Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1879-05-24

God Tor The caro- of their scus snd the spiritual
conduct OF the church; and your CON nlt;ee can
not doubt that this spirit will ever anlmalo tltlr
iovsl devotion 10 the church Of tcer fathers
and lbs. 10 characterization on their part 10 its
constituted authorities will cal Tor tina exercise
OF It's power to support 1t.
According to the law Of til, church neither
wsrdcns nor ve=tries have r!2httul power 10
prescribe or to regulate ritual to change rites or
or to prescribe CT 10 introduce lnlo
the church ornaments o. decorations ln Conhee
ton with worship, the manner OF conducting
which pertains to Toe minister in charge Wlo Is
s1n apsblo TO his Bishop whom he has promlsoo
10 OBEY, and therefore the committee have adopt
ed the following resolutions in which they EsK
the concurrence of tho CouIcil:
Bishop had the righlful power TO give 10 the
ministers u1der his cnsrge the Cody admoni!'
ion contained in his circular letter OF tie is.
1av cf February, 1879 and that irrespective OF
reasons, therefore il becsms the duty OF tacse
ministers 20 give heed TO and obey such a1moh-
ilion with glad mind and Will.
2ad. That it is the earnest wish and prayer vi
this Council that cheerful and willing obedience
be yielded by clergy and lsiLy 10 tho Bishop's
views and admonilion, 60 that no occasion
may ariao for legislation to give tn5c1
therctr and thst peace AID harmony mag
abound throughout the diocoac; ard that clergy
snd lsity, having the mind that Is in Christ Je-
sus our Lord, may with one heart desire these
things which make for peace, and our beloved dl"
ccese in lis unity Of faith and its ancient loving
concord may go forward to fulfil its holy mis-
zion in e.tsbl;hing and building up the chulcn
in this diocese upon the true foundation when
is Christ. -, >,
Signed: g. Il. Norton, W. N. Pondletoo,
Sbss Minniperode j. s. Hankel. Richard L.
Davis, Il. NJ, Jackson, Samuel ID. Davis, >.
:. Bradford. T. o. L.. MoncurJ John Stew.
art Hugh w. Shelley.
The following minority report Was presented
rne undersigned are constrained to differ
from the report # the maiority so far as the
resolutions appended to the preamble are cou-
cerned while acknowledging that 10 matters OF
Ritual. Where there is no sp C Ii, direction, by
Rubrc or Canon are SUI jaot to Tho control Of the
Ordinary Of the Di1c9se, We Gre lot prepared II
say that the use oil f)Tcrs is part of such ritual
nor that it's part Of system Of false dtc.roo
At tho same time we would press The earnest
hone that throughout the Diocese ready obcdi
crce may DO eiGon 10 the Bishops views 10 re
card 10 these matters, AID that there will be
faithful 90 operation with him 10 promoting the
peace and harmony of tho Diocese, and main
tanning the protestant character OF this Protes
TAFT Episcopal Church.
JAMES r. HUBARD,
WILLIAM LAME,
Rsss. Di. Armstrong and Huoar1 requested
permission to state their position to the Council
OF the evening session.
The Secretary, Mr. DIshicl. stated that ht
had made an clror 10 the count Oh the last vote
and that as had voted il favor Of reoonsideriog
the vote by which the assistant bishop rcso!u
ton vas tabled to 45 against it.
The Ccuucil then took rccass until ionl
o'clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Tho Council met again ct 4 p. No., add Rev;
A, s. Johns, from the Committee on Parochia
Reports, submitted tho following summary:
Number OF baptisms. white adults 304. white
infants LOIS, colorcd adults IS. colorcd infants
81. Total 1914 Coblirmaiops Sjl, number
of commandments last reported 1911, number
of communicates added, 2.207. removed SOI
wihGr.wo, 90, suspended II, died 224. pres
cnt plumber l6.7S2 Marriages 359. Funeral:
7G4. Sunday school teachers-Whltc 500. col
orcd 1853 Sunday school scholars S. l2o.
colored .547; parish school teachers coo schcl
ais iG3. Uonlributions--Sunday schools, So
l4l So geacral, SO, 600 81. Total $50. III. "a.
The reports from tho committee appointed to
consider that part Of the Bishop 3 address 10 re-
gard 10 the ritua'iilic teudenccsln certain paris
Of the diocese were then taken up and read.
Rev. Mr.. HUBBARD stated that tho minority
report was ntead.d 10 exprtsl tho views OF the
Minority sud was not Intended 81 substitute
for he majority report.
Ray. }. q. Armstrong, Of tho M0n1menta!
Chu,ch, and Judge Boiling, OF Wythsviila, had
declined to sign either report.
R:v. Mr.. Armstrong thon proceeded to give
at Ieogth before the Couaci! and thu vast con
grc2aiion present bis reasons for not sigong
either report, AMI lor thus openly dissenting
from the authority of the Bishop, except tho
authority conferred by the canous and rubic,-
hls governmental authcli'y.
At the conclusion Of Mr.. Armstrong; re-
,oaIks General JoEEson offered q substitute for
the first resolution OF the committee, setting
out ia the preamble that ths liberty Of tho
ferns Ct worship should not be inteftcrred with
SO long as he faith. As set forth 10 the Articles
ard Rnbric In tho Book OF Gem mon Prayer,
il adhered 10, and that this liberty has been
abused by The introduction Of doubtful doctrines
and ceremonies which should be rcprosssd by
the full powor Of the Church. and even it ue-
ces,a,y by a change Of Constitution.
Therefore wo the clergy and laity Of the Pro.
tcslaut Episcopal Church in rho Urited States
IF America, il the dioo:s, OF Virginia. 10 Coun.
ell assembled, d. hereby instruct cur deputies
to the next General Convention OF the Church
IN The said Uuied States, TO urge upon that
veneralls and iussrious body the adoption Of
such constitutional legislation, aud, if necessary,
such amendments to the constitution aud caEot g
as may BIO necessary to forever prohibit and
always prevent all such ceremonies, services,
ylstments, ornaments, decorations, usages, and
prscic:s as symbolic or teach, or tend TO SYM
bol;ze or teach, erroneous or doubtful doctrine,
and particularly all such dogmal as werc re-.
ieo.ed by the Church as errors IF the Church Of
Rome. Add that they be particularly INSTRUCT
ed to urge such action as will protec: tbs Church
from tho intrusion Of the dogmas
Of the material prescnos aud transubsania-
ton.
Of the sacrament Ct marriage.
Of the sacrament OF penaDco aud the practice
of auricuar confession.
or the sacrament Of confirmation aud orders.
Ofthe sacrament Of extreme unoliop.
Ofthe practice Of iDtercessory prayers to end
for the dead AID the Invocation CT saints.
Aud from all liks teachings.
Rev. Df. Norton, on behalf of the commit.
tee. replied to the remarks OF MIR. Armstrong.
Judge Boiling, of Wythcvillo, followed DR..
No.kan I'D r,,o hi, raonnno NH