The Portland daily press., 1870-09-07
Fify-flrst Annual C0nveptien 81 the
PrOt.s slant Episcopal Church i'm the hi.
s,f n It

| Cathedral in this city at half-past o'clock
| yesterday morning. The Bishop aud nearly
| all the clergy of the diocese were present
| There were present also the Rev. DR.. Gallad
Diet, of New York, Rev. J. H. Reid, of Glou
| cester, Mass, Rev. Pelham Williams, of Bos
| ton, Rev. Dr. Burgess of Springfield, Rev. DIR
Perry, of Geneva N. Y, Rev. Profs. Hart and
johnson, of Trinity College, Hartford, Conn.
and Rev. Daniel Goodwin, of Rhode Island
The Convention services began with morn
ing prayer, the clergy all occupying the stalls
in the chancel, and the Bishop and Rev.
Messrs. Williams, Murray, Ward and Reid
taking part in the service. A large congrega-
ton was present
After morning prayer was said, the Bishop,
as President, called the Convention to order
The Secretary, Rev. Charles w. Hayes, read
| the roll call of clergy.
The credentials of lay deputies from the par
| ishes were then presented, Rev. Messrs Muir
ray, Ogden and Upjohn being appointed the
committee to examine the certificates The
roll of lay deputies was next called.
The ballot for Secretary resulted in the re-
election of Rev. Mr.. Hayes.
Rev. DR.. Ballard then moved that the clergy
present from other dioceses be invited to seats
in the Convention. The motion was adopted.
The Bishop appointed the following commit
tees:
On New Parlshes-Rev. Messrs Murray aud
Ogden, Joseph Smith. ID. Chadwick and C. p.
Grant.
On Canons-Rev. DR.. Ballard, Rev. Messrs.
A'ger and Upjohn, james Bridge and Jacob
Smith.
On Fnance-M essrs. Mott, jackson, Corser,
Forsyth aud Merrill
Unfinished Business-Rev. MesSrs. Hayes,
Atwel and Storrs, and Messrs. Cleaves and
Sawyer.
The rules OF order presented at the last Con-
vention were adopted.
Rev. Mr.. Hayes read the report of the stand
ing committee.
An adjournment was then made till half past
3 in the afternoon.
AT II o'clock the clergy, in their robes, pre-
coded by the Cathedral chorsters, again en-
tered the church for the celebration of the
Holy Communion and to listen to Bishop
Neelys Primary Charge, an address which The
bishops of the church are required to give to
the clergy of their respective dioceses once in
three years The Bishop was the celebrant,
assisted by Rev. Drs Ballard, Burgess and
Perry and Rev. Mr.. Alger. The clergy and a
large number of the people received the Sacra,
ment.
The Bishop delivered the charge sitting in
his Episcopal chair in the chancel. He an
nounced as his subject to the clergy, "What is
for us as ministers Of Christ, success, and
what are its conditions" Success, be re-
marked, was relative term. To determine
what was success for a clergyman the end Of
The Christian ministry must be considered
This was the same as Christ's work, the con-
version of sinners. Success was not always or
chiefly in numbers; else Christ's ministry was
failure Ministers could not each choose the
most favorable conditions of success. They
must go where they were sent. God was the
great agent and there was nothing done in this
work without His help. Christ is with His
ministers, and yet His grace does rot make
their work irresistible. The different soils
makes success various, and a minister does not
always fail where his work is resisted or tn wart-
ed. What then is the end for us, as we labot
often isolated and amid opposition and with
denial? We must so labor that Christ can
count us faithful. and this implies the power TO
labor often when only duty makes our stay
and to continue on in faithfulnesS without
striking results. For doing our work fayora-
BILE conditions are nothing in Gods sight.
IL we would succeed we must not lower the
standard of ministerial faithfulness, and this
stand and is enforced by all the teachings of
the Prayer Book aud of the Church. what
then does this standard involve for the clergy?
lit involves for us more than for Others be-
cause we are TIE heads of the flock. AS pas
tor we must fulfill to the utmost our official
duties. We are not individual Interpreters OF
the truth We are to give the people some-
thing more than the bare Bible or than our per-
sonal opinions We have something better
than mere opinion, and we are unfaithful as
pastors ii we do not base all our teach ipgs
upon the clear and undsputed authority of
the universal Church.
Pit involves communion with a. particular
part of the Church. In the divisions of Christ
endom an Ecumencal Council is impossible.
We have the Catholic symbols, the Catholic
faith. The Church of Rome has added to these
and demands the acceptance of the Papacy and
adherence TO modern dogmas, with which we
have nothing to do. M more in the present state
of things have we to do with the Greek Church
We, as ministers, owe our allegiance to the
Anglican Church and to the universal Church
through her. We ale to be be faithful in our
presentation of the truths which she teaches
in her liturgy aud Offices and interpretations of
divine truth.
Sit involves not only faithful diligence in
teaching but the making this acceptable to our
fellow men. We must be filed with the Mas
ter's spirit in our contact with men. We must
not only be faithful in our adherence to the
truth but learn how to adapt it effectively to
individuals, and to awaken interest in disci-
Piles. We are not only to preach for them but
pray for them, and we are not TO overlook a
single one, however humble or forbidding he
may be. When pastor has been faithful in
difficulty he has very often met with success.
More is demanded. We must study the tone.
the thoughts aud influences of the commune
ty in which we live. In this way many mis-
conceptions may be removed. For instance,
we must explain the nature and organization
OF the Church before we can property refer to
its authority in our teaching. So of Regener-
alton and Baptism, we must explain their
meaning before we demand their acceptance.
Otherwise we shall be sewing new cloth into
old garments aud raising up obstacles in the
way of our success. A minister should also do
his work as if he were to stay in his par sh for
life. Often little parish by effective labor
and adaptation of teaching to the people shows
most ilustrous fruits.
Finally, stability and steadfastness in local
relations is great point in faithfulness.
difficulty in the modern Church is the
frequent removals. The apostolic and an
Gent Church had fixed clergy. They were
ordained and appointed for special posts,
ance is needed here. The novelty of new
man soon passes away and permanent
work attracts less attention. The temptation
of calls is often very strong, especially when
they show how one may leave hard for easy
work. but the dsheartened pastor must not ex
pect harvest in spripg-time. This steadfast-
ness, however, IS not always within our own
control. Removals al not always to be charged
to the clergy, but often due to the neglect of
the duty of the laity. There ought to be PER-
manent pasorate if possible.
The Bishop said be should not pursue his
subject into the mention of methods and the
details of work, which could be obtained from
books, and much from experience. A full
knowledge of the system of the church was
necessary, and while we met others and gladly
recognized the good they do, we ought not to
omit to point out their defects but yet the
best way was to teach plainly what the Gu lrch
teaches, and we are to show the spirit of
Jesus Christ.
The charge was not lengthy but plain and
practical presentation of the subject and one
calculated to do much good by its sober and
earnest views of pastoral work. 1t was much
liked by the clergy.
Alta BIZ P. M, the Convention again assem-
bed. The Bishop proceeded to read his an
nual address to the clergy and laity. 1t con-
sisted mainly of very interesting statement
his work as Provisional Bishop OF New Hamp-
shire. He alluded in very grateful terms to
the liberal aid received for church extension
outside of the d.ocese, and very feelingly to
the rapid advance which is now made upon
the solid foundations laid by the late Bishop
Burgess. He suggested that committee be
appointed by the Convention to report upon
the examinations at st. CathariDe's Hall, Au-
gusto, and also some steps be taken for assum-
ing the support of the Bishop more fully by the
parishes and less by the cathedral. Both of
these suggestions were subsequently, refused to
committees. He said that some progress had
already been made in Augusta for the founda-
ton of the Church Home for aged and INDECENT
females. He reported every parish and organ
lied mission supplied with clergymen. In the
summary OF official acts he reported ordina-
4 G.. e