Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1866-07-09
A FAITHFUL SERVANT.

| IT,.
reminded the Convention that he was then de.
livering his twenty fifth address as Bishop oi
the Diocese, and in a few months more, il
spared, would complete his twenty fifth year
OF Episcopal service. Bishop Lee was consecra-
ted as Bishop of this Diocese in October, l84l,
and has during that long period been most
faithful, earnest, and successful labo-er in the
vineyard of his Divine Head and Master. He
has his reward in the blessings that have fol
lowed his fidelity and zeal, and in the love and
and esteem which abide in the hearts OF his
people and the community with whom he has
lived and labored for the last quarter Of oen-
tury.
We transfer to our columns 80 much of his
address as relates to his ministry in Delaware,
as an interesting part ofthe record of the times.
| 1t is as folows:-
cannot pass over without notice, the fact
that the present is my Twenty fifth Conven-
tional Address, and that about four months
| mare, ifcontinued to me by God will complete
| twenty-five ye7rs of official service. This per-
100 now review with deep emotion, sensible
OF the inadequate manner in which these
duties have been discharged, yet graceful 10
that divine goodness by which have been
strengthened and sustained While not with
| out occasional Interruptions of sickness, there
has been no year in which have not been en-
abled to make the expected visitations, and to
meet with small exceptions the demand for
| Episcopal services. The Protestant Episcopal
Church in Delaware, at the date to which 20
back, as all acquainted with the history Of the
Diocese are aware, had, from various causes,
become exceedingly depressed, and in some
portions appeared almost ready to die. The
ground was greatly occupied by other Chris
tan bodies, and the population being almost
stationary, until quite lately, accessions were
not numerous from abroad. We have abored
under constant difficulties arising from the ne.
oessity of uniting Parishes and Stations feeble
and far apart in a single cure from insult.
cent ministerial support and frequent changes,
and from the want of resources within the Dio-
cese Discouragements have been often null
tiplied, and at times only faith in God enabled
me to ptrsevere. Now, when l look back
over the whole period of struggles, trials and
frequent disappontments, | f1d abundant
cause to offer the sacrifice of Thanksgiving.
In the Convention of lS4l we're present, be-
sides the Right Rev. II. U. Onderdonk, of
Pennsylvania, seven clsrgymen and twenty
three Lay Delegates. On the Bishops list OF
Clergy were ten names. Two of these Clergy
men were not residing in the Diocese, two were
without charge, and two resigned very coon
after-so that on my first visitation found
but four acting ministers, (only one below
New Castle,) aud only seven Parishes supplied
with regular services. Three of the Clerical
and thirteen of the Lay members of that Con-
vention are no longer living, and not one OF
the surviving Clergymen is now in the Diocese.
AT present there are twenty Clergymen CT
nonically resident, eight cen of whom are Rec
tors of Parishes or performing regular duty as
Assistants or Missionaries. To this number
| three will trust be speedily added
The number of Communicates reported to
! the General Convention in 1874 was three hun
dred and thirty nine. Present number be-
tween twelve and thirteen hundred
There have been ordained nineteen Deaoons
and twenty PIesbyters Seven OF our Clergy
have since the date referred to, rested from
their labors, and nine others, who had during
this period been connected with the Diocese
but had afterwards removed, are also gone.
have, within the limits of the Diocese,
confirmed two Thousand and seventy six per.
sons. From lS45 to 1852 the spiritual cendi-
tion OF the Diocese, so far as Judgment can
be formed from the classes presented for this
apostolic rite, was lang fishing and depressed.
In the year lS47 only twenty-five received the
laying on of hands. The number gradually
increased from thai time till the brealking out
| OF the war, reaching in 1860 one hundred and
iorty-tour. Then check was given to Church
growth, the effects of which were most felt in
| 1868. Since then the increase has been steady
and the present year has witnessed larger in
gathering than any preceding. Let us, breth-
| ren in the ministry, do all that in us lies so to
| impress Christian t'uth and duty upon those
who apply to us for this ordinance, that our
| confidence may be strong, that al' who receive
it are indeed "added unto the Lord
During my Episcopate have laid the cor
ner-stones of five, and oonsecrated to the
worship OF God seventeen Churches. Thirteen
new Churches have been built, one has been
acquired by purchase; one that found incom-
plete has been finished two that were virtu-
ally abandoned have been renewed and re- oo-
cupied Five others have been enlarged, and
five more repaired, Tive OF the churches built |
are in place OF old edifices The others are |
new Parishes or Chapels. Two ancient church |
es have fallen into disuse.
The number of Parishes is now 26-aud of |
Church Buildings in use 20.
If comparison could be made between the |
amount of contributions for Parochial, Mis- =
sienary and Charitable objects, the advance |
would appear very much gre ater than is |
shown by other statistics Unfortunately the |
early reports are so defective that such cons
parison cannot be fairly instituted. A ten
fold increase would seem to me not to be an |
exaggerated estimate.
But the most aft citing consid ration conneo-
ted with this review is the thought that so
many immortal souls have gone from this
earthly scene to learn the issue OF their pro-
baton, and to enter upon an unchangeable
eternal state. Comparatively few of the wor.
shippers and hearers, whom my early Wis
its was wont to find in the honse of God,
now meet my eye. How many of them are
now in that world where the earthly interests
that SO much engross us here are lighter than
the air We breathe They have gone, either
to bear witness TO the fidelity and truthfulness
of those who spake unto them in the name of
the Lord, or to curse their unfathfulness and
neglect, Let us, dear brethren, be warned
and animated by the conviction that the sum
mons wi ere long sound in our ear, ''Give an
account of thy stewardship Cody and ear
nest men have proceeded US in our work, and
have finished their course Within these walls
Freshman and Freeman exercised their useful
ministry, and other dear and honored brethern
Brinckle, Gadle, Harold, Lewis and Hood
were short time ago cur associates in the
great and holy work Their task is DONE
We are spared still to labor little longer in
the vineyard of the Lord May our rejoicing
and confidence when called from the field be
this-the testimony of our conscience, that in
simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fles ily
wisdom, but by the grace OF God We have had
our conversation in the world, and more abun-
dainty toward the household of faith
At the close of the address, the Rev. Mr..
Col man offered the following Res olution.
which was unanimously adopted by rising
vote:
WHEREAS, In the good providence of God,
the Right Reverend ami beloved Bishop of this
Diocese has been permitted to complete TWEEN
ty five years OF his Episcopate; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Convention hereby ex-
presses its grateful sense Of the numerous to-
kens OF Divine favor which have accompanied
his extended and faithful labors, and We most
earnestly trust that his life may be spared to
us for many years, and that God may pour
upon him ali rich blessings, ami grant him