The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-06-26
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
Religious AMains.
TO THE COLUMBIAN.
Shall We Have A Bishop Among
na9

The Proceedings of the Episcopal
Convention naturally raise the question
standing AS the caption of this commu-
nication, and in order that it may be-
discussed understandingly few words,
preliminary are requisite.
The Diocese of Pennsylvania at pres
ent contains forty-two counties, COM
prising about thirty thousand square
miles, and containing a population Of
more than two millions of souls. 1t is
evident at a glance that there is lar.
ger population and greater extent Of
territory than can be properly overseen
and administered by any one Bishop
The precarious health of Bishop ste
vens made one of the things necessary
the division of the Diocese, or an as
sistant Bishop.
As matter of economy, division il
the cheaper. The Convention raised
the Bishops salary to $500, and recon-
mended the purchase of an Episcopal
residence, at an additional expense of
$50, 900, and the salary of an assistant
would not be less than $1,000. We be-
lieve we can provide for a Bishop by
expending, say one dollor apiece annu.
ally, by each communicant in the new
diocese; andIthere is no member of the
Church within that territory who can
not or will not, contribute that small
sum.
But, beside being cheaper IAN indepen.
dent Bishop is preferable every way.
First, in being able to reach personally
all parts Of the Diocese. Second, In en-.
joying more intimate relationship
with his Clergy and Laity. Third, in
organizing and carrying forward Church
work. Fourth, in finding out the great
needs of particular localities, and Fifth
in concentrating and organizing the la
bors and means Of the Church, thus in
creasing her usefulness, her influence
and her power for good.
An assistant Bishop is after all only Il
journeyhian. He cannot. originate, he
can direct, only in subordination to the
Bishop. His powers are as perfunctory
as his duties, and in neither is he free
or independent agent. 1t was under
all these circumstances that Mr.. VIM.
Welsh offered, and the Convention
adopted the following:
Rcsoired, That this Convention con
sents to the formation of new Diocese
within the limits of the existing Do
cese, to be composrd of the twenty.eight
counties bordering on the Diocese OF
Pittsburg, as follows: Bradford, Tioga,
| sullivan, Lycoming, Columbia, Mon
tour, Northumberland, Schuylkill
Berks, Lebanon, Dauphin, York, Ian
caster, Adams, Cumberland, Perry, Ju-
niata, Snyder, Union, Clinton, Centre,
Mihlin, Huntingdon, Franklin, Fulton,
bedford, Blair and Potter, but that the
Bishop shall not be asked to give hi
consent thereto until he has secured eV-
idencc that twO-thirds of the clerg,
ana parishes representing two-thirds Of
the communicants reported in 1867,
approve Of being set off as n new Dio-
cese: and that $500 year for Ave
years be secured for the support of the
new Episcopate.
Now the new or proposed DIOCESE.
contains about sixty Parishes and over
three MOUSdhd communicates. Vermont
contains fewer-so does Tenncssee--su
does Pittsburg, 80 does New Hampshire
SO does Maine-so does louisiana
80 does Kentucky, Florida, Delaware
and several Others. See Church Alma
nae ls6S. We hope, therefore soon, Il"
have the question answered in the atlir-
native, and to have Il live, active, able,
piou-, lahoriouS Bishop among US.
,t,T.u