The Portland daily press., 1869-09-01
Prote..ans Episcopal Conyen,is,.

The fiftieth annial convention of the Pro-
testant Episcopal Church in the diocese of
Maine assembled at St. Luke's Cathedral. in
this city, at A. M. yesterday. There were
twenty clergymen Of the diocese present, be-
sides the Bishop, Right Reverend DR.. Nicely,
and six clergymen from other dioceses, Rev.
DR.. Leakin of Baltimore, Rev. Dr. PATTERSON
of Philadelphia, Rev. DR.. Parker OF Exeter, N.
| H., Rev. Mr.. Brathwaite of Stamford. Conn.,,
Rev. Mr.. Goodwin of Rhode Island, and Rev.
Mr.. Magrath of Michigan.
Morning prayer was said b. Rev. Messrs.
Webster, Storrs, Washburne and Philsol, the
clergy entering the cathedral with professional
singing, preceded by the choir boys, and de-
parting at the close with occasional hymn.
Immediately after the congregation had with
drawn the clergy re-assembled in the Cathe-
dral and the Bishop in his Episcopal robes
| called the convention to order.
When the roll of the clergy had been called
| by the Secretary, Rev. Charles w. Hayes the
Convention proceeded to the election of Sec
rotary, which resulted in the re election of Rev.
Mr.. Hayes.
| The papers of the lay delegates from the diff
ferent parishes were then presented and acted
upon.
Rev. Dr. Ballard of Brunswick presented a
| report on the order of business and the rules
of order to be followed in the Convention. The
order of business was adopted, but the special
rules of order were laid upon the table for fur
| Their discussion.
| The hour for the celebration of the Holy Com
munion and the Convention sermon having ar
rived, the Convention adjourned to 3 P. NJ
| The clergy presently reappeared in SUPPLIES,
singing hymn as they entered, preceded by
| the choristers. Rev. Drs. Patterson, Ballard
| and Leakin, and Rev. Messrs. Magrath, Mars
| den and Murray took part in the Communion
| Office, the Bishop being the celebrant Rev.
| G. S. Lefingwell of Christ Church, Gardiner,
| preached the sermon. After abiding to the
fact that this was the fftieth anniversary of the
founding of the diocese, the preacher an
nouEced his text from 1 Tim, g. 15-" The
Church of the living God, the pillars and
ground of the truth, and proceeded to deliver
very carefully prepared discourse upon the
Bible and the Church, showing at length the
mutual relations of both, how the planting of
the Church preceded the giving of the Scrip
lures, and what was the Office of the Church
as the pillar and ground of the truth. The
service was we'll attended. The collection made
was devoted to the missions of the diocese.
| At P. M. the Convention again assembled.
Christ Church, Biddeford, was then admitted
into union with the Convention, and after the
calling of the roll of lay delegates the Bishop
proceeded to read his annual address. This
was an exceedingly interesting account of the
1 RiSh0n' q NJ
the missionary operations of the diocese. These
were in very hopeful condition. Many new
missions had been begun, and some OF
great promise could now be entered upon.
He also dwelt upon the increase of the Eps.
copal fund, and closed with an urgent appeal
to the clergy to bring the claims of the minis
try home to the young men in their parishes
He gave the following summary of Episcopal
acts: Confirmed 265; large increase upor
the number last year; one ordination to the
Priesthood, and one to the Diaconate; ont
church cOnsecrated and three others opened
for divine service, and the parish Of Chris
Church, Biddeford, incorporated.
The address ended, Mr.. r. II. Gardiner pre-
scented his report as Treasurer of the Board o
Missions. After evening prayer business wa
resumed and delegates for the meetings of tn
Diocesan Board of Missions was appointed
from the parishes. AT P. M. an adjournment
was made to A. M. to-day.
At half past o'clock the clergy ASSEMBLIES
again in the Cathedral where large copgre
CATION had gathered. There was short ser
vice said by the Rev. Messrs. Hayes, Ward an
Cooley; the esd psalm was sung, and then tn
Rev. MI Ogden, Rector of Grace Church
Bath, preached the missionary sermon fron
Prov. 81: 31-"Give her of the fruit of be
hands; and let her own works praise her in tn
gates" 1t was an earnest plea for woman
sphere in the church, particularly for the EN-
ployment of women in parish and missionar,
work. Mr.. Ogden is the youngest priest in tn
diocese, but his discourse was exceedingly orig
inal and apt and timely, and was listened t.
| with great interest.
The Bishop followed with warm words O
endorsement of Mr.. Ogden's discourse, an,
added that the association of Christian wome1
for purposes of education, had already receiv
ed the sanction of the Bishops of the church
and then abiding to the fact that. there wer,
| but two candidates for Orders in the diocese
and that the need of clergy was very great, in
troduced Rev. DR.. Patterson, of Philadelphia
who gave short but excellent account of tn,
work of the society for the increase of tn,
ministry, and the religious restitution of tn
| country.
| The 104th hymn was then sung and after
collection had been made in behalf of this so
ciety, the Bishop closed with prayer and til,
benediction.