tion without the concurrence of the president, council, and representatives of this province; a usurpation directly repugnant to the rights of mankind.

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Sixthly, because the Bishops of London have always hitherto exercised ecclesiastical jurisdiction over this colony; and we are perfectly satisfied with the mild, just, and equitable government of our excellent diocesan, the present Lord Bishop of London; and do think a petition to the crown to strip his lordship of any part of his jurisdiction, but an ill return for his past labours, and contrary to our oath of canonical obedience. We do further conceive, as it had been unanimously determined by this very convention that his lordship should be addressed for his opinion relative to this measure, the clergy ought to have waited for his lordship's paternal advice, before they had proceeded any further in an affair of such vast importance.

"Seventhly, because we have particular objections to that part of the resolution by which the committee are directed to apply, as it is termed, for the hands of the majority of the clergy of this colony: a method of proceeding, in our opinion, contrary to the universal practice of the Christian church, it having been customary for the clergy to sign all acts of an ecclesiastical nature in public convention; whereas, the manner of procuring their concurrence now proposed, is unworthy the decorum and dignity by which so venerable a body ought ever to be guided."

Whatever may be thought of the insufficiency of some of these grounds of protest, it will probably be conceded of the rest that they were not without weight; at least such seems to have been the opinion of others of the clergy besides Messrs. Henly and Gwatkin; for the Rev. Messrs. Hewitt and Bland subsequently joined in the foregoing protest; while the opinion of the laity on the subject, was very strongly indicated by a unanimous vote of the legislature, in the following words:-" Resolved, nemine contra

R

dicente, that the thanks of this House be given to the Rev. Mr. Henly, the Rev. Mr. Gwatkin, the Rev. Mr. Hewitt, and the Rev. Mr. Bland, for the wise and well-timed opposition they have made to the pernicious project of a few mistaken clergymen, for introducing an American bishop; a measure, by which much disturbance, great anxiety, and apprehension would certainly take place among his majesty's faithful American subjects; and that Mr. Richard Henry Lee and Mr. Bland do acquaint them therewith.”*

When it is remembered that the majority of the legislature belonged to the establishment, the conclusion will, probably, not be deemed erroneous, that the opposition rested almost entirely upon political considerations; and such a conclusion derives confirmation from the fact, that fifteen years afterward, Mr. Lee, who was appointed to convey the thanks of the House to the protesting clergy, as president of congress lent his aid to the efforts made to procure consecration for Bishops White and Prevost, and certified that they sought nothing in their application inconsistent with the civil institutions of the United States.†

The circumstances here related led to an unfortunate alienation between the clergy of the northern provinces, who desired a bishop, and such of the Virginia clergy as had opposed the recent measures in that colony. The history of this alienation is preserved in the pamphlets of the day, to which these Virginia proceedings gave birth. On the part of the northern ministers was published "An Address from the Clergy of New-York and New-Jersey to the Episcopalians in Virginia," which was replied to in a spirited pamphlet by Mr. Gwatkin. These publications, however, satisfactorily show that, save on one point, both parties entertained the same opinion; that point was the expediency, at that time, of making the proposed effort. In fact, Mr. Gwatkin declared explicitly that the authors of the

* 3 Burk, 364, 5.

+ Bishop White's Memoirs, 52

protest had "not any aversion to episcopacy in general, to that mode of it established in England, or even to an American episcopate introduced at a proper time, by proper authority, and in a proper manner:" the opposition to an "immediate establishment," he stated to be "a prudential regard to the practicable, a desire to preserve peace, heal divisions, and calm the angry passions of an inflamed people." And at this distance of time, it will probably be acknowledged that on the question of expediency, the Virginia clergy judged wisely. In the temper of the times, the application could not but have proved unsuccessful; to make it, therefore, could only serve to exasperate a very large portion of the colonists, without the prospect of obtaining the end desired.

CHAPTER VIII.

1772-1778.

Appearance of the Methodists-Their adherence to the Church-Conduct of the Episcopal Clergy in the Revolution-Many of them Whigs-Some become Officers in the Continental Army—Conduct of the Baptists at breaking out of the Revolution-Petitions of Presbyterians, Baptists, and others against the Church-Counter Petitions-Act of 1776 destroying Establishment-Distress of the Clergy-Their Treatment-Legislative Proceedings of 1777 and 1778--Ordinations by the Methodists, condemned by Mr. Asbury.

OUR attention must now be directed to another religious denomination, which, upon its first appearance, claiming alliance with the church, received countenance from some of its clergy; but which ultimately proceeded to the length of an entire separation. It was about the period of time which we have now reached that the Methodists began to increase in Virginia. There were doubtless individuals, and, it may be, preachers of that society, to be found in the colony before 1772;* but they seem thus far not to have made any very strong impression, and certainly one not hostile to the church. In truth, they professed to belong to the church; and as a portion of their subsequent success is attributable to this circumstance, a brief review of facts connected with that society becomes necessary.

It is well known, that until the latter years of his life, the founder of " Methodism," (Mr. John Wesley,) who was a presbyter of the Church of England, professed a strong attachment to that church, and gave, to his followers in the

* Vide ante, p. 110, Gov. Gooch's Proclamation against the Methodists.

mother country, a list of "reasons for not separating from the church," the good sense of which was unfortunately forgotten by him at a subsequent period. In his "farther appeal to men of reason and religion," he thus addresses the members of the Church of England:-"We do not dispute concerning any of the externals or circumstantials of religion. There is no room; for we agree with you therein. We approve of, we adhere to them all; all that we learned together when we were children, in our catechism and common prayer book. We were born and bred in your own church, and desire to die therein." "We hold, and ever have done, the same opinions which you and we received from our forefathers." "We approve both the doctrines and discipline of our church, and inveigh only against ungodliness and unrighteousness." In accordance with these sentiments the first Methodists in America acted. Their preachers were all laymen; they never administered the sacraments, but received the Lord's Supper themselves at the hands of the clergy of the Church of England; and they claimed to be nothing more than members of a religious society formed within the bosom of the established church at home, and extended to America.† The language of the Methodist preachers was, that "all who left the church left the Methodists." Nay, such was the avowed attachment of the society, that in public opinion it was so far identified with the church, as to share with it the odium which from political causes then rested upon the establishment in Virginia. The Methodists were suspected of being inimical to the liberties of America.§ This suspicion, in the minds of many, originated in nothing but the known adherence of the society to an écclesiastical system which had the support of the civil power. It derived strength afterward from the fact, that Mr. Wesley, who, in the com