264 LIFE AXD COKKESPOXDliXCE OF THE \}7^9 



CHAPTER LI. 



The Convention of 17S9, a great Ecclesiastical Council — Dr. Smith is 



CALLED ON UNEXPECTEDLY TO PrEACH ON ITS OPENING, AND SOON AFTERWARDS 

 ON THE SUDDEN DeATH OF Dr GRIFFITH, BlSIIOP- ELECT OF VIRGINIA — A 



Memoir of Dr. Griffith — The Convention delicately situated in re- 

 gard TO Bishop S; abury — Bishop Provoost's somewhat eccentric course 

 IN rec;ard to this eminent and pious prelate — Dignified course of 

 Bishop Seaburv — Dr. Smith, along ■with Bishop White, accommodate 

 matters between Bishop Seabury and the Convention — The Validity 

 of Bishop Seabury's Episcopal Orders, on motion of Dr. Smith, fully 

 Recognized by the Convention — The Convention temporarily Adjourns 

 in order to give time foPv. further Consultation — Correspondence be- 

 tween Dr. Smith and Bishop Seabury — The latter, with Representa- 

 tives from New PIampshire and Maine, comes into the Adjourned 

 Convention — A General Union effected a. d. 17S9, in Philadelphia, in 

 the same room in the State House where Independence was declared 

 in 1776, and the Constitution of the United States signed in 17S7— 

 Happy Conclusion of much labor and of many solicitudes. 



The year 1789 makes an epoch in the history of the American 

 nation. It was the year in which an United Church was consti- 

 tuted out of separated and somewhat discordant ecclesiastical 

 bodies; as well as the year in which "the United States of 

 America" gave to us from differing States that unity, of govern- 

 ment which constitutes us one people. Nor was there much less 

 difficulty in effecting an unity in the Church than there was in 

 effecting an unity in the nation. We shall speak of these matters 

 further on. 



Since the Convention of 1786, Dr. White and Dr. Provoost had 

 been consecrated Bishops. But Dr. Provoost was indisposed, and 

 did not come to this Convention of 1789. Bishop Seabury had 

 not, as yet, in any way united himself to his Southern brethren. 

 The Convention met — all orders of the clergy and the laity — as 

 one body; Bishop White presiding. At the opening of the Con- 

 vention, Dr. Smith was^ called upon by it, in a way whicli put to 

 proof his ready powers and his amiable disposition; and which 

 manifested equally the reliance which was had by the members of 

 the body upon both. 



