fatigable labour and attention, succeeded, at length, in bringing back the seceders one after another, and by a vote of one of the conferences, the ordination was declared invalid, and union was restored;* while to prevent, as far as possible, a renewal of the complaint of the want of the sacraments, some, at least, of the Episcopal clergy travelled over large circuits for the purpose of baptizing the children. of Methodists, and administering the Eucharist; and continued to do so until the final separation of the Methodists from the church, without desiring or receiving, for the service, the smallest compensation.† Coke and More's Life of Wesley, 351; Jarratt's Life, 114. Jarratt's Life, 114 CHAPTER IX. 1779-1784. General Assessment for support of the Clergy negatived-Disastrous effects of the Revolution upon the Church-Enemies of the Church petition for a general Assessment—Legislative sanction to the principle that Christianity should be supported by the State, but not any particular Denomination-Mr. Henry's efforts-His Christian Character-Incorporation of the Church-History of the Secession of the MethodistsMr. Wesley's Conduct-Consecration of Dr. Coke considered. In reply to the application which we suppose to have been made to the people for their sentiments, various answers were sent in some expressed the opinion, "that the Christian religion, free from the errors of popery, and a general contribution for the support thereof, ought to be established from a principle of public utility; and prayed that the reformed Protestant religion, including the different denominations thereof, with a general assessment for the support of the same, might be established." Others asked for the passage of the bill precisely as set forth; while another class asked for its rejection, and suggested such a religious establishment as they supposed would be beneficial.* Amid these conflicting opinions it was difficult to determine what was the popular will; and this legislative expedient, which could only serve, if successful, injudiciously to shift to the shoulders of some of the people a responsibility which should fearlessly have been met by their representatives, terminated in making more uncertain that which before was dubious enough. See Journals. Some of the Episcopalians ventured also (as the circumstances presented a favourable opportunity) once more to solicit security in the enjoyment of the church property. Their application extended no further; for with the experience of the past still dwelling freshly in their remembrance, and with the opposition of their enemies increased rather than abated, they could scarcely have hoped for an entire restoration to all the privileges which they had lost. Whatever may have been the extent of their application, nothing seems to have been gained by it; and indeed the only legislation of this year which affected the church, appears to have affected it injuriously. It will be remembered that in the first assembly of 1776, the question whether support should be given to the clergy by general assessment, or by leaving them to voluntary contribution, was purposely left open and its decision deferred to some future occasion. There can be little doubt that the distinguished individual who was the leader in securing the adoption of the measures already detailed, entertained the belief that it would be no difficult task to complete, at a future session, the work which he had begun; and to negative the plan of a general assessment for the support of Christianity: nor would his expectations in this particular have been disappointed, but for a circumstance, recorded by himself as having interposed obstacles. In his chief object, that of giving a death blow to the legalized superiority of the establishment over all other denominations of Christians, he was very cordially supported by a large body of allies who belonged to the dissenting interest; but when that great end was once attained, and every religious society stood upon the same level, the question in dispute assumed to these allies a very different aspect, and they deserted the standard under which they had before achieved their victory. They had prostrated the church, they had proved themselves to be not at all reluctant to strip her clergy of that competent maintenance which was secured to them by the possession of property; but they now manifested an aversion, more natural than consistent, to being left to find a precarious support for themselves in the tender mercies of a set of voluntary contributors: they were, therefore, the advocates of a general assessment; and the manner, almost approaching to querulousness, in which this desertion is recorded, accompanied as it is by an insinuation as to the motives of the deserters, justifies the suspicion that the defection was felt to be ungenerous. The impartial reader of a future day will probably conclude that it was a game, not unskilfully played on either side, in which the troops outwitted the general. At any rate, it is our province to record the fact, that in each successive meeting of the legislature from 1776 to 1779, this questio vexata was brought up for discussion, and the friends of voluntary contribution, apprehensive probably of a final vote against them, laboured, and not without success, to suspend the decision from time to time, and leave the matter to be debated anew in the succeeding year. In 1779, all things being now ready for a final vote, the question was settled against the system of a general assessment, and the establishment was finally put down.‡ The Baptists were the principal promoters of this work, and in truth aided more than any other denomination in its accomplishment. Their historian boasts that they alone were uniform in their efforts to destroy the system of an assessment and introduce the plan of voluntary contribution; that in the other denominations there was much division of sentiment between ministers and people, and that remonstrance came at last from none but Baptists.§ Whether this be so or not, it is very certain that in the associations of that sect held from year to year, a prominent subject of discussion always was, as to the best mode of carrying on * See the Journals. + See 1 Jefferson's Works, 32. Ibid.; 4 Burk, 377. Semple's History, 72, 73. the war against the former establishment. After their final success in this matter of voluntary contribution, their next efforts were to procure a sale of the church lands: this, however, it seems, was not undertaken without some misgivings of its propriety; for when the question was put in their "general committee," whether the glebes were public property, it was settled in the affirmative by a majority of but one vote. That one vote sealed the fate of the church lands; for the efforts of the Baptists never ceased, until, as we shall see hereafter, the glebes were sold.t The history of the church for the next few years, presents a picture of but little variety; when we catch a new feature in it, it is but to remark, that it is in melancholy keeping with the rest, and differs only by the introduction of a deeper shade. With roofless and deserted churches, with broken altars, and a clergy, some of whom were reduced to the hard alternative of flight or starvation, it may readily be conceived what was its suffering condition. It existed, but more than that can hardly be said of it with truth. On the nineteenth of April, 1783, precisely eight years after the first effusion of blood at Lexington, peace was proclaimed to the American army by order of the commander-in-chief. Time was now afforded to men to direct their attention to the permanent establishment of such institutions, civil and religious, as might comport with their desires, or views of duty. Much was to be done: and rejoicing with thankfulness as now we may, in the present prosperity of the church in Virginia, it is well to look back on its condition as it emerged from the revolution, and by a contemplation of the difficulties which stood in the way of its resuscitation, be moved to the exercise of gratitude. When the colonists first resorted to arms, Virginia, in her sixty-one counties, contained ninety-five par |