FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98  
99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   >>  
tely refuse any such as comes regularly, and is presented to the Living by the Governor. This Presentation by the Governor, who likewise as Ordinary is to institute and induct, may be termed a Collation; but there of late were not above three or four Rectors thus collated, or instituted and inducted in the whole Colony; because of the Difficulties, Surmises, Disputes, and Jealousies that arise upon such Accounts. But the Clergy standing upon this Footing are liable to great Inconveniency and Danger; for upon any small Difference with the Vestry, they may pretend to assume Authority to turn out such Ministers as thus come in by Agreement with the Vestry, who have often had the Church Doors shut against them, and their Salaries stopped, by the Order and Protection of such Vestry-Men, who erroneously think themselves the _Masters_ of their _Parson_, and aver, that since they compacted but from Year to Year with him as some have done, they may turn off this their Servant when they will; be without one as long as they please, and chose another, whom and when they shall think most proper and convenient; which Liberty being granted them (I believe) some few would be content rather never to appoint a Minister, than ever to pay his Salary. Among many Instances of these Kinds of Refusals, Ejectments, and Elections, I shall only instance that of the ingenious Mr. _Bagge_, who coming to _England_ for Priest's Orders, after he had been Minister of St. _Ann_'s for a long Time, was refused by them upon his Return, when the Governor sent him to his own Parish again; whereas they strenuously stood by Mr. _Rainsford_, whom they had elected and presented to the Governor. And Mr. _Latane_, a Gentleman of Learning and Vertue, and well beloved, was almost ejected, nay was shut out of his Church, only upon account of a small Difference and Dispute with some of his Vestry. The main Allegation they had against him was that they could not understand him, (he having a small Tang of the _French_) tho' they had been hearing him I think upwards of seven Years, without any Complaint of that kind till that very Time. Governor _Spotswood_, to his great Honour be it spoken, always stood up for the Right of Collation, and was hearty in Vindication of the Clergy, who, as he professed in a Speech to them, certainly had not only his Protection but also his Affection; so that it is difficult to be determined in which Respect he chiefly excelled, either
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98  
99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   >>  



Top keywords:

Governor

 

Vestry

 
Clergy
 

Difference

 

presented

 

Minister

 

Protection

 

Collation

 

Church

 
Parish

Rainsford
 

strenuously

 

Ejectments

 
Elections
 
instance
 

ingenious

 

Refusals

 
Instances
 

coming

 
elected

refused

 
excelled
 
England
 

Priest

 

Orders

 

Return

 
Respect
 

Affection

 

Complaint

 
hearing

upwards
 

Spotswood

 

Honour

 

Vindication

 

professed

 

Speech

 

hearty

 

spoken

 

difficult

 
beloved

ejected
 
Vertue
 

Latane

 

Gentleman

 

Learning

 
chiefly
 

account

 

Dispute

 

understand

 

French