Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-04-14

| him, and our constant prayers to the Great
Shepherd and Bishop of the Church were:
"Spare him, 0 Lord! Spare him yet
longer!''
And those prayers were, for long
time answered: he kept his armor on, still
doing his Masters work: he passed beyond
| the mark Of fourscore years; and then, ct
the bidding of his Father, laid his armor
down. and like Lhe Patriarch of old,
blessed and prayed for the objects OF his
love; and then went to his rest rejoicing;
nay, rather to his higher cork in Heaven!
"And we who are left mourning, still
thank God. for having had such q Bishop!
s:Precious in the sight of the Lord is the
death of His Saints!" And as we turn our
fearful eyes from him who is gone, to the
Church he has left, we pray that our
Heavenly Father may enrich with all
| Spiritual benediction and Grace, and long
preserve to be a continued blessing to that
| Church, him, who is now the Bishop of
| Virginia.; and who is in our hearts as was
Elisha, in the affections Of the faithful of
old. after the mantle of Elijah had fallen
upon him.
"And, therefore, it is resolved, that the
foregoing Memorial Minute be entered on
the records of the parish; and that the
Register of the Vestry be requested to
transmit one copy thereof to the family of
Bishop Johns. and another to the ssSouth-
ern Churchman'' for publication
DIR. E. C. FISHER
seconded the resolutions in some eloquent
and most interesting remarks. He said
there was one remark in them which struck
him as being peculiarly appropriate, that
in which we are called on to return our
thanks to the Great Head of the church
for giving us ''such a bishop.'' In respond
ing, as he emphatically did, to this invita-
ton, it recalled to his mind the circum-
etances which gave rise to the election of
Bishop Johns. Owing to the extensive
area embraced then, as now,by the Diocese
together with the impaired health of Bsh-
OPP Meade an assistant was urgently de-
manded and the necessary steps were ia
ken to secure one. Accordingly at the
Convention held in this city in May, 1912,
the election took place and the Rev. John
Johns, then of the city of Baltimore, was
unanimously chosen assistant Bishop. On
that occasion, standing where he did now,
it was his privilege as delegate from one
Of the parishes of the Diocese to cast the
vote for him and he need hardly say that he
had never had cause to regret it, but rather
to rejoice that he had been in any measure,
however ST. all, instrumental in selecting
SO wise and pure a bishop. The few now
within the sound of his voice who were
then present, doubtless remembered the
deep interest and intense anxiety felt by
the members Of the body, and which was
extensively participated In by the great
body of the Church, as to the result.
Besides the name ofDr. Johns. the friends
of another gentleman, Rev. Dr.. Cohbs. of
Virginia, one of the most distinguished
clergymen Of the diocese, desired to see
him elevated to that high Office, well know
ing that one Of purer character and of
more ardent devotion to the church at
whose affairs he ministered could nowhere
be found, but from considerations which
they regarded of an imperative character,
they united with the rest of the convention
in the unanimous selection of Bishop
Johns. The speaker, though instructed
by his parish to vote for DR.. Cobbs, had
yielded to the imperative considerations,
and cast his vote for him. DR.. Cobbs
afterwards. became the distinguished
Bishop Of another diocese. Tie speaker
referred in conclusion to the conservatism
Of Bishop Johns in church affairs, on oc-
casions when the Church was threatened
by novelties, and said that in view Of his
whole life as a prelate we might well feel
thankful for ''such bishop" and now
that his work On earth was done, after a
life SO faithfully and devotedly spent in
his Masters cause, we might cherish the
well-grounded hope that he has gone to
reap his reward, and had the blessed bene-
diction pronounced-"W done, good and
faithful servant; enter than into the joys
Of thy Lord"
COL. J. FL. SKINNER
supported the resolutions in some very ap-
propriate remarks, after which they were
adopted.
The collect for All Saints day was then
read, an one of the prayers from the bu-
rial service offered, after which the hymn,
"Nearer my God to Thee" was sung.
Tie impressive services closed with the
benediction by the rector.