A History of the American Episcopal Church

A HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN EPISCOPAL CHURCH by THE REVEREND WILLIAM WILSON MANROSS. Originally published in 1935. PREFACE: THE AIM o this history is to show the American Episcopal Church as a living institution, and to supply a connected nar rative o its development, both internally and in its relations with the society in which it is situated. Such an object neces sarily involves some lessening o the emphasis placed upon dramatic incidents and striking personalities, but I hope that the inherent interest of the Churchs story, which I have endeavored to bring out as fully as possible, will more than compensate for this loss, if it is a loss. As to sources, I have relied rather extensively upon secondary authorities in preparing chapters one, two, and eight, and for a few details elsewhere. Otherwise, the history has been based entirely upon a study of original sources, though in this class I include a large number of contemporary biographies which are not primary sources in the technical sense, but which generally represent the nearest approach that can now be made to their subjects. The excuse for using secondary sources in the chapters mentioned is that they deal with subjects which have been ex haustively treated by previous historians, and it seemed advisable to devote the time available for research to an investigation of the extensive portions of the history where a fresh approach appeared to be necessary. Parts of chapter nine are based on a sketch of Bishop White which I prepared for the Bishop White Prayer Book Society while already engaged in the present work, but that sketch was the result of a careful study of all the available sources. The secondary sources to which I am most indebted are W. S. Perrys The History of the American Episcopal Church., Volume I, for the first part of chapter one and for most of the material in chapter two which was not taken from William Bradfords His tory of Plymouth Plantation or John Winthrops Journal, F. L. Hawkss Contributions to the Ecclesiastical History of the United States Volume I, for the portion of chapter one dealing with Virginia and A. L. Crosss Anglican Episcopate and the American Colonies for chapter eight. All other secondary works consulted, together with a portion of the original sources, are listed in the bibliography. Acknowledgments are due to Professor Frank Gavin of The General Theological Seminary, without whose advice and en couragement the work would never have been undertaken to JDr. Lewis C. Washburn of Christ Church, Philadelphia, the librarians of General Seminary, the New York Historical Society, and the Wisconsin State Historical Society for their courteous co operation, especially in permitting the use of valuable manuscripts to Professor H. C. Robbins of The General Theological Sem inary, who has kindly read over the later chapters of the book and offered many helpful suggestions to Miss Mary Beattie Brady of the Religious Motion Picture Foundation, Mr. F. L. Olmsted of the General Convention Committee of the Diocese of New Jersey, The Spirit of Missions, and Mr. Alexander B. Andrews of Raleigh, N. C., for friendly assistance in obtaining illustrations and to my friend, Miss Catharine Wisner, for invaluable assistance in reading proofs. WILLIAM W. MANROSS October, 1935.