Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-07-19


We have received the following with request
Tor ITS insertion. We do not wish to interfere
with any religious disputes but we suppose
that by inserting it we shall afford an opportu
nifty to the worthy and reverend gentleman of
fully explaining his ideas, so as completely to
satisfy the " Vi,;ginian."
Rev. & DEAR SIR,
In reading your communication, to
the late convention, held in the CITY of Richmond.
found some things contained in it, which an
psared to me, somewhat ambi guous and perbars
not entirely reconceilable. Permit me to bring
them TO your view. And first the following.
sentence, In eUcry parish 1vhich 7 hare zisifel
hare discovered the most animated wish ia the beo-
Pile, to repair the zraste places in ON. Zion a1iIto
restore he Church Of their Fathers toits primitive
purify and e.rcehency." Would it not have been
more consistent, to have sad found amongs
The people, anumber ofpersons under the infiu-
ence OF THIS animated wish. Pardon the sugges-
ton sur taking the whole of this sentence togetb-
err, am at loss to get at your meaning pray
SIR, what would you have us understand bv II.
surely you could not think, to ndnce belief,
that the people of Virginia, entertained the high
estdisposIuon, TO restorethe EbiscobaiaH ChnJch.
to the ground 1t formerly occupied If YOU have
formed suchan opinion yourselfofthe Virginians.
| am confident, 1T VIII not be arrogant, IN me, to
say, that you have mistaken entirely their reaI
Il
wood and the gall of former DAYS They re-
member when the ministry of that church feast
ed on their sixteen thousand weight oftobacco
drawn from them without their consent by the
civil arm. The weight of their PARISH fees, which
IN many cases, could be lily spared from the sup
port other wives and children, they have not
forgotten, the Imprisonment and stripes nfict-
ed Oh Their unoffending fathers, brothers, and
husbands, (barely for preaching Christ crltci6ed.
| as the way to Heaven and happiness) under the
direct sanction of the officers of that church
| (ther preachers not excepted) is an event too
recent with them, even to wish restitution of
| The old order ofthings, in respect to the church
OF Their fathers, or any other Church. Again YOU
say " The ApostoHc rite Of confirmation 4phfch
laUe administered IN several parishes Toas received
By people Of al ages with The creates, ion, and a
general PRINCIPLE efuHon and ererhor 4Sas ubon
those occasions expressed: am glad, that IN
! speaking OF the people in this sentence. YOU
have adopted terms susceptible of qualification
fray Rev, SIR, what are we to understand, by the
Apostolic rite Of confirmation Where do YOU
ind Apostolic authority for this rite, as admins.
ieFe,l by your reverence ! confess my igno.
| rance OF its existence IN the Bible. But YOU con.
municipalities sohichhave been destitute Of minis
feriai o'o for many gears, &c &C. hape arisen in al
the t3for IF Perfect heath Indulge me IN ask.
ing, what parishes those are For nv part.
am pretty we'll acquainted all through Virginia
having travelled much, and beng a native OF The
state, and assure you, know of no neighbour
hooa or PARISH Ct The term is more agreeable
that has been, for years, destitute Of Ministerial
aid. This IS q broad expression , / should Ek,
TO know, whether the labours ofrespectable Pres
byteual5 Methodist and Baptist ministers, hav,
not extended more or less, through every ne,rl,
bourhood IA the State, and whether cod has no
graciously blessed their preaching Would MOI
the term mirisssria! cid apply IN such cases p
This sentence l apprehcnd, would have beeI
more eongeniab with the spirit Of Virginia
had IT have been prefaccd, with the qual,f ms
term Episcopal, so as to have read. Ebisca .
D'infstels@ oid. might anunadveFt, on tie nd
rect influence Ito say the least Of ~ which yot
whole communication, IS calculated to produc
ON the public mind in Casting vel over th
mingled and perseyering efforts Of the disasgt,n