262 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE \M'^9 



evil; so that the infection remained, yea, even when the regenera- 

 tion of a Union was sought for; personal interest lusting always 

 contrary to the general good, and not subject any more than origi- 

 nal sin either to the law of common sense or to the law of God. 



The State Conventions were jealous of the authority of a General 

 Convention. A mere proposition to them — a simple rccovimcnda- 

 tioii — they would tolerate; and would probably adopt. Anything 

 that had the semblance of going beyond alarmed them, and set 

 them at once into a state of militancy. The matter is set forth 

 with perfect intelligibility by Bishop White in his Memoirs. He 

 says :'■' 



The Convention (of 1785) seems to have fallen into two capital errors, 

 independently on the merits of the Book. 



The first error was the ordering of the printing of a large edition of 

 the Book, which did not well consist with the principle of a mere pro- 

 posal. Perhaps much of the opposition to it arose from this very thing, 

 which seemed a stretch of power designed to effect the introduction of 

 the book to actual use in order to prevent a discussion of its merits. 



The other error was the ordering of the use of it in Christ Church, 

 Philadelphia, on the occasion of Dr. Smith's sermon at the conclusion 

 of the session of the Convention. This helped to confirm the opinion 

 of i-s being introduced with a high hand. 



The Bishop tells us further that the Book was used by the 

 Philadelphia clergy on assurances given to them by gentlemen 

 from other places that they would begin it in their respective 

 churches immediately on their return; a thing which the greater 

 number of them never did ; some being prevented because some 

 influential members of their congregations were dissatisfied with 

 some one of the alterations ; " a fact," says the Bishop, " which shows 

 very strongly how much weight of character is necessary to such 

 changes as maybe thought questionable." The Bishop, it is plain, 

 had he been left to his own course would not have had the book 

 printed for any general use at all, until the alterations had been 

 received and approved in the different States. 



But in the nature of things how could a work done in a public 

 assembly, so hastily and with comparatively small consideration, 

 fail to require further consideration? The Convention of 1785 met 

 on Tuesday, the 27th of September, and adjourned on Friday, the 



* Memoirs, 2d edition, page 107. 



