The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-09-06

|
ton. The following appeared and took the
seats Rev. j. Ambrose of Nova Scotia, Rev
John NJ Mitchell of Savannah, Ga
The President announced the followiU
| Standing Committees.
Nep Parishes Rev. Messrs. Murray an
| Ogden; Messrs. A. L. Merrill, Whitney an
| Moody.
Canons Rev. Messrs Hayes, Alger an
Upjohn; Messrs. Dyniel Williams and Geo.
| B. Jackson.
| Finance. -Messrs. John M. Brown, Jane
| Bridge, f. +. French, j. P. Gill, Peter Grant
Unfinished Business Rev. Messrs. Letting
well, HitchiDgs, Marsden; Messrs. Watson
| and Bryant.
The Bishops address being in order, on mo
ton, the order of business was suspended t
| enable the Bishop to present his address a
such time as he might think proper
The Report of the Standing Committee wa
presented and read.
The Standing Committee reported that dur
ing the past Diocesan year they have giveI
their canoDical consent to the election of tn,
Rt. Rev. Robert Harper Clarkson, d. D., al
Bishop of Nebraska, and have recommended t.
The Bishop for admission TO DeacOn's orders
Mr.. Frederick Clifton Ntely, and candi
dates for Holy Orders Mr.. Clarence w. Cottor
oAu AuI nltlNllle
On motion, the Convention resolved itself in
to the Maine Episcopal Missionary Society
and at once adjourned to meet immedately
the Bishops address in the afternoon. III
The Convention then adjourned to attend
divine service. .s4- ....
AT II o'clock the clergy entered the chance
and the Ante-Commun;on service was read
the Bishoh offering the prayers and reading
the Commandments. The epstle and gospel
were read by Rev. Mr.. Upiohn of Augusta,
and Rev. Mr.. Leffingwell of Gardiner
The Convention Sermon was preached by
Rev. e. w. Murray of st. Amies church, Cal
ais. The text was John 4:xxiv-"God is a
spirit, and they that worship him must wor-
ship him in spirit and in truth" The theme
was The Spiritual and True Worship of God.
1t was an argument for Christian unity, and a
uniformity of worship. Diversity of worship
leads to diversity of doctrine and to error.
The Holy Communion was then administer
ed. ..,.
p .... - AFTERNOON.
The Convention re.assembled at O'clock.
and listened to the Bishops address.
The Bishop, in his address, first referred to
the many changes which had taken place in
the Diocese during the year, especially among
The clergy, and paid tribute to the memo,
and character of the late Edward Ballard. d.
d., Rector of st. Paups Church, Brunswick
Then followed detailed statement of the EMS.
copal work Tor the past year, which showed a
remarkable degree OF activity and effective
ness by the Bishop, both in aud out of the dio.
cese, especially in Aroostook county, within
the diocese. The statistics show seven han
tlsms by the Bishop and III combinations r
One church has been consecrated, one ordjna-
ton reported and one candidate admitted to
noiy Ufoers. The records of episcopal acts
show that visitatons have been made to all the
organized parishes and missions with the ex-
ception OF two, where the appointments were
temporarily postponed by request, land to num-
Der OF these two or three times. Services have
been held at several points where there are vet
no organizations, and several weeks have been
elVen To the labor of soliciting aid from beyond
the diocese. The Bishop suggests the extern
sion OF the illustrations and influences of the
cDurch TO new centers of population. Upon
very important matter to the church the Bishop
nsss the following language: u.
Ihe chief obstacle to any rapid growth of
our branch of the Church in this Diocese and
the extension OF her proper influence is to be
l0unu neither in the migratory tendencies of
the population, nor in existing prejudice
against the Church as an institution nor in
any lack OF zeal or fidelity on the part of the
clergy; but in the fact that in every parish a
considerable number, ana in many of our
parishes great majo.ity of the men who ap-
pear before the community as the representa-
tlves OF the Church and are in many ways it's
active supporters, have never recoe njzed their
pei sonal o6ligatlons to Christ or given them
selves to His service. In some of our older
parishes this year there were no candidates for
continuation, and i'll others but very few, al.
though the Rectorship OF these parishes is
filled by able and faithful ministers: and vet
there are in those parishes men still uncon-
hrmed and unbaptized, who have for years
oeeh regular attendants upon the services OF
the Church, contributors to its support and
even members of the Vestry,
10 you net see, my brethren of the laity
mat mere is an obstacle, greater than apy
other, to the prayers of the church in these
communities; an obstacle of such maonitude
as soen to dishearten any but the most hum
pie, the most patient and the most devoted of
the clergy. This is the chief cause of the in
stability of our clergy. The newly -appointed
minister, entering upon his charge with earn
estpess and alacrlty, soon finds his best efforts
to extend the church. Neutraiized by the no
sltlon OF those, who though in some sort iden-
Titled with it, and not members of it instead of
having the weight of their influence with him
when endeayoriDg to bring others to an open
confession OF Christ and into the copmunion
it is positively and powerfully against him.
Aud since they themselves seem to be i'm
movable in the position in witch they have so
long remained under all appeals it is scarcely to
wondered at that be soon is easily persuaded
to believe that he might be more useful
elsewhere.
Credentials were received from two addi-
tional parishes, and the delegates named ap-
peared and answered to their names
The report of the Treasurer, Hon. Daniel
Williams, was presented, accompanied by
verbal statement that all the parishes in the
diocese, but one, had paid their assessments te
the Episcopate Fund. The report was referred
to the Committee on Finance, who subsequent
ly reported the same to be correct and properly
vouched.
The proceedings of the Convention were
then suspended and the Missionary Society re
sumed its session.
Rev. Mr.. Leffingwell, Secretary of the BoarC
of Missions, presented detailed account of tn
operations of the Board the past year.
The lay members of the Board were appoint
ed by parishes. The Society then adiourne,
and the Convention proceeded with its busi
ness. -.-
communication from the Secretary of tn
General Convention was received, covering
copy of new canon which had been submit
ted, in relation to the establishment of ne,
dioceses.
The subject of assessment for the Episcopal
Fund and the delinquences of parishes was r.
ferred to the Finance Committee.
Hon. Daniel Williams was reelected Treas
urer of the Convention.
The Standing Committee was then chosen g
follows: Rev. Messrs. Samuel Upjohn, Charlie
w. Hayes, Messrs. George Z. B. jackson, ia
Bridge, Henry Iugalls.
Deputies to the General Conyention-Re
Messrs. G. s. Leffingwell, N w. T. Root, an
e. W. Murray; Messrs. James Bridge, Henr
ingalls,, Geo. e. B. Jackson, r. Fl. Gardiner
A clerical member of the Board of Deputit
remains to be chosen.
In the evening the missionary sermon wa
preached before a very large audience by Re,
Julius III. Ward of Thomaston, the subject b.
ing, The Diocese the field for our mssional
labor. 1t presented in forcible manner IL
| wants and needs of the appropriated diI
tricts of the State for religious privileges, an
| the adaptedness of the church to answer tn
| demand. 1t was noble discourse and ii
| speaker was complimented by the Bishop
some general remarks. A very good colectic
for missionary purposes was taken 1T the co
of the services. The music by tie choir al
congregation was remarkably hearty and il
spring.
The Convention will re assemble at 1
| o'clock this morning.
| DEMOCRATIC NoMINATIoNS.-At the caucl
of Democratic ward delegates, last nigh
| Charles H. Haskell, William G. Davis, Wi
/ liam Curtis l. f Pinoree and Alhart u