SEYMOUR, George Franklin, P. E. bishop, born in New York city, 5 January, 1829. He was graduated at Columbia in 1850, at the head of his class, and at the Episcopal general theological seminary in New York in 1854. He was ordained deacon in New York city, 17 December, 1854, by Bishop Horatio Potter, and priest in Greenburg (Dobb's Ferry), New York, 23 September, 1855, by the same bishop. His first field of labor was as missionary at Annandale, Dutchess county, New York, from January, 1855, till July, 1861. As part of the result of his activity a church was built, and a training institution for candidates for orders was founded. The latter was chartered by the legislature of New York, under the title of St. Stephen's college, and Mr. Seymour was chosen to be first warden. He became in November, 1861, rector of St. Mary's church, Manhattanville, New York city, in October, 1862, of Christ church, Hudson, New York, and a year later of St. John's church, Brooklyn, New York In 1865 he was elected professor of ecclesiastical history in the General theological seminary, and in 1875 fie became dean of the same institution, in conjunction with his professorship. During his connection with the seminary he was invited to rectorships of churches in Chicago, San Francisco, and Troy, New York, but declined. He was also active in securing $30,000 for new chapel and library buildings, and earnestly opposed the removal of the seminary from the city into the country. From 1867 till 1879 he served as chaplain to the House of mercy, New York, without salary. He was also superintendent of the Society for promoting religion and learning in the state of New York until 1878. He received the degree of S. T. D. from Racine in 1867, and that of LL.D. from Columbia in 1878. Dr. Seymour was elected in 1.874 bishop of Illinois in succession to Bishop White-house; but the house of deputies, in general convention then assembled, owing, it is understood, to strong feeling against ritualism and its ramifications, refused to confirm the election, tie was unanimously chosen bishop of the new diocese of Springfield, Illinois, 19 December, l877. This election was confirmed by the standing committees and the bishops, but Dr. Seymour declined in April, 1878. At the diocesan convention in May, 1878, he was again unanimously chosen bishop, and he felt constrained to withdraw his letter and accept the bishopric. He was consecrated in Trinity church, New York, 11 June, 1878. The Episcopal church under his care has largely increased, and is well supplied with schools and other agencies for promoting the spread of the gospel. He attended the third Pan-Anglican council held at Lambeth palace, London, in the first week of July, 1888, and during the conference made an address that was much admired. Bishop Seymour has contributed freely to church literature in annual addresses to his convention, and he has advocated the change of the name Protestant Episcopal church to "Church of the United States." His latest work is" Modern Romanism not Catholicity" (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1888).