Morning journal and courier., 1880-11-08

fOrty-elSnG Q1OceSeS. The bOuSe or D6put1eS, 1 if the delegation from each diocese were full, | would number three hundred and eighty four, equally divided between clergymen and ! laymen, a body embracing men of the high | est culture, learning aud intelligence and as remarkable for Christian love and lberality as for earnestness and zeal in the Masters | cause. It is net to be expected that such a I body would enter upon the consideration of grave and important subjects with no differ ences of opinion. All legislation needs to be l carefully examined, and opposition that ellie l it's fair discussion and leads to better under | standing of the measures proposed is cer- | tainly to be desired rather than avoided. What marked with emphasis the character of
 this General Convention was the fraternal l Christian spirit which from first to last ex- hibited itself in all it's conferences and dis ! cussions. No wrangling or discord that might leave sting behind was for moment seen,
 and, as one of the speakers said on the floor
 of the House of Deputies without the least exaggeration, the influence of the Holy l Ghost seemed to have been shed down on | the convention, that it might be the better | qualified to approach and dispose of the mat 1 ters brought forward for it's consideration. It is mistake-a very grave mistaks-to
 suppose that all the good results of such a l church council must appear in its legislative
 and positive acts, or in the plans it originates
 and the machinery it sets in motion. It is the 1 spirit of the body that does the highest and | far the noblest part of the work. It is
 the beating of the great heart of the
 Church, through representatives from the
 nearest and remotest dioceses in the land that l quickens the tide of common life and deep
 ems and invigorates the flow of Christian
 sympathy and benevolence Discussions that
 end in no immediate or tangible results may
 reach down and stir the depths of religious l faith and differences of opinion freely ut | tered, but never with acrimony, must show 1 how much better it is to have that charity 1 which suffereth long and is kind than to be
 swayed by party discipline and led to glory
 in principles and measures which can hardly be said to gather discordant and warning l fragments into the spiritual unity of the
 ''one Lord. one faith, one baptism D
 Canons have their place in preserving
 order and regulating discipline, and
 they are needed because the Church is a so-
 ciety, and every society must have authority to prescribe rules and laws for the govern ment of its own members. But canons do not give life to the Church. They are as dry bones, whichNre nothing without flesh and blood. I sometimes think that the men who are skilled in the work of manufactur ing canons, and who seem to feel that it is the chief business of every General Convention to provide in this way for new exigencies as they arise, would do vastly more towards breaking down the kingdom of sin, Sata and death" and towards the promotion of the reign of truth and righteousness in the world, if with calm dignity and conscientious steadfastness they would apply their zeal and learning to the development of the Churchs system and the intrinsic charms of unity and concord.
 Indeed, as has been well said, there is no longer much need of legislation in the Amer 1can Church by way of framing or changing canons. The time for practical work has come. We may adopt the words of the Psalmist, Arise, O Lord, into thy rest, thou and the ark of thy strength. Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness" The Church has great duties before her in every part of this broad land. She owes it to herself, and above all she owes it to her Divine Head, to
 place herself abreast of the times in which
 we live, to speak the truth without fear
 where doubt and unbelief have entered in and gained temporary possession. to stand up against social corruptions and the tenden- cy to disregard the laws of God and man
 in short she owes it to herself to shrink from no sacrifices and no demands upon her
 efforts and benevolence, but to go down in- to the actual struggling world of to-day and
 endeavor to lift men to the light of the gos-
 pei and to a higher sphere of duty and en-
 joyment We are fast becoming nation
 made up largely of foreigners, to whom on the score of patriotism as well as of religion
 It is as important to give the gospel as it is to send missionaries to them when dwelling in their own native lands.
 And the missionary work was the crown ing feature of our recent General Convention
 Surely 1t the missionary spirit of the body that lifted it out of the region of can ons and rubrics and formal resolutions, and gave it character which will tell upon the future and be remembered in history. Twen- ty-one years ago, when the same body met at Richmond, and two missionary bishops for the far West and Southwest were appointed and con- secrated-a scene of unusual interest and Christian joy was presented which an eye witness described most graphically when he said II had never thought to be so near to heaven in this life.'' Where now those two missionary bishops were sent forth. to ex- plore the land ten others bear the chief pas toral staff, and we have just chosen these men who will soon be consecrated and go out to ease their shoulders by taking portions of their burden. Nor IS this all. An infant church with one assistant has been organized in Hayti on the basis of our own, and another in Mexico, both of which promise to yield fruits that shall remain. < Our missions in Africa and China and Japan are in vigorous operation, and begin to reward the nursing care of their supporters. Every churchman may well be thankful that he belongs to a communion which, if it has staid and iron forms, has yet missionary heart and does not forget the Saviours great commission, ( Go ye into all the world, {" 'tGo teach all nations" Our parts and duties in develop | ing it's bene6cent energies need not be urged l at length. It does not follow because goe are | touched and edifed by the thousand associa- tions that speak to us through the pages of | our treasured prayer book that these thoughts and beliefs will come home, without | explanation or kindly guidance, to the minds | of too worldly and practical people We |