The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-04-07

me flgnt TO legtsiate upon the questions al
| issue. E..a
MIR. Armstrong then proceeds to argue
the question OF the right Of the Bishop tc
interfere. and concludes as follows:
In conclusion, therefore, have to say,
that in the exercise of the right given me
ny God, and vndicated all through the ages
by that branch OF the Holy Catholic Church
In which have the privilege and honor OF
possessing ministerial sonsbip, do now, as
o man and rs a minister OF Jesus Christ and
Of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the
United States. utter TO you, my Bishop, my
most respectful, yet most earnest and de-
cidcd protest against your authority to for
bids IS "not to be allowed" the customs
and usages specified in your official letter to
me and my vestry. and that have been in
practice, as attested by myvestry. in Monu-
mental church ''for many years."
While expressing these views and utter
ing this protest. desire most sincerely and
most emphaticalIy 10 disavow anything like
want OF respect, yencration, or affection for
you as man or as my Bishop.
THE MUslc-TnE COUNCIL.
The Bishop has stated that lie does not
object TO the beautiful music for which this
church is}HOw familiar, and in view of tlits
circumstance 1t will no doubt be unusually
fine at Easter, the Queen Festival of the
| Church.
1t is stated that the subject OF the use OF
flowers at Easter and different colored
cloths during the ecclesiastical season Of
the Church will he brought UP in the Coun-
ell next month.
Annual report OF the Virginia Bible
Society.
The following is the report OF the Board
OF Managers Of the Virginia Bible Society
made at the meeting held Sunday at DIR.
fl"ge's church:
In the providence OF God we have reach
ed and meet to celebrate the siXty.siyth an
niversary OF the Virginia Bible Society.
In reporting its labors to its friends we
feel that, as n Board OF Managers, our first
duty is one OF grateful praise 10 our God
for His fostering care of the Society thus
far. His love inspired it's organization and
has pcrpetuated its existence. His love gave
the Book whose siXty-six parts answer to
the years OF the history OF our Society, and
His matchless love has through all these
years wrought in the hearts OF multiludes
to labor directly and indirectly in its be-
half.
The founders Of this Society recognized
the true character and mission OF the Bible,
anu DODl1 SOuSlI 10 l1ahC UHLCCFSut Il Ali-
died appreciation OF it.
"Frcrly We have received, freely give"
was to them an argument the divine import
Of whose promises made Its conclusion ire
sistible.
Through the Bible they bad received
KNOWLEDGE OF LIFE AND IMMORTALITY,
and they were anxious that all men should
share in the riches OF this knowledge.
In the ovcrshadowlng and all-pcrvasivc
glory of this knowledge Scctariani>m, rs
such, was lost, and hearts and bands and
purses were banded in the one sublime en-
deavor to place beneath the souls OF men
this leverage powcrfor their elevation.
The history OF the Bible had demonstrated
TO them, as it has to us, the fact that only
through It's teachings are the higher forms
OF civilization born and developed, and the
relations of the soul TO God so adjusted as to
insure its present peace and future saliva
ton.
Having felt in their own souls the cman-
cipaling power OF truth they could not, and
dared not, sic down contentcd III its selfish
enjoyment.
The Bible taught them the unity OF the
race, the brotherhood OF man, and the IA
therhood OF God. From that fatherhood
sprang the Bible, and the Christ OF the Bible,
and the Holy Ghost OF the Bible, all revealed
and working for the redemption OF man,
and all calin. TO man for his cooperation iii
that work. TO refuse cooperation, then, in
such work, after having received ourselves
these riches Of grace, would be to forfeit all
riglitiul claim to either human or divine
charity.
The noble conceptions OF responsibility,
duty, and privilege which pcrvaded the
founders OF this society have, we are happy
to say, been transmitted by this same Bible
to their sons and successors, so that with
unrcmitting purpose we are laborlng to exc
cute the trust committed to us. In this ell
deavor we have had
MUCH TO ENCOUNTER AND MUCH TO ENCOURAGE.
The history OF the Society has not been
an unbroken current OF prosperity. Trials
Of various sorts have befaIen it and
still test it. TO say nothing Of the
positive opposition which it has encoun.
tered in common with all holy enterprises,
we may mention the chilling Indifference
with which it often meets where warmth OF
friendship is merited. This indifference,
however, we are constrained TO believe, is
more negative than positive. That is to
say il comes from non-acquaintance with
the scope, importance, and results of The
tQborS OF our Society. ..'o
Where these are understood, the result is
generally warm sympathy and practical
support. ... ]
But our misfortune is, and has been,
that so few, paratiyely, really give the
arorE and claims OF this Society that con-
slderation which is due them, and hence, as
stated, Il measure OF indifference which
operates against its success. ."
In this connection, it is proper also to
mention another difficulty We have had to
combat, and that Is the large number OF
pressing and ever-preSent claims OF local
r.! and general church enterprises of denomi.
national character. These naturally take
precedence in thought, interest, and sense
OF obligation over all such enterprises rs
ours, and while not Intentionally antago-
niZng, yet practically operate against u.s..
While the mention 0! this fact is not dc
signed as a complaint, weare yet constrained
TO avow il as our belief that more lnte!li
rent apprecia,on OF the work OF this SO.
cictv would disclose the fact that it is really
in The interest of denominational enter
prises, and therefore gives to the Society
claim upon their support far more genera
and liberal than we are receiving.
Yet in the face of all we have had to en-
counter in the way OF
OPPOSITION, INDIFFERENCE. NEGLECT,
counter and competing agencies and claims
and the extraordinary depression in busi
| ness, the Society, like the Star OF Bcthle
hem, has steadily held on lis way, and ha:
been so rcrvaded with Divine benedlctlons