Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-05-29

tion-Ayes, 81; including Bishop Johns and |
Whittle, and Messrs. Hullihen, Phillips,
and Wheat !; and Nays-Messrs. Ingle,
Kinsolving, Morrison, Mason, G. r. Page,
z. Tidball, Wilmer, and Wingfeld-S. The
total vote, clerical and laymen, was ayes,
1853 noes, IS.
The laity voting in the negative were
Robert F. Cole, Jas. w. Green, d. Kyle
Gibboney. DR.. Spicer Patrick Colonel Jno.
NJ. Patton, John S. Parker.
THE GENERAL BUSINESS OF THE CoUN-
Judge Sheffey presented report from
the Committee on the Virginia Female
Institute, Staunton. The report an
nounces the incorporation by the Legisla-
ture of a board Of trustees composed Of
the two bishops and thirteen laymen, and
gives assurance of its permanent contin-
uance under distinctively church au-
spices.
The Committee on the Hymnal report
ed that the objections commonly made to
the hymnal are generally frivolous, and
would likely be made to any compilation.
They think, however, that about 10 of the
hymns would as we'll be omitted in it's
use.
The Committee on Parochial Reports,
through the Rev. DR.. Wing6eld, submit
ted its report. The following is sum-
mary of statistics included in the report:
municants added, 1913; marriages, 458;
funerals, 745. Sundav-school teachers,
white, ,226; Sunday school scholars, white
1851; Sunday-school teachers, colored, GA;
Sunday school scholars. colored, 608. Pa
rochial schools, 10; teachers, %; scholars,
672. Contributions, $98,311.97
The committee recommended that no
person shall be reported as a communi
cant of parish who has failed to COM
municate during the year preceding the
meeting of the Council without reasons
satisfactory to his rector.
The committee Of the laymen on Cleri-
cal Supports their report through
Professor Charles G.. L. Minor, of Blacks
burg. The general tenor Of the report is
less encouraging than last year. The num-
Der Of reports made from parishes has fall
[ len from one hundred and eleven to nine
| ty-one-while of these ninety-one heard
| from twenty-four as against four last year
are delinquent in paying the amount pro-
missed their rectors.
| The report Of the Committee on FL
nance was submitted through Colonel Hill
Carter, of Charles City. The amount receiv-
| ed on account of the expenses of the diocese
by the treasurer is about $4,000. Within
the past year all the balance due on the
episcopal residence ibut $40O) has been
paid, The committee recommend the
Same. salaries for the bishops and secreta-
ries Of Council as before, and that the ba-
lance due on the episcopal residence BE
discharged.
THE BISHOP ON RITUALIsM AND THE
PRAYER BOOK.
We gave last week a summary Of Bish:
op Johns annual address, and we give
| tI,a +,x,t f,1n of hot
ring to Ritualism and the Prayer Book
Afte. reviewing at length the action OF
the General Conventions Of 1868 and 1871
in regard to ritualism, the Bishop pro.
ceeds
The time has come for a very decided
action on the part of those who prize the
precious results of the Reformation, and
are determined, by Gods help, to keeI
them unimpaired. 1 therefore commend
the subject to your grave consideration
that there may be a becoming expression
Of the mind of the diocese in this matter
and such instructions given to your depu-
ties to the approaching General Conven-
] ton as will fully and wisely meet your re-
sponsibility and serve in connection with
| like action on the part of sister dioceses
effectuaiiy to suppress the evils which they
threaten, and to remove the scandal which
they occasion"
THE PRAYER BOOK.
l feel it my duty before closing this adj
dress to allude to certain conscientious
difficulties in using a few words which
occur in our invaluable book of common
! prayer. That justly interpreted their
meaning accords with sacred scripture il
known by all rightly informed, and con-
ceded by those who scruple at their use.
But, it is alleged, that in their now popu-
lar acceptation, as they are employed in
the prayer book, they teach error, and
should therefore be changed for others not
liable to be so misunderstood OF, at least,
allowed to omit them, as is done in refer
enee to an expression in the APOSTLE
Greed and to the sign of the cross in bap-
! tiSm.
/ must say have never met with sin
| gle instance OF perverSion produced by
those expressions. Those otherwise mis-
led may and do strive to shelter themselves
here as they do under some phrases in
Gods Word. But these are not the orig
mating cause of their error. Yet as there
have been and are persons of intelligence,
exemplary piety, and sincere attachment
to the Church much troubled by those ex-
pressions, and as those expressions when
they occur are not necessary to the setting
forth of any doctrine or the completeness
| OF any sacrament, l am prepared to favor
any proper eXpedient to provide, as con-
templated in the preface of the book of
common prayer, lawful relief for the con-
science of worthy brethren whose embar-
rassment is entitled to our tender conside-
| ration.
Whether at this time a movement for
ministering such relief would be judi
cious whether it might not interfere with
success in the more important effort which
| has been commended to your cOnSidera-
| ton whether by failure now it's attain
ment would not be greatly delayed and
| haZarded, are questions OH which my mind
is not so clear as to authorize me to ven
ture upon counsel.
Nothing. however, prevents me from
proposing prompt and positive action on
this subject but the peculiar state of feel
ing reused by the disorders and defections
to which ! have alluded, and rendering the
present time unpropitious for safe and
satisfactory legislation.
CONCLUSION.
[ conclude with earnest prayer that our
blessed Lord will be present with this
even in the right direction, that might
painfully disturb the happy relations and
salutary influence of IL diocese distinguish
ed for unity and godly love; impair it's
power for good, which for years has been
on the increase = and might at this crisis
afford occasion for innovations with which
we could no longer reconcile our alliance
with other dioceses, and so precipitate
disruption which would expose us in eve
ny direction to the evils which we all de-
precate, and to others perhaps worse, to be
fully known only when they have become
irreparable.
Without faulting any who may differ
from me, and with a deep sense of my re-
sponsibility, 1 do not feel at liberty to be
accessory to any action the issue of which
might afford occasion for the lament, D
fortaNl0tOs. minimum $40 81 bona nOri1ti