The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-05-18
THE DIOCESAN CONVENTION.

I,uh.,s Chrrrh-elpenIns FxercIses-Tho Pre-
eeedinGs this mernina--Conventten Sermon
Annual Address of Bishop stevens.
The opening session of the Protestant Episcopal
Convention of the Diocese OF Pennsylvania was held
in St Lukes Church, Thirteenth street below
ceedngs were formally inaugurated with prayer and
religious exercises: Rev. John II. ChIlds, ID. d.,
was then chosen Secretary, and Prof. j. @. Booth
The roll of clerical and lay delegates was then
called when 1t was found that the attendance was
Bishop Stevens, the President, appointed as the
Committee on Charters-Rev. Drs. j. Em,en Hare,
William Rudder, ana William f. Paddock, Judges
Hayes and Thayer, and Isaac Hazlehurst, Esq On
Olergymen,s Seats Rev. Drs. Yarnall and Watson
and Rev. Thomas Yocum. On Seats OF the Laity-
Messrs. James M. Aertsen, William Buckler and
J. G. Gum, Mr. r. P. Mccullough was chosen
Treasurer OF the Christmas fund.-
THIS MORNINGS SESSION.
large congregation assembled this morning at
10 o'clock the proceedings being opened with prayer
by DR.. w. F. Paddock and the reading Of the fifth
SELECTION of Psalms. This was followed by the
reading OF the first lesson and the 4h chapter Of the
Second Epistle OF Timothy by Rev: Alfred NJ. Abel
The creed was then recited by Rev. George w.
Sninn.
Rev. Dr. Howe, rector OF St. Lukeas Church. then
announced three stanZas Of the nfteth select Psalm
which were sung by the choir, the congregation
Ante-communion service was next conducted by
Rev. Dr. Howe, consisting OF the recitation of the
Ten Commandments prayer, and reading OF the
First Epstle Of St James and the sixteenth chapter
of the Gospel OF ST. John.
Rev q. A. Warmer, of Montrose Pa, who chose
fer his text the 18th and 18th verses Of the 18th
'1 have yet many things to say unto you, but We
cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit
for he shall not speak OF but a he
shall hear that shall he speak: and he will show you
Tie speaker started out by saying that there is no
error into which we may fall greater than to sup
pose that while yet imperfect, we all In this
life, we have learned or can learn enough. The
faith in hearts, however pure and strong IL may
be, is but the germ OF an immortal manhood, gradu
ally developing and Strengthening through the i'm
pulses OF an everything spirit II is but the begin
ming OF our reo rmaton into the likeness OF the God
and 1et y Sp O y 5ne Of ro ss ws sr
able to bear them. There is vast difference be-
tween truth and the outward form in which it is
embodied, while we may truly say that Holy Scrip
ture containeth all things necessary to salvation"
1t being the expression OF all essential doctrine, it
is yet true that all the elements of heavenly life
within u.s. and which we call faith, are the inspira-
ton Of the Spirit.
Church that is not progressive in character and yet
almost blush to use the name, wickedly has it
sn Deem res ysbresE o. Si
dreamy speculation every frantic effort to destroy
Christianity, every spear thrust at Christ the
Cross, every effort to avoid the restraints OF the
Gospel and secure larger indulgence, every ruth
less assault upon the sacred menuments
progressive. Nevertheless, progress is essential TO
life In all things and even faith is dead without
good works, so is the Church cold and spritless in
| which truths new to are not being terminated
| from the words of Holy Writ; in which old
tured into fuller strength and beauty, and which is
not being taught the ''things to come"
There is nothing more fatal to the religion Of
Christ than making 1t mere tradition, the Church
mere monument erected over the grave Of dead
Saviour, and the Gospel but an epitaph Inscribed
reveals living presence, and Christ too, is dead in
vain, unless His spirit is a living presence in the
Church, stimulating progress and teaching US
| The speaker then divided his argument into the
ness on the part Of a Of the nuences Of the Spirit
or In other words, Judgment unbiased by pre-
| open to conviction and animated with aspirations
for the things to come 2. A growing catholicty Is
an absolute requisite of progress for since Christ
died for all men 1t is plain that the impulses OF the
Spirit must be in the direction Of universal redemp
ton, and that every element in the Church that
tolerance, is hostile to the reception and the
dissemination OF the truth as 1t is in Christ. 8.
There be progress without freedom, for every
| noble impulse inspired in the human soul begets
hatred of tyranny. a. anc finally, the impulses OF
"not to send peace, but a sword,"it it is Impossible
| that His Spirit should inspire the Church without
bringing connict & Christianity @ mi can accept OF no
the Church is victorious over every form OF error
Truth and fasehood must grapple until the Spirit OF
Any impartial observer of the present aspect OF
| civilized society cannot fail to realize that the
Church is passing through the greatest crisis OF
her hstory-a crisis in which is involved ne party
issue and no question OF doctrine nor Of discipline
|
Rising from the great upheavas OF political, social
and religious agitatons In the Old World crossing
the Atlantic and dashing over the roGkbound shores
OF New England, great wave OF sceptic Il is roll
ing westward over the earth.
This has not resulted from there having been toe
little OF the Spirit OF Truth in the world, for mel
thirsting for knowledge but it is the result of
lack OF unity, Of freedom and OF real Professionalism
among Christians themselves
The speaker continued at some length, but hi
remarks are too exhaustive Tor our space.
| HOLY COMMUNION.
| After he concluded, the bread and wine wer
| blessed by Bishop Stevens, and the HOY Com
munion partaken OF; Then followed post-com
| munion Rev. Lewis w. Gibson ofictating.
ADDRESS OF BISHOP STEVENS.
After the conclusion Of divine service Right Rev
| Bishop Stevens called the convention TO order an
| read his annual address. After returning thanks
| the Almighty that he had been spared another yeal
account Of his stewardship, showing the amOunt G
| labor performed by him on each day Of the veal
The report shows that the Bishop has been earneH
in laborEand has spent but little leisure time.
The summary of the work thus detailed is as fol
lows:-He has offciated on 2S1 occasions; has as
ministered the rite OF confirmation l26 times; ha
confirmed 1902 persons; has preached LA times ha
made 112 addresses; has ordained 28 persons, 13 Z
the diaconate and 15 to the priesthood has marie
couples; has baptized infants has laid corner
stones; has consecrated churches; has institute
| 2rectors; and has travelled about 5000 miles, /
addition to this Bishop Lee, OF Delaware has cor
: nrmed for him class of II persons in st. John
4 | Church, Lower Merton, Delaware county. Tn
Bishop also announced that there are IS candidate
8 for holy orders in the diocese.
q The Bishop also spoke of t1e Diocesan Missio
e work, OF the plan which he had inaugurated fo
city missions, OF the proposed removal and enlarge
ment OF the "Church Home, Of the condition OF th
q Protestant Episcopal Hospital OF the Bishop POttt
e Memorial Home and OF the contemplated dviso
, Of the diocese, which he strongly urged. He all
during the past conventional year OF Rev. Dr. Dor
= Rev. DR.. Norris M. Jones, Rev. Mr. Pauley Re
e Mp. Tillinghast, and Rev. Joseph Jaauett. III
| aDDrODfldtelV q -