Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1815-09-22

! attain the Episcopate for the Am ricar,
Church, and was the very FIRST, = no on
nat accession. received consecra1g in from
ne ~. English Bishops. To thissd distinction
rs Is, qualifications. indspABd IDENTIFY of his
s;taatian in the ChpsEh, eminentIy enti-
y lin. Possessed of an Unsuitable
s,,;r,t 4 Nayw!sdge, he early devoted
l;;mse!f TO the study OF science,blesseI by
Trosiaence with ample means, he availed
l;nsesf Of the advantages which the Eng
l;sb Universities afforded. There he
ps,set, several years; aud having thus
Id solid foundation :or extensive lite
stare. sid then, from anaturai inclina-
Tor aud a sense OF duty, devoting him
xnsf 10 Ire Church, he returned to his ma
t;.e and to best0w the Seneit of his Ia
b.lys. III the incessant and faithful dis
e,a.ee OF his professional duties, his
etu,Jes were never illtermitted and, as
ri: ht naturally be expected frem such
;roessalt application. joined to clear &
discriminating jndsUeut, he became the
mast profound scholar, beth in antient and
ma,ern literature, which the Church in
this country, since her. foundation, has
had to eeast.
The distinctions in tine Church, t.
which Bishop Provost attained, however
tsey might beiu others the object of de-
sire acL pursuit, werein him matters OF
self-denial. HIS uncenquerabie love O:
s;a.y made him ccprt retirement; s. wheA
he was, asst we're, iiTassgediroin his helog-
ed retreat, he sacrificed bis own wish to
a sense of duty; aild from regard t,
the desires Of others, and to render es-
sent.al benefit to the Church, yielded al
most reluctantly to what nmperious Cir
cumstances seemed to demand. Bisher
Provost indeed seems to have been raised
M. and preserved by Providence tol
!. fines of,singular trial, and singular mo-
msrt to the church. At the close of the
American revolution, when the friends
efths Episcopal interests were trembling
far her destiny, DIR. 2. was the only
clergyman in the church who could Gu
gare the prevailing interest and influence
IN her behalf. To promote this object
he was induced to leave his retreat IN the
country, whittier he had FOR several years
retired and the consequence was, that
his infiexibie Integrity and mild cenclli-
ating department, soon reduced all to
harmony AID peace. When the acquisi-
tioa Of The Episcopate became an object
of desire to the American Church, DR.
sprevosf was considered universally as
thc most suitable character, both tor qua,
hicateas. fer G:snity of mind. and Ion
amiable deport'aent, to be promoted tc
that office IN this state. At the call o.
she church. be reluctantly yielded to the
necessity, and at an advanced period Of
lie. crossed thc Atlantic. in order tc
complete the organization OF the church.
When ne ha3 thus rendered the mos,
beaeiesnt services and paved the way
for The exestioas of ethers, he again re.
tired TO his beloved study, and passed
his concluding years IA tranquility and
peace. Equally a,niable in private life
4 as he was devoted to science, AMI tirn
A aud conscientious discharge of duty, he
q was beloved by numerous acquaintance
3 and eajoyiag the comforts and consola.
tiaas oi' that Heaven born Religion. which
Il he had preached to others, he passed his
4 DAYS calmly contemplating and preparing
q for bis final change.
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