Brethren of the Convention:

        I now lay before you my annual address. After the last Convention, absence from home and the effects of a painful operation, prevented me from entering upon the discharge of my duties, until the month of September. Since then, my official acts have been as follows:

        1860, September 27th, Thursday, Forenoon--At St. Stephen's Church, Ridgeway, Fairfield District, I preached and confirmed four white persons.

        September 28th Friday, Forenoon--Confirmed in private one white person.

        September 29th, Saturday--Preached in St. John's Church, Winnsboro.

        September 30th, Sunday, Forenoon--Preached and confirmed nine white persons. Afternoon--Divine service, Rev. Mr. Hutcheson preached. At night, at the plantation of Mr. Theodore DuBose, preached and confirmed six colored persons. It was very gratifying throughout the visitation of this parish, to see the large congregations, and observe the growing interest in religion. It is the fair promise of a still increasing religious life.

        October 6th, Saturday, at night--Chester--Divine service, Rev. C. Bruce Walker preached.

        October 7th, Sunday, Forenoon--Consecrated to the service of Almighty God, St. Mark's Church. Rev. Mr. McCollough preached the sermon. Present, Rev. Messrs. Olmsted, McCollough, C. B. Walker, and Obeir. The Holy Communion was administered. At Night--Divine service, Rev. Mr. Obeir preached. I addressed the congregation on confirmation, and confirmed six white persons.

        October 9th, Tuesday. Visited the neighborhood of Ebenezer. There are here some families, very solicitous to have among them the regular services of our Church. Up to this time, they have not been able to obtain them. I hope, however, that soon there will be formed among them, a regular Episcopal congregation with stated services.

        October 13th, Saturday--Yorkville--Church of the Good Shepherd --At night--Rev. Mr. Olmsted read the service, and I preached.

        October 14th, Sunday, Forenoon--Prevented from attending

Divine service by the heavy rain. At night, preached and confirmed one white person.

        October 21st, Sunday, Forenoon--in Grace Church, Camden, ordained to the Order of Deacons, Mr. LeGrand F. Guerry. Rev. Mr. Trapier preached the sermon.

        October 31st, Wednesday--Edgefield District. At Mrs. Brook's Chapel, I lectured to the negroes, and confirmed four of them.

        November 2nd, Friday, Forenoon--Abbeville. Divine service-- I preached to the congregation. At night, Rev. Mr. Howe preached.

        November 3rd, Saturday. Divine service--Rev. Mr. Howe preached. At night, Rev. Mr. Cornish preached.

        November 4th, Sunday, Forenoon. Consecrated the new Church to the service of Almighty God. Rev. R. W. Barnwell preached the sermon. Present and assisting, Rev. Messrs. B. Johnson, Howe, Habersham, A. H. Cornish, and R. W. Barnwell. Afternoon-- Rev. Mr. Habersham preached At night--Rev. Mr. Howe preached. I lectured on confirmation and confirmed two white persons.

        November 7th, Wednesday, Forenoon--Anderson. Consecrated the new Church to the service of Almighty God, by the name of Grace Church. I preached the sermon, Rev. Messrs. B. Johnson, Howe, and A. H. Cornish assisting. Afternoon, Rev. Mr. Johnson preached. At night, Rev. Mr. Howe preached. The little congregation at this place, has long been laboring and praying for a Church to be established among them. Their prayer is now granted. They have a neat and even a beautitiful Church edifice, a regular congregation, and stated services. These are not so frequent as could be desired, but are very acceptable to themselves. May God prosper and bless them.

        November 9th, Friday. Visited the Church in Newberry, but from the state of the weather and other things, did not preach.

        November 10th, Saturday--Laurens. At night, Rev. C. B. Walker preached, and I confirmed five white persons. Present, Rev. Messrs. C. B. Walker, Howe, and McCollough.

        November 11th, Sunday--Forenoon--Divine service and Holy Communion. Rev. Mr. Howe preached. Afternoon, Rev. Mr. McCollough preached. At night, I preached. The congregations here are very full, and showed a lively interest still existing in the Church, but I am sorry to have to say, that both here and at Newberry, they have been for some time past, and are still, destitute of ministerial services. This we hoped to have remedied before this time, but have been disappointed. May God raise up true and faithful laborers in His vineyard.

        November 13th, Tuesday--Unionville. Divine service--Rev. Mr. Howe preached, and I confirmed one white person. At night, I preached. Present, Rev. Messrs. McCollough and Howe.

        November 14th, Wednesday--Glenn Springs. Rev. Mr. McCollough preached, and I confirmed eight white persons. Present, Rev. Messrs. C. Jones, D. D., McCollough, and Howe.

        November 15th, Thursday. Visited Spartanburg. I observed here with great pleasure, that the Church walls which had so long remained almost completed, were now about to be finished entirely; and that the Vestry had determined upon the completion of the entire Church at once. This is a great step forward, and must result in much good.

        November, 25th, Sunday--Aiken. Forenoon--Divine service was held in St. Thaddeus' Church. Rev. J. H. Cornish read the service, and I preached. Afternoon--Rev. Mr. Cornish read again, and I lectured on confirmation and confirmed seven white persons.

        December 16th, Sunday--St. Mark's, Clarendon. Divine service-- Rev. Mr. Johnson, of Canada, preached.

        1861. January 6th, Sunday--Church Flats, St. Paul's.-- Preached and confirmed three white and thirteen colored persons. There are here some of the remains of one of the oldest Churches in the Diocese, but the congregation had entirely passed away, and the neighborhood been destitute of religious services. Chiefly through the activity and zeal of the Rev. Joseph Seabrook, a new Church has been built in sight of where the old one stood, in which a congregation assembles from the neighborhood, to which Mr. Seabrook ministers. This congregation is regular, increasing, and exhibiting a growing religious interest. May God make this new enterprise a blessing to both the Rector and the people.

        January 9th, Wednesday--Forenoon. Preached at Wiltown, Rev. Mr. Seabrook reading the service.

        January 13th, Sunday--Forenoon. Preached at Combahee.-- Afternoon--Preached at the Chapel of Rev. Stephen Elliott, to a large colored congregation, and confirmed thirty-four of them.

        January 20th, Sunday. Preached at Sheldon Church, and confirmed two white persons.

        January 27th, Sunday--Forenoon. In Grace Church, Camden, admitted to the Holy Order of Deacons, Mr. John H. Elliott, Rev. Mr. Reed preaching the sermon. Present, Rev. Messrs. Reed, Davis, and J. S. Hanckel.

        February 10th, Sunday--Afternoon. In St. John's Chapel, Hampstead, preached and confirmed eight white and nine colored persons.

        February 17th, Sunday--In St. Andrew's Parish. Forenoon-- In Magwood Chapel, preached and confirmed five colored persons. Afternoon--In Magnolia Chapel, Rev. Mr. Campbell preached, and I lectured to the candidates and confirmed one colored person.

        March 3rd, Sunday--Claremont. Forenoon--At the Church of

the Holy Cross, preached and confirmed six white and twenty-three colored persons.

        March 4th, Monday. Confirmed in private one sick white person.

        March 10th, Sunday--Forenoon. In Grace Church, Camden, preached and ordained to the Order of Priests, Rev B. B. Sams; Rev. Messrs. Paul Trapier, and J. S. Hanckel assisting.

        March 17th, Sunday--South Santee. Preached in the Parish Church, and confirmed eighty-four colored persons.

        March 24th, Sunday--North Santee. Forenoon--Preached in the Parish Church, and confirmed two white persons.

        March 28th, Thursday--Georgetown. Preached in the Parish Church.

        March 29th, Good Friday. Preached again and confirmed five white persons and one colored.

        March 31st, Easter--Prince Federick's. Forenoon--Preached in the Parish Church. Afternoon--Preached at a plantation of Gov. Allston and confirmed one colored person.

        April 3rd, Wednesday--All Saint's, Waccamaw. Preached in the Parish Church, and confirmed three white persons.

        April 4th Thursday. On the plantation of Mr. Plowden Weston, attended at the catechising of the children. All things here, bear the evidence of great attention to the religious culture of the colored people. The answers of the children when catechized, the number of hymns which they repeated and sang, and their whole appearance, indicated that they had been very carefully instructed. The proprietor of these servants has showed his sense of responsibility, by securing for them the exclusive services of a gentleman, who is now a candidate for Orders, as Catechist and general instructor. Their progress so far, fully proves the benefits of such a system. May there be increased efforts every where for the salvation of these persons committed to our trust.

        April 5th, Friday. At the plantation of Col. Belin on Sandy Island, preached and confirmed eighteen colored persons.

        April 6th, Saturday. At night--On the plantation of Mr. John H. Tucker, confirmed nine colored persons.

        April 7th, Sunday--Forenoon. In the lower Church preached and confirmed eight colored persons. Afternoon--At the plantation of Chancellor Dunkin, Divine service was held, and Rev. Mr. Glennie and myself addressed the negroes.

        April 14th, Sunday--Forenoon. In St. Philip's Church, Charleston, preached on the occasion of the surrender of Fort Sumter.

        April 21st, Sunday--Sumterville. Forenoon--Preached in the Church of the Holy Comforter, and confirmed five white persons.

        April 28th, Sunday--Forenoon. In St. Philip's, Charleston, preached and confirmed seventeen white persons and one colored. Afternoon--At Christ Church, Shepherdboro, preached and confirmed

five white persons. At night, at St. Stephen's Chapel, Rev. Mr. Dehon preached, and I confirmed six white persons.

        May 4th, Sunday--Grace Church, Charleston. Forenoon-- Preached and confirmed eight white persons, one of them belonging to St. Michael's congregation. At night, in Church of the Holy Communion, Rev. James H. Elliott preached, and I confirmed fifteen white persons.

        May 26th, Sunday--Forenoon--Society Hill. Preached and confirmed four colored persons. Present, Rev. Mr. Kidney, the Rector, and Rev. Dr. Curtis of North Carolina. Afternoon-- Divine service, Rev. Dr. Curtis preached.

        May 29th, Wednesday--Forenoon. In St. David's Church, Cheraw, Rev. Mr. Kidney read the service, and I preached.-- Afternoon--Rev. Mr. Kidney preached, and I confirmed three white persons.

        June 2nd, Sunday--Mar's Bluff. The Rector, Rev. Mr. Moore, read the service and I preached.

        June 9th, Sunday--Forenoon. In Grace Church, Camden, I preached and confirmed four white persons. Rev. Paul Trapier read the service. The whole number of persons confirmed since the last Convention, is, white, 127; colored, 221; in all 358.

        I have ordained to Deacon's Orders, Mr. LeGrand F. Guerry, and Mr. John H. Elliott; and to Priests' Orders, Rev. B. B. Sams.

        Of the twelve Candidates for Holy Orders reported to the Convention last year, two have been ordained, and one, Mr. C. E. Leverett, has been compelled from continued ill health, to withdraw his name from the list. There are now thirteen, of whom ten are members of our Theological Seminary. Thos. C. Evans, P. F. Stevens, W. C. Guerry, John Johnson, W. P. DuBose, A. R. Walker, W. W. Patrick, T. F. Gadsden, X. Y. Anderson, John W. Motte, D. P. Hay, Robert W. Wilson, and D. D. Rosa.

        I have received notice of the deposition from the ministry of Thos. N. Ralston, of the Diocese of Kentucky, under Canon 5th of Digest of 1859, Title 2nd; and of John G. Downing, of the Diocese of Georgia, under the same. Also, of the suspension for six months of the Rev. G. W. Mayer, of the Diocese of Virginia, under Canon of Virginia.

        I have received into the Diocese the Rev. J. H. Quinby, from the Diocese of Texas.

        I have consecrated the following Churches : St. Mark's Church, Chester; Trinity Church, Abbeville; and Grace Church, Anderson.

        Account of Diocesan and Missionary funds in my hands:--Remaining over from last Convention, $801.12; Received since that time, from the Advancement Society, $300; Collection of the first day of the Convention, $40.50; Trinity Church, Society Hill, $72.15;

All Saint's, Waccamaw, $80; St. Helena Church, Beaufort, $131.01; Ladies' Society, Beaufort, $45.50; Edisto, $20; John's Island, $100; St. Paul's, Charleston, $40; Walterboro', $20; Grace Church, Camden, $216.61; Laurens, $5.50; Grace Church, Charleston, $127.25; St. John's, Richland, $9; St. Philip's, Charleston, $45; Mr. Charles Sinkler, $100; Sumterville, $2; Georgetown, $5; Prince Federick's, Peedee, $20.50; Prince George, Winyaw, $12; Christ Church, Wilton, $60; St. Thomas and St. Dennis, $10; St. Helena Island, $20; in all, $2283.14.

        Expended of these funds since the last Convention: Orangeburg, $200; Rev. Mr. McCollough, $25; Church in Anderson, $200; Rev. B. Johnson, $60; Rev. A. Moore, $100; Church in Unionville, $150; Rev. Mr. Olmsted, $100; Rev. Mr. Green, $50; in all, $885; leaving in my hands, $1398.14.

        Account of Theological Seminary funds in my hands; Remaining over from last Convention, $340.30; received from Rev. B. B. Sams, $50; from Mr. Plowden Weston, $333; in all, $723.30. Expended of these funds since that time: For house rent, $60; Mr. LeGrand Guerry, $50; For buildings, $107.20; Mr. Patrick, $75; Mr. W. Guerry, $105; For stove, $4.50; in all, $401.07: leaving in my hands, $321.60.

        Having now, beloved brethren, brought before you my official acts for the past year, I must call your attention to more anxious and thrilling thoughts. We are in the midst of war and its consequences. We are looking out every day for exciting events.-- Our hearth-stones are up-turned. Our brothers and our children are in the field. Our youths with whom hitherto we have only sported have sprung up into armed men. This is not confined to a few; it is spread throughout the land. There is not a hamlet where it is not heard; there is not a heart which it does not reach. We are filled with deep emotions and trying expectations. But this is no time for weakness or for fear. A country was never so saved. We are called upon for manly resolution and for Christian trust and hope. Our cause is right and our God is true. Let us show the world that we can trust both. Let us show them too that we are Southern men, and claim independent opinions and a sustaining individuality. We are not dependent upon circumstances or combinations or numbers for our inward strength, but can stand erect in personal character, in the sense of integrity and the fear of God. Before Him indeed let us humble ourselves, confess our sins, implore his pardon, and supplicate his grace and spiritual benediction. We have done so. We thank God, that by the appointment of the chief magistrate of our Confederacy, our whole country and people have come before him in supplication and prayer. Let us continue thus always to seek his face and depend upon his power and his grace. In all our trials and the convulsions

of the world, let us lift up our hearts to Him and hear Him saying unto us, be still, and know that I am God. In that absorbing truth let our souls rest. Towards our fellow-men also, let us cultivate a feeling humanity based upon Christian love, stirring up ever in our hearts that charity which thinketh no evil but rejoiceth. in the truth.

        It is my duty to call your attention particularly to the condition in which we are now placed as a Church. The principles of association and union, than which none are more influential, impelled us into the General Convention of the United States. With these brethren we lived long in Christian harmony and advancing Christian life. We thank God for the blessings bestowed by Him upon the united Church. We part with pain; but are compelled to consider and act upon our present relations. The question now is, have we parted or are we not still in constitutional union with that body? This is what I must now consider. At first it was thought by some that the secession of the State necessarily carried with it the secession of the Church, but this can hardly be allowed, unless there be some compact to that end, entered into by the Church herself. She is intrinsically a spiritual polity. She was so constituted by her Divine Lord, and for many years maintained that position alone. But she is capable of union with other ecclesiastical bodies, and with the State itself. Necessarily, however, it must be only by her own consent, and she must preserve her independent spirituality as a Church. The effect, therefore, of the action of the State upon the Church, or of confederated dioceses upon a single diocese, must be by compact or constitutional law. In England there was a union between the Church and State. One of the laws of this united kingdom was that no subject of a foreign government should exercise spiritual jurisdiction in Great Britian. Thus when the United States were acknowledged as an independent government, the clergy who were the subjects of that government became necessarily separated from the English Church, and excluded from spiritual jurisdiction therein or subjection thereunto. The same principle lying, I think, deep in the bosoms of those who originated the constitution of the General Convention was wrought into that document, and the principle is there set forth, and is, I think, more thoroughly incorporated in it even than expressed, that none but a citizen of the United States shall be a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States. We are, of course, so no longer, not entitled to spiritual jurisdiction therein, nor subject to the government thereof. This may indeed, be said to be only formal or constitutional reasoning. It is so. But this is the precise and only aspect of the subject presented to us. There is no principle of spiritual life involved, there is no article of the

faith at issue. It is simply a question of constitutional confederation, and our conclusion is that the condition of confederation being broken the confederation exists no longer. (I am speaking of constitutions and constitutional relations, and this is the subject before us.) It has been broken also by actions without ourselves as a Church. The course of Divine Providence in the entire change of the government of which we are subjects has determined this for us. We are, therefore, a free and independent diocese. We are so too without sin or schism, and our way is open before us to do what we deem best for ourselves and promoting the glory of God. Being myself convinced that our best interests, I think I may fairly say, our actual necessities require of us an independent Southern organization as a Church, I recommend the election of three clerical and three lay delegates, as has been already done by our sister Dioceses to meet in Convention in Montgomery on the third day of next month.