JOURNAL. Clerical TUESDAY, 27th of September, 1785. and Lay Deputies from several of the States assembled; and judging it proper to wait the arrival of the Deputies from the other States, Adjourned until to-morrow at 10 o'clock. WEDNESDAY, 28th of September, 1785. The Convention met according to adjournment; and the Rev. Dr. Keene, by desire, read prayers. The Rev. David Griffith was unanimously chosen Secre tary. Ön motion, Resolved,-That a President be now chosen by ballot, and that each State have one,vote; which being done, and the ballots counted, it appeared that the Rev. William White, D.D., was unanimously chosen. Ordered, that the Deputies from the several States produce the testimonials of their appointment; which being done, and the testimonials read, Resolved, That the testimonials produced from the Church in the several States, viz., in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and South Carolina are satisfactory. The Resolutions of a Convention of the Protestant Epis copal Church, held in the city of New York, on the 6th and 7th days of October, 1784, were read. Ordered, that the same lie on the table. WEDNESDAY EVENING, 6 o'clock. The Convention met, according to adjournment. Ordered, that the proceedings of a former Convention at New York be again read; which being done, and the different. articles considered, Resolved, That the first, second, and third articles proposed as fundamental by the said Convention, are approved of. The fourth article being read, it was, on motion, Resolved, -That a Committee be appointed, consisting of one clerical and one lay deputy from the Church in each State, to consider of and report such alterations in the Liturgy, as shall render it consistent with the American Revolution and the Constitutions of the respective States: and such further alterations in the Liturgy as it may be advisable for this Convention to recommend to the consideration of the Church here represented. Resolved, That the fifth, sixth, and seventh of the aforesaid articles proposed as fundamental are approved of; the sixth article being first explained and understood, as meaning that the Deputies are to vote according to the States from which they come, and not individually. Resolved,-That a Committee, to be composed as aforesaid, prepare and report a draft of an Ecclesiastical Constitution for the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. A Committee was appointed accordingly: viz., the Rev. Mr. Provost and the Hon. Mr. Duane for New York; the Rev. Mr. Beach and Mr. Dennis for New Jersey; the Rev. Dr. White and Mr. Peters for Pennsylvania; the Rev. Dr. Wharton and Mr. Sykes for Delaware; the Rev. Dr. Smith and Dr. Cradock for Maryland; the Rev. Mr. Griffith and Mr. Page for Virginia; and the Rev. Dr. Purcell and the Hon. Mr. Read for South Carolina. Resolved, That the preparing the necessary and proposed alterations in the Liturgy be referred to the same Committee. The Convention adjourned to 10 o'clock to-morrow morning. THURSDAY, 29th of September, 1785. The Convention met, according to adjournment; and the Rev. Dr. Magaw read prayers. Resolved, That a person be appointed to assist the Secretary, and to officiate in his stead when he shall be employed in the business of the Committee; and Mr. Clarke was appointed accordingly. The Rev. Dr. Smith, as Chairman of the Committee for revising and altering the Liturgy, etc., reported that the Committee had made some progress in the business referred to them, but not having completed the same, desired leave to sit again; which being agreed to, The Convention adjourned to 10 o'clock to-morrow morning. FRIDAY, 30th of September, 1785. The Convention met, according to adjournment; and the Rev. Mr. Provost read prayers. On motion, Resolved, That the Committee for revising and altering the Liturgy, etc., do also prepare and report a plan for obtaining the consecration of Bishops, together with an address to the Most Reverend the Archbishops and the Right Reverend the Bishops of the Church of England for that purpose. The Rev. Dr. Smith from the Committee for revising, etc., reported that they had made further progress in the business referred to them, but not having finished the same, desired leave to sit again, which was agreed to. The Convention adjourned to 9 o'clock to-morrow morning. SATURDAY, 1st of October, 1785. The Convention met according to adjournment; and the Rev. Dr. Smith read prayers. The Rev. Dr. Smith from the Committee for revising, etc., reported that they had prepared a draft of the alterations to be made in the Liturgy; and that they had also prepared a draft of a general Ecclesiastical Constitution, which he was ready to report. Ordered, that the same be now received; which being done and the Report read, Ordered, that the said Report lie on the table for the perusal of the members. The Rev. Dr. Smith, from the same Committee, reported, that they have had under consideration the further alterations to be proposed in the Liturgy, and were ready to report in part. Ordered, that the Report be now received and read; which being done, Ordered, that the Report last read lie on the table. Ordered, that so much of the revised Liturgy as respects the American Revolution and the Constitutions of the States, be again read, and considered by paragraphs; which being done, Ordered, that the alterations in the Liturgy to be proposed to the Church be again read, and considered by paragraphs: which being done in part, The Convention adjourned to 6 o'clock this evening. SATURDAY EVENING, 6 o'clock. The Convention met, according to adjournment. Ordered, that the Report from the Committee be resumed, and the remainder of it read and considered by paragraphs; which being done, The Convention adjourned to 10 o'clock on Monday. MONDAY, 3d of October, 1785. The Convention met according to adjournment; and the Rev. Dr. West read prayers. The Rev. Dr. Smith, from the Committee for revising, etc., reported that they had made further progress in the business referred to them, and were ready to report. Ordered, that the Report be now received, and that the same be read and considered by paragraphs; which having been done in part, The Convention adjourned to 6 o'clock this evening. MONDAY EVENING, 6 o'clock. The Convention met, according to adjournment. Ordered, that the Report of the Committee for revising, etc., be resumed, which was accordingly done; and the Convention having made further progress therein, Adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow morning. TUESDAY, 4th of October, 1785. The Convention met, according to adjournment; and the Rev. Mr. Ogden read prayers. Ordered, that clerks be employed to transcribe, under direction of the chairman of the Committee for revising, etc., all the alterations proposed, and other matters agreed on by the Convention. Ordered, that the draft of an Ecclesiastical Constitution. be read and considered by paragraphs, which was done; and the Convention having made some progress therein, Adjourned to 6 o'clock this evening. TUESDAY EVENING, 6 o'clock. The Convention met, pursuant to adjournment. Ordered, that the consideration of the general Ecclesiastical Constitution be resumed, and that the same be read and considered by paragraphs; which being done, and the blanks filled up, was agreed to, and is as follows, viz.: A GENERAL ECCLESIASTICAL CONSTITUTION OF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Whereas, in the course of Divine Providence, the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America is become independent of all foreign authority, civil and ecclesiastical: And whereas, at a meeting of Clerical and Lay Deputies of the said Church, in sundry of the said States, viz., in the States of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland, held in the city of New York on the 6th and 7th days of October, in the year of our Lord, 1784, it was recommended to this Church in the said States represented as aforesaid, and proposed to this Church in the States not represented, that they should send Deputies to a Convention to be held in the city of Philadelphia, on the Tuesday before the Feast of St. Michael in this present year, in order to unite in a Constitution of ecclesiastical government, agreeably to certain fundamental principles, expressed in the said recommendation and proposal. And whereas, in consequence of the said recommendation and proposal, Clerical and Lay Deputies have been duly appointed from the said Church in the States of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and South Carolina. The said Deputies being now assembled, and taking into consideration the importance of maintaining uniformity in doctrine, discipline and wor ship in the said Church, do hereby determine, and declare, I. That there shall be a General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, which shall be held in the |