heart was much engaged. When, amidst his own infirmities, he sometimes expended larger sums than usual on means calculated to benefit his own health, he would say, "Life has few charms for me, oppressed with the weight of this languid body, but upon the continuance of my life, how much the comfort of others depends; six of my dearest earthly objects the Lord has seen fit to cast entirely on my feeble efforts for support." He cheerfully sustained this burden, and out of the income which he received as a minister of Christ, beside the whole expense of the annual support of his father and sisters, he secured a life annuity for his father in the event of his surviving himself. Such proofs of filial gratitude and love are too exemplary and valuable to pass unnoticed. How truly did they exhibit that spirit which the Lord conferred upon him in an eminent degree, "seeking not his own things, but the things which are Jesus Christ's!"

While he was making arrangements for his removal from Fayetteville, he received a letter from the Rev. Benjamin Allen, of Philadelphia, urging him to pay a visit to Philadelphia, on his way to New-York. There was a vacancy in the United Churches in that city, for which Mr. Allen was very desirous he should be heard as a candidate. This vacancy, however, being filled before the departure of Mr. Bedell from Fayetteville, his attention was called by the same reverend brother to a plan for collecting a new congregation in the same city. In

reference to this plan, Mr. Bedell thus writes to him:

“ FAYETTEVILLE, March 26th, 1822.

"You speak of an effort to build one or two new Churches. I would suppose there might be room for them in Philadelphia, but as to their ever being built, that is quite another matter. Episcopalians generally have the reproach of being backward, and they have not the zeal and activity of other denominations, who seize on every opportunity. I hope it will not always be so. It is my intention, God willing, to be in Philadelphia on the first or second Sunday in May, and as I probably shall not find a situation altogether agreeable to my feelings immediately, I should be willing, after I have placed my family at Hudson, to return and spend a few weeks with you, for the sole purpose of giving what portion of leisure I may be master of, to the furtherance of any views in Philadelphia, which the friends of the Church may deem important. And whether it should ultimately be of any benefit to my. self or not, it would gratify me to assist, by any means in my power, the establishment of a new Church. I would be willing to go so far as to promise, that unless I should be engaged, and receive a call elsewhere, I would render such occasional assistance through the summer, as might tend, through the blessing of God, to the general good. Write to me, and let me know more distinctly what the views of the people are, in reference to any new establishment. Your affectionate friend and brother."

About the middle of May Mr. Bedell arrived in Philadelphia, and in a few days received an invitation to remain for a trial of his ministry there, from a few gentlemen who made themselves responsible for his pecuniary support for one year. In accepting this invitation he not only yielded all his cherished

wishes to find a sphere of duty for himself in NewYork, but also encountered the great sorrow which his father felt in this disappointment of his hopes. This is referred to in the following letter from him to Mr. Allen :

66

"NEW-YORK, May 27th, 1822.

My dear Brother:-After a very pleasant journey, we reached here on Saturday by 10 o'clock; and we had a very disagreeable scene to pass through, when my father learned that I had determined to go to Philadelphia. At nearly the age of the good old Patriarch, and in a similar state of feeling, he was almost ready to say, 'all these things are against me.' I trust, however, that he will find, as did the Patriarch, that God orders his dispensation for the best.

"The only fear that is entertained on any hand by my friends, is, that those engaged may get lukewarm and not go on. I do not fear it myself; and, under God, I am perfectly willing, in their good faith, to cast in my lot among them. I would say again, that it is extremely important that no time should be lost in commencing. The Lord be with you. Your friend and brother."

It is delightful to record, that this aged man did find his apprehensions disappointed, and lived for eight years more to witness the excellence, eminence and prosperity of his son, and to be fed and sustained by him too, as the Patriarch was by his Joseph in Egypt. In proceeding to relate the efforts of Mr. Bedell in this new sphere, we cannot better pursue our course of history from this time, which was the result of this year's labour in which he was thus engaged, than in his own language. The extracts

are from a sermon preached in St. Andrew's Church, June, 1833, ten years after the completion of the edifice, and the first collection of the congregation.

"After a residence of four years in one of the Carolinas, circumstances, the details of which would be uninteresting, induced me to seek a residence in a climate which I considered more congenial. In the month of May, 1822, I reached this city on my way to New-York, and being hospitably entertained in the family of my friend, the late Rev. Benjamin Allen, I was induced to remain and officiate for him in St. Paul's Church, which I did three times on Sunday.

"On Monday morning some of the leading members of that Church did me the favour to call, and request that I would delay my journey to New-York for a few days. To this proposition. assent was given; and on the Wednesday or Thursday following, the same gentlemen came with the proposition that I would establish my residence in this city for one year, they pledging themselves for my support, and to an effort to erect a Church of which I should be the pastor. This, of course, being entirely disengaged, was considered as a decided indication of Providence as to the course of duty, and the offer was accepted. During a few weeks subsequent to this, the Rev. Mr. Allen, with the gentlemen already alluded to, were actively engaged in ascertaining whether it would be practicable to build an additional Church. They had no doubts as to its necessity, and although much reproached and opposed by some who were not capable of taking large views as to the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom, they determined that they would carry on the work. After many meetings, in which the blessing of God was continually sought to aid their counsels and endeavours, it was determined to purchase this lot; and although the funds to which they could confidently look, did not, in the aggregate, amount to $10,000, the work was believed to be agreeable to the will of God, and in faith it was commenced.

The great burden of responsibility rested upon two gentlemen, one of whom departed this life before the work was completed, the other lives, and holds at this day one of the only two offices of honour which the Church can give. Delicacy forbids me to say more, yet I cannot leave the subject without this remark, that whatever of public service he may live to render, this house will be the proudest memorial of his public spirit, for it was carried on with the contingency of great personal sacrifice. The same may be said, though in a subordinate degree, of every individual concerned in this incipient undertaking. But they nobly persevered, and the result of their perseverance I need not at this time consider.

"On the 9th day of September, 1822, the corner-stone of this Church was laid by the Rt. Rev. Bishop White, with appropriate religious ceremonies, the Rev. Mr. Allen having, as the earliest friend of the Church, been called upon to pronounce an address upon the occasion. This address, with other documents, was placed in a cavity of the corner-stone, that stone lying under the north east corner of the Church building, excluding that portion which is called the portico. From the time of the laying of the corner-stone, the work steadily and rapidly progressed, till on Saturday, May 31st, it was ready for consecration. This solemn act, by which this house became for ever set apart and dedicated to the service of the living God, was performed by the Rt. Rev. Bishop White, himself preaching the appropriate sermon."

During the year in which the Church was in the process of erection, his time was occupied in the collecting of a congregation, and uniting and moulding the energies of those who were to be connected with him in his future efforts. He preached among the different Churches through the summer, generally, as we find by his records, as often as three