Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-05-18
|y'Mae Mimhitatar.
FRIDAY MORNING. MAY IS. 1877.
Local.
THE EPIsOOPALIANS.


The Eighty-second annual session OF the
Virginia diocese of the Protestant Episco-
pal Church, began in Trinity church on
Wednesday morning last. The attendance
was very full both of clergy and laity.
Among the latter are number of dis
tingushed men in the State, including
Hon. B. johnson Barbour, Asa Rogers,
State Auditor, Judge Richard Parker,
Isaac II. Darlington Of Richmond, ano
Others. The opening sermon was preached
by Rev. w. L. Hyland of Parkersburg, W.
Va, from the text, ''And they continued
steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and
fellowship and in breaking of bread and
in PRAYER" The speaker set forth the
argument that the strength of church
consisted more in the holiness and energy
of its members than in their numbers. The
attraction to church should consist OF the
preaching of the doctrines of Christ; GER
emonies may be the attraction Of the hour
but the Interchangeable one that can never
lose it's value, is the preaching OF the cross
Of Christ.
At the close of Mr.. Hyland's sermon the
uOly COululuul WdS auuuluiotoISu Ny
Bishop Whittle, the ceremony being a
most solemn one.
ORGANIZATION.
At O'Clock the Council was organized,
Bishop White presiding and Rev. T. G..
Dashiell Secretary. Masters Edwin M.
Taylor, Jr., Henderson M. Bell, Jr., VIM.
Hardy, Stuart Baldwin and Rodger B. At
kinson were appointed pages.
On the calling of the roll a halt was
called at the names of Rev. Robert White,
of Petersburg and Rev. Everard Meade of
Tappannock, were called, there being some
technical question about their title to the
seat. Their names were referred to COM
mittee to decide the matter, and MI.
White was seated.
THE NEW WEST VIRGINIA DIOCESE.
The clergy and laity of the proposed new
diocese of West Virginia spent a good
part of the morning and afternoon in a
conference presided over by Rev. W. j
Hyland, of Parkersburg. There was no.
sentiment wasted over separation from the
old State, and the discussion chiefly dwelt
ON the financial prospect for paying the
way of the new Episcopate. A resolution
was adopted, setting forth to the Council
the fact that 1900 was pledged in til pro
posed diocese, to pay expenses, and more
csnld be realized and asking the Council
to erect West Virginia into separate do
cese. The vote on the resolution was II
clergymeE and - laymen for, aud clergy
man and 3 laymen.
CONFERENCE ON THE PROPOSED SOUTH
SIDE DIOCESE.
Wednesday evening a conference Of the
clergy and laiiy, located in the proposed
new ''Southside' diocese. was held in the
chapel of Trinity church, presided over by
Rev. g. w. Dame, of Danville.
Rev. DR.. Gibson, of Peter, burg, placed
before the Conference memorial for sig
nature, asking the Council to divide the
remaining diocese (sapposing West Vir-
ginia already cut off. by the line of the
James River.
MI. Ravenscroft Jones didn't think that
.ly represented their constituents, they
never having been consulted to this end.
MI. Withers-I could sign-my vestry
has authorized me.
MI. Jones-Then the question would
cerne up, who authorized the vestry!
MI. 9. H. Blackboard of Lynchburg said
he would test the question and offered a
resolution setting forth that the extent OF
territory required subdivision, and asking
the Council to divide the diocese on the
James River line running clear west, and
including Allegheny, Craig, Botetourt,
Buchanan, Wise, Lee. Scout &c. He said
the Southside suffered from Lick of Epis-
copal visitation simply through the extent
Of territory and through no fault OF Bishop
Whittle. Mr.. Blackford here accepted an
RI oo,,tn If 10 g
created that Bishop Whittle should take
it as his residence. He then read from the
canon law, in which bishop IS required
to visit each church in the diocese at least
once in three years, and adding that in the
present diocese there were many church
es, most OF them many miles apart. It
was simply impossible for the bishop to d.,
all the duties required of him by law. 1t
might be asked why not get an assistant
bishop, so he went on to show that the
only ground an assistant bishop could be
asked for, WAS extent OF territory, and it
was the settled policy of the General
Church, VI hich had control of that matter
not o grant it. AS far as sentiment was
concerned, if he yielded to his sentiment,
he would vote not to leave the old diocese !;
but it was the necessity of the church and
not sentiment which should control all our
actions i'll this matter.
Mr. Jones of Brunswick said it was min
listers and not Episcopal visitation that his
parish wanted. The congregation there
had fallen since their minister left from
100 down to so. If the General Church re-
fused Virginia an assistant bishop he would
go for secession.
Rev. r. E. Withers, who had been a
member of the State Council, which met IN
1929 said that at the time Bishop Meade
was elected assistant to Bishop Moore it
was deemed in Virginia as innovation.
DR.. A. l. Clark, OF Campbell, was tired of
hearing about 'Southside' and 'Northside.'
II the State was divided he would like it
done diagonally, having some OF North and
South, both each side of the line. He Of
fered a resolution as a substitute for Nh.
Blackford's, saying that action on the
SOuthSide diocese at present is ineXpedi-
ent and requesting the rectors in that Sec
tion to ascertain the sentiment of the peO-
pie on the subject.
A lay delegate with a splendid black
beard, and good elocution said the Dr.
must be a politician to talk abont ''Soutil-
side &C.; that was political talk. The
delegate also said he was sorry to have
hea, d such remarks as ''Secret motives
sc.
Rev. J. H. Morrison, as the debate was
closing seized a moment to say that he Was
sorry Mr.. Jones had talked about "seces-
sion,'' and Mr.. Jones said if the word
grieved any one he would take it back.
The vote WAS taken on DR.. Clarke's sub
stitute, declaring division at this time in
expedient, and it was defeated; ayes, Is
laymen and 6 ministers; hayes, is minis
tiers and Is layaen.
Rev. Gen. Pendleton, of Lexington-I
did not hear nv name called
Rev. Mr.. Gibson-No, we left Rock
bridge off. 1t is not on the Southside of
the river.
Mr.. Pendleton-It was in when the
Committee made it's report!
Mr.. Gibson-Yes; but We left it off be-
cause we didn't wish to include any coun-
ty that did not wish to come. We did not
wish to force any unwilling one to join us.
MI. Pendleton-A most unsatisfactory
reason for a geographical change
The resolution of Mr., Blackford was
I