OF THE AMERICAN EPISCOPAL PULPIT; OR COMMEMORATIVE NOTICES OF DISTINGUISHED CLERGYMEN OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES, FROM THE EARLY SETTLEMENT OF THE COUNTRY TO THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR WITH AN HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION. BY WILLIAM B. SPRAGUE, D. D. NEW YORK: ROBERT CARTER & BROTHERS, 530 BROADWAY. 1861. v.5 THIS VOLUME MAKES THE FIFTH IN THE SERIES OF THE 'ANNALS OF THE AMERICAN PULPIT." ENTERED, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by ROBERT 463 PREFACE. The principles upon which this work is constructed have been so fully set forth in the General Preface, that it may seem unnecessary to add any thing more specific, in introducing the present volume. It may not, however, be amiss, as this volume may fall into the hands of some who have not seen the preceding ones, to say a word,-even though it be at the expense of repetition,-of the principle which has controlled the selection of its subjects. It is by no means claimed for it that it contains notices of all the prominent deceased clergymen of the Episcopal Church. Not a small number of worthy, and in their day highly honoured, men have fallen into such deep obscurity from the lapse of years, that it has been found impossible, after the most careful research, to construct any thing like a creditable memorial of their characters or usefulnessin respect to such, however, it is consolatory to reflect that time deals more leniently with their influence than with their names; and that what they did for their generation. descends, in the form of blessing, through numberless imperceptible channels and combinations to all posterity. Nor is it claimed for this volume, more than for the preceding, that it embraces all the names worthy of being perpetuated, concerning which the requisite biographical material might have been obtained. Even after a correspondence with many of the more aged and influential clergymen in various parts of the United States, 266660 with a view to obtain the best list of subjects possible, I cannot flatter myself that none have been overlooked, whose merits justly entitled them to a grateful and honourable notice. I can only say that, with all the helps within my reach, I have made the best selection I could; and that, whatever different phases of opinion may exist in the Episcopal Church, no one has been intentionally slighted,-no one has been intentionally preferred, my sole object having been to represent the Clergy of the whole Church with all impartiality and fidelity. As a general rule, I have endeavoured to secure the delineation of character, not only from some surviving friend who could testify from actual knowledge, but from some one whose theological and ecclesiastical sympathies were in harmony with those of the person commemorated. To this rule, however, there have been a few exceptions; though it is confidently believed that in no case has difference of opinion between the subject and the writer been the occasion of any distorted or unfair representation. Possibly it may occur to some that among the early Clergy several names are embraced, which have too slight a connection with this country to form legitimate subjects for American Biography. But though the greater part of their lives was passed in England, yet the influence which they exerted upon the destinies of the Church in this land seems worthy of an enduring record, and upon this principle is included the name of Commissary Bray, who, though his actual sojourn here was scarcely more than a brief visit, had more to do in giving character and direction to the infant Church of Maryland than perhaps any other man. Some, too, may doubt the propriety of giving the celebrated Whitefield a place, on the ground not merely |