Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1830-06-03
Tbs Contention II he Protestant Epissopdl
church Of the djosess y Va

which has been recently hold in this town,
was apenea on 'Thursday the 20th inst with
| a sermon hy the Rev Nicholas II. Cobbs ,iTOm
Cd Tin. Il Ia. "Stsd9to steW thyso!f appro-
red unto Csd." After which the convention
was organized, there being present about
thirty clergymeR and nearly forty lay dele
gates,-the right Rev. Wm. Meade, assistant
! bishop, presiding
! Amoas the various objects which engaged
the sonven.ion, tie chief was, the removal
Of the restriction on the election o. the right
| reverend bishop Meade, by which ne is made
the successor of bishop Moore, the present
! diocesan.
| The meetings of the convention, which
| are always held with open doors, were pune
| rously attended and with deep interest. All
| The churches in town had been kindly tend
! cred for the use Of the convention, and were
occupied, irsm time to time, as business
would permit. The congregations were nu
! merols--in some instances overtiowing; yet
| the greatest silence and eolennty prevailed,
and seemed the pledge Of iasunglmpresson
OF seriousness.
On Sunday morning, at six o'clock, the
congregation assembled in the Episcopal
church: when two adults were admitted into
the church by the ordinance of baptism; af
ter which the right reverend bishop admin
lstered The rite of cor 9rpatlon to II persons
! The game s,orRing at o'clock, an ordina
ton was held, vaSr VIM A SmalEood of
Maryland, vas admitted 80 the holy order Of
persbytcry. sndJ Fl. tili. Thomas Ash, and
Ephraim Adams, were admitted TO the order
Of deacon,; the former of these three gentle
men il 10 he associated with the Rev. j. j.
Robertson IN a mission to Greece, under the
direction OF he Missionary Society of the
Protestant Episcopal church in tho United
States; The ordination sermon was preached
by the Rev. VIM Jackson Of Alexandria,
from John X. IL. II snl tie good Shepherd"
In consequence OF a heavy fall Of rain, the
services were omitted IN the churches In the
afternoon; but the clergy and lay delegates
dispersal themselves among ths numerous
strangers who had visited orr Town oh this
occasion, and held meetings for conversation
and prayer ia fifteen or twenty different pla-
ces. in the e.ening the churches weTc again
opened the Episcopal church was crowded
to excess, ard Inc convention was closed
With sermon by the Rev. Keuel Keith, u d.
Of the Theological Seminary Of Alexandria,
and final address by the right reverend
bishop.
The affeetionate parting of The clergy and
laity, at the close OF these exercises, "as
affecting and deeply impressive; and we trust
in God that the impression which has beer
made by this INVOCATION, win not soon sub
side; bat that the seed which has been sown
will yield abundant fruit 10 tho honor and
praise Of Sod.
Before the adjournment, the following re
solutions were adopted. accompanied with |
request that they should he inserted In tie
newspapers Of the town.
Rcsolncd unanimously, That the thasis Of
this convention be rendered TO the ministers
of the several churches in this place, for the
liberal aud kind offer of their churches fov ths |
use Of the coavs ntiOn-
ResoIoed unanimously, That the thanks of
this convention be rendered to the citizens of |
this town for their kind and hospItabls attep- !
lions TO the members of the convention dur !
ing its session
TO this sketch, which, as thu reader will |
perceive, is a Eypoptical view of Che business |
proceedings OF the convention. We embrace |
the opportunity OF adding q few particulars OF
a moro miscellaneous character
The last Episcopal COW ea tion in Winches- !
ter was held in the year 1918, twelve years |
ego. At that time there were present Is |
ministers and % lay delegates. There we're !
now, as sbeve stated, sseut 80 Of the form |
er and nearly 40 Of the latter Assuming this !
members OF the church throughout the state !
30 have increased ia the same proportion, |
which is known to be- the fact, the result is !
highly cheerir 6 TO the friends Of cpiscopacy |
and tina cause d religion generally |
The members and visiters began to arrive !
IN town on the Monday before the Opening !
OF the sittings, Tie stages averaged daily |
from to IL passengers, while far greater !
number came in carriages and on horseback, !
some oftheD from the remots lower counties
by Thursday every tavern was crowded. and |
many Of the mansions of our citizens were
filed to overlooking. Every one felt desirous
OF teshtying his respect for these ministers of
divine truth, and of showing regard to the !
eoncoarse of strangers who had assembled on |
the occasion. Those who had still spare |
room were heard to say to the rector of the |
church, after morning service on Thursday,
"send all you can to my house: I've room !
for mors: send all who come-members or |
Vlsfers-- all you see who are not provided !
for" Thus do the social affections exhibit |,
themselves in The hearts of the followers Of
Sod; thus do they enjoy the sweet fellowship
OF kindred souls.
Many of the ministers reached town early
in the week. The first public exercises were
performed on Tuesday night in the lecture
room Of the Episcopal church, when very
| impressive lecture was delivered BY the Rev.
James Dosghen Of Goechland. He was fol-
lowed by the Rev. William jackson of Alex
andria, in feeling exhortation, we'll adapted
TO the interesting services which wero shortly
! to commence.
| On \tadeasSov aervica VIZ, rerPorpoaJ ~