Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-06-07

ey. a, il has been handed down to US by
our Fathers. That uniformity of wor-
ship. which has distinguished US as So
ciety, should the proposed alterations be
carried Into effect, will be Destroyed
Instead Of uniting in the same devotion
al exercises, as ne bith AZ nave done,
every Clergyman viii have il iD bis pew
or TO select bis own lessons, and read
such portions Of the Psalms of David as
he pleases-by which means the public
worship of God, in these particulars,
! will be as various as the constitutions OF
our minds. The old members of the
/ Church, who have been taught to view
the Liturgy through medium the most
sacred, will be grieved. The guards to
! uniformity being removed, one innovation
| will succeed another, until the people
will lose that reverence for Gus incom
parable services by which they have
been actusted, and the Church receive
the most vital injury.
When we reflect upon the general es-
TEEN in which The Liturgy is viewed by
the rejecting and considerate OF other
! denominations, our opinion OF It's excel
! lence should be strengthened and in
creased. The celebrated DIR. Clarke,
! of the Methodist Church, has declared
| that the Liturgy of the Church i, second
tono volume except the sacred writings:
and the Rev. Mr.. Hall of the BAPTIST So
ciety has expressed himself in similar
| language. To touch a matter OF SO
much consequence without the deepest
! reflection Ito alter service of such ac-
knowleGged worth, without years of
prayerfnl consideration, should not be
| ventured on. When we enter the thresh
old of this inquiry, we should take the
| shoes from OFT our feet, as the ground
wherein we tread is holy ground, The
Church in Virginia will never be indu-
ced, | trust and pray, to depart from her
prescribed forms; but VIII defend the
Liturgy in all it's integrity, and prove to
, the christian world that we reverence
] the opinions of our fathers; and are sa-
tisfied with that system of doctrine which
they veneEased, and which they so highly
| valued.
Such, Brethren,are the outlines Of the
views entertain on the contemplated
measure: | should have considered my
self deficient in duty 10 the church COM
snitted to my care by you. and by bea.
ven, did inot raise my wafnlngyoice in
behalf Of the Liturgy, and thus express
| the fears which have disturbed my quiet
Since our last mseting we have been
| deprived Of the lab6nrs of cur affection
ate Brother, the Rav MIR. Dunn. The
| humility of which he was distin guished
the fidelity with which he iaboured;
and the evangelical views he entertained
on The subject Of religion, eadeared him
10 US all.-tsis death was marked with
the strongest features of resignation TO
the will OF thc Almighty, and his views
OF that rest which remaiueth for the
! people of God, eomforted him to his last
moments, aud rendered the termination
of his life truly triumphant--he has en-
tered. trust, into the Joy of his Lord,
and now rests in peace on the boson of
his God.
In the beginniDg Of The present month
visited the county of Goochiand, in
company with the Rev ~essrs Meade,
Cooke, Croes and Jones'
! Although the present incumbent has
beer settled in that Parish but one year,
still the Church, the concerns of which
had been dormant for thirty years, now
discovers state of energy OF no incon.
siderable character. The people amin.
ated by the laboFious efforts of the Rev.
Mr. Lee have repaired one of the old
churches, and put in complete ORDER
Agreeably to their request, | consecra-
ted ii to the service of God, and con {.
) tireed IL persons. We all preached in
succession to large and attentive audiso-
ries. The holy communion was admin
isssred the day after left the Parish
by the Rev. MIR Meade, and the church
was joined by several new members.
On the last Sunday, I visited the
church on Richmond Hill, whichis un.
der the superintendent of the Rev. Mr..
Hart; upon which occasion | preached
to very large congregation: and ad.
ministered the Rite of Confirmation to
! 10 persons. II is with great pleasure
mention the present prosperous state of
the Parish. The church has been out
in complete repair, through the efforts
of few spirited gentlemen, and is Sc
cond in its internal appearance, TO very
few of the churches in this Diocess.
: With my prayers to Heaven, that our
A