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CIVIL HISTORY OF VERMONT. 



Part II. 



CHURCH ADVANCES. 



EPISCOPAL REGISTER. 



BISHOP HOPKINS ELECTED 



pave universal satisfaction, and the elec- 

 tion lacked but one vote of perfect una- 

 nimity. 



Thus happily transpired one of the most 

 important events, which have occurred 

 to the church in the Eastern States. Mr. 

 Griswold at first declined the proffered 

 crosier ; but, at the urgent instance of 

 brethren, he at length consented, and was 

 consecrated with the great and good 

 Hobart, in the city of New York, May 29, 

 1811. 



From this time,the Church in Vermont 

 began to advance. Bishop Griswold 

 made a visitation within a month after 

 his consecration; attended the State 

 Convention, and administered Confirma- 

 tion in several places. An impression 

 was made on the minds of our people, 

 which in due time brought into lively ac- 

 tivity the slumbering energies of faith 

 and hope. An improving state of piety 

 was soon manifest in our few and feeble 

 churches. The evident piety and meek- 

 ness, and the earnest, affectionate simpli- 

 city of the Bishop inspired every one 

 with joy and confidence. And it was 

 the belief of all, that the Church was 

 about to arise and receive a blessing un- 

 der his ministrations. And thus truly it 

 proved. 



From the year 1811 to the year 1832, 

 which was the period of Bishop Gris- 

 ■wold's jurisdiction over the State, the 

 church miglit be seen, in all her temporal 

 and spiritual interests steadily progress- 

 ive. Some new parishes were organized, 

 many churches built and consecrated, and 

 a zealous, devout and liberal spirit every- 

 where observable. " Believers were mul- 

 tiplied," and additions were constantly 

 making to her communion. Her minis- 

 ters, not numerous were well instructed, 

 devout and faithful men, whose efforts were 

 blessed to the conversion and edification 

 and consolation of many. Her growth 

 might have been more considerable but for 

 that blighting and characteristic evil of 

 the present day, tlie looseness of the bond 

 between pastors and flocks — frequent 

 disruptions and changes. The scantiness 

 of the means within the reach of most 

 parishes gave to many engagements the 

 character of mere experiments, entered 

 upon under a hope that by the blessing of 

 God on the well directed labors of a pop- 

 ular pastor, something permanent might 

 be the result. The same cause operated 

 unfavorably in another respect, by making 

 it necessary in many cases to divide the 

 labors of a clergyman between two or 

 more parishes. 



In January, 1826, a monthly periodical 

 entitled "The Episcopal Register," wa.s 



commenced at Middlebury. It was plan- 

 ned and conducted by the Rev. Benjamin 

 B. Smith, then Rector of St. Stephen's 

 Church, now Bishop of Kentucky, who 

 was assisted in the supply of its columns by 

 several of his brethren. During its con- 

 tinuance, four years, it contributed much 

 to the encouragement and gratification of 

 a spirit of inquiry and to the diffusion of 

 information concerning the church. Its 

 circulation never exceeded 500 copies. 

 During its last year its columns were 

 under the care of a pious and accomplish- 

 ed lady, assisted by some others of a 

 similar character. 



In May, 1832, we had thirteen officia- 

 ting Presbyters, thirteen or fourteen con- 

 secrated churches, and twenty-four or- 

 ganized parishes. Measures had been 

 taken in 1831 to effect a separation of this 

 State from the Eastern Diocese. No ob- 

 jection being interposed by the Bishop or 

 by the other members of tlie confederacy, 

 the separation was consummated in the 

 Convention at Middlebury, in May 1832. 

 It had been the opinion of Bishop Gris- 

 wold for several years before, frequently 

 expressed by him in his annual addresses, 

 that the Church in Vermont, since the 

 acquisition of its lands, might safely un- 

 dertake to support a Bishop by itself; and 

 that, with the divine blessing, her pro- 

 gress would be much accelerated by such 

 a step. In no degree were our people 

 dissatisfied with a Chief Pastor, who had 

 ministered among them to the best of his 

 power, "yea, and beyond his power," 

 for twenty one years. A Bishop was 

 never more beloved — never listened to 

 with more reverent regard. But it was 

 not possible for one man to do all that 

 was desirable in so extensive a jurisdic- 

 tion. It was therefore resolved to sepa- 

 rate. After passing a final resolution to 

 this effect, an address was drawn up with 

 expressions of the utmost respect, affec- 

 tion and gratitude, signed by every mem- 

 ber of the Convention, Clerical and Lay, 

 and transmitted to Bishop Griswold. 



The next measure was the election of a 

 Bishop. The provisions of the Constitu- 

 tion with respect to such a transaction 

 were, that a nomination should be made 

 by a majority of the clergy and approved 

 by a majority of the laity, before any per- 

 son could be declared to be elected. 

 There were thirteen clerical ballots, — of 

 these, seven were for the Rev. John Hen- 

 ry Hopkins, and six for the Rev. John S. 

 Stone, both gentlemen belonging to the 

 city of Boston. The former of course 

 was announced as the nominee to the lai- 

 ty, who approved by a vote of thirty-one 

 to nine. The parties amicably united in 



