Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1868-03-20
NUMBER TEIRTY-EIGHT.

: devotion which now adorns Rock Point, was com
pleted. His spirit rose with the walls Of tn,
edifce; 81 feel said he in 1855 ''like mariner
d who though once shipwreckel the voyage T.
: at last in sight Of the haven"
In 1860 the Rock Point farm of 100 acre.
!. with the Episcopal residence and Institute, Wa,
decided to the church Five years more Of ser
=, vice were granted him, years which We're the
crowning glory Of his life. His dosccsaH work
- went on, his pen was busy Then We behoIi
him the presiding Bishop in our national church
- . attending 10 the conservation Of Bishops from
MI sections Of the country-no less than nine in
two years-presiding over the general conyen-
ton where he was largely instrumental in r,s-
toring the unity Of our national church which
had been disturbed by the war again acting a.
Rector Of st. Paul's church Burlington and ss
architect Of the great enlargement Of that e,li-
flee crossing the Atlantic TO bear his very I'M
pOrtant part in the council Of Lambeth return
ing to make visitation Of his diocese in mi 7
winter-like Elijah passing on To- Bethel, to Jcri-
cho, 20 Jordan, across the stream 10 Gilcai ami
yet on till the chariot and horses Of fire took
him up to heaven. Ah then, like Elisha was
the heart Of the church in the parish, dioc,-o
nation and continent, all represented at the sol
mn burial, crying My father, my father, ,hc
chariot Of Israel and the horsemen thereof
Looking over his whole career we are COM
pelled TO say that few have given eiual evidence
OF slngleness Of purpose 10 DO good in the state
Of life TO which God had called him. His al
ministratioR was characterized by Justice, mild
ness and kindness. During his Episcopate the
population of the State has increased % per cent
the clergy l Is per cent. the commandments l56
per cent. the church buildings IL per cent,
the number Of parsonages from l to l6, ami
the diocesan, Institute has been added Iu
respect to learning, consistency, unity and orler
the improvement has not been less. In respect
10 the higher elements Of spirituality We may
hope-the Lord only can declare. And the same
great promise is given US for tine future.
The Rev. DIR. SWEET then proceeded with
the administration of the Holy Communion.
assisted by the Rev Mr. Batcheldcr and tie
Rev. DIR. Hicks
AFTERNOON
At three O'Clock the Convention rel4-cm-
bled pursuant to adjournment, Rev. Dr.
SWEET in the chair The Roll was called and
quorum found to be present
The President Of the Convention then de-
liyered an address alluding to the great lo-s
sustained in the death Of the late Bishop
Iaying feeling tribute to the character and
memory Of Bishop Hopkins Speaking of the
Importance Of the occasion and invoking the
spirit Of the Lord, to preside in the coaucil
and grant Bishop after His own heart.
Mr. Richardson, in behalf Of the Commit
tee appointed TO take into consideration the
ways and means for the support Of a Bishop
presented their report, recommending the
raising of a subscription Of $jO0OO, the in
terest TO be applied TO the payment Of the
Bishops salary, and that Harmon Canfeld.
\. L. Catlin and Charles Dewey be appointed
a committee to procure from the next Leg
islature an act of Incorporation for the care
Of said fund that the salary Of the Bishop
be fixed at $4,000 per annum, until he shall
! occupy the residence Of the late Bishop. The
Committee further presented a subscription
paper, to be circulated for the purpose of Sc
curing by the first of June if possible at least
one half Of the required amount which should
be necessary to bind the subscription. On
motion Of Mr.. Richardson. the report was
unanimously adopted.
Mr.. Keith then moved the fJlowin. rt-,,-
| luton which Was adopted unanimously
ReSolrea, That the committee consisting of
r. Higgins, Alfred Keith, Charles Dewey and 4
Fr0uty- appointed 10 circulate the description
paper above referred To among the members -
the convention, cause copies Of subscription 10
be placed in the hands Of the Vestrymen or aH
the parishes III the Diocese, and that they bc re-
quested 10 circulate the sane and endeayor 20
procure the amount Of S2j, 900 required a.
make the subscription valid
On motion of Mr. Keith, it wac resolved.
that one or more Of the committee when
procuring the subscription to the Episcopal
Fund he invited to visit every Parish in the
Diocese, To assist the yestrymen in procuring
subscriptions to said Fund, and that their cx-
Ienses be paid by the convention.
On motion Of the Rev Dr. Hicks. it was
Resolved that the convention do now proceed
to the election of Bishop for the Diocese Of
Vermont.
After singing the last four verses ofthc gyth
Selection of Psalms, some minutes were spent
in silent prayer.
The President then conducted the public
deyoiions Of the convention in the use ofsumc
appropriate collects
After which the clergy retired for the pur-
pose Of making nomination, as required bv
the canon.
On motion Of Major Thomas. W. Walker,
! Resolrei, That the Is.ity when preceding to
the election, shall each deposit a ballot for the
| person Of his choice.
The President then informed the Conven
tion that the clergy had proceeded to vote by
ballot for some suitable person to he nominal
ed for the Bishop of the Diocese, and that they
had chosen the Rev. WILLIAM HESRY AUcrs-
Trs BIssELL, Rector of Trinity Church, Gene
va, of the diocese of Western New York
We understand that Dr. Bissell was unani-
mously nominated on the eighth ballot
Rev DR.. Hoffman of Brooklyn, New York
Rev Dr. Paddock of Detroit, Mich; and
Rev Mr.. Douglas of Windsor, Vt, being
prominent candidates
The laity upon the second ballot confirmed
the nomination by 81 out of So votes.
On motion of Hon. George Nichols of
Northfeld this vote was made unanimous
The whole convention then Joined in sing
ing the Gloria in excelsis, after which the
testimonial of Dr. Bissell's election Unassigned
by each member of the Convention.
This document, which is handsomely en-
crossed, declares in the careful and quaint
language of the form 50 long in use for the
purpose. that the new Bishop ''is not, so far
as we are informed, justly liable to evil report
either for error in religion, or for viciousness
in life, and that he is q of such suffciency
in good learning such soundness in the faith
and Of such yirtuous and pure manners and
godly conversation, that he is apt and meet To
exercise the Office Of a Bishop, TO the honor Of
God, and the edifying Of his church, and to
bea wholesome example to the flock of Christ. -
On motion of Rev. c. R. Batchelder of Be-
7 -