JOUKJNAL OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL CONVENTION 0 1 » OF THE JOURNAL OP PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL CONVENTION |jr0ttstant dpscopl IN THE DIOCESE OF GEORGIA, Held in St. Paul's Church, Augusta, commencing June 1st, 1859. fool-gig: POWER PRESS OF GEORGE N. NICHOLS, Coraer of Bay and Drayton Strastg—Up Stairs. 1859. STANDING RESOLUTIONS. Providing a Fund for the Support of the Widows and Orphans of Deceased Clergymen. Adopted 1854. Whereas, This Convention heartily acceding to the recom¬ mendation of the Bishop contained in his Address, in reference to the legacy left by Dr. Ralph E. Elliott, to be applied to' the support of the Widows and Orphans of deceased Clergymen of the Diocese of Georgia; Provided, That it be so amended as to allow the Clergy to make collections for the increase of the fund on the Sunday next before or after Christmas. Therefore Resolved, That the Wardens and Vestry of Christ Church Savannah, and their successors, be constituted Trustees of that Fund, and that said Trustees be requested to invest, from time to time, such contributions and to accumulate the same* for the term of ten years. Resolved, That the Clergy be requested to make collections for the increase of said fund on Christmas day, or on the Sunday next, before or after, at their discretion. For Providing a Permanent Fund for the Support of the Episcopate. Amended axd Adopted 1858. Resolved, That as it is important that the formation of a permanent fund for the support of the Episcopate in this Diocese be prosecuted earnestly, each Rector of a Parish is instructed annually, on the 2d Sunday aft^r Easter, or in case of his absence or sickness at that time, on some other Sunday, to call the attention of his parishoners to the sub¬ ject, and invite contributions to the object, in such mode as he may deem most expedient. Resolved, That the Convention elect, at each annual meet¬ ing, a Treasurer of the Episcopal Fund ; who shall invest the same in his discretion, until the further order of this Conven¬ tion, and who shall report the state of said fund, and how invested at each annual meeting. LIST OF THE CLERGY, OP THE BXOCESE OF GEORGIA. The Right Rev. STEPHEN ELLIOTT, D. D., Bishop of the Diocese of Georgia, and Rector of Christ Church, Savannah. *BARTOW, THEODORE B., Chaplain in the U. S. Navy. BENEDICT, SAMUEL, Rector of St. James' Ch., Marietta. *BRAGG, SK1NEOA G., residing in Macon. BROWN, EDMUND P., Rector of Christ Church, St. Si¬ mon's, and St. David's Church, Glynn. *CLARK, GEO. H., Rector of St. John's Church, Savannah, CLARKE, WM. H., Rector of St. Peter's Church, Rome. COLEY, CHAS. H., Rector of Advent Church, Madison. CURTIS, J. M., Rector of St. Stephen's Church, Milledge* ville. ^FIELDING, JOHN, residing in Beaufort, S. C. FORD, EDWARD E., D. D., Rector of St. Paul's Church, Augusta. *FREEMAN, ANDREW F., Rector of Grace Church, Clarkesville. GEORGE, J. H., Rector of St. Paul's Church, Albany. HARISON, W. H., Rector of the Church of the Atonement, Augusta. HAWKS, WM. N., Rector of Trinity Church, Columbus. HENDERSON, M. IT., D. D., Rector of Emmanuel Church, Athens. HAYWARD, S. G. HUNT, JOHN J., residing in Marietta. JOHNSON, RICHARD, Rector of St. Philip's Church, At¬ lanta. *KENNERLY, S. W., Missionary to the colored people in Savannah and the adjacent plantations. * Not present at Convention. f) *MACAULEY, GEO., residing in Milledgeville. NEELY, JOHN, residing in Augusta. PINKERTON, SAMUEL J., Rector of St. Andrew's Ch., Darien. PRYSE, JOHN T., Rector of St. Paul's Free Church, Sa¬ vannah. REES, H. K., Rector of Christ Church, Macon. ♦WARD, WM. N., residing in South Carolina. WILLIAMS, W. C., Missionary to the colored people on the Ogeechee River. P. 0. Savannah. * Not present at Convention. LIST OF LAY DELEGATES TO THE THIRTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE DIOCESE OF GEORGIA. Christ Church, Savannah— *R. Habersham, Geo. A. Gordon, *R. R. Cuyler. St. Paul's Church, Augusta—E. F. Campbell, James P. Gairdner, Benj. Conley. Christ Church, Macon— *h. N. Whittle, J. M. Boardman, W. C. Hodgkins. Trinity Churchy Columbus— *Robert Carter, *Wm. Woolfotk, *A. H. Chappell. St. John's Church, Sav'nah— J. R. Johnson, *L. W. Wells, *John Gammell. St.Stephen's Ch. Milled'ville—J. R. Cotting, *J. S. Thomas, Wm. H. Scott. Emmanuel Church, Athens—James Camak, M. D., A. M. Wyng, J. D. Easter, Ph. D. St. Andrew's Church, Darien-V. M. Nightingale, *James Holmes, M. D. *Jacob Rokenbaugh. St. James' Church, Marietta—Wm. Root, *J. Mongin Smith, *Edward Denmead. *Not present at Convention. s St. Peter's Church, Borne— K. S. Simons, John Hume, Jr. *Geo. R. Ward. St. Philip's Church, Atlanta—*Richard Peters, Dr. N. L. Angier, Dr. H. L. Currier. Advent Church, Madison— Geo. R. Jessup, *Wm. H. Burr, *Henry Booth. St. Paul's Church, Albany— R. K. Hines, *Goode Bryan. Ch. of the Atonement,AugustaM.. H. Gardiner, Jr. Wm. W. Montgomery, *Chas. Dwelle. St. Paul's Free Church, Sav.—J. M. Guerard, * Henry Williams, ^Samuel Palmer. St. Alark's Ch., Brunswick— James T. Blain. *Not present at Convention. JOURNAL. St. Paul's Church, Augusta, 1 June 1st, 1859. J This being the time and place appointed for holding the Thirty-seventh Jlnnual Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Georgia, Morning Prayer, as far as the Creed, was read by the Rev. J. M. Curtis. The Creed and Prayers were said by the Rev.M. H. Henderson, D.D., Rector of Emmanuel Church, Athens. The Convention Sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Henderson, from Matt. xi. 10 : " Behold I send my mes¬ senger before thy face which shall prepare thy way before thee." After Divine Service, the Convention was called to order by the Bishop. The roll of the Clergy was then called, and the following answered to their names : The Rt. Rev. the Bishop of the Diocese. Rev. Edmund P. Brown, Rev. Wm. N. Hawks, Rev. Samuel Benedict, Rev. M. H. Henderson, D. D., Rev. W. H. Clarke, Rev. J. J. Hunt, Rev. Chas. H. Coley, Rev. Richard Johnson, Rev. J. M. Curtis, Rev. Sam'l J. Pinkerton, Rev. J. H. George, Rev. John T. Pryse, Rev. Edward E. Ford, D. D. Rev. H. K. Rees, Rev. W. H. Harison, Rev. Wm. C. Williams. Certificates of the election of Lay Delegates were presen¬ ted and read. On motion, it was Ordered, That they be referred to a Committee on Elections. The Chair appointed the Rev. Mr. Harison, Rev. Mr. Hawks, and the Rev. Mr. Pinkerton, as the Committee. The Committee reported the following in due form: B 10 Christ Church, Savannah—R. Habersham, Geo. A. Gor¬ don, R. R. Cuyler. p St. Paul's Church, Augusta—E. F. Campbell, James Gairdner, Benj. Conley. Christ Church, Macon—L. N- Whittle, J. M. Boardman, Walter C. Hodgkins. Trinity Church, Columbus—Robert Carter, Wm. Woolfolk, Absalom Chappell. St. Stephen's Church Milledgeville—J. R. Cotting, J. S. Thomas, Wm. H. Scott. Emmanuel Church, Athens,—James Camak, M. D., A. M. Wyng, J. D. Easter, Ph. D. St. Andrew's Church, Darien—P. M. Nightingale, James Holmes, M. D., Jacob Rokenbaugh. St. James' Church, Marietta—Wm. Root, J. Mongin Smith, Edward Denmead. St. Peter's Church, Rome—K. S. Simons, John Hume, Jr., Geo. R. Ward. Advent Church, Madison—Geo. R. Jessup, Wm. H. Burr, Henry Booth. Church of the Atonement, Augusta—R. H. Gardiner, Jr. Wm. W. Montgomery, Charles Dwelle. St. Paul's Free Church, Savannah—J. M. Guerard, Henry Williams, Sam'l Palmer. St. Mark's Church, Brunswick—J. T. Blain. The roll of the Lay Delegates was called and the following answered to their names, viz : Messrs. Campbell, Gairdner, Conley, Hodgkins, Cotting, Camak, Wyng, Easter, Nightin¬ gale, Root, Simons, Hume, Jessup, Gardiner, Montgomery, Guerard, and Blain. There being a quorum of both orders present, the Con¬ vention was declared duly organized. The Rev W. C. Williams was re-elected Secretary. The Secretary appointed the Rev. Wm. H. Clarke, his Assistant. On motion of the Rev. Dr. Ford, it was, Resolved, That the rules of order of the last Convention be adopted for the government of the present Convention. 11 On motion of the Rev. E. E. Ford D. D. the following resolution was adopted: Resolved, That Clergymen of other Dioceses, and Candidates for Holy Orders, who may be present, be invited to seats in this Con¬ vention, at any time during its present session. The Rev. Dr. Ford was requested by the Chair to extend the invitation to all Clergymen or Candidates for Orders- who might be in the city. Rev. Dr. Ford thereupon introduced to the Convention the Rev. J. H. Cornish, and the Rev. Mr. Downing, of the Dio¬ cese of South Carolina. The following Standing Committees were appointed by the Chair: On the State of the Church.—Rev. E. E. Ford, D. D., Rev. M. H. Henderson, D. D., and Rev. S. J. Pinkerton. On the Admission of New Parishes.—Rev. R. Johnson, Messrs. Campbell and Camak. On Unfinished, Business.—Rev. Messrs. Harison, Brown, and Mr. Root. On motion of Mr. Campbell, the following resolution was adopted : Resolved, That there be but one session of this Convention each day during its continuance, and that the hour of Morning Service be at half-past nine o'clock, and of adjournment not later than two o'clock, P. M. After Prayers by the Bishop, the Convention adjourned to the hour of Public Worship to-morrow morning. At Night, Evening Prayer was read by the Rev. Mr. Rees, and a Sermon preached by Rev. J. M. Curtis. Ascension Day, \ June 2d, 1859. / Morning Prayer was read by Rev Mr. Coley. The Ante- Communion Service was read by the Bishop, and a Sermon preached by the Rev. Mr. Benedict. After divine service the Convention was called to order and the roll called. Present as yesterday with the addition of Mr. Gordon, 12 The Minutes of yesterday were read and confirmed. Certificates of election of Lay Delegates were presented from St. John's Church, Savannah, and from St. Paul s Al¬ bany. The above certificates were read and referred to the Com¬ mittee on Elections, who reported them in due form, and that the following gentlemen were duly elected: St. John's Church, Savannah—J. R. Johnson, L. W. Wells, John Gammell. St. Paul's Church, Albany—Richard K. Hines, Goode Bryan. Messrs. Johnson and Hines appeared and took their seats. The Bishop then read his Annual Address. ADDRESS. Brethren of the Clergy and Laity : It gives me unfeigned pleasure to meet you again within these ven¬ erable walls, that we may together examine into the condition of the Church, and consult upon the best means of advancing her interests. By the infinite mercy of God we have all been spared to enter upon another year of ministerial duty and Church work, and may we initiate it in this place by wisdom and prudence, by love, gentleness and peace. The Church is advancing steadily within the Diocese. The posi¬ tion which we occupy among the States, and the policy which we have pursued in our progress, prevent any rapid growth either of Parishes or congregations. Our Diocese is one of those which gains nothing by immigration, and we have always followed the independent course of building up our Church by our own means. Every inch of ground which has been gained, has been valiantly fought for. We have been of the militant, but never of the mendicant Church. With the exception of some drafts upon the liberality of South Carolina, we have done every thing which has been done from our own resources. W e have been depend¬ ent upon no missionary associations for either men or money. We have received a small annual appropriation from the Domestic Missionary Society of the Church, but have always returned to her treasury more than we have ever drawn from it. Our people have been taught to stand upon their own feet, and have 13 thus secured the most important element of a growing Church, self-dependence. Nothing could occur outside of ourselves that would affect either our permanence or our progress. And when we consider that, in much less than a generation, we have risen from two self-supporting Churches to twenty-seven parishes, and from three hundred communicants to nearly two thousand, we may well believe that the most difficult portion of our growth is over, and that our future progress will depend upon our own faith, fulness to Christ and his Church. We need nothing now, with such a band of Clergy as I see around me, but an united and Christian effort for the propagation of the Gospel through the Church, to give us a much more rapid increase than we have yet seen. Let us determine then, by the grace of God preventing us, to work together as a band of brothers, knowing no differences but such as necessarily belong to our respective spheres of duty, and caring for nothing but how we may finish, in faith and power, the work which has been set before us. In this connexion, I would invite your attention to two points which are intimately associated with the progress of the Church; the increase of our Diocesan Missionary fund, and the raising up of a native Min¬ istry. The first point can be gained- only by tlie conviction of each Clergyman that it is his duty to give this fund his best and most devoted attention. We cannot grow without establishing weak parishes in many parts of the Diocese, and it is useless to establish them unless we can support them. The small amount which the Diocese now raises is totally inadequate to its necessities. We need almost as many thousands annually to carry on this Diocese' properly as we receive hundreds. And while we may not at once attain to this necessary amount, we may, without any difficulty, in¬ crease very much our annual income. But it must be done by the faithful and earnest cooperation of every parish in the Diocese, however small. The larger parishes become irritated if they find that the whole burden is cast upon them, and that the smaller pa¬ rishes are making no prefer effort. And it is a great error to sup. pose that a little help is no help at all. It is by small and frequent contributions that the Roman Catholics and Methodists raise in this country such almost incredible amounts of money. And all the analogies of nature teach us the same lesson. It is the myriad leaves which glitter in the sunshine that make up the noble foliage under whose shadow the weary repose, and in whose branches the eagles build their nests. It is the innumerable rills which trickle from the 14 obscure recesses of nature that make up the mighty river which floats the commerce of a nation. If every parish would regulai 1\ and conscientiously perform its duty in this matter, we should find no difficulty in supporting all the missionaries who might be needed for the Diocese. Let me pray you, then, to consider this support of the Missionary fund of the Diocese as a sacred duty, standing before all other claims upon your liberality. But besides the increase of our Missionary fund, we need a large increase in our Ministry. A Diocese cannot grow with any certainty or rapidity until it shall raise up young men from among its own children who will be content, during their diaconate, to occupy its small and weak parishes. Even for the larger parishes it is difficult now to procure Clergymen. A large number of the very best par¬ ishes of the Church are unable at this moment to obtain Rectors, and the demand for Clergymen in every Diocese is larger than the ■supply. There is no hope for the Missionai'y stations and the weak parishes except in a clergy who shall begin their work in the Dio¬ cese of their birth and nurture. Cannot one be found in every par¬ ish who will give himself to the work of the ministry'? And I would ask you, my brethren, as in the sight of God, whether you keep this subject enough before the minds of the young, and whether you press this matter upon the attention of parents and people. You cannot perform, at this juncture, a nobler work for the Church than to lead the young into her ministry, and thus furnish a perpetual supply of young and vigorous men who shall, under the guidance of their Bishop and Presbyters, become active missionaries in the waste places of the Diocese. At this very moment we need at least ten missionaries to place the Diocese in her proper position. In the meanwhile, I would urge the Rectors of the various parish¬ es to do such missionary work as they shall be able to perform in the neighborhoods and villages adjoining their parishes. The Mis¬ sionary Committee would gladly pay any expenses which might be incurred in such wrork, and would think it money well bestowed. My first act during the Conventional year just closed, was the confirmation in the parish of St. Paul's, Augusta, on Sunday, May 16, 1858, of sixteen persons. In the afternoon of the same day, 1 confirmed in the Church of the Atonement, Augusta, six persons. On Wednesday, May, 19, I officiated in the Methodist Church in the town of Griffin, and, after service, organized a parish by the name of St. George s Parish, Griffin. I officiated again the next morning in the same Church, which was very kindly opened to our 15 tree use, and upon this occasion, baptised four infants, confirmed one person, and administered the Holy Communion. In this visit I was accompanied by the Rev. Mr. Rees. This is one of the points at which missionary services ought to be regularly performed, and where a church should be built. If it was united with LaGrangeand an active, industrious, prudent man would take hold of the work, parishes might be established very soon at both points. They are connected by Railroad, and the missionary travelling would be rapid and comfortable. On Tuesday. May 25,1 officiated in Trinity Church, Columbus, and on Wednesday, May 26, confirmed at night twenty-four persons. On Thursday, May 27, I confirmed in the same parish two sick persons, making upon this visitation twenty-six confirmations. I found this parish in a condition of great religious feeling and sur¬ rounded by a community deeply and earnestly interested in spiritual things. Its Rector met this state of feeling in the happiest manner, not by opposition and condemnation, but by judiciously turning it into the channel of the Church and making it useful for the growth and increase of his parish. This seems to be the very best course which the ministers of the church can pursue under such circumstances. And I speak of it in this place, because we, in this Diocese, are peculiarly subject to this particular phase of ministerial difficulty. A community in which the Church exists, becomes spiritually excited. At first it is con. fined to one denomination of christians. By degrees it spreads, and at-last the whole community is involved in it. What is the Cler¬ gy man to do ? He cannot unite with this course of things, because it would involve him in acts contrary to his ordination vows. He can not oppose it with any other result than that of bringing down upon himself and his congregation the odium of the whole commu¬ nity. He has but one course left, and that is to endeavor to turn a part of the interest, at least, into the Church. Let him at once in¬ crease his'services, call in his brethren of the clergy wTho may be nearest to him, and show that if he dare not violate the order of his church, he is not, at least, deficient either in zeal or a regard for re¬ ligious things. He can meet this constantly recurring excitement with success in no other way, and it may afford him an excellent op¬ portunity for exhibiting the spiritual beauty of the Church in favor¬ able contrast with the wild excitement and disorder which some¬ times accompany these occasions. Any thing almost is better than to leave the people under the impression that the Episcopal Church 16 is cold and dead, and has no feeling for that which is interesting everybody else. On June 27, I administered confirmation in Christ Church to a lady who came to Savannah for the special purpose of its reception. The same evening, I visited St. Stephen's Chapel for colored persons, and confirmed two persons. I was obliged, by the earnest desire of the Rector to return im¬ mediately to Trinity Church, Columbus, where I officiated onathe 30th June, and confirmed eighteen persons, making within the month forty-four persons as the fruit of the wise course spoken of just now. From July 2 to July 7,1858,1 was in attendance upon the Board of Trustees of the University of the South at Beersheba Springs, Tennessee. It was a very harmonious meeting, at which all oppo¬ sition to the site was withdrawn, and great progress made in the necessary preliminary work of the University. Commissioners were appointed to raise the endowment, a committee appointed to draft the inner form of the University, and an engineer placed upon the spot to make all the necessary surveys of the landed property of the University. Committees were also arranged for securing titles, laying out turnpikes, and performing such duties as were essen¬ tial to the organization of the work. Upon my return to Savannah, I made a visitation to the Ogeechee Mission under charge of the Rev. Mr. Williams, and confirmed sixty-four persons. The interest in this work is steadily advancing and I have good reason to believe that a mission of the like kind will soon be established upon the Altamaha River. God grant that the planters may all see the great benefit of this labor of love and put it into the hands of the Church. August 10th, I made a special visit to St. Stephen's Chapel, Savannah, and confirmed two persons. From September until the middle of November, I was detained in Savannah by one of those epidemics which demand the whole time and energy of a parish priest. The severity of the epidemic was not to be compared with that of 1854, but it was severe enough to cause great anxiety and demand unceasing attention. Early in December, T resumed my Episcopal duties and confirm¬ ed, Dec. 5, in St. John's Church, Savannah, ten persons, two of whom were from Christ Church. On the 19th December, I confirmed at Deptford, the plantation of Mr. Robert Habersham, under charge of the Rev. Mr. Kennerly, four persons, all servants. 17 On Sunday, January 9, 1859,1 confirmed in Christ Church, Savan¬ nah, nine persons. From January 13 to March 15th, I was absent from the Diocese and by the kind consent of my vestry, from my parish, for the pur¬ pose of procuring the endowment of the University of the South.— The Bishop of Louisiana and myself had been appointed by the Board of Trustees, the Commissioners to canvass the Dioceses asso* ciated in this undertaking. We determined to begin our labors at New-Orleans, and I joined Bishop Polk at that place the end of January. Our intention, when we first met, was to run rapidly over one or two Dioceses, but a few days experience told us that it must be a< work of time. We therefore changed our plan of operations, and made New-Orleans the centre of our work. We there met the planters from all parts of the Mississippi Valley, with whom we put ourselves into communication, and to whom we gave information upon, the plan and purpose of the University. This occupied a great deal of time, but was rewarded by the most cordial, generous, and unanimous response. Without leaving N. Orleans we obtained obligations amounting to more than a quarter of a million of dollars, and could have raised the whole required endowment upon that spot if the time could have been spared for it. Nothing can exceed the unanimous enthusiasm for the project which pervades the whole Southwest, and I feel no sort of doubt, from what I saw in that quarter, that three millions can be raised in the ten Dio¬ ceses for the endowment of this great institution. It will require time, and labor, and patience, but it will be done. There cannot be such a spirit in one quarter of the South and no reflection of it in other parts. It is felt everywhere to be a great necessity, and one which may be remedied upon the plan proposed, and under the auspices of the Episcopal Church. During the season of Lent, I was with my congregation in Sa¬ vannah, and on Sunday morning April 24, Easter-Day, I confirmed in Christ Church seventeen persons. On the evening of the same day I confirmed in St. John's Church, Savannah, eight persons. On Sunday, May 8th, the Missionary Bishop of China officiated in Christ Church in the morning, and in St. John's at night, and gave a very striking exhibition of the hand of the Lord in opening the great empires of China and Japan to the Church of Christ. Sunday, May 15, was spent at Christ Church, St. Simons. In the morning, I officiated in the Church of this venerable parish, the oldest in the Diocese except Christ Church, and confirmed six whites. C 18 The Church edifice stands in the midst of oaks which have bid defi¬ ance to centuries of storm and tempest, fit emblems of the church which they surround and embosom. The evening of the same day, I officiated in the small chapel upon the estate of the Hon. Thomas Butler King, and confirmed four ser- vants. On Monday, May 16, 1 officiated at the plantation of Mr. Horace Gould, upon St. Simon's Island, and baptised one white infant, and confirmed four servants. Sunday, May 22, I admitted in Emmanuel Church, Athens, the Rev. Charles H. Colcy, to the Holy order of Priests. The Rev. Dr. Henderson and the Rev. Mr. Harison united in the laying on of hands. Our young brother has done well in his Diaconate and has won to himself a nobler degree. The evening of the same day, 1 confirmed in Emmanuel Church five persons, four white and one colored. Wednesday Evening, May 25, I made a visitation to St. Ste¬ phen's Chapel, Savannah, and confirmed seven persons. This Mis¬ sion is progressing admirably, and is rapidly growing into perma¬ nent strength under the steady labor of the Rev. Mr. Kennerly. This congregation with its choir and services is a model of church order, and does the training of the Missionary immense credit. Thursday, May 20, I consecrated to the service of Almighty God, St. Paul's Free Chapel in the City of Savannah. This Chapel originated in the legacy of Mrs. Abrahams, of Savannah, to the Bishop of the Diocese, in trust for such a building. This legacy, at the time of its payment to the Wardens and Vestry of St. Paul's Church, amounted to between fourteen and fifteen hundred dollars. Upon this as a basis, Mr. Pryse has been enabled, by indomitable perseverance and noble generosity" on his own part, to erect one of the most beautiful churches in the Diocese at a cost of a little over ten thousand dollars. It is a model for any church of the same size which may hereafter be built in the Diocese. It is arranged for about three hundred sittings, and will be conducted, for the present at least, upon the free seat system, looking for its support to the offertory. A large number of Clergy was present upon the occa¬ sion and added very much to its interest. Sunday, May 29, was spent in Christ Charch, Macon. In the morning, I officiated, preaching and administering the Holy Com¬ munion to a very large body of communicants. Our venerable f, rot er ragg was enabled to be present, and commune with us, 19 although very infirm and tottering. May his latter days be as bright and peaceful as his life has been holy, and may he be spared as our example, so long as his master thinks fit to keep him with his Church upon earth. The night of the same Lord's day, I confirmed in Christ Church, Macon, twelve persons, eleven white and one colored. There was one very interesting feature in this confirmation, and a very hopeful one to the Rector. I allude to the very large number of young men who were confirmed upon the occasion, eight out of twelve being of that class of persons. I have been prevented from visiting several of the parishes du¬ ring the past year, because of the four months which were taken from me by the epidemic of last summer and the work for the Uni¬ versity of the South. I will take the earliest opportunity of visiting these parishes and administering the rite of confirmation. And I would embrace this opportunity of saying to my Reverend brethren that if they will learn to be content with visits upon other days than Sunday, I could be with them much more frequently than I am. During the past year, I have received from the Diocese of Ken¬ tucky the Rev. Judson M. Curtis, who is the Rector of St. Stephen's Church, Milledgeville; from the Diocese of Western New-York, the Rev. S. G. Hayward, who labored for a little while at Zion Church, Talbotton, but whose health has compelled him to relinquish all labor and return to the North; from the Diocese of Connecti¬ cut, the Rev. Samuel Benedict, who is settled at Marietta. I have ordained the Rev. Chas. H. Coley to the priesthood. The Rev. Dr. Carmichael resigned the charge of St. Stephen's, Milledgeville, and has been transferred to New-York. The Rev. Andrew F. Freeman has accepted a call to Grace Church, Clarkesville, but has not yet been transferred to this Diocese. Four candidates for Holy Orders have been received during the past year, namely, Dr. John D. Easter, Professor of Natural Philosophy in the University of Georgia; Mr. Samson D. Laney, late a preacher among the Methodists; Mr. Francis R. Starr, of Colum¬ bus, and Mr. George W. Easter, of Emmanuel Church, Athens. Of these candidates three are pursuing their studies in connection with the Rectors of their respective parishes, and Mr. Geo. W. Easter is at the Theological Seminary of Virginia. It gave me great pleasure to consent to the consecration of the Rev. Dr. Bowman as Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania. He is a most valuable acquisition to the Bench of Bishops. 20 Since our last meeting as a Convention, the Church has been called to mourn the death of two of her Bishops, the Missionary Bishop of the South West and the Bishop of New Jersey. Bishop Freeman was one of those laborious Ministers of the Church who give their lives to her service and wear themselves out in preparing the way of the Church. No one who has not labored in such a field, can estimate the self-denial and self-sacrifice of a Missionary Episco¬ pate. In the settled Dioceses of the Church, every thing is prepared to the hand. Wherever the Bishop goes, he is received by practised Churchmen, officiates in well arranged buildings to settled congrega¬ tions, and is called upon to endure simply the labor of the services and the toil of Diocesan administration. But in our new Dioceses nothing is ready for the Bishop. He makes his way, as he can, through forest and thicket, through swamps and floods, to find out the children of the Church, and ascertain if he can, by any means, mould them into shape. There is no Parochial organization, no Church buildings, no means of ministerial support and often no desire for Church privileges. He finds at one point a single family, at another a single communicant, here a churchman who has wan¬ dered away and forgotten his allegiance, and there another who has renounced his vows and is sneering at the mother who trained him to manhood. Out of such materials, with very little sympathy and still less aid, he is expected to build up a Diocese, and if he fails, is harshly judged by the Church. But that Church really/ knows nothing of the enormous difficulties which surround a Missionary Bishop in the South West. She cannot judge of it by any measure but experience, and of that she has none. The North West bears- no similarity to the South West. That is filled up rapidly by emigration, the emigration of churchmen. This increases very slowly from emigration, and those emigrants made up, for the most part, of frontier people who know nothing of the Church. The one, being a farming country collects rapidly into thick neighborhoods and creates market towns ; the other being an agricultural popula¬ tion, isolates itself in the midst of large tracts of land and feels no necessity for any towns save one great mart for buying and selling. The one accustomed to the Church, feels the need of its services and calls immediately for a supply; the other has never known anything but an infrequent itinerancy and craves nothing more permanent. And thus, while the Northwest matures rapidly into strong Dioceses, the South West makes but slow progress, and the Church appears to halt from inefficiency. But it is not so. No men have labored 21 more earnestly and more devotedly than the Missionary Bishops of the South West, and the names of Polk, and Otey, and Freeman, will be turned to, in future times, as the Patriarchs of the Church in the great valley of the Mississippi■, men who have sacrificed home, health, talents, money, for the perfecting of their work. The last of these has gone to his rest, in a good old age, literally worn out in his Master's service. Disease and domestic afflictions gathered over his declining- years, but God's peace was with him, and he is now with Christ awaiting the reward of his faithful work in the Ministry and the Episcopate. 1 cannot refrain, in this connection, from bringing to the notice of the Church the condition of our Missionary Bishops. It is a misera¬ bly hard one and ought to be remedied. No man likes to refuse a hard lot when it is put upon him—it looks as if he were shrinking from the service of the Lord. And yet no man's lot should be made harder than is necessary. No officer, who had the manliness of a soldier, would shrink from entering any breach he might be commanded to occupy, but what would be thought of a comman¬ der who put his officers upon such service and gave them neither soldiers to support them, nor arms and ammunition for the struggle. And yet this is just what the Church requires of her Missionary Bish¬ ops. They are commanded to make bricks but are furnished with no straw. They are sent out to the hardest fields of the world to battle for Christ and his Church—to Texas, to Arkansas, to Oregon, to Africa, to China, without men, with but a miserable pittance for support, with no resources Scholars, white 18, colored 5. Total 23 Contributions. Communion Alms, - $54 82 Missions—Diocesan, - - - - 25 00 Domestic, - - 19 00 Foreign, - 14 50 Parsonage Fund, - - - - 291 46 Books and Periodicals for Sunday School, 12 00 Permanent Episcopal Fund, - 16 50 Widows and Orphans Fund, 17 05 Bishop's Salary, - - - - - 10 00 Convention Fund, - - - 9 00 Total Contributions, - $469 33 Through the generous help of friends connected with Christ Church, Savannah,—for which we feel most grateful —we have been able promptly to discharge so much of the debt on the parsonage as became due within the past year, and also to make some important improvements on the house. The rendition of St. Peter's Parish, whether considered in its temporal or spiritual relations, "appears to be decidedly more encouraging than at any former period ; and we have abundant cause for devout gratitude to the Great Head of the Church, for the favor and guidance hitherto vouchsafed us, and every reason to cherish an humble confidence, that He will continue to bless our efforts in His Holy service. St. Philip's Church—Atlanta. REV. RICHARD JOHNSON, RECTOR. Baptisms—Adult whites 2, infants 7. Total, - 9 Candidates for Confirmation, - - - - 15 49 Confirmations—White, - . 1 Communicants—Added 14, died I, removed 1. Pres- ent number, - _ 61 Marriages—White, - 2 Burials—White infants, - - - _ 2 Sunday School Teachers, - 4 " " Scholars, white, - 27 Contributions. Communion Alms, - $27 00 Diocesan Missions, - 8 50 Parochial purposes—Rector's Salary, 325 00 Permanent Episcopal Fund, 5 50 Widows and Orphans Fund, 6 00 Total Contributions, $372 00 The Communicants of this Church have increased within five years and six months from fifteen to sixty-one. The at¬ tendance at public worship is larger than it ever has been. A Sewing Society has been formed, which is contributing largely to the comfort of the Rector. The congregation is increasing in interest and numbers regularly. Zion Church—Talbotton. REV. S. G. I-IAYWARD, LATE RECTOR. Communicants, - Sunday School Teachers, <* " Pupils, Contributions. Communion Alms, - Diocesan Missions, ($2,35 by Sunday School,) Parochial purposes, - Total Contributions, Advent Church—Madison. REV. C. H. COLEY, RECTOR. Baptisms—Adults, white, « Infants, " 1, colored 2. Total, G 6 3 16 $3 00 4 85 18 00 $25 85 2 3— 5 50 Candidates for Confirmation.—White, - - 4 Communicants—Added 3, removed 3. Present number, 12 Marriages—Colored; - 2 Sunday School Teachers, - 4 « " Pupils—White 17, colored 3. Total, 20 Contributions. Communion Alms, Missions—Diocesan, Domestic, Foreign, Parochial purposes, Bishop's Salary, - Total Contributions, Though little change has taken place in the condition of the Parish during the past year, yet the Missionary feels cheered by certain evidences around him, that the Lord and Master has not failed to look down upon and bless this por¬ tion of his vineyard. The ladies of Christ Church and St. John's, Savannah, have presented us with a handsome silver communion ser¬ vice, in which was included a basin of the same material for baptismal services. We trust we may be again allowed to offer our heartfelt thanks to these kind friends for their generous gift. Nor have we been without kind friends at home. Through the liberality of a lady, a new and zealous member of the Parish, and of our senior warden, the Church has been thoroughly painted and otherwise repaired. Sur¬ rounded by handsome trees and shrubbery, and the whole enclosed by a neat paling, the building now presents a beauti¬ ful appearance, and is an o'rnameut to the town. We feel very grateful for all these manifestations of love and kindness towards the Church. May God abundantly bless these "cheerful givers," and incline their hearts to continue in fervent love towards Him, and in perfect charity with all men. - $10 25 15 00 20 00 1-0 00 92 45 10 00 $157 80 St. Paul's Church—Albany. REV. J. IT. GEORGE, RECTOR. Baptisms—Adults, white . 3 " Infants, " 2, colored 3, - 5 s Communicants Added 4, removed 4. Present number 93 Marriages—White .1, colored 1. Total, - - 2 Burials—White 6, colored 1. Total, - - 7 Sunday School Teachers, - - _ _ ■ 5 Pupils, white 30, colored 25. Total, 55 Contributions. Communion Alms, - $72 05 Missions—Foreign, - - - . 7 00 Sunday School Contribution - - - 13 01 Bishop's Salary, - - - - 25 00 Total, - - - - - $117 06 In concluding this report I would remark that the Church continues to increase steadily, and quite a number are now awaiting confirmation. During the fall and winter, I have obtained a subscription amounting to some two thousand Dollars, with a fair pros¬ pect of increasing it to build a parsonage, and a suitable building for the Parish School, which is now in a very flourishing condition. It is our purpose to push forward this work as rapidly as possible, so as to have it completed by the close of the year. The ladies of the congregation with their characteristic zeal in whatever they undertake, have obtained some five or six hundred dollars to purchase an organ, and are corres¬ ponding with organ builders to obtain a suitable instrument for the Church, and they hope soon to hear the sound of the organ to assist them in their attempts to worship God in the beauty of holiness. I cannot close these remarks without expressing my un¬ feigned thanks to the whole community, as well as my particular congregation, for their many acts of kindness and expressions of sympathy in our deep afliictions during the past year, and especially to that beloved brother of Christ 52 Church, Macon, who with great self-denial and promptness, came once and again to bury the dead and comfort us in our afflictions. May the Great Head of the Church think upon him for these acts of kindness, and abundantly reward him for this labor of love. Church of the Atonement—Augusta. REV. W. H. IIARISON, RECTOR. Baptisms—White adults 6, infants 27. Total . 33 Confirmations, White, .... 6 Communicants—Added 10, died 2, removed 6. Pres¬ ent number, . . . .30 Marriages—White, . . .2 Burials—White, . \ . .18 Sunday School Teachers, . . .9 " " Scholars, white, . . 75 Contributions. Communion Alms . . . $70 01 Missions—Diocesan, . . . 18 60 Domestic, . . . 36 00 Foreign, . . . 20 68 Parochial purposes, . . . 1,700 00 Special Benevolent Objects, . . 32 00 Permanent Episcopal Fund, . . 26 10 Widow's and Orphan's Fund, . . 21 60 Bishop's Salary, . . . 25 00 Total Contributions, . . $1,949 99 Church of the Messiah—St. Marys. NO RECTOR. Communicants—White 12, colored l. Total, 13 MILLER HALLOWES, Senior Warden. & 53 Church of the Good Shepherd—Cave Spring. REV. WM. H. CLARKE, MISSIONARY, IN CHARGE. Baptisms—Infants, colored, ... 4 Confirmations—l candidate. ■ Communicants—Added 1, died 3, removed 2. Present number, ..... 6 Burials—White 1, colored 1. Total, . . 2 The above statement covers three years, and includes ser¬ vices rendered by the Rev. Rector of St. Paul's Church, Au¬ gusta. Church of the Ascension—Cass County. REV. WM. H. CLARKE, MISSIONARY IN CHARGE. Communicants—Present number, . . 4 This excludes those who are reported in Savannah. Ascension Church had been closed for several years, when I officiated there on two occasions, last summer, and it, like the Church of the Good Shepherd, has at present little more than a nominal existence. It is advisable, however, that services be resumed at each station with some degree of re¬ gularity, as large and attentive congregations, composed of persons who are not Episcopalians, may be expected on every occasion of public worship. And in order to supply this service, I would suggest, as * the most feasible plan, the appointment of an additional Missionary at Rome, with whom the resident Rector might act in Concert, and thus keep up a fixed series of ministra¬ tions in the adjoining country without the necessity of clos¬ ing the Parish Church from time to time. Ogeechee Mission. REV. WM. C. WILLIAMS, MISSIONARY. Baptisms—Adults, colored, - - 21 " Infants, " - 3(5 57 Confirmations—Colored, - 64 Communicants—Added 38, restored 1, died 5, repelled 7. Present number, - - 848 * Marriages—Colored, - 22 54 Burials—White 3, not of Mission, colored 31. Total 34 Sunday School Pupils—Colored, - - 330 Contributions. Communion Alms, ... - $54 70 Foreign Missions, - - - - 2G 50 Parochial Purposes, - - - - 40 00 Special Benevolent Objects, - - - 10 00 Bishop's Salary, - - - - 10 00 Total, - - - 141 20 During the past year the Mission has enjoyed many tokens of Divine favor. The average attendance through the year has been larger than ever before. The Missionary continues to devote much of his time to the plantation schools, with encouraging results. On Sunday last he had the satisfaction of baptizing six of those who had been trained in his schools, and another class of six or eight are only awaiting his return to present themselves for the same holy sacrament. These will all be brought forward for confirmation at the next visit of the Bishop. 1 One of the Planters, has, since the last annual report, com- commenced and completed, sufficiently for use, a neat and commodious Chapel for the people of his plantation. A country Mission, and a people without time piecfes, our greatest need has been a Bell. This coming to the knowl¬ edge of a generous layman of St. John's Church, Savannah, he determined that the want should be supplied. Other friends came forward and offered to unite in the purchase, but he declined all aid. The Bell weighs six hundred pounds and can be heard at the extremes of the Mission. The sound of the Church going Bell has not yet been heard, as the Missionary wished, in building a tower, for the Bell, at the same time to provide additional accommodations, as the Church is often crowded to overflowing and many have to go away from inability to procure admittance. Funds, nearly, if not quite sufficient, are already provided. 55 St. Stephen's Chapel, in City of Savannah and adja¬ cent Plantations. IIEV. S. W. KENNEELY, MISSIONARY. Baptisms—Adults, colored, 3 " Children, white 1. colored 7, - 8 11 Confirmations—Colored, - - . n Communicants—Added 1, died I, removed 1, repelled 1. Present number, ... §0 Marriages—Colored, ' - - . 7 Burials—Colored, - 5 Sunday School—Superintendants 2, teachers 8, 10 " " Pupils, average attendance at St. Stephen's Chapel, 60. On Plantations 35, 95 Contributions. Communion Alms and weekly collections and from other sources, from the congregation attending the services of the Chapel, - - $241 29 Foreign Mission—For Mission in Africa, by Sunday- School Class under the'care of Mrs. Mary Elliott, St. Stephen's Chapel Sunday School contributions since last Convention, as reported by Mrs. P. M. Kollock, - Expenditures. For repairs of Chapel, Gas Fixtures and expenses incidental to the efficient carrying on Divine wor¬ ship, Balance in Treasury, Outstanding debts now due, The Missionary has endeavored to stir up the colored con¬ gregation under his charge to the duty of contributing, according to their several abilities, weekly, for the defraying the necessary expenses incidental to the regular conducting, of Divine service, which has hitherto been more heavy in consequence of numerous little necessary repairs called for by the condition of the old building which we use as a temporary Chapel—they have responded cheerfully, and I may add, with a fine christian and church feeling, to his call. * The Missionary reports the Mission in a healthy and pros- 1 50 13 00 192 46 48 SI 77 00 56 perous condition. St. Stephen's Chapel, the portion of the Mission within the City of Savannah, gives weekly and monthly, steady and increasing promisefor good,especially in the stability, regularity and order of her members, amidst the continued violent outside pressure by which they are sur¬ rounded. Seven of the above reported confirmations were in the Chapel. The Mission on the plantations has been more encour¬ aging the past year. Things seem to be taking the right direction, and an influence encouraging and strengthening to faith and hope is plainly manifesting itself. The Missionary is encouraged in his work. Savannah City Mission. REV. JOHN T. PRYSE MISSIONARY. The following services have been performed by me as City Missionary, since the last Convention. Baptisms—Infants, white, - - - 13 Marriages—White, - - - - 6 Burials—White, ----- 37 Read [Service and preached in Savannah and other places in the Diocese 19 times. Read Service and preached in divers places out of the Diocese 6 times. Administered the Holy Communion and assisted in the same, 6 times. Administered the Holy Communion to sick persons in pri¬ vate 7 times. By invitation of the Wardens and Vestry of St. John's Church, Savannah, I consented to take temporary charge of that Church, from the 23d of July last, to the 25th of Sept. following. Bnt on the appearance of the late epidemic in the city, I voluntarily continued my pastoral care of the congregation until the disappearance of the fever, on the 12th Nov. last. My official acts during my connection with St. John's Church, have been reported to the Rector, and are included in the statistics of that Parish. 57 In addition to the above ministerial duties, I have been engaged in raising means for the completion of St. Paul's Free Church, and much of my time has been devoted, du- the past year, to the superintendance of the work. While I express my devout thankfulness to the Great Head of the Church for blessing my labors, I desire also to record my grateful acknowledgement to the members of the Church in Savannah, who so generously aided me to bring the un¬ dertaking to a successful completion. On the 31st of December last I resigned my appointment as City Missionary in Savannah, and having been since then elected by the Wardens and Vestry of St. Paul's Church as Rector, I accepted that appointment on the 25th May. St. Paul's Free Church—Savannah. REV. JOHN T. PRYSE, RECTOR. St. Paul's Church was consecrated to the service ot Al¬ mighty God, by the Rt. Rev. the Bishop of the Diocese, on Thursday, the 26th May, at which date I entered upon my duties as Rector. Baptisms—Adult, white, . . - - 1 Communicants—White, - - - - 12 Burials—White, - _ _ - - 1 Sunday School Teachers, - - - - 7 « " Scholars, - - * - 18 Contributions. Through the Offertory, - - " $75 15 St. Mark's Church—Brunswick. Communicants—Present number, - Sunday School Teachers, « " Scholars, - - " Contributions. Communion Alms, - H 12 4 $9 00 TO THE RT. REV. STEPHEN ELLIOTT, D. D., Bishop of Georgia. Since the date of my last annual report, I have been en¬ gaged as heretofore, in rendering occasional assistance to the Rectors of both Churches in Augusta, chiefly to the Rec¬ tor of St. Paul's. My connexion as Missionary with St. George's Church, at Kaolin, S. C., ceased on the 4th of July, 185S, when I took charge of St. Paul's, Augusta for four months. JOHN NEELY. MILLEDGEVILLE, June 2, 1859. Rt. Rev. Stephen Elliott, D. D., Bishop of the Diocese of Georgia. I am still engaged in the duties of teaching. I have baptized one child and married three couples. Truly your servant, GEORGE MACAULEY. Abstract Parochial Reports Diocsse of Georgia, to tlie Annual Convention, June, 1859. Baptisms. a Communicants. v- S3 ,S. Schools. Contributions. 1 CHURCHES. | Infants, - a. c g] 3 3) x a. a. o a. a o' _a. a. SlLf ZJ — ■ Qu ^ D 1 3 1 -* Present Number. S §' og e p" i E? | | ■3 i-a o Communion Alms. o o e S o" •j c c o' s Korei^n Missions o = ° w 5 ° o I H s 1 j RECTOKS. Christ Savannah, 49 4 • .)o ■29 25 i 6 •rfi W 24 . 10 ;R 132 H2:s 40 '.52 001291 00 11870 00 44 00 4405 22 Solo 62 Kt Rev S Elliott, DD St. Paul's, Augusta, 43 2 45 10 28 2 IS l 182 6 25 i 12 I 180 192 394 35 180 17 52 00 1588 90 2259 4< 'Rev E JJ Ford, D D Christ. St. Simons 3 2 5 14 1 4 54 1 4 ■ 4 65 14 00 20 00 38 65 !tev 11 P Brown, Christ, Macon. 14 2 10 12 15 1 114 6 9 : 17 107 124 150 27 SS 70 35 10 160 00 885 00 1319 07 llev II K Roes. Trinity. Columlms, 38 12 50 44 38 7 11 1(50 3 17 i 1!. 140 150 303 911 75 00 120 75 73 15 5S4 43 1157 '24 Rev Wm N Hawks, Grace, Clarkesville, 1 0 1 20 o ■■<5 41 27 00 40 00 67 00 Rev A F Freeman, St. John's, Savannah, - 27 *2 29 16 23 2 24 189 6 15 17 105 122 360 12 300 00;161 07 17 201 •201 50 5276 13 636.7 82 Rev G II Clark, St. Stephen's, Millodgevillo. - f> 5 2 20 2 4 10 23 17 80 68 00 103 00 Rev J M Curtis, St. Andrew's Darien, - 6 0 4 1 l 114 1 2 5 22 27 43 79 82 ('.3 453 00 578 82 Kev S J Pinkcrton, St. David's, Glynn County, - 10 27 00 350 00 377 00 Rev E P Brown, Rev Sam'l Benedict, St. James', Marietta, 0 3 12 10 9 46 3 12 SI 93 73 40 28 00 16 00 IS 65 1097 12 1233 17 Emmanuel, Athens, 9 7 10 5 11 13 55 1 9 42 51 63 33 23 75 25 35 401 03 513 46 llev M II Henderson, D P St. Peter's, Rome, la 2 15 7 1 2 47 1 <3 5 31 36 54 S2 25 00 19 00 14 50 356 01 469 33 Kev \Vm 11 Clarke, St. Philips, Atlanta, 7 2 9 1 14 1 1 61 2 2 4 27 31 27 00 8 50 336 50 372 00 Rev Richard Johnson, Zion. Talbotton, - 6 3 16 19 3 00 4 85 18 00 25 85 Rev S G Hay ward. Advent., Madison, 3 2 - 5 3 3 12 2 4 20 24 10 35 15 00 20 00 10 00 102 45 157 80 llev Charles H Coley. St. Paul's, Albany, 5 3 S 4 4 93 ■> 7 5 5." 6m 72 05 7 00 3S 00 117 06 Rev J H George. Atonement, Augusta, - 27 6 33 C 10 2 6 30 2 IS G 75 Si 70 01 IS €ii 36 00 20 68 1804 70 1949 99 Rev Win 11 Ilarisi n. Messiah, St. Marys, 13 | Ascension, Cass County, 4 Rev Wm II Clarke, Good Shepherd, Cave Spring. 4 4 1 3 2 0 1 2 i Rev Wm H Clarke, St. James'. Ogeec.hee, - 36 21 57 i'4 o'J 5 7 34S 22; 31 o'il 330 54 70 26 50 60 00 141 20 liev Wm C Williams, St. Stephens. Savannah, TE>I35: r?- DR. Missionary Committee, Diocese of Georgia, in Acc't with J. S. Hutton, Treasurer, CB. To Paid Rev. Richard Johnson, No. 1, - - $70 00 " " " Jas. D. Gibson, '• 2, - - 55 00 " " " E. P. Brown, "3, - - 115 50 " " u Dr. Henderson, "5, - - 232 40 " " " W. H. Clarke, " 5, - 241 00 " " " S. J. Pirikerton, " 6, - - 68 00 " " " W. H. Harison, " 7, - 210 00 " " " Administrator of Rev. W. P. Gehagan, No. 8, 137 66 $1229 56 Cash now on hand, Balances Due on 1st May, 1859. To Rev. E. P. Brown, " " Dr. Henderson, " " W. H. Clarke, " " S. J. Pinkerton, " " W. H. Harison, 153 34 $!382Jt0 $9 50 90 25 128 00 90 00 135 00 By Cash from St. John's Church, Savannah, Convention " Sermon, Contributions, St. James' Church, Marietta, Rome, Augusta, - Glynn cointy, Savannah, Guy L. St. Peter's St. Paul's " St. David's '' Christ " Warren, Esq., A Family, Contribution, Emmanuel Church, Athens, Christ " Macon, Zion " Talbotton, Sunday School, Contribution, Church of the Atonement, Augusta, Christ Church, St. Simons, Balance on hand at last Statement, Missionary Stations and Salaries. Rev. E. P. Brown, St. Simons, W. H. Harison, Augusta, A. F. Freeman, Clarkesville, W. H, Clarke, Rome, Dr. Henderson, Athens, 152- 70 213- 2 55 3 00- -300 00 28 00 25 00 180 17 27 00 -293 00 23 75 37 40 5 35 18 60 18 50 77 426 13 $1382 90 $S0 00 200 00 150 00 250 00 200 00 $452 75 $880 00 .A-^IFIEIISriDIIX: o. Dr. John M. Guerard, Treasurer of the Diocese of Georgia, in account with the Diocese. Cr. 135S. May 8, To balance ree'd from former Treasurer, $107 30 am't ree'd for Bishop's salary, as follows : 10 00 250 00 28 25 36 25 25 00 ] 0 00 10 00 100 00 10 00 200 00 10 00 from Ogeechee Mission, Trinity Church, Columbus, Christ Church, St. Simons, St. David's, Glynn County, St. James', Marietta, Zion Church, Talbotton, Emmanuel Church, Athens, St. John's Church, Savannah, Advent Church, Madison, St. Paul's Church, Augusta, St. Peter's, Rome, Church of the Atonement, Augusta, 25 00 St. Andrew's Church, Darien, 25 00 Christ Church, Savannah, 500 00 16, 18o9. Jan. S, Feb. 24, April 18, 26, May 31, June 1, 1858. May 8, To amount received for Convention expenses : from Trinity Church, Columbus, $28 20 " St. Peter's " Rome, 9 00 " St. Paul's " Augusta, 32 60 " Christ " Macon, 21 40 Christ Church, Macon, 300 00 St. John's Church, Savannah, 45 00 St. Paul's Church, Augusta, 300 00 Christ Church, Savannah, 500 00 St. John's Church, Savannah, 205 00 St. Stephen's, Church, Milledgeville, 10 00- 2,706 80 1858. June 7. By amount paid Bishop Elliott, No. 3, $350 00 15. " u it u " " 4, 120 00 Aug. 9. (I u u a << " 5, 200 00 Dec. 16. U u U W u " 6, 500 00 1859. Jan. 8. u u u u it " 7, 360 00 April 23. I < u u u " 8, 350 00 26. u Kl U <( u " 9, 500 00 May 25 u (( u u u " 10, 120 00 $2,500 00 1858. Jan 1. By amount paid Convention expenses : Rev. W. C. Williams, Secretary, con¬ tingent expenses, Voucher 1, $ 10 00 3. G. N. Nichols, for Printing, u 2, 119 00— 129 00 By Balance, ----- 305 60 " St. Andrew's, Darien, 10 00 " Christ " St. Simon's, 5 20 " St. David's, Glynn, 4 00 " St. James', Marietta, 9 00 June 15, " St. John's " Savannah, 37 40 Dec. 11, " Church of the Atonement, Augusta, 5 60 1859. May 2, " Christ Church, Savannah, 52 40 " Zion " Talbotton, 13 00— 227 80 $2,934 60 June 1. To balance, $305 60 $'2,934 60 JOHN M. GUERARD, Treasurer of the Diocese of Georgia. 64 (.AIPIPZEHSroilX ID.) Report of the Wardens of Christ Church, Savannah, relation to the Fund for the relief of the Widows and Orphans of deceased Clergymen. In pursuance of the instructions of the Wardens and Vestry of Christ Church,, Savannah, that the Wardens of said Church should make a report, on Easter Monday, in relation to the fund for the relief of the Widows and Orphans of deceased Clergymen of the Diocese of Georgia, they beg leave to REPORT. That on Easter Monday last, there was a balance in their hands, as by their report then made, of - - $1563 72 That they have since received the following sums, con¬ tributed by the respective Parish as follows : Rev. W. H. Ilarison, Church of the Atonement, Augusta, - $23 81 Rev. W. N. Hawks, Trinity Church, - 20 85 Rt. Rev. Stephen Elliott, Christ Church, Savannah, 121 22 Rev. W. II. Clarke, St. Peter's Church, Rome, 17 05 Rev. W. H. Ilarison, Church of the Atonement, Augusta, - - - - 21 60 Rev. Geo. H. Clark, St. John's Church, Savannah, 41 63 Wm. Root, Treasurer, St. James, Marietta, 12 30—258 46 1822 18 And that they have made the following investments : 1858, May 31, One Bond City of Savannah, No. 93, $1000, redeemable 1st December, 1888, coupons pay¬ able 1st June and Dec,, at 7 per cent., at $91, $910 00 1858, July 9, One Bond City of Savannah, No. 38, $1000 redeemable as above, coupons paya¬ ble as above, at $95, - - - 950 00 1859, July 11, Paid 6 months interest on $300, borrowed to make last investment, viz: from July to January, - . . - 10 5S-1870 53 In Dec. 1858, they received for the two coupons on the City Bonds $1000 each due Dec. 1, - - 70 00 Leaving a balance in the hands of the Wardens of - $21 -65 65 Your Committee would request that a copy of this report be furnished by the Secretary of the Vestry to the next Dio¬ cesan Convention. Your Committee would recommend that contributions to this fund be made by the several Parishes as early after Jan¬ uary of each year as possible, and that such contributions be made direct to the Wardens of Christ Church, Savannah. All of which is respectfully submitted. WM. P. HUNTER, \ Wardens of Christ WM. H. CUYLER, / Church, Savannah. Savannah, Easter Monday, April 25, 1859. 1 certify the above to be a true copy from the Minutes of Christ Church. GEO. A. CUYLER, Sec'y of the Vestry. Savannah, May 31, 1859. I -^ipiFiEJisroizx: :E. Permanent Fnnd for th.e Support of tlie Episcopate. DR. James Camak, Treasurer, in Account with Episcopal Fund. CR. 1858. May 8, Cash on hand at last report, $719 84 10, Received interest on $419 for one year, 29 40 10, Cash from St. Paul's Church, Augusta, 46 00 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, St. Stephen's " Mill'ville, 7 75 St. Peter's " Rome, 19 60 Christ " Macon, 45 00 Church of Atonement, Aug'sta, 36 25 Trinity Church, Columbus, 100 00 1858. May 16, By Cash paid for Ala. & F. R. R. Bond, $1003 84 $1,003 84 $1003 84 CONSTITUTION OF THE JMtsiant <%kopI <%rc|, or THE DIOCESE OF GEORGIA. Article 1. The Church of this Diocese, as a constituent part of the Protestant Episcopal Church, of the United States of America, accedes to, recognizes, and adopts, the general Constitution of that Church, and acknowledges its authority acccordingly. Art. II. A Convention of this Church shall be held at such time of each year and place as the previous Convention may appoint, provided, however, that no Convention shall be opened for the trans¬ action of business unless there be present at least two clergymen, and delegates from two congregations. And in case no Convention be formed, the standing officers of the last Conventiun (.shall hold their respective offices until successors shall be appointed. Art. III. The Bishop, or, if the Episcopate be vacant, the Stand¬ ing Committee, shall have power, when it appears requisite for the good of the Church, to call a special Convention, by a circular let¬ ter to the several Churches. There shall not be less than four weeks notice previous to the day appointed, and such meeting shall be holden where the authority calling it shall determine, and at such Special Convention, no other business shall be transacted than that stated in the notice calling the Convention. Art. IV. The Convention shall be composed of Clergymen and Laymen. Every Clergymen in good standing, regularly setttled, and continuously exercising clerical functions in any existing Par¬ ish or who shall have been for six months last past performing missionary duties under the direction of the ecclesiastical authority of this Diocese, shall be entitled to the privileges of a member of the Convention; and every duly recognized Minister of this Church canonical ly resident for six months last past within the diocese, being engaged in the business of literary instruction, or disabled by reason of age or infirmity from exercising clerical functions, 68 shall be entitled to all the privileges of a member of the Conven¬ tion, with the exception of a right to vote. Each church or congre¬ gation in union with this Convention shall be entitled to a represen¬ tation by one Lay Delegate or more, not exceeding three, to be chosen from its own body, by the Wardens and Vestrymen thereof; provided, however, that the Minister, or in his absence, the Delegate or Delegates present at any Convention, may supply any vacancy in the delegation, if he or they should find, at the place of meeting, a member or members of the congregation which they are empow¬ ered to represent. Art. V. New Parishes may be admitted into union with this Convention by a majority of votes : provided, that they shall have laid before the Convention, written evidence, subscribed by the Wardens, that they accede to the Constitution and Canons of this Church, and are regularly organized, by the election of two War¬ dens, and any number of Vestrymen, at discretion, not exceeding eight. Art. VI. Every meeing of the Convention shall be opened with Morning Prayer, and a Sermon delivered on the first day of the Convention, by a Preacher appointed at the preceding Convention ; a Sermon on Missions shall also be preached some time during the sitting of each Convention, when a collection shall be made in aid of Missions within the Diocese. The appointment of both Preach¬ ers, with substitutes, shall be made by the Bishop, or, in his absence^ by the President of the Convention. Art. VII. The Convention shall deliberate and act as one body, unless when a member shall call for a division on any question, in which case, each clerical member shall be entitled to one vote, and the lay delegates of each congregation jointly to one vote, and a ma- jority of both orders shall be necessary to a decision. Art. VIII. The Bishop of the Diocese shall be ex-officio President of the Convention. In case there be no Bishop, or, in his absence, a presiding officer shall be elected from the clerical members present. Art. IX. At each annual meeting of the Convention, a Secre¬ tary, and Treasurer shall be chosen, to hold their respective offices until the next annual Convention, or until successors shall be ap¬ pointed. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to receive, or cause to be received, at each annual Convention, the assessments upon the Parishes of the Diocese for defraying the incidental expenses of the Convention and the support of the Episcopate—and also to pay the Bishop quarterly, in advance, the amount of salary pledged to him 69 by this Convention ; making a faithful return of all these his acts in his annual report to the Convention of this Church. Art. X. A Standing Committee shall be chosen at each annual meeting of this Convention, to consist of three clerical and three lay members ; of the time and place of whose meetings due notice in writing shall be given to all the members thereof, at least one week before the time of such meeting. At a meeting thus notified, any four members shall constitute a quorum. The Standing Committee shall meet as soon as practicable after their election, and choose a President and Secretary from among their own number, and it shall be the duty of the President to call a meeting of the committee whenever he shall be required to do so by any three members of the committee. Vacancies in this committee caused by death, resigna¬ tion, or otherwise, shall be supplied by the suffrages of the remain¬ ing members. Art. XI. The Convention shall triennially, at the session imme¬ diately preceding the meeting ot the General Convention, elect four Clergymen and four Laymen, as Deputies to the General Conven¬ tion. The Deputies so elected shall be authorized to represent this Diocese, in that or any special General Convention, till their succes¬ sors are chosen. They shall be empowered, in the absence of one or more of their colleagues, to appoint in the place of such delegate or delegates, any citizen or citizens of this state ; provided that such citizen or citizens be a member or members of the Protestant Epis¬ copal Church in this Diocese; or, if it be inconvenient for any del¬ egate or delegates to proceed to the place of meeting, the Bishop is authorized to appoint others in their place. In case of a vacancy in the Episcopate, the power hereby conferred on the Bishop shall be exercised by the Standing Committee. Art. XII. A proposition for altering and amending this Consti¬ tution shall be introduced in writing, and considered in Convention, and if approved by a majority, shall lie over to the next Convention, when upon consideration again if it be approved b^ a majority of the Convention, it shall be adopted. Art. XIII. In all elections by ballot, a majority of votes shall be required for a choice. 70 CANONS. Canon I. Each Church duly represented in the Convention shall pay, or cause to be paid, into the hands of the Ireasurer of the Convention, the sum of twenty cents for each white communi¬ cant annually for defraying the incidental expenses of the Convention. Canon II. In case of any clergyman of this Diocese shall be ac¬ cused of error in doctrine, immorality of life, or neglect, or trans¬ gression of any of the Canons of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States, or this Diocese, it shall be the duty of any two or more clergymen, or of the wardens and vestrymen of the Church of which he is Rector, or to which he may belong, who shall have knowledge or belief of such misdemeanor, to represent the same to the Bishop, or, in case there be no Bishop, to the Standing Com¬ mittee of the Diocese, in the event of such representation, it shall be the duty of the Bishop, or, if there be no Bishop, the Standing Committee, if he or they shall deem the charge or charges worthy of investigation, forthwith to notify the accused of such charges, together with the time and place appointed for trial. The mode of trial shall be as follows : The Bishop or Standing Committee, as the case may be, shall appoint a number of Presbyters, not less than five, of whom the person accused may select a majority, by whom to be tried. The result of the trial shall be made known to the Bishop, or, if there be no Bishop to the Standing Committee, who shall pronounce and execute, or cause to be pronounced and execu¬ ted, such sentence as may be awarded, should the same by him or them be deemed just and proper. Should the sentence be suspension or degradation from the min- istry, the Bishop, or Provisional Bishop, or, should there be none, some neighboring Bishop, shall be required to pronounce the same. Should it be impossible to obtain from the Diocese the requisite number of Presbyters to constitute a board of trial, the deficiency may be supplied from a neigboring Diocese. Should any clergyman, accused and cited for trial according to the provisions of this Canon, neglect or refuse to obey the citation, such neglect or refusal shall be considered as an acknowledgement of the truth of the charges preferred against him, and sentence shall be pronounced accordingly. ' Canon III. The Convention shall appoint annually, by ballot, 71 a committee of two clergymen and three laymen, of which com¬ mittee the Bishop of the Diocese, when there is one, shall be ex-offi,cio chairman; whose duty it shall be to take in charge the Missionary, Bible, Common Prayer Book, Tract and Sunday School operations of the Church in this Diocese; and it shall be further the duty of this committee to make a full report of all their proceedings to each succeeding annual Convention. The Committee shall hold at least four regular annual meetings, viz: on the second Monday