Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1847-07-29
History Of the Episcopal Church
in Narragansctt, RhOde-lsland,

/ NHWCHfS " We Ofute WIN uh up
pendix, containing a reprint Of a work
now extremely rare, entitled, A
merica Dissected," by the Rev. j..
McSparran, ID. ID. With notes con-
tanning genealogical aud biogra ,hical
accounts Of distinguished men, lumi-
lies, SC. by WILKINS CPDIKE.- -
New York Henry NJ Onderdonk,
10 John street. I847.
\ This book contains more various and
curious information respecting the early
history Of our Church and country than
any other with which we are acquainted.
II does infinite credit TO The author, and
is memorial which he may be proud
TO leave of his talents and industry, of
love for his Church and country, and Of
his devotion to antiquarian pursuits, and
ability to turn them to good and useful
ends.
The plan adopted by Mr. Updike is
original. The text Of the work consists
Of extracts from the parochIal registers
and other documents relating TO the
Church, and this is given in large type,
In connection with these extracts are in
troduced biographical sketches Of the
persons and families whose names occur
in the record, sketches Of the state Of So
ciety and manners, narratives of remark
able con,emporaneous events, anecdote s
illustrative OF history and Of private life
and character, and variety of letters
and original papers relating TO the per-
sons and scenes brought to view, all Of
which are interesting and some exceed
ingly valuable. This part Of the work is
given in smaller type, and forms a sort OF
running commentary on the text.
So far as relates specially to the
Church; the person whose life and la
bors shed chief briliancy on the work
is the Rev. JAMES McSrARRAN, ID. ID.
To have recovered the memory oc DR..
Nc. Spartan alone, and to have given
the Church Of this day the benefit Of his
example, should entitle Mr.. Updlke Ia
our warmest thanks. DR. McSparran
was a sound and learned divine, a laboriou-
missionary, faithful priest, an eloquent
preacher, and shrewd and caustic OBJ
server Of the priDci plies and manners OF
the generation in which he lived. The
sermon, of which copious extracts are
given Oh PIP. l9l.200, is IN the best
style Of the English pulpit His a" A
merica Dissected," a short pamphlet
published in the Appendix, is IA master
piece in its way. The parochial records
attest the fidelity and immense extent Of
his missionary labois. We regret that
Mr. Updike could not have Incorporated
into the present volume all the literary
remains Of that remarkable man, but as
he has not done this we hope he may be
induced to edit the sermons in his pos
Sc ssion and the "America Dlssecled," !"
together with a continuous account of
his life, in volume by themselves.
Through the agency chiefly of DR..
McSparran, the history ofthe Narragnn-
sett Church became interviewer with the
history of most other churches in our
country, and hence MIR, Upkike has been
able TO furnish interesting recoIlections
Of most OF the clergy whose names are
connected with our early annals. Among
these we note particularly the narrative
Of Mr.. John Checkley and Of his perse-
cutions by the Purlans, as being fuller,
we believe, than is elsewhere to be
found.
The leading families Of Rhode Island
came under Mr. Updike's notice in the
pursuance ofhis plan and as these have
branchcd out into The other states Of the
Union, and embrace names which have
been distinguished in arts and literature,
in the cabinet and the field, the result
has been a fund of information of for
greater compass aud variety than the
title of the wolk would Indicate. la.
stead, however, Of dwelling on the gene
raj features of The work, we shall turn-
nsh the reader with few quotations, a.
voidlng on purpose such as relate more
especially to the Church, aud selecting
others Of more general interest.
The parochial notice Of DR. NcSpar-
rams having calechIsed about a huud,e ed
negroes A. u i7ll, leads Mr.. Upd,ke
70 give succlnct history Of slavery IN
The colony, aud to deIinesle the state of
society during It's prevalence. Passing
over the statistic details. aud A number