Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-03-01
AAletau0rla Gaxette
THURSDAY EVENING, MARCH /.
Division Run Mad.


We are in favor of division OF the diocese
of Virginia, because We think the present do
cese too large to be advantageously superln'
tended by one man. But it is manifest from
what is going on there is tendency to divide
and subdivide, which will end in radical
change Of the position and principles OF our
Church.
Here, for example, is the diocese of Iowa,
with about forty clergymcn; and the "scnse. OF
the Southern Convocation is that it be divided
into three dioceses. If this be ''sense' We
would be glad to know what folly is. Then
We have our old friend, John Henry Hopkins,
STD, ,lecturipg last week in Baltimore, adj
vocating the reduction of dioceses to twenty or
thirty miles square. Why he did not 50 on
and advocate twenty or thirty square miles we
hardly know. If nothing is to be considered
but miles in the formation Of a diocese, then
the day is coming when there will be some ten
OF twenty thousand bishops in the United
States. Every clergyman will be bishop,
and doubtless wo shall fill up rapidly. 1t
every soldier is to be made general, while it
might hasten recruits, and would be splendid
army for parade, We fear it would stand a
poor chance 10 the day OF battle.
The reverend speaker then informed his
audience that "as necessary outgrowtn OF
such subdivision the provincial system would
become an institution. The church body
should be constituted somewhat simi!arly to
an army. The dicccses Of each State should
be formed into one provincial diocese, which
would meet in general convention triennlally
or at any other periods designated. The idea
of conforming provincial diocese to the eN
tent of State was perfectly consonant to
American forms Of government, and was first
conceived and advocated by the late Rev. Dr.
Mahan, who was pastor of St. Paul's church. "
The great purpose of bishop is to have a
diocese he can "oversee," which cannot be
done to advantage unless he visit the various
parishes, and can remain long enough to sec
it, to ascertain something about it, Hence
not the number Of its square miles is to be con-
sidercd so much as its population, its number of
parishes, its clergymen aud lis members.
Square miles, with railroads almost obliterating
distance is but small element; the other
matter Of population and parishes is the great
point.
The General Convention should certainly
be awakened to the Importance Of the move
that is going on; and if The Lower House is
not conservative enough to prevent our Church
from being thus radically changed then the
bishops must prevent what we deem to
be an evil of great magnitude. TO have a
small army, with as many generals as captains,
is not the way to succeed. 10 have five hun
dred or five thousand small gentlemen to over
look and guido. the Church il neither to our
taste nor according to our judgmcut.-So. Oh.
OPENING AND CLOSING OF MAILs.-Until
further notice the following will bo tho hours
tor the opening md closing OF the mails:
OPENING.
Northern mails, SID n. Ill., and 200 p. m.
Western mails, S:I5 a. III. and I:0O =. m.
Southwestern, via Lynchburg and H"rdons-
Washington and Ohio, Round Hill to Alex
andria, $50 p. m.
Manassas Division, 800 p. In.
Southern mails, via Richmond and Fradcr-
icksburg Va, &t5 s. m. and LEO p. IN.
CLOSING.
Northern and Western mails, 4:15 D. m. and
900 p. n.
Southwestern, via GnraonsviIln and Lynch
burg GOO Il. ~
Washington and Ohio, Aloxaniria to Round
Hill, Va, 500 e. IN.
Manassas Division, G:O3 q. M.
Southern viz Fredericksburg and Richmond,
Va, dis p. IN. &nd $40 u. ~
z.:,-Gancral delivery window c!oac5 ut SlW p.
IN. Doors close at 800 p III.
GSs"Opnn Oh Sundays 81 . g. m. and closes 1T
$50 o. IN.