitioners of phys- ic, however eminent, to obtain students. They have also no stimulus arising from the merit of Episcopal practitioners, as to holding their own ofEces ; for Yale College has established her creed, excluding Episcopal professors from the Medical Institu- tion. The treasurer and prudential committee of Yale College manage the fiscal and prudential concerns of the Medical In- stitution ; and no vote is valid in that Institution without the con- sent ofthe president of the mother institution. Are there not many physicians in the State as capable of in- structing their pupils in physic and surgery, and qualifying them for a license .' It would be invidious to give the names of a great number of physicians, equal in capacity and experience with the religious medical professors of the Medical Institution. Nor must any physician, if he happens to be a Churchman, ever become a professor of that Institution. No, nor will he ever, we believe, receive its honours, if we judge from the practise of Yale College. There may be a solitary case of such an honour, in the course of a century, .^eing conferred on a Churchman ; but Yale College knows well her men, and their religion, before her pleasure crowns them with her honours. Such are the clogs, imposed by law, upon the merit of both instructors and students in physic and surgery, in this State. As the circle of competition is lessened, so is the necessity of qualification in the teachers and learners diminished ; and if the necessity, the reality of merit or of reputation, in the same ratio, will be diminished* In one of the learned professions, then, no person can legally employ his talents, in our State, unless he be admitted by tot officers, into the religious Medical Institution, and there remain under the instruction ofthe same test officers, during one term ; un- less he be there examneabyanequal number of these testo&cers, with those ofthe Medical Society, (which society is already nearly extinct,) for a license legally to charge and collect fees for his services. Nor can this person, thus hampered by the Saybrook Platform creed, ever obtain tbe honour of a degree in his pro- fession, or a doctorate, without studying two courses at this medical, or some other public medical institution, " where a similar course of public instruction is pursued ;" without obtain- ing the signature of the president of Yale College, who is com- pelled by the law of said College, to subscribe and publicly to read the same Saybrook Platform creed or test of faith ; nor without paying the said president of Yale College a gratuity of four dollars for the above said degree of Doctor of Medicine, three dollars to each of the examining committee, and ten dollar? to the Medical Society. See 8th article of the above recited 81 law. The 9th article provides for honorary degrees being con- ferred by the president, at the recommendation of the Medi- cal Convention. But this body being on the verge of dissoliition, sudh a pro- vision must soon be inoperative. In the language of a venera- ble member of the Medical Convention, " by a union with Yale College, the Medical Society has committed suicide." They have been wheedled and squeezed and fraternized out of their existence. And when this work of love is finished, the flourish about the nomination of officers of the Medical In- stitution, being an equal degree in the Medical Convention, will ■be daly appreciated ; and then, we think, no man can be found who will deny that one of the learned professions is under the control, of a religious denomination in the State of Connecticut ; and that the Saybrook Platform creed is now as much the estab- lished religion, for this profession, as it was from the year 170S to our independence in 1784#The third paragraph of this law proceeds : " Be it further enacted, That so much of the act, •entitled. An Act to incorporate a Medical Societ)-, as respects the appointing of county committees for the exaTiunatioti of med- ical students, and the granting of licenses to them, and that so much of the act as respects the granting of honorary degrees, be, and the same is hereby repealed." Then, do let us ask, what is left to the Medical Society .'' The examination of medical stu- dents for licenses to practise, and the granting of honorary de- grees, belong to Yale College, and to the Medical Institution, and to a strange sort of nominal, joint, pretended, body of Physi- cians, orice incorporated by the State, under the title of Medical Society. Can the Medical Society, however, examine students.' No. Can they grant licenses .'' No. Can they grant honorary degrees in Medicine .'' No. The law continues, twelfth article : " All persons licensed m future to practise physic or surgery, agreeably to the foregoing provisions, shall be of course mem- bers of the Medical Society, in the respective counties where they reside." And how long wiH it be, before every member of the Medical Society, if it sboidd exist, will have studied and been licensed by the religious Medical Institution ': A very few years. There will then be no member of the Medical Society who has not been subject to the effect and power of these Medical test Professors of the Medical Institution. No practitioner of phys- ic, no student in medicine, no doctorate conferred, in physic or surgery, in the State of Connecticut, without the pleasure of these test officers. It is complained of by " Hamilton," that Episcopacy compel- led Schoolmasters and Divines in England, to subscribe to the 39 articles ; although, from 1708 to our independence, the Say- brook Platform was in this State the established reVi^wn in mal- stei's of faith and government. But he now triumphs in the esi- 8^ ciusion from practice of all physicians who do not study undeir the Saybrook Platform professors ; and in the exclusion from the ' honours of their profession, of all those who have not studied two courses under these professors, and obtained the signature of the President of Yale College J This is ZifieraZ conduct, "among fepublicans, whose first principle it is, says Hamilton, that no religion Is to be imposed upon us by goyernment, or to draw to its aid the revenues of the State!" This writer is much vexed, because Toleration says that " the Literary Institutions of the State s.re favouring^ Presbyterianispi-" Yes, yes, they not only favour Presbyterianism, but, from the ^existence of these laws, they favour the indolence and want of merit of the professors and pupils, in one literary profession. We pronounce to be odious, these clogs upon merit, and this religious establishment, in the Medical Institution. ^'Let us cherish this seminary of Physicians, so useful to all sects," Sic. utters Hamilton, To all sects ! to one sect ! It is as destructive to mei;it in science, as to a fair toleration in religion. The Assembly, we trust, will abolish these test laws, thus detrimental to merit, and to " the free exercise of religion." Are not these laws opposed to the spirit of the Toleration Act ? Do they not OToZflie the Constitution of the United States.'' It is a solemn inquiry ; Let it be as solemnly invesigated. These laws were enacted in 1810; not in 1 708, as in the case of Yale College, when the Saybrook Platform was professedly the established religion. They have been enacted by the influ- «nce of Yale College, to keep down Churchmen. Toleration indeed, in a certain sense, will suffer Churchmen to live upon bread ^nd water, as in Turkey. But this cannot be toleration in a Republic : nor is it pretended that such a toleration would be agreeable to the views of any Congregationalist. Then, gen- tlemen of the Assembly, annul the odious provisions of this law, and allow to other denominations &full toleration. We address you with earnestness to do away these invidious distinctions. No such laws are wanted by Churchmen. They wish to com- pel no man, before he can pursue a learned profession, to study with, or be examined by. Episcopal professors. Such compul- sion is not consistent with a liberal toleration. \ " Whatever forces a certain number of students to any College or University, independent of the merit or reputation of the teachers, tends more or less to diminish the necessity of that merit or reputation." And since these laws of the State force students to the Medical Institution of Yale College, they diminish the necessity of the merit or reputation of its officers and students. And since there is an intimate connection with jthe Mother College, the same maxim of this great man applies ivith force to the officers and students of Yale College. TOLER.ATION. S3 No. XVIII. Episcopacy as liberal* ns Presbyterianism. TO show the reasonableness and necessity of the ordinatioB of ministers in the Christian Church, the following extracts from an English writer will be read with interest, as bearing on the subject. " This rite (viz. ordination) has, by every true son of the Church of England, been at all times considered as of the high- est importance; as an ordinance, indeed, of Christ, through the medium of the Holy Ghost, as laying men under the most sa- cred obligations,- Except among the Independents, who sprung up under Cromwell, it never entered into the head of any man, calling himself a Christian, to suppose that the ordination of the clergy is a useless ceremony,'until it became fashionable to con- found the religion of Christ with >hat Philosophers call the re- ligion of nature." " Were Christianity nothing bul a system of ethics founded on the relation which subsists between God as the Creator and Governor of the world, and man as a rational creature, it would indeed be ridiculous to inquire by what form, or what authority, the clergy are ordained j because, in that case, the dlest moralist, whether ordained or not, would, of course, be the ablest and most useful minister. But if Christianity be, as it certainly is, an instituted religion, founded on the means employ- ed by God to restore to mankind that immortality which all ha(^ forfeited by the sin of Adam ; and if immortality be not now, nor ever was the right of ma,n, either as inherent in his nature, or as the reward of moral virtue, (and this is the dictate of sober philosophy as well of the gospel,) it follows that immortality, if conferred upon man, must be conferred as a "free, gift'^ upon such tonditions as seemed best to the all-wise Giver. But the rites of a religion founded on a free gift must derive all the val- ue, and the ministers of that religion all their authority, not from the relations of nature, but from the positive appointment of the Author of the gift; and he who maintains that any man, !fvho is qualified by knowledge, may act as a minister of the gos- pel, though he be not ordained, must, to be consistent, claim to himself immortality, not as " the gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord," but either as the inherent right of his nature, of which he cannot be deprived, or as a debt due by God to his merit, • We have used this term because of the sneer of Hamilton against the Divine right of Bishops, in the second sentence of his i5ist piece.' See page lOtb, No. 2. He could refrain no longer from attacking Episcopacy. Pdb. 84 " Such arrogant claims are in direct opposition as well to tBe- letter as to the spirit of the Gospel; and, therefore he who has read the New Testament with any degree of mtelhgence, and believes it to be a revelation from heaven, must, be convmced that from it only he can learn who they are who have authority from Christ to preach the word, and to administier the ordinan- ces of his rehgion." , „. . The Congregationalists, in the Platform of Church Disci* pline presented to the Churches and General Court, anno 1648, at Cambridge, and approved in 1679 by the Synod, and in 1680 by the Assembly at Boston, admit, that " where there are no El- ders, (or ministers,) imposition of hands may be performed by the Brethren, orderly chosen by the church- thereunto ;" that " ordination doth not constitute an officer, nor give him the essentials- of his office ;" but they also- say, that if the church- so desire, we see not why imposition of hands may not be performed by the Elders of other Churches ; " page 36 of the edition of 1808^ Churclf officers are not only to be chosen by the church, but ordained by the imposition of hands, and prayer ; with which, at the ordination of Elders, fasting also is to be joined." Whether these Christians were IndependentSj is not known to the writer. They however held, that the " church had power to choose their officers and ministers, and, in case of manifest unworthiness and delinquency, to depose them; for (say they) to open and shut, to choose and refuse,_to constitute in office, and remove from office, are acts belonging to the same power." But that they viewed with reverence the ordination of their officers, (although they allowed of laying on ef hands by the Brethren, or of lay-ordination, and although the Brethren- could depose the officers of their oivn ordination,) i»- proved hy their fasting and prayer, previous to the ceremony. — Also, in the 28th chapter, they declare; that " there be only two sacraments ordained' by Christ our Lord in the Gosspelj that is to say, Baptism and the Lord's Supper ; neither of which may be dispensed by any, but by a minister of the word ImafuUy cal- led." And of the Lord's Supper, ita the 30th chapter, they say, that "the Lord Jiesus hath in this ordinance appointed his min- isters to declare his word of institution- to the people, to pray and hless the elements of bread and wine,, and thereby to set them apart from a common to unholy «se,"'&c. Then it appears, from the Cambridge Platform-, that although the Brethren had the authority to ordain ministers, yet ordain- ed ministers were necessary to the due administration of the Sacraments in the church. The Saybrook Platform is silent with respect to lay-ordina- tion, unless it is recognized in the 12th page, in an extract from Trumbull's History of Connecticut, where he says, that " the Cambridge Platform, for 60 years, had been the general plan of 85 discipline and church fellowship in New-England." We have lieard of ordination by the Brethren at Stratford ; but that might have been previous to the estabhshment by the Assembly, of the Saybrook Platform. The same extracts relating to the sa- craments coming from both platforms, we of course concludcj that ordinations^ since that period, have been performed by the Clergy, and not by the Brethren ; and that this rite is esteemed as " constituting an officer, and giving him the essentials of his office." For he cannot duly administer the sacraments without this rite, nor be settled in a congregation^ And it may be added, that the same words are found in the 27th and 29th chapters of -" the Confession of Faith, the Catechisms, and the DiRECTORr for the Worship of God, together with the Ran of Government and Discipline of the Presbyterian Church of the United States." We are at a loss as to the fact, whether a union has taken- place between the Congregationalists in New-England, and «he Presbyterians, respecting church government. In matters of faith, they have the same confession ; viz, the Westminister, It is believed that the Congregationalists have a seat in the Gen- eral Assembly of the Presbyterians, strictly so called. But whether the Saybrook and Cambridge fosms of church govern- ment are abolished by Congregationalists, and a close union with Presbyterians has been established ; or, whether Congre- gationalists sit in their General Assembly by courtesy, for mutual harmony, or nght, is unknown to us. Nor do we know whether the Saybrook Platform, in relation to either church government or to doctrine, is the standard for the Congregationalists in this State. The frequent alterations of recent date, made by particular churches in their creeds, holds out an entire independency on any general standard of faith. But if Congregationalism and Independency are swallowed up in Presbyterianism, this latter mode of church govern- ment is as precise, definite and full, on the subject of ordmatiou, as is Episcopacy ; and this will appear from their " mode of ordination," page 374 of the edition of 1815, printed at Phi- ladelphia. " Then the presiding Bishop* shall, by ^royer and theioytwgon of hands of the Presbytery, according to the Apos- tolic example, solemnly ordain him to the holy office of the gospel ministry." And at page 3S2 it says, that " the Church session consists of the minister or ministers and Elders of a particular congregation ; of whom three Elders, if there be * Notn to page 346, of the Presbyterian Directory. « As the office and character of a gospel minister is particularly and fully described in the Scriptures, under the title of Bishop ; and as this term is peculiarly expressive of his duty a!( overseer of the flock, it ought not to be re- ieeted." 86 that number in the congregatiion, with the minister, shall be. a quorum to do business. The church session is conopetent to the spiritual government of the congregation." And from these extracts, it is manifest that the powers of ordination and of church government are takeii from the Brethren (the Elders being ruling Elders) by the Presbyterian form of church gov- ernment, as well as by the Episcopal ; and that ordinations are held to convey spiritual authority by " laying on of bands" by the Presbytery, in one Church; and, in the Episcopal Church, by " laying on of the hands" of the Bishop. The Bishop is con- sidered by Presbyterians as only a presiding officer among the Elders or Ministers or Presbyters, who ordain and govern ; and the Bishop is considered by Episcopalians as constituting a third order among the Clergy, possessing alone- the powers of ordi- nation and government in the Church. And, says Doctor Miller, at page 347. of his first volume, it is only so far as any 6UGcession flows through the line of Presbyters, that " ordina- tion" " is eJtlwsr regular or valid.. It is the laying on of hands of the Presbytery, that constitutes a spiritual ordination | and it is because Episcc^al Bishops are Presbyters, and assisted in all ordinations by other Presbyters, that we consider their or- daining acts, on the principles of scripture and primitive usage, as valid." But from other passages, it is evident that Doctor Miller does not hold to the necessity of an uninterrupted succession in the ministry from the Apostles, as do Doctor Mason of New^ .York, President Stiles,* and the generality of Presbyterians. The Presbyterians hold to an uninterrupted succession through ■Presbyters ; and the Episcopalians, through Bishops, in their sense ef that term, viz. as a third and superior order of ministers. The Presbyterians believe in the equality of the ministry ; the Episcopalians, in the superiority of the ordaining and govern^ ing power, which, say they, was in the Apestles, and their suc- cessors, whose successors are Bishops, and not Presbyters. — Both believe in the divine right of the ministry. Presbyterians 'declaim against Bishops in the Episcopal sense, as of human invention — as Prelatical, Arminian, and corrupt, and not to be found in scripture. Episcopalians say, that ordination by Pres- " The ministry, (says President Stiles,) is not of men, but of Christ The Christian Priesthood, as well asthnt of Moses, was from heaven ; and this not only in then' first institution, but in their subsequent transmis- sion. The one was limited to the family of Aaron ; the other, confined to no family or nation, was to perpetuate its own succession, by select- ing from among Jews and Gentiles, persons of approved abilities and piety, and separating them to this holy office by the laying on of the hands, of the presbytery. This succession, has thus actually taken place in the Christian Church in general, from the apostolic age to this day." (Ordin. Serm. N. L. p. 4. 5.) 87 byters, in the Presbyterian sense of that term, is not to be found in scripture ; that it is a human contrivance to usurp the powers of the Bishop ; that Presbyters have no legal govem- nient in the Church ; and that their ordinations are invalid, — So that, on the score of Charity, they are equally rigid in de- nouncing each other, and equally full in the belief of the di- vine right of the Presbytery, and of the divine right of the Bishop. According to Doctor Miller, the ordination of deacons, (who, in the system of Episcopacy, are the lowest order of Clergy,) is rendered null and void, b,eGause the Bishop alone ordains them, without assistance from Presbyters or Priests ; who join him in laying on of hands upon a Priest or Presbyter. In the Greek Church, which is the established religion in Russia, the Bishop alone ordains both Presbyters and Deacons. That Church, then, of course, is unchurched, in the Presbyterian view of a valid ordination. Having no lawful ministry, their administra- tion of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, must be without effica- cy in this large portion of Europe. Doctor How, in his volume, referred to in our concluding number, has endeavoured to prove, that in the Latin Church, the Bishop alone ordained, until the Council of Carthage, in the fourthcentury ; and if he has been successful in establishing this fact, it follows, since the succes- sion in the ministry must be uninterrupted, that Presbytery, if consistent, unchurches every Christian Church on this globe, except that wbith Doctor Buchanan proves to exist in Asia. Her own authority to administer the sacraments is derived through the Latin Church ; and through the same channel is de- rived the authority of the Episcopal Church. ' Episcopacy unchurches the Presbyterians in Europe and A- merica. And both Presbytery and Episcopacy unchurch the Q,tlakers, who believe that the sacraments are not to be continu- ed in the Church, and ought to be viewed, where baptism and the eucharist are spoken of in Scripture, as metaphorical ex- pressions and allegories. From the principles maintained in the standards of Congre- gationalists, Presbyterians and Episcopalians, and in the Books of their respective writers, such then are the logical inferences .relating to the chanty which each enteitains towards the other denomniatiofis. But in practice, we conceive, that Episcopal- ians have more charity f6r other denominations, than have Pres- byterians or Congregationalists, Episcopalians do not excommu- nicate their members for leaving their communion, and joining any other communion. They freely admit to the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, members in regular standing, of the Presby- terian or Cpiigregational churches. And it is believed that, for a, century, no person has been excommunicated, in England or America, for any crime, whatever may be its enormity. They S8 are forbidden to partake of the elements ; they are admonished, and perhaps threatened with the execution of this tremendous sentence ; but this punishment has not been inflicted. They are left with their Judge and Avenger in another world. Jesus will pronounce, and execute sentence, at the general judgment. It will not be denied that Congregation alists, in this State, have eften excommunicated/their members for leaving theirj commu- nion, and joining the Episcopal communion, without any charge of immorality, or being punished with any other evidence of their irregular standing, or want of reputation, than that of join- ing the Episcopal communion. Nor will it be said that this is ixot the recent practice of many Presbyterian Churches in Con- necticut. And for our present purpose, we will pursae this inquiry no further ; it being palpable, that Presbyterians lay as much stress ■upon valid ordinations, as Episcopalians ;— and that both treat this rite as necessary to the valid administration of the Sacra- ments. Which mode is most accordant with scripture, we shall not attempt to give an opinion. Nor is it important, in this discus- sion, which, in point of fact, is to be found in the scriptures. Both are to be tolerated, in this State, whether one denomin- ation is raore or less tolerant or charitable than the other ; or whether both systems of church government agree or disagree with the word of God. We have already shown, m our number beaded Seabury Col- lege, that the Saybrook Platform recognizes the divine right of a particulaT chMuch, the divine right of a deacon, and the divine right of a minister ; which proves, that Congregationalists do not differ from Presbyterians and Episcopalians, in their divine right of the Presbytery, or divine right of the Bishop. The governmental part of the 39 articles, it must follow, are as charita- ble as the governmental part of the Saybrook Platform, and the Presbyterian Directory^ and the doctrinal part of the 39 articles are expressly declared, by the Saybrook Platform, "to be agree- able to the only rule of iaith,^' viz. the scriptural rale. And in the event of obtaining a charter for a College, the 39 articles, as to government and doctrine, will be the standard, and not the Say- brook Platform and Westminster Confession of Faith. There are warm disputes between Calvinists and Anti-Calvin- jsts, upon the doctrines taught by these 39 articles of religion ; and this circumstance is high proof, we conceive, of their ac- cordance with Scripture. Anti-Calvinistic Churchmen view them as favouring neither Calvinism, nor Arminianism, norSocin- ianism, nor any human system of divinity whatever. They are given, in many instances, in the words of Scripture. They are directed principally against the Church of Rome ; and without a knowledge of the controversy in that Church, which termina- 89 tedthe Reformation, some passages in these articles are not ea^y understood. The word Arminian is used by Yale College, as applicable to the Episcopal Church, which must relate to the doctrines of these 39 articles. Her testimony then, is against their Calvin- ism. She uses this terra to terrify weak minds, and to keep down the Episcopal Church. Calvinism or Arminianism, or Socinianism, is not yet substituted for Christianity. Calvin's In- stitutes are not quite equal to the Bible. Doctor How, in his volume before spoken of, discusses this subject with perspicuity and force, against their Calvinistic ten- dency ; and bis arguments will perhaps be as satisfactory as Mr. Dyer's opinion, contained in an extract on the last page of Ham- ilton's pamphlet. And perhaps the Doctor's facts on the divine right of Bishops may be as instructive as Hamilton's creed, which he gives th« public in his preface, page 7. But, since Calvinists claim tlie 39 articles to be in their favour, it is hoped that consistency will induce them not to oppose the grant of an Episcopal College, on the ground of their Anii-Calvinism. As to the necessity, then, of valid ordination of ministers ; as to strictness in the government of the Church ; as to correctness in doctrine; and as to liberality in carrying principles into rigid execution ; the 39 articles, and the Professors who adhere to them as their system of faith and form of government, are not subject to the charge of more unckaritaoteness, than are the Saybrook Platform, and the adherents to that system of faith and form of church government. No objection, then, can be made to the 39 articles, in point of illiberality : and now let us inquire whether any other pre- . tence can be raised against the right of Churchmen to an in- corporated Seminary of Learning I TOLERATION. No. XIX. Might of Churchmen to a College : AND fFhat do Episcopalians ask from the Assembly ? 1st. THEY ask for the liberty to grant testimonials of merit. 2d. They ask for the privilege of endowing a Literary Invita- tion, which will support their owti faith and worship. Should the first request be granted, the evidence of merit will only be, as the respectability of the College ; and why should the ability to confer such a testimonial, be always confined to one sect, to the officers of Yale College .'' and Churchmen be for ever de- barred from the exercise of this power .'' Is there no capacity M 90 in Churchmen for tnaldng proficiency in literature, or does tbeir religion destroy their faculties ? Yale College takes the money of Churchmen for teaching their sons; but perhaps, after they leave the walls of College, their capability to judge of literary merit ceases, and their progress in knowledge, bebmes retrograde, be- cause they do not attend worship at the Meeting-House, instead of the Church. But as a general rule, we must justify Yale Col- lege in taking- the money of Churchmen, because she often^ succeeds in bringing over to the Saybrook Platform creed, many children of Episcopal parents, and inspiring them with, hatred of Episcopacy; and of course, thicse pupils tlien becbme excellfeht judges of literary merit. Suppose that a man of equal talents and worth with the pres- ident of Yale College, should give a. diploma to a certain indi- vidual;, would it afford the same evidence of proficiency in sci- ence, with the usual testimonial granted by the president? This* iriuestion is ^Ked, to show tbe great influence which is enjoyed by a college, and which is dispensed at the will of her officers, and which cannot be obtained by dny other means. Should the Institution be without fame, however, the degree would not be desired ; and should it have less reputation than Yale College,, tlie honour and the influence would' be lessened.in the same ratio. No injury then can be siistained by other colleges, even should' Sealjury College (Bishop Seabury's name deserving perpetuity) not be respectable, or, should its officers not be eq.aal judges of merit. The importance of a degree, depends on the reputa.tion of the College. Yale College, then, cannot be injured, by allow- ing to Churchnien the power of conferring degrees- in literature.. Are not Churchmen, and ought they . riot to be- as much at- tached to their religion, as other denominations? Have they not as much solicilude for the welfare of their dhildren .'' Do they not know the advantage of securing the impressions of youth in favour of Aieir own faith and worship .'' Do they not know the influence which histructors enjoy over the minds of their pupils ? Do they not love their offspring ? Will any man, then, stand up against them for wishing to nse the same means to train up'thejr children, which are kccitrnWy,. in- this country, in the hands of Presbyterians ? There is not, ia this Union, sn Episcdpai College. All other dcnominatiotis have Colleges. The Common Prayer is not used in any college, we 'b'eijeve, in America. 'The expense of a European education can be borne by very few; and tke habits and moral's of youth,. „are always much endangered, by reason of great distance from parental goVerhraient. The pdssibility, then, of an Episcopal education for their spns, is within the means of few parents; and 'the danger great in the event of that possibility. Is not the sit- uation of Churchman peculiarly distressing in this respect ; and' can any man who lias affection- for his children, and is serious in his religious sentiments, raise up his hands against them, in this 91 important concern ? Although they have been twice disappoint- ed by the Assembly, we cannot believe a third application will be unsuccessful. Episcopalians ask also for the privilege of endotving a CoJ- lege, which will support their own faith, and mode of worship. They ask not of the State for funds* to found this coUegte.— Yale College had but little for its support, in its commencement. its endowment, when founded, was only forty volumes of books, and they came from tie clergy. It long sitFUggled vrith difficul- ties, and a full portion of these are expected to be borne by ■Churchmen in rearing a respectable college. 'Let them, how- ever, make the experiment. We believe that all the colleges which have maintained a high reputation, began iSieir career with very small means, as to money. The diligence of their .professors is mose certain and constant, and the pupils better taught, than where reliance upon money, for the {)rosperity of ■the seminaiy, is the chief stimulant to exertion.' it is believed Ahat a building may be erected, and the necessary philosophical instruments rhay be procured, by indivi-dual donations. It wiB attract the regard, and we hope Uie affection oi Episcopalians, throughout the Union. And for this reason, we maf assert, that Considerable sums of ^money will be spent in our State, by students, whose parents reside in other States. Minorities, in re- ligion, as well as politics, are mpre closely united, and more dis- posed to assist each other, than majorities ; and by the opera- tion of this principle, we may act upon the belief, that although the advantages, in point of improvement in science, be riot * Donations to JTalp CnHege by the General Assembly. Fr.oni 1701 to 1755, (5.4 yeors,) Jj6b sterling pcv annum. 1716, £"250 sterling. 1722, £tl5 and £i20 sieHing. 1732, 300 acres of jand in each of the towns of Canaan, -Nor/irtk,. Goshen,, Cornwall and Kent. 1740, £l>3. 1741, £42. 174g, £10. ni5,£5U 1749, £S6S. 1751, £500. 1754, £280. 1785, £245 13s. 9d sterling. The land is not reckoned in this computation ; ■apd money was perhaps three times its present worth. About 20 years ago, Yale College had a grant from the Assembly, of some old, nifliquidated claims ; fiorh which she realized a large suiii of mo- ney, so large that the amount has been kept private. What other grants were pnade, ii'om 1765 to 1795, by ti.e I^tgislature, or whether any, are not known to us. Large donations were made by Episcopalians ; and it is not improba- ble that, without this aid, the existence of the College would have ceased. Elihu Yale, Governor of the East-India.Company,.«hose name the sem- inary perpetuates, was an jEpiscopalian. Ii(s donations, from 1717 to 1721, anfiount to £500 sterling. , In 17po, the Rev. Dr. ©eofge .perkeley, Bfshop of Cloyne, (a Bishop, Mr. Hamilton,) gave tothe Cdllege 96 apres of land in Rhode-Island, and 1000 volumes of booksi, including his own works, valued at £400 sterling. Yale College, at .the time she received the balance frorn the State, of its claims upon the- United States, for services rendered durinK the revo- dutionary war, admitted into the Corporation six members of the Council. This looks like Church and State ! 92 cqval to those in some colleges, yet Seabury College will be pre- ferred by Churchmen. Their sons, as to religion, will be better educated. This policy will strengthen the Institution, where clergymen can be nurtured, for the growth of their religion — seminaries of learning being the most effectual agents in propa- gating religion. This last truth is as well known to Churchmen, as to other denominations of Christians. Look at the conduct pf Presbyterians — almost all the Universities are in their hands ! And how wide spread is their religion ? Have not Churchmen some zeal for their principles ? And this example, set them by other denominations, it is hoped they will be permitted by Pres- byterians, to copy. Such zeal is according to knowledge. But we are, we fear, writing idly. The general principles of cur government, in regard to rehgion, we are apprehensive are not understood. In 1764, to be sure, a law was passed by the Assembly, which has been with propriety called the toleration act. It places all religious denominations upon a level, or near- ly so. There is no ground of complaint respecting its provis- ions. But look at the law establishing the Medical Institution, in 1810; look at the appropriation of ^'20,000 to that Institu- tion ; look at the fate of the first application for the college, terminating in an address from Yale (^ollege for the Medical Institution ; look at the conduct oT the Assembly, in granting that Institution, before the session closed ; look at the result of the second endeavour of Churchmen to get a college ; look at the conduct of Yale College, in lying back till Churchmen were wearied with expostulating the A'ssembl)', and in .truth, contribu- ting her aid in procuringthe votes of the legislature to be giv- en against the I3ishop's Fund ; look at her conduct in applying to the legislature for the whole ^'50,000 of the Phcenix Premie um ; look at the conduct of the Assembly, in not rejecting, but laying over this application to the next session, because they had not time to get it through the forms of law ; look at these facts, reader, aad can you doubt that the toleration act remains a dead letter in the statute book ? Can you doubt, that the re^ ligion taught in Yale College, is the established religion.'* This religion receives a marked preference as to money, and as to the JHcorporation of societies for- disseminating its peculiar tenetsi under charitable and scriptural names. Religious societies for propagating the faith of ojie sect, find no obstacles in the way of getting charters to hold money. 'J'his money is said to be for charitable purposes. But who are employed in missiona- iing f Who receive salaries from this charitable fund ? What is the amount of money now in the treasury of the missionary society,'' Its amount threatens the existence of all other socie- ties ; and indeed, after p. few years have passed, its probable ac- cumulation will endanger the goyerijmpnt itself. But let Churchmen applj'^ for the liberty' of endowing a Litgo 9§ fary Seminary, and a hue and cry is raised, that they want t» establish Episcopacy, and to proscribe all other denominaticns. Episcopalians, in fact, do not enjoy a real, though a legal tol- eration. Hamilton says that he does not /car an established religion. — No, no, he does not fear, but he enjoys a religious establish- ment. The Saybrook Platform is stilHhe reigning creed. Yes, reader, since we still have an established reW^on, it \sidle to reason with the Assembly upon the principles of toleration. But let us turn from this view of our subject ; let us believe that these facts exist only in the maginaiion of the writer ; let. us believe, with Hamilton, that all Christians are " on an exact equality ;" let us believe that " the cant of liberality," is true and real charity ; (but,' let us not, however, believe, that liberal- ity in reliffion is to be found in perfection among the Univer- salists, although he thus asserts ;) let us suppose this to be our case ~ — And now, let us address a few words to tiie legislature, in favour of the grant to Churchmen, of bestowing diplomas of merit, and of endowing, with their own money, a literary insti- tution. ' / Gentlemen, you have granted and continued these privileges to Presbyterians, although thejf are, perhaps, thirty seminaries, propagating their tenets. Episcopalians have not one in our country. — They are willing to incur the hazard of a failure.— They will endow it without calling "upon the State, although large grants have been constantly made to Yale College from the treasury — although individual Episcopalians have thrown in their mite to aid that Institution — and althotigh Episcopalians have been taxed for its support. Is not this a reasonable request ^ Ponder it in your minds.^ — " Do to others, as you would that others should do to you." The laws of the Assembly hold you out to be the common parent of all religious denominations. You will tolerate, you will cherish, you will furnish means equally to enlighten, to re- form, to render happy and obedient, all orders and classes of citizens. This is the true, the benign, the glorious policy; the voice of experience ; the dictate of wisdom ; the injunction of revelation. It is duty. The Assembly will walk in this "jray ojT pleasantness and peace." TOLER.ATION, General Observations. *'»•¥. SINCE there has been some complaint respecting the publi- cation of religious subjects in a newspaper, it may be of impor- tance to state, that, in a Prospectus of a religious paper, to be published weekly in this city, President Dwight, the Rev. Messrs. 94 Merwia and Taylor and ijeecl^ej-, haye gif en tlieir opinions in its.favour. Hon. Ju^ge Reeve arid Mr. Beetcfeer say, that " the newspaper is the approppate vehiple, and will becomej \ye trust, •speedily, in .every State and section of our land, the common ve- jbicle of religious intelligence." The Connecticut Couraat has much matter of this description. But, perhaps, the real objection is to the kind of religion intro- sLuced in the paper. This objection, however, admits to be praiseworthy the practice of discussing religious subjects in a newspaper. Churchmen claim to be r^lig^o^s ; and shall not ^pi^ regarding their welfare, and that of theijr church, never be wflfefed to apjjear in tiie same coiurans with remvah of religidn., and extraordinary conversions to particular tenets .'' The doc- trine of conversion is held by iEpiscopali?ins ; but ihey think that less ,Vioise is more .decisive of its existence. •Churchmen hav« been silent from the date of the Toleration Act, a period of 32 years. While they were under an avowedly fistaMsh&d religion, viz. the Say-bfook Platform, they were com- pelled not to hfip discontent. They could not support their own clergy. They paid taxes to the establishment. Their religion iwas ridiculed. l?ut they adhered to their faith. There are times jivhen the truth should not be told. It niay offend. It may injure its own c^e. This may now be our case. -When iWpuld the time tje less ht^zardous, or more convenient to Presbyterians ? Since ivw have committed, in their view, a rash act, ill exposing to tlie public these facts, at tliis time, we surely way be favoured with the information of a future time, when the remairmg facts may be tuld with convenience to the dominant sect. And so much for our rashness in introducing facts connected with religion, in a newspaper. In the 7th page of >his preface, Hamilton has given to the public his CREED ; in which, among many other tilings, he talks about "profanation of the Sacraments, and usurpers of holy office." This Founder of a sect endeavours to stigmatize the Episcopal "The doctrine of the Divine right of Bishops, in the sense in which some funinformed men understand it, Ae (Hamilton) disbe- lieves; but as to this and some o