The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-11-06
Some Remarks upon the Protestant
Episcopal General Convention

From the New York Times.
IT'S also a hopeful sign of the times that
In the recent discussions the most intiuen-
tial. If not the most prominent, part was
borne by the laity. No one can have read
the daily abstract of what was said and
done in the Convention without being
struck with this fact. We cannot ana
would no. ignore, of course, the impression,
made by the speeches Of such DISTINGUISHED
clerical deputies as Rev. Drs. HaIght ana
Littleiohn. Of New York; Howe and dood-
win. of Pepnsylvania; Mead, OF Connec-
t;cut Adams, of Wisconsin; Mahan, OF
Maryland. Andrews and Norton, of Viz
einia; and Gadsden, Of South Carolina
NIL clear thinkers and forcible speakers,
who never rose without commanding atten-
ton. And yet, after all, largely as the
time of the Convention was taken up with
the various topics upon which these able
and learned divines touched in debate, it is
clear that the action of the body was de-
termined rather by the counsels of the dis
tinguished laymen who had seats upon the
floor. These deputies, indeed, abstained
from frequent or protracted speaking,
but upon oil questions of parliamen-
tary law, in pointing out the dan
gers of hasty and ill-considered leglsia-
ton. and in warning the Convention from
making canons which should possibly con-
fict with existing statute laws and osher
controlling influences of the various states
their advice was of the greatest significance
ord yo1pe--Fcw ecclesiastical ASSEM- ones
nave had so great q number of eminent
practical men from the body of the people.
The experience and learning of Samuel 3:
,Ruggles and Hamilton ,Fiss, - 4 :Eork ;
the Sa iss gsio6 and thouine frwsdom
of Messrs. Welsh and Conynghanf, Of Penn
sylvania-the last named Judge: the calm,
Clear mode Of statement OF Messrrs. Battle,
of North Carolina Otis, of Illinois; and
Shelley, of Virginia-nll accustomed to
pronounce legal judgments from the bench !;
the sharp, incisive logic of Mr.. McCrady,
of South Carolina, and the sturdy good
sense of Governor Stevenson, of Kentucky :;
these high intellectual endowments would
have illustrated any deliberative assembly,
no matter for what purpose brought to-
gether. The participation of such men in
the affairs of the Church must enhance Its
efficiency in elevating society to the stand
ard of Christian morals at once benehtlpg
Church and State by direct and retro
active agency.
All ri ht-minded persons, within or with
out the communion of the Episcopal Church,
will rejoice that the debates Of the Conven-
ton were conducted throughout in the most
courteous spirit, and thateven upon points
of difference, where scbism had been feared
but was happily averted, there vas an ame-
nitv of temper that became Christian men
seeking to serve the cause of their Master.
Twice during the session the ordinarily
simple and conversational style of speech
employed in the body rose TO rare eloqucnce,
that melted the hearts and stirred the sym
pathy of all hearers. The first occasion
was in the statement by Rev. Mr.. Rogers,
Of Texas, of the necessity of giving help to
the Bishop in discharging his episcopal
functions in that vast diocese. The second
was in the presentation by Hon. B. John
son Barbour, OF Virginia, of report on
the destitution of the clergy and the urgency
of providing for their relief. Mr.. Barbour's
remarks were instinct with thedeepest feel
ing, and expressed in phrase Of uustudied
yet majestic diction, and they commanded
the greater attention from the fact that all
saw and felt that Mt last the usefulness and
perpetuity of the Church depended upon
the recognition of the Scriptural precept
tnat the lahorer IA worthy of his hire.