BASS, Edward, P. E. bishop, born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, 23 November 1726; died in Newburyport, 10 Sept, 1803. He was graduated at Harvard in 1744, for some years was engaged in teaching, and received a license to preach among the Congregationalists, but in 1752 applied for orders in the Episcopal Church. He went to England, and was ordained both deacon and priest by Dr. Sherlock, bishop of London. This was in May 1752, and, on his return home, he became rector of St. Paul's Church, Newburyport, which place he retained during his life. When the revolution began, Mr. Bass yielded to the current patriotic sentiment, gave up praying for the royal family, and in consequence lost the stipend heretofore received from the society for propagating the gospel in foreign parts. With such help as he could obtain, he continued the services of the Church until the war was over; but, when he applied for arrearages of stipend to the society, his application was refused. This led to his publishing a pamphlet in self-defense (London, 1786). The degree of died D. was conferred upon him by the University of Pennsylvania in 1789. The Episcopal Church having been organized in Massachusetts, a convention of clerical and lay deputies was held in Boston in 1796, and Dr. Bass was unanimously chosen to become bishop. He was consecrated in Philadelphia, 7 May 1797. His jurisdiction was, by request, extended over the Churches in Rhode Island and New Hampshire, and he continued, in connection with his labors as a bishop, to perform the duties of a parish priest.