Il8 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [l/^S 



CHAPTER XLVI. 



Convention of the Church in Seven States, held a. d. 1785, at Christ 

 Church in Philadelphia — Dr. Smith Chairman of a Committee to make 

 A Review of and Further Alterations, with Additions to the Lit- 

 urgy — The Thirty-nine Articles Presented in a Condensed Form — 

 The Alterations, Additions and Condensation Adopted by the Con- 

 vention — The Whole Ordered to be Printed in a Book — The Proposed 

 Book — Dr. Smith Requested to Preach a Sermon at the Close of the 

 Convention suited to the Solemn Occasion — He does so — Extracts 

 FROM THE Sermon — Dr. White, Dr. Smith and the Rev. Mr. C. H. 

 Wharton, at this time of New Castle, Delaware, but better known 

 afterwards as Dr. Wharton, of Burlington, N. J., appointed a Com- 

 mittee to see the Proposed Book through the Press. 



As will have been observed by the reader, the fourth funda- 

 mental article adopted by the Convention of 1784* laid down as 

 a principle that the church in America should adhere to the liturgy 

 of the Church of England, so far as should be consistent with 

 the American Revolution and the constitutions of the respective 

 States ; and the power entrusted by the same Convention, to the 

 committee of which Dr. Smith was chairman, was confined, of 

 course, to framing and proposing a proper substitute for the State 

 prayers, to be used for the sake of uniformity till a further review 

 should be undertaken by general authority and consent of the 

 church. 



Dr. Smith, I think it probable, was the person chiefly desirous 

 of a further considerable review, and the person chiefly active in 

 bringing on a discussion concerning the change, and in suggesting 

 and introducing the particulars of it. The prospect which was 

 held out, in the language by which the committee was constituted, 

 led, no doubt, after the adjournment of the Convention of New 

 York, October 6th and 7th, 1784, to a good deal of consideration 

 and conversation upon the subject by churchmen who were pre- 

 sent and assisted at that convention, before the next convention 

 was held; that is to say, before the 27th of September, 1785, when 

 this next convention met in Philadelphia. 



* See supra, p. 107. 



