[See page image]

Page 316

been resolved, and Seabury turned to Scotland, where he was consecrated in 1784 by three nonjuring prelates. He returned to Connecticut, 1785, where, resident as rector at New London, his episcopal jurisdiction was recognized, and was extended, by invitation, over Rhode Island. He was the first presiding bishop of the churches in the several states united under the general convention in 1789. He united with the three bishops subsequently consecrated in England in the formation of the new constitution rendering the American church independent and autonomous, in the joint consecration of the first bishop of Maryland, Thomas J. Claggett. Consequently no bishop has ever been consecrated without deriving his prerogatives both through the Scottish and Anglican lines of descent.

Seabury was fitted by his ecclesiastical knowledge and persistent devotion to his church system, exercised with remarkable prudence and patience, to render services making him a pioneer and founder of American Episcopalianism, fortunately resulting in guiding a free, valid, and regular succession through the crisis of American independence, and demonstrating that the episcopacy was adaptable in a free state. His permanent services include the securing, by amendment, of coordinate legislative functions for the house of bishops, and the restoration of the oblation and invocation to the communion office, according to his pledge to the Scotch Church which ordained him. His Discourses on Several Subjects was published (New York, 1793; 2 vols., Hudson, 1815).

I. In Great Britain: As early as the middle of the eighteenth century sermons were preached and printed on behalf of seamen by John Flavel (q.v., 1630-91). An organization named The Bible Society (see BIBLE SOCIETIES, I., 1) was organized in London in 1780 to supply English soldiers with the Holy Scriptures. Very soon its efforts were ex-

tended to embrace the seamen of the r. Work in royal navy. The ill-fated "Royal

Aug. 29, 1782, was the first ship supplied with Bibles. The society's name was changed to The Naval and Military Bible Society, and it still continues its beneficent work of supplying the Scriptures to the army and navy of Great Britain. Incidentally, it helped to form the British and Forsign Bible Society (see BIBLE SOCIETIES, I., 2), whi,,h society in turn helped to call into existence the American Bible Society (see BIBLE SOCIETIES, III., 2). Seamen as a class, in those days, were devoid of scriptural knowledge, neglected by the Church at large, without Gospel ministrations or privileges, sea missionaries, or any special humanitarian effort on their behalf. When attempts were made to furnish seamen with church services and the Holy Scriptures, unchristian officers in the royal

ofReo. S. SeaburH, Boston, 1881; W. B. Sprague, Annals of the American Pulpit, v. 149-153, New York, 1869; W. S. Perry, Hist. of the American Episcopal Church, passim, 2 vols., Boston, 1885; idem, The Episcopate in America, pp. 1-3, New York, 1885; C. C. Tiffany, in American Church History Series, vol. vii. passim, ib. 1895; S. D. McConnell, Hilt. of the American Episcopal Church, passim, 7th ed., ib. 1897; W. J. Seabury, Memoirs of Bishop Seabury, ib. 1908; and in general the literature under PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH which deals with the early period.

SEABURY, WILLIAM JONES: Protestant Episcopalian; b. in New York City Jan. 25, 1837. He was educated at Columbia College, New York City (A.B., 1856), and, after practising law for a few years, entered the General Theological Seminary, from which he was graduated in 1866. He was ordered deacon and ordained to the priesthood in the same year. He was rector of the Church of the Annunciation, New York City (1868-98), and since 1873 has also been professor of ecclesiastical polity and law in the General Theological Seminary. Besides editing S. Seabury's Memorial (New York, 1874) and the same theologian's Discourses on the Nature and Work of the Holy Spirit (1874), he has written Suggestions in Aid of Devotion and Holiness (New York, 1878); Manual for Choristers (1878); A Guide to the Observance of the Canons of the Church affecting those who are seeking Holy Orders (1888); Lectures on Aloostolical Succession (1893); An Introduction to the Study of Ecclesiastical Polity (1894); Notes on the Constitution of 1901 (1902); and Memoir of Rev. Samuel Seabury (1908).

Beginnings; American Seamen's Friend Society (§ 1).

navy opposed with considerable spirit the new movement, but in the year 1828 the king was petitioned to abrogate an admiralty order, then issued, prohibiting the free distribution of tracts in the navy.

Outside of the navy a Methodist clergyman, George Charles Smith, established prayer-meetings for seamen on the Thames at London. The first recorded prayer-meeting was held on the brig " Friendship" on June 22, 1814. These prayer-meetings multiplied until on Mar. 23, 1817, the first

bethel flag-indicating that divine s. Work in service would be held on board shipthe Mer- was unfurled by Captain Hindulph of

chant Ma- South Shields, England. The Port nine. of London Society, organized Mar. 18,

1818, was the first regular seamen's society in England formed for the specific purpose of preaching to seamen. Its first meeting-place was on a ship of three hundred tons and Smith was the first chaplain. Nov. 12, 1819, The Bethel Union Society was formed to establish unity of purpose and action between various seamen's societies in Great Britain, formed by the exertions of chaplain Smith. An amalgamation of these two societies produced the British and Foreign Sailors' Society, international and interdenominational in its plan.