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and the gratification of those wishing best to the interest of the Church, ended with a cessation of hostilities, and I trust the commencement of a reign of peace, at least for some time. The whole course of the conventional proceedings seemed to be remarkably controlled by the providence of God; and the part which I acted towards conciliation, seemed rather dictated to me by that Providence, than to be any impulse of my own. In relation to my own course of conduct, seeing a disposition like conciliation, I determined to contribute my share towards so auspicious a result, and for this purpose offered a resolution relating to the General Missionary Society. I will give you the substance, and I believe mostly the very words which I used.

"On offering the resolution, I said, I have two reasons for offering this resolution. 1. Because I feel as if I had not discharged my duty to the General Missionary Society. It is true that I have been withheld from this by the confessed defects in its organization, which, in my opinion, had a tendency to neutralize all its usefulness. But the spirit manifested at the late annual meeting of the Board of Directors, and the nature of the alterations then proposed, have satisfied my mind; and while this state of things exists, I shall give it my cordial support.

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My second reason, Mr. President, is, because I wish to see that pleasant sight, not witnessed in this Convention for the last three years, an unanimous vote. I wish to see a question taken in which party can have no concern. I am free to confess for myself that I have acted as a party-man. If I could think of the individual in this Convention who had not, I should look upon him as one raised above the ordinary infirmities of humanity. I mean to make no imputations; but I must be permitted to recall to the memory of the Convention, the saying of our Saviour, 'Those eighteen upon whom the tower of Siloam fell and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all that dwelt in Jerusalem?' And I would be permitted to add his remark and exhortation, I tell you nay, but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.'

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"To low Church principles I ever must and I ever hope to be attached, and to maintain them through evil and through good report. But maintaining these principles, I hope hereafter to be able to do it not as a party-man. I have felt the evil of this thing in the overthrow of Christian charity. I believe that the cause of religion has been injured, and so far as I have in any wise been concerned, I deplore it. If in the heat of party controversy I have said or written any thing which has wounded the feelings, or been injurious to any one, I ask that it may be attributed to the heat of party controversy, and this expression of regret be received in the spirit in which it is rendered.

"I hope, Sir, that no evil construction will be put upon these remarks. If any clergyman in this city can stand in an independent situation, I feel that I am entitled so to stand. With an undivided congregation, such as statedly worships in this Church,* and which, with an almost unparalleled affection, have clung to me through the perils, and dangers, and reproaches of the last three years, while God shall bless me, I fear no man's frown, and I ask

⚫ The Convention was held in St. Andrew's Church. In regard to the harmony of this congregation, Dr. Bedell says, in his anniversary Sermon, already repeatedly quoted: "We have reason to say, 'Hitherto hath the Lord helped us,' when we consider the fact, that there has been an unbroken harmony in all the departments of our Church. There never yet has been a question which has divided the rector and the vestry, the vestry and the congregation, or the congregation itself. Even in that disastrous time of high excitement which was connected with the election of an Assistant Bishop, though there were differences of opinion between some few, there were no alienations of affection, except in the case of one or two individuals, and on the whole, where it could have been but little expected, we exhibited the spectacle of a very strikingly united congregation; so much so, that your minister remembers at the Convention held in this Church, when the matters in controversy were happily adjusted, he was enabled to state in a public address before that body, that for the three years of trouble in which we had been involved, he had been sustained by the affection of an united congregation. So far as the congregation itself is concerned, no questions of collision, to his knowledge, have ever arisen. If in any departments of our extended organization, differB b

VOL. I.

no man's patronage. But, Sir, were my circumstances different, I should pursue the same course, and make the same avowal. What I say is the genuine dictate of my feelings; and while I mean, by the help of God, to maintain my principles, I am ready to make almost any sacrifice to win back to this distracted diocese the angel charity, so that reproach may no longer be poured on the cause which I hope we all love, though with differences of opinion as to the best course by which that cause is to be advanced. Let those differences be entertained, they need not destroy Christian love. It is with this spirit, Sir, that I submit this resolution. As I shall vote on it divested of all party feelings, so may all; and I hope hereafter for one to be able to maintain the same elevated ground, and only bear my part in the legislation of the diocese under the influence of the motto, pro Deo, pro ecclesia, pro hominum salute.'

"You can hardly imagine the sensation made by this address. Tears were abundant, and pleasure apparently universal. Montgomery seconded my resolution, and followed by a speech of the same import. He afterwards came and took me by the hand, almost without the power of speaking. . . . the harmony may be perfect and permanent! "I am now greatly fatigued by writing, and I shall close."...

God grant that

The only remaining occasion on which he ever spoke in the Convention was in 1834, but three months before his departure. He had been unjustly and unkindly accused in a periodical paper, of being governed by a party spirit, in contradiction to his former professed determinations in his efforts for

ences of opinion on points of policy connected with the Church, have been found to exist, they have always given way to a desire for the general benefit and the will of the majority. He does not know that there is at this moment any question existing which is calculated to interrupt the general harmony. In these respects the Lord has wonderfully helped us."

the establishment of Bristol College. Though he had been manifestly sinking in health for some months, and at this time was by medical direction confined to his house, he resolved at any sacrifice of personal comfort, to throw off from his character this unfounded imputation. We witnessed the solicitude with which his family entreated him to remain at home, and the earnest determination with which their solicitations were resisted. We saw him also as he advanced slowly and feebly from a pew in St. Andrew's Church, in which the Convention was assembled, to the chancel, and with a countenance pallid as death, with hardly strength to stand upon the floor, but with a thrilling and earnest manner, addressed himself to the Convention. He offered a resolution of respect to the memory of the Rev. Dr. Montgomery, Rector of St. Stephen's Church, Philadelphia, referred to in the preceding letter, who had deceased but two months previous. He alluded to his address, made on the very spot on which he then stood, five years before, in support of a resolution which Dr. M. had seconded; to the pledge of conciliation and peace which he had then given; and solemnly declared that his feelings were still the same, and that in no plan or action had he ever deviated from the course which he then marked out for himself. His strength and voice failed, and he was unable to finish the statement which he was desirous of making, and closing abruptly his brief address, he immediately left the house to see his brethren thus

assembled no more. His last effort in the affairs of the Church, was what all his previous exertions had been, for the promotion of kindness, harmony, and peace. O that he might be imitated in this lovely trait by all who survive him! When shall the time arrive, that Christians, with united feeling and mutual confidence, shall devote to the common cause of truth against error and sin, the time and power which they now waste in watching and guarding against the suicidal conflicts of partisan warfare? This dear brother in Christ, has found in heaven the harmony which he laboured so much to produce upon the earth. And how does that one song, one company, and one service, put to shame the fretful collisions of fallen men! There is order and peace in heaven; O that it might be so also upon the earth.

In the private, domestic relations of Dr. Bedell, his character shone with inviting loveliness. His children knew no love to any earthly object like that which they felt for their father, and feared nothing so much as a frown or reproof from him. The servants in his family regarded him with peculiar reverence, as something even above the character of In his domestic circle, the peculiar quality which he exhibited was retired humility. He talked but little habitually, yet always cheerfully and instructively. He sat much in silent study around his fire-side, and was not easily disturbed. When riding once with his children, as he frequently did, after no unusual silence on his part, he remarked to

man.

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