official act. In the month of November he visited Philadelphia a second time, for the purpose of uniting in the consecration of a bishop. This was of the Rev. John Croes, D. D., for the Church in New-Jersey, which was now, for the first time, organized under its own spiritual head. From this time, therefore, it ceased to make those calls upon Bishop Hobart, which he had hitherto, from time to time, amid all his own labors, both cheerfully accepted and faithfully fulfilled.

CHAPTER XVI.

A. D. 1816-Et. 41.

Funeral Address

Death of Bishop Moore Eulogium-Essay on State of departed Spirits-Reputation as a Biblical Critic-Article on the Creed-Various Opinions-Letter to Bishop White-His Opinions-Letter of Bishop Skinner-Bishop Hobart's Views of the Church of Scotland-Letters from the Rev. Dr. Abercrombie-Archdeacon Strachan--Candidate for Confirmation instructed-Prejudice against Bishop Hobart's Views of Regeneration-Explained and Defended-Oneida Indians.

THE death of Bishop Moore, which occurred 27th February, 1816, advanced Bishop Hobart from the rank of Assistant to that of Diocesan ; the change, however, was but a nominal one. From the shock of his first attack, five years previous, Bishop Moore had never fully recovered. It was a long and painful decline, one which Christian faith alone could gild, and the devotion of affection alone could comfort.

To the writer, it affords matter of painful yet pleasing remembrance, that he enjoyed frequently the privilege of a relative, and a son in the ministry, that of being admitted to the chamber of the invalid; for he never quitted it without a feeling of veneration and sorrow,

which, he trusts, softened his own heart to the deeper admission of that faith which he there saw so touchingly exemplified.

On the occasion of his death, Bishop Hobart, being in the city, delivered a funeral discourse over the body. It was one full of feeling, and spoke justly the merits of that meek and holy prelate, upon whose responsibilities he was himself then entering. After a brief outline of his life, he thus sums up the career of one whom he characterized as, 'the finished scholar, and the well-furnished divine.'

'Love for the Church was the paramount principle that animated him. He entered on her services in the time of trouble. Steady in his principles, yet mild and prudent in advocating them, he never sacrificed consistency, he never provoked resentment. In proportion as adversity pressed upon the Church, was the affection with which he clung to her. And he lived until he saw her, in no inconsiderable degree by his counsel and exertions, raised from the dust, and putting on the garments of glory and beauty. It was this affection for the Church which animated his episcopal labors; which led him to leave that family whom he so tenderly loved, and that retirement which was so dear to him, and where he found while he conferred enjoyment, and to seek, in remote parts of the Diocese, for the sheep of CHRIST's fold.'*

* Address, p. 16.

The language too of his personal eulogium was just and unstrained :

'A grace allied to simplicity was the meekness that adorned him-a meekness that was "not easily provoked;" that never made display of talents, of learning, or of station; a meekness that condescended to the most ignorant and humble, and won their confidence. While associated with dignity, it commanded respect and excited affection in the circles of rank and influence; and it was a meekness that pursued the dictates of duty with firmness and perseverance.'*

In noticing the event in his annual address to the Convention, his language is to the same point. 'The remembrance of his talents and his learning, his insinuating eloquence, his faithful labors, and his exemplary piety and virtue, will long be cherished by us, and by the Diocese, with affectionate veneration.' †

The death of Bishop Moore having vacated the rectorship of Trinity Church, to this station also Bishop Hobart was immediately advanced, while his friend Dr. How followed him as Assistant Rector.

In bidding farewell to the name of one so justly endeared to the Church, a few earlier facts deserve to be recorded. Bishop Moore was born Oc

* Address, p. 14.

+ Journal, 1816, p. 13.

tober 5th, 1740, at Newtown, Long-Island, of a family even still looked up to as the patriarchal head of that quiet and retired village. His classical education was at King's College, New-York, where he graduated in 1768; his professional one was under the direction of the Rev. Dr. Auchmuty, Rector of Trinity Church. He went to England in May, 1774. In June, of the same year, was ordained both deacon and priest, (the successive ordinations being within the space of a week,) by Richard Terrick, Bishop of London. On his return, he was appointed an assistant in Trinity to his friend and Rector, Dr. Auchmuty, who was soon after succeeded by the Rev. Dr. Inglis, afterward Bishop of Nova Scotia. Throughout the revolutionary contest, while New-York was held by the British, he continued at his post-we will not say against his political attachments, but we will say, in the path of his Christian duty; since, even had it been otherwise, he was not one lightly to confound the questions of human allegiance with his paramount duty as the subject of a kingdom 'not of this world.'

This Funeral Address,' when published, was accompanied with a voluminous appendix, being a dissertation on a subject touched upon in the discourse, viz. The State of departed Spirits.' On this subject, so dark, and yet so attractive,