Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-05-18
Episcopal Council.

STANTON, May lS.-Tho report OF the
committee recommending the erection OF
separate diocese Of West Virginia was under
discussion at three o'clock yesterday afternoon,
when this report closed.
MIR. Andrews, OF Shepherdstown, offered
resolution leaving Jefferson and Berke-
ley with Virginia. he said the people 10 those
counties were opposed to tho change Three
Of the only seven scll-sustaiDing parishes 10 the
proposed new diocese were Smitbfeld, Shep'
herdstown aud Martinsburg, and all had pro
tested against being separated from the docese
Of Virginia.
Rev. MIR. Meade, OF West Virginia, urged
the adoption Of the Stale lines for the Inter
est Of the whole church, as also did Rev. Il.
H. Mason, OF West Virginia.
Rev. Dr. Psterkin advocated having 40 d.
vision ofthe diocese of Virginia, aud favored
instead of division the plan Of having Que
bishop, with suffragan bishops under his con
troll.
Judge Parker, Of Winchester, said he did
not favor throwing Jefferson and Berkeley or
if they had Informed US they wanted to remain
10 the diocese. Rev. Mr.. Hubbard offered au
amendment taking the AlItgany mountains
the dividing line Of tho new d2ccsc. Rev. Mr..
Hyland, of W. Va, advocated the State line
az the dividing line; auy other division, he said,
would be equal to grartnR none At all. Mr..
Taylor Berry thought thera was nO cunatlu'
tional provision for the division OF this diocese.
An amendment offered byJ udgaP Parker giving
parishes option 10 the matter Of diocese, was
ruled out Of order. Au amendment excepting
Jefferson and Berkeley was defeated.
Rev. Mr.. Pctcrku again urged his plan OF
suTrapan bishops tie said with these sub d.
visions Of dloceseS there would soon be two hun
dred bishops in the country, and thee there
would have to be pope. He thcn offered
resolution inslructng the delegates 10 the gen
eral convention to represent to that body the
unwlIiugness Of Virginia to divide her diocese,
and that the delegates should broach IN that
body the subject of suffragan bishops, and ask
for an amendment to the constitution 10 that
effect
Col. John NJ. Patton supported Mr.. Peter
kin's resolution.
Mr.. Pctcrkiu then stated that he would with
draw the resolution for the present for lear it
might prejudice the cause Of the new diocese
in the vote about to be taken.
The vote then clme up co the main question,
the erection of the diocese of West Virginia ac-
cording to the boundaries OF that State.
A committee was appointed to report what
is the majority required to gre permission 10
erect q new diocese.
Lynchburg vas selected as the place for the
next Council.
The Council then adjourned Till this morning.
STAUNToN, Va, May lS.-Thc Council this
morning voted to cree: West Virginia into a
separate diocese. The vote stood: Aycs-clerRy,
80; laymcn 95. Noes-clcrgy, 4; laymen, ~.
The Bishop, who had voted in the affirmative,
then gave his formal consent to the separation.
1t now goes to the general convention for rati-
fcatiop. The pew diocese is bounded by the
State lines, aud includes Jefferson and Berkeley
counties.
The petition from the clergy aud laity south of
the James river for separate diocese, formed
from the counties of that locality, was then takeo
up and is now being discussed by c. NJ. Black
ford, Of Lynchbusg, speaking for the petitioners.