Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-11-22
Conservation Of Bishop Wilmer.
IMPOSING RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES
The Conservation Service and Sermon.

Convention of the Protestant Episcopa
| Church of Louisiana, assembled IN the cit
of New Orleans The most important O
| its deliberations and actions was the select
ing of a Bishop for the State of Louisiana
to fill the vacancy occasioned by the dealt
of that venerable and beloved man of God
Bishop Polk. The choice of the Conven
ton fell upon the Rev. J. P. B. Wilmer, d
D., of the diocese of Maryland-and tn
Presbyteries throughout the State warml..
| gave their adhesion to the selection. Thu
| It'll of November, Wednesday last, was fix
ed upon as the day of the conservation.
| We copy from the Crescent, of Thursday
the subjoined interesting account of thu
ceremonies of the occasion !:
THE NEW BISHOP
| The Rev. Dr. J. P B. Wilmer was bor1
in Scottsville, Albemarle county, Virginia
and received a thorough collegiate anC
theological education. He is about As years
of age, and in thepossession ofgood health
| He was for many years the rector of ST.
Marks Church, Philadelphia, and while
there made reputation for piety, energy,
goodness of heart, and oratorical abilities,
| which was widespread throughout the
country. At the commencement of the
war, in 1861, he resigned his rectorship and
repaired to Virginia. For some time past
| he has been attached to the diocese OF
Maryland, and throughout that State has
many warm friends and admirers of his
Christian zeal. His wife, daughter and
niece accompany him to this city, his new
home, and new sphere of religious duties.
Much of the present week will be devoted
by him to receive the calls of the clergy
and laity of this city, the State and NUM-
cipal authorities and all citizens who may
see fit to do honor to and congratulate the
new incumbent of the Episcopacy of the
State this being generally customary upon
the Inauguration of Bishops of any denom-
ination into their new See.
THE RELIGIOUS EXERCISES.
Christ Church, corner of Canal and
Dauphin streets, Rev. DIR. Leacock, Rec
tor, was selected as the place of consecra-
ton, it being the mother church of this
CITY, and also said to be the largest and
most central. The ceremonies were an
nounced to commence at II o'clock, A. M.
but by 9 o'clock the church was well nigh
filled, and at the appointed hour was liter
ally crowded with a congregation all evil
IDENTIFY anxious to witness the imposing
ceremonies attending the conservation of a
bishop. The bishops, viz: Right Rev.
John Henry Hopkins, d. d. L. l.. D., pre-
siding bishop of the States Right Rev
Chas. S. Quintard, d. D., of Tennessee
Right Rev. Richard II. Wilmer, of Ala
bama, and the Right Rev. VIM. M. Green,
D. D., of Mississippi, attended by about
twenty of the clergy, all surpliced, marched
in procession from the vestry through the
side yard to the front entrance to the
church. and thence to the altar, the bish-
ops taking seats Withinside the railing, and
the clergy in the front pews Upon the
entrance of the procession, the organ pealed
forth new chant, and the services were
fairly begun. The Rev. DIR. Wilmer took
a seat outside of the alter railing just in
front of the centre aisle, until after the
conservation was performed.
The religious exercises of the church,
known as the morning prayer, were then
duly and fully observed, the Rev. DR..
Hedges, rector of st. Luke's, the Rev.
Robert F. Clark, of Covington, La, the
Rev. J. w. Beckwith, of Trinity Church,
and the Right Rev. Bishops Green and
Quintard, reading or singing the various
prayers and hymns.
THE CHOIR.
During the morning prayer exercises the
choir, with the organists, Professor Theo.
Wehrlein, rendered some very beautiful
and enchanting music The Veni Smctus
SpirituS, by Madame Sawyer, soprano, and
Mr.. Tracy, tenor, was grand, and indeed
the music rendered throughout the entire
services was no small feature of the impo-
sing ceremonies, and reflects much credit
upon the performers.
THE CONSIDERATION SERVICE.
After the morning prayer was concluded
the Right Rev. Bishop Hopkins the presi-
ding bishop, commenced the conservation
services by reading the collect. Then fol-
lowed the Epistle, the Gospel, and the con-
secration sermon was delivered.
THE CONSIDERATION SERMON.
Bishop Hopkins then assembled the ros-
trum, and read for his text from st. PAUL
Tim, ill.,:
"This is the true saying, if a man desire
the Office of q bishop, he desireth good
work A bishop must then be blameless. -
We give in substance the sermon of the
Rev. Bishop as follows:
He regretted the absence of Bishop Eli
oft and announced the disappointment felt
by the clergy as well as the laity. The elo-
quent head of the Church in Georgia was
to have delivered the conservation sermon.
His unavoidable absence was much regret
ted by Bishop Hopkins, and he asked the
hluu AuuulSeuceS VI CuOSS pfeSCuG Ill his ell
forts to deliver the sermon instead. He
would present in plain and simple terms
the subject of the text just read, and also
advert to the solemnity of the OCCASION In
the most learned manner did Bishop Hop
kins dwell upon the reasons and necessities
and actual rights of the existence of bish-
ops for the Protestant Episcopal Church. !
To the text he referred frequently, accept
ing it as the Word of God, given by inspi-
ration. He dwelt at length upon the argu-
ments and objections of many in the church
to the creation Of bishops for the episcopal
cy. elf man desires bishopric, he de- |
sireth good work "a ''good work, " said
the apostle; and all good works should have
a government He contended that the Of
flee was not an unnecessary one-not su-
perfiuous-as many, doubtless good per
sons, thought and yet think. tie drew the
line CT distinction from the Roman Church,
and said the fact should not be drawn from
popery, but from God. He called on his
hearers to refer to ecclesiastic history The
bible and history of the church should be
observed, and the higher authority of heav-
en- followed. The Head of the Church is
God. What is the church the kingdom
of Christ upon earth. It must have its
visible government here, from whence en-
anates His doctrines and His benevolence