Similarly, the House of Bishops is associated with a House of Deputies in General Conven tion. The lower House is composed of four clerical and four lay delegates (communicants) from each diocese and one clerical and one lay delegate from each missionary jurisdiction. Either House may originate legislation, but con current action is necessary to make it valid. The House of Bishops has a veto on the action of the lower House. All bishops are equal in rank. The senior by consecration acts as pri mate or °Presiding Bishop.' All general dis ciplinary regulations are comprised in the Con stitution and Canons of the General Convention. In addition to these, each diocese has its own constitution and canons.
A general convention was held in 1789. Bishop Provoost and some delegates objected to the recognition of Bishop Seabury, but the objection was overcome by the influence of Bishop White. As Bishop Provoost was absent, Bishop Seabury and Bishop White constituted the first House of Bishops. Their chief work was the revision of the Prayer Book All pro posed changes emanated from the bishops and, with one exception, were ratified by the House of Deputies. The two bishops formed an effec tive combination. To quote an apt comment of Bishop John Williams: 'For the results of that memorable Convention, in which so much was gained — may we not say so little lost? — we are indebted under the over-ruling wisdom of the Holy Spirit to the steadfast gentleness of Bishop White and the gentle steadfastness of Bishop Seabury.' The Prayer Book adopted in 1789 (to which a few additional offices were later added) con tinued in use for over a century. •In 1892 a second revision was completed when the Prayer Book was given its present form. This Prayer Book, which contains all the public offices of the Church, is the best evidence of the doctrinal and ecclesiastical position of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Canons give regulations for practical administration, discipline and clerical education. They give a fair idea of the Church's methods of working. The Prayer Book alone can suggest the faith and spirit which constitute her life.
History during the 19th For 50 years the Episcopal Church was a small body. It could do little more than assert its right to exist in the face of hostile prejudice. It was suspected for its English antecedents and disliked for its assertion — distinct though timid — of ancient ecclesiastical principles in the midst of prevalent Protestantism. It was per
force apologetically apostolic. It was inevitable, however, that it should gain a firm footing in American life, when its representatives were such clergy as its first bishops and such laity as Washington, Jefferson, Hamilton, Franklin and two-thirds of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. For 50 years the most conspicu ous figure in the Church was that of Bishop White. His episcopate (1787-1836) was the most important the has seen. His wise and gentle guidance of his own people, his fair ness and charity toward all others, did much to protect the Church in the critical period of its history.
There were other strong men in the House of Bishops. John Henry Hobart of New York ( l775-1830) had the most forcible personality. He was, as his epitaph states, "the able and in trepid Champion of the Church of God." He was enthusiastically loyal to the principles of his Church and saw no wisdom or charity in hesi tating to avow them. "Evangelical Truth and Apostolic Order" was his motto. No Church man of this time did so much to make explicit the principles of Anglican Catholicism.
Alexander Viets Griswold (1766-1843) of the Eastern Diocese (all New England except Con necticut) was influential in a different way. He possessed New England virtues, a serious piety, patient hardihood and frugality and a great capacity for hard work. His faithful ministra tions in all parts of his immense diocese did much to dispel Puritan supersition concerning Episcopacy and the episcopal order.
Philander Chase of New Hampshire (1775 1852), first bishop of Ohio and later of Illinois, labored indefatigably as a missionary in many States. He was founder of Kenyon College and Bexley Hall, Gambier, Ohio, and Jubilee Col lege, Peoria, Ill. For both of these he ob tained funds in England. He was of an eccen tric character, but a man of determination. His one aim was to spread the knowledge of his own two treasures, the Bible and the Prayer Book. These men were typical American Churchmen of the first half of the 19th century. their work indicates very fairly the kind of work done by their fellow-Churchmen in all parts of the country.