Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-06-09
Diocesan Convention.
ANNUAL ADDRESS OF THE BISHOP.

The C0ngentSO71.--We meet in this our an
nual council, as a Diocese, with many
tokens of Gods mercy toward us, many
precious proofs of the continued presence
and help of the Head of the Church
vouchsafed unto us, in spite of our faults
and shortcomings such as should move
us all to humble and hearty thanks, Civ.
ing "Not unto us, o Lord, not unto us
but unto Thy name give the praise fol-
Thy loving mercy and fol Thy truths
sake"
Yet it must have been felt by all of us
since the convention begun its session
that there is one lamentable vacancy in
our number. We miss the pleasant face
of one who has been present in councils
OF this Diocese for nearly forty years
The senior Presbyter, the honored Coun
oillor of the church, the faithful pastor
the warm-hearted friend, the beloved DIR.
Hicks has been taken from us. Full OF
good works, full of devoted and most self,
denying service to Christ and His church
surrounded by the love and generation OF
his family and friends, his brethren in
the ministry and the whole church. He
has gone we doubt not to join the assem-
bly, of the just made perfect. am thank
full for the able and merited tribute to his
memory pronounced by our Rev. brother
this morning, in the opening service Of
the convention. Yet, notwithstanding
what was SO well said by him, I have
thought it only just to make this official
record of our love and respect for him and
our feeling of great loss in him.
And we are reminded by our assem-
bling in this parish, of the removal of an
Ter venerable father of the church, for
n. wears associated with DR.. Hicks in
wol1 for the church in Vermont. The
first Bishop of New Hampshire. He was
a Prelate blessed with eminent gifts, with
learning, wisdom and piety, his Episco-
pate seemed to promise extended useful
ness and service to the Church. But it
pleased the Sovereign Lord TO deprive
him of health and strength for many
years and instead of active labor, to APP
point for him the more difficult task to IL
lustrate the passive graces of patience and
cheerful submission. His work in this
Parish and this Diocese merits that his
name and reputation should be held in
honor amongst us.
And very recently has come to us the
sad intelligence of the death of the Bishop
of Wisconsin. Bishop Kemper will long
be one of the historic names of the Am
erican Church. Sent forth in 1885, as the
pioneer of the Church in the Northwest,
he directed and carried on the mission in
that region with so much enterprise, de-
yotion and fidelity to principle, that the
seed which he was permitted to sow has
sprung up, and by Gods blessing matur-
ed in an abundant harvest in the four
strong Dioceses which now occupy the
field that was once his charge. A man of
singularly amiable and affectionate spirit
his loss is greatly felt by his brethren in
the Episcopate and by all the Church.
1t is made my duty on this occasion to
report my official acts of the past year.
After the adjournment of the last oonven-
ton L visited several of the parishes and
mission stations, preaching, confirming
and catechising, as usual. The 3rd sun
day after Trinity [ held special ordina-
ton at st. Pauls, Windsor, and admitted
to Deacon's Orders, Mr.. Homer White.
also attempted an exploring missionary
excursion into the Northeastern portion
of the State, which i'll health compelled
me to give up. hope, however, with
Gods blessing, to execute that design
early in the present month to visit those
members of our communion who reside
in that region. The Bishop must be con-
sidered as the pastor of all those scattered
sheep who have no other to look after
them. I purpose then, as far as L am
able, to find then out, to visit them as
frequently as can, to hold service for
them and administer the ordinances of re-
hgion and thus as far as / may to keep
alive their interest in the Church. [ shall
be very thankful for any information of
those members of the Church who are liv-
ing in places too remote from our parishes
to be connected with them.
/ began the regular annual visitation
OF the'parshes, at the convocation held at
st, James Church, Arlington, Sept. 18th,
18th and 10Th. then visited all the par
ishes aud mission stations with one ex-
ception. L was principally engaged in
this visitation until the 18th of Jan.
Since that time have held second vista
tions in many of the parishes according to
the suggestions of my last address, Off
eiated in vacant parishes, and in places
where our service is not held. L have
confirmed in all 275, delivered 1856 SER
mons and addresses, catechised 30 times.
At the Advent ordination. in st. James,
Arlington, l ordained Mr.. James o.
Drumm, and Mr. Henry n. Wright, Sept.
"a. / consecrated st. Johns Church,
West Randolph, Sept. 10Th. instituted
the Rev. DR.. SWEET rector of Christ
Church, Fairfax, April 2nd. instituted
the Rev n. T. Putnam rector of ST.
Lukes, ST. Albans. have given my off,
eial approval of the Articles of Associa-
alton of st. Johns Church, Manchester.
l have also given my canouical consent to
the conservation Of the Rev. Henry Niles
Pierce, D. D., Missionary Bishop Elect of
Arkansas. I attended by invitation with
the Bishop of Connecticut, and a large
nuo Der of the clergy of the Diocese, and
from others the funeral of the late Bishop
of New Hampshire. 1t was also my privi-
lege to attend, in the village of Geneva,
n. j., with the Bishops of Western New
York, Maine and Central New York,
the conservation of st. Peters Church,
erected as memorial of the virtues and
services of the first Bishop of Western
New York. l have celebrated the Holy
Communion, in public % times IN private
times. Baptized adults and one in
FAINT, oficiated at marriages and 2 buri-
ais
The changes among the clergy Of the
Diocese have been the following The
Rev. d. G. Roberts has removed from
Christ Church, Montpelier, to the Do
oese of Massachusetts. The Rev. Gemont
Graves has removed from Zion Church,
Manchester, to the Diocese of Albany.
The Rev. A. M. johnson has removed
from st. Peters, Bennington, to the Do
ce, f Western New York. These with
the ath of the Rev. DIR. Hicks makes
our loss q elergymen four. The Rev. J..
w McIlwain has removed from ST Marks
Springfield, and become rector of st.
Stephens, Middlebury. The Rev. Homer
White, Deacon, has taken charge of Christ
Church, Euosburgh, and the Mission at
Enosburgh Falls. The Rev. James A.
Upjonn, of the Diocese of Albany has
charge of st. Paul's, Wells. The Rev.
VIM. H. Collins has become rector of st.
Pauls, Vergennes. The Rev. VIM. J.
Harris has become rector of Christ
Church, Montpelier. The Rev. ]. Isham
Bliss has resigned st. Lukes, st. Adams,
where he has been succeeded by the Rev.
n. Il. Putnam The Rev Edward RI