HISTORY OF ST. MATTHEW'S PARISH THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA THE COLLECTION OF NORTH CAROLINIANA Cp283.09 H6£m c.2 J V.^!m! RSITY 0F NC ' AT CHAPEL HILL 00034014968 ■ *°"» /Vo. *?7 A SERMON-SKETCH OF THE HILLSBGRO, N. C, Delivered by the Rector, REV. JOSEPH W. MURPHY, IN ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH, ON SUNDAY, ST. MATTHEW'S DAY, SEPTEMBER 21ST, AND ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5TH, 1890. Washington, D. C. 1900, LlUCw ? £ «4iay . J <**jU&f & Uz &/, <*#* «/h /. cw. <&^ ^ ^ ^ *4^7 1c*. . ^*^ \My %Cojl. WU& 4L>^i>u^<.f ^h^Y &*^ 4 U (/lie**- &J~ %jl, aww 3/^JC ?>-a^ ^L<> f^aZfeZ^. + A / CvtUuZ o&a %4t L^ju b*. £nZJIa t t U**- &%6l "X^A^ru, *~ Lot OsmZIL ft fy. dhiL (W^ ^ ***4r ^ A SERMON-SKETCH OF THE HILLSBORO, N. C, Delivered by the Rector, REV. JOSEPH W. MURPHY, IN ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH, ON SUNDAY, ST. MATTHEW'S DAY, SEPTEMBER 21ST, AND ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5TH, 1890. Washington, D. C, 1900. £CJg^ ? df oT IN MEMORY OF THE LION-HEARTED BISHOP RAVENSCROFT, AND OF THE GENTLE BISHOP GREEN, THE ST. PETER AND THE ST. JOHN OF OUR AMERICAN EPISCOPATE IN THE SOUTH. SERMON-SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH, HlLLSBORO, N. C. S3 PART ONE. YOUR attention is asked to-day, brethren, St. Matthew's Day, to an historical sketch, in part, of our parish, St Matthew's, with some allusion to chapels and other missions at times connected with it/ St. Matthew's Church, Hillsboro, Orange County, N. C, was organized, or rather re-organized, as a parish in 1824. Its history, the steps leading up to its organization, and the steps, halting but real, since that time is our subject ; its history, however, not merely as a congregation, but as a part of the Church of Christ in North Carolina, governed by a Bishop and trained by him with the help of Priests and Deacons, in the ways of the Fathers of the Primi- tive Church, who were taught by the Apostles of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We will not go back to the times of the first organization here in the old colonial times before the Revolution, when devout men of the Church of England worshipped together in the old borough. Nor will we try to seek in the history of the sad downfall of parishes here in North Carolina as in Virginia and elsewhere (in consequence of political complications and misunderstandings), a probable picture of the downfall here. Sufficient it is to know that there was such a parish, and that it ceased to exist ; and that though great was the downfall, for a time, of the daughter of the Church of England in America, and especially in Virginia and the Carolinas, in consequence of the want of organization, and the difficulty 5 6 (because of prejudice) in getting organization, still the time came when difficulties were removed, opposition lessened, parishes and dioceses were officered, and the work went on as never before in its unorganized condition. Nor will we try to grope through the sad traditio?is of the times succeeding the destructive and demoralizing War of the Revolution, though I doubt not there was much that was good even in those times here in old Orange, else there would hardly have been in 1824 so abundant material as there seems to have been to revive the parish so successfully and on so good and sound a basis. But we will go back a few years before the organization in 1824, to pick up a few interesting items preparatory to that so important an event in the life of the organizers, and so important for their successors. In picking out these items, and others of later date, I examine carefully, as few can spare time to do, many Journals and Records. In the Journal of the first Convention of the Diocese of North Carolina, held in 181 7 in Newbern, there is nothing about Hillsboro or the Church in Orange County. That Con- vention consisted, I may say, however, simply as a matter of curiosity, of but three clergymen, Messrs. Judd of Fayetteville, Empie of Wilmington, and Clay of Newbern, and six laymen from those parishes and Edenton. The deputy from this last was Josiah Collins, Jr., the father of one of the most devoted laymen the Church in North Carolina has ever had. At that convention it was resolved properly to place the Church under the care of Bishop Moore of Virginia. The Convention of 18 18 was held in Fayetteville. At this convention it will be to us of this parish worthy of note that among others, John A. Cameron and Dr. Armand J. De Rosset were present as lay deputies. Now comes this record, which will interest those who are disposed to help their minis- ter in putting up a chapel with the same name, not indeed in the same neighborhood but still in connection, as that was, with Hillsboro, though more closely and really, we will hope, than that was : ' ' A Church having been organized in Orange County by the name of St. Jude's Church (at the Union meeting house near Stoney Creek), and application being made by the same to be re- ceived into union with our convention, Resolved unanimously, that the same be admitted. Whereupon, Robert Davis, pre- senting the certificate of his appointment as a lay delegate from said church, was admitted as such to a seat in the convention." As to location of this, said Bishop Green to me in a letter dated March 5, 1882, " My only visit to St. Jude's Chapel was in 1823 or '4. And, at this time, my memory would not justify me in saying anything more as to its location than that that it was somewhere in the Hawfields or Mebanesville neighborhood. It was one of the ante-revolutionary mission posts at which Rev. Mr. Micklejohn used to preach in conjunction with others, at Hillsboro, St. Mary's, Chapel Hill, Williamsboro, &c." The Robert Davis who represented St. Jude's at this conven- tion (where, according to the record, only four other congrega- tions were represented), was a cousin of Miss Arena and Miss Rachel L,atta, who are to-day the oldest living communicants of this parish, having been confirmed by Bishop Ravenscroft, on May 20, 1826. Of Mr. Davis we will hear again as a clergy- man. Illness prevented Bishop Moore from being present at this convention, but he sent word that he would visit the Diocese in the summer or fall. The; Convention of 18 19 was heju) in Wilmington. Robert Davis again represented St. Judes' , and was reported (as was also Prof. Wm. Hooper, of Chapel Hill) as a candidate for Holy Orders. "Duncan Cameron of St. Mary's Church, Orange County," says the Journal, "was prevented from at- tendance at this convention by a fall from his horse which in- jured him severely. ' ' Though it does not appear in the record, it seems from the report of the Committee on the State of the Church at the Convention of 1 82 1 , that at this Convention of 1 8 1 9 St. Mary's Chapel was admitted into union with the Conven- tion. So we have St. Jude's in 1818 and St. Mary's in 1819 admitted, both in Orange County ; both old missions revived, and both for years grouped with Hillsboro. William M. Green, the honored first Rector of this parish, was present at this Convention as lay delegate from Williamsboro. Mr. Hooper was licensed as lay reader for St. Mary's and parts adjacent. Of $826.88 reported as offered during the past year for the mis- sionary work of the Church, $200.00, came from Orange. 8 The Rt. Rev. Richard Charming Moore, D. D., Bishop of the Diocese of Virginia, presided at this Convention and preached the opening sermon. The Convention op 1820 met in Bdenton. Among the laymen present were Duncan Cameron from St. Mary's Chapel, Orange County, and William Hooper, candidate for Holy Orders and lay reader at that chapel. Judge Cameron was a member of the Committee on the State of the Church. He was also elected delegate to the General Convention from this Diocese. He was also chairman of a committee on revision of the canons. Mr. John Davis, brother of Robert Davis, (both of Orange County, and both from St. Jude's,) was admitted as candidate for Holy Orders. William Hooper and Thomas Wright were ordained deacons during the Convention, and Rev. Richard S. Mason priest, on Sunday, April 30th, by Bishop Moore, who presided over the Convention and gave an address at the close. So Messrs. Hooper and Wright were the first deacons ordained in North Carolina, and the late Dr. Mason of Raleigh, so well known and highly honored, the first priest, the date being 1820 and the place old St. Paul's Church, Kdenton. At this Convention the Rev. John Phillips, Rector of the Church in Tarboro (then called Trinity Church), reports during the year having visited, among other places outside of his own parish, Hillsboro, and Judge Cameron's Chapel, each once. This chapel, not yet finished, is mentioned the first time. Rev. G. T. Bedell of Fayetteville, father of the aged Bishop Bedell, lately retired from active service in Ohio, reports, in these words, some missionary work of his : "In the course of last summer, when absent from Fayetteville, being recovered from indispo- sition, the Rector of this church spent time in Orange County, administered the Communion once and preached 3 times in St. Mary's Chapel, also administered the Sacrament of Bap- tism ; preached once at St. Jude's Parish, Stoney Creek, in the Union Meeting House, to a large and attentive congre- gation. Also preached on Sunday and several week even- ings in the Presbyterian Church in Hillsboro, kindly offered by its pastor, Rev. John Witherspoon. I baptized in Or- ange County 9 children and married one couple." This is the first time that services are mentioned as held in 9 Hillsboro, that is, during conventional year 1819 to 1820, by Messrs. Phillips and Bedell. Bight of the 9 baptized by Mr. Bedell were at the house of Thomas Latta, four miles from Hillsboro, and were recorded in the family Bible by him and witnessed by Geo. W. B. Burgwin. They were also recorded in the old Register of this Parish, by one whom I am proud to call my old friend, Mr. Prout, as copied from a register kept by Rev. Wm. M. Green. The L,atta family Bible with its interesting records can be seen now in good preservation, in the very room where in 18 19 those chil- dren were baptized, and two of the young people then present still live there and remember it. Let me close this record of the Convention of 1820 with a few of good Bishop Moore's words : "The set time in which God will have mercy upon Zion appears to have arrived. The night has indeed been long ; the tempest in which the Church has been involved has been truly terrible, but the sun has arisen upon us and dissi- pated, our darknesss. The clouds of desolation and ruin are dispelled from the heavens, and the voice of joy and gladness is again heard in our temples." The Convention of 1821 met in Raleigh, Saturday, April 28TH, business meetings being held in the Supreme Court room, Bishop Moore again presiding and preaching the open- ing sermon, and also making an address at the close. Lay delegates present, whose names will interest many here, were Dr. A. J. De Rosset, Duncan Cameron from St. Mary's, Robert Davis from St. Jude's, William M. Green, John A. Cameron and William Cameron. During the Convention, on Sunday, April 29th, Messrs. Robert Davis and Wm. M. Green were ordained deacons, the one, delegate from St. Jude's ; the other, soon to be first Rector of St. Matthew's. In this Journal ap- pears the first formal report, though very defective, of the con- dition of St. Mary's, it being made by Rev. William Hooper, a deacon, and nothing being said of the number of commu- nicants. Of missionary collections made in the diocese $6.00 came from St. Jude's. Nothing said as to the rest of Orange. Rev. Mr. Wright reported preaching 4 times at St. Jude's, and Mr. Hooper once at St. Jude's and once in Hillsboro. Mr. Wright baptised 1 child at St. Jude's 10 and i at Haw River. Robert Johnson Miller, before that time a minister of the Lutheran Church, was, during this Con- vention, on Tuesday, May ist, ordained by Bishop Moore deacon and priest, one service being in the morning, the other in the evening. The Bishop also confirmed 49. Rev. R. S. Mason, chairman of the Committee on the State of the Church, reported thus encouragingly : "But not only has the Church obtained an outward degree of prosperity altogether unlooked for, but also, we have reason to think, the principles and practices of true and genuine piety, have acquired and are still acquiring additional influence in our Communion ; a desire for being Christians in deed and in truth ; a hungering and thirsting after righteousness is more and more prevailing, and may God of His mercy finish the work He has commenced." L,et us end the record of this Convention with an extract from Bishop Moore's closing address: " The proposition which has been made to this Convention by a portion of the L,utheran Church in this State is calculated to excite our warmest gratitude to God. It proclaims in language which cannot be misunder- stood the confidence they place in our integrity and the prefer- ence they give to our religious institutions. The door which has been opened for the reception of the messenger into our bosom, who conveyed to us their proposals, forms an event of a most imposing character. In a point from which we appre- hended some difficulty there has no difficulty arisen, and we have sent him back to the people of his charge clothed with that ministerial authority required by our Communion, our fellow- labourer in the Gospel, our friend, our brother. If the Lutheran ministers and congregations, by whom he has been deputed to attend upon our proceedings, breathe the same sentiments which warm my heart ; if they possess the same desire to effect as perfect and entire an union as hath been exemplified in their representative it cannot be long before that union will be completed. We shall then form one fold under one shepherd, meet around the same altar, constitute one household, Jesus Christ Himself the Bishop of our souls." Directly after this Convention of 1821, the Rev. Adam Empie visited the Latta family near Hillsboro, and on Saturday the 5th of May bap- tized a child in the same room where Mr. Bedell, eighteen 11 months before, had similarly officiated. Mr. Robert Davis, who had been ordained deacon a few days before, was with him and signed in the family Bible as witness to the baptism. As Mr. Davis was from St. Jude's, it is probable that one or both officiated there on Sunday. On December 16th follow- ing, Mr. Davis baptized the wife and child of Joseph H. L,atta, who still survives in his 97th year. In the following year he baptized another, the record of all these being in the same very interesting old family Bible. In 1823 Robert King was appointed to solicit funds from the people of St. Jude's for the Diocesan Missionary Society. Now, not having the Journals for 1822, 1823 and 1824 (which are all I lack of having a complete set), we pass on necessarily to 1825, in the Journal for which year we have the record of the organization of this parish and its admission to Convention. But, during this interval (and it should not be passed over with- out special remark) comes the election and consecration of John Stark Ravenscroft as the first Bishop of North Carolina, the election being during the Diocesan Convention of 1823 held in Salisbury, and his consecration a few weeks later, during General Convention, on May 22d, in Philadelphia, by Bishop White, assisted by Bishops Griswold, Kemp, Croes, Bowen and Brownell. This I take, only correcting the date and writing May instead of April, from the Memoir prefixed to Bishop Ravenscroft' s Works, prepared by Walker Anderson, or by him and W. M. Green together. Mr. Anderson took part in the foundation of this parish, as we will see presently, and was a communicant in it until 1836, then removing and afterwards becoming Chief Justice of Florida. This memoir is well worth careful reading, as is also a very interesting sketch of the life of the Bishop, in the ' ' American Church Review ' ' for January, 1871, prepared by Bishop Green, who was Rector here during Bishop Ravenscroft' s episcopate, was chiefly in- strumental in having him elected, and thoroughly appreciated that brave and good old man, who came to the Diocese in a try- ing time and left his mark on it in a way which was painful to himself, but necessary ; for Bishop Ravenscroft, brethren, had, under a somewhat rough exterior, much that was very gentle. Says Bishop Green, who surely was a judge of what is gentle 12 inhuman nature: "Under all this lion's hide there beat a truly kind and loving heart, and well does the writer remem- ber, as though it were but yesterday, almost the last words uttered by that dear man, a day or two before his death : ' Brother Green, I have been a rough creatur (as he often purposely pronounced that word), but,' he added with deep feeling, and striking his broad breast, ' God knows there was no roughness here. ' ' ' The first Convention of this Diocese at which the Bishop presided was the one of 1824, to which I am not able to refer. It was in the summer of that year, sixty-six years ago, that our parish was organized. I give the record of it which is pre- served in the old Parish Register, copied there by one of the greatest missionaries of the Diocese, though one of the hum- blest of men, Rev. Henry H. Prout, from Mr. Green's register : " Hillsborough, Aug. 23rd, 1824.. ' ' We whose names are subscribed do hereby form ourselves into a congregation to be known by the name of St. Matthew's Church, and we do also hereby promise conformity to the con- stitution and canons of the Protestant Episcopal Church as es- tablished by General Convention of the same. " Eliza Estes, Mary P. Ashe, Elizabeth Ashe,' Mary R. Anderson, Sally Grove, William Harwood, Ann Ruffin, P. R. Anderson, Ann O. Cameron, Thomas Ruffin, Josiah Turner, Stephen Moore, William Cain, Jr., William Barry Grove, Robina Norwood, Benj. B. Blume, Francis L,. Hawks, Elizabeth Norwood, Walker Anderson, Emily Hawks, T. L,atta, Thomas Carney, W. E. Anderson, Thomas J. Faddis, Eliza- beth L,atta (mother), Mary L,atta, Jonathan P. Sneed, Elizabeth Latta (daughter), Ellen L,atta, N. Hoston, Catherine Hoston. ' ' Most of these names are very familiar to all of the older members of this congregation, and some of them are to all. On the same day Messrs. William Norwood, Thomas Ruffin, Jon- athan Sneed, Francis I,. Hawks and Walker Anderson were elected as the first vestry of the parish. The Convention of 1825 Met in Washington. Bishop Ravenscroft and 8 of his clergy were present and 21 of the laity, representing 13 parishes. Mr. Green applied for admittance of St. Matthews', Hillsboro, into union with the Convention, 13 which was granted, and Thomas Carney received as a delegate therefrom. The Bishop reported having confirmed 69 in the Diocese during the year. He, as Rector of Christ Church, Raleigh, reported 22 communicants there. By the clergy were reported communicants in Wilmington 146, in Newbern 70, Kdenton 30, Elizabeth City 4, Wadesboro 18, Salisbury 6, Christ Church, Rowan, 58, Milton 3, St. Mary's, Orange County 34 (Hillsboro and St. Jude's not mentioned), Washing- ton 14, 3 chapels near there 31, in all 436. Fayetteville how- ever is not included. The Hillsboro communicants were counted, I suppose, with those at St. Mary's. I know of no old list of communicants at St. Mary's previous to 1841. Mr. Green, whose residence in 1825 was at Williamsboro, re- ported as to Hillsboro that " a congregation has been formed, and a neat and commodious house of worship commenced, which will be completed during the ensuing summer." " At St. Mary's," he added, " an earnest attention to the services of the church still continues. There have been two or three deaths in the congregation, but several have been added. The number of communicants (34) is considerably greater than was reported at the last Convention ; but this is principally attrib- utable to a mistake in the former report." The Bishop, in his address, said, "At St. Mary's Chapel, Orange County, I read prayers and preached on the nth of September, according to previous appointment ; but, owing to continued rain, to only 4 persons. In the evening I preached in the Methodist house of worship in Hillsboro to a very attentive congregation. Sunday, the 12th of September, after baptizing an infant in Hillsboro, I proceeded to St. Mary's Chapel, where a good congregation attended, and where I preached and administered the Holy Communion." And again, speaking of Mr. Green's removal to Hillsboro, he said, "The Church in Hillsboro has been or- ganized under the most flattering prospects, and the Rev. Mr. Green called to take charge there, at St. Mary's and at Judge Cameron's, who, with a laudable zeal for the spiritual interests of his own large family and of the neighborhood, has erected at his own expense a handsome and commodious building, which will be ready for consecration this summer, together with the new church in Hillsboro. I reached St. Jude's in time for my 14 appointment there on the 5th and 6th of October, on both which days I officiated to good and attentive congregations ; and I heartily wish that some means could be devised to pro- vide occasional services at least for this small body of Episco- palians, who stand firm, though exposed to much temptation to abandon the cause." We have now reached the time when the way was open for the Church in Hillsboro to go on according to its good begin- ning and do its duty as a part of the Church in North Carolina, and the Convention showed its trust in its willingness to take its share of the burden by laying an assessment for the Bishop's salary on St. Matthew's, St. Mary's and St. Jude's together, of $60, and on St. Matthew's, additional, for contingent expenses of the Convention, $15. Hear now some weighty words of Bishop Ravenscroft at this Convention of 1825, the first at which our parish was represented : " Dividing the diocese into three sections, running from North to South, it is evident that the present strength of the Church is in the Bast. The prin- ciples of the Church are there better understood, more heartily received, and more unhesitatingly acted on ; and, so far as human judgment is permitted to act, there is a greater degree of liveliness, a deeper interest manifested for the purity and consistency of faith and practice. In the middle section the state of things is materially different. The members of the Church are not generally as fixed and decided in their prin- ciples as Churchmen ; and, consequently \ less interest is felt and manifested for the particular doctrines which distinguish their profession. This, however, is not to be wondered at. They have had less opportunity to be reminded of their distinctive doctrines, fewer occasions to call them into action, and a more extended preposession of the public mind to conflict with, there being for a long period but two clergymen in the whole section, and one of these decidedly hostile to the principles of the Church. I am happy, however, to be able to state that the principles of the Church and of pure religion are gaining ground among the members, of whom there are not a few, whose zeal is coupled with knowledge, and whose faith is manifested by their works ; and, in general, more consideration is given to the subject, and a stop, in great measure, put to the deleterious 15 notion, nitherto so prevalent, that it is a matter of entire indif- ference what profession of religion a man adopts." And from the Bishop's charge delivered at the close of the Convention a few extracts are well worthy of our attention. Speaking in all solemnity to the clergy and laity present representing the Church in North Carolina (over which the Church in the United States had placed him) of various causes, remote from general observation, which operated injuriously to the ad- vancement of the Church, and which, said he, "are in the reach of a remedy, and which it is our joint duty to endeavor to remove," he spoke thus of one of these causes : ' ' The first is want of information in the people at large, and in too great a degree among those of our own commun- ion, on the distinctive character of the Church of Christ and the obligations which thence follow to man thus furnished with this means of grace. That it exists in a very extensive and injurious degree, is a point which needs no proof ; it being the daily ex- perience of most of those who hear me. And while it can be accounted for very satisfactorily, in my opinion, it is from the causes producing it that we shall best learn what is most proper to counteract it. We have then, but to direct our at- tention to the state of things produced by the downfall of the church at the period of our revolution, and to what has fol- lowed progressively since until within a very few years, to find ample means of accounting for this state of the public mind. The Episcopal Church, never very strong in this State, was reduced by that great event to a state of actual silence. Political feelings were associated with its very name, which operated as a complete bar to any useful or comfortable exer- cise of duty, by the very few clergymen, perhaps not more than three or four, who were left. The public instruction of the people in religion fell exclusively into other hands, pre- cluded from treating with any precision that branch of Chris- tian edification which refers to the unity of the Church of Christ, its distinctive character and religious purpose, and to the authority of the Christian ministry as an integral part of that system of faith and order revealed in the Gospel. It is not to be wondered at then, my brethren, that these doctrines as held by the Episcopal Church should gradually lose their 16 impression on those who entertained them, be lost sight of by the people-at-large, and at length be forgotten ; and that a prescrip- tion of forty years should possess an influence difficult to dislodge from the minds of those who have been taught to view everything relating to the external order of the Church as unimportant and non-essential. That this is the more general state of the public mind, I have all the certainty which observation and declared opinion can give ; and the very painful knowledge that many who call themselves Episcopalians cherish such every way inconsistent notions, and are farther led into this error by the modern but erroneous views of charity and liberal opinions. While this state of things continues we shall deceive ourselves egregiously if we expect any real or extensive increase of the Church ; our numbers may indeed be added to, but the numerical is not al- ways the real strength, either of tbe Church or of an army. On you then, my brethren of the clergy, will devolve the im- perious duty of so framing and directing your public ministra- tions, as well as your private instructions among your respect- ive charges, as to embrace these long neglected but vital doc- trines, and to explain and enforce them, from the word of God and the reason of the thing, as parts of that system of revealed truth, which forms but one whole, and cannot be broken up to suit the particular notions of any man or body of men. But, for your encouragement, let me remind you that it is a work of necessity, mercy, and charity; of necessity, as to the edification of your own flock ; of mercy, as to those multitudes who are per- ishing for lack of knowledge ; of charity, as to those who have embraced the error, in presenting them with the means of de- tecting and escaping from it. But further, as you are to de- clare the whole counsel of God, and to keep back nothing that is profitable to your hearers, so are you bound by your ordina- tion vow to be ready, with all faithful diligence, to banish and drive away from the Church all erroneous and strange doc- trines contrary to God's word. Against this my admonition to you, and against your attention to it, you must be prepared to meet and to disregard the odium attached to a controversial spirit ; because it can in no sense be made to apply to the duty every pastor owes to his flock, in warning them against error, 17 however that error may be sanctioned by others ; and it is high time that this cunning method of giving religious error time to establish itself and eventually interdict the only possible method of refuting and overturning it, be resisted. And when it is evident that the operation of this and similar deceptive prin- ciples is gradually producing an indifference, coldness, and dead- ness, to revealed religion, which indicate the temper predicted of the latter day, it surely becomes the duty of the ministers of Christ to contend earnestly for the faith, to remember that they are watchmen in Zion, and that, if they give no warning, the price of blood will be required at their hands. But it does not follow, my reverend brothers, tfyat in exposing error an angry and acrimonious temper or style is necessary. No ; on the con- trary it is to be avoided, both for our own sakes and the sake of others ; and the only just objection to religious controversy is the intemperance into which it is too apt to degenerate. This, then, is to be guarded against, while we equally bear in mind that the time is come when great plainness of speech is required, if we hope to rouse men to the serious consideration of those things which make for their peace ; if we would indeed draw that line between divine truth and human error, whereby all may profit who are disposed to come to the light." The Convention of 1826 met in Hieesboro. Present, Bishop Ravenscroft, 8 of his clergy, Messrs. Avery, Green, Empie, Wright, Pierson, Brainerd, R. S. Mason and H. M. Mason, and 21 of the laity from 10 parishes. This parish was represented by Thos. Ruffin, William Norwood, Francis L,. Hawks and James S. Smith ; St. Mary's by Walker Anderson and Duncan Cameron ; St. Jude's by Thomas Davis, a brother of Robert and John. The Bishop speaks of visiting Hillsboro on way to Milton and preaching on November 3d. A little later he said : " My next appointment being at St. Jude's, in the county of Orange, I reached Mr. James Davis's " (father of Robert, John and Thomas) ' ' on the 2nd of December. On the 3rd met at St. Jude's, but, owing to wetness and coldness of the day, only 10 people attended. With these, however, I en- gaged in the worship of God and preached in the school house adjoining, which afforded the accommodation of a good fire. Sunday, December 4th, at St. Jude's, again held Divine ser- 18 vice and preached to a full house ; but few of the people, how- ever, have any knowledge of, or feel any interest in, the Church. Returned through Hillsboro to Raleigh." I^ater in spring of 1826 the Bishop says : " The congregations in Orange county under the care of Rev. Mr. Green, remaining to be visited, I left Raleigh on the 3rd of May on that duty, and on Saturday, the 13th, performed divine service, and preached in the build- ing lately erected by Duncan Cameron, Esq., near his own residence, as a place of public worship. The house is yet un- finished, but will in due time be suitably accommodated for its appropriate uses, and will be both a handsome and commodi- ous building, affording to the neighborhood means and oppor- tunity for religious services, of which they are much in want. On Sunday, the 14th, I officiated at St. Mary's Chapel, con- firmed 4 persons, and preached to a full congregation. In the evening the services were performed in Hillsboro, in the Female Academy. ' ' A few lines farther on he says : ' ' The Rev. Mr. Green has removed from the charge of the con- gregations in Williamsboro and Warrenton, and is now settled in Hillsboro." Of St. Mary's Chapel Mr. Green reported : "The congregation has, for the past year, appeared to be stationary, if not on the decline. This, I believe, has been caused by the death of several of the oldest, most influential and long-tried members of the congregation. Those who had clung to the cause of the Church in that quarter, during the long season of its depression, and who were the first to shed tears of joy over the prospect of her revival, have gradually been taken away ; and the children having been brought up in ignorance of the Church, and of the sanctifying efficacy of its ordinances, are, for the most part, indifferent to her interests, and many of them have strayed into strange pastures." Two baptized ; 4 confirmed ; 17 communicants. In Hills- boro he reported 14 baptized, 17 communicants, and said of congregation and church : " The congregation formed in this place little more than a year ago have with a com- mendable liberality erected to the worship of Almighty God, and for the use of the Church, the building in which we are now assembled." The Rev. Mr. Wright, of Salisbury, said that on his way to Convention in Hillsboro he visited St. Jude's, and, 19 said he, " I officiated there to a respectable congregation, and administered the Sacrament of Baptism to i child. I had some conversation with the members and friends of the Church, who expressed an earnest desire for missionary services. If a minister, say they, could visit us twice a month, once a month, or even once in two months, it would rejoice our hearts, and we would do what we could towards his support." It was during the session of this Convention of 1826 that St. Mat- thew'' s Church was consecrated, on Sunday morning , May 21st ; consecrated to the honor of God's great name, separated thenceforward from all unhallowed, ordinary and common uses, dedicated to His service high and holy, for reading His holy Word, for celebrating His Holy Sacraments, for offering to His Glorious Majesty the sacrifices of prayer and thanksgiv- ing, for blessing His people in His Name, and for the perform- ance of all other holy offices authorized by the Church. It was a time surely of joy, holy joy, for the little band then wor- shipping here. And, therefore, very appropriately the Sacra- ment of the Eucharist was the closing and crowning act of the morning's service which commenced with the Con- secration service and was followed by Morning Prayer and a sermon. The first words, brethren, of Bishop Rav- enscroft in his address to that Convention from this Chan- cel were : ' ' With renewed and increased cause of thank- fulness to the Great Head of the Church, and Disposer of all events in this world, to the advancement of His pure and undefiled religion, we are again permitted, my clerical and lay- brethren, to unite our counsels and our efforts to promote the same glorious and gracious purpose. And as the divine mercy is pleased to continue thus favorable to us, I trust it will prove an additional ground of increased exertion on our part, to give ourselves heartily to the fulfilment of those duties which are entrusted to the representatives of the Church, by the vari- ous congregations in this Diocese." And at the close of the Convention the last words of a solemn charge from him, which so pleased the Convention that a resolution was passed request- ing the clergy to read it to their congregations (and they ap- ply just as well to us of these days as to them), were: " L,et not, then, the church of which we are happily members have to 20 take up the reproach of her great Founder and Head, as ex- pressed by the prophet Isaiah, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. Our nursing- mother appeals to us for support ; let us not prove ourselves unnatural children by devouring the breasts which we have sucked and refusing the support and defense which our spirit- ual parent requires in her day of need. She has given all to her children ; she has reserved nothing for herself, but the com- fort and consolation which springs from unfeigned love and de- voted attachment in them, grounded on the irrefragible testi- mony of heaven and earth united in favour of her divine origin and saving purpose, as held and maintained by the Protestant Episcopal Church in these United States. ' ' Next Sunday, God willing, without so going into particulars gathered from journals in order, we will sum up, as concisely as will be consistent with interest, the work done in the parish during the time in which it has existed ; and may our hearts be stirred to pray for greater and greater blessings upon our work, and that thousands yet unborn may in these courts be led to give their hearts and lives to God. 21 PART TWO. I ask your attention again, brethren, to a consideration of events in the history of our parish, not meaning, however, as before, to take up the Journals for close examination in course, except for a few years. That, while it might be made profit- able, would occupy us three or four Sundays, and would give me more of that kind of work than I feel willing to undertake now. The early history of the parish, too, required more par- ticular attenti&n, and a careful study of the Journals was the best way to get at it. We will first take a "hasty view of the Journals from 182'] to 1835, inclusive, the last being the date of the second and last session of Convention in St. Matthew's Church, Hillsboro. The Convention op 1827 was held in Newbern. Bishop Ravenscroft presided. Bight of the clergy were present, includ- ing two — Freeman, lately ordained, and Green, who afterwards became Bishops. Nineteen laymen from eleven parishes were present. Mr. Green, Rector at Hillsboro, preached the Conven- tion sermon. The Bishop reported visiting St. Jude's and preaching to a small congregation, but spoke very discour- agingly as to the prospect for increase. The reason is plain. He was not able to provide pastoral attention for them, which too often, then and now, is the reason why work commenced fails, the offerings of God's people for carrying on God's work not pouring into God's treasury, or those who could give work as lay readers or teachers not being willing thus to make their offering. Said the Bishop, " their sole dependence for the serv- ices of the Church is on occasional visits from some of our clergy, which are very rare ; and on my annual visit to them, which is necessarily short, and confined as to opportunities for private intercourse. Notwithstanding this unfavorable state of things, however, I am gratified in being able to state that the at- tachment of the members to the Church appears to be more and more confirmed, as they have obtained a clearer knowledge of her character. These, however, are fast declining into the vale of years, and there can be but small expectation of retaining their families steadfast in their profession without more frequent op- 22 portunities for religious instruction than they at present possess. ' ' So far as I have been able to find, this is the /as/ time that St.Jude 1 s was visited by Bishop, or any other clergyman, although men- tioned time and again in the table of assessment, being there grouped with St. Matthew's and St. Mary's at least up to 1832. Then, very naturally, it seemed to drop out of existence. It would be very sad and dishonorable to the Church if many such cases could be found in the records. I^et us hope and pray that the new St. Jude's to be built three miles west from here, being so close to us, may fare better, clergy and people giving it their fostering care. St. Paul's, Milton, is spoken of in this Journal and some others as ministered to four or five times a year from Hillsboro, but it too died out, being too far out of the way, and only lately is promising to revive as a congregation with the new life springing up in the town. The Bishop speaks of visiting and preaching in Judge Cameron's new Chapel, not yet ready for consecration, and administering the Holy Communion. Then 2 services at St. Marj^'s, con- firming 2, and 4 services at St. Matthew's, Hiilsborb, confirm- ing 3. Mr. Green reported at St. Matthew's, 4 baptized, 7 confirmed, 21 communicants ; at St. Mary's, 5 baptized, 4 con- firmed, 14 communicants ; at Judge Cameron's, 26 baptized ; at Milton, 2 baptized ; at St. Matthew's lay-reading well attended, Sunday school promising well, the Rector being helped in it — mainly by the teachers of his Female Seminary. This Convention of 1827 was marked by an effort to raise a small Episcopal fund sufficient to release the Bishop from charge of a parish, so that he could give all his time to his Diocese, which was so growing as to demand it. The Rev. Adam Bmpie was appointed to prepare an address on the subject which was appended to the Journal, and Francis Iy. Hawks of this parish was deputed to travel with the Bishop and stir up an interest in the matter. The; Convention of 1828 was held in Fayetteville. Bishop Ravenscroft presided. Six of the 11 clergy of the Diocese were present, and 18 of the laity (including 1 from Hillsboro and 1 from St. Mary's) representing 10 parishes. I^eonidas Polk, afterwards the great Bishop of Louisiana, was one of the deputies from Raleigh. The Bishop reported this 23 matter of interest to us: "The consecration of the new Chapel in Orange County, built by Mr. Cameron, of which notice was given, served to draw out a larger collection of people than would otherwise have attended. The necessary deeds therefore being previously executed, the building now neatly finished, was duly consecrated to the service of Almighty God, for the use of the members of the Protestant Episcopal Church, by the name of Salem Chapel, on Sunday, October 7th, last. On this occasion Twas assisted by the Rev. Mr. Wright of Salisbury, and by the Rev. Mr. Green, the pastor of the congregation." Speaking of St. Matthew's, Hillsboro, the Bishop said, ' ' It presents a favorable aspect, from additions made to the number of communicants on the present visit, and in the promise of future increase, from the pains taken in training the younger members of the Church in the way in which they should go," "while that of St. Mary's Chapel, in the vicinity," added he, " presents a striking lesson of the injury which is sure to follow the neglect of this duty ; the younger branches of the old and most established Episco- pal families (having wandered off into other folds, or declined altogether from the profession and practice of religion) have left that congregation little more than the name. The services nevertheless are regularly performed there once a month to the few who remain, but, as I am given to understand, without much prospect of increase. ' ' And thus, brethren, that congrega- tion has been served ever since, with necessarily very little close pastoral oversight, and of course little increase, because the stewards of God's good gifts have withheld the offerings which were due from them to the Lord's treasury, and so the Bish- ops have not been able to give that congregation and many others the attention necessary to stir up real life in them. St. Mary's was reported in 1868 as no longer entitled to represen- tation as a parish. In 1888 it was reorganized as a Mission, and is, I trust, putting on new life, and not merely the appear- ance of it. A very few words more, and I will drop all refer- ence to this congregation. The records go back only to 1839. Since that time 98 have been baptized there and so received into Christ's flock and solemnly dedicated to His holy service. Forty-two have had the blessing of confirmation, 24 taking upon themselves the vows of their baptism and pro- fessing their intention and determination, with God's help, to live the life of Christ. And 53 have been enrolled as communicants, privileged at the Lord's Holy Table to partake of the Holy Food provided for the strengthening and refreshing of Christ's people. So the congregation, though a little one, though known only by name to many Church people in the Diocese, and little known by some close by, has not existed for naught, and may yet (let us hope and pray) arise and flourish, and perhaps in time help to spread the knowledge of Christ and the Church in distant places. As yet they are weak and need the sympathy, and prayers, and alms, of the Church in other places, and ought to have more services and more pastoral care than a Rector of Hills- boro can possibly give them, however strong and willing he may be. That congregation ought, years ago, to have been joined to Salem Chapel and Flat River under a minister of their own. It is not too late yet, but offerings for Diocesan Mis- sions must be largely increased, if this Church, of which our parish forms a part, is to do its duty in answering the calls made upon it in our Diocese of North Carolina. A very interesting record in the Bishop's address of this y&ax (1828) is that of the ordination of Rev. James H. Otey (afterwards Bishop of Tennessee) to the Holy Order of Priests, in St. Mat- thew's Church, Hillsboro, on Sunday, June 17, 1827, on testi- monials from Christ Church, Nashville, Tenn. Also of Fran- cis L,. Hawks, one of the founders of this parish, to the Holy Order of Deacons in Newbern, November 18, 1827. There is a very strong passage in Bishop Ravenscroft's address on the absolute neeessity of strong, earnest, personal religion, which would be very profitable for us, but we must pass on. In Mr. Green's report we find in Hillsboro, 3 baptized, 2 confirmed, 26 communicants, Sunday-school scholars 44. Catechumens are regularly examined by the Rector one Sunday afternoon in each month and continue more and more to recommend the zeal and fidelity with which they are trained. The Consecra- tion of Salem Chapel he reports with thankfulness. The communicants he counts with those of St. Mary's. We will confine ourselves hereafter to St. Matthew's. 25 The; Convention op 1829 met in Salisbury and was the last at which Bishop Ravenscroft presided. Of the 1 1 clergy- men of the Diocese 8 were present. Of the laity 19 from 7 parishes. Ours not represented. Thomas F. Davis, Jr., (after- wards Bishop of South Carolina) represented Wilmington as lay deputy. In immediate connection with the Bishop's account of his visitation to Hillsboro (where he was gratified and en- couraged by increasing religious impression) he said : "As the rite of confirmation is administered every year in all our fixed congregations, and the candidates are presented on the respon- sibility of their pastor, from personal examination of their qualifications, the number cannot be so great in any year, as un- der other circumstances (z. y Bishop Atkinson, in St. Peter's Church, Washington. November 1, 1855, All Saint's Day, Mr. Donnelly, the Rector of the Parish, was buried by the Rev. Dr. J. T. Wheat. In 1857, Rev. Dr. Moses A. Curtis appears again as Rector of St. Matthew's. The rector}^ I believe, was provided then. In i860, Dr. Curtis reported 48 communicants and contribu- tions $278.25. The new St. Mary's Chapel was consecrated November 25, 1859. Of this, said the Bishop : "The building is a simple, but neat and durable structure of brick, very much needed in the place of the old and decayed church, but which might not have been erected for years, if at all, had it it not been for the zeal and liberality of a venerable lady in the con- v ' gregation "; referring to Mrs. Mary White, who died in 1872, and lies in our churchyard. The chapel cost, as stated by Dr. 33 Curtis, about $2,000. In 1864, Dr. Curtis reported in Hills- boro 65 communicants and contributions in Confederate money $8,850.45. May 2, 1868, Charles J. Curtis, son of the Rector, was admitted candidate for Holy Orders. In 1869, Dr. Curtis reported great improvements in St. Matthew's Church building, the old flat roof replaced by high open one, enlargement of east end for recess chancel, vestry, and organ room, chancel lighted by handsome triplet window of stained glass. Cost of all $1,600. Communicants 55 ; contributions almost wholly from present or former members of the parish. Dr. Curtis' s last report was made in 1871. Communicants then 59, offerings $502.51, of which $316.51 for Rector's salary. The Doctor entered into the Rest prepared for the people of God on April 10, 1872. The Bishop in his address at Convention said as to him : " The Church in the Diocese has, during the past year, experienced a very heavy loss in the death of the Rev. M. A. Curtis, D. D., Rector of St. Matthew's Church, Hillsboro. He was endowed by nature with superior abilities, and his acquire- ments both in theology and in science were very considerable ; indeed, in some departments of natural science he had no su- perior in this country. He was an able preacher, a sympa- thizing and affectionate pastor, and, above all, an earnest Christian believer. I have known but few men in the ministry whose death has been as generally and deeply lamented as that of Dr. Curtis. The marble font was given during the year by Mrs. Curtis, as a memorial of her husband. August 7, 1872, Charles J. Curtis was ordained deacon by Bishop Atkin- son in this church, and took charge of the parish. He reported at Convention of 1873 baptisms 18, confirmed 10, communi- cants 69, offerings $430.53. In 1873, the stained glass win- dow, memorial of Dr. Curtis, was given by the ladies of the parish. December 14, 1873, Rev. C. J. Curtis was ordained priest by Bishop Atkinson in St. Matthew's Church. Bishop Lay was present and preached the sermon. June 1, 1874, St. Matthew's was first visited by Bishop Lyman. In 1875 Mr. Curtis reported the church building " thoroughly and tastefully repaired within and without, in a churchly manner, at a cost of about $1,000, including a tower and spire 75 feet high." Com- municants 77. In 1877 the bell (1,233 lbs. weight), was given 34 as a memorial of John Henry Curtis, who was killed in 1865 at the battle of Bentonsville. The Bishop's chair was also put in the chancel. November 7, 1879, the parish was last visited by Bishop Atkinson. He entered on his rest January 4, 1881. He was, without doubt, one of the greatest Bishops the Church in America ever had. He did more than any to guide the Church in his Diocese, and in the South, through the difficul- ties which threatened it at the close of the civil war. Mr. Cur- tis' s last report was at the Convention of 1880 : Communicants 74, aggregate of offerings $845.05. He resigned July 24,1880, and held his last service August 8th. The present Rector took charge July 7, 1881. August 24, 1883, the new organ was set up ; cost $1,040. Work for this had been going on for years. In 1885 the Rector's chair (in memory of S. M. M.) the lec- turn, the stalls and prayer desk were put in the chancel ; cost $87.32. In 1887 the furnace was put in ; cost $200. July 17, 1887, Rev. William L,. Reaney was ordained priest in St. Mat- thew's Church. In 1888 the new carpet was put in, over the whole floor ; cost $143. During the last nine years the average aggregate of offerings from this parish for all objects, not in- cluding Rector's salary, has been $663. And now, brethren, let us end by taking a summary view of what has been accomplished since the organization of the parish 66 years ago, in 1824. Part of it we readily see, in the church, the furniture of it, the church yard, and the rectory all in good order, and, with God's blessing, and our and our success- ors' care, equivalent to a right good little endowment for the parish for years to come, leaving the people free to do much for objects outside of themselves. Not that neither we nor our chil- dren need think of any farther endowment, nor that either we or they may limit our care to keeping everything in good order as it is. No, in the very uncertain business outlook of our community, and the loss of ability to sustain the parish which may arise from changes by death and removal, it would be a very wise thing to provide for some money income by a small endowment. And as to care of property we have, there are not only repairs to be thought of, and the replacing of things worn out, but the addition of things desirable to have all in harmony. In addition to all thus done by the people of the 35 parish, much, very much, has been done, more, I verily be- lieve, all through its history, for Diocesan objects and objects beyond the Diocese, than by most parishes of its size, and moreover in much better way, and on much better principles, than in most of them ; and I believe God's blessing has gone with the parish largely on that account. Brethren, take, I be- seech you, the advice of one who has seen a large region sadly blighted mainly by departure from proper ways of freely giving of God's good gifts, in return for His many blessings, to carry on His work ; and never depart from the good ways in which you have been carefully trained for many years by good and faithful pastors. And, now passing on to the Holy Ordinances connected with the spiritual life of the Church in all its members, and which are so very important in the consideration of what a parish has existed for, let us observe first those in which only a few are directly, though .many indirectly, concerned. First, of Marriages. Of these, in the history of the parish there have been just ninety-nine. So many couples have been joined to- gether in holy wedlock with the blessing of the Church, 198 people having taken on themselves the solemn vows required by the Church of those who would live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony, after being solemnly warned that it is an estate or condition not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly and in the fear of God. The Church has been very well aware all along that such couples could very easily, if not here, in some other State, for very slight reasons not allowed by God's law, have the solemn bond dissolved ; but she, loyal to her I^ord, has ever, and will ever, do all she can to preserve it as indeed a holy estate, a holy wedlock not lightly to be un- loosed by unrighteous human laws, to the misery and unhap- piness not only of persons united by this bond, but of many others closely connected with them. L,et us thank God that in our part of the world the holy estate is more valued, and therefore adds more to the true happiness of our people, than in some States to the north of us. And let us pray that loose notions on the subject may not only never find a foothold in our region, but by degrees be entirely rooted out of our whole 36 land, for the honor of our civilization and the peace and hap- piness of famity life. Second, of Ordinations. Seven different persons have at this chancel taken upon themselves the solemn vows of Ordination, namely, Messrs. Otey (late Bishop of Tennessee), Johnston, Spear, Gries, Jacocks, Curtis and Reaney. This was especially, of course, for them, though also for those who witnessed, for the Church in general, and for those in particular to whom and for whom they were to offi- ciate, full of solemnity, seriousness, responsibility ; for, to the office of Deacon, or to the higher one of Priest, in the Church of God, they were solemnly set apart, with the laying on of hands, by one of the successors of the Apostles set over the Church in this Diocese. A matter was it for most careful and pra} r erful preparation on the part of the candidates, on the part of those, clerical and lay, who gave the certificates necessary before they could enter the ministrj^, on the part of all who joined in the Ember Day prayers, on the part of those who had charge of their instruction and examination and presentation, on the part of the preacher at the ordination, and on the part of the Bishop ordaining. Awful, indeed, to all concerned, if fully impressed with a sense of the responsibility of all who are called to the office of the priesthood ; and who can fail to be so impressed who properly observes the Ember seasons, who studies the Ordinal, who prays regularly, not merely in a gen- eral way, in the prayer appointed for the purpose in the morn- ing and evening prayer of the Church, for the Bishops and Clergy, but in particular, and* in all earnestness of loving in- terest, for his own Bishop and for his own pastor? The number of persons baptized in the parish, as appears from the records, has been 6yg. These all, old and young (the greater part infants unable to answer for themselves), were, in this holy rite (ordained for the purpose by Christ Himself,) sol- emnly dedicated to the service of Almighty God in the Church of Christ, or did solemnly dedicate themselves to that high and holy service. Made members of Christ, children of God, and inheritors of the kingdom of Heaven, great was the work upon which they then entered, even to live the life of Christ, to walk as good children of their Heavenly Father, to believe in and never lose sight of their Heavenly Inheritance. In this view 37 * of the matter, what a little army of Christian people arises be- fore us as we think of the 679 given to God through Christ, at the Holy Font, in this small parish, during its short life. And what a real thing their consecration to the Christian life should appear when we think that all of them made vows of solemn renunciation of the devil and all his works, the vain pomp and glory of the world, with all covetous desires of the same, and the sinful lusts of the flesh, so as not to follow nor be led by them ; of belief in all the articles of the Christain faith as con- tained in the Apostles' Creed, with earnest desire to be baptized in that faith, and of obediently keeping God's holy will and commandments, and walking in the same all the days of their life ; when we remember that before these vows were made, solemn preparation was made by prayers and exhortation, and that after they were made, and before the Sacrament was ad- ministered in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, the supplications of the people were offered that the pure water (provided as an emblem of the washing away of sin, and the purity of life to follow) should be sanctified to the mystical washing, and that those baptized therein should receive the fulness of grace and ever remain in the number of God's faithful children through Jesus Christ our L,ord ; and as we remember that after the baptism they were formally re- ceived into the congregation of Christ's flock, and signed with the sign of the Cross in token that they should not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified, and manfully to fight under His banner against sin, the world, and the devil, and continue Christ's faithful soldiers and servants unto their life's end. Those confirmed in the parish number 262. This is as large a number, in proportion to the size of the parish, as usual, giving an average of 4 each year. But, brethren, we must honestly, humbly and sadly, acknowledge that it is not what it should be, it is far from what the solemn consecration in Holy Baptism presupposes, it falls sadly short of what the Church expects when she uses so solemn a service of dedication, and so provides through her pastors and teachers (in addition to the responsibility of parents and sponsors which she would have as real as possible) for the training and instruc- 38 tion of all her children to bring them to the confirmation of their baptismal vows, to the self-consecration of mature years of discretion, to the Apostolic Blessing and the special gift of the Holy Ghost necessary for the going out into the world to face its enmity, its trials, its battles. It is true that many of those baptized in infancy died before reaching the age of dis- cretion. It is true that more moved away than is usual in most parishes. But after making every reasonable allowance, we must still confess that in the number of those who have con- secrated themselves by their own act in Confirmation to the service of the Lord their God, in the Church of Jesus Christ the Saviour of the world, relying upon the help of the Holy Ghost, the results of the Church's prayers, exhortations, and instructions, are not what they ought to be. Many, we must fear, have, with the consciousness of solemn vows resting on them which in their hearts they know to be binding, gone out into the world, and though not giving up prayer for God's help, and though hearing God's word continually, and the preaching of the Gospel of His salvation to a lost world, still have allowed themselves to be choked with the cares, and the riches, and the pleasures of this life, and have borne no fruit to perfection ; as if it were wise and safe to wait for God to make them by some very much louder call than the ordinary teaching of His Holy Word or by some terrible visitation, to give themselves to Him, and seek the best gifts of His grace, so needful continually to all who would be saved. Would that I knew how to so express myself as to lead any who may now be holding themselves back from grace, or who after putting their hand to the plow, have either turned back or do not give themselves as unreservedly as they should to follow- ing their Master, to see the danger and the unwisdom of such a course and to so see it as to turn from it in all earnestness. Those who have been enrolled in the parish as communicants number 375. This number also, when we consider the small - ness of the population, and our share in it (in the sadly divided condition of Christendom) and simply compare onrselves with other parishes of like size and opportunity, may be very fair and even creditable, but, when we consider the Blessed Saviour's command to His Apostles, and, through them, to their sue- 39 cessors, to go out into the world and to baptize all people every- where, from all nations, thus initiating them into union with Him by a Holy Sacrament ; and that on the evening before His death He appointed another Sacrament to be kept in perpetual, thankful remembrance of His precious death and sacrifice for the sins of the world, by all who desired to be saved by His pre- cious bloodshedding ; then we must see and acknowledge, with pain and grief, that this number is sadly wanting as an evidence of the life and devotion of the people who have belonged to this parish. And this is supposing that all of the 375 have been truly all that they professed to be ; not perfect (I don't mean that, alas, who is ?), but earnestly desirous to do their duty, seeking anxiously for God's grace, and not willing to lose any opportunity to share in it. When we seriously consider how much is lacking in this way, and tben think of the many who have died, without in this Holy Sacrament showing forth their loving remembrance of Christ their IyOrd, and the many who have moved away from the parish, without being, by the teach- ing received here, led thus to acknowledge Christ as their Re- deemer, we must see that this Church of ours has not accom- plished its proper work in bringing souls, for whom Christ died, to that confession of Him which is His due ; and that there is room for much more earnest work and earnest prayer, ever increasing indeed continually, in order that all may be brought to share in the inestimable benefits procured for His people by the sacrifice of Himself which in His Holy Supper we commemorate. Brethren believe me, the plan of Christ's life laid down for us in the Baptismal Offices, the Church Catechism, the Confirmation Office, the Communion Office, Morning and Evening Prayer and litany, and the Keeping of the Christian Year, is as near perfect as can be devised. It only lacks earnest and faithful trial ; let us in all humil- ity set ourselves to this work, and we will assuredly find God's blessing abundantly in it, and, if we remember our re- sponsibility, and use our influence, will help many others to a share in it. And now let us pass on to our final topic, and may God's blessing go with us through it, and our after consideration of the whole matter. 40 The number of Deaths and Burials recorded in the Parish Registers is 242. This may seem a small number when we look back over 66 years, but, when we consider that it is fully three times our average Sunday morning congregation it will appear larger. And then imagine the 242 as buried around us. What a well filled graveyard it would be, and what a re- minder of death, the end of a fleeting life, and of the common end of all, high and low. Again, think how many of them were children, how many young men in their prime of strength, how many young women in their freshness of grace and beauty, and alas how few arriving at three-score and ten, and what a warning is it to us to use our time as not abusing it ; what an ex- hortation to us to seek grace from above, by use of means pro- vided for us here, to fit ourselves for eternity. L,et us then, brethren, think, at least as often as we meet in the Lord's house, of those who He around us in this beautiful and peaceful church- yard, awaiting the resurrection, after having had the same op- portunity within these courts which we have, two of them in the chancel speaking in the Lord's Name and dispensing His Sacraments, the rest in the pews, following their leading and receiving grace and instruction through them ; and let us re- solve to use our opportunities, carefully, earnestly, persistently, for the salvation of our souls. •• •■■<■■.' ■ . t ,-.