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37,225

28,659

844 1192 2897

20,4019408(197902968 44171 405 55 23| 158]

The Return from Cape Breton is not included in this-being inaccurate.

Sandima

23

nians.

Quakers.

Sweedenborgeions.

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Jews.

Antimoni

ans.

Unitarians.

Doubtful or

p. no religion.

By a law of the Province, passed in the year 1758, it is enacted "That the sacred rites and ceremonies of Divine worship, according to the liturgy of the church established by the laws of England, shall be deemed the fixed form of worship, and the place wherein such liturgy shall be used, shall be respected and known by the name of the Church of England, as by law established." "Provided nevertheless, and it is the true intent and meaning of this act, that

Protestants dissenting from the Church of England, whether they be Calvinists, Lutherans, Quakers, or under what denomination soever, shall have free liberty of conscience, and may erect and build meeting-houses for public worship, and may choose and elect ministers, for the carrying on divine service, and administration of the sacraments, according to their several opinions; and all contracts made between their ministers and their congregations, for the support of the ministry, are hereby declared valid, and shall have their full force and effect, according to the tenor and conditions thereof: and all such dissenters shall be excused from any rates or taxes to be made and levied, for the support of the Established Church of England." By subsequent acts, the Governor and Council are empowered to establish the limits of parishes, and the parishioners are authorised at a certain fixed period, to choose churchwardens and vestry men. The parishioners at their annual meeting, may vote money for the support of the minister and church, which sum,so granted, is to be assessed by the church-wardens and vestry, in two equal assessments, payable half yearly. A Justice of the Peace may grant a warrant of distress, against such as refuse to pay their proportion of the rate after one month's notice, and an appeal lies from the assessment to the Court of Sessions. The Church of England is supported in this country, by the benevolence and liberality of the Society for propogating religion in foreign parts. This society was originally incorporated in the year 1701, for the support of an orthodox body of Clergy in His Majesty's Colonies, and the general diffusion of christian know

ledge among the recent settlements of North America, and accordingly its operations were for many years confined to this quarter of the globe. Previous to the separation of the thirteen colonies from the parent country, the whole of those extensive Provinces participated in the benefits derived from the exertions of the society, and the very existence of the Episcopal church in those states, at the present moment, in justly to be attributed to its early and long continued efforts. But since their independence, its operations in North America have been necessarily limited to Canada, Nova-Scotia, New-Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland. The churches have been erected partly by subscription, and partly by funds belonging to His Majesty, to which the society has contributed. They are in general handsome wooden buildings, well finished and painted, and add very much to the appearance of the country. The clergy of this church are about twenty-one in number, and are under the control of a Bishop, whose jurisdiction extends over the Province of Nova Scotia, New-Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Bermuda. The introduction of Bishops into America was about the year 1750, and originated in the circumstance of several nonjuring clergymen, in the interest of the Pretender, having passed into the Colonies from Great Britain, whose influence it was necessary to counteract and destroy. This project, however, was no sooner laid aside by the British Cabinet, than the society, from different motives, took it under their patronage, and considering the chief obstruction to it as arising from a supposed jealousy in the Colonies, that introducing ecclesias

tical jurisdiction among them might interfere with their rights, they stated

1st. That no coercive power is desired over the laity in any case, but only a power to regulate the behaviour of the clergy, who are in Episcopal orders, and to correct and punish them, according to the law of the Church of England, in case of misbehaviour or neglect of duty, with such power as the Commissaries have exercised.

2d. That nothing is desired for such bishops that may in the least interfere with the dignity, or authority, or interest of the Governor, or any other officer of state. Probates of Wills, license for Marriages, &c. to be left in the hands where they are, and no share in the temporal government is desired for Bishops.

3d. The maintenance of such Bishops not to be at the charge of the Colonies.

4th. No Bishops are intended to be settled in places, where the government is in the hands of dissenters, as in New-England, &c. but authority to be given only to ordain clergy for such Church of England congregations as are amongst them; and to inspect into the manners and behaviour of such clergy, and to confirm the members thereof.

The progress of Episcopacy, so long as these declarations are adhered to, will not be viewed with jealousy or alarm in Nova-Scotia; and the tolerant laws of the country are of a nature to produce great harmony between all classes of dissenters and the established church. The only subject that has occasioned any animosity, has been the exclusive privilege, claimed by the church clergy, to marry by li

cence. Marriages have been solemnized in three ways-by publication of banns, by licence, and by laymen commissioned for that purpose, in parishes where there were no officiating clergymen. These licences the Governors have always directed to the church clergy, and dissenters wishing to be placed upon an equal footing with ministers of the established church, procured an act of the Legislature to be passed for that purpose, in the year 1818, with a clause suspending its operation, until His Majesty's pleasure should be known. The representations, however, of the parties interested in preserving the little branch of church revenue, finally prevailed, the act was disallowed, and the practice still continues as heretofore. The salary of the clergy is in most cases £200 sterling, per annum. The following synopsis shews the extent of the establishment in Nova-Scotia :

NOVA-SCOTIA.

M. Missionary
C. Catechist

Stations of the Missionaries N. S. Schoolmstr. on National Salary.

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