Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-10-28
The Recent General Convention at
RfciialAnd

The General Episcopal Convention Of the
United States closed its sessions, as our
readers already know, on Saturday night at
late hour, and BY the time this paragraph
is published, the large majority Of its mem-
bers, of both houses, Bishops, Clergy and
Laity. will have reached their homes. We
felt it our duty as journalists TO keep the pa
irons Of the Eapress fully informed Of the
proceedings Of 50 important and respectable
body, from day to day, and accordingly a
special reporter from our Office, was in con-
slant attendance on the debates, whose let
tors, at no small expense and troubleto our
selves, we brought out, morning after NOR
ming, from the opening till the closing OF the
Convention. During the same time, we
have given sketches Of some Of tie more re-
markable sermons delivered in the pulpits
Of Richmond, BY eloquent divines who were
brought to that city in a representative ca
pacity. While all this has been in the strict
line Of our obligations to the public, and we
should have felt, similarly bound to report
the debates Of any other great religious as
sembly sitting in Virginia, re confess to
have watched the, deliberations Of the recent
Convention with peculiar interest and salts
faction It was not, perhaps, more able
body Of Of men than have frequently, been
collected together 10 legislate tor the affairs
of other churches. There were, indeed, a.
meng the clergy, some men dwell deserved
estimation for profound learning and true
piety, whose names are known throughout
the country, and the laity, embraced in its
roll many gentlemen eminent in political
and professional annals. But il, was not be-
cause Of any superior INTELLECTUAL force in its
members that we felt special respect for
the late congress cf chrrchnen. It was the
national conservatism, Of the Convention,
which lent tia rare dignity il our eyes
While the Methodist and Baptist Churches,
aud the New School branch Of the Presby-
terrain Church, hare been unhappily rent a.
sundcr BY the fanaticism Of Anti-5lavery,
and while the miserable whine Of the Adolf
ZIONIST has been heard in the Mission Boards
and Tract Societies Of other denominations,
the Old School Presbyterians and the Pro-
testant Episcopalians alone, have kept to-
gether, on the basis Of 4 love overriding all
! the cant and hypocricy ofthe Northern phi
lanthropist In Richmond, it vas our plea.
sure to see ministers from Maine and Min
nesota sitting by ministers from Tennessee
and Texas in cordial brotherhood, confer
ring with each other as to the best means o.
promoting true religion and extending the
Gospel Of Christ. No wretclied folly about
the sin Of this or that local Institution, nc
Incorporate discussion ofmatters wholly for
eign to their sphere oflabor, disturbed the
perfect Christian harmony either meetings
/ The truly conservative character Of the Pro
testant Episcopal Church was strikingl,
shown in the late Diocesan Convention o
New York, held just before the assembling
of the great Council at Richmond when ;
resolution, with reference to the Slave Trad
offered BY d certain Mr.. Jay, was votee
/ down by reclamation, and the frebrant
quenched at once in the scorn and indigna
ton ofthe whole body. It is cheerin!
/ sight, and one which promises well for tn
usefulness of the denomination, to witnes
such whole-souled fraternity among citi
zens Of all parts Of the Union as was exhibi
ted at Richmond by the General Episcopa
Convention. Peteysbury Express