The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-05-28

Vi Tue INTENDED convention at cambridge, from
which the memorial comes, before the was
held. If they were, he did not think they should
now take any exception to its action. If, after be
ing notified to attend, they declined neglected to
do so, they had no one to blame but themselves and
could not now Justly say the Convention did not ex-
press the views of the Practitioners of the Eastern
Shore. He did not deem it just or fair to again
open the whole question here, regarding the action
of the Convention as the ultimatum upon the ques-
tion so far the feelings of the church people of
that section concerned.
Rev. Mr.. Crosdale responded that three wears
since, regarding such action necessary to the inter
ests of the church, he had given notice from his
pulpit that he designed to bring the matter before
the Episcopal Convention. When the time came
for the Convention to meet, although the subject
had excited much consideration, he did not regard
that it had been sufficiently canvassed, and, there
fore, torbore to bring it up, but in waving his
right to do then he reserved the privilege to do
it when he deemed the proper time had arrived
At the last Convention he found the subject had
been received with favor in Western Maryland.
and several delegates from that section desired him
to bring it before the Convention.
Judge Chambers.-Were they of the clergy or
laity?
Mr.. Crosdale.-That is not to the point, sir |
was approached by several, no matter whom. Sub
sequently the matter freely talked over in his
field of labor, and the feeling there found to be
strongly in its favor. From other sections he had
the same tidings.
The expressions from all portions of the Eastern
Shore such that he deemed the interests ofthe
church demanded the subject would be consummat-
ed. he then, after consultation with the clergy
from Worcester Somerset and Dorchester counties
who took the initiative step, proposed Convention
of the clergy and aity of the Eastern Shore Talbot
county also desired to join in the movement and these
four counties acting together arranged for the Con
venton. He had himself notified every other
Parish on the Shore of the contemplated movement,
and furnished them with the Committees invitation
to be present. through delegates.
Ot TIN Sc who assembled at Cambridge, there
were thirteen ofthe clergy and ten laymen, while he
knew of others who favored the division, who could
not attend He felt justified in saying that large
majority of the Parishes had selected delegates
Why they did not attend he could not say.
The first thing they did was to pass resolutions
expressive of their regard for their Bishop, and
their regrets at being mpelled, from of duty
to advocate the severing of those links of affection
which bound them to the Diocese. No unkind feel
ing was expressed or shown toward either They
were governed alone by what they believed would
conduce to the Glory of God and the good of the
| Church. and for these they were willing to sacrifice
all personal feeling.
! The resolutions presented here were then intro
duced, and there seemed to be but one opinion in
reference to them. No offered to oppose them,
and they were adopted by vote of eleven out Of the
| thirteen clergymen, and eight of the ten laymen
while those voting in the negative declared them
selves in favor of division, but they doubted its
| practcabity at this time.
He trusted that he had now given such history
of the subject would satisfy ALL that their action
| had been neither hasty nor unfair.
| By what right, then, did gentlemen who were not
present, say the proceedings unfair. and not
the work of majority of those interested? If they
allowed the matter to go by default then there is
no justification in their coming here to oppose it
with such views. lie defied any one to refute the
assertion that twothirds of the Eastern Shore were
| in favor of the division.
| 1t was with feelings nexpressible that he advo-
| Gated motion which would sever the ties of such
long standing between the Eastern and Western
Shores, and nothing but Gods glory and the inter
| nSt M tIn fhr1pnh ,a1,,o I
was he said true that the Diocese was smaller than
| others which had made no move for division, but
the state of the Church here and elsewhere greatly
| differed. In Pennsylvania the strength of the
Church lies in and within circuit of thirty miles of
| Philadelphia, two-thirds of their churches being
within that limit while at least two-thirds of the
State had no demands upon the time of the Bishop.
This Is not the case here. No, in Maryland there
| is no county without her Parish, and there is no
| State where the Church is widely difused. The
strength of the Church in other States lies in their
! cities-here it is in the counties Eighteen wears
ago, the Diocese deemed that the whole time of the
bishop was required to superintend it. If that was
! the case then, how much more so is it the case
| now? Then the clergy numbered seventy, now
they number one hundred and fifty, while the con-
gregations have increased in proportonate ratio.
The regulations of eighteen years since, then, will
not answer now.
What is the effect of the present extended state
of the Diocese? All must that the duties of the
Bishop are so increased, day by day, to place it
tue power ol 10 ellectlNely as
he has both the ability and will to do. During the
first few years of the Epscopate the Bishop visited
| the Parishes of the Eastern Shore once in twelve
months. Now the visits are gradually diminishing.
and it is now eighteen months since he was in Som
erset county, and two years since he was in Wor-
cester They attached blame to the Bishop
| They only wondered that, with his onerous duties
| he was enabled to visit them thus often.
/ ask if the church does not require different
| state of things? proportonate increase for a
| few years more will place it beyond the power of
the Bishop to even comply with that canon which
requires him to visit Parish at least once in three
years. His physical strength cannot long with
stand his labors, and the whole church is affected
by this state of things. All regard the visit of the
Bishop as a season of great interest. His presence
! awakens zeal and energy among the people, and
is ever productive of much good.
The speaker then described a visit of the Bishop
to his section as being only hasty pilgrimage, or
flying visits from one church to another with scarce
time for needful rest.
Entertaining these views, they called upon the
Convention to heed their memorial, and grant their
prayers. 1t is not alone demanded by the interests
OF the Church in one section, but throughout the
| State. Who will say there is not work enough in
this city and the surrounding country engage all
the time of a bishop? The memorial coming as it
does representing two-thirds of the COMMITMENTS
of Four Shore, and supported by such reasons can
not doubt, will meet the favor of large proportion
of this Convention, and our prayer be granted.
Mr.. Evans desired to set himself and his unfortu-
| nate resolution right, as they both seemed to be
misunderstood. Persons seemed to think that he
| was opposed to a division. That not the case.
| He deemed the time had come for division, if the
| thing were practicable. He wanted first however
to be satisfied on that point, and he must confess
that what had already transpired did not satisfy
him. He did not believe, when he offered it, that
either the friends or opponents of division would
oppose his resolution, it aimed only at obtaining
fair expression of the feelings of those Interested
If it does not pass, it will be because gentlemen are
afraid to submit the question to a fair test
| Rev. DIR. Cohoun thought the endorsement al
| ready given to the resolutions presented by the
Cambridge Convention by both the clergy and iaitv
sufficient to entitle them to be considered at
once by this Convention
The hour of eleven o'clock having arrived and it
being in order to elect the standing committee the
chair announced the same. The subject was how
ever, on motion, postponed, and the discussion con
| tinued.
Judge Chambers then took the floor He opened
his remarks by saying that he supposed all would
agree that he had no participation in originating
the resolution of Mr.. Evans, but he must endorse it.
as furnishing the means and basis upon which they
could knowingly act.
Rev. Mr.. Moore here suggested that if the pen
tleman would yield the floor he thought the Con
vention was prepared to vote, and would adopt the
resolution.
Judge Chambers resuming, said, he was clad TO
hear that the resolution would pass, but he did not
deem it as either courteous fair for the Conven-
ton to listen to an hours speech against it, and then
attempt to dispense with anything in its favor 1t
is asking rather too much and if it is asked on he
sco.e of saving time, it is asking more than an
equivalent for the price offered. I would remind
the gentleman that even gold can be bought with
too great price. Until [ find that majority of
this Convention are in favor of having an entirely
one-sided discussion, shall not desst
Mr.. Dashiel-We did not conceive we were as
Stunning authority in thus calling the Convention
As teachers of religion felt authorized as well
as bound to do what we conceived would serve the