1789] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 303 



obedience and submission which, by the laws of Christ, and the Constitution of our 

 Church, is due to so important an office. 



And we now address the Right Reverend tlie Bishops in the States of Connecticut 

 New York and Pennsylvania, praying their united assistance in consecrating our said 

 brother, and canonically investing him with the apostolic office and powers. This re- 

 quest we are induced to make from a long acquaintance with him, and from a perfect 

 knovvle;1ge of his being possessed of that love to God and benevolence to men, that 

 piety, learning, and good morals, that prudence and discretion, requisite to so exalted 

 a station, as well as that personal respect and attachment to the communion at large in 

 these States, which will make him a valuable acquisition to the Order, and, we trust, a 

 rich blessing to the Church. 



Done at a meeting of the Presbyters whose names are underwritten, held at Salem, 

 in the County of Essex, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the fourth day of June, 

 Anno Salutis, 1789. 



Samuel Parker, Rector of Trinity Church, Boston. 



T. FiTCil Oliver, Rector of St. Michael's Church, Marblehead. 



John Cousens Ogden, Rector of Queen's Chapel, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 



William Montague, Minister of Christ Church, Boston. 



TiLLOTSON Brunson, Assistant Minister of Christ Church, Boston. 



A true copy. 

 Attest: Samuel Parker. 

 At the meeting aforesaid, 



Voted, — That the Rev. Samuel Parker be authorized and empowered to transmit 

 copies of the foregoing Act, to be by him attested, to the Right Reverend the Bishops 

 in Connecticut, New York, and Pennsylvania ; and that he lie appointed our agent, to 

 appear at any Convocation to be holden at Pennsylvania or New York, and to treat 

 upon any measures that may tend to promote an union of the Episcopal Church 

 throughout the United States of America, or that may prove advantageous to the 

 interests of the said Church. Edward Bass, Chairman. 



A true copy. 

 Attest: Samuel Parker. 



This was accompanied with a letter from the Rev. Samuel Parker, the 

 worthy Rector of Trinity Church, Boston, to the Right Rev. Bishop 

 White, dated June 21st, 1789, of which the following is an extract : 



The Clergy here have appointed me their agent, to appear at any Convocation to 

 be held at New York or Pennsylvania ; but I fear the situation of my family and parish 

 will not admit of my being absent so long as a journey to Philadelphia would take. 

 When I gave you encouragement that I should attend, I was in expectation of having 

 my parish supplied by some gentlemen from Nova Scotia, but I am now informed they 

 will not be here till some time in August. Having, therefore, no prospect of attend- 

 ing in person at your General Convention next month, I am requested to transmit you 

 an attested copy of an act of the Clergy of this and the State of New Hampshire, elect- 

 ing the Rev. Edward Bass our Bishop, and requesting the united assistance of the 

 Right Reverend Bishops of Pennsylvania, New York, and Connecticut, to invest him 

 with apostolic powers. This act I have now the honor of enclosing, and hope it will 

 reach you before the meeting of your General Convention in July. 



The clergy of this State are very desirous of seeing an union of the whole Episco- 

 pal Church in the United Stales take place ; and it will remain with our brethren at the 

 southward to say, whether this shall be the case or not — -whether we shall be an united 

 or divided church. Some little difference in government may exist in different States, 

 without affecting the essential points of union and communion. 



