The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-11-25
THE WEEKLY WEEKLY PIONEER AND DEMOCRAT
From the Gospel Messenger.
Conservation OF Bishop Whipple.

| From the Gospel Messenger.
Conservation OF Bishop Whipple.
The services of the General Convention
in 1859 were interrupted by the setting
apart of Thursday. the 18th Of October for
the conservation of four Bishops of the
Church,-the Bishop Of New Jersey, the
| Assistant Bishop of Ohio, the Bishop of
Texas, and the Bishop of Minnesota. An
intense interest was felt in this solemn ser.
vice and transaction, and felt that this would
be vastly increased by the union of the
several CONSIDERATIONS, and the assembling of
all tie Bishops of the Church, with the
members OF the Convention in one place.
There was no church edi6ce in the city of
Richmond which could receive the crowds
eager to assist at the solemnity. 1t was at
first proposed, and indeed determined on by
those who had the matter in special charge,
to accept from the city authorities the use
of the public square, and to gather the mul
titude around the monument which bears
aloft Crawford's noble equestrian statue OF
George Washington. This plan was for
obvious reasons promptly abandoned, and
the only alternative, that of separate servi-
ces in three different Churches, adopted.
The Rev. DR.. Odenheimer and the Rev.
DR.. Bedell were consecrated in st. Paul's
Church, the Rev. Alexander Gregg was
consecrated for Texas in the Monumental
Church, and the Rev. DR.. Whipple for Min
nesota, in st. James Church.
1t was soft and sunny day in Richmond,
and in delightful harmony with the spirit of
rejoicing hope, which animated the hearts
of Churchmen, great numbers of whom had
come from distance to share the enjoyment
and the blessing of the occasion.
st. James Church, of which the Rev.
Mr.. Peterkin is Rector, stands somewhat
! retired from the noise aud hustle of the
buster parts of the town, and at an early
hour the congregation gathered and took
their seats in devout auietness. The Bishops
and clergy assembled also early in the vestry
and in the spacious Chapel attached to St.
James. Everything, the bright skies, the
balmy air, the Sabbath quietness, and the
freshness of tree and shrub, in the beautiful
city, conspired to heighten the interest Of
the occasion, and lift the mind to the fullest
realization of the sense of the manifold gifts
and power of the "Creator Spirits to be
invoked in the conservation.
A record of the order of the service and
of the persons taking part in it, are given
below. The deputation from Minnesota, all
of whom were of course present, return their
warm thanks to the Rector for his sympathy
in what so nearly concerned them, ana the
arrangements which contributed so greatly
to the solemn interest of the occasion, as
we'll as for his cheerful assent to the appro.
priation of the offertory to the Church in
Minnesota.
1t is also well worth recording that the
Bishop of Western New York, who with
Bishop Whitehouse, presented the candidate
for conservation, and with the others laid
his hands on him, in the conveyance of the
Apostolic Office, had confirmed him, and Or
dained him, both to the Daconate and Priest
hood, while the Rev. DR.. Wilson, his in
structor in theology, now assisted in putting
on his Episcopal vestments. The deepest
solemnity pervaded the assembly during the
entire service. The singing was the voice
of the entire congregation, the performance
of the organ and choir, religious and with
out display. while the subdued and solemn
tone in which, from full heart, the preach
er addressed to US all the unaffected ex-
preston and commentator of the Love
of Zon," in the sermon, moved all to tears
1t was day of sacred joy in Richmond.
to the hearts of Churchmen, and will be re-
membered by the brethren from Minnesota,
and many another Diocese, as recalling the
hospitality and the warm Christian sympa.
thy of the Bishop, the Clergy, and the
Churchmen of Virginia.
The following was the order of the ser
vices:
Morning Prayer was read by the Rev.
E. G. Gear and the Rev. DR.. Van Ingen.
The Psalter for the day 1.-THE 13th) was
touchingly appropriate. The Lessons we're
from the Institution Office, Ezekiel xxxiii.
l to 10, John x. to l9. The last three
verses of Sci. 80, aud portion of Hymn
100 were sung.
The Bishop of Alabama began the COM
munion service the Epistle 1.-THE first of
those prescribed) was read by the Missiona.
ry Bishop of Oregon and Washington, and
the Gospel by the Bishop of Iowa.
The Sermon was preached by the Bishop
of Maine.
The Ofertory was read by the Assistant
Bishop Of Pennsylvania.
The Bishops of Western New York and
Illinois presented the elected Bishop.
The testimonials were read by the Rev.
DR.. Randall. ...
The Presiding Bishop, the veneer able
Bishop Kemper, then "moved the congre-
cation to pray"
The Bishop of Rhode Island then pro-
ceeded with the Litany. ...
After the solemn promises in the conse-
Grafton service, the candidate for consecra-
ton was assisted in quitting on the rest of
the Episcopal habit" by the Rev. Drs.
Wilson and Paterson. ..,
All the Bishops present united in the
laying on of hands,
The Presiding Bishop then proceeded in
the communion service, and large portion
communicated, while nearly all tarried
until the conclusion of the services.
The final benediction was pronounced by
the Presiding Bishop, when the Bishops
and Clergy and very many others, affection
ately congratulated the new Bishop, bidding
him God speed .. .,.--I ~ ..
The whole scene was the browning act of
the long missionary Episcopate of the ven.
Grated prelate who presided on the occasion.