I06 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE \j-7^A 



Beyond discussing principles of ecclesiastical union little was done 

 here. But before the clergy parted, it was agreed to procure as 

 general a meeting as might be, of representativ^es of the clergy and 

 laity of the different States, to be held in the city of New York, on 

 the 6th of October following ; that is to say, the 6th of October, 

 1784. The gentlemen of New York were to give notice to their 

 brethren eastward, and those >{ Philadelphia wer^ to do the same 

 by their brethren southward. Dr. Smith had been apparently in- 

 formed during the session of this meeting of its general purpose; 

 and though as we have already seen* he was desirous not to have 

 the identity or separate existence of Maryland, ecclesiastically 

 obliterated, we find him immediately doing what he could to 

 advance the matter of a general or a " continental convention," and 

 a combined organization of the church throughout the whole 

 country. The following is a letter addressed by him to influential 

 members of Trinity Church, Oxford, Philadelphia — the parish 

 where he had once served while a resident of Pennsylvania, under 

 the appointment of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. 



Dr. Smith to Messrs. Cotman and Johnson. 



Chestertown, Maryland, May 23d, 17S4. 

 To Messrs. Benj. Cotman and Benj. Johnson. 



I know not what can be done at your meeting of vestries. This, at 

 least, I wish, that a clergyman or two, and about two vestrymen may be 

 appointed a committee to meet committees from the neighboring States 

 at some convenient place, about next October, to fix a general plan for 

 all our Churches, both in respect to Discipline and our Church service. 

 Something fundamental ought also to be agreed upon respecting ordina- 

 tion, &c., similar to what was done in Maryland, a copy of which I 

 gave to Dr. JSIagaw, declaring that Episcopal ordination is an indispen- 

 sable qualification for every person who may be desirous to hold any 

 living in our Church. Certainly none else can hold any of the Churches 

 heretofore established or built under the Society for the Propagating of 

 the Gospel, nor the Glebes, where any are. There will be committees 

 from several of the Southern States, especially Maryland and Virginia, 

 but they can hardly be got together till toward the end of September. 

 I hope they may be induced to meet as far North as conveniently may 

 be; perhaps at Philadelphia, or Brunswick, or Wilmington, in Delaware 



State. 



William S>nTH. 



* Supra page 95, Letter to the Rev'd Dr. White. 



