The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1872-05-08
EPISCOPAL CONVoCAT10N.

the disturbed condition of Union, Spar
tanburg and Newberry, there WIS nc
representation clerical or lay from those
Districts, and the Attendance was hence
smaller than ssual; but though small
the meeting was of the most attractive
Characteristic religious servicEs were
luite interesting, and brought together
good CONGREGATIONS and the discourses
were Entertaining and Instructive to all
concerned, These nvocations have
no legislative or other esfloial character,
but bymoTe' frequent meetings, and a
free conference upon religious matters,
are designed to promote All intimate re-
lation between the churches and mutu-
al progress in whatever concerns theil
best interests. In the harmony and
Christian spirit which prevailed and in
the results of the conference upon the
various subjects discussed. the Convo
cation at Abbcville was eminently. sat
isfactory. -. '''..:' i.
The ministers present were the Rev
Ellison Capers, Of Greenville, A. II
Cornish, of Pendleton, J. d. McCul
lough, of Spartanburg, o, r." Porcher
of Wellington, and f. r. Miles, of. Alb
beville-Laymen, Col. Croft and Mr.
Thos. w. Cox, of Greenville, ant
Messrs. Burt and Parker, of Abbcville
The opening sermon before the Con
vocation WAS preached by appointment
by the Rev. OFT. Porcher, on Friday
morning, on subject assigned-Amuse
ments, and how far.they are sanctioned
by Christianity. ,The sermon presented
an interesting and Instructive review o
the whole subject-sustaincd by maliy
apposite illustrations and cogert. rcn
sons, drawn from Scripture and the eX'
perience of daily life-and announcing
hegreat principle, that it is the. duty o
the Church in this matter to- regulate
bat not to prohibit-to restrain abuse
not to interdict innocent relaxation. /
was most excellent discou'rse,' charac
teriZed by the earnest zeal and liberia
spirit of one of the most devoted and
selfsacrificing ministers Of the church
An essay on the same subject mad beer
assigned to Ro5t. Shand, Esq, of Union
but on account of his absence was MOI
read. H-:' =
After the sermon the Convocation wa:
organized, and after 4 recess met agaik
at S p. NJ, when the subject of ths
mornings; discourse - Amusements -
received full and free discussion; the
members clerical and lay all par,icipa'
ting. -'- ..
At night religious services were held
and 'en'sadnlirable sermon was preached
by the Rev. J.. ID. Mccullough, of Spar
tanburg, from Job %: II, 2S-'But
where shall wisdom be found, and
where is the place Of understanding :"
"Behold the fear of the Lord, that is
wisdom; and to depart from evil, is un'
derstahuihg."
On Saturday morning there was ser.
vics at II O'Clock, when a most interest
ing, impressive and eloquent discourse
was delivered blythe Rev. E. r. Miles
giving the results of the recent discus
sion by the Cenvocation upon the sub
ject of Amusements, and embodyine
the conclusions in which the members
ALI agreed. The leading principle SET
forth as the result Of the conference
was that.of the opening Sermon
that amusements. were not per Sc un-
lawful, and sinful, but were necessarily
connected with those impulses oi
our nature, which it is the design OF our
religion to regulate, to elevate and emo
BILE. Religion seeks not to eXtirpate
any of these natural impulses, but to
give them a proper direction, and to
consecrate them TO proper uses. Hence
it does not prescribe innocent pleasure,
but seeks to guard against excess by
teaching temperance and moderation in
all things. These natural impulses-the
feeling. of anger, for instance-were
necessary partspf our r,constltution, and
subscrved wise and useful ends, and
only when perverted and abused did
they become The instruments of unlaw-
full Indulgence. Some amusements
from their necessary surroundings, and
unvaria5le concomitants the public
ball, the race course and the theatre
had received the just censure of the
House of Bishops, but to determine the
propriety of many others was matter
which rested with individual judgment,
or addressed itself to the discretion of
the heads of families. The true princl-
pie was to avoid prescribing one rule for
the minister and another for the people;
was to secure the utmost harmony of
doctrine and practice between the two,
so that the minister could sanction by
his presence and sympathy all the en-
joyments of his people: Aye shall not
attempt a synopsis Of this excellent dis
course, which embodied all the salient
views, and natural conclusions of the
previous discussion. =; ''
At night, q Well-digested and impress
sive sermon. was preached by the Rev.
Ellison CapeEs, of Greenville, from the
cxix Psalm: 81, 9s, SO, which set forth
the commandments and testimonies OF
the Lord, as the source of all true wis
dom and understanding - -
On Sunday there was large cnngre-
gatien and very interesting services;
and one of the best" sermons we have
ever listened to, was preached by the
Rev. Mr.. Capers, by request, Oh the
duty of Christian parents to their chill
dren,, from Ephesians, vi: 4. A strong
argument in favor of infant baptism
was drawn from the teachings. and prac-
tice of the Apostles as set forth, in the
New Testament, as we'll as from
the Constitution. of the Jewish
Church into which infants were intro!
duced by the rilc of circumcision. The
New Testament expressly declares that
the Apostles baptized three "house-
holds" and the natural presumption is,
that these inclnded children the term
being used without qualification. Again
baptism has. the same relation to the
Christian Church, that circumcision did
to the Jewish. Both rites signify the
establishment of new relation, the
naturalization and incorporation of an
alien into the family of the chosen race
all of which is sigDified by the term
Regeneration, which means The same
to Christian and Jewish ears. The duty
of parents grow out of this new relation,
and their instruction should be that
meet for Christian disciples. the subjects
of special promises, and the heirs of
special privileges, and guaranteed bless
Jugs. The sermon was preached in an
earnest, easy and persuasive style, and