The New York herald., 1873-09-26
THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESAN CONVENTION.
The Second Days Session and Adjournment
Address by the Right Rev. Bishop Potter
to the Clergy and Laity.

DlsuOP IottSf pTcsiutu, bsSiSJcu W hcNs bfs
Haight. The attendance was fair and consisted OF
some OF the best known clergymen and members
OF the laity OF the diocese. The Convention was
opened with religious services, full morning prayer
being given, conducted by the Rev. Mr.. Duncan. OF
Matteawan, and the Rev. Mr.. Capron, OF Orange
county, New York.
At the close of the services the Convention was
called to order by Rev. DR.. Haght the call OF the
roll was dispensed with. Over 200 clerical and lay
delegates were present; among the latter was
Secretary Fish. After some routine business the
report of the Committee Of Incorporation and Ad-
mission OF Churches was read. The application Of
the Church OF st. Mary the Virgin was referred
back to the applicants.
The Convention then proceeded to the election
OF the following committees:-
Standing COnsnittee-Rev. Drs. Morgan Dix
William E. Egenbrodt, William F: Morgan, Isaac q.
Tuttle Stephen r. Nash, Floyd Smith, Lloyd w.
Wells, and Henry Drlsler, LID.
Missionary C0,nnfnee-Rev Drs. II. +. Mont
gomery, Alfred b. Beach, Cornelius +. swope,
James Starr Clark, Octavius Appegate Messrs.
william NJ Kingand, William H. AspinwaL
Provisional Deputies TO tte General Convention
Rev. Drs. Isaac II. Mtte, Frederic Oglby, Robert
S. Rowland, James Starr Clark: Messrs. John #.
Holman, Cyrus Curtiss, Albert Ward, Frederick de
Peyster.
Convention by Bishop Potter, VINO then assumed
the ONCE OF President and proceeded to deliver
his address.
BISHOP PoTTER's ADDRESS.
The Rev. Bishop began by referring TO what
had occurred since the last Convention, and con.
graduated the Convention on being permitted
performance OF their duties The Church is known
by its WORKS, as the tree is known by its rult; and
gate OF work would be shown. He next spoke OF
the opening oil Kebe Hall during the
year as pleasing and satisfactory. work
and described the character OF the instruc-
ton impaired there. He also referred to
other large schools, and would make no
invidious comparison, he said, between Keble
cOmmendation He was thankful Tor these schools
because Of their inexpensive character; it might
prevent the youth OF our Church being, for the
sake OF economy, sent to schools to which they
might not wish to be sent. Here there was
the youth. The Bishop next referred to another
gratifying work, the laying OF the corner stone OF
the Mission Chapel OF ST. Thomas church. During
the last year he had oficiated in not less than
twenty mission chapels, and he rejoced that they
were last increasing, because they were intended
for the benefit OF the poor. We required however,
an increase OF the working force OF the parishes
which could not fail to result IN great good. The
Bishop then adyerted yer Ito TO , his , presence at
to St. Luke's church, and also OF Home for
INDECENT Christian Females also In the parish Of
st. Luke's He had also laid the corner stone OF
two other churches and presided at the opening
Of st. Bartholomew's and also at the Home for
Consumptves, which ch had rtn been organized lew
tail other work that he had performed and referred
especially to his presiding at the society for assist
ing young Christian men who wish to enter the
ministry, OF which he spoke in the highest terms.
He urged, however, the greatest caution and cir
cumspecton to the applications of this class Of
young men. Reference was next made to the st.
Barnabas House of the Good Shepherd in Mulberry
street. There had been 1857 persons cared for
with work. $40 with home as and 4l2 had been
returned to their friends. over 5000 had been
ana ary aa Of s ndy
ion and the Shetering Arms and other institutions
were referred TO by the Bishop, and each warmly
commended. The venerable preate alluded to the
last reunion OF the alumni OF the General Theo
logical Seminary, and took occasion to deliver q
beautiful tribute to the memory OF the late DR..
Johnson, Professor in the Seminary, who was pres
ent on that occasion. The deaths OF Drs. Vinton
and Seabury, which had also occurred during the
death OF the Bisnop of Winchester. in Eng
land. OF whose character and splendid career
suggested some movement here to do honor to his
memory. The Bishop then spoke OF the many
good works OF the past year. very cheering one
churches which had been accomplished. He then
expressed his approval OF, and urged the practice
Of the congregation remaining standing while the
offerings are placed on the communion table. The
Bishop then referred 10 the occasional acts OF some
cler0ymen baptising children IN private houses,
proper place IN which young mortal should
enter into the congregation OF the Lord
ever when it was necessary to administer
the sacrament OF baptism In private houses-but
wherever possible that sacred duty " should be per,
Lord. Proper reverence should be shown on such
occasions. During the addresses OF the admins
tration OF baptism and the rite OF confirmation the
people should stand, and not sit, thus showing ap.
parent respect for the services
THE PROPOSED CATHEDRAL.
Speaking OF holy places continued the Bishop,
must now refer to the movement to erect an
Episcopal cathedral in this city The committee
cured charter from the Legislature and performed
various duties incidental TO their great charge.
They desirous not to interfere with the chari.
table enterprises Of thetdioceses, but to proceed
slowly and surely. Many munincent subscriptions
have been received, but as the charter was Oh.
tained late In the spring IT is not 10 be supposed
progress. such vast work cannot be accom-
plished in few weeks, or in month, or in year.
II is necessarily slow. The committee are empOw
cred to select real estate as site for the proposed
cathedral AS to the large general conservation OF
duty that is required Tor the work, beneve II Is
not absent. l believe, too, that this great opera
tion Will awaken spirit Of devotion-a conscious
ness OF new strength-and infuse more vigorous
lie and prosperity into the Church. Resources
will always be opened for such grand undertake
ing. The Bishop then passed on to consider the
important subject OF the scepticism OF the age, q
subject to which, he said, he referred In his address
four years ago. He had nothing new to oner on
the question: but proper devotion to the interests
sent his views. great deal OF discussion had
taken place on the matter, but the discussion as
designed to serve. There were times when pas
tor by purity OF reason and Christian truth, should
meet and combat scepticism; but the duty should
be done with due care and reverence. Sometimes
men opposed to the truth lnculcated views
which were deceptive, ana hostile not only
to the best instincts OF their nature but to the
revelation of God Such people, not content
with making war on the natural, actually
aimed to overthrow the supernatural 1t was the
duty of the pastor TO meet all such error. Having
passed part OF his early life In learning some OF the
sciences he was not wanting In respect for scien-
thc men. Some OF them were among the noblest
men OF their race, and he had the happiness OF
calling few members OF the class his friends. But
there was great difference between science prop.
erly studied and science improperly studied. The
Book of Nature and the Book o Revelation were
In harmony, despite all the false deductions Of
lalse philosophy and false science. The Bishop
then referred to the various false systems OF
philosophy, which insured popular behef for
time and then passed away alter hopeless conflict
with revealed religion into the maze OF ancient
error which had lived Its title day. Not even the
names OF one In thousand who had assailcd
Christianity were known in this generation. Like
the alchemlsts, they may make very useful obser-
vations, but they cannot discover the philosophers
stone. They are not able to show how reason and
conscience may be evolved out OF mere physical
elements. The Bishop then referred TO the recent