Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1868-09-18
Conyocatlon OF the Diocese OF 'er-
mont.

COnvOcatiOn Oh inc bioeS"S
mont.
The Clerical Convocation OF the fro'
testant Episcopal Church in this Diocese
(Which is the Missionary Board thereoi)
held its autumnal meeting in the new
Emmanuel Church. Bellows Falls, ON the
lst, ID, and Sd inst, This is spacious
stone edifce well built and furnished at
a cost Of some $4,000, seating one OF
the largest congregations in the Diocese,
and whose conservation will, we hope,
take place at no very distant day.
This was one of the very largest OF
the meetings of Convocation, there being
present twenty-nine clergy in all, most oil
whom oficiated in the services. The at
tending clergy from this Diocese were;
The Rt. Rev. Bishop Bissell the Rev.
Drs. Bouns, Douglass, Hicks and How
ard the Rev. Messrs. Atwill, Batchel-
der, Fairbanks, Flanders, Graves, Hale,
(rector Of the parish,) Harris, Nell
waine, Peck, Putnam, Roberts, Rogers
and Smith. The clerical visitors, who
were cordially welcomed and invited to
seats in the Convocation, numbered II,
and were, the Rev. Drs. Hubbard and
Porter, the Rev. Messrs. Chase, Fisher,
Renouf, and II. S. Smith, all of the Di-
ocese of New Hampshire; John Henry
Hopkins, of the Diocese of New York
w. S. Southgate, of Connecticut; DR..
Metcalf, of Hobart College, Western
New York; S. Russell Jones, of Hi
nois; and j. w. Bancroft, of Michigan.
On Tuesday afternoon, there was rem
dered the first of series of partly Choir
al services. After Evening Prayer,
sermon was preached by the Rev. j. II.
Hopkins, from Heb. tx: q, on " the holy
places made with hands which are the
figures of the true" Like the other SER
mons of this occasion, it was not too
long, and was instructive and impressive.
The Bishop closed this and every service
with the Benediction.
On Wednesday occurred festival SER
vice that was probably the most complete
and elaborate of its kind ever held in
this Diocese, many parts being unsteady
rendered. After Morning Prayer, the
Bishop consecrated the Holy Commun-
ion, being assisted in its distribution, as
well as in the Epistle and Gospel, by the
Rector and the Rev. Mr.. Batchelder.-
The sermon was delivered by the Rev.
F. w. Smith, of Brattleboro, from St.
Luke v:5, 6, on the tolls and eventual
success attendant upon letting down the
Gospel net. The POST Communion was
said by the Rev. DIR, Hicks and the
large ofertory was given to the treasury
of Convocation. A bright floral cross
on the altar-ledge, and other rare flow
ers, some in silver vessels and some grow
ing in pots, profusely adorned the sane
tuary.
In the afternoon, Evening Prayer was
offered, and the Bishop confirmed nine
teen person., after happily addressing
them in the place of a sermon. The
choral amen followed each imposition of
hands. During the address and the cd
ministration of the Rite, the large con-
gregation stood up, attentive and ear
nest.
On Thursday, was held the closing
service. After Morning Prayer, mis-
sionary sermon was preached by the Rev
N. f. Putnam, of Poultney, from ID
Cor. iii: o" But our suffciency is OF
God" AT second service, the Bishop
catechised the children of the parish.
At nearly every service, as the sur.
pliced clergy entered or retired from the
church, Professionals and Recessionals
were sung, prominent among which were
Jerusalem the Golden" and "Sun Of
my soul, thou Saviour DEAR" Ito the tune
of Hursley.")
The music was rendered by large
clerical choir duly robed, aided by lay
choir of men, two of whom, (Messrs. w.
T. Wentworth and james L. Learned, }
we're choristers in Trinity parish, and
that Of the Annunciation, New York ;
the other two, (Messrs. Williams and
Deming,) being from Bellows Falls and
Arlington. The Rev. j. Milton Peck,
Rector of Trinity Church, Rutland, Gas.
sisted by the Rev. Messrs. Hopkins,
Smith and Roberts, was musical direct
or, and Mr.. S. B. Whitney, of st. Pauis
Church, Burlington, Gin the absence of
Mr.. VIM. Nutting,) was organist of this
occasion. After faithful practice under
skillful instruction, the music proved a
decided success, being hearty and devo-
tional, and most of it we'll adapted to
congregational use.
AT the business meetings, encouraging
reports were received from the several
missionary stations. The new Rector of
fha