The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-05-24
Unmarried for the Richmond Dispaseh.l
PrrrRsBuRG, Nav %, 1880.


,penorted for the Richmond Dispateh.l
PETERSBURG, May y, 1850.
Council met at quarter-past O'CLOCK
the Bishop IN the chair. Minutes OF the
third DAVIS session read and approved.
STATE or THE CHURCH.
Rev. o. A. Kinsolving presented the re-
port OF the Committee on the state vi tue
Church as follows:
The Committee on the State OF the Church
would respectfully report that AFTER care
ful consideration OF such Information rs
thew have been able TO gather they tnlnk
that the diocese has much cause Tor devout
rbankfulness to our covenant Father Tor the
conljnued prosperity OF our Church IN
Virginia. During the past year the num-
her confirmed was not as large as IN the
nreyious wear; but the falling off is not
great. and Is only what Is 10 be expected
from time to time in the regular ministra-
tons OF the Gospel. :,
The history Of the Church in all ages
shows that its progress Is not always uni
form, but that 1t Is liable TO such alterna-
tons as to keep its ministers and iLemoers
ever mindful OF their weakness and increas-
ing dependence upon Him without whom
nothing Is strong, nothing is holy"
The number confirmed during the year
was $50, being more than one hundred less
than the number confirmed the year before |;
but taking the average number OF cohnrIia.
tons during the past ten years, we ma tnae
the aggregate Is most encouraging, the num-
Der of communicates in the diocese witDin
the last decade beng nearly doubled. WIN,
out laying undue stress upon mere outward
growth, or dwelling in split OF pride or
bOastfulness upon those indications OF pros,
perity which may not be true ana real, sun
10 view OF this steady increase even ID inc
numerical strength OF the diocese, surely
we have reason 10 "thank God ana take
courage"
Another ground OF encouragement to
which your committee may call The atten-
ton Of the Council is the large number OF
candidates for orders mentioned In me re-
port OF the Bishop. We may regard It as
an evidence OF Gods special favor towards
us that in this kind Providence lie does
thus continue to provide for the IN
creasiDg demand for ministerial Work
within the limits OF our diocese, ana at tue
same time TO furnish supply for the con-
tinued drain made upon Virginia by other
parts OF the Lords vineyard. In former
years it was sour JOY and crown OF re-
jocing" that our foreign missionary-feld
was almost entirely supplied by young men,
who received their theological training III
our own diocesan school OF the prophets;
and now while that foreign field is still
supplied in a large measure from the same
source, it is matter Of qualification TO us
that our loss is so often gain 10 others,
who are more in need than we are, and that
SO many earnest ministers OF Christ are an
70 isfn In
men in other States and dioceses Of our own
country; still we cannot but regret at the
same time that the supply is so limited at
home.
It has been so from the beginning, and The
Sayiour's lamentation over this state OF
things in His times may still be beard 10 its
application to our own. "The harvest
truly is great, but the laborers are few"
We call the attention OF the Church to
this fact, and urge upon "every member Oh
the same in his vocation and ministry" to
remember in a practical way the divlne
remedy prescribed, "Pray We therefore
the Lord Of the harvest 10 send forth ia
borers into His harvest"
The vacant parishes and Masterpieces I'D
our diocese do no doubt greatly need the
services Of these men. But we are per-
suaded thai in many cases there IS no ne.
ceSsify for sn"h vacancies 40 q" eviS' ""d 4
are allowed to continue from year to year.
IN unreasonable hope il almost as damaging |
as despair when brought 10 bear upon the |
energies and efforts OF men. IL always dis.
appoints, and being "deferred maketh the |
heart sick" Frequent ministerial services
is something not TO be reasonably hoped
for in most OF the vacant parishes OF this
diocese.
But faithful minister, with the co6pera-
lion OF the laymen OF his parish, may en-
large the field Of his labors, and carry on
more extensive work in several parishes:
Fhe fewness OF the laborers as compared
with the greatness OF the harvest seems 10
Indicate that the circuit or district system,
,r the combination OF several parishes, Is
he only available method by when tue
mailer country parishes are 10 De pr
erved. Even four or more may DC eom
lined, where smaller number cannoI SUI, :
ort minister, and by lay'reaoips anu
Their means the churches may De kep' op'N {
ven in the absence Of the minister
In connection with this subject your com
ljttee would call particular attention To the
feat decrease in the treasur! vi NV
,san Missionary Society. , I
This has been very often heretofore "a
meptation -; and alas it seems 10 De lor
Il" lamentation from year TO year. IL
We cannot believe that anv MEMBER OF
,r communion places a light value upon
70 work OF that Society, which has done 5
much to restore the Masterpieces OF our Z
ocese and to establish the Church IN re- A,
ons where it was before unknown. But,
thew are not Indifferent to its object,
any perhaps fail to remember that the q
ork cannot be sustained without means :
work that requires $4,000 year cannot :
, done with $4,000, the amount reported .
having been contributed during the last !,
ear.
Your committee would like to allude to q
ne or two other points connected with the >
OF our Church and the "safety, !
,nor, and spiritual welfare OF her people,"
ut these are points which have been oft =.
peated and br0ughtto the attention OF the !
ouncil in the earnest words OF the Bishop.
the annual reports Of the Committee on
Re State OF the Church, and in resolutions l
PRODUCED and passed by the Council, !;
arning the members of the Church in the 9
ost emphatic and solemn words against :
e evils 10 which the Church is always :.
ore or less liable, but to which IN this age ).
seems TO be peculiarly exposed. We al v
de to the common evils OF worldliness and
In which general terms are
cluded nearly all the social difficulties !,
III which Christianity has to contend. A
, and definite understanding Of what the .
u, small covenant means, and a sincere, a.
Ell earted purpose on the part of every
son who is confirmed and admitted into
con muniOn OF the Church, which is b.
owsh p with God the Fsther, Son, and
ly CHI. 'st, and not with that trinity Of j
influen ces which are renowned in bap- n
D, is the 'nIy safeguard against the dap N
s to which the attention OF the members nj
our Church is so often directed.
,ut there is a mother subject which your NJ