The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-05-23
.tlIe welisre OF the Church at hesrt. That it
is wise and best checrfully TO acquiescs IN
sr. 1rKE,s cnurcH, xorgoIK.

Itfle welfare OF the Church. at hesrt, thnt 1T
| is wise md best checrfully 70. acquiescs IN
lie" ~
ST. LUKE's CHURCH, NORFOLK.
| The yestry OF st. Llike's church, Norfolk,
at a regular meeting April 7th, after uDanl-
morsly declaring ii tobe their earnest dc.
! sire 10 be enabled at all times promptly and
reYerentIy to heed the g godlY admonition0
and the .fgodfy Judgment Of their Bishop
when In their opinion occasion arises TO
tiustEy the same, go on to resolve I" that the
practice OF decorating our church at Easter
land on Thanksgiying-da day, and OF otherwise
commemorating the different seasons OF the
Ecclesiastical year, so far as The same ls dis
tasteful to the Bishop, as indicated ID the
4 letter above quoted, be hereafter discon-
ftinued." In second resolution, after de-
itciaring that they do not mean to admit there
lis anything sinful, harmful, orinappropriate
TN the things they agree to discontinue,
hthey add: son the contrary, we maintain
that there is good and sufficient ground for
1.-THE Justification OF such decorations, not
tonIy because they are beautiful in them.
selves and designed as an humble and
heartfelt tribute by grateful people to the
i Giver OF all good gifts, but IN the
/ long and continued usage, as well in the
Church of England, as in a great number OF
the dioceses OF the Protestant Episcopal
Church Of the United States OF america, OF
: which we are members" 1h1ruly.
, they resolve: THAT if the practices inhl-
bited are not wrong in essence and this
lis virtually admitted when all objection
lis / waived =: 20 continuance OF the
customary decorations at Christmas-and if
! they be of such long usage as that their dis
continuance will be regarded by MANY as
an Innovation inasmuch is it will be a
departure from custom, then, in our !uds-
ment. they should be regarded as
in no sense q departure from the faith or
. practices OF the Church calling for the en-
Eercise OF the high prerogative OF the Blsh-
ops godly admonition.'" In fourth re-
solution the Bishop is informed that they
have given candid expression to their.
views, because failure to do so might
cause our quiet acquiescence to be misun-
derstood for an acknowledgment OF pre-.
vious wrong doing, and as vindlcatlon OIL
the episcopal intervention and censure"
.. CHRIST CHURCH, NORFOLK.
J The Rev. O. s. Bartcn, D. D.. OF Christ
, church, Norfolk. wrote me on 18th April :
Under the enclosed resolution,
unanimously adopted by the vcstry. the Use
OF flowers aSsdiscontinued for the present.
But feel it my duty TO state distinctly That
! this was done by me in Difference to the
: wishes of those OF ny people, who, lament
ing the harmful effects OF your Inhibition on
the quietness. love, and peace which has
reiencd in the congregation, desired to
avoid further complications by either a pro-
test or open opposition TO your command.
However, most respectfully desire to state
that reserve to myself, independently oil
the Yestry, TIE RIGHT at any time TO resume
any c1 all such customs or uSaScS as may
have been temporarily discontinued"
The resolution enclosed by Dr.. Bartcn,
rs passed unanimously by the yeStry April
I, 1879, is is follows:
/" ReS0lued, That we acknowledge the re-
ccipt OF the Bishops letter OF February II,
iiS7O, and that while, in Difference to the
reign Of peace and love iii our c0n.rcga-
ton, we comply with his request, we, how
ever respectfully express our dissent from
, and objection TO any entertainments upon
our rights IS Il vcStry, and those OF our
rector"
TRINITY CHURCH, PORTSMOUTH,.
have received from the vcstry OF Trim
itv church, Portsmouth, lO"g account OF
their proceedings at Il special meeting held
the 9th OF April, 1879, which resulted i'll
their adopting the following resolution
ReSolUed, That we have received and
>
pray erFul care the circular letter Of the 1T.
Rev. +. VI. Whitile, Bishop OF The Diocese,
bearing date on the 18th day Of February,
1879, addressed to the rector and yestry OF
this church and without now considering
the question Of the respective rights or the
Bishop OF the Diocese and OF the rector and
, yCstry OF this church involved in said circu-
lar, and without admitting that the Use OF
flowers in this church in the manner IN
which they have been used for many years
is wrong in principle, or is Il novelty or
innovation as far As this church is
conccrncd-yet, deeply sharing with
our Bishop in bis devotion to our
Church i'll Virginia, and being willing to
make any sacrifice which does not involve
, the surrender Of principle for its good,
, peace, and prosperity, we do hereby agree
to heed and follow the admonition OF said
Bishop set forth in his SAID letter, except
inc and resprvng, however, the right and
practice OF members OF the congregation OF
this church to place flowers at their plea
sure, as they have been wont to do, at the
Observation-Disclosures OF our church building,
including that erected to the memory OF
: our dear departed rector, the Rcv. y. II.
Wingteld, d. D.
The proceedings OF the vcStry OF Trinity
church, Portsmouth, were ncloScu III Il Ict-
ter from the rector, Rev. Rcverdy ES'Iii,
in which, after an Introductory sentence,
he saws: " With the result OF that meeting
7 heartily concur, but ! feel in duty bound
to make this my further earnest protest.
The grounds upon which | base
NV reycrcnt protest are rs follows: Farsi.
this direction to the clergy and VsSirics
within your Jurisdiction cannot. submit,
he called in the understanding OF the
Church Il eodly admoniion, rs the term in
wolves. | submit the PRONUNCIATION OF Il
judicial Interpretation Of some known
law or statute. either CT the general Ch"rch
or Of the diocese, for the infringement
OF which clergyman is amonah!c to
trial. Furthermore, it is.my conviction,
formed after considerable research, that IL
was never the intention Of the Church to
make such things rs flowers and the
hangings OF the church enumerated i'll
your letter. subjects for Bishops 'Sodly
admonition or Sodiy iudgmcnt.' Second.
With my understanding OF the term, Gus
tom OF more than twenty years duration iii
their parish cannot be called an 'innoya-
ton Third. The prohibition OF flowers III
the church upon Easter or other occasions
will produce much feeling and strife in this
parish. wherein all has been quictnesS and
peace. With the custom relating to the
memorial windows, mentioned in tho rcso.
liition OF the Tc>try, [ do not feel calico
upon, as the rector Of the parish, 10 intel
ierc.'
[Thc Bishop next quotes from letter Q!
the rector and vcstrY OF the Monumental