To provide means for the support of the Episcopal Clergy, the General Assembly, Nov. 4th, 1704, passed "An Act to continue an Act, entitled, an Act for laying an Imposition on Furs, &c. and for appropriating the same;" in which it is enacted, Sect. ii. "That four hundred and fifty Pounds of the monies which from and after the tenth day of May next, shall be raised and become due by the Duty and Imposition on Furs and Skins, shall, and is hereby appropriated yearly to and for the payment of Salaries to Ministers of the Church of England, which are built and erected, and appropriated to be built and paid by an Act, entitled, "An Act for establishing Religious Worship in this Province," and to no other use or service what-· soever."

The excitement produced by the Act of 1704, prevented the building of the Churches which that Act had directed.

CHAPTER III.

Establishment of the Church of England by LawCommissary-Governor's Speech-Memorial against him, and addresses of the Assembly-Dean SwiftConversion of Slaves-Indian War-Pastoral Letters-St. Philip's Church-Mr. Whitefield and Commissary Garden-Negro School.

SEVERAL Acts were passed by the Assembly relative to a Religious Establishment in this Province, but it was not finally accomplished until Nov. 30, 1706, when the Worship of the Church of England was established by Law.*

The Church Act was highly satisfactory to the Lords Proprietors. In a letter to the Governor, March 8, 1706-7, they say; "We cannot forbear to express our satisfaction at your pious purposes and earnest care in promoting the public worship of God; which, indeed, is the surest way to obtain the Almighty's protection and blessing on our country." And again, Sept. 10, 1707, when sending out the ratification, they say; "the great and pious work which you have gone through with unwearied and steady zeal, for the honor and worship of Almighty God, we have also finally perfected on our part."+

* See Appendix I. 1.

+ Some fatal disease prevailed in Charles-Town, in 1706. In a letter from the Lords Proprietors to Sir Nath. Johnson, dated 8th March, 1706-7, they say; "We are very sorry for the loss of Col. Moore, Mr. Hows, and other worthy persons of our Province, by the late distemper, which we hope is now wholly abated." It is probable that, this disease was similar to that of 1699.

In December 1706, the Governor and Council acquainted The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, with the death of the Rev. Mr. Thomas. They say, "Mr. Samuel Thomas, whom we designed for Charles-Town, we were so unhappy as to lose, for he died in some few Days after his arrival: His Death hath been a very great Loss to this Province, he being a Person of great Piety and Virtue, and by his exemplary Life, diligent Preaching, and obliging Carriage, had the good Will of all Men. He not only brought over several of the Dissenters, but also prevailed upon several who professed themselves Members of the Church of England, to lead religious Lives, and to become constant Communicants, and other considerable Services he did for the Church. We shall now have occasion for Four more Ministers in the Country, besides one for Charles-Town: So we do most humbly request your Honorable Society, to send four more Ministers for the Country, and upon your Recommendation we shall have them fixed in the several Parishes there."

The Church Act having established several new Parishes, and Parochial Churches, it became necessary to provide more ample means for the maintenance of the Clergy. The General Assembly, therefore, Feb. 8th, 1706-7, passed "An additional Act to an Act, Entitled, An Act to continue An Act, Entitled, An Act for Laying an Imposition on Furs, &c. and for appropriating the same." By this Act it was provided that, £600 be appropriated to the Ministers for three years, and then £1000 per ann. for ever; but no salary to be paid except to those elected according to the Church Act. The Vestries of vacant Parishes might allow a lawful Minister, a proportional part of the yearly salary, until such vacancy was supplied.

The American Colonies, as already noticed, formed a part of the Lord Bishop of London's Diocess. Dr.

Compton, who held that See, was desirous of having in the Church of Charles-Town, vacant by the removal of the Rev. Mr. Marston, a Clergyman of learning, talents and piety, whom he might appoint his Commissary in South-Carolina. This was an office of equal importance and responsibility, and required no inconsiderable share of judgement and discretion to discharge its duties with "a conscience void of offence towards God and towards man." The superintendence of the Clergy, in spiritual matters, must always be a difficult as it is an eminently useful charge; but it was more particularly so in this Province, on account of the distance from the Diocesan,* whose godly counsel could not immediately be obtained, however urgent the case might be that required it. In 1707, the Rev. Gideon Johnson, A. M. was recommended to the Bishop of London, as worthy of this appointment, by the Archbishop of Dublin, the Bishop of Killaloe, and the Bishop of Elphin, his Diocesan. The Archbishop assured the Bishop of London, that "he had known Mr. Johnson from a Child, and did testify, he had maintained a fair reputation, and was the son of a worthy Clergyman in Ireland; that he dared answer for his sobriety, diligence and ability, and doubted not, but he would execute his duty, so as to merit the approbation of all with whom he should be concerned." The Bishop being satisfied with the character and attainments of Mr. Johnson, appointed him his Commissary, and sent him to Charles-Town. After a tedious passage he arrived off the coast; but the Ship not being able to cross the Bar, until a succeeding tide, he went into a small sloop, with three other passengers, in order to proceed to town. Soon after. leaving the Ship, a sudden squall drove the sloop on a sand bank, where they remained for two days before they were discovered by the boats sent to their relief..

*See Life of Rev. Dr. Johnson, of New-York, 182. 133.

Mr. Johnson was indisposed, and suffered much in this exposed situation.

The Lords Proprietors, in their Letter to the Governor, dated March 2d, 1707-8, state: "The Rev. Mr. Johnson, a very worthy Divine of the Church of England, having sailed to you, by Capt. Coles, we hope that according to my Lord Bishop of London's recommendation, you have chosen him your Minister for Charles-Town. And we desire you to show him all favour and respect upon all occasions, and we doubt not but our Province will be very happy in so good a Man."

Mr. Johnson was received by the Inhabitants with great kindness, and was immediately elected Rector of St. Philip's Parish.

The

The Office of Commissary is unknown in the American Church. It may, therefore, be necessary to state that, in the Church of England, a Commissary is appointed by a Bishop, to exercise ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, in a particular part of his Diocess, where, from distance, or other cause, he cannot attend in Person. The Chancellor, in the absence of the Bishop, possesses this authority over the whole Diocess. Commissary is to hold Visitations, to superintend the conduct of the Clergy, and generally, to exercise the authority of Official principal, and Vicar-General. An appeal lies from the commissary to the archbishop. The qualifications of the Commissaries, are established by the 127th art. of the Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical, and are as follow:

"No man shall hereafter be admitted a Chancellor, Commissary, or Official, to exercise any Ecclesiastical jurisdiction, except he be of the full age of six and twenty years at the least, and one that is learned in the civil and ecclesiastical laws, and is, at the least, a Master of Arts, or Bachelor of Laws, and is reasonably well prastised in the course thereof, as likewise well affected, and zealously bent to religion, touching