The Rhode Island American, And General Advertiser

BISHOP MOORE'S ADDRESS
To the Convention of the Protestant Episcopal
Church, delivered before them at Petersburg
(Virginia) on Saturday, the 16th ultimo.

BRETHREN—To effect great and important
objects, great and continued exertion is required.
Difficulties must not be permitted to
paralyze our efforts, nor to unnerve our arm.
The mind, fixed upon a legitimate point, must
put forth all its energies in the attainment of
the contemplated design. To press forward
towards the mark, and to persevere with firmness,
can alone secure to us success, and effect
the completion of that hallowed object in
which we have engaged, the resuscitation of
the Church of our fathers.

When travelling through this extensive diocese,
assigned with the labours peculiar to the
station which I occupy, my spirits are always
revived by recurring to that noble principle
which forms the soul of this Convention, and
which animates the bosom of each individual
member. It is to raise our Zion from the dust,
to build up her prostrated altars, and to
furnish the people of our communion with the
bread of life, that we are labouring.—Jehovah,
from his throne of mercy, looks down with approbation,
and whispers to our hearts, "Well
done, good and faithful servants."

When the ruins of our desolated temples
meet my eye, and the religious privations of
the people are presented to my view, my soul
is overwhelmed with those reflections peculiar
to the case. Considering the enemy of mankind
as the origin of the desolation and distress
which I behold, a new hope thus is communicated
to my mind. The cross of the Lord
Jesus Christ is presented to my view, and "Lo!
I am with you always" revives my heart, and
impels me to renewed exertion. To labour in
the vineyard of the crucified Saviour, has formed
my chief delight for the last thirty-two
years of my life; and though the power of
doing good is in a degree abridged by an increase
of years, still my inclination is as great
as it has ever been; and if I can add one
stone to the sacred edifice, and see the Church
of my fathers placed upon that height, to which
the apostolick purity of her doctrines entitles
her, I shall commit my head to the pillow of
death with satisfaction, and leave my best
blessings to those who shall survive me.

Were I to say, brethren, that I entertain the
least doubt of our ultimate success, I should
speak a language foreign to my heart. We
are not, it is to be remembered, entering within
the inclosures of other denominations, and
interfering with them. We are absolutely
seeking the lost sheep of our own fold.—We
are in pursuit of those who have been baptized
at the altars we are appointed to guard, and
who are destitute of spiritual food.

When I look around me, and, with an anxious
solicitude, view those labourers engaged
with me in the work: when I witness their
zeal, and listen to the sacred truths they deliver:
when I hear the name of Jesus and the
triumphs of redeeming grace proclaimed by
youthful lips; when I see the standard of the
cross erected in every pulpit: when I hear
the Redeemer proclaimed as the Lord our
righteousness, the only hope of the believer:
when I see the Ministers of the Church leading
their flocks to the Saviour, as "the way, and
the truth, and the life:" when I behold those
who have been set apart to the sacred Ministry
by the imposition of my hands, treading in
the steps of Hall, Davenant, and Hooker; conducting
their fellow-mortals, not to Socrates
and Seneca for relief, but to that Fountain
which was opened on Calvary, for the salvation
of a ruined world—the wilderness and the
solitary places of the Church appear stripped
of their weeds, and are presented to my enraptured
view, in all the verdure of primitive
times.

Brethren, we have much cause of gratitude
to God for the mercies conferred upon us;
and though all has not been done that we
could have wished, still enough has been effected
to convince us, that the Lord is with us
and that Jehovah smiles upon our efforts.

After leaving the Convention in Winchester
last May, in which place I confirmed a goodly
number, and ordained two priests, and one
deacon, I repaired to the congregation at Bunker's
Hill, at which place I consecrated a neat
stone Church, to the service of Almighty God,
preached to a devout and pious people, and
confirmed thirty-five persons. I then visited
Martinsburg, at which place I preached twice
on a Sabbath, to a respectable and attentive
auditory, and confirmed fourteen. After discharging
my duties in Martinsburg, I visited
the North Mountain, where I proclaimed the
truths of the gospel to a large and attentive
assembly, consecrated a new and beautiful
Church, and confirmed fifteen.

From the North Mountain I went to Shepherdstown,
at which place I preached to a
large auditory, and confirmed fifty. From
thence I went to Charleston, in Jefferson county,
opened a new and elegant Church, and confirmed
twenty-five. From Charleston, I repaired
to the Chapel in Frederick county, and
preached to a pious and devout assembly.

After completing the object of my visit beyond
the Blue Ridge, I crossed into the county of
Loudoun, and visited the parish under the
care of Mr. Dunn, preached twice on the Sabbath,
and once on Monday, to large and attentive
congregations, and confirmed twelve.—
From Loudoun I repaired to Prince William,
and preached at Hay Market. From thence
I went to Fauquier, consecrated a new Church,
delivered a discourse adapted to the occasion,
and assisted in the administration of the Lord's
Supper. From Fauquier I passed into Culpeper,
and preached to a large congregation.
From Culpeper I went to Orange, and preached
on the Sabbath to a large and attentive assembly.
From Orange I went to Albemarle;
but, as some mistake had taken place, relative
to my appointment, I was not presented with
an opportunity of officiating. Having thus
finished my spring tour, I returned to Richmond.

Remaining at home a fortnight, I again left
my parish the last of June, on a visit to some
of the lower counties. In New-Kent, I preached
to an attentive congregation in the old Parish
Church at St. Peter's. I then repaired to
Yorktown, and officiated in the Court-House.
and, on the subsequent Sabbath, preached in
the Church in Williamsburg, administered the
Lord's Supper to the people, and then returned
home.

The claims of Hanover to my pastoral attention,
summoned me into that county, in
which district I preached, in the course of the
week, in four places of publick worship, and
lectured at Dr. Carter Berkeley's. My visit
to that parish was again repeated, after a little
time, when I administered the Lord's Supper,
and preached as usual, to a pious and attentive
congregation, at the Fork Church.—
The state of that parish, composed as it is, of
individuals endeared to me by a thousand tender
considerations, induced me to visit it a
third time, when I preached in two of the
Churches, administered the Lord's Supper,
and lectured at Mr. Francis Nelson's.

The last autumn, I left Richmond, on a tour
to the northern section of the Diocese, preached
in Fredericksburg in the evening, and continued
my journey as far as Alexandria. In
that city I preached five times in three days,
to overflowing, pious congregations. From
Alexandria I passed into Prince William, consecrated
a new Church, preached to a pious
people, and administered the Lord's Supper.
From Prince William I again repaired to Fredericksburg,
at which place I preached twice.
and assisted Mr. M'Guire in the administration
of the Lord's Supper. From thence I went to
Port Royal, where I also officiated, and then
returned to Richmond. In addition to the duties
above specified, I have visited Chesterfield
several times—preached once in the Church of
Falling Creek, and also upon two funeral occasions.

It will not be thought irrelevant, brethren,
to notice at this time my late excursion through
the diocese of North-Carolina. The Church
in that State is rising in all the vigour of
youth. A new edifice has been lately erected
in Fayetteville, an ornament to the town, and
a credit to the exertions of its founders, which
I consecrated to the service of Almighty God.
I confirmed in that place sixty persons, and
admitted the Reverend Mr. Shaw to the order
of Deacon. Among the list of worthies, who
have exerted themselves in the building of
the Church, in Fayetteville, I find the names
of Cameron and Winslow, the sons of two
of our deceased clergy. May the spirit
of their fathers continue to animate their bosoms,
and may the children of their ministers
imitate their noble, their laudable example.

The Church in Wilmington is also in a prosperous
condition. I preached in that place to
pious, crowded auditories, and confirmed 133
persons. Newbern is also rising in importance.
The congregation have determined to erect
a new Church, upon the plan of that in Fayetteville.
I preached in Newbern five times
in three days, confirmed 62 persons, and administered
the Lord's Supper to a large body
of pious communicants. I visited Washington,
Greenville and Tarborough, and preached several
times in each place.

Brethren, animated with the disposition of one doing good, let us renew this day to God, and his Church, our vows of fidelity. We have pledged ourselves to exert every nerve in the prosecution of the cause in which we have embarked, and let us redeem the pledge by an indefatigable attention to our duty. Let us continue to love one another, and pray for success. Let us speak the same things, and proclaim the same truths. Peace will then be within our walls, and the blessing of the Almighty will rest upon our labours. Going forth in the strength of the Lord God, and making mention of his righteousness, and his only, the powers of darkness must yield to the force of divine truth. The Gospel will triumph over all its enemies. The kingdom of the Messiah must and will prevail, until the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of God, as the waters cover the sea. To assist in the accomplishment of the divine promises, we have been called to labour. Attired in the armour of the Gospel, God will be on our side, and will render our efforts successful. The members of our churches will hold up our hands, and pray for the advancement of the hallowed cause.—"Who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?" Brethren of the clergy and laity, you carry with you my warmest prayers and benediction. May Jehovah be your portion; and underneath you, may he place the everlasting arms of his love.