Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-05-17
Efghty-First Annual Council Of the
Protestant Episcopal Church.
FIRST DAYS PROCEEDINGS.

PROTESTANT EplScOphi SnufcH.
FIRST DAY S PROCEEDINGS.
The f ghty-First Annual Council Of the Do
ccse Of Virginia opened this morning in st.
PauIs Church at 10 o'clock, under favorable
auspices A large lumber OF clergy and laiIy
were present at the opening services and not
withstanding he unfavorablc look OF the wealth
or large number OF spectators were in attcn'
dance.
The opening services began at the appointed
hour, four clergymen, with the presiding Bishop,
being in the chanccl. The mornIug service
was read by DR.. Grammar. The Ncnitc and
| Gloria PATHS were we'll rendered by the choll
aud the reading oil the sd chapter 81 Isaiah,
| ia the firm, strong voice OF the reader. was
particularly impressive. Next followed the lie
| Dcun which the choir also reudcrcd III It's usua!
happy manner DR.. Grammar's place at the
desk was taken by Dr. Joshua Pctcrkin, who
read The Lllauy aud closing m"rnlng prayers III
his seuorian voice. The 99th selection OF
| Psalms was then given out by DIR. Norton, the
Rector, beginning 20, twas Joyful sound 10
| hear.
The Bishop then read the Commandments
ami Collect for the day, aud was followed BY
Mr. IlulIlhcn, who closed the morning service.
Notices for various meetings were then given
out after which followed the l7lh hymn, con-
meucng 40 our Rcdccmcrs glorious name
The singing oI TINS hymn was heartily joined IN
by he clergy and people present., and Was IN
deed Inspiring In us effect.
Mr.. llullhcn, OF Slaunton, delivered Il ser
mon on the ID chapter OF Galatians, 2Oth verse:
The Sol Of God, who loved ulc and gave hun
self for me- The speaker preferred sYluc onc
else TO be in his position, but would !uvltc toe
attention Of The audience 10 few thoughts DE-
lore the communlou The main thought OF
the discourse was that q ID has |. special love
Tor each individual soul :! thought that uiau
kind is lot To receive, arising. from wrong ideas
concerning the nature OF G,d for man cuncclvcs
of God as moved by like considerations is we
are Tor he is not moved by extent or material
bulk, but God cares Tor the infinitely small as
we'll as for the infinitely great, for lie created
all things, since there Is no chance. The pat
tern of all thugs has ever been in the Divine
mind, and He has Perfect knowledge oI the
whole s,rles OF beings and OF each b.lng, and
love for each. The incarnation then was for
, Individuals and when on earth the lHcl:natc
God did good TO individuals. This .rulh He
taught by the parable Of The Il 'st Shrcp. II
was not a st nc or more thai claimed his love.
but Only one sheep. So then the atoncm.ut, il
applied, must BE- applied t. in.iividuai>, nay,
the hcnrt OF the Gospel Is Gods personal love,
but this love has ever been existent. though
especially operative in Cnrist. Then each one
can look up to our mighty Saviour aud say,
AN Lord aud my God MY God repre-
SCENTS necessity of nature. There can 'c
no half giving OF Gods love, for He is
incapable OF imperfect, lncomp'"tA action
This was the truth that animated st Paul:
personal complete love of God 10 him Further,
this love t kc> the thluys ri tiod and show;
| >, I'M al. 1
then strive to know the depth Of Gods love.
and thus gain al insi ght into every word and
act of our l. nd; Tor cvcrythin then becomes
personal and is taken t. the inlir!lu Il heart.
II csn say that ii was Tor his salvation th"t
He ca,uc down from Heaven. L,,k at Tic
Lord slovca as exhibited by lis conversation wsh
!, the woman at the wcIi-wiE a single individual
whom lie wished to save. Ili> life has unspaak
able interest by regarding It us spent for r!c!!
single soul This is not u sentiment but Il fact,
a matter Of sobernc>4, else We w'uli deny God
His attributes. Men forget that the lam was
, slain from the fouudatIon OF the world, aud
that it was through Him that all things were
!, created, and that He, therefore, knows each
Individual man and SO kLowS His sheep. Look
ing at the acts OF our Lord done for each
one they possess fresllcr and deeper interest
Yea, the words 1T is flushed, came home to
the heart. We must conclude that He must
have died t. save one soul, aud thar II would
have done it. This love Of Christ is also con.
tinued as He sits at the right hand Of God
making intcrces>lon. The life Of thu believer
is now hid with God in Chris, an He is ever
receiving grace and strength aud faith. Ia
discharge His duties as High priest lie must
have dcalings with the individual soul. A"d
to do this further He established His Sacra.
ment or the Lori supper, aud set HIS seal to
IT, How could H. bitter show thar He gave
Himself for each individual believer? In ths
Sacrament His Body i. given to c:ci. But
we must not hink the t. II exhausted by ehc
forgiveness or the high priesthood Of Christ,
but that love flows Oh forever. My. His fol-
lower shall be with Him, and 90 and on IN
attainnents, and in knowledge of God and our
Saviour, and yet be infinitely lar from sound
ing the depth of Gods PROJECTIONS. We are
tu u that the life Of the Son OF G I'd will be
; the great theme throughout the ages, and will
awaken our love and gratitude. The thong bit
, that God loved each Individual soul will be il
constant theme for 10y and cxu'taton.
, After the sermon Il collection was taken up
, Tor the benefit OF the Educational Society and
/. Diocesan Missions.
, The Communion service was read by the
Bishop, aud when the 99.fI hymn, My & ii
+, and is thy table spread had been sung, the
Cummu Ion was administered to n: delegates
, present.
The morning service closed at t.! o clock.
The Council was called to order by the Prcs
dent, Bishop WhltIe.
The roll of members was then called by the
, secretary, Mr. Dashiell, aud eighty one clergy
were found present.
The committee on credentials was then ap-
pointed by the President, consisting of McS>rS
Hyland, Rogers, Powell and HARRISON which
proceeded to examine into the credentials Of
delegates.
Among the delegates present We noticed
Messrs. Pctcrkin and Da~hIciI. from Rich
moDd; Mc>sr<. IIows, Wuhers, Paul aoi Giar