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

Ni4- hhAl-f-l d, NAl''ft issfla-
The speaker remarked Ethat his text, was a
glorious promise, which has held good through
all the ages Of persecution, corruption and re-
formation to the present time. III brief review
Of the limited history Of cur church amid the
Green Mountains he saId that she began her car
Ger with more than forty years in the wilderness
and with no Moses 10 guide her. For more than
a third Of that perio,l through the stormy period
Of the revolution and under all the obloquy re
sulting from continued attachment to "A church
which bore the name Of England and the odium
Of every thing supposed TO De British. her men-
bers were not dishearteucd A. soon as peace
wac restored, and after the Episcopate was OBJ
tanned in Connecticut, they began 10 secure ofici-
al services. Twice the. elected man for Bishop
but in neither case was the design cousummate1
In those dtys there was no maternal church as
now with outsjretchel arms To relieve her by
sending her a missionery Bishop till she was suf-
| fciently developed to maintain diocesan. And
but for the unfdtering faith and unwearied and
heroic diligence and coustIncy Of such men as
| Chittendcn AID Bronson, cur branch Of the
church must have been extinguishel.
| In 1910 the church in Vermont conielcrated
/ with other New England dioceses, and thus Sc
cured in part the offices Of a Bishop. One or two
cergymen and a dozen aymen in those days
made full convention. The special convention
which adopted this union was obliged TO adjourn
a day TO secure a decent attendance, and then re-
/ quested a visiting clergyman from Connecticut to
/ sit as its president, 80 that Father Bronson
might retain his place as Secretary.
The older portion of cur people can still recall
/ some of the services Of the venerable Bishop
| Griswold. They can bring to mind the striking
! scene Of the ''Union'i or the borrowed meeting
/ house, crowded in the square pews the curious
/ faces watching the unfamiliar services, but be-
coming absorbed when the man OF God from the
| high pulpit unfolded with meek and winning elo-
duence the saving truths Of the Gospel. Those
we're times ofthe revival Of old affections and Of
hopes long deferred. The twenty one years Of
Bishop Griswold's jurisdiction in Vermont were
years Of very marked growth Of the infant
church. Two clergymen and seven laymen CON-
/ prised his first convention in 1911. Thirteen
clergymen and forty laity from nineteen parishes
| elected his successor III 1852, the time when the
church in Vermont resumed the state and func-
tons Of an independent diocese. The Lord in his
wisdom and grace had provided the man for her
first Bishop lie had endowed him with the Wig
orous and noble form, quick and comprehensive
mind, appreciatiye taste, a lively conscience. TO
that peculiar maternal culture which is 50 often
a chief requisite in the education Of good men,
had been added a varied culture and a know
lclEt OF huelltteS lit WIS oslit " EtAtitl
convention in 1896, the first year after h or
dination, and had been a member Of that body at
every session since. His call to Vermont assum-
ell the appearance Of divine call and with char
acteristic decision he devoted his ites labor TO hi:
| work Such man was Right Rev. John III
| Hopkins when he was consecrated by the yenerabl,
| Bishops White, GriswOd and Bowen, Oct. 81
| 1882 BY the last of November he had removed
to Burlington, and assumed the Rectorship of st
Paul's church, and on the 3Oth Of December h,
commenced his first Episcopal visitation.
This portion of the church hal never had th'
benefit of much immediate Episcopal supervisor
an. there were naturally many things to b,
g set in order How well the Bishop succeed
ed you all know. In no part Of the church ha:
there been more cordial adoption Of the wei
established orler of the church or more fra
ternal spirit between the clergy and the mem
bers. But there were also many vacant parishes
to be supplied with clergymen. This was il
the line of the Bishops cherished desire and h
addressed himself to it with extraordinary yea
and self sacrifice. In three years and princi
pally at his own expense he had erected Theo
logical Institute and Seminary, with accommO
dation for one hundred pupils. He then sailed
to England and'colected about 5000, and 40t
volumes for the Institute, and at the next con
vention in 1889 he offered the property which
cost about SODIUM, TO the church, Tor -oO,OOo
should they feel disposed to carry out the worl
which his own private means was inadequate Il
do. 1t was d time of great financial embarrass
ment and the action Of the church dilatOry
and undecisive, and the Undertaking was in th'
following year abandoned. The second decade
Of his Episcopate was the period during whicl
the trial Of faith was borne with patient con
stancy and industry, ending in the conversion o
Rock Point from wilderness TO apleasantho home
large increase Of his Parish and an extensive
remodeng Of the church ediice under his Owl
personal supervision ami labor. During bOtl
periods his ever active pen contributed mucl
which has given him high reputation in bott
hemisphcrcs. The history Of the third decad
reveals the visible success granted at length Il
unfailing faith and perseverance. In 1854 h
proposed to the convention his plan for nev
Episcopal Institute and in 1860 that noble mon
ument Of the Bishops resolution, -kill and .elf