Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-05-31
VOLUME XXXIH.
EPISCOPAL CONVENTION OF TEN.
NESSEE

/ port Of the Convention of the Protestant
/ Episcopal Church, held at Bolivar on the
lGth, 18th and 18th of May.
The Convention was the first presided
over by Bishop QUINTARD since his conse-
Grafton, and was largely attended, The
Bishops address is Of very interesting
character, but from its length we are only
enabled to present a few extracts:
Almost every parish has its own memo
rails Of sorrow; each separate heart keeps
the register of its own bitterness"
We may not doubt the mercy and the
wisdom of our Heavenly Father in bringing
upon our land the rod of correction, and we
should pray for grace 10 bear that rod when
soeyer by any manner of adversely il shall
please His gracious goodness TO visit US. Day
unto day uttereth speech Of God faithfulness
and love, and we should learn that He is our
strength and salvation, and this should give
us "rest in the day of trouble" although
the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall
fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive
shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat;
the flock shall be cut of from the fold, and
there shall be no herd in the stalls"
But this rest in the day Of trouble
is only TO be found in the church-in the
Zion which the Lord hath founded.
On the 23d Of April, 1862 the Right Rev.
James Hervey Otey, ID. d., L. L. D., first
Bishop of the Diocese of Tennessee, entered
upon that rest which remaineth for the
people Of God | find it difficult to speak
of his life, with all its labors, its trials and
disappointments as | should wish
Bishop Otey was elected to the Episcopate
at the annual convention Of the Diocese of
Tennessee in june 1868. He knew that
the condition and wants Of the church in
this Diocese were such, and the labors
requisite 10 meet them so great, as to render
the Office anything rather than an object of
ambition. lie knew that unceasing vigi-
lance, incessant toll, many wearisome days
Of travelling must be the portion of him who
undertook the burden of its faithful execu-
ton. The friends of the church were few,
feeble, and widely dispersed over an extend
ed territory. There were at the time of his
election but five Presbyters and one Deacon
laboring in the Diocese. These were the
venerable DIR. Daniel Stephens, Rev. George
Weller, Rev. Messrs. Wright, Muller, Chill
tern and Litton. -Four parishes were repre-
scented at the convention by lay delegates,
viz: St. Peters, Columbia; st. PauPs
Franklin; Christ Church, Nashville, and
Emmanuel, Latirangc.
Casting himself unreservedly upon the
unfailing promises of the Divine Head of
the Church to guide, protect and sustain his
faithful ministers "even unto the end of the
world" he accepted the position, and was
cOnsecrated in Christ'S Church, Philadel-
phia, on the llth day of January, 1884, by
the RI Rev. VIM. White, assisted by the
Rt. Rev. B. T. Onderdonk, Rt. Rev. III. w.
Onderdonk and Rt. Rev. George w.
Doane
His Episcopate was long and laborious
we shall never know all the labOrs and trials
he endured he has had no written records.
In letter in my possession, written five
years before he was taken from Us, he says:
81 have visited, on an average, every con-
gregation in my Diocese twice annually. |
have travelled by all sorts of conveyance
in all weathers-storm and tempest, as well
as sunshine-have preached, labOred and
taught from house to house-have traversed
mountains and the lonely wilderness
wherein was no man. and left no expedient
untried TO make full proof of my ministry
! have, perhaps most painfully exercised
discipline oftener than all the Bishops of the
Southwest, all that | might finish my course
with joy, and testify the Gospel of the Grace
of God
"'Forgive me this foolish boasting,' as
saith ST. Paul.
have gone generally over the South
west, and at one time the limits of my spir-
itual jurisdiction laid upon me by the church
were Kentucky and Missouri on the North,
10 the Gulf on the South, and stretching be-
tween the Eastern shores of Florida and
the Pacific" lie endured all physical IA
tigue with cheerful spirit until literally
worn out by his labors.
Accompanied by the Rev. Dr. Merrick,
Rev. Thomas A. Morris and George II.
Fairbanks, Esq, one Of the Trustees of the
University of the South, visited "Univer-
sity Place" All the buildings, with the
exception of an old log cabin, were burned
by the Federal army while encamped on the
ground. The cornerstone of the Universi-
ty, block of marble weighing six tons,
was broken up and entirely removed. The
valuable album, containing landscape
sketches by the venerable Bishop Of Yer
mont; all the typographical maps and re-
ports of the engineer corps, showing the pc
culiarities of local position, the elevation
above the sea-level, as well as the level of |
the surrounding country, were removed |
from the iron safe in which they were kept, |
and carried of.
| selected locations for the buildings Of |
our Diocesan Training school. In the |
evening, we erected cross on the site Sc |
lected for the chapel gathered the workmen |
about it, and asked the blessing of the Great |
Head of the Church on our undertaking. |
We recited the Apostles Greed and made |
the grand old woods ring with the Gloria in
Ercelsis
Friday, 23d-We returned TO Winchester |
and, al night, | read prayers in the court
hourse, and DIR. Merrick preached TO a good |
and attentive congregation.
Sunday next before Easter-The Meth |
odist house Of worship was kindly rendered |
to us by the pastor, the Rev. Mr.. Green. |
Morning prayer was said by the Rev. DIR.
Merrick. read the anti-communion ser
vice, and preached to a large congregation.
In the afternoon DIR. Merricll held services |
and preached.
At night-after the evening prayer
on "The Present Position OF the
Church, ils Unity and Strength" Seven
candidates were presented for confirmation
bv Rev Mr.. Morris, TO whom, after the Clay
ing on of hands" | delivered an address.
There is every prospect of the speedy eStab-
lishment Of strong church influence in
Winchester Our church building was de
stroycd by fire during the war; aud for some
time services must be held in the courthouse
But the people are very kindly disposed to-
ward the church; as an evidence of this the
trustees of "Carrick Academy rendered to
me the school property, consisting of sub
stantial two story brick school house with |
two acres Of land. The old board Of trustees
hold the title to the property, but the school
IS to be under the direction of board APP |
pointed by the Bishop of the Diocese.
have invited the Rev. +, L. Knight ID. d.,
who was very highly recommended to me |
hy Bishop Odenheimer Of New Jersey, to
take charge Of the school. ! am thankful
to say that DIR. Knight has accepted the po-
,ition, and is now at Winchester. have
appointed George r. Fairbanks Esq, Presi-
dent of the Board of Trustees.