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On motion, Resolved, that the Deputies do produce testimonials of their appointments from their respective Churches; whereupon, satisfactory testimonials were produced.

The committee appointed at the last Convention to draft a Constitution, made a Report, which was ordered for consideration to

morrow.

On motion, Resolved, that a committee be appointed to draft a preface to the Rules; whereupon, the Rev. Dr. Purcell, and the Rev. Ed. Ellington were appointed accordingly.

On motion, Resolved, that the committee for revising and suggesting alterations of the Liturgy of the Church of England, do now report; which being accordingly read, was taken into consideration; but before it was gone through, the Convention adjourned until to-morrow at 9 o'clock.

MAY 31, 1786.

The Convention met according to adjournment. William Day, Esq. took his seat as a Delegate from St. Bartholomew's.

The Convention resumed the consideration of the Report of the Committee for revising the Liturgy of the Church of England; which being read, is as follows:

"The committee appointed to examine the alteration of the Liturgy, as set forth by the General Convention held at Philadelphia; Report,

"That the punctuation throughout, be critically attended to. "The first introductory sentence to be adopted, and expunge the rest. And after reading the first, proceed to the Apostles' creed, and there leave out the word again, between the words rose and from. But if the whole of the introductory sentences as they now stand, should be approved, the words, God is, instead of He is, to be used in the concluding one. At the conclusion of the address to the congregation, after the word saying, omit the words after me. The Declaration to remain as in the original absolution, only expunging the word power. The Lord's Prayer to be transposed after the words in the Litany, neither reward us after our Iniquities. The sentences after the Lord's Prayer to be expunged, except the two first; and the Venite to conclude with the Gloria Patri. In the Te Deum, instead of pure Virgin, read the Blessed, and add the word most, between thy and precious blood- And instead of as our Trust, read for our Trust. The Benedictus to be omitted. After the Jubilate expunge the sentences, O Lord blesss &c. &c. and mercifully hear, &c. the Litany add to the Rubric in Italics, to correspond with our mode of praying for the sick. When the prayers of the congregation are desired for a sick person or persons, the Minister shall say, The prayers of this Congregation are desired for, &c. In the Litany expunge after others in authority, the words Legislative, Executive and Judicial. Instead of women in childbirth, read all women through the Perils of childbirth. Use the words young children, before all sick persons; with an asterisk of accommodation, when any body particularly desires the prayers of the

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congregation, and to be printed as in the prayer for all conditions of men. In the last response immediately before the prayer, We humbly beseech thee, instead of as we, read, for we do put, &c. "EVENING SERVICE. The first sentence and Belief as in the Morning Service. The Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis to be omitted. The Gloria Patri to be used at the conclusion of Deus misereatur. Then proceed to the versicles before the Lord's Prayer, The Lord be with you, and go on with the Lord's Prayer, &c. till you come to bless and preserve these states, which omit, but use all the rest, and then begin the prayers with the Collect for the Day, as in the old form, 3d Collect. The Collect in old Liturgy to be retained. Prayer for Clergy and People, add after Bishops, the word Priests. The Prayer for fair weather, to be altered as follows: O Almighty and Merciful God, although we for our Iniquities have worthily deserved a plague of rain and waters, yet of thy bountiful goodness, send us, we beseech thee, such favourable weather,

&c.

" COMMUNION SERVICE. Part of the Rubrick at the conclusion of this service (as now printed) to be transposed, and make it the first rubric at the beginning of the service. Expunge the word and, before if any of the Consecrated. In the Exhortation, Dearly beloved in the Lord, instead of Guilty of the blood, &c. use a Colon after unworthily, and read thus; for thereby we profane the Body and Blood, &c.

"PUBLIC BAPTISM. In the four petitions for the Child's sanctification, read thus ; O! merciful God grant that all carnal affections may die in this child, and that all things, &c. The third wholly approved of. The fourth, omit the words by our office and ministry. These alterations will apply to Baptism of such as are of Riper Years. In the consecration of the water, instead of therein, read therewith (in Italicks). In Rubrick, expunge, and warily.

"CATECHISM. Make this alteration in explication of Lord's Prayer. Instead of words Ghostly and Bodily, read dangers spiritual and temporal; and expunge, from our Ghostly enemy. To preserve the analogy in the answer, of what is the outward visible sign or form in Baptism, read, water wherewith, instead of water wherein.

"CONFIRMATION. Omit the word Ghostly.

"MATRIMONY. After the words, Dearly beloved in the Exhortation, read as follows, the holy Estate of Matrimony instituted of God, is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently and discreetly, in the fear of God. I therefore require and charge, &c. till you come to the word coupled, which read united otherwise than God's word doth allow, their marriage is not lawful. Expunge the Rubrick, between the mutual stipulation of the Man and Woman. For if the man with his right hand takes the woman by her right hand, they have consequently a mutual hold on each other. On putting the ring on the woman's finger, say, with this Ring I thee wed, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.

"BURIAL. That the Lesson is not printed at large; recommend that it be.

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Expunge in the Interment, lying before us. Quere? Whether the words, as our Hope is this our Brother doth, is not a typographical omission.

"FOURTH OF JULY. Expunge the words in the Collect, all Churches of the Saints.

"SERVICE AT SEA. Last Collect; instead of, in our lives, read thus, such as may appear by an humble, holy and obedient life, before thee all our days.

"ART. 1. Expunge the word both, before visible; ditto after man's nature read thus, by humbling himself to be born of the blessed Virgin, and thereby became God and Man in one Christ. "ART. 2. At the conclusion, omit the word of, and read was never doubted in the Church.

"ART. 3. Add the words though and, after mankind. "ART. 16. Instead of Christian men, read Christians.

Signed,

" HENRY PURCELL,

"Rector of St. Michael's.

"EDWARD ELLINGTON,

"Rector of St. James', Goose-Creek. "ROBERT SMITH."

The Report being gone through, and the alterations suggested being approved, the Deputies to the General Convention are desired to use their endeavours to get them adopted, at the next meeting, on the 3d Tuesday in June.

On motion, Resolved, that the Liturgy, as altered by the Convention held at Philadelphia in September last, be used in the Pro. Epis. Church in this state, on Sunday next, being Whitsunday.

The committee appointed to draft a Preface to the Constitution, made a report; which was read, and agreed to.

The Convention then proceeded to the consideration of the Constitution; which being read by paragraphs, was unanimously agreed to, as follows:

"WHEREAS in all Societies professing Christianity, the promotion of religion should primarily engage their sincere attention, as being the sure and only means of rendering them acceptable to Almighty God, and of deriving his blessing upon the community at large: AND WHEREAS agreeably to the constitution of this state, 'all persons or religious societies who acknowledge that there is one God and a future state of rewards and punishments, and that God is publicly to be worshipped, shall be freely tolerated :'

"WE, the subscribers, by virtue of the commission and powers to us duly delegated by the Vestries of our respective Protestant Episcopal Churches, do, on behalf of the said Churches associate and obligate ourselves to an observance of the following Articles as fundamental and essential:

"ART. 1. That the Pro. Epis. Church in these states is, and ought to be, independent of all foreign authority, Ecclesiastical or Civil.

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"ART. 2. That it hath, and ought to have, in common with all other religious societies, full and exclusive powers to regulate the concerns of its own communion.

"ART. 3. That the doctrines of the Gospel be maintained as now professed by the Church of England, and uniformity of worship be continued, as near as may be, to the Liturgy of the said Church.

"ART. 4. That the succession of the Ministry be agreeable to the usage which requireth the three Orders of Bishops, Priests and Deacons (with an exception however to the establishing of Bishops in this state,)* that the rights and powers of the same be respectively ascertained, and that they be exercised according to reasonable laws to be duly made.

"ART. 5. That to make Regulations, Rules and Laws, there be no other authority than that of a Representative Body of Clergy and Laity conjointly.

"ART. 6. That no power be delegated to a General Ecclesiastical Government, except such, as cannot be exercised by the Clergy and Vestries, in their respective Congregations.

"Done in the City of Charleston, the 31st day of May, 1786. "Witness our hands.

"ROBERT SMITH, Rector of
St. Philip's Church,

"THOMAS FROST,

"DANIEL CANNON,

HENRY PURCELL, Rector of
St. Michael's Church,

Deputies for St.
Philip's Church,
Charleston.

Deputies for
St. Michael's

Church.

2 Deputies from Prince Frederick.

"1786. May 31.

ROGER SMITH,

"1795.

SHUGH FRASER,

Feb. 10.

ANTHONY WHITE,

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"JOHN GIBBS,

" WILLIAM BRISBANE,

For St. John's Parish,

"JOHN SANDFORD DART,

Colleton County.
For the Epis.

Church of Chr.

Church Parish.

Resolved, that in case of absence of any of the Deputies appointed to the General Convention in Philadelphia, the Deputy or Deputies there appearing, shall have full power and authority to nominate and appoint any citizen or citizens of this state to sit in Convention.

On motion, Resolved, that a Committee be appointed to form such Rules and Regulations as may be necessary for the government of the Episcopal Church in this State, this day associated; and to report at the next Convention.

Whereupon, the following gentlemen were appointed: Dr. Purcell, Rev. Mr. Ellington, Roger Smith, Dr. Jones, John Julius Pringle, and William Hasell Gibbes.

Adjourned to the third Tuesday in February next.

FIFTH CONVENTION

Of the Pro. Epis. Church in So. Ca. held in Charleston, Feb. 20, 21, 22, 1787.

CHARLESTON, Feb. 20, 1787.

The Convention met according to adjournment.

St. Philip's Church.-The Rev. Robert Smith.

St. Michael's.-The Rev. Dr. Purcell.

St. James', Goose-Creek.-The Rev. Edward Ellington.
St. Helena.-The Rev. S. C. Lewis.

St. Andrew's.-The Rev. Thomas Mills.

The Lay-Deputies of these Churches not appearing, in consequence of their indispensable attendance in the Legislature, adjourned until to-morrow, at 12'oclock.

February 21, 1787.

The Convention met according to adjournment. The members not yet being able to attend, the Convention adjourned until tomorrow at 8 o'clock..

February 22, 1787.

The Convention met according to adjournment, and the Rev. Robert Smith took the chair.

William Day, Esq. took his seat as a Deputy for St. Bartholomew's.

The Journals of the General Conventions held at Philadelphia, June 20, 1786; and at Wilmington, October 10, 1786, were read.

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