The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-05-19
EPISCOPAL COUNCIL.
Eirh,y.seeond Annual Session.

Eighty.se Annual Session.
STANTON, May 16, 1877.
From the Richmond Dispatch.
The Eighty second Annual Council OF
the Protestant Episcopal Church OF the
Diocese of Virginia, assembled in Trinity
church, in this city, at ten o'clock this
morning, Right Rev. F. NJ. White, D.
Dill. ID, Bishop of the Diocese, pre-,
siding; Rev. T. g. Dsshiell, of st. Mark;
church, Richmond, secretary.
Here follow the names OF the Clerl
cal and Lsy delegates. but want OF space
prevents publishing. Suffice it to say, 1t
was the largest attendance for number
of wears, most all the clergy and one
hundred and twenty-eight lsymsn were
present.-ED
IMPORTANT QUESTION TO BE DECIDED
The most important question to be de-
cided at this session of the Council Will
BE- the proposition to divide The diocese
by the line of james river, as already
published in the Dispatch l have can
yassed the subject here, and ind that
there will probably be no division this
time, but it will come eventually. The
actual division cannot take place until
after the General Convention OF the
United States meets. This body holds
its sessions once every three Years, and
meets in October next; so it there is no
action by the State Council this time, 1t
cannot be taken up for three years.
AS to the proposition to divide the
present Diocese, by erecting West Vir-
ginis into q separate Diocese, 1t meets
with favor on all sides; but there seems
to be an unsurmountsble objection IN the
fact that the good people of that State,
even with Jefferson aud Berkeley coun
ties, are not able to support bishop
without the assistance of the old Diocese,
and if there is division by the line of
the James river, old Virginia will not be
able to aid West Virginia to any extent
in the support of bishop. A clergy
man Of wheeling tells me that in his
judgment West Virginia can support a
bishop. II this be so, there is little doubt
but that the separation will take place.
THE PROCEEDINGS TODAY.
Morning prayer was read BY Rev. w.
NJ. Dame, OF Christ church, Alexandria,
assisted by Rev. DR.. Packard, OF the
Theological Seminary. and Bishop Whit.
tie.
The Council sermon was delive-ad by
Rev. William L.. Hylsnd, of IrInity
church, Petersburg, w. Va, on the
subject of Church growth and the means
ot preserving the same. A collection
was taken tor the Educational Society
and the diocesan missionary fund.
The Hsly-Communion service was
read and the element administered by
Bishop Whlttle, Rev. William NJ. Dame,
and DR.. Packard. immediately after
service the Council proceeded to business.
The rules OF the last Council were
adopted for the government of this
CJuncil. The usual landing committees
were appointed on motion OF Mr.
Hullihen. Alter fixing the hours oil
meeting of the Council it adjourned.
The West Virginia divison met at 8
O clock this morning. A meeting OF the
West Virginia Conference was held in
the chapel here, Bishop Whittle pre-
siding. This meeting was TO ascertain
the amounts that the various conferences
can contribute toward the support Of a
bishop. Clergymen from five or six
parishes of that State read resolutions 10
response to resolutions adopted by the
Con ference at Parkersburg in April, aud
already published IN the Dispatch,
stating in substance that about twenty
two hundred dollars could be raised for
that purpose. A committee, consisting OF
Rev. Messrs. Armstrong and Leavell,
and Meesrs. Thompson, Brown and
White, Of the lsity, we're appointed to
report this afternoon to conference the
exact amount, in order that the whole
matter may be presented TO the council.
At the afternoon Conference Rev. w.
l.. Hyland presided, and Mr.. Armstrong
presented the following report:
The committee appointed by the Con-
ference beg leave TO report their uRsnl'
nous concurrence in the following reso-
lut,ons, and recommend their adoption
by this Conference as its final action in
the premises:
Resolved, That in the judgment of this
Conference the interest Of the Church in
our State clearly demands division OF
the Diocese of Virginia, and that the
dividing line be the boundaries between
the States OF Virginia and West Yir-
GINA. We report that We have sscer.
tanned that al least 81, 200 and residence
have been pledged within the proposed
Diocese Tor the support OF the eplscopste,
and we believe that TINS sum can be ms
tsrislly increased; therefore
Resolved, 2. That this Conference re.
quests and earnestly urges the Council
now in session to set apart West VIr-
Hinia as y separate diocese.
The report was discussed at length by
from various sections of
West Virginia There seemed to be but
one objection to it-viz, whether an
amount in addition to the bishops sup
port could be raised for contingent
fund.
DIR. Minnigerode, Of Richmond, who
was present as sspectator, was invited
to express his views on the proposition.
Dr. Minnigerode said he believed
Wet Virginia ought to be separate
diocese If the House OF Bishops can be
,stisfied that q sufficient sum will be
raised for the support tf the episcopate.
The frst resolution was adopted with
out . division. Upon the second resolu-
tion call for q vote by parishes was
made, and being taken, the resolution
was adopted by the following vote:
Ayes Clergymen, IL: laymen, ID.
Noes-Clergymen, 2; laymen, 3.
The report will be presented to the
Council Thursday.
rHf PROPOSED DIVISION OF OLD vIR-
40 -sE GINA. ~c
Tho Sontbsida dipidars uere in ses-