CHAPTER IV.

'St. Michael's Parish established-Rev. Mr. GardenSalaries of the Clergy-Pinckneyan Lecture-Rev. Mr. Clarke-St. Michael's Church-Clergy Society -Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts-Parochial Libraries-St. Philip's Parish-Rev. Mr. Bullman-Biographical SketchesParochial Registers.

CHARLES-TOWN, being the emporium of an extensive and flourishing Province, and drawing into its port a considerable part of the commerce of the adjoining Provinces, was rapidly increasing in size and population. The General Assembly found it necessary for the civil, as well as religious accommodation of its inhabitants, to divide the town into two Parishes, and to build a new Church. An Act for this purpose, was passed June 14, 1751. That part of the town south of the middle of Broad-street, was erected into a Parish, and called St. Michael's. The Parish Church was directed to be built, "on or near the place where the old Church of St. Philip formerly stood."*

The fourth Annual Meeting of the Clergy was held, April 8th, 1752; at which ten Clergymen were present, and four were reported as absent. The Sermon was preached by the Rev. William Langhorne, Rector of St. Bartholomew's.

The increasing infirmities of the Rev. Mr. Garden, made him desirous of resigning his laborious duties, and * See Appendix, I. 7.

of returning to his native Country, to pass the remainder of his days amidst the scenes of his youth, and, in the calm of retirement, to make preparation for the great change which he felt to be fast approaching. He therefore gave notice to the Vestry, that he intended to resign the Rectorship of St. Philip's, on or before the 25th of March, 1754. Mr. Keith, the Assistant-Minister, likewise gave notice, May 2, 1753, of his intention to resign immediately. The Vestry requested the Bishop of London, to send out two Clergymen in their room; and they likewise applied to some gentlemen in London upon the same subject. In their Letter to the Bishop, they gave the following honourable testimony to Mr. Garden's character:

"We should be greatly wanting in duty, should we omit to say, that Mr. Garden, during his residence of thirty years and more among us, has behaved with becoming piety, zeal and candour, in his sacred character and function, which he hath exercised with unwearied labour and diligence, to the glory of God and the edification of Souls: And we can with truth aver, he hath been a good Shepherd of Christ's Flock."

The fifth Annual Meeting of the Clergy was held, May 2d, 1753: ten Clergymen attended, and four were absent. The Sermon was preached by the Rev. John Rowan.

In consequence of the applications of the Vestry, the Rev. Richard Clarke, A. M. and the Rev. John Andrews, LL.B. arrived from England, for the Ministry of St. Philip's Church, and the Rev. Mr. Garden resigned, October 29th, 1753.* Mr. Clarke was or

* The following is the Deed of Resignation :

"South-Carolina, S.S.

To all Christian People to whom this present writing shall come: I, Alexander Garden, Clerk, and late Rector of the Parish Church of St. Philip, in Charles-Town, in the Province aforesaid, Send Greeting in our Lord God Everlasting Know Ye, that I, Alexander Garden, for divers good and reasonable causes and considerations me moving, have clearly resigned and released unto the Churchwardens and Vestry of the said Parish, in the name and behalf of themselves and all the other Inhabitants of the said Parish, who are of the Religion of the Church of England, and do conform to the same, the free, and am

dained a Deacon, by Dr. Hoadley, Bishop of Winchester, May 5, 1746; and Priest, by Dr. Pearce, Bishop of Bangor, Sept. 23, 1750. Mr. Andrews, of St. MaryHall, Oxford; received Deacon's Orders from Dr. Benson, Bishop of Gloucester, Dec. 3, 1750, and Priest's, from Dr. Secker, Bishop of Oxford, Dec. 24, 1752.

On Sunday, March 31, 1754, Mr. Garden preached his Farewell Sermon to a crowded Audience at St. Philip's Church, from Rom. X. i. This discourse was published at the request of the Vestry. The following is the concluding Address:

"I come now to the last and hardest part of my present task, viz. to bid Farewell to you, my beloved Congregation; Farewell, at least for a Season, or if the Will of God be so, 'till we meet in the eternal World, and as I hope we shall, in the blessed regions of Glory and Immortality.

"It was always in my heart to live and die with you; but as by the will of God, I have been often visited with sicknesses of divers Sorts, which have so reduced me in my advanced years, as almost wholly to disable me from the Pen, and greatly from the Pulpit; how could I, with a safe conscience, pretend to continue in a Ministry, received from the Lord,-knowing myself so incapable to fulfil it? No, this was impossible for me to do. And therefore, on this event, it soon became the desire of my heart, that I might see you

ple, and clear disposition of the said Rectory, together with all the right, demand, or title, which I might, should or ought to claim or demand, by any manner of means, for, touching, or in any wise concerning the said Rectory of the Parish Church of St. Philip, in Charles-Town; by reason either of nomination, assignation or election, at any time heretofore to me made, granted or assigned. And I, the said Alexander Garden, Do by these Presents Promise and grant, that at no times hereafter, I shall make any Claim or Claims, Challenge or Demand to the said-Rectory, or to any Salary, Fees or Berquisites whatsoever appertaining thereunto, which might have grown due or payable unto me, by reason of the aforesaid Rectory of the said Parish Church of St. Philip in Charles-Town. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal, the twenty-ninth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty-three. A. GARDEN. [Seal]

Sealed and Delivered

in the presence of JOHN REMINGTON.

well and worthily provided with a Successor, to take up the important Charge of your Souls, before I was either called off to the silent grave, or wholly disabled from all the Duties of the Pastoral Function amongst you. This desire, by the means and good offices of a worthy member or two of this Congregation, God has been pleased to grant me; mine eyes have now seen you well and worthily provided, and therefore with the greater Pleasure, I now withdraw behind the Curtain, to pass such remainder as God shall be pleased to add to my days, in beloved Privacy and Retirement; where I hope to enjoy a better state of health, serve my God in tranquillity, and do all the good I can to my fellow-creatures.

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Many happy years have I lived amongst you, and in as much Honor and Esteem, as any Minister can expect, wish for, or desire: Not owing to any Merit or Desert in me, but to the Goodness of God, who has given me favour in your eyes. For, what though I have not wilfully either neglected or deserted you at any time, or omitted to declare the whole Will of God to you to the best of my knowledge and capacity? What though I have laid no stumbling block before you; either by Doctrine or Example; have deceived no man, corrupted no man, wronged or injured no man by Word or Deed; but from the ardent desire of my heart, as knowing the Account I must soon render to my great Master, have studied and laboured to promote the Salvation of all? Yet what, I say, of all these, intermixed, as they have always been, with so many faults, failings and Imperfections? Can there be any merit in them; or any the least subject matter of boasting? No, No, (my Brethren) no such thing. what competent degree or measure soever, I have discharged any of the duties of my function, I humbly speak with St. Paul, not I, but the Grace of God which was with me: Only my faults and failings,

In

weaknesses and Imperfections, are all my own: No mighty matters surely of merit or boasting.

""Tis true, some rubs and reproaches I have met with, in the course of my Ministry, never indeed, from the more knowing, virtuous, discreet, and prudent amongt you; but always from the unruly and ruder sort, arising either from their contempt of the Ministry, in general, or, from my adherence to the Laws and Rules of the Church of England, in particular, or from a consciousness of their irregular lives and conversations finding no favour in my eyes. But these I always regarded as perquisites inseparable from the Ministerial Office; a little patience, and they all quickly vanish away!

"You know (my Brethren) I abhor flattery; it is sinful at all times, and would be unpardonable from this sacred place; I am under no temptation to it; and therefore shall speak forth only the words of truth and soberness, concerning the Inhabitants of CharlesTown, when I bear this testimony of them, viz. that however, as in all other Communities, there are too many bad Individuals amongst them, too many despisers of Religion and Virtue, yet generally speaking, the more substantial and knowing part, are a sober, charitable, and religiously disposed people. Nor out of this character, do I exclude Dissenters, of any denomination; with whom I have always lived in all peace and friendship; and who have always treated me with Civility and decent regard. Would God, that there was no Schism, no Dissention among us; but that all were of one Mind and one Mouth; all united in the same Communion of the Church of England: But if this may not be, to their own Master, they who dissent, must stand or fall; let us live in Peace, friendship and charity towards them. My hope, and earnest desire of my heart, and prayer to God for them also is, that they may be saved. And moreover, I take this opportunity, thus publicly to declare, that there is neither Man, Wo

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