umerical strength, its influence, and
its dignity, in New England. With the creed of that sect Dr. Franklin
had more in common than with any other, though he was much too wise a
man to suppose that there was but one gate of admission to the Holy
City. He believed in one God; that Jesus was the best man that ever
lived, and his example the most profitable one ever given us to
follow. He never succeeded in accepting the doctrine that Jehovah and
Jesus were one person, or that miracles attributed to the latter in
the Bible were ever worked. He thought the best service and sufficient
worship of God was in doing all the good we can to his creatures. He
therefore never occupied himself much with ecclesiastical ceremonies,
sectarian differences, or theological subtleties. A reverend candidate
for episcopal orders wrote to Franklin, complaining that the
Archbishop of Canterbury had refused to ordain him unless he would
take the oath of allegiance, which he was too patriotic a Yankee to
do. Franklin, in reply, asked what necessity there was for his being
connected with the Church of England; if it would not be as well were
it the Church of Ireland. Perhaps were he to apply to the Bishop of
Derry, who was a man of liberal sentiments, he might give him orders,
as of that Church. Should both England and Ireland refuse, Franklin
assumed that the Bishops of Sweden and Norway would refuse also,
unless the candidates embraced Lutheranism. He then added:--

"Next to becoming Presbyterians, the Episcopalian clergy of
America, in my humble opinion, cannot do better than to
follow the example of the first clergy of Scotland, soon
after the conversion of that country to Christianity. When
the King had built the cathedral of St. Andrew's, and
requested the King of Northumberland to lend his bishops to
ordain one for them, that their clergy might not as
heretofore be obliged to go to Northumberland for orders, and
their request was refused, they assembled in the cathedral,
and the mitre, crosier, and robes of a bishop being laid upon
the altar, they after earnest prayers for direction in their
choice elected one of their own number; when the King said to
him, "_Arise, go to the altar, and receive your office at the
hand of God._" His brethren led him to the altar, robed him,
put the crosier in his hand and the mitre on his head, and he
became the first Bishop of Scotland.