The New York herald., 1874-10-08
EPISCOPAL GENERAL CONVENTION.
Opening Service and Sermon by BishoP
eelwyn, OF Lichfeld, Engfa nd-ors@h-
ixaaion and Election Of Omcers.

Ouenins Service and sermon by Bishop
selwyn, OF Lich hfieid, Engiand-Orsan-
Axasion and Election of Omeers.
st. Johns chapel in varick street was thronVed
yesterday with an eager and worshtppins as
sembly TO engage In the opening services VI 'ne
General Convention OF the Protestant nP'seopai
Church the following bishops and presoyters
participated In the morning services, which were
prelonped untll nearly two O'Clock The Rev. DR..
perrv secretary OF the House Of Clerical and Lay
Deputies read the morning prayers; the Rev. Il.
J. Edmunds OF Ldchheid England, read the seec-
uon OF Psalms for the day; the nrst lesson was
read by Arcndeacon Balch, OF Huron, Canada, and
the second lesson by DIR. Elgood Canon OF Mon
1real The creed ana prayers preceding the ltany
were recited py Dr. Ketcham, Canon Oh Freder-
sexton. N B.. and the litany by DR.. a. c. Potter OF
tins city, Secretary OF the House OF Bishops.
The communion service was read by Bishop Oxen.
den, of Montreal; the epis.le by Bishop Whiting
ham. OF Maryland, and the gospel by Bishop
Courtenay, OF Kingston, W. |. Bishop Selwyn OF
Lichheld England. delivered the sermon, and
Bishops Lee, OF Delaware; Greene, OF Mississippi;
Atknson OF North Carolina; Potter of New York;
Clarke, OF Rhode Island, and McCosKrey, OF Mchi-
gan conducted the subsequent part OF The service,
incuuing the administration OF the communion, in
which very large company OF clerical and lay
THE sERAos OF BISHOP sELwYS
was an eloquent plea for the right OF private Iudg-
stituted authority. His text was Acts, Xv., Is
1T seemed good to the Holy Ghost and 10 as"
We, he remarked are laDorers together with God;
we are Gods husbandry ana he is the Lord OF the
harvest The Church is building grown into
holy tempe, OF which Christ Is the Master and we
are the workmen as We'll as the stones 10 oe
laid on the one only ioundatlon, IN whom
We are 'bnilded together oy the spirit pa1', lne
Bisnop here referred to the labors OF Paui
and Barnabas and their readiness TO go 10 the
Council at Jerusalem with Church dlmculty;;
Unued work he remarked, is the result OF united
councils. Wpen the builders OF Babel could not
understand their language they lett on building
Let all things be done here to edhcation, and let
MS mind the Master Builder. The pattern OF things
on eartn was first conceived in heaven. 1t was no
part or the apostolic plan that every man should
build ne pleased. But let every man take need
how he buildeth for the fire shall try every mans
work OF what sort IL Is. / beseech you. said the
Bishop, quoting the Apostles words, that ye all
speak the same thing and that there be no di-
visions among you. Paul, who might have had the
right in his private judgment TO reject the coun-
sci OF MS brethren, dld IL not, Tor God IS not
then referred the diverse gifts OF the Spirit TO
His people, and yet they are all the WORK OF one
and the self same SPIRIT Tor the good OF the whole
body, and that by the mutual care Of each for the
other, we may all come into the perfect stature or
men Ii Christ Jesus. But all OF these would be OF
no aval without charity. which Is the bond OF
Tne Bishop urged the Importance OF prayer in
the deliberations OF this Council, and spoke OF the
privileges which belong to PRAYER. He then re-
terred 10 the extent OF the Cnurch's bounds on
winch the sun never sets; whose bishops numoer
100 and whose communicates are numbered by
millions. The prayers OF such branch OF Cnrist's
Clurcn, ne remarked, cannot Iall TO De answered..
provided only ask according to the will OF God.
Tue Bishop hoped for another Lambeth Conference
and for the unity OF the Church. And let us. he
SAID, be like minded, and II in anything we differ
God shall reveal even TINS unto us.
ORGANIZATION OF THE CONVENTION
After brief recess the Secretary OF the last
General Convention, Dr. W. S Perry, called the
house to order, and alter the delegates had pre-
Sented their credentials and answered to their
names he declared the house ready for business.
The Rev. Dr. James Craik, OF Louisville, KY, Pres
ident OF the last Convention, was then unanl-
mously chosen President OF this Convention ON
taking the chair he thanked his brethren for this
new expression OF their confidence in MIN, but he
had hoped that this duty would be placed the
shoulders OF some younger man. but he yielded to
the judgment oil his brethren. 1--WE have come TO
COnler,n he said, ION very momentOuS interests OF
Christ's Church; TO remove obstacles TO Its prog
to provide TOR It's advance II we mag. See TO IL
then, brethren. that this holy city Of our God re-
ceives no detrment. Inspiring as Is this duty, it
calls for charity love to God and TO men, true love
to mistaken teachers OF the truth. as well as 10
those VINO are us ablest defenders. l am sure"
said the Doctor, "that you will perform this duty
looking to God lor discretion. May the spirit
guide, strengthen aud sustain you IN all your
work.
The Rev. DR.. Perry was then reelected Secre-
tary and he subsequently, chose DR.. Williams, OF
Georgia, assistant
THE RULES or ORDER
In force at the last Convention were then tempo
rarily adopted, and the amended rules provided
by the last Convention TO be acted on by this was
made the special order Tor noon to-day.
reception the bishops and deputies in the
next, alter which the Convention adjourned until
tan