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At the conclusion of the 13th ballot, the President announced that the Rev. Wm. H. Odenheimer, D. D., having received a majority of the votes of both orders, was elected Bishop. †

On motion of the Rev. Dr. Mahan, seconded by J. C. Garthwaite, Esq., the Convention unanimously declared that the Rev. William Henry Odenheimer, D. D., Rector of St. Peter's Church, Philadelphia, is elected Bishop of New Jersey. On motion of the Rev. E. A. Hoffman, the President appointed a Committee to wait on the Rev. Dr. Odenheimer, and inform him of his election.

The Rev. Mr. Dunn, the senior Presbyter of the Diocese, rose and stated that this was the birthday of our late beloved Bishop, and the day of the month, and almost the hour of the day, on which he entered into his rest, and connecting with this, the unanimity of the election just announced, proposed that the Convention unite in singing the Gloria in Excelsis; after which, the Testimonials required by the Canon, beautifully engrossed on parchment, were brought out and to them were affixed the signatures of sixty-one clergymen, and eighty-nine laymen,those from Burlington being, of the clergy: the Revs Wm. Croswell Doane, M. F. Hyde, Elvin K. Smith, E. M. Pecke, Chas. Fred. Hoffman, Horatio T. Wells; and of the laity: J. B. Parker, Thomas Milnor, William A. Rogers, J. Howard Pugh, M. D., Dr. John D. Moore, H. McDowell, Franklin Gauntt, M. D.

THE VACANT RECTORSHIP.

At a meeting of the Vestry of St. Mary's Church, held June 13th, 1859, among other business, Mr. Wm. A. Rogers made a verbal communication from Rev. Charles F. Hoffman, request

Wm. Henry Odenheimer, son of John W. Odenheimer, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., August 11th, 1817; graduated at the University of Pennsyl vania, (having the Valedictory oration,) July 30th, 1835; also at the General Theological Seminary, New York, June 29th, 1838; was ordained Deacon in St. Paul's Church, Philadelphia, September 2d, 1838, by Bishop H. U. Onderdonk; became Assistant to the Rev. Dr. DeLancey of St. Peter's Church, Philadelphia, January 10th, 1839, and succeeded to the Rectorship on the consecration of Dr. DeLancey to the Episcopate of Western New York: ordained Priest in St. Peter's Church, Philadelphia, October 3d, 1841, by Bishop H. U. Onderdonk; received the honorary degree of D. D., from the University of Pennsylvania, July 3d, 1856.

ing some definite action, on the part of the Vestry, in regard to his continuing in charge of the Church.

On motion, the following resolutions were adopted:

1. Resolved, That it is not expedient to attempt to employ and elect a Rector in the present state of our Church finances.

2. Resolved, That we tender to the Rev. Charles F. Hoffman our thanks for his kindness in consenting to assume, temporarily, (on the sudden decease of our late Rector,) and until further action of the Vestry, the charge of this parish. Our shepherd was truly snatched from us most unexpectedly-but he who had been his associate and Curate, notwithstanding the financial embarrassments of the Church, did not hesitate to grant us a continuance of his services until we should resolve to adopt some specific action in regard to the future. Under Providence, another Bishop has been elected; and inasmuch as this parish has enjoyed for many years, the benefit of the counsels and ministrations of the Bishop of the Diocese, we have also deemed it prudent, and believe it to be in accordance with the wishes of the congregation to forbear making any other engagement until we can have some consultation with the Bishop elect, who will probably adopt this city as the seat of his residence.

3. Resolved, That the Rev. Charles F. Hoffman be tendered the use of the parsonage for the balance of the year.

4. Resolved, That the Wardens request the clergy of this city to conduct the services of the Church, and discharge the duties of the parish.

5. Resolved, That the Secretary be requested to furnish the Rev. Charles F. Hoffman with a copy of these resolutions.

REV. DR. ODENHEIMER ACCEPTS THE EPISCOPATE.

Shortly after the adjournment of the Convention, the Committee, to whom was entrusted the duty of announcing to the Rev. Dr. Odenhiemer his election, placed with the Standing Committee his letter of acceptance.

"Philadelphia, June 24th, 1859.

"Reverend Brethren and Gentlemen:

"Your official communication, announcing to me my election unanimously declared, as Bishop of New Jersey, by the SeventySixth Annual Convention of that Diocese, has received my most serious consideration.

"The contemplation of the awful responsibilities of the Apostolic office, joined to the recollection of the manifold labours and

untiring energy of the Prelate whom you have elected me to succeed, fills my soul with unaffected diffidence; nevertheless, believing that it is the call of GOD, and trusting in that great Name wherein alone resides all strength, I accept the nomination.

"Should your choice be ratified and consummated by the General Church, I am prepared, CHRIST helping me, to cease my ministrations at the Altar of my first and only Parish Church of St. Peter's, Philadelphia,-where for nearly twenty-one years I have enjoyed the uninterrupted kindness of the noblest of congregations and share henceforward with the faithful Clergy and Laity of New Jersey in the good work of extending the Gospel and Kingdom of our divine LORD.

With great respect,

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Faithfully and Fraternally yours,

"WILLIAM HENRY ODENHEIMER. "To the Rev. M. Mahan, D. D., Rev. E. A. Hoffman, Rev. Jos. F. Garrison, M. D., Abm. Browning, Esq., R. S. Field, Esq.”

CONSECRATION OF THE REV. DR. ODENHEIMER.

"As instructed by the Convention of the Diocese, the Committee forwarded the testimonials of the election of the Rev. Dr. Odenheimer to the Episcopate of this Diocese, to the General Convention, assembled in Richmond, Virginia; and Thursday, the thirteenth day of October, 1859, was appointed by the presiding Bishop for his consecration. Accordingly, on the day named, the solemn service was performed in St. Paul's Church, Richmond, Virginia, in the presence of a vast congregation of clergy and laity.

"The Bishop elect was presented to the Presiding Bishop by the Bishop of Maryland and the Bishop of Pennsylvania. The Rev. Robert B. Croes and the Rev. Wm. C. Doane were present as attending Presbyters, and robed the Bishop elect during the service. It was a touching circumstance that this duty could be performed by sons of the only two Bishops who have hitherto filled the Episcopate of this Diocese. The Rt. Rev. Alfred Lee, D. D., Bishop of Delaware, preached the sermon. The Rt. Rev. Wm. Meade, D. D., of Virginia, Presiding Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Samuel A. McCoskry, D. D., D. C. L., Bishop of Michigan, the Rt. Rev. Wm. R. Whittingham, D. D., Bishop of Mary

land, the Rt. Rev. Carlton Chase, D. D., Bishop of New Hampshire, the Rt. Rev. C. S. Hawks, D. D., Bishop of Missouri, the Rt. Rev. Alonzo Potter, D. D., LL. D., Bishop of Pennsylvania, and the Rt. Rev. John Williams, D. D., Assistant Bishop of Connecticut, united in the laying on of hands."-Convention Journal, 1860.

BISHOP ODENHEIMER'S FIRST EPISCOPAL ADDRESS.

The Rt. Rev. Dr. Odenheimer, third Bishop of New Jersey, thus opens his first Episcopal address:

"Brethren beloved in the LORD: It was on the Thursday of the Holy Week of 1859, whilst celebrating the Eucharistic office in my parish church of St. Peter's, Philadelphia, that I was summoned to the bedside of the dying Prelate, who, for nearly twenty-seven years, had presided, as its second Bishop, over the spiritual affairs of this Diocese.

"It was the last time I saw him, until I beheld him at the close of the Easter week as he lay auointed for the burying, with his robes about him, looking in death as all along in life, like a Prince of the Church.

"I am not unacquainted with the history of this Diocese, and with the trials, as well as the labours of the late Bishop; and from the nature of our intercourse I think myself possessed of a knowledge of his character and purposes.

"He was not only unselfish, but at times utterly regardless of self; and the conviction that he was right, led him to withhold explanations and to decline action, which would often have disarmed opposition, and which the instincts of self preservation, had he cared at all for self, would have prompted.

"In controversy-Theological, Canonical, or Legal-he was an opponent that one would not willingly encounter the second time, and yet he was full of genial impulses, accessible to kindness, and never deliberately uttering an unloving word, nor persistently doing an ungentle action.

"As combining, in his own person, some of the finest attributes of Friend, Scholar, Poet, Patriot, Pastor, and Bishop, he is worthy of a place among the most remarkable Ecclesiastics of

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