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Lib. C. B.
No. 20
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We have been naturally led to consider the present Circum-
stances of the Maryland Clergy, and after the fullest and
maturest Deliberation We have unanimously resolved that it
is highly becoming us to make an Effort as far as in Us lies
to introduce if possible Episcopacy into America: a Measure
so highly reasonable, so absolutely necessary at this Crisis to
the Colonies in general, and we add to Maryland in particular
and so peculiarly befitting the Clergy of this Province to be
amongst the foremost in soliciting that we cannot doubt of its
meeting with your Excellency's perfect Approbation. For it
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p. 119
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must have occurred to you as it has to us that of late the
Growth of Sectaries (chiefly to be attributed as we believe to
the want of a regularly Governed Clergy) has been so amaz-
ingly rapid and their Conduct so daring and vexatious that
amongst other instances of their factious Spirit they now daily
and openly call in Question even his Lordship's Right of Pres-
entation, an Evil which we fear will daily increase and which
we cannot but think can only be effectually put a Stop to by
the Admission of an American Bishop. It must then be ob-
vious to your Excellency that the Establishment here cannot
subsist much longer without some form of Government.
Whether this shall be that constitutional one by Bishops to
which alone a Clergyman of the Church of England can in
Conscience think it his Duty to Submit, or the unconstitutional
and palpably Presbyterian System not long ago warmly con-
tended for by both Houses of Assembly, is a Question hardly
less interesting to the Civil Government of this Province than
it is to its Clergy. The Jurisdiction of a Presbytery and every
other Jurisdiction in its Principles akin to it is so adverse to
the Frame and Scope of our excellent Establishment both in
Church and State that in attempting to keep it forever at a
distance from Maryland we trust your Excellency will con-
sider us as doing what most undoubtedly is our Duty ever to
do consulting the best Interests of the Lord Proprietary and
the Welfare of the Community at large, as well as our own
in particular. On these Principles and on these Considera-
tions alone, we presume to solicit your Excellency's Concur-
rence and Assistance in promoting so salutary a Scheme.
Every step in our Power conducive thereto we have taken;
We have applied to the Throne, to Lord Baltimore, to His
Grace of Canterbury and to the Bishop of London, Copies of
which Applications we think it incumbent on us to lay before
your Excellency with a request that you will be pleased as soon
as may be to transmit our Letter to Lord Baltimore, and should
it be in your Excellency's Power to lend a helping Hand to the
furtherance of this good Design, as we believe it greatly is,
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