OF THE CHURCH AND CHURCH AFFAIRS.
Sec. 33. Their parishes are accounted large or small, in proportion to the
number of tithables contained in them, and not according to the extent
of land.
Sec. 34. They have in each parish a convenient church, built either of
timber, brick or stone, and decently adorned with everything necessary
for the celebration of divine service.
If a parish be of greater extent than ordinary, it hath generally a
chapel of ease; and some of the parishes have two such chapels, besides
the church, for the greater convenience of the parishioners. In these
chapels the minister preaches alternately, always leaving a reader to
read prayers when he can't attend himself.
Sec. 35. The people are generally of the church of England, which is the
religion established by law in that country, from which there are very
few dissenters. Yet liberty of conscience is given to all other
congregations pretending to Christianity, on condition they submit to
all parish duties. They have but one set conventicle amongst them, viz:
a meeting of Quakers in Nansemond county, others that have lately, been
being now extinct; and 'tis observed by letting them alone they decrease
daily.
Sec. 36. The maintenance for a minister there, is appointed by law at
sixteen thousand pounds of tobacco per annum, (be the parish great or
small;) as also a dwelling house and glebe, together with certain
perquisites for marriages and funeral sermons. That which makes the
difference in the benefices of the clergy is the value of the tobacco,
according to the distinct species of it, or according to the place of
its growth. Besides, in large and rich parishes, more marriages will
probably happen, and more funeral sermons.
The fee by law for a funeral sermon is forty shillings, or four hundred
pounds of tobacco; for a marriage by license twenty shillings, or two
hundred pounds of tobacco, and where the banns are proclaimed, only five
shillings, or fifty pounds of tobacco.
When these salaries were granted, the assembly valued tobacco at ten
shillings per hundred; at which rate, the sixteen thousand pounds comes
to fourscore pounds sterling; but in all parishes where the
sweet-scented grows, since the law for appointing agents to view the
tobacco was made, it has generally been sold for double that value, and
never under.
In some parishes, likewise, there are by donation stocks of cattle and
negroes on the glebes, which are also allowed to the minister for his
use and encouragement, he only being accountable for the surrender of
the same value when he leaves the parish.
Sec. 37. For the well governing of these, and all other parochial affairs,
a vestry is appointed in each parish. These vestries consist of twelve
gentlemen of the parish, and were at first chosen by the vote of the
parishioners; but upon the death of any, have been continued by the
survivors electing another in his place. These, in the name of the
parish, make presentation of ministers, and have the sole power of all
parish assessments. They are qualified for this employment by
subscribing, to be conformable to the doctrine and discipline of the
church of England. If there be a minister incumbent, he always presides
in the vestry.
For the ease of the vestry in general, and for discharging the business
of the parish, they choose two from among themselves to be
church-wardens, which must be annually changed, that the burthen may lie
equally upon all. The business of these church-wardens, is to see the
orders and agreements of the vestry performed; to collect all the parish
tobacco, and distribute it to the several claimers; to make up the
accounts of the parish, and to present all profaneness and immorality to
the county courts, and there prosecute it.
By these the tobacco of the minister is collected, and brought to him in
hogsheads convenient for shipping, so that he is at no farther trouble
but to receive it in that condition. This was ordained by the law of the
country, for the ease of the ministers, that so they being delivered
from the trouble of gathering in their dues, may have the more time to
apply themselves to the exercises of their holy function, and live in a
decency suitable to their order. It may here be observed, that the labor
of a dozen negroes does but answer this salary, and seldom yields a
greater crop of sweet scented tobacco than is allowed to each of their
ministers.
Sec. 38. Probates of wills and administrations are, according to their law,
petitioned for in the county courts; and by them security taken and
certified to the governor, which, if he approves the commission, is then
signed by them without fee. Marriage licenses are issued by the clerks
of those courts, and signed by the justice in commission, or by any
other person deputed by the governor, for which a fee of twenty
shillings must be paid to the governor. The power of induction, upon
presentation of ministers, is also in the governor.
In the year 1642, when the sectaries began to spread themselves so much
in England, the assembly made a law against them, to prevent their
preaching and propagating their doctrines in that colony. They admitted
none to preach in their churches but ministers ordained by some reverend
bishop of the church of England, and the governor, for the time being,
as the most suitable public person among them, was left sole judge of
the certificates of such ordination, and so he has continued ever
since.
Sec. 39. The only thing I have heard the clergy complain of there, is what
they call precariousness in their livings; that is, that they have not
inductions generally, and therefore are not entitled to a freehold; but
are liable, without trial or crime alledged, to be put out by the
vestry. And though some have prevailed with their vestries, to present
them for induction, yet the greater number of the ministers have no
induction, but are entertained by agreement with their vestries, yet are
they very rarely turned out without some great provocation, and then, if
they have not been abominably scandalous, they immediately get other
parishes, for there is no benefice whatsoever in that country that
remains without a minister if they can get one, and no qualified
minister ever yet returned from that country for want of preferment.
They have now several vacant parishes.