Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-12-14

| ST. JAMES CHURCH.
The Northern District Convocation commenced
its Eighteenth session in st. James Church. indie
pendence, on Tuesday evening, the 4th inst, the
Rev. Joseph e. Ryan, Dean, presiding After
| evening service, conducted by the Revs. James
Stoddard, of Oskaloosa, and Hale Townsend Of
Charles City, the Rector Of the Parish welcomed
the convocation to the homes and hearts of his
Pensioners, and their brother and servant for
Christ's sake. After singing of hymn, the open
| ing sermon was preached by the Rev. Joseph l.
Corbyn. Of Anamosa. Subject: Eternal Life q
Free Gift; followed by addresses on same subject
! by the Revs. Stoddard, Magee and Townsend. At
the close of this service the convocation organized
| for business, and after brief session adjourned
| till 10 O'Clock Wednesday morning, when divine
service was read by the visiting clergy, followed
| by sermon from the Rev. Dean. Subject: Spir-
| itual Manifestations; after which the Holy Com
munion was celebrated by the Dean, assisted by
the Rector Of the Parish. At O'Clock convoca-
ton held its I'd business session. Reports were re-
ceived from various committees appointed at the
last meeting of cOnvOcatiOn. First, in regard to
District Missionary, report recei yed and committee
discharged, and on motion new committee was
appointed by the meeting to attend to this most
important matter Second, from committee Oh
resolutions of respect and regret. The matter of
increasing the number Of conversational districts,
as perfected by the board of MISSIONS is destined
to meet with determined Though righteous) op-
position from this the strongest and oldest dis
trct in the diocese and the,ony of the present
number (4) that has held from the first its regular
quarterly sessions, in storm and sunshine, and
which ia now all within It's Tim.
it's to be a strong auxiliary for good to diocesan
authority, in subOrdinatiOn to which it conducts
the work assigned it, cheerfuly earnestly, and in
the fear of God. During this session the Rev.
Hale Townsend read an essay on the subject as
signed him, viz: On the Best Mode of Preaching
the Gospel to the Masses 1t was production
most creditabie to its anthor. and elected earnest
discussion from each of the members present, at
the close Of which the session adjourned for even
ing service which was read by the Rector of the
Parish and the Dean; sermon preached by the
Rev. S. r. j. Hoyt, subject: Faith in the Religion
OF Christ Evidence Of Sound Mind, after which
addresses were made on the same subject by the
Rev. James Stoddard and the Rector of the Par
sh, the Rev. Dean announcing the closing hymn
and dismissing the large congregation with prayer
and the benediction of peace. thursday morning
divine service. and sermon by the Rev Hale Town
send, subject: Gathering up the Fragments fol-
lowed by address by the Rev. Dean Ryan. Con-
vocation met at the residence of the Rector ut p
NJ for business, at which meeting the following
resolutions Of sympathy were unanimously adopt
ed First in regard to the Rev. Alpheus Spor. of
New Albin, who lost his life through injuries sus-
tanned from his team which became afrighted,
when going to or returning from the discharge of
his duties The Secretary was instructed to send
the following to his widow and his bereaved pa
rishioners
The Northern Convocation of Iowa, within
whose limits the important work of your lament
ed husband, at New Albin, was performed, are
now holding their first session since he was taken
to his rest. Recognizing that we are sharers with
you and with his parishioners in this affection,
desire to express to you and them our high appre-
citation Of his labors and our earnest christian
sympathy with you and with all bereaved in his
loss. We trust the example of fathfulness and
self denial he has left, may be blessed to our ad-
vancement in fitness for the work assigned us by
the great Head of the Church.
Signed for convocation.
JOSEPH Z. RYAN Dean.
THos. b. KEMP, Secretary.
To the Rev Joseph Z. Ryan, Dean of the North
ern District Convocation and Family:
We. the undersigned brother clergyman and
members Of the conyocation over which you pre-
side having heard Of the terrible afliction through
which God in His mysterious dealings with you
and yours has caused you to pass in taking from
you to Himself your oldest son and first born
child, just as he had passed his minority and was
on the eve Of leaving college, where he had made
bright record and at the same time endeared
himself to all who had the pleasure of his ac-
quaintance, beg to assure you of our warmest SYM
pathy, and our most earnest prayers to our kind
and compassionate Father that in visiting you
with this AFFECTIVE dispensation, He may be pleas
ed at the same time to give you to know and to
feel, and enable yon to say with humble resigna-
ton, 1t is the Lord, let Him do what seemeth Him
good; the Lord gave and the Lord hath taken
away, blessed be the name of the Lord
Signed on behalf of convocation.
THos b. KEMP, Secretary
Independence, Dec. 9th, 1877.
After which business session adjourned Di-
vine service was held at O'Clock, after which
convocation closed with spirited and most en-
thusiastic missionary meeting. conducted by the
Rector Of the Parish, after the following manner:
First, sermon by the Rev. Dean ]; second,
singing of missionary hymn: third. Introductory
remarks by Rector. fourth. reading by Miss Fan
ME Browne and Miss Lillian Scarcliff, members
Of the Sunday school missionary society; fifth
singing; SIXTH address from the Rev. S. II. J.
Hoyt, who was missionary to China for years;
seventh, singing; eighth. reading by Miss Ho-
mans, one Of the most devoted teachers of the
Sunday school; ninth. address by Rev. Hale
Townsend; TENTH singing and ofertory; eleventh.
closing address from the Rev. Dean. After sing
ing of hymn commencing thus:
From all that dwell below the skies
Let the Creators praise arise
the congregation was dismissed with prayer and
benedictiOn Of peace. Thus closed what, by all the
present was felt to be a precious and profitable
convocation; the sermons addresses and essays
were remarkable throughout for their depth of re-
search, and the earnestness with which they were
delivered. May the bread thus cast upon the wa
tiers, be found after may days. JuxTA.