Polk Family Papers Box 6 Document 3

JOURNAL OF THE FIFTH ANNUAL CONVENTION, OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA, HELD IN GRACE CHURCH, ST. FRANCISVILLE, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, the 18th, 19th and 20th January, A. D. 1843.

TO WHICH IS PREFIXED A LIST OF THE CLERGY IN THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.

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NEW ORLEANS.

PRINTED BY GEORGE B. YOUNG--PRICE-CURRENT OFFICE. 1843.

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Messrs. Chambers, Payne, Andrews, Butler, Smith, Weems, and Young.

On motion, Resolved, that the Clergy of other Dioceses, who may happen to be present, be admitted to honorary seats in this Convention. Whereupon, the following Clergymen took their seats as honorary members ; the Bev. Messrs. Crane and Boyd from Mississippi ; the Rev. Mr. Litton from Tennessee ; the Rev. Mr. Renouf from Massachusetts ; and the Rev. Mr. Eaton from Texas.

The minutes of the session yesterday were then read and approved ; after which the Bishop delivered the following

ADDRESS.

BRETHREN OF THE CLERGY AND LAITY.

We are again permitted, by the good providence of God, to assemble in Convention, to deliberate on the affairs of that portion of the Church of Christ committed to our care ; and I would invoke you to join me in offering up to our heavenly Father sincere and devout thanks, for the many mercies he has vouchsafed us, as members of his kingdom on earth, during the last ecclesiastical year.

Our number, though small, has not been made less by the hand of death ; and God has been very merciful in abating the violence of the pestilence, to which a certain portion of our population, more or less intimately associated with all the rest, is annually exposed. For these mercies of his Providence, and the greater mercies of his Grace, let us feel ourselves constrained to be devoted for the future more unreservedly to his service.

Before proceeding to the business of the Convention, I shall lay before you, in obedience to the requisition of the canons, the records of my official acts since the last Convention ; with such other information and suggestions, as the state of the Diocese and of the Church at large seems to me to demand.

I have during the last year given my official approbation to the consecration of the Rev. John Johns, D. D., and the Rev. Manton Eastburn, D. D. to the office of the Episcopate, the former as Assistant Bishop of Virginia ; the latter as Assistant Bishop of Massachusetts.--The consecration of both these gentlemen you have seen announced in the public prints ; and herein do we find cause for deep gratitude to Almighty God, who continues thus to watch over and guard the interests of his Church, extending its benefits through the instrumentality

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of the apostolical office, and by the labors of well tried and faithful men.

My exertions for the welfare of our own Diocese have been, for several reasons, less during the year past, than during any similar period since my official connexion with it. The want of health in the early part of the year, and the necessity of being absent with a view to the removal of my family hither, have prevented my seeing certain portions of the Diocese, which I had confidently hoped to embrace in my yearly visitation.

On the Sunday immediately following the adjournment of the last Convention, I preached in Christ Church, New-Orleans, in the morning, and in St. Pauls, in the same City, in the afternoon.

During the six weeks next ensuing, I was disqualified for the performance of any official duty, by an attack of inflammation of the lungs. On my recovery, I held service on La Fourche, and preached on the 13th of March, to a devout congregation of colored persons.

The Sunday following, March 20th, I passed in the City of NewOrleans, where by appointment I preached and held confirmation, in the morning in Christ Church, where I confirmed nine persons, and in the afternoon in St. Pauls, where I confirmed four others.

On Easter Sunday, I officiated in St. Pauls Church, New-Orleans, in the morning, and in Christ Church at night.

On the Sunday after, 3d April, I read the service and preached at Donaldsonville. This was the second occasion on which the services of the Church had ever been held there. And I could not but remark on the familiarity manifested by a highly respectable congregation with our formularies, indicating very plainly, that it was a point at which, at no distant day, we might see a congregation organized, and a Church edifice erected.

The two following Sundays were passed on La Fourche, and devoted to the colored race.

The next Sunday, April 24th, I devoted to St. Pauls Church, NewOrleans, reading service and preaching morning and afternoon.

On Sunday the 8th May, I read the sevice and preached at Thibodeaux to a congregation assembled in the Court House.

On Thursday the 12th, I met such of the citizens of Donaldsonville and vicinity as were favorable to the establishment of the church in that place ; and a parish was organized to be connected with the Church in this Diocese, and to be called the parish of the Ascension. Measures have been taken to provide for and invite a minister to take charge of it.

I look upon this parish as one of a good deal of importance, not only in itself, but in regard to the country connected with it, both by

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the Mississippi and La Fourche. May the Great Head of the Church give such wisdom and zeal to his people, that this and every enterprise among us, having for its end the glory of his name and the good of men, be speedily accomplished.

Immediately after the formation of the Congregation at Donaldsonville, I left the Diocese for the purpose of removing my family from east of the mountains, to Tennessee, my former residence, and thence to my new home. And although it does not come precisely within the range of such a narrative as this to notice acts performed without the Diocese, yet I take the liberty of mentioning them here, as no record is likely to be made of them elsewhere.

The first and second Sundays after Trininty, I passed in St. Johns parish, Maury County, Tennessee, where I had service and preached for the colored people of the parish.

On the sixth Sunday after Trinity, I preached in the parish of Christ Church, Raleigh, N. C.; as also on the eighth and ninth Sundays after Trinity.

In the same parish, during my visit, I celebrated one marriage, baptized an infant, and performed the funeral service once.

The tenth Sunday after Trinity, I passed in the parish of the Rev. Mr. Forbes, Missionary for Lincolnton, N. C. and parts adjacent, for whom I preached.

On the thirteenth and fourteenth Sundays after Trinity, I read service and preached in St. Johns parish, Maury County, Tennessee.

On the fifteenth Sunday after Trinity, I assisted the Rt. Rev. Dr. Otey, Bishop of Tennessee, in the consecration of the Church recently erected in the same parish ; and at his request confirmed two persons.

From that period, to the 24th Sunday after Trinity inclusive, I officiated regularly in St. Johns Church every Sunday. During that time, I baptized two adults, one white and one colored, and two children, confirmed two persons, and celebrated the holy communion twice.

On Advent Sunday, I preached in the morning and at night in Calvary parish, Memphis.

On the second Sunday in Advent, I read service and preached on board the steamer Edwin Hickman, on the Mississippi river.

On the third Sunday in Advent, I read service and preached to a congregation of colored people in La Fourche.

On the fourth Sunday in advent, I preached to the same people in the morning, and in the afternoon, read service for the Rev. Mr. Renouf, who preached.

On Christmas day, I had service and preached in the Court-house at Thibodeaux : Also on the Sunday following.

On the 8th January, first Sunday after Epiphany, I preached in

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Christ Church, New-Orleans, and in the afternoon of the same day at St. Pauls.

Besides the above acts, I have celebrated three marriages, and performed the funeral service twice.

Of changes among the Clergy there have been none.

Mr. William F. Brand, a candidate for orders in this Diocese, has been transferred at his own request to the Diocese of New York ; and I am happy to inform you that we have now the prospect of having two others added to the list.

While upon the subject of candidates for orders, let me urge upon my brethren of the Clergy especially, the duty of bringing the pressing wants of the Church in this particular before the young of their flocks, and exhorting them to take seriously to heart the enquiry, how far their obligations to God demand their giving themselves up to this work. We must for many reasons raise up Clergy from among ourselves, either from those who have come to make their homes among us, or from natives of the soil. The duty of seeking out such persons devolves most naturally upon those who are charged with the spiritual oversight of the people ; and who, from experience of the difficulties of their work, are most likely to be impressed with the importance of multiplying laborers for its performance. I trust, therefore, my brethren of the Clergy will regard it as matter of most serious importance for the welfare of the Diocese, and the perishing souls who are in the midst of us; and that they will make it a matter, not only of watchfulness, but of prayer, that the Chief Shepherd may incline the hearts of many among the young to count it their high privilege, and their chief joy to serve him in the sanctuary.

During the last year I have received official notice from the Bishop of North Carolina of the degradation of John A. Backhouse from the ministry :

Also from the Bishop of New-York, notice of the degradation of John Knill, and of the displacement of James Roosevelt Bayley ; in the case of the latter, for causes not affecting his moral character.

There is a subject, my brethren, which most intimately concerns us as Christians and Christian ministers, in our peculiar field of labor ; I mean, provision for the religious instruction of the colored race. These people commend themselves very strongly to our charities in this respect, for many reasons. It is one of the chiefest charms of the Gospel of Christ, that it seeks to equalize the human condition ; and to compensate, by the richness of its spiritual provisions, for the disparities existing in the worldly circumstances of our race. It is eminently therefore the property of the poor. Our divine Master proclaimed himself as their messenger, and pointed to his care for their spiritual wel-

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fare as one of the evidences of his messiahship. If we would be his followers, we must tread in his steps, and be animated by his spirit. The poor are found among the laboring classes in all communities ; and their claim to our attention and Christian offices here, is greatly strengthened by their peculiar condition of dependence. It is moreover true, that this condition, while it often affords great advantages for the communication of religious instruction, pre-disposes the mind to a teachable disposition, and a readiness to receive and obey the truth.--Encouragements are therefore found for the performance of this duty, not only from its addressing itself to our natural sympathies and Christian affections, but also from its presenting a promising field, from which we may reasonably expect to reap the fruits of our labor.

In order however to ensure any great degree of success in this enterprise, we must have the countenance and hearty co-operation of our brethren of the laity. It is for them to open the door of access to this field. It is under the protection of their influence, that this work must be done. And, upon this point, as far as my acquaintance goes, it gives me great pleasure to state, that I have in no instance found them backward, or indifferent to the furtherance of this object. It being distinctly understood and seen, that our purpose is to teach all orders and degrees of men, in the language of one of our formularies, "to do their duty in that state of life, in which it has pleased God to call them :" that we are not political crusaders, but simple and guileless teachers of that Gospel which was preached by our Saviour and his Apostles, in a region whose social condition was altogether similar to our own ; that as they did not condescend, in the execution of their high errand, to dogmatize on the civil relations or rights of individuals, but rather to bind the consciences and the affections to the faithful discharge of the duties of those relations ; and by the inculcation of right principles, to leave those relations themselves to be regulated by the intelligent consciences of the parties ; so we, who have " part of the same ministry and apostleship," are chiefly concerned with the hearts and consciences of those to whom we go. This being perceived, I say no difficulty need be apprehended in obtaining access to all minds. In this connexion too, I may be permitted to express the hope, that the day is not distant, when the Church, by wise and temperate legislation, will open the way for our obtaining the services of a class of men suited to the instruction of this description of persons ; and when she may, with less jealousy for her intellectual reputation, and more concern for the salvation of the perishing multitudes around her, adopt measures by which she may challenge for herself, with some propriety, the character of preaching the Gospel to the poor.

You have doubtless not failed to observe the great diversity of sen-

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timent which prevails in the Church on the subject of its general Missionary organization. And as our Diocese lies in that part of our country which is properly embraced in the Missionary field ; the arrangements for the conduct of Missions cannot but be deeply interesting to us. I shall not feel it out of place, therefore, to advert to that subject here.

I have been hitherto numbered among those who, though thinking the present organization not without its defects, yet saw nothing in the proposed modifications likely to meet with more general favor ; and have therefore been disposed to sustain it as it is : But from the continued manifestation of discontent in many quarters, and the lamentable decline of the society's funds, I am inclined to believe it is not likely longer to retain the confidence of the Church, and that some modification has become necessary. It is scarcely to be presumed that any one plan of alterations, among the many which have been suggested, will meet with very general favor ; and though this is not the place to go as fully as might be desired into an examination of this subject, yet I cannot forbear submitting a few suggestions which have commended themselves with great force to my own mind, and seem not to have been without their effect upon others.

For the conduct of the Missionary work, it is known, that almost all the Dioceses have organizations of their own ; either in the shape of Societies or Committees. To say nothing of the confusion likely to arise from presenting to our people the claims of two associations, having in view the same objects, a practical difficulty presents itself in the working of these Societies or Committees, and the Domestic Committee of the General Missionary Board.

We all feel that the power of appointing the Missionaries in our own Diocese, and directing and controlling their movements, belongs under our system, of necessity and with propriety, to the Bishops.--As to the Missionaries, imbued as they are, with the spirit characterizing and animating the Church, they feel that their alliance is naturally, and of course, with their respective Diocesans, to whom they owe whatever of spiritual obedience and responsibility is due from them to any other on earth. The Missionaries ought then to be appointed directly by the Bishops of the respective Dioceses, to whom they should be as directly responsible.

Each Bishop, in the conduct of Missions in his own Diocese, it is presumed, would desire a Council of Advice, which, under the character of a Missionary Committee, should be charged, as the Domestic Committee of the General Missionary Board now is, with receiving from abroad, collecting and appropriating, funds for the support of the Missionaries.

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These Missionary Committees, appointed by the Diocesan Convention in each of the organized Dioceses, and by the Board of Missions in each unorganized Missionary District or Territory, with their secretaries and treasurers, being charged with the duty of voting salaries to the Missionaries, would relieve the Bishops from that unpleasant duty, on the one hand, and the Missionaries from a feeling of dependence on their Bishops, on the other. And if some general plan were adopted in all the Dioceses, by which a certain portion of all sums contributed, not specially appropriated, should go, say in equal portions, to Diocesan, Domestic, and Foreign Missions ; the portion for Domestic Missions to be transmitted to a Treasurer, to be appointed for that purpose by the Board of Missions, and to be distributed under the direction of the Board among such of the Domestic Committees as the Board from time to time shall direct ; and the portion for Foreign Missions, by a Foreign Committee, composed as now, with its Treasurer and Secretary, and General Agent ; we should be relieved of the Domestic Secretary, with the expense incident to his appointment. This, too, would enable us to dispense with the Domestic Committee of the Board, and to be rid of its alleged inompetency to act in the distant West ; as well as of what is thought to be its anomalous and odious exercise of Episcopal powers.

The Officers of the Board would then be, a Secretary, as now, and Treasurer, both of whom, as the former now does, would perform their offices gratuitously.

The salaried officers would be the Secretary and General Agent of the Foreign Committee, and his Clerk or Clerks ; we say Clerks, because, as the Secretary would be charged with the duty of editing the Spirit of Missions, two might be necessary.

This organization, while it secures the independence of Dioceses, also ensures a greater degree of responsibility and economy in the disbursement of the Missionary funds ; and by leaving each Diocese free to dispose of the appropriations made it, in such way as its Committee shall judge expedient ; the way is opened for discarding the invidious distinction observed in the appropriations of the Missionary funds among the different orders of the Ministry ; and the Bishops, who in the new and weaker Dioceses are the chief Missionaries, may receive that aid which hitherto has been unnaturally denied them. By this means, furthermore, we might hope with reason to increase the number of Bishops for the Home Missionary field.

If Bishops are necessary to supervise, sustain, and render efficient, not to say authoritative, Missionary operations at home, they are clearly so abroad. It follows then, that we need the services of one or more Foreign Missionary Bishops, who shall reside either at home or abroad, as the case may require, and be charged with the oversight of

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the Churches' foreign operations. Upon this point, as far as I am informed, there seems happily no division among us.

When the Church sends her funds abroad for the spread of the Gospel, she has a right to know how they have been applied, and what amount of good her benefactions are accomplishing.

It is legitimate, therefore, that she should require of the Bishops, whether Foreign or Domestic, in whose jurisdiction expenditures are made, periodical reports of the associations under their charge.---These would be published of course, through the Spirit of Missions ; and would place the Church in possession of the desired information.--Nor need these reports be considered as superseding communications from the Missionaries themselves, who might be as free as at present to state the condition of their respective fields of labor, furnish such intelligence as might be deemed edifying, or make appeals for pecuniary aid, additional labor, or an interest in the prayers of God's faithful people.

There are other points touching the principles on which the Society is organized, which have been brought into discussion, and about which there is a very wide difference of opinion. I have preferred confining myself to those which do not warrant any very radical change, and on which there is some hope of obtaining a fair amount of unity of sentiment. And although these views may find but little sympathy in the minds of others ; still as they have commneded themselves very strongly to my own, I have felt it a duty to spread them before the Church.

I will detain you no longer from the duties immediately before you, than to recommend you to appoint a Diocesan Missionary Committee ; and commend you in all your deliberations to the guidance and blessing of the Chief Shepherd and Bishop of souls.

LEONIDAS POLK.

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On motion, the following gentlemen were appointed a Missinary Committee for the ensuing year ; viz.---Rev. N. S. Wheaton, Rev. D. S. Lewis, Messrs. Thomas Sloo, and Benjamin Lowndes.

On motion, the Rev. Dr. Lacey and the Hon. J. J. Weems were appointed a Committee to nominate a Standing Committee for the following year ; who reported the Rev. Messrs. Wheaton, Goodrich, and Lewis, of the Clergy ; and Thomas Butler, Charles Harrod, and J. W. Andrews, of the Laity ; whereupon, it was

Resolved{italics}, that the aforsaid nomination be, and hereby is, confirmed.