The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-05-27


received by the clergy. From the most reliabI
Data winch he had gathered he thought the gen
tieman had almost quadrupled the sum. He mad
this statement because he did not wish mistake
OF that Kind to go to the world
Mr.. Stone said that he may have overestimate,
the amount, but much was given which never pav
publicity. The kind hearted layman never forget
his pastor. The heart prompts actions which tn
world never hears of. The gentleman then pro
ceeded to argue against the policy proposed hy th
report and aid that if "young America would pres
this matter the old men would perhaps be compelled
to go under But why increase the number of Bish
ops when your attention should be directed to tht
erection of churches and the formation of parishes
PLENTY of opportunity is afforded for iudcious ex
pendlture OF all the which can be secured lie
the aborers be increased and the VINEYARDS formed
and then bring the overseer. There are sheep wan
deflng about our catpOnds and in the wdnes!
Whlch Bishop could not find They were under
the charge OF the aymen. Laymen are willing to pay
Tor having these lost sheep hunted up
Rev. Mr.. Wilmer, of Charles, said: 'I will beaI
the gentleman out in his remark relative to the
private contributions of parishes. | receive twice
as much privately as | do publicly, and have re-
ceived such for years.
Dr. kertoot said he was sorry he had been mis-
understood lie had no desire to reflect upon the
noerahty and generosity of the laymen They had
done nobly in the past, and he felt assured they
would do SO in the future. Yet the clergy were
worthy of all they received They labored for the
good of society, and the gentleman might compare
their salaries with the income of gentlemen in
other professions, and he would find that the latter
ar exceeded the salaries of the ministry He would
say nothing more on this subject but referred to
some OF the remarks of the gentleman against the
DIVISION. He then corrected some misapprehen-
sions into which the gentleman from Charles had
unintentionally fallen.
bishop Whittingham said that the clergy, in some
instances, paid out OF their pockets each year for the
oehenI iI OF the congregation more than they re-
celved from the congregation. He knew of an in
stance In which minister, during the past year
had to pay Sl400 out of mis- pocket to save the cred
IL OF the church and the congregation. He could
assure the convention that the gentlemen of the
rural districts, the planters and farmers were real
~ paying more to the overseers of their farms
than the rector in charge of the congregations of
winch they were members received This was
really fact
Mr.. Stone then proceeded in his argumant
against the division. 1t would be better for the
church to labor for the extension of its borders for
the increase of its parishes and congregations than
tor an increase of dioceses Let the membership
be increased and the fields of labor extended and
then 1t Will be time enough to increase the number
of Bishops.
The Rev. DR.. Allen, of Baltimore then took the
hoor. lie said the gentleman from Charles had
sald something of this question of division being a
young America movement He quoted from the
early history of the Church to prove that this
question had been provided for-it was expected
that the diocese would have to be divided. He re
terred to the opinions of the eminent diyipes and
BISHOPS OF the Church, all of whom advocated
small dioceses. He stated that Bishop Wilmer was
in favor of the small dioceses
=! Rev Mr.. Wilmer, of Charles, (brother of the
blsh0p,) SAID he was not aware that Bishop Will
mer had given expression to such opinion
Dr Allen said that he was not aware that the
BISHOP had written such an opinion but frequent
ly, in conversation with the speaker, be had ex-
pressed himself in favor of the small dioceses. DR.
Allen then proceeded to argue in favor of the diyi
SION, ana stated that the aymen in their replies to
the circular OF the committee had expressed their
aollty and Willingness to meet the responsibilities
of the new position.
Mr.. Hare, of Howard, said he offered resolution
as substitute for the resolution under discussion
winch directs the clergy to open poll in each
torshIp and get the sentiment of the white male
communicates on the question, and report the same
at the next meeting of the Convention.
In offering the resolution he said he did so be-
cause he believed that, in question of so much in
terest to the church. the sentiment of the
should be properly known. He did not think that
the question was properly understood and by this
resolution time would be gained for thorough dis
cussion.
Dr. Kerfoot said that postponement was but
another name for defeat. He desired this question
to be fairly met. Let there be no evasion. and LET
the question be settled 1t had been thoroughly
discussed and fully entertained throughout the do
cese, and nothing was to be gained bv DELAY. If
postponed, 1t would be delayed for three years. He
was in favor Of settling the question now.
Mr: Selden, OF Anne Arundle, moved to lay the
substitute and the resolution on the table
A division was called and the motion was lost
The substitute came up when j. Mason Campbell.
Esq, took the floor against the resolution for most
ponement, and said that DR.. Kerfoot had so iu,lv
expressed the speakers opinion that he had nothing
to say on the subject. But the resolution did more
than postpone. 1t carried with it the idea of agi-
taton in primary meetings. He was decidedly On
posed to such a course. Politicians understood
this policy, and he hoped that it never would he
engraited IN the policy of the Church. He was
opposed toinstructng delegates and thought it dan
gerous. The body here assembled was the living
breathing part of the Church. 1t was the represen-
tatiye OF the entire membership, and it was the
working, thinking portion of the church The
question OF division has been thoroughly discussed
and thoroughly ventilated. There should he nr
ignorance this subject, and it will never be NOR,
lntelllgenty understood than at present The nro
position of the resolution did not allow the mos
useful portion OF the membership to speak on the
question. The female portion of the Church were
excluded from participation in the decision and
thus the better part o. ourselves and the church
unknown in the settlement of this question. He
then proceeded to review the onerous duties incum-
bent on the Bishop, and said that it was mpossible
ior MN to discharge them. If the office of Bshop
IN TINS country was such it is in England,
where his only duty to Law his hands
on the heads of a few in confirmation or the ordi-
nation of those who take upon themselves boIv
ORDERS then perhaps there would not be necessity
for division of the diocese. THE speaker here
read part of the VOWS which the Bishop takes
upon himself, and then said Can these vows be
fulhlled? Can the Bishop discharge the duties
which he has assumed? 1t is impossible. He can
not give day to each of his congregations even
II you allow him to possess the magic carpet which
we have read of in Arabian tales, by which he
could travel with the rapidity of thought. But
take into consideration the time which is spent in
travel, time for study time for the proper care of
physical powers, and then how can he perform the
duties incumbent upon his position? Why, sir.
there are q Bishops in England, with an area of
5O,0OO square miles, and why then should not Mary
land with its 5000 square miles, have two Bishops?
He considered that the good of the church and its
best interest demanded that the division should
take place. 1t will increase the efficiency of the
church. This is no revolutionary movement The
speaker is a conservative-nOt only on this dues-
ton, but also in politics. But he believed that
Episcopal supervision, and thorough supervision,
was absolutely necessary for the vitality of the
church. He proceeded to review the action of
some neIghbOring diOceses and expressed himself
opposed 10 the appointment OF assistant bishops.
lie considered that they could only exist properly
when the Bishop became disabled, and had not
capacity to discharge the duties of the office. He
said that he only asked the members of the Con-
Ventlon to reduce this question to an arithmetical
one. Let them take the number of congregations
and see how many hours the Bishop could spend
with each. lie thought that such a calculation
would settle the question.
I. j.. Briscoe, of Calvert, then took the floor in
opposition to the division. He said that he had been
early taught to look upon the Episcopal Church as
the great conservative element of the religious
community. He had been taught to look upon it
as opposed to speculative theories and was not ad-
dicted to experimental legislation. This subject
was an experimental one, and should be approached
with caution and wisdom. The support of the
Church in England was derived from different and
more reliable sources. Where is the necessity for
increasing the expenses of the church when the
clergy are now, in some sections, scarcely fed and
clothed? He knew that the clergy were but poorly
supported, and he thought it bad policy to increase
expenses, when the parochial clergy are suffering.
This was question of much moment, and the SEN
timent of the church should be thoroughly under
stood. He had never given this subject thought,
and hoped that would be postponed until the senti
ment could be gained.
Mr.. Hare, of Hartford, followed in opposition to
the division. He objected to it the ground of its
changing the con stitution governing the diocese in
an informal manner.
DR.. Kerfoot took the floor in favor of the divis-
ion, and urged the necessity of the division with
much warmth.
DR.. RSteau, of Baltimore county, said that he
was opposed to division. Ifthe Bishop would state
that he was not able to attend to the duties it might
change his mind.
The Bishop said he had before requested the mem
bership in this discussion not to take into consider
alton the personal condition of the Bishop, and he
repeated that he did not desire that his case or
condition should be considered. Let them look
upon the Bishop a cast-iron man, and never
mind his wear and tear.
DR.. Risteau said he had no intention to wound
the feelings of any person. He then referred to the
poverty of the parochial clergy and said that the
gentleman who had preceded him (J. Mason
Campbell was engaged in a profitable profession
and did not make his money by digging it out OF
the earth. He lived in the city and knew nothing
of the poverty of the country churches He closed
with a strong appeal against the division
Rev. Dr. Smith Pyne then addressed the Conven-
ton lor snort time IN favor OF a postponement.