The Episcopal Congregation soon increased under the pious labours of the Missionary, which he ascribed principally, under God, to the books which he distributed by order of the Society; particularly the Book of Common Prayer, and Bishop Beveridge's Sermon on the Excellency and Usefulness of that inestimable Volume.

The sudden irruption of the Indians in 1715, compelled the Planters to seek protection in the security of a garrison. Mr. Maule accompanied them, and administered to them the consolations and ordinances of religion. "Considering," said he, in his Letter to the Society," that having hitherto lived among them in their prosperity, I could not, in conscience, desert them in times of danger and distress, that so I might teach them, by example as well as doctrine, to submit with cheerfulness to the Will of God." He continued with his people in the garrison four mouths, and performed all the duties of his sacred office. He baptised their children, visited their sick and wounded, and buried their dead. He preached every Sunday, and read prayers twice every day in the weck. But his constitution was unequal to the fatigue he endured in a sultry season, and a crowded garrison. After he returned to his home, he was seized with Dysentery, and was soon carried to his grave, greatly beloved and lamented by his Parishioners. As a testimony of his regard for the Society, he made them residuary legatees; by which they received above £600 Cur.

The Rev. Moses Clerk, A. M. was appointed his He arrived in 1720, but died in a few

successor. months.

Mr. James Child, a respectable inhabitant of this Parish, laid out a town on the western branch of Cooper river, called Childsbury, now Strawberry, and left several legacies to promote its settlement. He gave one square for a" College or University," £600 Cur. and a lot for a Free-School and house for the Master, and an

acre and half for a Church or Chapel, and burying place.* To promote the settlement of this town, an Act was passed, Feb 15, 1723, establishing annual Fairs, and two weekly markets. The parish was of considerable extent, and many of the inhabitants, from the distance of the Church from their dwellings, were prevented attending public worship. They subscribed a considerable sum, and built a neat brick Chapel, near Strawberry ferry. The parishioners having petitioned the Assembly to establish it by law, an Act was passed, Dec. 9, 1725, "for founding and establishing a Parochial Chapel of Ease at Childsbury, to the Parish Church in St. John's Parish." The Act provided, that the Rector or Minister of the Parish should

every fourth Sunday throughout the year, and not oftener, repair to the said Chapel, and then and there celebrate Divine Service, according to the Rubrick and Liturgy of the Church of England, and at proper Times preach and do and perform all such sacred and ministerial Offices which by him may be done, exercised and performed."

Chapels of Ease, according to the original meaning of the term, are not now known in this country. In England there is a distinction between a Chapel of Ease, and a Parochial Chapel of Ease. Chapels of Ease are founded for the convenience of the people in large Parishes, in attending Public Worship, where they live at a distance from the Parish Church; to which, however, the Sacraments and Burials are restricted. Parochial Chapels of Ease possess the parochial rights of baptising and 'burying, but have

* Extract from Mr. Child's Will, dated Oct. 29, 1718.

“Item. I give and bequeath one acre and a half of land for to build a Church or Chapel upon it, and for a burying place for the inhabitants of ChildsburyTown, and all within the Western and Eastern branches of Cooper River, as it is bounded out with locust trees and a Cedar fence, but the timber trees growing, or may hereafter grow, in the Church yard, and also the herbage and grass and pasture, I give to my son Isaac Child, and his heirs for ever, with a provisor and upon condition, he keep the Churchyard weeded and clean and smooth from bogs digging, upon penalty of forfeiting all the timber and trees, herbage and grass to my Trustees, and them to dispose of it to whom they shall thiuk fitting."

neither Rectory nor Endowment. The Curate or Vicar of both, is dependent on the Parochial Minister. To preserve this parochial dependence, a reservation is made of repairing to the Parish Church, on the great festival days. This explains the Sections in several Acts of Assembly founding Chapels of Ease in South-Carolina, wherein Christmas Day, Easter Day and Whitsunday are exclusively reserved for the service of the Parish Church.*

In consequence of Mr. Clerk's death, the Churchwardens and Vestry applied to the Society for another Missionary. The Rev. Bryan Hunt, A. M. was sent to the Parish in 1722, but his Mission proved unsuccessful. His contentious disposition rendered him disagreeable to the Parishioners, and unfit for the Mission. After many differences and contests, he returned to England in 1728. The Rev. Daniel Dwight, A. M. succeeded him in 1729. He was Ordained Deacon, May 25, 1729, by Dr. Waugh, Bishop of Carlisle; and Priest, by Dr. Gibson, Bishop of London, June 1st, 1729.

The earliest record extant of the Parochial elections, is April 19, 1732, when the following were elected: Churchwardens: Paul De St. Julien and John Harleston, jun. Vestrymen: Thomas Broughton, John Colleton, Nathaniel Broughton, John Gibbes, Thomas Cordes, James Le Bas, and H. Butler.

The liberality of the first royal Governor, Sir Francis Nicholson, in patronising learning and religion, had happily excited similar dispositions in others, and produced the establishment of schools for the instruction, of the Colonists. The late Mr. James Child, bequeathed £600 Cur. and a lot of land, for founding a Free-School at Childsbury, and subsequently, the inhabitants subscribed a further sum of £2200 Cur. To these was added, the interest of £200 given by the

*See Burn's Ecclesiastical Law, I. 299. See likewise Act for building a Chapel of Ease at Markley's Old Field in this Parish, at the end of the chapter.

executors of Francis Williams. The Assembly passed an Act, June 9, 1733, "for erecting a Free-School at Childsbury." No person was eligible to be a Trustee, except he subscribed £100, or be entitled to vote, except he subscribed £50.

In 1733, Mr. Dwight baptised 21 White, and 2 Black children. The Parsonage-House being much decayed, the Assembly, April 3, 1740, granted £125 for its repair.

Mr. Dwight died March 28, 1748, and was buried at Strawberry Chapel.*

In consequence of his death, the Vestry immediately applied to the Bishop of London, and the Society, for another Missionary. Application was likewise made to the Commissary for a supply of Clergymen during the vacancy. The Rev. Messrs. Orr, Cotes, and Garden, jun. were appointed at a Visitation of the Clergy, April 20, to officiate in this Parish, once a month; for which they received the sum allowed by Law. At the Visitation in 1749, the Rev. Mr. Garden, jun. and the Rev. Mr. Cotes, were appointed to the same duty.

Mr. Dwight was succeeded in this Mission by the Rev. Robert Cuming, A. M. who arrived in the Province Nov. 18, 1749. He was Ordained Deacon, by Dr. Gooch, Bishop of Ely, Dec. 21, 1748; and Priest, by Dr. Thomas, Bishop of Peterborough, Dec. 28, 1748. He died July 26, 1750.

The death of Mr. Cuming having again left the Parish without a Minister, the attention of the Vestry was turned to the Rev. Levi Durand, Rector of Christ Church Parish, who was desirous of resigning his Cure. He was invited 28th August, to take charge of the Church, and in November he removed to the Parish. The Vestry immediately applied to the Society to transfer his Mission to St. John's, and the applica

The following inscription is on his tombstone:

Here lieth the Body of the Rev. Mr. DANIEL DWIGHT, A. M.

Late Rector of the Parish of St. John's; who Departed this Life in Peace, 28th of March, 1718; and died in the safe Communion of the Church of England in which he lived, constantly endeavoaring to recommend its constitution to all who were either disaffected or strangers to it.

tion being accompanied by Mr. Durand's earnest solicitations, it was granted. He was not, however, permanently settled in the Cure till 1753, when conformably to a Precept from the Church Commissioners, the Parishioners assembled March 14, and elected Mr. Durand, Rector of the Parish.

The Parish Church having been accidentally destroyed by fire, Feb. 17, 1755, the Assembly were petitioned for their aid in building another. An Act was accordingly passed, March 19, 1756, “for building a new Church in the Parish of St. John, in Berkley County." The Act directed it to be built on any part of the three acres, which had formerly been given for a Church and Churchyard. Thomas Cordes, William Moultrie, Alexander Broughton, James Cordes and Stephen Mazyck, were appointed Commissioners, to receive subscriptions, build the Church, and sell the Pews.

The Rev. Mr. Durand informed the Society, Nov. 18, 1757, that he and his family had been sick, but, through the mercy of God, were recovering. He stated that, his Parishioners were zealous in the cause of religion, and had subscribed £3000 Cur. towards building a new Church. In 1761, Mr. Durand went to the Northward with the Rev. Mr. Garden, Rector of St. Thomas'. A constant residence in the country, and the heavy duty of the Missions, had so impaired their health, that the Physicians prescribed a change of climate for their recovery. The Rev. Mr. Harrison and the Rev. Mr. Keith, officiated, occasionally, in the Church, during Mr. Durand's absence. In a Letter to the Society, Jan. 1, 1761, he gave them an account of his journey, and stated how much he was gratified on his return, to see collected in the Churchyard, the materials for a new church.

Mr. Durand wrote to the Society, Nov. 28, 1763, and again Oct. 1, 1764. He informed them that since the 12th Jan. 1763, he had baptised 22 Infants; one