The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-14
RELIGIOUS.
THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CONVENTION.
THIRD AND LAST DAY.

T1e convention reoesomDieu ycssofuoy aotnine
at st. Paul's Church, on Camp street, and AFTER
the usual services proceeded to the Transaction Oh
business.
The Rev. Mr.. Dalzell, chairman Of the commit
tee on the state of the church, read the following
interesting report, which was received and
adopted: .-..t
The committee on the state of the church, In
presenting to the convention report OF the
present condition of the diocese, labor under
great difficulty, owing to the circumstance tnat
some portions of the field, being without ministry,
make no report to the bishop, thus preventing
knowledge of the number OF souls there belong.
ing to the church; that from Christ Church 10
this city, the Oldest largest and weathest parish
in the diocese there Ia also no report before US;
| SO that we know nothing OF the WORK IN that
parish for the past year. nor OF Its present condi
| tion; an omission to comply with the require
| meDts of the canon which, on reference TO the
| journal Of the last convention, your committee
| find to have been the case last year aso and De-
| cause of the incomplete returns made by some OF
| the rectors Of parishes. Your committee would,
| therefore, urge upon the clergy the necessity Tor
| conforming to the laws of the church in these
| particulars, and urge upon those lay members OF
| parishes which may unhappily be without pastors
| The desirableness OF some one OF their wardens,
| or other yestrymen, sending up to the bishop an
annual report of the number OF communicates az
,ssss Nth sHsh ether nfO.mson consernisS .ae
TO Judge of the state of the church among them.
| The amendment to canon VI, which has been
adopted at this convention. will. we trust. correct
| these evils, and lead TO more fuli ana compiete
| returns in the future.
Taking such returns, however, as are before us,
| and comparing them with those of the last year,
| your committee are enabled, with humble tnanK-
fulness to the great Head OF the Church, 70 re-
port favoraby and hopefully OF our present state.
| The number of baptisms reported for the past
| wear Is nearly twenty five per cent greater than
that for the year Immediately preceding, while II
| shows an unusual proportion OF adult recipients Oh
that holy sacrament, thus indicating the churcns
| increasing hold on the minds of the more mature
and thinking portion of our population. The mum.
Der confirmed ia more than double that reported
| TO the last convention. And 30 have our COM
| n unicants increased the reports showing nearly
| ope.fourth more than we numbered last year.
When we remember that this increase has been
| given while the diocese was yet PROSTATE ana
| helpless, while our people were harassed by con-
Iinned misfortune and burden OF losses and cares
| sucb as few have ever been called to bear while
all our physical resources have been crippled, our
few clergymen called to extend their labofs over
portions of territory large enough for dloceses,
and many of our formerly fourishing fields NJ
labor living fallow for the want OF the means TO
support laborers to cultivate them, we feel that
we can thank God and take courage, now that
the pail Of adversely Is being lifted from our
land, and brighter day is apparently dawnlng.
The rich harvest of the past year, which
| benefcent God has given TO rs, while II nas
| cheered our minds with the hope OF returning
and permanenttemporal prosperity, VIII, we trust
lead TO such an Offering Of thanksgiving, and sucl
payment of our vows to Him, as shall supply
| the means necessary to carry on the church'i
work more vigorously than ever. Openings foI
the church everywhere abound In the diocese.
Bishops and clerky, alike, bear testimony 10 the
| readiness with which her ministrations are re
ceived wherever they are offered; all sorts and
| conditions of men, men OF every shade OF relgi
GUS opinion in the past readily assembling within
her courts, and accepting the word OF truth anC
the sacraments of life and strength at her hands
The want is, not field for the church to wori
in, but ldbOrers to gather in the harvest, ant
money TO support them. Nor DO these iaoorer
ask much for, as this convention well knows
many of our clergy are satisned 70 laoos on ~ y
the servants Of the rich, while others toll 10
souls literally without price, and add TO that to
| some other avocaton by which 10 provide IN
bare necessaries Of life for themselves and thei
Your committee, therefore feel this to be suit
able occasion to urge upon churcnmen an
| cburchwomen everywhere IN the diocese, but e'
. pecially at the center OF trsoe ana wealth,
, | fashion and plenty, the necessities OF the cnurc
! | and her claims upon their substance. III on
clergy are so ready to deny themselves, to lsoo
and to suffer- let those who 30 freely receive froi
= il and His church, who now are the recipient
from God of temporal bounty, as well do the
: duty in sustaining them.
live shall act in this spirit. and our Heavenl
Father shall bless rs with continuance OF earth
| hle9eI
! year will exhibit marked growth In the churc
! in Louisiana.
q W. T. DICKINSON DALzELL, NJ. D.,
THos. b. LAWSON.
4 The Rev. Mr.. Lawson, chairman OF the cor
}, mite e on the education Of the colored people
!. the diocese submitted the following report, whit
|. was read and adopted:
Il The committee on the education OF the ba'
Q people having reported, and said report haylI
D. been recommitted with instructions, again repo
!, | as follows: That in consequence OF the nnancl
y distress of our people for several years past,
10 much has been done for the education OF u
t, freedman. Indeed, the white people have n
s. been able to educate their own children. a.
could not therefore. be expected TO instruct u
10 negro children. We had hoped that someth
}, liberal would have been done in this matter
N our northern friends, who are reported 10
p wealthy and powerful, but our wishes nave q
been realized. They have not shown any mark
le | indication of Iberslity, even when direc,
{, appealed to for aid, in our efforts to enllght
1t the mind or heart of the African people. New
theless. we must. as formerly, 10 DO our GUY 70
ne negroes, and therefore We recOHInenu 'u0 iOA'
a ing: u...,,u,,
III | by the rectors in their several parishes when
O. can be done, for the instruction OF the Ireedme
q, and that we aid and encourage them to organi
rs in connection with this church, congregations
at religious worship, using our liturgy, as lar
st | possible, and other external aids ana symoo
II, | under sanction OF the DlsnOp, hohpteu W VI
30 taste and esihetical feelings.
be ResoIued That every facility be extended
those who desire and have suitable qualifcat
Id for the ministerial Office among them, that we
lis raise up in their midst intelligent men who q
in Keep them from falling back iato deeper ignora
and barbsrism.
The Rev. Mr.. Dunn asked If the church in
n, United States had decided to confer orders
1r. members of the negro race. Rev. Mr.. Law
70. remarked that there were already negro mi
cs tiers in the church in America he had met
h. in Michigan. The Rev. Mr.. Dalzell stated thai
ga had seen a negro minister taking part in G
m. yention held at Philadelphia some time since.
ed The bishop, from the chair, stated that he
al. met a negro minister from the West Indies
pie Europe, and had ccmmuned with him; that
ro- gro bishop had been invited to seat at
ind Lambeth Conference, but with becoming delc
cir had absented himself.
The bishop remarked that though he had
carefully examined the "ancient and moo
er' HYMNS of the church in use in England, he
Sc no objection to their being used by the clergy