The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-04-08
~ Financial ..d ce--sre,ai articles In
IN l~ mx
Conservation Of Rev. Dr.. Beckwith. Bish-
W op of Georgia.


OPP of Georgia.
From Savannah Republican. Of The sd
The great event, SO long anticipated in. Protes-
tant Episcopal circles. the consecrstion OF bish-
Oh for the diocese OF Georgia. to ill the place
made vacant by the death Of Bishop Elliott, the
beloved and reyered minister Of the Gospel OF
Jesus Christ took place yesterday. IL Is well
known that Rev. John Wayne Beckwith, D. n,
rector of Trinity Church, New Orleans, was una
nmously called TO the position, bat in q modest
and unsssumDg spirit. he declined, and it was not
until repeatedly solicited that he consented to as
sumo the duties and honors of the bishopric.
Bishop Beckwith arrived in this city on Toes
dsy, and yesterday the ceremony Of consecration
Was performed in st. Johns Church, according TO
previous announcement. Long before the APP
pointed hour for the commencement Of the ser
vices the church was crowded to repetion By
members OF all denominations, strangers from
distant parts of the country, and others, attracted
by the novelty of the ceremony TO be performed.
On each side Of the altar was seated choir Of
about fifty persons, whose musical abilities were
combined TO do honor to the occasion. 5
About IL O'Clock the procession OF iaymen,
ministers and bishops started from the residence
Of Charles Green. ESQ, and as the head OF It ea-
tered the church the choir chanted the ixxxiv
Psalm. The procession marched mp the center
aisle. The lsymen and vestrymen OF Christ and Sc.
John Churches taking seats on the right hand side
of The aisle, while the ministers, about forty in
number, from iiierent parts of the country took
their places directly in front OF the altar. Behind
these came the five bishops of the church who had
come 70 lend the dignity of their presence to add
to the solemni'y Of the ceremonial. They were
Wilmer OF Alabama, Atkinson, Of North Carolina,
and Greene. of Mississippi, the latter being the
presiding bishop. These high dignitsries of the
church walked forward and took seats within the
chsncel; the candidate for honors took his seat
within the altar railing. The rectors and ministers
wore their white gowns. with black surplice; the
bishops, black gowns with wide flowing sleeves of
white lawn, and white surplice.
The regular service, as marked down In the
programme, was then commenced with the lnfroir,
Ps. cxxxii, and following this the hy'ie Eleison
and Nicere Greed, which was chanted BY the
choir and people most admirably.
Bishop Wilmer, Of Alabama, then arose aud de-
livered the conservation sermon, taking for his
text the 10th and 10th verses OF the third chapter
of ST. Pauls First Episfle 10 Timothy. The SER
mon was very leDgthy-so much 30 as to preclude
the possibility Of our publishing It in its entirety
and synopsis would not do justice to the able
argument Of the learned and competent divine.
1t breatbed commeDdable spirit Of cathocity,
while at the same time being clear and forcibe
expounding of the doctrines Of the Protestant
Episcopal Church. ~
The speaker claimed that that church had pre-
served, more than any other, the forms aud spirit
Of the primitive church. The various denomlns-
fions we're formed by men who, at the sacrid: of
.
ideas, that they went out from rnder the project
ing Rgs If the church In order that they might
worship according to their own notions. Thus
the Puriians being iIliberal, could not sacrifice
their Calvanistic doctrines to the broad, compre
hensiye caihoicity Of the church, and had gone
out Of it and formed separate sect SOFA
Again, tie Methodisfs, for other reasons, had
left the church. apd so on through the whole
calendar of religious beliefs. The union meetings
that had been held in different sections. aud the
o.. =. nj ia hr lnf.t tara .f
different denominations. he regarded as a healthy
sign, as showing that Of truly Christian spirit
were beginning TO think and TO accept in all their
fullness ibe glorious truths OF Christianity. which
had the effect of bringing all denominations to-
eeiher, and would, the speaker hoped, at last
unite them in one grand church OF Christ The
Protestant Episcopal Church offered nucleus for
the establishment Of such church. for In It's doc
trines could be found something which would suit
the peculiar views Of every Christian.
Alter delivering q lengthy exposition of Pro
testan, Episcopal doctrine, and speaking still fur
Their with regard TO Christian unity, Bishop VIII
mer addressed the laymen of the church upon the
manner 10 which they should support, uphold and
aid their bishop In performing the great and holy
work to which they had called him. This con
cluded, DR.. Beckwith arose, and the bishop, In
the presence of the congregation, charged him
respecting his duties, and the proper manner OF
performing them. .
The conservation services proper commenced
at the conclusion of the sermon. DR.. BeckEith
walked forward TO the door Of the chsncel, where
he was met by Bishop Wilmer, of Louisiana, and
Atkinson, Of North Carolina, and presented to the
presiding Bishop Greene, of Mississippi, and the
associated bishops, who, in answer to the saiuta
zion Of presentation, inquired as 10 the testimon
ais of the candidates for office Of bishop. Rectors
in attendance read the call Of the Macon conven
ton, that Of the standing committees Of the
parishes IN the Diocese Of Georgia, certificate OF
high character from the standing committees OF
the parishes Of the Diocese Of Florida, and the
certificate from the bishops of the United States
Next the Litsny was chsnted by Bishop Young
Of Florida, and responses by the choir and con-
gregation. The bishop elect. in 8 clear, cain
voice, recited his pledge, and he was then exam.
med according TO the rules Of the church, by
Bishop Green. The Tent Creator was next
.chanted by Bishop Young and sung by the choir,
after which the ceremony Of Imposition OF
Hands, was performed The bishop elect received
the bishops gown and surplice, and knelt at the
door OF The cbsncel while each of the i've bishops
placed hand npon bis head, and Bishop Young
pronounced Oenedicti0n upon him. The cere.
m0ny enoed, he walked forward and took bis
place among the bishops, clothed in the full
majesty and dignity of the high and holy Office
The choir next performed the following anthem
S0l0-How beautiful are the feet Of them that
preach the Gospel Of peace. and bring glad tdings
OF good ,bings.-Romans x, Is.
Caoyvs-Their sound is gone out into ell lsnd.
and their words unto the end OF the world
Psalms xix, A. e-H l,1- II.
Af,era pause OF few minutes, TO allow those
who wished to retire at this part Of the service q
60 out, the Holy Communion service was CON
menced, and the sacrament of the Lords Supper
administered. The SurStrn1 C0rd0, Jefsdnct1fs
Hymn xciii with Gloria Pdtfi and Gloria "a Ec
celsis Tod chant) by the choir, and the Benedic
uon concluded the services. $3.50
The cousecration ceremonial vas beautifnl anC
interesting throughout and the large coneourse II
attendance sat patiently nntil the end, although
the services were quite lengthy. The music wa
not The success it might have been, as Their
seemed occasionally 10 be adherence Of Opinion
among the choir and organ, probably he eject Q
want OF proper feheaFsing.
However the ceremony passed on IN yer,
Satisfactory manner, particularly so when we con
slider that there has been secured to the diocese 0
Georgia hishop OF whose ability and greatnes
of heart Of whose nOblenessOf MUD aud Christian
.rir;t there can he no dOubt and We coogra IN Ar