The Life of Bishop Berkeley (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1861. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER NINTH. Mr. Berkeley appears in his character of a Christian Philanthropist--Condition of the British possessions in North America--A crippled Church Efforts for better things--Difficulties to be anticipated--Mr. Berkeley made a Dean--An important scheme developed--The Summer Islands and the College of St. Paul's--Why this location was chosen--Shakespeare's "vext Bermoothes"--The living machinery for the workObjections answered--" Westward the Star of Empire takes its way." E have now reached a stage in Mr. SLM Berkeley's history in which he appears before the world as a Christian philanthropist, who was not only ready to arrange a scheme of benevolence for others to carry into operation, but as one willing and anxious to go forth as the leader of the van, enduring privations and toil for the cause of his Divine Lord. At the time of which we are speaking, the British possessions in North America, extendTHE CHURCH IN AMERICA. 113 ing from the St. Lawrence to the tropics, had risen to great importance, but the interests of the Christian religion had by no means kept pace with the advance of wealth and civilization. It is true, the Church of England had done something, but she was so hampered by the State, that no Bishops had been sent out to take the oversight of the clergy, to administer Confirmation, and to exercise discipline, and hence she failed to accomplish much good; and she was receiving a constant rebuke in the zealous labors of the missionaries of Papal Rome, who, in the French and Spanish colonies, were rearing up their religious institutions, and putting forth every effort to inculcate their peculiar views. Mr. Berkeley had long thought of all this with regret and mortification, and he resolved, by God's help, to do what he could to promote the...