having been consecrated on the 31st of October, in St. Paul's Church, New York, to the office of Bishop of New Jersey. Lord, what am I, that Thou hast called me to this dreadful honour? Who is sufficient for these things? Blessed be Thy holy name, for that most gracious declaration, "My grace is sufficient for thee." So replenish me, O Lord, with the truth of Thy doctrine, and endue me with innocency of life, that I may earnestly feed Thy flock, diligently preach Thy word, and faithfully serve before Thee, to the glory of Thy great name, and the benefit of Thy holy Church, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Thus ends a year by far the most eventful of my life. Blessed, in the early part of it, in the birth of a sweet boy, my second child, followed on the part of my beloved wife, by severe illness and long debility. The Summer much distracted, with dissensions in the Church at large, and attempts at division in my own Parish. Then my unlooked for, and most undeserved election to the Episcopate of New Jersey. In October, attended the General Convention, and by the special mercy of God's blessing and the generous interposition of friends, was rescued from a foul and cruel conspiracy, against my character and usefulness. Consecrated on the last day of October, (every cloud being dispersed, as by a wind from the Lord,) to the office of a Bishop. The remaining three months of deep domestic sorrow: yet God be praised, diversified with manifold and great mercies. Truly a memorable year."

CHAPTER IV.

CALL TO NEW JERSEY-CONSECRATION AND EPISCOPATE-WHARTON, WINSLOW AND OGILBY-MONUMENTS-GROWTH OF THE DIOCESE-GENERAL PUBLIC INTERESTS.

FULL of work, rich in influence, blessed with the utmost devotion of friendship, green with Croswell's affection, and beautiful with the opening of married love, my Father's life in Boston was full of happiness and promise. And yet it was but another class, of the training school, in which God was fitting him, for the labours and sufferings and triumphs, of his apostleship. He was digging out the channel, and planting the trees and flowers along its banks, in which the strong current of his life, should run, over the sands of sorrow, and past the rocks of bitter opposition, through meadows and pasture lands which it beautified and blessed, into the great eternal ocean of God's perfect peace. On the 17th of September A. D. 1829, in Christ Church, Boston, he was married by his friend Croswell, to Mrs. Eliza G. Perkins. Of his married life, on which the darkest clouds lowered, that the brightest sunlight might break through them, I may not speak. How near its joys, and she who made them, were to his inmost soul, his constant lines to her will best show, to those who have not had the opportunity to see and judge for themselves. Nor may I now, of his home, amid the lingering rays of its home light. Of all else that concerned him most intimately; of labour, and love, and friendship which faltered never through life; of influence, success, and usefulness I have spoken. Of suffering and sorrow I may speak again. But now I leave them, where in the year 1832 he stood so unconsciously, at the threshold of a "larger room" of labour, and suffering and success. I say unconsciously, for never could a more unexpected thing have fallen to any, than the call to the Episcopate of New Jersey proved to him.

At the annual Convention of the Diocese, held in Morristown in May A.D. 1832, the venerable Bishop Croes, prevented from

being present by the illness which proved to be "unto death," proposed by letter to the Convention, the election of an assistant Bishop. The proposition was not accepted; and the Convention, after ordering a letter of respect and sympathy to the Bishop, and of assurance that they would relieve his solicitude, about the future discharge of the Episcopal duties of the Diocese, "adjourned to meet in Morristown on the 2d day of August,' in the same year. Two weeks before the Convention assembled, the Bishop entered into the rest prepared for the people of God. No election was made at the Convention in August, though two yotes were taken. After resolutions of sorrow and of sympathy, the Convention adjourned to meet on the first Wednesday in October, for the purpose of making the election. During this time, my Father was quietly pursuing his plans and work, proposing larger labour, in the same field, and looking, with no thought beyond, to the continuance of his position.

* By the good hand of our God upon us, we are enabled now, to enter on our second editorial year. With our fervent praises, we renew in His strength, to whom alone all praise is due, our humble but determined resolutions of entire devotion, to the CROSS, and CHURCH, of JESUS CHRIST. In regard to the future, the editors make no professions, and no promises. They have a year's experience, and they hope to make it profitable. Valuable sources have been opened, which will facilitate and enrich, they trust, their future labours. Past errors, it will be their effort to avoid, and past deficiencies, to supply. For the rest, it shall be their purpose, and their prayer, the Lord being their helper, 'CONSTANTLY TO SPEAK THE TRUTH, BOLDLY TO REBUKE VICE, AND PATIENTLY TO SUFFER FOR THE TRUTH'S SAKE.'

At New Brunswick, where Bishop Croes laid down the pastoral staff to take the victor's palm,† and where my Father held afterwards his first visitation as an act of respect to his predecessor, the Convention assembled. On the sixth ballot, my Father was elected, eleven out of fourteen clerical votes, and twelve out of twenty-two lay votes being cast for him. It is curious, that three of the other candidates, the Rev. Drs. Kemper, Delancey, and Johns, are now Bishops; and one, the Rev. Dr. Creighton, was Bishop elect of the Diocese of New York. Of the Committee appointed to inform him of his election, the Rev. Messrs. Noble and Peters, and B. Williamson Esq., two survive. Of the clergy who elected him, seven are still living; two of them, the Rev. Messrs. Dunn

Banner of the Church, Sept. 15th, A. D. 1832.

"I was induced to enter on my official labours, at this point, that I might follow more immediately, in the footsteps of my venerated predecessor, who for thirty years, ministered, in holy things, to the people of that congregation.”— First Conventional Address, May A. D. 1833.

and Finch, still in the Diocese. And of the forty-one laymen, present at that Convention, only thirteen are known to be living, all still in the Diocese, and of its Convention. When the Committee waited on him, with the official notice of his election, the first which he received, he came with trembling to announce it to his family, pale with surprise, and the overwhelming sense of unexpected responsibility. But he was "the servant of the Church, by the solemn obligation of his ordination vows," and it was "not for him to choose the place or kind of service." Nor was he the man to delay, in a matter of such moment; or to allow any feelings of self interest to affect his choice. His universal principle in all such matters, was, that an unsought and unsolicited call to the highest order of the Ministry, was a voice from God; whose only answer could be, "Here am I; send me." The first letter to any Bishop elect was his, and was always one of welcome, and of urgency; while of the few things, that really woke his annoyance and indignation, a refusal to such a call, was almost the chief. So in thirteen days his letter of acceptance went to the Committee. From his private journal I may quote the correspondence and his account of the consecration. They are fit beginnings of all the issues that sprung from them.

"REV. AND DEAR SIR:

"NEW BRUNSWICK, Oct. 3, 1832.

"We take the earliest opportunity to inform you that at the adjourned meeting of our Convention, held here this day, you were elected Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in this Diocese. After several ballotings, the other candidates were gradually withdrawn, and a majority of both orders proved to be in favour of you. It was then unanimously declared that you were elected Bishop. We believe we may safely say that your election gives general satisfaction, and we hope it may meet your acceptance. The requisite testimonials were signed, by all the members of the Convention, (including 14 Clergymen,) and will be forwarded to you by a Committee appointed for that purpose. We write this unofficially, although you will perceive by our signatures that we are officers of the Convention. With sentiments of the highest respect and regard, we are truly your friends and brothers. "JOHN CROES, Sec'y. "CLARKSON DUNN, Asst. Sec'y.

"REV. G. W. DOANE."

On Saturday, October 6, the Committee, the Rev. B. G. Noble, the Rev. H. R. Peters, and Benjamin Williamson, Esq., arrived in Boston, bearing the official papers, with letters from Bishops B. T. Onder donk, and L. S. Ives, and the Rev. Drs. Wainwright, Berrian, and Creighton, urging my acceptance; which were followed the next mail, by letters from Bps. Brownell, and H. U. Onderdonk, Messrs. E. A. Newton, S. H. Huntington, and others, to the same purport.

On Monday night, Oct. 15, left Boston for New York in company with my faithful friend, the Rev. Wm. Croswell, and arrived there on Wednesday, 17th. Days much to be remembered! Arrived at St. Paul's Chapel in time to hear nearly all the sermon at the opening of the Convention, by the Rt. Rev. H U. Onderdonk, D. D., and received the Holy Communion at the hands of Bps. Griswold and Brownell. It was soothing and comfortable, and I hope profitable. Never did I so much need its strengthening and refreshing for my soul. On Friday, Oct. 19, after (I hope) due consideration, not without prayer, gave my answer to the Committee of the Diocese of New Jersey as follows:

DEAR BRETHREN:

After as much of careful consideration as the time allowed, I have resolved to accept the office of Bishop, conferred upon me by the too favourable consideration of the Diocese of New Jersey. I do it cheerfully, and I do it resolutely. Cheerfully, though it involves the surrender of enjoyments peculiarly dear to me, and counted on for life; but resolutely, because I do it in the name and strength of God. All that I am, and all that I have given me of the Lord, I have long accustomed myself to consider as dedicated to the service of the Church. To God, and to the Church, then, in the service which his providence now seems to indicate, I devote myself, body, soul, and spirit. My He graciously accept and bless the unworthy offering!

Of the provision for the Episcopate, you are aware that I know nothing further than that there is the beginning of a fund, and that arrangements are in progress to increase it to an amount suitable at once to the dignity of the office, and to the ability of the Diocese.* My ignorance on this subject has had no effect in making my decision. I most cheerfully and confidently throw myself on the generosity and piety of the Churchmen of New Jersey; convinced that what is right they will do. Permit me, however, in that spirit of perfect candour, which is, I hope, to actuate all our intercourse, to suggest the earliest attention to its accomplishment.

Let me entreat your fervent supplications, with my own, dear brethren, that the solemn engagement now concluded, and soon to be ratified and consecrated by holy hands, and with prayer, may by the gracious providence of God, be made to serve the promotion of His great glory, and the salvation of immortal souls.

Faithfully your brother and servant in the Gospel and Church of our Lord Jesus Christ, G. W. DOANE.

Messrs. NOBLE, PETERS, and WILLIAMSON, Committee.

Wednesday, Oct. 31.-Consecrated to the office of Bishop of the diocese of New Jersey, by the Rt. Rev. William White, D. D., Presiding Bishop, assisted by the Rt. Rev. B T. Onderdonk, D. D., Bishop of the diocese of New York, and the Rt. Rev. L. S. Ives, D. D., Bishop

* Among many reasons urged upon him why he should not leave Boston, his friends told him that he must take out his salary in watermelons and sweet po tatoes, and as he repeated it, he sometimes playfully added that even they had failed.